Page 28 of Coral Prince Conundrum
“I am…working on it,” Daryl says with mild trepidation. “We just need to act like fiancés for a little while, that’s it.” My heart sinks further, knowing that, after this, he will never want to be serious with me. Logically, I knew that, because he’s not Corali, I could never marry him. Still, I wanted us to grow closer, because Daryl makes me feel brand new. But now all we are is a fake relationship.
“And won’t it hurt your feelings when you have to break up with him?” Justice asks.
My breath pauses as I lean closer to the wall. Does Daryl actually want us to be betrothed?
“It…um, well…” Before I can eavesdrop more, I hear a voice by the front door.
“Daryl! Thank the heavens I caught you!” Layla walks in with her booming voice, carrying fabric on her arm. This is as good a moment as any to announce my entrance.
I step forward to the front desk, and Justice and Daryl look between me and Layla. “Oh, Seero, you’re here, too.” Layla smiles at me. I nod and give a short bow to all of them.
“Daryl, I have something for you before you go.” Layla hands off the large brown bundle of fabric.
“What’s this?” Daryl gazes at it as he unfolds it. He’s wearing a dark sweater, known as a hoodie, and denim pants, along with a filled backpack.
“It’s a water-resistant coat. I found it at a thrift store and thought of you. Since, you know…you’re traveling across the ocean.” Layla turns to me. “You better not harm a hair on his head.”
“I solemnly swear, no harm shall come to him overseas.” I bow again. “Thank you again, Layla, for all your hospitality.”
She smirks. “Yes, well, now I gotta cancel aquatic aerobics class, unless Zane wants to take over. Those ladies had a crush on you.” We all laugh. “But princely duties call, I get it. You’re welcome to attend the charity ball this September. And if you ever need a place in America to crash…”
Her voice trails off, and it warms my heart. “I will always be thinking of you, Layla.” I turn to Justice. “You as well. You have all been welcoming.”
“You better be welcoming to our boy here,” Justice replies. He taps Daryl’s chest, who is now wearing the brown coat. The garment reaches down to his knees, and he appears warm and comfortable.
“Thanks for the coat, Layla, but like…aren’t I gonna be too hot?”
“Not during the travel,” she says.
“Aren’t we going to be on a boat?” Daryl turns to me, and I wince.
Layla shakes her head at me, and an uncomfortable silence descends on us.
Twenty minutes later, we’re waiting by a foggy beach. Father and the guards stand to my right. When Father whistles, several of our sea dragons appear yards away in the water.
“Woah,” Daryl murmurs.
“We will see you at home in a few hours, my son.” Dad leans over and wags his eyebrows. “And you as well, new son.” He guffaws, then the five of them wade into the beach water. In a blink of an eye, they’re darting through the ocean with ease. Just as quickly, they hop up and mount their dragons, and then disappear into the fog.
“We’re um…travelling via sea…monster?” Daryl plays with his fingers as he grimaces at the ocean.
I whistle to summon my fearless steed. “Not sea monster. Seadragon.” I wave my hands and part the ocean tides so that my betrothed can walk on the sand. Fish flop about our feet as we approach my dragon.
Daryl gazes in awe at the seafloor, but I continue to move my arms about to keep the water away. “Meet Drakey, my pet sea dragon. Drakey, meet Daryl.”
Drakey huffs and bends his head down, like the obedient boy he is. Daryl grimaces. “Uh…hi, Mr. Dragon,” he says with a grimace. He looks at me, and I nod. After another moment of hesitation, he walks up my sea dragon’s neck and onto the gray standing saddle.
“Hold on!” I shout, and Daryl crouches to grab the edge of the saddle. With a wave of my wrists, the waves crash around me, and I see Drakey dart upward with the water displacement. I follow along, pushing the water beneath my feet and expelling myself upward. I fly through the air, and, just like we’ve practiced for years, he moves to catch me.
“Woah!” Daryl says, standing up. “That was…”
“Dramatic?” I ask with a quirked eyebrow.
“Incredible,” he replies in a breathless tone. He gazes at me, and for the first time in two days, we’re truly alone. His handsome face calls to me, and I remember how I felt inside him. My pulse picks up, and I step forward.
“Hifff,” Drakey bristles, reminding me that we’re atop my aquatic steed.
“Right.” I shake my head of water, and Daryl ducks inside his new coat. “You ready to go save the world?”
