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Pasha considers arguing some more but struggles to convince Maris. “Okay, we’ll go. Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“Yes, now go.” Maris stands her ground and they do as she requested. Once we’re alone, silence falls over us.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I finally ask.
“No. Do you want to talk about your brother?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.” This is where most girls I’ve dated would start to rant, but not Maris. Her thoughts stay in her head as I watch her study the cave. “The guy, Ryn… you should walk away from him.”
She turns to look at me. “Don’t worry, I will.”
“And what about your friend. Is she a hussy?”
Her cheeks flame bright red. “I don’t think that’s her issue, but we haven’t spoken about it. She’s like family to me, and until now we’ve always looked out for each other.”
“I don’t care how good the orgasms he gave her were, he’s not worth either of your time. Granted, your friend betrayed your trust too, but I think you should hear her out.”
“Are you some kind of love expert?”
“No. I just know what it’s like to carry regret around with you.”
“Do you wish you’d spent more time with your brother?”
“I can’t win. Every second with him is precious, but if I don’t look for a cure, I’d be giving up. When this is all over, I hope I don’t regret the moments we didn’t share.”
“Yeah. I understand what you’re saying. You don’t want to give up on hope, but it’s taking you away from him.”
“Exactly.”
“Ryn was—or is—my intended. My father set up the match, and I was blinded by his good looks. My blinkers are firmly off now, though. He isn’t the merman for me. I just need to convince my father.”
“Is arranged marriage a thing with merfolk?” I’m curious about her culture and why her family would pick an unsuitable partner for her.
“It’s not just about me. The bloodline needs to stay pure.”
“What does that mean? Are some of you more human than others?”
“My blood is royal. They say we’re closer to the gods. Plus, the person I marry will help me rule our people.”
“Well, I’m honoured to have you helping a humble human. I have to ask, though… do they want you to marry a cousin of some form?”
“You might find that repulsive, but it’s what my people have done for generations.”
I hold my hands up high. “I’ve no grounds to judge anyone.”
“Good, because I don’t want you to treat me differently now you know I’m a princess.”
“Okay.” I smile at her. “You’re just like the average mythical creature.” She’s so much more than the typical female. She’s mesmerising.
Maris looks away. “This one?”
“Huh?” I ask.
“This star looks a little brighter than the others.”
I shake my head. As I look at the place she means, I can see it. One hole has a slightly different shade of blue.
We move closer and feel around the rock. Our fingers touch as we move closer to the light. The beam penetrates farther into the cave. The Aquarius constellation stands out all on its own. We didn’t need a book, although I’m not sure what we’ve done.
A door we didn’t see before opens, and without hesitation, and we go through it. Once inside, the compartment seals, and there’s no going back.
