Page 145 of In Rising Tides

“Can I help you?”

Drystan scanned her room before his eyes fell on her, curled up on the floor.

“Why are you always on the floor?”

She glared at him. “You spend all day, every day locked in your room, and you tell me how you behave.”

Drystan rolled his eyes. “I have. And I can assure you I didn’t curl up and accept my fate.”

Lyra pulled herself off the ground and crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, really?”

His eyes darkened, taking in the sea foam-colored kylix she wore. The clam shells were a bit too small for her breasts, but it was a favorite she would never get rid of.

His nostrils flared as he slowly nodded. “Come on, let’s go.”

Shock twisted her features. “Gowhere?”

Drystan turned, not bothering to answer her, but had left her door wide open. She followed him.

Fang and Angler took up positions on either side of her.

“You have the day off,” Drystan said, dismissing them.

Lyra, Fang, and Angler froze with puzzled expressions. But Fang and Angler shared a look over Lyra’s head.

“Sire?” Fang prompted.

Clearly, she wasn’t the only one who thought she had heard him incorrectly.

Drystan stopped and turned back towards them. “You’re free to go,” he spoke the words slowly and even gestured with a wave to get his point across.

Angler bowed before turning and heading in the opposite direction. Fang bowed as well, but shot Lyra a look before he sped down the hall.

“Have a good day, Princess,” he said to her as a farewell.

Lyra watched them leave, and Drystan cleared his throat. “You coming?”

“Where?” Lyra shot back.

“Your favorite place.”

Drystan ledher down the same secret path she had taken herself to escape the palace walls.

A giddy expression softened his face and kept his eyes bright.

It was sort of exciting to feel as if she were escaping. He raised a finger to his lips as several guards swam past their hiding spot in an alley near the palace.

Lyra pressed her back against the wall and felt the cold, porous stone dig into her.

When the coast was clear, Drystan darted across the pathway and down another alley, Lyra right behind him.

He stopped them at another fork, looking both ways.

“Why are we sneaking?” Lyra whispered.

“Because I don’t want anyone to know where I am,” he replied, before gesturing with his chin and swimming down another connection.

They reached the outskirts of Atlantis in no time, hopping from hidden alcove to secret alley.