We might have stayed like that forever—or at least for the rest of the day—but a knock on the door finally reminded us that we both had things we should be doing. We both had responsibilities.

Slipping out from under the waterproof violet comforter I had picked out months before, I ran a self-conscious hand over my hair as I opened the door. My friend Mahina stood there, looking embarrassed about interrupting Kona and me, but also gleeful as she took in my flushed cheeks and kiss-swollen lips.

Tempest! She threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck in a giant hug. I’m so glad you’re okay.

I’m fine, Mahina, I answered, gently extricating myself from her grip. Sorry to worry you.

I wasn’t that worried—I know you can take care of yourself. She winked. Queen Hailana, on the other hand, nearly wore a new trench in the ocean floor as she waited to see you with her own eyes.

Yeah, right.

I’m serious. She was more frantic than I’ve ever seen her—she’d be screwed if she lost her star mergirl. Which is why I’m here interrupting your little lovefest, by the way. She glanced mischievously at Kona, who was now standing next to the bed and looking a little like he wanted to run.

Not that I blamed him. The way Mahina was looking at us—like she was imagining exactly what we’d been doing before she knocked on the door—made even me uncomfortable, and I’d had eight months to get used to her teasing bluntness.

Mahina! Stop. I sent the request along our private communication path. Can’t you see you’re embarrassing him?

She eyed Kona without apology. He needs to lighten up. For such a hottie, he takes himself way too seriously.

Selkies are different than mermen. They don’t have quite the same sense of humor.

That’s too bad, she sniffed, somehow managing to do it without snorting a noseful of water. The fact that I loved her despite her teasing spoke more to what a fabulous person she was than to any generosity of my own.

I was planning on getting myself a selkie for my next birthday—preferably one of those F.I.N.E. specimens Kona brought with him—but you know I like a guy who can make me laugh.

Kona makes me laugh, I defended.

I bet. She waggled her eyebrows lasciviously.

Mahina!

Fine, fine. I swear, you’re getting to be as bad as he is. Anyway, she went on, talking on the general communication pathway so Kona could hear us again, the queen requests your presence in her chamber at your earliest convenience.

I sighed. Which pretty much means now, right?

Actually, I think it meant five minutes ago, but who’s counting?

She is. I glanced over at Kona. I should probably go see her.

I know. I need to head back anyway. I’m sure my dad’s ready to kill me by now.

Why? I asked, concerned.

When I got the news about you, I walked out in the middle of one of his you-need-to-take-more-responsibility-for-the-kingdom speeches. He saves up his complaints for months before one of those things, so he’s probably apoplectic at being denied the chance to list everything that’s wrong with me.

There’s nothing wrong with you! You do ten times more than any of your brothers or sisters.

Yeah, but they’re not next in line to be king. Unfortunately. He bent his head, pressed a long, lingering kiss on my lips that practically had me swooning all over again.

I’ll see you in a few days? he asked. For the Bringue?

Yeah, of course. You know I’d never miss that party, not after everything I’ve heard about it.

Don’t go getting yourself into any more trouble, okay? I don’t think my nerves could take it.

Kona … You’re beginning to sound like an old man.

He grinned before dropping another quick kiss on my lips. Love you.

I love you too.

Bye, Mahina, he said with a wink before slipping out the door.

We both watched him go, admiring the way his tattoos shifted with every flex of his muscular shoulders and back.

When he rounded the corner, I turned back in time to see Mahina pretending to fan herself. I don’t care if he doesn’t have a sense of humor. That boy is freakin’ gorgeous.

He really is, I agreed with a sigh.

I forcibly pulled my mind back to the matter at hand. Did Hailana say what she wants? I asked as I crossed to my closet and pulled out a bikini top that wasn’t ripped or stained with blood, along with one of the long, ceremonial pareos we were supposed to wear during command appearances with the merQueen.

Probably to yell at you. What does she ever want? Mahina pawed through my closet along with me. Hey, can I borrow this? She held up a bright turquoise bikini. I have a date tomorrow night.

I thought you said you were checking out the selkies?

I was. She rubbed her knuckles against her chest and then blew on them. What can I say? I’m a fast worker.

With that genius IQ of yours, I’m not exactly surprised. And in honor of your fast work, you can have the bikini. I eyed her dark bronze skin and black hair. It’ll look better on you anyway.

Thanks, Tempe! She gave me a quick hug, then spun to face the closet as I changed tops. When she turned back, I was struggling to get the pareo to lie correctly and she rolled her eyes. You’ve been here eight months. When are you going to get this thing right?

About the same time I finally understand Hailana?

I guess I better plan on sticking around for a long time then, huh? Here, give me that. She grabbed the pareo, folded it in an intricate pattern I couldn’t seem to get no matter how many times she explained it, then draped the floral fabric softly around my tail.

Good? I asked as she tied a knot over my left hip.

You look great for someone who just survived a violent attack.

Somehow, that doesn’t seem like much of a compliment.

She shoved me out the door. I’m not going to lie. You’d look better without that massive hickey on the back of your neck.

What? I slapped my hand over the body part in question.

Kidding, just kidding. Kona’s way too much of a gentleman for that. More’s the pity …

I refused to dignify that remark with a response. Instead, I concentrated on what I was going to tell Hailana. Should I ask her about the weird electric thing? Kona had told me I should, but I didn’t have the same trust in Hailana. He seemed to think that she was only out for my best interests, but I knew it was a lot more complicated than that.

Did Hailana want to see me survive this whole death spiral with Tiamat that I was locked into? Absolutely.

Would she go so far as to interfere to keep me alive? Only if it benefited her.

Eight months of living under Hailana’s rule, trying to please her and follow in my mother’s footsteps without actually making her mistakes, had taught me a lot. Namely that being a mermaid—at least at court—was much more political than it was fantastical.

I might be in the middle of a war with an evil sea witch, but The Little Mermaid really was just a Disney cartoon. Real life in mermaid territory was much more treacherous than Ariel could ever have imagined.

I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t become friends with Mahina and her pod soon after I came here. Probably died of a knife in my ribs from one of the mermaids who had been less than impressed by my presence here. As it was, much of my life in the ocean was a tightrope walk between pleasing Hailana and remaining true to myself.