Secrets Among the Tides: A Mermaid Reverse Harem Romance (Royal Secrets Book 1) by Aleera Anaya Ceres

Author:Aleera Anaya Ceres [Ceres, Aleera Anaya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Kai

STUPID ANNIVERSARY DINNER...

My lip twitched into a mocking smile. “Princess.” I bowed low and when I straightened, had the satisfaction of seeing her face go red. My eyes lingered over her modest pink dress and golden clips keeping her long purple tresses back.

Her teeth were biting down hard on her lower lip and I couldn’t help but stare at her mouth. She released her lip and stuck her tongue out to trail over them. There was something different about the shape of her lips, the arch of her throat…

Her words had been more than enough proof that there was no change in her. She was still the same spoiled little Princess she always has been.

Still, I smiled dutifully, pretending as though I hadn’t heard a word as I looked from her to the captain, who was leaning a bit too close to her, instead of trailing behind. When he saw where my gaze lingered, he took a few strokes back and stiffened, his hand going to the hilt of the weapon at his waist. As if I’d be capable of hurting my betrothed. No. Even if I felt nothing for her, I would never harm her. Not when I—my kingdom—relied on this engagement.

“How are you today?” I asked.

She let out a breath. “I’m fine, your Highness.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

An awkward moment of silence stretched out, almost infinitely, before us. One of my advisors coughed, breaking the tension. I turned to them, to their sour faces. My father had insisted they come with me to Thalassar. To begin grooming me on the foreign politics of this kingdom and on the Princess. As if I needed their help to understand her. As if I needed them trailing behind my every move.

“You are dismissed,” I told them firmly. Their eyes widened, but they stayed where they were. They never wanted to obey me. I cleared my throat. “You may take your leave…now.” They looked at me reluctantly, looked at the Princess and I knew what they were thinking. They didn’t think it safe for me to be alone with her before we were wed. It was scandalous, to go around without a chaperone. What century did they think we were in? I had no interest whatsoever in her and her guard was there, besides.

They turned around and swam away slowly. Only when they were gone did I turn back to Princess Odele. “Princess, will you take a swim with me about the palace?” I offered her my arm out of politeness, almost expecting a clever or irritable retort. If she didn’t, there was nothing I had to lose. Taking her around the palace gave me the perfect excuse to get away from my advisors. If she declined, it gave me the perfect excuse to get away from her.

“That would be lovely.” She smiled widely at me, surprising me entirely as she placed her arm in mine.

We began our swim. It was slow and awkward those first few moments, but then the silence stretched into something far more comfortable as I peeked sideways at her.

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