Page 42 of In Rising Tides

It was just as her father had described it.

A massive creature with a serpentine body and teeth as long as her entire body. Sharp spines made a ring around its massive skull like a crown.

The scream unfortunately aided her capture.

She had screamed so loudly her tutor had been able to find her and drag her back to her studies with an annoyingly long lecture on duty and keeping silent.

But with the passing of time, and the life she had lived, the carvings didn’t scare her as much anymore.

They were still rather uncomfortable to look upon, but Lyra knew there were worse things out there.

Unfortunately, the princes gathered in the room were part of her newfound fear.

Lyra’s heart thumped swiftly as the five princes studied her with keen precision. They had gathered in a semicircle in front of her and Drystan.

There was so much power in this room that she found her chin rising in response.

It was as silent as a tomb, adding to the hostility she knew she would face.

To the far left was Caspian—Marmoris’ husband—and the Prince of Huron looked exactly as she had remembered him. His long white hair floated behind him, and the dark navy of his tail was nearly invisible in the shadows.

He lowered his chin at Drystan before turning his inquisitive blue eyes to Lyra. They widened slightly, the white growing around the blue.

“King Drystan,” Prince Caspian addressed him. “I hadn’t realized you were bringing her into the council chambers.”

It was common knowledge that mermaids weren’t permitted in here.

But Lyra had assumed they knew she was coming by the way Drystan had spoken.

There were wedding plans to address, and surely they would be curious about any information they could gather from her time on land.

Drystan brushed a hand over her lower back and cast baleful eyes at the Prince of Huron.

“Why ever not? It’s such a joyous occasion.” He set his gaze upon the room, addressing all the princes. “Surely the bride would want to be a part of the plans.”

Lyra pursed her lips to keep from reacting negatively to his words. Joyous plans.Bride.

He was really trying to sell this arrangement as anything other than a power play that would secure his seat on the throne.

“Your bride doesn’t appear to agree,” Caspian replied with a stiff wave in her direction.

She relaxed her lips, holding her face still as Drystan’s eyes raked across her face.

Dread settled like a weight in her stomach. She thought she had been concealed at his side.

She should have known better.

“Lyra,” Drystan drawled, leaning away to better see her. “You have been ordered to appear before the council to aid in the arrangements for our wedding.” She felt his eyes like fingers prodding and poking at her face for a reaction. “Shall we begin?”

Lyra faced the council.

Each prince appeared to be waiting for her response. “I can make this meeting super short then,” she sucked in a breath. “There won’t be a wedding.”

Other than Drystan’s annoyed huff, silence greeted her statement. She made it a point to keep her chin held high.

Lyra told herself this was no different from facing the High King after her kidnapping, and she would treat it the same way.

After that meeting, she had walked away, confined to the constraints of a bargain.