Caged by the Ruthless Thief (Veiled City Book 3) by Ellie Pond

Author:Ellie Pond [Pond, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mountain Keep Publishing
Published: 2023-11-19T16:00:00+00:00

26

ANNABELLE

Marina was late. I get it. I would be nervous too. She chattered at me all the way over from the Zaffiro dome. This is her chance to get her pod started. Once everyone knows that one of her brothers has taken a mate, males will be more interested in her, knowing what sort of alliances her brothers are making.

I’m thinking her not having a mate isn’t only her brother’s fault. She’s a lot. I get the feeling that Marina has never known a second that she didn’t fill with chatter. And she’s thrilled to have me for a sister-in-pod. I have to laugh, that’s not what they’re called. But I don’t remember from my cultural studies. There are several Glyden mermen she would love to sink her claws into—her words, not mine—and I’ve jotted their names down at her request, but I’m not sure yet if I’ll put in a good word for her or warn them off. I’m the return of Poseidon’s mate, as well, which she couldn’t stop talking about. That and this year’s shoes, her dress, what color of bedding she wants for her pod bed . . .

I can’t stop thinking about it either—Nico being the return of Poseidon, not sheet colors. I can only imagine what he went through, and I can’t stop thinking about the wound I saw on his neck. I’ve spent hours scrolling through all the pictures from his return. Yes, I heard his voice. We’ve talked, but it’s not the same. My thoughts flick back to how pale he was, how I’m fairly certain that Castor and Holter were holding him up for his impromptu speech. How he hasn’t been seen publicly since then. How I need to touch both him and Holter. Castor too.

My stomach is in knots. The organza scarf Marina gave me to cover Eros’s bite mark isn’t going to stop them from knowing. That’s the point, right? Everyone will know. The city is massive—not as big as New York, but bigger than Boston. And yet everyone seems to know everything that’s going on. They have so much advanced technology that it allows them time to rumble around in everyone else’s business. And if they want to, I can’t stop them. I can only stop what I care about. What I care about right now is finding my mates.

Marina’s mother has taken the opportunity to fill my electronic dance card. I was three steps into the room when a Zaffiro male who didn’t tell me his name took my hand and led me out onto the floor. Eros explained this ball is all mermaid’s choice, no dance cards needed, even though we still have them. But a mermaid can do what she wants at this ball.

It’s gorgeous in here, but I can’t enjoy it. The wonder and awe of the city are gone for me now. It’s dark, so dark. My body is on fire with longing to be with them. We’re dancing the minnow, and I don’t care if I’m crushing this male’s toes.

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