Everlost (18 page)

“We’re biding our time,” Grommet corrected.

He thought about his foiled plan to leave with Tatiana. With spies watching the gates, they would have been caught, he would have been dead. Then Tatiana would be alone with these snakes. “Damn Blanchard.”

Grommet clapped Jacob on the back. “Stay positive. We still have the upper fin.”

But the panic swelled inside Jacob, the loss of power suffocating.

“How? Our numbers have dwindled and the people—they’re practically starving. Once they hear Badger’s been arrested, all the Queen has to say is she’ll grant pardons to anyone else who turns in a rebel, and we’re sunk.”

Grommet’s face hardened. “And commit communal suicide? They’d be branded traitors on both sides. Not worth it. No one has been escorted to Bone Island yet. Azor is all hiss, no bite. We have to stick to the plan and wait for Jack.”

Jacob’s pectoral fins flared. “I can’t just wait.”

“Jack’s coming and he has friends on the outside. They’re bringing weapons and poisons, and then we’ll bust everyone free from here, ambush the palace, and set Tatiana as Queen since she’s royal now. And when that happens, you’ll be fighting a horde of mermen to get your hooks into Azor. She’ll be as good as yours after that.”

Jacob laughed at the thought of being king. “So optimistic.”

“You have to be strong, and on guard for the future queen of the new Natatoria.”

Jacob looked down at his hands. “She thinks I’m lying to her.”

“It’s the promise. Don’t worry about it.”

Jacob stretched his bicep, flexing the scared bite mark. “She thinks I just want to abduct her to punish her for staying with Azor.”

“You always hurt the ones you love.”

Jacob shrugged, thinking of how sexy her feisty side was, before he slugged Grommet in the chest. “Knock it off.”

He backed away, hands up. “I’m just putting it out there. And rumor is Azor hasn’t even spent one night with her yet. Bet they're not even bumping uglies, if you ask me.”

Jacob’s fanned his fins, spikes pointed outward. “I’d like you to kindly stay out of her bedroom, if you don’t mind.”

“I’m just saying, it’s a little odd. She doesn’t sleep in his room either, from what the girls say.” He pointed over his shoulder to the kitchen with his thumb. “They’ve got a peephole.”

Jacob wrinkled up his face. “What—?”

“I’m just saying… it’s odd.”

“News flash, Grommet. There’ve been no rogue promisings, if you’re trying to suggest something.”

“Az-hole is a son of a bass, but if Tatiana were mine, you wouldn’t be able to keep me away from her. And thank Poseidon he’s not tickling her regular, or you’d be one mad hornet fish. And you know they’re definitely not—” he pounded his fists together twice, “doing the
nasty
.”

Jacob shoved into Grommet, hard. “Shut your mouth right now, or I promise I’ll—”

Grommet held up his hands as Jacob flipped his trident, pointing it at his chest. “Okay. Sorry. I’m just suggesting he ain’t really promised to her and when the time comes, you might have only one choice.”

“To run?”

Grommet eyed the trident warily. “No, stupid. To kiss her.”

Jacob blinked at him, then shook his head and laughed, lowering the weapon. “How in the heck will that solve anything?”

“Well…” He smirked. “Maybe it’ll clear her head for a bit so she can see she doesn’t feel anything for that slimy bag of sh—”

“Clear her head?” Jacob pulled his shoulders taut. “No. More like mess with mine. Didn’t your mother teach you anything about the bond?”

Grommet rolled his eyes. “Well it’s either that, or waiting for Jack to come back and—” he drew a line over his throat.

Jacob leaned forward, threatening. “If I kiss her, it won’t be because she needs a distraction. Got it?”

“Suit yourself.” Grommet laughed, then swam off.

Jacob’s breath sucked in short, his heart racing. He turned and looked to the porthole. Sure, Azor was being a dick, but he’d never perform promise polygamy, not with his responsibilities and ambitions of the throne. Jacob would rather think him a cold hearted snake incapable of love. And right now, in Tatiana’s condition, kissing her wasn’t the answer. Not only because he would want her all the more, but because she’d know his true feelings. Then she really could hurt him. No. Jacob had to remember his kiss was powerless in the shadow of her bond to Azor.

There were only three ways he’d kiss her. Most important, because she wanted him to, second, because Azor was dead, or third, she’d somehow broken her bond to him. Nothing else could sever that. And at this rate, with how she defended Azor under the promising spell, that would never happen.

