Page 68 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

“Me? I need to behave? Nope. We’re in this together. I know there are things we are going to talk about. Soon.” I turn to face Nico. “But this week is about getting along.”

“And sex,” Eros says, raising his hand.

“Put your hand down, Zaffiro.” Nico runs his hand over his opposite wrist.

“No. That’s not what this week is about. I may not have been born here, but I’ve learned enough in my time, and all the reading I did on theCentauri.” I sigh. “I’ve learned that for a pod to not implode, we have to work together as a team.”

“I want to be on your team, Sunshine.”

“You forced your way in,” Holter says without looking away from the windshield.

Eros holds up his finger. “And you? What did you do that differs from—”

“Stop Eros. You too, Nico.” I shake my head. Nico hasn’t said anything yet, but he will.

“Do I have to turn thisomadaaround?” Holter laughs. I know he’s trying to bring some levity to the situation, but Nico and Eros are about to go at it.

And that’s not okay. I hold my hand up, palm out flat. But they look at me oddly. “What?”

“Your hand, Sunshine.”

“What about my hand?” I turn it around and look at my palm. There’s a crescent mark in the center. A spot. Blue and round like a bruise. “I don’t know how I did that. It doesn’t hurt.” I glare at it like it’s not my hand.

Eros and Nico are staring at me like something is really wrong. Eros’s mouth is open. This isn’t a bruise. My heart thuds in my chest. Somewhere along the way, I’ve lost the scientist in me. It has changed me, my molecular DNA unwound and rewritten. How could there not be a problem? I don’t have a fluke. But everything else is the same. I feel like a mermaid. But not having been born one, I don’t know how it’s supposed to feel.

I check my left palm, but it’s normal, the same as the Annabelle that left South Dakota, fleeing from her uncle to make a new life for myself. Well, I’ve at least accomplished that. I have a new life. It’s nothing like I thought it would be.

The pattern on my palm is mesmerizing. It’s not a bruise, but when I push on it, it pulses, changing in shape.

“Is this something I should be worried about?” I ask.

“No.” Holter’s smile differs from the two in the backseat. “It’s what happens when a mermaid is beginning to become fertile. Not for everyone, not for the first time. Some get surprises. When the ring is closed, you are completely fertile.”

“Oh.” I push at it some more. I’m not sure if I’m trying to close the ring or keep it from happening. “How... how long does it take?”

“Our scientists haven’t been able to make any predictions on it.” Holter steers theomadathrough the agricultural part of the city, past Permula, which in the artificial daylight glistens like a giant pearl at the bottom of the sea. Its massive pink flow of colored water is gone. We’re streaming by it. There’s so much to see, so much of the city I haven’t seen, but I can’t focus on it. Not with this mark on my hand. How did I not notice it before? I’ve seen many mermaids, but I haven’t noticed any marks on their hands. None. Surely, I must have seen one mermaid with the mark. I think back to both of the balls I’ve attended. The females’ hands held up during parts of the dancing. But I can’t remember any marks.

I stare at it, and when I look up, we’re piloting behind the agricultural buildings. They are blindingly bright, and inside they glow with a green halo. I really want to see what they are like. There is so much I want to see now that I know I’m staying.

I stare at my hand again. I’m staying forever. I’m never going to see my dad again. But at least he will be taken care of. I’m never going to see Marlee or Aunt Blair. But on the bright side, I’ll never see Uncle Russell, either.

And it clicks in me. “So I can have a podlet?”

“No, the circle isn’t complete. It usually takes four pod mates.” Holter turns the corner.

“Four.” I suck in my lips. Four? I read that somewhere, but I hadn’t quite internalized it. I’ve just been focused on not being a duchess. Four. Yeah, I’m not ready for that.

I trace the circle on my palm. Or rather the almost circle. I close my eyes and see my old life. I’m happy. I couldn’t go back. I wouldn’t be happy there. But a bubble of panic races out of me.

“What about my friends at school? The Skyrothasians.” Theomadais thick with tension instantly. “Wait, what I mean is, can we get a message to them and let them know I don’t want to be rescued?”

Holter lets out a sigh. “Yes, that’s a good idea. You should write something, and we’ll make sure they get it.” Holter glances quickly back at Nico. “Right?”

“Yeah, I’m sure Castor can get it to them.”

The air is thick at the mention of his name. I know Holter and Nico want him to stay away from me. They think seeing him hurts me. It doesn’t. I’m fine.

I clench my hands together. “That would be great if you think Castor would help?”

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