Page 23 of Sworn to Revenge
“Atlantis isn’t in our ocean, and it’s far more extravagant than this,” Bay says, as if I should already know that. Wait, Atlantis really exists? “Humans believe Atlantis is in the Atlantic Ocean, probably because of the name, but it’s actually hidden in the Antarctic Ocean, far from here,” she continues, as if reading my thoughts. Then she and Alin swim off together toward the city gates, leaving me to process the overwhelming scene.
I have so many questions…
Bay
If I survive all of this, Alin is going to find out just how furious I am right now. She’s risking yet another family member just to give me a chance to live. And I still have no idea how Pedro is supposed to help when he barely knows anything about our world.
He swims beside me as we approach the guards at the city gate. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, Princess Alianna. Princess Bay,” one of the guards bows slightly as he addresses us, then points to Pedro. “He can’t enter. He’s unknown to us, and he has no affiliation mark.”Just great.
“Do I need to remind you that my coronation was only postponed because of my pregnancy with our heir? Do you want to defy your future queen?” Alin’s face is ruthless as she stares him down. She’s definitely her mother’s daughter, and she’s learning fast.
The guard immediately bows his head in apology, then hesitantly swims aside, allowing the other guards to clear a path for us.
“You’re turning into your mother,” I say with a teasing tone, knowing how much she hates hearing that, especially since she looks like a younger version of her. At least I have a way to get back at her now.
She furrows her brows at me, signaling that I’ve started a war, and flicks her tail in my direction in an attempt to push me aside. I quickly dodge, knowing her too well, and a laugh escapes me as a wave of nostalgia hits. We grew up together, especially since no one else in the lineage managed to produce offspring besides our parents, and I will never get tired of this.
“What are affiliation marks?” Pedro suddenly asks, his eyes filled with curiosity, just like every other moment on our long journey here.
“Every pod has its own affiliation mark. Merfolk without these marks on their bodies are considered outcasts or betrayers, and no one allows them into their city,” I explain, showing him the small crescent moon mark of our pod right on the inner part of my arm. The one Aunt Lora gave back to me. “We’re born with this. You can think of it like a human birthmark.”
Our gazes lock when his eyes move away from my moon mark. His shimmering, gem-like golden eyes illuminate his face, catch the light, highlighting his rugged beauty. The scattered scales across his chest only accentuate his muscles, sending a shiver through my tail. Why does he have to be so damn attractive? The gods of the oceans must be testing me too much. He’s made it clear he isn’t interested, I remind myself, forcing my gaze away from his perfectly sculpted abs and back to his eyes. I’m almost sure his gaze lingers on me with the same hunger, but he quickly breaks contact and swims ahead, taking in the city around him. A pang of disappointment stabs my chest, and I turn, swimming back toward Alin, who’s already moved ahead along the opulent coral-stone path leading to the castle entrance.
“I don’t understand him. One moment, I’m almost sure he wants me, and the next, he completely ignores any intimacy between us,” I whisper, feeling the need to vent my frustration to Alin, despite still being angry at her for what she did.
She looks at me, her eyes softening with understanding. “Would you believe me if I told you it wasn’t any easier for me when Luca and I first met?”
“You never told me how things started between you two, but you’re like magnets to each other now. There’s no way he ignored you the way Pedro ignores or denys,” I reply honestly, feeling like I’m finally letting go of a weight that’s been sitting on my chest. Wondering if I’m really just family to him.
“That’s how it is now, but when we first met, it was all ego battles and trust issues. It’s a long story for another time, but I can assure you, in all the time I’ve known them, I’ve never seen Pedro with a woman, not even once. He might have a big mouth, but he’s not the type to chase after women. So, maybe you just need to give him some time,” Alin shares a piece of information that makes my heart leap with joy. At least there are no other women in his life. Maybe I’ll take advantage of Alin just this once… she owes me after all of this, anyway.
“Maybe you could do your favorite cousin a little favor and ask Luca what Pedro’s deal is? His brother surely knows,” I give her a pleading look, clasping my hands together in exaggerated supplication. If it’s really because of a fight they had, she can solve it… probably.
She immediately sighs loudly. “You’re about to face Jocelyn very soon, and you’re asking me for favors about your love life when we don’t even know if you’ll make it back tomorrow? Unbelievable, love has blinded her…” she slashes the truth in my face, but I keep fluttering my eyelashesin a ridiculous show of begging, ignoring her protest until she finally caves, “Fine, fine.” Yes! Maybe it’ll give me some answers to his behavior.
“Wait a sec, why is it so quiet suddenly?” I blurt, Pedro’s constant stream of questions has vanished behind us.
I quickly glance back and spot him swimming around one of the residents’ homes, designed inside a giant, pointed pink conch shell. I roll my eyes. He’s like a small merling in my world, needing protection from danger. Really, Alin, how do you plan on him helping me here?
I swim quickly over to him. “Pedro, you can’t just enter someone else’s home—you’re breaking our rules. It could cost you your life if they report you,” I warn him, grabbing his hand and guiding him back to the main path leading to the castle.
Alin laughs as she watches us. “I’m really enjoying seeing you take responsibility like a protective mother over a new merman.”
I flick my tail at her in response, knowing she’s teasing me back for my earlier comment, but I join in her laughter.
“No. Freaking. Way!” Pedro suddenly shouts from beside me as we swim toward the familiar castle I call home. “You live here?!”
Sometimes I forget just how impressive our castle is, even to visiting merfolk from other cities. Our city holds more gold and gemstones than any other city in the oceans and is renowned for its constant glow at all hours of the day. Well, a lot of those gems were created by me at Aunt Lora and Uncle Clarion’s request using the powers I once had, but the city’s reputation was already famous for its splendor decades before I was born.
When Alin brought me back from the Hunters’ pod, my eyes drank in the familiar sight of the castle after months in darkness. Even though I grew up here all my life, I still felt awe upon seeing it again, so I can fully understand Pedro’s amazement.
“Yes, this is where Alin lives with her parents, Queen Lora and King Clarion,” I respond to Pedro without looking at him. “Ishoved myself into Alin’s room without even asking her since I can remember,” I smile as the memories flood back. I might be angry with her now, but she’s doing everything she can to sever my connection with the Guardian and keep me alive.
Without thinking twice, I reach out and squeeze her hand affectionately. She raises an eyebrow at me in question, but I just smile back in gratitude.
“Alianna, Bay, you’ve arrived just in time. Come, we need to hurry,” Aunt Lora suddenly appears from the entrance of the castle that has just opened before us, her gaze quickly shifting to Pedro beside us.
“Wow, he looks just like...” Aunt Lora begins, and Alin immediately finishes her sentence, “Roel? Yes, I know.”
