Page 23 of Taken By the Crab King of Atlantis

I grin, and am gratified when she smiles at my joke, her eyes lighting with surprise and pleasure. “And very modest, too.”

I laugh. I can’t remember the last time I laughed. Heads in the room turn, surprised. “It is one of my godlike skills.”

I’m gratified by her huffed laugh in return. We’re connecting, and it’s easy to ignore the scrutiny of the rest of the room.

“I understand your family runs a restaurant.” I throw fish onto the sizzling hotplate and season it, watching as it cooks. It feels good to stand, to use my hands. “I realized I would have to impress on several levels. I hope you’re enjoying what I understand is one of your rare nights off, between study and the work you do in the restaurant.”

When I look at her next, she’s looking at me curiously again, but she’s not as wary as she was. My chest feels light. I want to know more about her. I want to know everything.

“Tell me more about your sister and your friend Sofie. She’s the one who told you about this arrangement, yes?”

“She’s in the Zodiac cult, yes,” she says, then covers her mouth with a hand. “Is it okay to call it a cult? It’s more like a religious order, I suppose?”

“Yes, dedicated to worshipping me and my brothers.” I smile as I flip the fish and let amusement shine in my eyes. “I try not to let it go to my head.”

She laughs again. “What’s it like being a king?”

“Busy. What’s it like being a waitress and a student?”

“Busy. I don’t have time for much else.”

“I can relate to that. What would you do with your time if you had it?”

She frowns, as if she hasn’t considered that question. “I used to play piano. But it was tied to my scholarship. Now I don’t have time to play.” She shakes her head and huffs a laugh. “But even if I had time, I don’t own a piano. It’s silly, really.”

“It’s not silly.” I pause, hesitating. There’s something I saw on her social media, something that comes to mind now that wine and conversation are flowing. “Why does your sister call you Princess?”

She laughs. “It’s not a compliment.” She shakes her head. “She’s called me that since I got a scholarship. It’s her way of saying I’m special, I guess. That our parents expect a lot from me.”

“But they don’t expect a lot from her?”

She shakes her head, a shadow in her eyes again. “Not anymore. I don’t think it was easy for her, being my sister. But that’s a lot about me. What would you do if you had more time?”

“Spend more time with Marina.” I don’t have to think twice. “But the work I do for the city is for her, anyway. This is the only home she’s ever known.”

I’ve finished cooking, and we pause as the staff take the preparation tables and the fish is plated before us.

“It’s honorable, what you do for your family,” I say when they’re done, picking up my fork.

“I love them.”

“I feel the same about Marina. She’s the last of my line left.”

She raises an eyebrow.

“My children were all explorers. Travelers. It didn’t give them a long life.”

“And you’re not an explorer?”

“Not for a long time.” An odd stirring in my chest reminds me of days long gone, before Atlantis was founded. Traveling the world, under and over the sea.

“How old are you?”

“A lot older than I feel right now.” She smiles. “220. 200 is the cycle between sacrifices.”

She nods, absorbing this slowly. My age doesn’t seem to concern her.

She takes a bite of the fish, and her eyes flutter closed in appreciation. That feeling in my chest swells again. It’s something more than pride. Feeding her feels right.