A Court of Fire and Frost: A Romeo and Juliet Retelling: Legends of Love by Daniela A. Mera & Elayna R. Gallea

Author:Daniela A. Mera & Elayna R. Gallea [Mera, Daniela A. & Gallea, Elayna R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Golden Glow Press
Published: 2023-10-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

And To Your Left, Aqualis

NATHANIEL

Aqualis is a place that is simply not made for Fae. Temporary spells are available at the land entrance, but they make me claw at my skin in desperation. I cannot think of anything other than the suffocating pressure on my lungs or the searing sensation on my neck.

When I look over, Elva is wonderful. She takes my hand and drags me into the water. At first, the saltwater stings my eyes, and the suffocating feeling intensifies. But only for a moment.

All too suddenly, I can feel water rush through new growths on the sides of my neck. They feel odd, out of place, but my chest rises and falls normally.

I stroke my fingers along the bumpy ridges as I look at Elva. Damn. We grew gills.

“Leave it to the Mer,” I grumble, staring at my once-beautiful hands now webbed like a frog.

Elva’s feet move up and down in graceful waves. She discarded her shoes on land, and a pair of brown fins now peek out under her pant cuffs, but they suit her. Everything suits her beautiful body.

The water is bitterly cold, but I cast a bubble of warmth around us, keeping away the frost. Schools of fish pass us, their scales glimmering in the murky sunlight like dozens of gems. As we descend further into the depth, the water pressure still doesn’t harm us.

Lanterns of bioluminescent plants sway gently around us, their tips reaching toward the surface. Two hefty hammerhead sharks guard the tunneled entrance to Aqualis, the Ice Mer’s grand city. I am positive that no other Summer Fae has ever come to this place. The Ice Mer are not very welcoming to those on their own continent.

As we pass through the streets, I am acutely aware of two things. First, Elva knows her way to wherever we are going very well. This worries me slightly because I know she was engaged to the prince–I suppose they are possibly still engaged–we haven’t really talked about it. Second, there are no ‘other species’ besides us.

“Thanks for the heat,” Elva finally says over her shoulder as we tuck into a narrow empty street. I glimpse her tattoos that glow in the marine lights.

“Any time,” I say and speed up my swimming to join her at her side. “This feels peculiarly similar to flying. I feel… well, I don’t feel bored.”

She raises an eyebrow, her eyes dancing with affectionate amusement. “Really? Not bored? This is one of the best-kept secrets of our world. If they opened tourism here, I don’t doubt there would be those who never return on land.”

I scrunch up my forehead. “Yes, but don’t the Ice Mer kill anyone who gets too close to their city?”

“I never said there wasn’t a price to such secrecy.” She fixes her mouth into a grim line.

I want to continue talking to her, but the beauty of the surrounding buildings sweeps me away. All of them are vibrant hues of jewel-toned coral. I could have never

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