Page 127 of Mermaid on Heels

However, they were very much aware that Sessa wasn’t the only heir left for the crown.

There was Faelina, who had grown her exterior tougher since she lost her voice. She refused to succumb to anything Liriya’s parents tried to make her feel like she belonged. They all had long forgiven her, but she acted as though she didn’t want the forgiveness or the family.

Faelina refused to be in the family gatherings, or communicate to any of them by writing. They began doubting if she knew how to write at all. Any chance of collecting information from her about Wayward Sirens for King Valdemar was thus not achievable.

She always wore a scowl or a glare, wanted to be alone all the time, sulked for not being allowed to leave the castle grounds, and pushed away their papa the most hurtful ways she could every time he tried to reach to her with love.

Once a month, Liriya and Luke visited her family and stayed for a day or two before returning to the land. Every time she and her sisters shared a welcome or a departing group hug, Faelina would be present to witness it. Whenever Liriya would look at her, she would looked away, pretending as though she hadn’t been watching them.

However, this time, Liriya called Faelina to join them, surprising even herself. She and Luke had forgiven her for everything she did to them, but this was the first time Liriya did something that spoke volumes for her forgiveness.

Faelina had blinked at first, taken aback at the invitation, and then scowled before looking away. However, when Liriya did the same before departing today, instead of scowling or glaring, she simply shook her head with her typical stoic expression.

Liriya liked to think of it as progress.

Every time she saw Faelina, Liriya remembered Prince Dyran and the way he had looked at her the very last time they came face to face. It was when Liriya’s family was returning to the sea and Dyran’s to Garbia after Liriya and Luke’s wedding.

There had been no love in his eyes but only hatred; a kind of hatred, Luke told Liriya, was born from a place of deeply hurt love. He hated her because hecouldn’thate her.

A month later, the day after Aeira and Terrance’s wedding, Dyran set off sailing to explore faraway seas and islands. Aeira told Liriya that he had said he needed to clear his mind, and that they could only expect his return in the next year or two. Liriya hoped that when he returned, he would bring a girl with him who would make him forget Faelina.

“I was only joking!” Ella defended with a laugh. “I would not dream of doing such to him. Perhaps I simply should not take him to Pearltuna, but show him around here.”

“We both know that it would take only apleasefrom Cedric to make you succumb to it and bring him to Pearltuna as you should be doing,” Liriya teased her sister, and she enjoyed it like every other opportunity she got. These were her chances to get it back at Ella for all the teasing she shoved upon her about Luke before.

“Whatever.” Ella rolled her eyes, holding back a smile. She knew better than to argue, especially when it was the truth. “I shall meet you two at the surface, then. You are too slow.”

She winked before gliding upwards.

Luke groaned. He probably thought Ella meant his incapability of swimming that delayed Liriya’s glide.

Once in every week, Liriya and Luke came to the sea for her transformation, to keep her hydrated, and she couldn’t believe he didn’t remember those times she had swum with him faster than this.

Because Ella meant another thing entirely.

Liriya glanced aside at Luke. She had been running through options in her head all the way, planning how to disclose thisthingto him and where it should be. Suddenly, she got the perfect idea.

Luke met her gaze. He cast a brief glance above them to make sure Ella was far away before tugging Liriya close and capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

“What was that for?” Liriya murmured in a daze when they pulled away, her fingers entangled in his curls.

“I don’t know,” he murmured back, his fingers tracing patterns on her bare back. “Can’t a man kiss his wife whenever he wishes it?” He brushed his lips against hers as he continued, “In Pearltuna, you know I don’t get to kiss you like I do every day at home. Prying eyes everywhere and no secluded corners where I can pin you against the wall and steal a kiss whenever we cross paths.”

Liriya’s stomach fluttered at the huskiness in his voice. She hummed and pressed her lips to his again.

“I cannot wait to get back home as much as I enjoy our trips to Pearltuna.”

“And I cannot wait to…” Liriya trailed off and opened her eyes to look at him. “There is something I want to tell you and it cannot wait.”

Luke tilted his head. “And what is it?”

“Have a little patience,” she said and looked up at Ella who was almost at the surface. “Ella!”

Ella paused and glanced back down.

“Luke and I are heading somewhere if you do not mind!”

“I do not mind!” Ella called back with a shrug and winked. “See you!”

---