I don’t make decisions for my clan based on keeping the selkie prince happy, she told me blandly. I’m truly sorry if my choices have caused any stress between you.
Yeah, and if I believed that … I didn’t need to see the sudden cagey look in her eye to know that she was playing me. Of course, a lot of what she’d done lately seemed to have been with the express intention of causing trouble between Kona and me. The fact that we were letting her, that we were falling right into line with her schemes, was no one’s fault but Kona’s and mine. I would even bet that Sabyn was making all those crazy comments to me, not just to get under Kona’s skin, but on direct order from her. The straightforward approach wasn’t really Hailana’s style.
Is that all you wanted? she asked. To find out about Kona and Sabyn?
That was my cue to leave, to get up from the desk and walk out before this meeting descended into the free-for-all our conferences so often became. I started to say yes, started to get up and swim to the door, but in the end, I couldn’t do it. There was another question burning inside of me, one that was so important I trembled with the need to have an answer.
Tempest? she prompted. Is there something else?
What was my mother’s real job for you?
I’m sorry?
You say she was a priestess, say that she was your right hand. You also tell me that you want me to follow in her wake, but you’ve never actually told me what she did for you.
That’s easy. Hailana’s eyes were frigid, ferocious, as they looked me over. She did whatever I asked of her. And she kept her mouth shut about doing it. In time, you’ll learn to do the same thing.
That was exactly what I was afraid of.
Chapter 16
I was numb when I left Hailana’s office, the terror inside of me so great that my mind just shut down. I couldn’t help it, didn’t know if I even wanted to. Any more and I was afraid I would start screaming and never, ever stop.
I didn’t know where to go, so I ended up wandering down the small, quaint streets at the back of the city. They were lined with antique stores filled with goods from ships lost to the ocean hundreds of years before, galleries with beautiful underwater sculptures and other waterproof art, even saltwater tea and taffy shops.
I walked into my favorite little drink place, ordered a red algae and dulse iced tea. As I waited for them to brew it, I walked over to the window, looked out into the courtyard. And saw Kona sitting there, nursing a Kombu beer and looking quite a bit worse for wear. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to find him here—he was the one who first showed me this place, after all.
The barista called my name, and I signed the credit slip that would be charged to Hailana—her version of a salary for me—then rounded up my tea and an ice pack or three before making my way out to where Kona was sitting. He glanced up when I slid into the seat next to him, did a double take. And then smiled the crazy, lopsided grin of his that had been making my heart flutter since the first time I saw it.
Tonight it was a little more lopsided than usual, thanks to Sabyn’s fists.
Looking good, I told him, pressing one of the ice packs against his bruised jaw.
Yeah, well, you should see the other guy.
I laughed, because I knew that was what he wanted. I can imagine.
His hand covered mine, where I was still holding the ice against his face. Neither of us said anything for a while, probably because we didn’t know where to start. Finally, figuring I might as well jump in, I said, I was at—
He spoke at the exact same time. I’m sorry.
We both paused, smiled some more. Ducked our heads. Who knew making up from a fight could be so awkward? Usually Kona just swooped me into his arms for the mother of all make-out sessions. Then again, I guess this fight was too serious to just be swept away in the current …
I was a jerk. I’m sorry, he told me. I knew you were upset, but I was too furious to care. It won’t happen again.
I shouldn’t have gotten so angry, I answered. I know Sabyn is a hot button for you, and if I’d just said we weren’t together you would have calmed down and we could have talked.
He closed his eyes, breathed in a long draw of water, then sighed it back out. I’m glad you weren’t with him.
And I’m glad you kicked his ass. He totally deserved it.
He really did. Kona pulled my hand from his cheek, brought it to his lips instead, and kissed the center of my palm in the way he knew drove me insane. I’m sorry I grabbed on to you like that. You should have kicked my ass.
I almost did.
He continued to press kisses up my palm to my wrist. He paused there, gave a long, lingering lick that had me shivering and clutching at his shoulders.
I love you, I murmured, pressing my own lips to the spot behind his ear, the one I knew made him crazy.
His arms came around me, lifted me onto his lap. I love you too.
I wrapped myself around him, grateful that I was in human form. He pulled me tight against him and I saw stars. Judging from his suddenly choppy breathing, I think Kona did as well. And then he kissed me, really kissed me, and it was everything I loved rolled into one endless moment.
A dazzling sunrise sweeping across the beach at dawn.
Cherry Garcia ice cream dribbling down my fingers on a hot summer day.
Catching that amazing, perfect wave and riding it all the way in.
I wanted to stay here forever, pressed against Kona so tightly that it was hard to tell where I left off and he began. Everything was good here, better than good. I didn’t have to think about Hailana or my mother, didn’t have to worry about Tiamat or my family back home.
I could bury my hands in Kona’s hair, wrap my arms and legs around his body, and just sink into him and all the emotions that rocketed through me when we touched.
He pulled away too soon. So, you want to tell me what was wrong this afternoon? I know I was a dick earlier, but I’d like to listen now.
Did I want to tell him? Originally, I’d held the cave close to me, hadn’t wanted to share this new look at my mother with anyone. But after this morning, after what I’d seen, everything felt tainted. Wrong.
It would probably be easier if I showed you. I glanced at his poor, beat-up face. But it’s about two hours from here. Do you think you’re up for it?
I’m fine. Sabyn punches like a little girl.
I snorted. No, he doesn’t. I had the bruises to prove it.
Still. I’m fine.
Okay. Drink your beer and we’ll go. I picked up my tea, drained it in three long gulps. Kona beat me anyway.
The swim out to my mom’s cave took closer to three hours than two because we spent a lot of time fooling around. Racing and then spinning, making sand angels on the bottom of the ocean floor. Kissing. It was the most fun I’d had in weeks, and it reminded me of all the reasons I’d fallen for Kona to begin with.
By the time we got to the cave I was feeling, if not better, then at least more resigned about what I’d found there. Or at least that’s what I told myself when we swam through the stalactite maze in the front room.
When we got to the narrow passageways—the ones I’d barely fit through—I stopped with a gasp. I forgot, I told Kona. There’s no way you’re going to be able to fit through here. His shoulders were twice the width of mine.
How narrow is it? he asked.
I held my arms up in a close approximation of the passageway.