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Nemo viciously jabbed at the fish to turn them over. Scales on his temples flashed green with envy. “Did you have a swim yet, Captain?”
“Not yet.” Fin’s smile faded, and from then on, he refused to look at me.
Uneasiness sat like a boulder in my gut, putting me off my food.
“What’s the plan to save the king?” Nemo tore the head off his fish and spit it out.
The fish head hit a nearby rock, and I jolted. Jealousy was raising its ugly head again. It reminded me a little of Faraall and made me feel sick.
“Camp the night here,” replied Fin, tossing another log on the fire. “Then leave at first light, and search for the dark pearl.”
The mention of the pearl made my mind wander to my father. I imagined him having a fit back at home, wondering where I was and why I had disobeyed his order to wed that slimy slug. Would he send a search party out to find me? Bring me back and force me into the marriage? These thoughts made me even more determined to find the magic pearl the sea witch had asked me to bring to her.
Fin lifted the fish off the hot stone with two small branches and rested it on the rocky cave floor. “Let this cool a little first,” he told me.
I nodded. Moments earlier, my mouth had watered at the thought of tasting the cooked fish. Now, I couldn’t get anything, not even a word, past the thickness in my throat. After a few moments, I pulled off a sliver and bit into it, pretending nothing was wrong. The taste of creamy and feathery fish filled my mouth.
“Delicious,” I said, forcing myself to eat another mouthful, even though I couldn’t stomach any more. A shame, really, because the salmon was very tasty. Even better than when eaten raw.
No one said anything. Only the crackle of the fire and shifting of the embers echoed in the cave. The painful silence struck me harder than one of Faraall’s blows.
Nemo selected his fourth raw fish,
“Another one?” I managed to ask in an attempt to start a bit of friendly conversation.
He flexed one of his arms. “Got to maintain these muscles somehow.” All his previous cheer had hardened like stone.
I wished for the version of Nemo with a golden smile on top to return to me. To hold me, care for me, and tell me everything would be fine.
Fin let out a nervous laugh. “Remember the time Gilled dared you to eat a whole tuna, so you did?”
Tunas were huge. Some of them were up to three feet long. One that big had fed my family for two nights.
Nemo grabbed his stomach, as if recalling the pain of it. “My stomach hurt for three days after that.”
We all laughed together. Fin’s attempt to lighten the mood seemed to be working.
Sitting by the fire with the mersoldiers was a far cry from meals with my family, where we discussed serious topics like politics of the realm, palace matters, treaties, and alliances. Poseidon. After twenty-two years of it, I was well and truly bored. If I wanted to talk politics, I’d go visit one of my father’s advisors and fall asleep several moments into the conversation.
Spending time with these mermen had made me realize I craved adventure, exploration, and endless fun. Not the stuffy and claustrophobic environment I’d grown up in.
Fin put aside the last of his fish. “I’m full. Nemes, do you mind guarding the princess while I swim?”
“Sure,” Nemo said through a mouthful of crab.
Fin sprang to his feet and backed into the water. “With all my heart, I wish to kiss you.” His voice echoed in my mind.
I longed for the same thing, but having Nemo there made things a little awkward. Even more awkward since I had a crush on them both and didn’t know how to deal with my feelings—or with Nemo’s jealousy.
Green luminescence lit up the water as Fin’s legs transformed into a merman’s tail. “I won’t stray far,” he told me. “Don’t worry about Nemes. By the morning, it will blow over like a storm.”
“Bring me back some more oysters, Captain,” Nemo said with a wave right before Fin dove into the water.
Alone with Nemo, I began to dwell on the events of the last few hours—the meal that had turned sour, head-butting him and then running away from him, what had happened immediately after that, and how mad he’d probably get if I told him what Fin and I had done. My stomach felt as if it was filled with coral dust. I picked the shell off a crab but didn’t eat it.
“You’re quiet, Princess,” said Nemo, looking at me at last, the hardness in his eyes melting away.“Something wrong?”
“No,” I lied.
