Just for Fins (3 page)

Without a word to me, Captain Frater signals the other guards and they move into a diamond formation around me. He nods at me and gestures me toward the deep ocean. I kick my tailfin out behind me and head east, to Thalassinia. To home.

Chapter 4

T
ellin is waiting for me in the palace entry hall. He is studying one of the mosaic murals, the tip of his orange-to-red tailfin flicking back and forth in quick, sharp movements. Swimming through the front door feels almost exactly like that moment two weeks ago when I first saw him again after so many years. The moment that started this whole thing swimming, leading to our bond-in-name-only and to this meeting we have planned today.

I smile, realizing that I don't regret one thing.

“Tellin,” I call out as I swim to him.

“Liliana,” he says with a grin.

When he turns to face me, I realize he's not alone. At his side is a beautiful mermaid. She has long auburn hair that floats around her in soft curls, copper skin without a freckle in sight, and a bright teal tailfin that shimmers with flecks of pearly blue.

Tellin tugs her forward. “Lily, I'd like you to meet my mermate, Lucina.”

“I am honored,” she says, bowing her head. “What you have done for the sake of our people is beyond measure.”

My cheeks burn with embarrassment. “It's no big deal,” I say, trying to deflect the over-the-top praise. “Anyone would have done the same thing.”

She lifts her head, and her eyes, the same pearly shade of blue as the highlights on her tailfin, meet mine. “No,” she insists. “Your sacrifice is extraordinary, and our people will be forever grateful.”

“Oh, um, well,” I stammer. “You're more than welcome.”

“The news of our bonding was received with great cheer,” Tellin tells me. “You will forever be a heroine to the people of Acropora.”

“I haven't done anything
useful
yet,” I say, desperate to get off the subject of my nonimpressive heroics. “And speaking of that, why don't we go somewhere private to discuss exactly what we are planning to say in this meeting.”

Tellin nods and gestures for me to lead the way. As I swim down the hall, heading for one of the antechambers that connect to the royal chamber where the meeting will take place, I take a moment to focus on the magical connection between Tellin and me.

To be honest, I've been worried. Being bonded to another merman while I'm in love with Quince . . . well, I don't know for sure what to expect. There have been plenty of bonds of convenience in the history of mer royalty, but usually the royals in question aren't dating anyone else. Definitely not dating a human.

But I had no other choice. Bonding with Tellin and becoming crown princess was the only way I could be sure to make a difference in the underwater world. I couldn't let my childhood friend and his kingdom suffer because I wanted a human boyfriend.

I'm relieved to sense nothing more than the bonds of friendship.

“Here we go,” I say, swimming into the empty ante­chamber.

It's a small, windowless room painted a calming shade of conch-shell peach. Arranged around a low center table are four scroll-shaped chairs. I float over to one and sink down onto the stone surface.

Lucina hovers in the doorway. “I shall leave you to your planning.”

I twist back to look at her.

“You don't have to go,” I say, feeling awkward that she thinks she can't stay. We're not going to be discussing kingdom secrets or anything.

“No, truly,” she says. “I only wished to meet you. Now I would very much like to visit the palace gardens I have heard so much about.”

“I will come find you when it is done, my love,” Tellin says. He presses a kiss to her cheek.

When she's gone, Tellin swims over to the chair opposite mine.

“She's lovely,” I tell him. “She seems very sweet.”

His smile is one of pure love and adoration. “She is an angelfish.”

“I'm very happy for you.” And I am. Love is a gift. I know how it feels to love and be loved in return, and I'm glad my friend can feel the same.

“Thank you,” he replies. “As I am happy for you.”

I give him a quick smile and then shift my focus to business. Now that we're alone in the antechamber, it hits me hard that we're about to host a council meeting. We need to talk through our plan so it goes as smoothly as possible.

“I think the meeting will be pretty straightforward,” I say. “I'll start by thanking them for coming, and then . . .”

I trail off as I realize Tellin is staring at me with a very confused expression on his face.

“What?” I ask. “Did you want to start the meeting?”

“No, I . . .” He shakes his head and smiles. “You do know that your hair is blue?”

I reach up and pull my hair to one side, trying to hide the blue section behind my hands. “Yes, I know.”

He nods, and I can tell he's trying to stifle a laugh.

“Can we focus on the important issue, please?” I say, tugging at my hair. I channel my embarrassment into professionalism, sitting up straighter in the chair and leveling a serious look at Tellin. “We're speaking at a council meeting in less than an hour, and I'd like to feel prepared when we swim in there.”

“Yes, of course,” Tellin says, his demeanor floating back to serious. “Please continue.”

“As I was saying . . .” I give him a stern scowl. “After the introduction, I will turn it over to you, and you can describe the situation in Acropora. Then I will make the official request for aid.”

“That sounds like an ideal plan,” he says, his voice soft and sad. “I will have no trouble describing the challenges facing my kingdom.”

I sigh. “I know. But just think,” I say, trying to sound cheerful and optimistic, “in a short time we're going to be well on our way to getting your people the help they need.”

He doesn't look quite as optimistic as I feel. “I hope you're right,” he says. “I certainly hope you're right.”

“I know I am,” I insist. “Our kin will rise to the occasion. I'm sure of it.”