He’d have to shut it all off and wait. Hope he wasn’t fooling himself. Or he’d go insane.

19

: : :

Feathers

Upon surfacing through the porthole, Azor lifted Tatiana into his arms and carried her past her room and down the hall. She squealed on the inside, trying to keep her composure, reminded of the human custom of carrying one’s bride over the threshold. Was this the moment? The one she’d been waiting for? She smiled, finally happy. Jacob had been so terribly wrong about Azor.

At the double doors, he paused. “Close your eyes.”

Tatiana’s heart thumped wildly and her lids slipped shut. What did he have planned? Her hair danced with the fluidity of his movements. A soft clang of iron signaled he’d shut the door. “You can open them now.”

She peered momentarily into his dark eyes and startled. Somehow she’d expected blue-grey ones to peer back at her instead.

“You okay?” he asked quickly.

“Yes, I…” She turned and her voice hitched in her throat. Billowing blue fabric hung over the gargoyles head and a white silken sheet lay on the bed.

He cleared his throat. “I took the hint my décor made you uncomfortable.”

“Oh.” She put her hand to her mouth, remembering she’d hidden their disfigured faces with her clothes the other night.

Sconces filled with blue light lit the way to the bed like a runway. Small colorful fish darted about almost in a fireworks display around them. The only thing missing was a little music to capture the mood.

“It’s so lovely.” Her lips pulled into a smile.

“Good.” He took her hand and led her to the bed. “With everything that's happened, I figured it was the least I could do… to make it up to you for being so
distracted
.”

Tatiana’s soul sang at the words. Jacob’s lies hit harder. Azor had been concerned and her plan had worked. He’d finally seen she was worth spending time with, so much so that he’d made things romantic. She trailed her fingers lightly down his chest; her man in shining scales was finally ready to be her mate. “I—thank you. It’s so beautiful.”

“Just like you.” He sat and sculled his hand on the sheet, inviting her to sit.

She floated down, her hands trembling. She felt so inept—inexperienced. His confident smile warmed her and she soaked in the sight of him—his hair, his smile, his teeth. She wanted to exude that same confidence, do something bold. Movies where women brazenly took off their tops came to mind. Should she do the same? Or just start by performing the mating dance? Or both?

She floated up, reaching behind to undo the button, when Azor stayed her hand. “Let’s take things slow.”

He produced a red strip of cloth and waved it in the current, before he wrapped it over her eyes. She bit her lip, trying not to giggle, plunged into semi darkness. “What are you doing?”

“You’ll see,” he said with a throaty voice.

His tongue was at her neck, tracing her collarbone, his hands caressing her stomach and hips. A loud gurgle radiated from her throat, making an obnoxious burp.

“Sorry,” she apologized as her cheeks heated.

“Hmmm,” he said, halting his hands. “I have an idea.”

She held her breath, waiting for him, a bundle of nerves.

“Open your mouth.” His voice was at her ear again.

 “Okay.”

A tingle of what he’d do rolled deep in her belly. Something smooth and oval was placed on her tongue. She broke the skin with her teeth, tasting sweet—a grape.

“That was a grape. Too easy.”

“How about this one.”

She quickly chewed and swallowed the grape, the last piece too bitter for her liking. Was the grape spoiled? She opened her mouth for the next delicacy. Bumpy and small, she knew right away.

“A raspberry.” Again, something sour lingered after she swallowed.

“Try this one,” he said, his lips tugging on her earlobe.

Citrus and tang filled her mouth. “An orange. Too easy.”

Tiring of the game, she reached for him unable to find him in the current, preferring his taste in her mouth instead.

“When do I get to feed you?” she asked, her tongue suddenly lazy.

“In a minute.”

From nowhere, a blueberry popped into her mouth and she chewed, but ripped off the blindfold shortly after. “My turn.”

Azor hovered directly above her. He waggled his finger at her. “Uh uh… I have another game.”

Before she could protest, he snatched up her wrists behind her back and wove the tie around them, binding her.

“Oh, my.” She giggled, a silly flighty sound to her ears.

He slid behind her, his lips traveling from her ear down her neck. She wiggled as his whiskers tickled at her collarbone.

“Stopppp,” she squirmed.

He took down the straps of her top, trailing his finger where fabric met skin. “What’s down here?” He purred with his chin on her shoulder.

