Page 26 of In Rising Tides

The fury and heartache that had shone through his eyes.

She shook her head as if to free herself from the anguish. He had told her then that he would find her.

Lyra trusted his words.

This next part she would have to do on her own. But when she tried to think of what she should do now, her mind went blank.

Without her magic, she couldn’t do anything.

Fuck, even with her magic she couldn’t do anything.

She didn’t know how to break the tithe, didn’t know what words she needed to say to unbraid the weave that bound the humans and the merfolk together in their bargain.

The door flew open, and Lyra recoiled as Drystan swam inside, his presence leeching what little warmth was left in her chambers.

“What are you doing on the floor?” he asked, his mouth twisting faintly as he studied her prone position against the wall.

“I was—” Lyra stopped herself from automatically responding. “Resting.”

Drystan looked pointedly from her to the giant shell in the middle of the room that was her bed.

“Resting,” he repeated with a tilt of his head.

Drystan placed his hands on narrow hips and, had he been human, she imagined he would be spreading his legs into a defensive position.

But he was not human. He was a merman, and the reason she had been confined to her room like a scolded child.

“What do you want?” Lyra spat, launching upright and putting distance between them as she floated towards her vanity.

“The council is gathered,” he answered without a hint of emotion. “You will address them shortly to finalize the preparations for our wedding.”

Lyra glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest. The diamonds on her kylix scraped against her arms.

“I’m not sure what good I would do for those plans, seeing as I will contribute nothing of benefit to the conversation.”

Drystan pinched the bridge of his nose, his lips thinning into a razor-sharp line.

A thrill of success went through her at his obvious annoyance.

It was short-lived.

He came closer, gripping her by the arm and pulling her towards him.

“You will do as you are told.”

Lyra gave no hint of an impending assault as she struck him with enough force to turn his head.

It was a power only the merfolk had, to be able to strike underwater despite the drag.

He moved his head back and worked his jaw side-to-side, a look of astonishment raising his brows.

“You never cease to amaze me. Even with so little safety afforded to you, you didn’t hesitate to attack the only one willing to protect your life.”

The words were clipped as each one was uttered between his clenched teeth.

That was the second time he had mentioned her safety being in jeopardy.

Lyra’s brow buckled with confusion. “Protect me from what?”