 

“Is everyone here?” I ask, swimming back and forth in the hall outside the royal chamber.

Daddy's secretary, Mangrove, checks his clipboard. “Nearly all, Princess.” He runs his finger down the list. “I believe we are missing but one.”

“Let me guess.” I pause my pacing long enough to look at him. “Queen Dumontia?”

“Yes, Princess.”

I exchange an unsurprised look with Tellin.

Dumontia is queen of Glacialis, a mer kingdom far to the north, in the arctic waters around Canada and Greenland. She is notoriously late, and not just because she has the farthest to travel. She enjoys making an entrance.

“But the others are here?” I ask, my stomach starting to tighten. “All the kings and queens?”

Mangrove nods. “It is time.”

“Oh, boy,” I mutter.

Tellin reaches out and takes my hand.

“Are you ready?” he asks.

A flutter of nerves upends my stomach, but only for a second. I remind myself why I'm doing this and what I expect to happen. Everything will be fine.

“Yes,” I say, squaring my shoulders. “Let's do this.”

Together we turn to face the chamber door. A pair of palace guards nod and then pull open the doors as we approach.

“Your highnesses,” Mangrove calls out as Tellin and I swim into the chamber, “Crown Prince Tellin of Acropora and Crown Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia.”

In my most elaborate late-night imaginings, at the announcement of my entrance the entire chamber turns and stares at me, curious about the girl who dared call them to a council meeting. I imagined a mixture of anger and annoyance, and a lot of impatience.

In reality, as the echoes of the herald's announcement fade and I float into the room, no one seems to notice.

Seriously, the thirty or so merfolk seated around the council table—a wide stone slab the size of my bedroom in Aunt Rachel's house—don't stop chattering in their various groups. Eight of them are kings and queens of other mer kingdoms, while the rest are their advisers and attendants. Even Daddy is so engrossed in a discussion with jolly King Bostrych of Trigonum, Thalassinia's neighbor to the north, he doesn't realize I've arrived.

For a moment, I relish the invisibility. I scan my gaze over the chamber's occupants. Some are familiar to me; the leaders of the kingdoms nearest Thalassinia have been frequent guests at our royal events and celebrations. Others, from the more distant kingdoms, are only faintly familiar. I must have met them at state affairs once or twice, but I barely remember them. A couple are new rulers. I remember Daddy sending me notice of the death of the old king of Marbella Nova a couple years ago. One of the unfamiliar faces must be his daughter, Otaria, now the queen. And the queen of Rosmarus retired last fall, after a reign of nearly one hundred years, leaving her nephew as king. I can't remember his name.

It is a little exhilarating to be in a room with so many powerful merfolk.

“Lily,” Tellin whispers, releasing my hand and nodding toward the head of the table.

I nod back. I know what he's trying to tell me, that I should stop gawking and get on with it.

I swim around the edge of the room, past the arguing king of Desfleurelle and queen of Costa Solara—the two kingdoms are neighbors and notorious rivals, so it's not surprising that they're arguing—and around the queen of Antillenes, who is in a hushed conversation with two members of her retinue.

As I pass her, my fin kick must disturb her hair, because she glances up. Her attendants look up, too, and I feel their gazes on me as I continue, taking my place at the end of the table.

Their attention must catch the notice of the other monarchs and attendants, because as I turn to face the gallery of assembled kings and queens, every single eye in the room is fixed on me.

I suck in a sharp breath.

And I thought delivering a speech in English class was terrifying.

Tellin passes behind me, taking his place at my side. One pair of eyes in the room shifts to Tellin. His father, King Gadus, does not look pleased. Tellin was not even certain if his father would be here to participate in the council. Not only because Acropora's king is ill, dying from the effects of ocean warming that are slowly but surely destroying his entire kingdom, but also because he resisted calling a council of kings and queens for so long. Until recently, he was too proud to allow even his son to ask for help. It seems he's still not entirely thrilled at the idea.

I haven't seen King Gadus for several years, but he looks decades older than the last time. His salt-and-pepper hair is thinning, his cheeks are hollow, and his skin is looser than it should be. But he's here and—if the simmering look in his brown eyes is any indication—ready for a fight.

I grip the stone table with both hands, squeezing tight to give my nerves a way out. It's not enough. My mind freezes as I confront all the faces awaiting my words—if not eagerly, then with annoyed anticipation. Everything Shannen taught me about public speaking, everything Daddy told me about making a presentation to the council, everything Quince said to help me relax, knots up in my chest, and I start to feel like I might faint.

I've never thought of myself as a coward—except where my crush on Brody was concerned, though that seems like a silly thing now—but I really don't think I can do this. My muscles tense, and I'm ready to bolt for the door, when I feel a pressure on my wrist. I look down to see Tellin's red-freckled fingers slip over mine.

I stare at our hands, and it's like a wave of calm washes up and over me. Instantly, my heart rate slows, and I can practically feel the adrenaline in my bloodstream oozing away.

I look up at him, startled.

He smiles, his eyes steady and reassuring, and I feel it. It's like his calm certainty becomes mine.

The bond. I smile back. I really needed this right now.

Taking control of my emotions, I look up and face some of the most powerful merfolk in the seven seas. I suck in a deep breath, prepare the words in my mind, and open my mouth to speak.