Page 20 of Surfaces
“No.”
“Oh, I know you won’t let me. I’d just love to see Keelan’s reactions.” Her gaze sparkled with amusement.
I rolled my eyes. “Just go while I make myself decent enough to meet with him. We don’t have much time before the tournament.”
Gita did my hair up in a soft circlet that had curls escaping from it. She put on minimal gold eyeshadow and a deep ruby rouge. But she absolutely refused to let me wear the dress she’d selected for the day.
“It will ruin the effect. Here, wear this instead.” She handed me a short, lacy white dress with a neckline that dipped to my navel. “But be back before we have to leave. It will take me about ten minutes to get you dressed.”
“Yes, Commander,” I teased.
She rolled her eyes and shooed me away.
I swam off with my two shadows trailing me, making my way to Mayor Deacon’s private courtyard, a square in the middle of his mansion that was free of coral, and let the light from the surface filter down in gorgeous, dancing ribbons.
Unlike the rest of Reef City, which burst with bright colors like an underwater garden, this courtyard was made of stacks of grey stone rising in columns like smoke turned solid. A sunken statue here and there broke up the geometry of the space, but overall, the feeling was simplistic and peaceful as compared to the chaos of the city. I took a moment to breathe deeply and appreciate the cleansing nature of the courtyard before going in search of the siren I needed to speak to.
Keelan sat near the back of the square on a boulder that had been carved into a chair, his eyes downcast, watching the sand beneath his feet shuffle lazily in the sway of the water.
His hair was back to its usual white-blond shade, green lightning bolt zagging through the side. He was shirtless, though his left arm was bandaged and strapped to his torso while black pants encased everything except for his golden feet. Utterly beautiful, like all sirens, he was typically also utterly silly—but not today. His expression was solemn, unlike the teasing, playful man I’d come to know. He was the closest suitor of my age, and his baby cheeks showed it, particularly now, when he frowned.
Behind him, rolling in gentle somersaults, his pet sea turtle, Mr. Whelk, played. The golden-brown and green little creature dangled a strip of seaweed from his mouth like a dog might drag a bit of rope back home in Evaness, always ready for a game of tug-of-war. Mr. Whelk saw me, pausing his flips for a moment to blink his bulbous eyes in my direction before deciding that I didn’t have treats and therefore wasn’t worth his time.
I cleared my throat gently to get Keelan’s attention; he’d been so engrossed in thought that he hadn’t heard me approach at all.
“Morning,” I greeted him while waving Paavo and Ugo back. They took up posts around opposite sides of the courtyard, facing sideways rather than staring at us directly, the best privacy that guards could give in a space like this.
Keelan’s amber eyes rose to mine and the torment in his gaze was clear. His look was as heavy as a bucket full of well-water and though he didn’t cry, sorrow splashed down his features.
Alarm bells went off inside my head and I was instantly swept into an internal debate. Soft hand or hard? How did one best snap a man such as Keelan out of his depressive funk? I swam closer with a soft smile. I’d been confident when I’d spoken with Sahar but now I was unsettled by Keelan’s demeanor.
“Keelan…”
“I hate the idea of quitting but—”
“Then don’t.”
“I can’t compete.”
“You don’t have to.” I joined him on the rock, my legs brushing up against his as I sat. I could have scooted away but I didn’t. Instead, I stared at him and tried to gather the words to express what I needed without scaring him off. He was jovial and happy and flirted up a storm but that was just who he was. He spread joy around like it was butter. That didn’t mean that he had the same soft feelings for me that I had for him. I searched for words but didn’t find them.
He plucked at his bandaged arm, avoiding eye contact, trying to decipher what I meant but failing and turning toward me, confusion etched onto his face. “I don’t have to compete?”
"I've found a stand-in for you."
He shook his head quickly. "Absolutely not--"
"It would only be for this one event. There are exceptional circumstances."
Keelan's face grew even more somber, which I hadn't thought was possible. "First of all, that's not fair to any of the others. Secondly, I could never ask someone."
"I already asked someone. And he said yes."
"Who?" Keelan's tone was both incredulous and annoyed.
"My guard, Felipe."
"That's not fair to ask him; he can't say no!"
