Page 81 of A Sea of Secrets
“So, this is how the one per cent live.” I whistled, slowly stepping in a circle.
“Holy Halibut!” A voice said as muscular arms wrapped around me from behind, holding me tight. “Ace! I’m so relieved that you’re okay!”
I stiffened immediately, my instincts rearing for a fight. That traitorous asshole had betrayed my princess. “Get the fuck off me, Merman.”
He stepped back, stuffing his hands into his teal jumpsuit. “Sorry! I got all excited! Also, this isn’t an actual palace. They are usually much bigger. Starfish’s home is probably a bajillion times bigger than this.”
“Don’t you fucking dare talk about her,” I hissed, gripping his collar and shoving him up against the wall. One of the paintings to his right rattled from the force before falling to the floor. It echoed loudly in the stunned silence. “I know what you did.”
Zane paled. His lips dropped into an expression I’d never seen on his face before. “I had to.”
“You’re a fucking traitor and I’m going to enjoy showing you exactly what happens to backstabbing little bitches like yourself.” Electricity snapped along my fingers and I held my hand close to his face. “Any last words before I kill you?”
The drone camera took that exact opportunity to make itself known above us and, with one flick of my wrist, the thing smashed to the ground. Electricity danced all over its broken form. This was a private matter between me and the merman.
He looked up from the sparking camera and stared me dead in the eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Sorry didn’t fucking cut it. I punched him in the face and his nose crunched beneath my fist. I let him go and he crumpled to the floor, his body spasming from the electrical sparks. “No excuses then? Not going to try and plead your case?” I said.
“Would you listen if I tried?” he asked as blood spilled from his nose. “You’ve already decided I’m guilty.”
“Because you are.”
“Ace!” He darted away from my next hit, my bionic fist slamming into the plaster and making a hole in the wall. “Calm your salmon farm and let me explain.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I growled, storming towards him as he scurried to his feet. “You’re a dead piece of shit.”
“I don’t want to fight you! You just asked if I was going to plead my case, and I will if you stop being a grumpy pirate for one second and let me!”
“I’ve changed my mind,” I said as I closed in on him like a hunter with his prey. “All I want to do now is beat the ever-loving shit out of you.”
I dove on top of him, my fists slamming into his sides. I felt my bionic hand crack one of his ribs. Zane hit back just as hard, and I knew it would bruise where his fist collided with my head, disorienting me long enough to shove me off him. He scrambled to his feet with his hands raised before him, but before I could pound him with my fists again, a wave of calm fell over me. My muscles slackened, my face softened, and I wondered why the fuck I wasn’t just relaxing somewhere. Deep down, I knew I wanted to hurt Zane and beat him bloody. I wanted him to pay for betraying the princess and being a fucking no-good rat. Yet every time I tried to feel that anger, it was swept away into a sea of secrets.
“Listen, dude,” Zane said with furrowed brows. “Please believe me. I had no choice.”
I grit my teeth, but just as quickly as it came it was gone again.
“They have my sister, Zuri,” he told me, his gaze searching mine, begging me to hear him out. “I was told I had to meet with Victrus, which, yes, I did—to protect her.”
“What about Fallon?” I said calmly despite myself. “We promised to protect her. The four of us vowed to. You broke that promise.”
Zane swallowed hard. “I’m still protecting Starfish. I haven’t done anything to hurt her other than meet with her dad and he didn’t even ask about her. All he wanted to know about was Tritosa and my dad. That was it, I swear. I would never do anything to hurt Fallon, and if we don’t tell her—”
“Who do you think fucking told me?” I shouted. This time my rage sliced through his calm magic. I lunged for him, but he slipped to the side, avoiding my punch.
“Starfish knows?” His tanned face paled again and his eyes widened. “How did she find out?” I punched him in the jaw, toppling his large frame to the ground. He hit the floorboards hard but didn’t try to get up. He just lay there and stared at the ceiling, his green eyes like pools of sadness. His magic dissolved in the air, letting me feel the full extent of my emotions again. “She must hate me.”
“You deserve it.” My foot slammed into his side. “Traitorous little bitch.”
“I do deserve her hate.” He frowned, shutting his eyes. “Starfish is too good for me. Too precious. I’ve ruined everything between us. All I can hope is that she’ll forgive me one day, but she’ll never trust me again. I’ve lost her...”
“You’ve lost us all.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said quietly. “I hope one day you’ll forgive me, too.” He caught my next kick mid-air, his face shifting into a mask of determination, and slammed me down on my ass. Pain shot through my tailbone, and I swore loudly, the sound echoing off the walls. “I can’t let you kill me, Ace. This sailor must endure the stormy seas. I’ve gotta save my sister.”
“At the expense of Fallon?” I demanded, diving on top of him. I was blinded by my own rage. I didn’t know what it was like to have siblings, but I couldn’t imagine anyone being more important than the princess.
“Fallon already hates me, but Zuri… I can still save her.”
