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“I had a lovely afternoon.” I kissed Gellian on the cheek.
“Enjoy the boring decree.” My friend smiled. Lucky wench didn’t have to go because she was the royal cook’s daughter.
Gellian glided toward a table full of Sharkriders. “I’m going to try my luck with one or more of these handsome fellows.”
My cheeks blazed. She had no shame. But that was what I loved about her. I just didn’t think I could ever be that brave…or forward.
Outside, Nimian darted across the bright-neon coral shelf in a furious flap of fins, spooking the sea anemones back into their cavities. Fish darted out of her way in all directions. Wow. Her tail pounded like her life depended on it. I’d never seen her catch such speed.
A stingray cut across her path. Bubbles blasted from her open mouth. Her scream echoed in my head. She ducked and held her forehead, waiting for the magnificent creature to drift into the gloomy depths beyond. Then she sprang up, breathing hard, batting at her head as if she thought a sea crab crawled across her.
Taura’s mocking laugh echoed in my head. “I’ll leave you with the princess,” she said, giving me a wave and veering off in another direction.
Part of me was tempted to leave Nimian, as well, and continue on to the palace alone, to punish her for interrupting my good afternoon. But I didn’t have the heart and put my arm around her waist.
“Stop that,” I said, giving Nimian’s back a comforting rub. “It was just a stingray. It’s gone now.”
Hands clenched into fists, Nimian pulled away and glared at me with her fierce blue eyes as if I’d sprouted a new bone protrusion akin to those worn by the hammerhead sharks. “It accosted me!”
What a precious princess. But I still loved her. Even if what Taura said was true about my sister being a right royal pain in the ass.
“I know. Dreadful creature,” I lied, rubbing my thumbs under her eyes to clean the smeared makeup. “How dare it get in the way of merfolk?”
Nimian buried her head against my shoulder. “Oh, it was awful. I thought I was going to die.”
I stroked her now-messy golden hair. “There. There.”
A swim around the kingdom’s gardens was the extent of adventure my sister preferred. Unlike Nimian, I enjoyed the wonders of the sea. Exploring uncharted territory beyond my father’s realm and investigating hidden sea caves. The previous week, my friends and I had discovered a sunken ship, but that trip had ended when a wooden beam had collapsed and almost killed me.
“Hurry up,” I said, taking her hand and dragging her through the water. “We’re never going to get to the palace at this rate.”
****
“Poseidon, look at you!”Nimian barked, running a brush inlaid with mother of pearl—a gift from my mother, which I never used—through the tangled knots in my silvery hair.
“Ouch,” I cried, wriggling to get free of the dressing chair in my quarters.
“Sit still, would you?” My sister was like a whirlwind, turning my messy tresses to silk then twisting them into a layer of curls within minutes.
I slouched, knowing I wasn’t getting out of this even if I wanted to.
Nimian set my curls. She plucked a pearl comb like hers—but with dark-purple pearls to contrast with her baby pink ones—and pinned them in my locks.
My fingers traced the ringlets with awe. I had to admit I’d be lost without her. Even though I resented being dragged to this event, I flashed her an appreciative smile for her efforts.
“You’re going to look amazing,” my sister cooed as she dabbed a brush in a compact of crushed coral makeup.
I sighed as she poked and prodded me with a cream to smooth my skin tone and cover the bags under my eyes. My reflection in the mirror transformed into a strange beauty I didn’t recognize. The smoky gray with which she lined my lids complemented my violet eyes and broad eyelids. The plum blush highlighted my rounded cheekbones. An application of rouge brought out my pouty lips. Cream on my nose took away the pink tone caused by all the exercise I got from swimming around the kingdom on a daily basis. Even I couldn’t deny that I looked like a real merprincess instead of the tomboy I usually resembled.
She was right. I looked beautiful, and I couldn’t stop twisting my head to examine myself. “Thank you, Nimian.”
For a brief moment, my sister glowed beneath my praise. Then she turned all wild-eyed and crazy again, yanking me to my feet, cutting short my self-admiration.
“Take that off, and lift your arms,” she said.
I did as she instructed, removing my plain green corset, and she wrapped my torso in a jeweled purple version to match the pearls in the combs and bring out the silver in my scales and hair. If my sister was good at one thing, it was accessorizing. I was hopeless at it. Couldn’t get clothes to match…but I did have a knack for complementing colors thanks to my artistic flair.
I grunted as Nimian pulled my corset tight and fastened it at my back.
