Page 14 of Siren's Kiss & Feral Beasts
Do I trust him? No.
“Thank you, General.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
He moves closer, but I shake my head. “Now let go.”
“Of course.” A squeeze to my fingers, and he lets go. I swim away, ignoring the way his shadow clings to me. Orion follows me from my private quarters to the dining hall, my stomach twisting with hunger and trepidation.Why does Grandfather want to see me?“Let me get the door for you.”
There isn’t a door, but I don’t call him out on it. The thick, beaded curtain hangs from the opening to the floor with its opaque white glass, creating a subtle song. Each shift in the current brings a different set of notes, but they combine into my grandmother’s favorite song.
A land-born one. From Avaria.
I’m the only one who knows this, and I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips as it plays. It’s sweet yet haunting; a melody full of want and need that’s unreciprocated—of what ifs.
I slip into the room, careful not to let the swish of my tail echo too loudly. Don’t thank Orion, either, and stop beside my grandfather, who’s already at the head of the table. This dining room is private. Meant to give the royals a sense of normalcy and share a meal, but it’s always felt like a strategy meeting rather than downtime.
Grandfather’s eyes snap to me, sharp as a blade, before softening. “Nerissa, my child. How are you?”
He doesn't look a day over forty for a merman over a hundred years old. We age slowly. Mermen carry their years gently, time passing by us like a current, leaving faint traces on our faces while never stealing our beauty.
Bending a bit, I kiss my grandfather’s cheek before placing my forehead against his. We stay like that for a few seconds, a recognition of our familial bond and love—even if at times, I don’t like the man. The things he does. He’s charming when it’s to his benefit, demanding of his subjects, and the biggest advocate for a patriarchal society where merwomen live beneath the forced protection of the crown and their king.
Is he also loving to those he cares about? Yes.
Is he faithful to my grandmother and our queen? Yes.
Is he open-minded or believes in change? No. Absolutely not.
He’s kept the crown by luck and my mother finding her true mate, the son of a chancellor from the western sea; he moved here from a smaller pod in the Sea of Eternal Night with no delusions of grandeur or ulterior motives, yet loyal to their king. My father has no desire to rule; he simply loved my mother until she took her last breath, the end of a harpoon embedded deep in her chest.
I was only two years old at the time.
“Everything okay?”
His question brings me back to the present, and I smile. Nodding. “I’m well, just a bit famished.”
“You got in late?” This time, it’s not a question but a direct observation. One that needs a response he won’t dig too deep into. “One would say early morning, to be exact.”
“I did, but with good reason.” He waves me forward to take a seat, and I’m left with no choice but to accept the chair pulled back by Orion. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Princess.” Grandfather smiles at the display with fondness in his eyes, a clear desire for me to accept this match. One he’s mentioned in passing before, but I worry the time for a more direct command is coming. To him, a mate is a compromise between two people who find gain through the union.
Me? I’ll only accept a fated match. My soulmate.
“It’s good to see you two getting along.”
“Why wouldn’t we?” I ask, picking up one of the sea grapes and popping it into my mouth. The skin bursts beneath my teeth, sweet and tart all at once, like a ripened plum kissed by salt. They’re tiny, but their taste lingers on my tongue, and I can’t help the honest grin that stretches across my lips.
I’m reminded of afternoons with my father after a fighting lesson; he always brought some as a reward.
“Of course, you would.” Grandfather’s hand pats my arm, his tone indulgent. “But I’m still curious about your whereabouts last night, Nerissa. Where were you?”
“I might’ve done some recon work last night.”
“And did you find anything?” My nod has him exhaling roughly, his scales vibrating along his arms and chest. “Where? What did you see?”
“I followed a pirate ship?—”