Tatiana snuggled into him, her inhibitions lowered. “Why don’t you find out?” she said, her words slurring.

“Hmmm…” He trailed his hands down her chest, then around to her back and stopped at the top of her skirt, unbuttoning the button.

With swift movements, he swiveled her around by her hips and laid her flat on the bed. Her head swirled in glee, the room spinning. “Wheeee,” she said, exaggerating the E’s on purpose.

He caught hold of the band encircling her waist and tugged. She giggled, shimmying her hips, and a plume of pheromones launched into the current around them. Azor’s face contorted, a grimace almost. Tatiana laughed, surprised by his odd reaction.

Once the skirt was free of her, she knew what would happen next. She tried to watch him over her shoulder, but the pair of Azors hovering over her—zigzagged and blurred in and out of focus.

“Hold still,” she said, trying to grab him, then remembering her hands had been tied. “This isn’t fun. I want to touch you.”

From nowhere, he produced a feather duster worm in his hands and a devilish smile on his face.

“No!” she squealed. “Don’t touch me with that.”

He tickled her fin then moved up slowly to her backside. She shrieked, boarding on a siren scream.

“Okay, okay,” he said, tossing the feathered thing into the current. “Don’t siren or Jacob will come.”

She laughed, her eyes rolling back into her head, and thought of Jacob—jealous Jacob with his blue-grey eyes and tussled brown hair. Wouldn’t that interruption be embarrassing?

But she didn’t care. Her body, vibrant and alive, zinged with electricity. Her eyelids, though, felt more like dead weights. She willed them open, wanting to see Azor as he touched her. Or was he touching her? A million little soft flutters ticked her scales, all over. She loved this soft, delectable space where the hurts faded—where she was finally happy—free.

She reached out for Azor, her arms magically unpinned, but couldn’t find him. She couldn’t even find the strength to open her eyes to look. Encased in warmth, she didn’t care. His scent was heavy in the water and she’d never felt this magnificent.

20

: : :

Secret Places

Jacob lingered at Azor’s door, warring with himself about opening it, just to look in on her. After he’d escorted her upstairs, she’d slept the entire afternoon, missing dinner. Her soft sleep-induced murmurings had to be enough to comfort him.

He let the notion go and slithered down the porthole. Why did he insist on torturing himself? He should just go to bed and leave the worrying up to the Prince, but he couldn’t. Things didn’t add up.

When Badger had arrived, Azor seemed more concerned about his arrest and returning to the palace, than rejoining his lover. And he’d left her side so quickly—minutes really—and didn’t seem all that much
happier
. And even at the late hour now, Azor hadn’t returned from the palace. What kept him so preoccupied?

Could Grommet have been right? Jacob shook his head, pushing that idea away once again. Azor couldn’t have committed promising-polygamy and kept it hidden this entire time. Otherwise there’d be a jealous—if not pregnant—mermaid ready to claw Tatiana’s eyes out and difficult to keep quiet. No, Jacob would rather think Azor’s heart was too hard for true love.

“Jacob,” Grommet whispered. “What are you doing up so late? Catch some sleep. I’ve got the doors.”

“Yeah,” Jacob yawned. After searching for Tatiana the entire night prior, some shuteye would be favorable. “Thanks.”

Jacob swam past Grommet with a nod, thankful to have such a good friend.

“Hey, ahhh…” Grommet said slowly. “Have you been to the dungeon since you’ve been back?”

“No. Why?”

“Maybe you should check out the newest arrests.”

Jacob scowled. Most all of his fellow rebels had already been arrested, sans Grommet. And watching Badger dragged in wearing shackles was hard enough. He swam inside anyway, but Grommet couldn’t have prepared him for their latest arrestee.

Jacob’s mouth slipped open as he stared at the merman caged before him. “Jax?”

Jax popped an eye open, gaining focus. He smiled. “Brother. Nice to see you again.”

“You’re supposed to be …”

“Yeah, I know. Dead.” Jax shrugged. “The King can’t keep a good merman down, or should I say up?” He chuckled, pointing to the ceiling.

Jacob gave his brother a quick once over, trying to get past the shock. The last time they’d seen one another was at dinner with their parents before everything happened—the accusation of treason and his brother’s sentence to Bone Island. Yet he hovered there in the current—alive and smiling, no less.