“Right.” Holter makes a clicking sound. And the shark hits the glass right behind my head.

  “Are you taking that damn thing home with you?” I grit my teeth at the window. I don’t think it can break the glass, but I’m not sure how much I want to test it.

  “I’ll talk to Constantine about retrieving it.” Castor hasn’t come all the way into the living room. He’s standing just outside the hallway, the hidden door to the library to his right, the door to the bedroom to his left. “Nice place. Mind if I look around?”

  “Not much to see. One bedroom and bathroom in there. And this is the rest.” I motion around the room. The book is on the table in front of me. “How is Annabelle? I wish she’d brought it over herself, but I imagine with Nico’s condition, she’s busy. And with the attack, you must be taking extra precautions to keep her safe.”

  “Very busy,” Holter says. He’s still not convinced.

  “And how is Nico doing? I saw the feed. But Glyden hasn’t said much other than he’s getting stronger every day.” Some of the feed says Sunshine is missing, but I’m not going to bring that up. I’m staying in character.

  “He’s getting stronger every day. And we’re going to finish what was started.” Holter stands behind the sofa, his elbows locked as he leans on it.

  I have no idea what he’s talking about, but I smile and nod. Just like my old uncle used to do when he couldn’t follow the conversation with his bad hearing.

  Castor glares at Holter. Yeah, there’s a lot more going on here than them just looking for Holter and Nico’s missing mate.

  “Well, I’m glad to hear it. I’m sure Annabelle is relieved, and that’s important to me. I would like to start calling on her.”

  “I bet you would.”

  The shark hits the glass again. “You need to take that poor animal home before it hurts itself.”

  Castor pulls out his block. He wanders over to the wall where the hidden library door is, typing away. “Really, you should open the present now. I’m curious what book she got you.” Castor leans inches away from the opening.

  “No, I want to wait. But thanks.”

  “Really, open it now, and I’ll be sure to tell Belle your reaction.” Holter nods.

  “You’ll put a good word in for me, then, with Belle and Nico?” I have to be careful. No one knows that Holter and her are mates yet.

  There’s a twitch under Holter’s eye. “Only the best.”

  “And you’ll let me come over to call on her soon?” I’m pushing it here. I need to get them out and go crawl into the library and beg Annabelle for forgiveness. Forgiveness I don’t deserve.

  “We can’t have anyone over until Nico is feeling better.”

  “Of course.”

  “But he’s planning on being at the ball. You’ll be at the ball, won’t you?” Castor says.

  “The ball.” I can feel my throat tighten. “Of course I will. My sister is insisting I go.”

  “Excellent. We were just on our way to talk to your mother about your sister.” Castor says, stepping back into the main part of the living room. “They’re bringing over a transport to collect the shark now.”

  “What? Aren’t you a little old for her?”

  “Not me, Cypress.”

  “Yes, yes. Your younger brother.” I can’t help it, but I momentarily stare at the secret door, and Holter’s eyes follow mine.

  And then Castor turns back to me. “You know, it’s better to be friends with the mate of the mermaid you’re interested in than enemies.”

  “I’ll be sure to remember that when talking to Nico next time I see him.”

  Holter slaps the top of the sofa, a click sounding from his lips as the blasted shark hits the glass again. “Well, I guess we should let you get ready for whatever it is you do.”

  “And when will you be going back out on the Centauri?”

  “I’m not.” He nods.

  “Oh, well, good luck with your new endeavor.” Shrimp shells, now I’m sounding a lot like my Uncle Titus.

  “Thanks.” Holter turns slowly. His head inclines to the area of the library, but Castor takes a step to the door. My uncle was paranoid that someone would find his books. The chamber is impenetrable to scans by anything the two of them would have with them.

  “Good to see you, Eros.” Castor leans up against the wall of the library in the corridor to the front hall. He gives it a slap, like you would to tell a solo you’re clear and they can take off. The damn thing echoes.

  But the two Glyden still head to the door.

  “Good to see you both too,” I say. “Tell Annabelle I said thank you. And I hope Nico returns to full strength soon.”

  “I wouldn’t be wishing that if I were you.” Holter leaves ahead of Castor.

  Castor turns, and I expect him to say something about Holter, but he leaves. My door clicks into place.

  Holding a mermaid without her consent, away from her mates . . . Yeah, that’s a crime worth either being taken care of by the likes of me or, if you’re important enough, being sent to the chasm. And no way I want to do that, not even with a cloaked solo shining a light for me.

  They’re gone. I watch the cameras as they climb into Castor’s Gorsca and move through the airlock. I’m to the secret door before the airlock even releases them. If I had locked my sister in here, I’d expect to find the room in disarray. My mother? I’d expect to find her a puddle on the floor, tears drenching her gown. I’ve never done this to either of them, of course. But I have no idea what to expect when I open it for Annabelle.

  Her head down, a book open under the translator machine wasn’t one of the options.

  I walk in and stand next to her. We haven’t had time to talk since I mated her. I had to physically remove Marina, taking her back to my mother’s apartment. I’ve promised her the Pacific Ocean to keep her mouth shut. I’ll be paying her back in favors for a long time. But if it can get us through the next few weeks, it will be worth it. I was lucky enough that I was back in time to answer the door. Not that Sunshine could have opened it. I have the security system locked down tight.

