Everlost by Brenda Pandos Read Free Book Online Page B

necessary.”
    She glared, wishing she had laser eyes like the mermaid movies often depicted.
    “Azor!” She yelled through cupped hands. “AZOR!”
    The voices stopped on the first floor. Azor appeared in a flash. Tatiana smiled when she saw him, hoping he’d straighten out this misunderstanding, but he didn’t return her happiness.
    “What is going on here?” Azor said through his teeth.
    “Jacob won’t let me go downstairs.”
    “I know,” Azor said, “I told him to keep you up here.”
    She pursed her lips. “You did? But why?”
    He grasped her by the elbow and pulled her into the room.
    “It’s for your safety.”
    Though she’d wanted his touch more than anything, she pulled her arm away and laughed. “My safety? Seriously?”
    “Yes,” he said earnestly.
    “We’re in your dumb compound. Who’s going to attack me here? A moray eel?”
    “It’s not a matter of protection…” Azor looked away momentarily. “But of trust.”
    “Trust?” She dropped her hands. “Xirene said you’re talking about repairs, right?”
    Azor closed his eyes for a beat. “No, Tatiana. The daughter of the rebel leader cannot be seen overhearing the plans involving the rebels. It sends the wrong message.”
    “The wrong message?” Her mouth gaped. “Well, wouldn’t our relationship send the wrong message? No?”
    “Well…” Azor flipped his tail nervously.
    Tatiana leaned in. “I thought you were going to hold the rebels for a few days and then let them go. I mean, we were just promised. We haven’t even celebrated our promisetide, or… done anything, yet.” She looked upward at him, eyes twinkling, hoping he’d get her underlying meaning.
    “Yes, but there have been rumors there will be another attack.” Azor’s eye twitched. “And with my father out of commission, it’s my duty to deal with this. There will be plenty of opportunity for celebration when all of this is over. So for now you must be patient. I’m needed most here.”
    Her shoulders dropped and she pressed him with an angry scowl. “Your wife needs you most.”
    “Wife?” He laughed and rolled his eyes. “The human ways have clouded you and your parents’ judgment. If you would have been raised in the colony, we wouldn’t be having this problem in the first place. You need to learn your place among the mers, starting with me.”
    “Or what? You’ll take me to Bone Island?” She guffawed. “I don’t even feel like you’re promised to me. You haven’t kissed me once or told me you love me.”
    Azor raised his brow. “I’ve been a little busy, if you haven’t noticed.”
    “Too busy to acknowledge your new mate ?” She tightened her eyes when annunciating the official mer term.
    “I’ve acknowledged you as much as I’m afforded and I don’t allow my feelings to overrule me.”
    “Oh, right. Sure you don’t.” She balled her hands into fists. “And yet you’ve managed to direct all your anger and blame on me for what my father has done. How’s that for keeping your feelings in check?” She turned her back on him, unwilling to allow him the satisfaction of seeing her lip quiver.
    He swam over and touched her shoulder.
    “Don’t say that,” he said softly.
    He began to pet her hair and rested his chest against her back. She rolled her eyes shut, the fire dousing under his touch. Their bodies pressed up against one another and she ached for him to take her into his arms and away from the madness.
    She reached around and clenched onto his backside, wiggling her hips against his, launching a few of her pheromones in the water. “Then show me.”
    Azor’s body tensed and he kicked his tail, dragging Tatiana backward in the current with him. When she didn’t let go, he extricated his body from her hands. “Tatiana, please. I need to go. We can do this later.”
    “Later?” she asked with a laugh. “I think something’s seriously wrong with you.”
    Azor’s nostrils flared and he flew at her, and flattened