Page 60 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

“Not tonight.” My voice is gruff, but it’s not from being attracted to her. It’s what’s going on behind me.

“I understand. Friendship is important to you. But what about your future?” He shrugs and wanders back to the bed.

In my peripheral vision, I see him tell her my answer. She smiles at me and waves. That’s the fucking thing. There’s not a thing wrong with her other than her not being Annabelle. Another mermaid might have been upset at being turned down, but not Saraphina.

When I turn back, Holter is coming. Eros thrusts into her, and under them all is Nico.

The dance floor thins as more pods take to alcoves and mattresses. Ten more minutes, and everyone will either be occupied or up on the balcony having dinner.

I’m not hungry in the least, but I should head up to the balcony. Away from them, away from anyone else thinking I might want to play for the night. I don’t.

Never.

The thought of touching another makes my chest tighten. I’m going to have to get over it. Perhaps I’m the one who needs to go to thehagissa. Have them take my memories, my desires. The feeling of her smooth skin beneath my fingers. The witch will have to use all her powers to make me content with another mermaid. Putrid acid races through my gut. I’d rather have no one. But then Atlas has proved that a poor idea. He’s not a terrible king, and his faults aren’t because of his lack of mate and pod. But the city isn’t going to accept another unmated male. Not now. Not so soon after.

I can move away. I must. From the balcony, I feel eyes staring at me. My fathers, Julius and Otto, are up there talking, their heads close together. They are the oldest of my mother’s mates. My dad, Julius, glares at me. I’m summoned.

The orchestra stops, and their final piece is met with scattered applause from the balcony. Recorded music creeps through the hall. I’m on my own. Standing alone in a room full of love and sex. I stride to the balcony.

“Castor,” Dad says.

“Dad.”

He hands me a glass of warm seaweed gin—no doubt Nereus Nectar, the strongest brand available—and tea. I used to think it was the most hideous drink on the planet. But one sip of it calms the tidal wave of nerves in my stomach. “Just because a plan has been laid out for you doesn’t mean you need to follow it through to completion.”

Father’s mouth is tight, his eyes narrowed. He might feel differently, but he’s not going to say it now. He’ll tell me later.

Well, I’ve got no time for later. “And what do you think about this?”

Dad shakes his head for Father. “Castor has always done as he damn well pleases, and thinking we can talk some common sense into him is a mistake.” He turns to me. “But we made you that way. We made all of you podlets so you could think on your own. You’re an adult. I think you know what you should do. The question is, whatwillyou do?” He raises his glass to me.

And for the millionth time in my life, Dad is right. Granted, I’ve only acknowledged a few of them as correct. Now that I want him to tell me what to do, he’s not going to tell me. But I’m pulled apart like I’m a bait ball in the middle of a shark feeding frenzy. Part of me wants to fulfill my duty, the rest... the rest is pure want and desire. Until I can wrestle the two together, I’ll have to live with the pain and uncertainty.

“Do you want a ride back to Glyden?” Father raises his glass to me. I’ve only had one drink, but I nod. Going back with them to the tower will keep me from doing something public that I can’t commit to, at least not yet.

I look back to the alcove where Annabelle, Nico, Holter, and Eros are tucked out of sight. I don’t belong there. “Yes, that would be good.”

Father puts his arm around my shoulder. “Let’s get you home.”

Domes built as ball domes are different than others. Dad guides us down a corridor, the sort of corridor where you question whether you should be going down, if not for your father guiding you.

The rear airlock has none of the opulence of the spectacle out front. It does, however, house three of my mother’s finestomadas. I sink into the rear seat, once again a podlet as the chauffeur drives us home.

Father pats my shoulder. “You’ll be fine, son.”

I don’t feel like myself. This isn’t me. I know what I want, and I get it. I solve problems. This one is no different.

The currents pulse with activity tonight. There are displays of dome solidarity all over the city. Outside of Permula, the water shimmers pink. I don’t have a clue as to how they’ve done it. I’ll have to find out. Annabelle would be interested in how they’ve done it.

I glance at the ball dome disappearing behind us. No, I have to move on. But when I close my eyes, it’s her I see. I’m obsessed.

29

EROS

Did I expect the Vividaria festival ball to end like this? Never in a thousand years. I expected to swim for my life. Maybe with a nice gaping stab wound made by the Poseidon trident.

I roll off the mattress. It’s extraordinarily soft. Every year they’re different, but I’ve never spent the entire night on one. This one doesn’t encourage sleeping. But that’s never the point of the Vividaria ball. Bringing the domes together, that’s the point. You’ve got to vary the genome somehow.

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