Just for Fins by Childs Tera Lynn

Just for Fins by Childs Tera Lynn

Author:Childs, Tera Lynn [Childs, Tera Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
ISBN: 9780062192158
Amazon: 0062192159
Goodreads: 13019704
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Published: 2012-07-03T07:00:00+00:00


Chapter 12

As I swim into the palace alone—the guards stopped at the gate to give a report to their commander, and Peri headed home—the palace housekeeper, Margarite, greets me at the front door.

“Welcome, Princess,” she says, giving me a deep bow.

I want to roll my eyes at the unnecessary ceremony, but I don’t have the energy. I just want to find Quince and sushi and then talk to Daddy about everything I’ve learned so I can sleep for at least ten hours.

“Hello, Margarite,” I say. “Is Quince waiting for me in the kitchen?”

Her dark brows pinch into a puzzled expression. “Master Quince? He is not in the palace.”

“What?” My heart thumps, and a jolt of adrenaline enters my bloodstream. Not even the calming effects of the sea can soften my reaction. “He should be here by now. He— Where is my father?”

“In his office, Princess,” she says, her eyes filled with sympathy. “I believe he is awaiting your arrival.”

I don’t wait to hear the rest of whatever she’s saying. I take off as fast as my kicks—and an extra push of current from my new power—can carry me, racing through the halls toward Daddy’s office.

Quince left Seaview almost two full days ago. Even with his weak swimming skills, he should have gotten here sometime yesterday.

Images of everything that might have happened to him flash through my mind. Shark attack. Riptide. Ship propeller. Stronger-than-usual Gulf Stream current. He could have been swept all the way to Glacialis by now.

By the time I swim through Daddy’s door, my vision is blurry and I’m sure my teary eyes are sparkling like flecks of gold. My breath comes in short, fast gasps.

“Lily,” Daddy says as I enter, “I’ve been—”

He freezes midsentence when he sees the look on my face.

“Quince,” I blurt. “He’s supposed to be here. The first test. He’s been swimming for two days. We have to go find him!”

Daddy darts quickly from behind his desk and wraps me in a tight hug. “Mangrove,” he calls out to his secretary, “call the chief of the guard. We need to send out a search party.”

“He should be here by now,” I sob against Daddy’s chest. “What if he—what if—”

“Shh.” Daddy rubs a hand up and down my back. “I’m certain he is fine. He is a strong young man.”

“But he can’t swim.” I pull back and give Daddy a pleading look. “I mean, just barely. He’s been learning, but still, he only started a few—”

“We will find him,” Daddy says with such certainty that I want to believe him.

His assurance calms me enough to start thinking clearly. Daddy’s right, Quince is strong. Between my directions and his compass watch, he had to stay on the right path. Besides, he wasn’t alone.

“I sent two guards with him,” I say. “They would have protected him if anything came up.”

Daddy’s face turns stony. Blank. “You sent guards?”

“Yes,” I explain. “I had more than enough to spare, and I wanted them to watch him. Just in case. Why, is that a problem?”

He hesitates, thinking, before shaking his head.



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