Save the Sea (Saved by Pirates #3)(32)

“Impressive,” Tyrion comments, and Chaz places a hand around my waist.

“She certainly is,” Chaz replies, smiling down at me and pressing his lips against mine for just a second.

“How close are we to the mermaids?” I ask as I remember where we are, and that I can’t get lost in Chaz’s lips right now.

“I think we are about to find out,” Dante comments, pointing to the three outlines of people that appear on the other side of the water to our left. I step forward, with Ryland and Chaz keeping close to my side.

“Who are you?” I shout, as a hand presses into the water.

A sweet voice replies almost instantly. “The guards of the mermaids, and our king wishes you all to be killed.” I look over at Hunter as he presses the crystal stick into my hand.

“I promised you I would keep it safe,” he says firmly. I take it in my hand, and drop the water barrier between us quickly. The three people standing right in front of us are stunning, there is no other word to accurately describe them. They all have long blue hair, even the one male’s hair is as long as the two females’. Their glowing blue eyes watch me, not one of them look away or even blink. They are completely naked; no clothes cover any part of their bodies, and it’s awkward to look at. I hold the stick in the air, looking at the star necklaces that look like the same kind of crystal. Dante was right.

“I have something to trade with the king. I wish to see him,” I say, and the mermaid man hisses.

“The king does not see a land child,” he spits out.

“I am a changed one, not just a land child, and I demand he meets with me,” I say, keeping my voice firm, but I know I haven’t got a chance of convincing them when they look at me. One of the mermaid women laughs, just as Everly steps to my side. I look over to her as she stands tall and speaks loudly.

“I am the heir to the crown of the land, and I have mermaid blood as well. Do you not think your king would wish to meet me?” Everly challenges them. The mermaids all look between each other, before the mermaid in the middle presses her finger to her star necklace.

“Gyd liht aunns, fttaao kwnwe geffelln,” the mermaid says, keeping her blue glowing eyes on Everly as she speaks. I look over at Hunter, who is watching us closely, his hand wrapped around a red sword at his side. I know he will kill them if they don’t let us see the king. We have too much to lose.

“The king will see the heir and the changed one. No one else is permitted into Merida, or they will be killed,” the mermaid girl says and bows her head. “My name is Kiaw, and I have been told to personally promise your safety.”

“If you think your king has chosen the weak ones to see him, he couldn’t be more wrong,” Ryland growls out, and turns me to face him. My pirates all surround me a circle.

“Pretty girl, this is dangerous, and I don’t want you to go,” Dante says first.

“The world is dangerous, and we need that crown. There isn’t a choice here, and I will be safe. Everly and I can fight our way out if we need to,” I reply.

“We had to fall for a stubborn one, didn’t we?” Jacob says to Chaz, who grins.

“Don’t back down, but be respectful. Whoever this king is, he is clearly well respected,” Ryland instructs, and I nod as Everly comes into our circle.

“I will protect her, but I don’t think we are in any danger. The king wants to meet us and make a trade,” she says, and I grin.

“We will be in the water, and I kind of have a thing for it,” I joke, making her chuckle.

“Good luck, and come back to us. We can’t do anything, be anything, without you by our sides,” Zack is the one that speaks the words I know they are all thinking. He steps closer, kissing my forehead, and then steps back. I turn around, walking straight up to the mermaids with Everly standing tall at my side.

“Let’s go,” I say, and the mermaid bows her head. The other two run off the ship, jumping into the air, and a warm glow appears around their legs as their legs turn into blue tails.

“How can we breathe underwater?” I ask Kiaw, who is left with us.

“A secret, one you will soon learn. Speak of it, and the sea will take your tongue,” she warns with a hiss.

“We understand,” Everly says, and there’s a loud horn noise. We follow Kiaw over to the edge of the ship, where three water dragons come out of the water, flying and hovering back just next to the ship.

“The Dgaan will take you to our city, where we have places where you will be able to breathe, and there are many spots we can stop on the way to ensure you do not pass out,” Kiaw explains and jumps off the ship, landing on the back of one the dragons.

“See you soon,” I turn and say to my pirates, before running and jumping off the ship.





17





Chapter Seventeen





Cassandra





“Hold on. It’s time we dive again,” Kiaw says as I still gasp for breath in the small cave we have surfaced in. We have stopped in five caves as we travel deeper and deeper into the sea. It’s become more and more painful at every stop, the pressure from the water feels like it’s crushing me. Everly meets my eyes over the dragons we ride, but she doesn’t look like she is having as much trouble as I am. It takes me a second to realise that it’s because being under the sea is part of who she is.