Page 57 of Cruel Tides

My father’s methods were flawed, and surviving his treatment hadn’t meant I was without weaknesses. Each hard lesson hadn’t only wounded my body but also left holes in my mind that neither time nor magic could heal.

Panic. Fear. Rage.

And now I was full of weaknesses.

Some days, it felt like I had so many holes in me, so many vulnerabilities, that I might collapse in on myself—a crown prince too weak to withstand the weight of his title.

And to survive through the days, I did whatever it took to distract others from the truth. That I wasn’t superior, that I wouldn’t ever live up to my father’s expectations.

So now, as pain worked through my head, magic pulled at my arm, and the fear of seeing the kingdom I was meant to protect overrun plagued my thoughts… Well, it all felt like it might finally break me. Like the holes in me were suddenly far too large. And that was why I’d deflected, shifting the attention to Kai. I knew he could handle it, and I’d been successful in my efforts.

But the price had been high. Kai was in Claira’s favor now, and I was on the outskirts. She’d felt some sympathy for me when she’d learned that I’d somehow fallen into the water, but that sympathy had vanished now that I’d made an ass of myself by unfairly berating her other mate.

The uncomfortable sensation in my arm gradually heightened as we moved, distracting me enough that I was only half listening when Kai whispered, “My claspers might not withdraw into my tail like their dicks do, but that doesn’t mean they feel any less.”

Claira’s eyes opened wider, and Kai waited before moving again, like he thought she might wish to push him away, but she didn’t. Then while Barren did the strenuous work of moving us through the water, Kai’s tail started swaying rhythmically, lightly brushing against Claira’s.

Claira leaned in as if to mumble something against his ear when a shudder worked over Kai’s shoulders and down his spine, ending at the sharp tip of his tail.

A few days ago, this would have made me rage like Laverne was raging, her nose pitched and eyes narrowing on the two of them as she swam wide circles around us. But not now.

I’d known something might happen between them the moment I’d left Claira alone in Kai’s rented bedchamber. I’d feared what would happen if Kai woke up and they came together, but now I knew it was mostly a sense of relief.

Kai would keep her safe if there was a time when I couldn’t.

I’d make sure of it.

Even if the trident inside me wasn’t an issue, one day I would be expected to rule, and Kai was the ninth in line for his throne. Claira could be happy and be provided for when my duty kept me bound to the Atlantic. And then, one day, when the trident’s power tore me apart?—

Claira’s gasp pulled me from my thoughts. “I left my shell in my bag!” Her head smacked against Barren’s chest as she struggled to look back. “Do you think Dad left yet? We have to go get it.”

Rather than jumping to obey her, Barren’s tail beat harder against the water.

“Your phone, too,” she said, her chin tilting to look up at the bottom of Barren’s jaw.

Barren’s voice was as hard as rocks clashing against steel. “There’s no need to rely on the dark spawn’s magic when you have us.”

Claira’s expression shifted to dread. “Well, yeah, but…” Then she sighed. “I guess you’re right,” she mumbled, though she didn’t look any less worried. “I hope Dad doesn’t accidentally touch it when he brings my bag inside.”

“He’ll be fine, Claira,” Kai soothed, but she looked too deep in thought to be listening.

“No, no, no.” The hand at the end of the arm I was holding balled into a fist. She bit her lip, her head shaking. “We didn’t bring any clothes with us!”

“I never bring clothes with me,”Kai’s pet chimed in, unhelpful.

“We’ve only got Kai’s shirt and your brace, Barren. That’s it,” Claira explained, but I wasn’t seeing the issue.

“So?” I asked, shrugging.

“So,” she shot back, “you guys are going to benakedthe second we dry off on land.”

I shrugged again. “That’s fine.”

“That’snotfine, Lee! Humans don’t just walk around beaches naked.” She paused then, her lips twitching. “Well, okay. Some do. Most don’t.” She turned up to Barren, her face flushed. “Or does your island palace happen to be surrounded by nude beaches?”

Barren’s jaw tightened as he considered the question. “Mmh,” was the last thing I heard before the sea whirled around me, and everything went black.

The next thing I knew, we were stopped, and Claira’s sympathy for me was back as she frantically called out my name. “Lee! What’s wrong?”

---