  She doesn’t look up, but I know she’s heard me.

  “Annabelle?”

  Her jaw tenses, but she doesn’t budge. I know she’s going to be furious. I mated her and then I locked her in a library. Not that the two transgressions were right on top of each other, but close enough. I stand next to her and wait for her to look up.

  She turns the page. “Did you need something?”

  “I want to apologize.”

  “For what, Eros?” She turns the next page with her white-gloved hand. I’ve not spent any time with the volumes, not like Uncle Titus did. But then it’s not my specialty. Not my anything I’ve ever thought about. I’ve thought about selling the volumes and reclaiming the space, but I haven’t had the time. Not when I’m owned by the governors. Their bidding is what I have to follow through with. I hadn’t ever considered not completing a mission, not until Nico. Not until Annabelle.

  “For everything. For being so intrigued by you that I can’t sleep. For being drawn to you like a blue whale to a school of krill. For being obsessed, consumed, until I can’t think straight. For mating you. For putting you in a closet to keep our secret safe. For being me.”

  Annabelle’s blonde head tips up. I don’t know what I expected of her. Her lips are closed, and her breath eases in and out. I’m not going to move. This is all her. The chair scrapes backward, and the instinct in me wants both to flee and to run to her. Wrap her in my arms and taste her.

  Fuck. This isn’t how I wanted any of this to go.

  23

  ANNABELLE

  Eros is in front of me, and he’s both the fun, boisterous male and the scared rabbit. He’s pulled the door shut. I had a few minutes to settle down while he was dealing with whoever was in our living room. I have a feeling I know who it was. With Mickey banging on the glass, it was only a matter of time before someone from Glyden showed up to collect him. And I want them to. The poor thing is going to hurt himself if he stays here much longer.

  Thud. I glance at Eros. He has the same expression I imagine Mickey would if he were a merman. Confused and dazed. My lips are tightly pressed together. I’m not sure what he wants from me, but this has to end. Nico’s hurting, and I’m sure Holter is too.

  I take Eros’s hand. “Who was that? And don’t lie to me. I’ll know if you do.”

  He glances away and then back again. “Holter and Castor.”

  I debate ripping open the door and chasing after them. But Eros wouldn’t have let me out if they were still anywhere close by. “And what did they want?”

  “I think they think you’re here.”

  “Well, I am here.”

  “Exactly, and that’s going to be a problem.”

  “What do you want to do, Eros? Haul me back to Athens? Because I don’t want to get back into your solo anytime soon. What I want to do is go to Glyden and be with Nico and Holter. Because I love them. I know it might not be safe, but I need to tell them I’m okay.” I’m furious about so many things. And I don’t get furious. I’m rational Annabelle. Figure-it-out Annabelle. Captured by mermen? Escape. But then I rescued Nico. And then I went and fell in love with him and Holter. When Eros offered to save him, I figured he would, I don’t know, save him. And then let me go home. Not keep me here and mate me.

  Granted, I get it. He hadn’t thought things all the way through yet, either.

  I take a step closer to him. This giant of a man. His handsome smirk is missing. I poke him in the middle of his chest. “I’m glad you were able to help Nico. Thank you.” I stop and swallow hard. But I need him to know this. I touch my neck. “This, to me, isn’t a joke. I’m not a prize to be won or lost. Because I have other mates. I’m yours, but I’m also theirs too. You know that.” I give him a little tap, and his eyes widen.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. We need to tell them I’m here.” My hand flattens out on his chest. I don’t want to have the feelings I’m having right now. I wish I could turn them off. But there is something about Eros—his charm, his little smile—that has me wanting him more and more with each breath. “I want us all safe.”

  “I know. But it’s an unsolvable puzzle.”

  “I’m a scientist, and I really admire you telling me you don’t have the answer. Pretending you have a solution when you don’t is even more frustrating. No one likes a liar.”

  “True, no one likes a liar.” He sighs. “They brought me a gift and said it was from you. I’m guessing they’re trying to figure out if you’re here. There will be tech in it. You should talk into it. Tell them you’re okay, that you can stay here until they figure out who is attacking Glyden.”

  The doorbell buzzes.

  “The door—it’s Michio. Is it okay that you stay in here?”

  “What’s another few minutes?”

  He shuts the door, and I look back at the book. I read the same paragraph ten times. I still don’t know what it says. Not that it’s a complex concept, but my temper is at full alert. I want to throw something, toss a book on the ground. But not in here. The texts are too fragile, too important.

  Instead, I decide to move. The room is small, but I do a few laps around the table before the door opens. Eros has his finger to his lips. He places a package on the table and takes my hand. When we’re in the living room with the door to the secret room closed behind us, that’s when I notice a male standing in front of us. He’s clearly Eros’s brother.

  “Annabelle, this is my brother Michio. He’s the governor of Zaffiro and the oldest of my brothers.”

  Michio, a smidgeon taller than Eros, has the same dark hair with the perfect wave, but the scowl on his face brings out the ridge of his forehead. He’s not happy to see me.

  “Hello,” I say.

  “He mated you.”

  “He did.” I stand with my shoulders back and my stomach taut. I’ve faced plenty of male professors who don’t like women in the sciences. His scorn for me is nothing new.

  “And your other mates don’t know about it, do they?”

  I pause. I don’t want to look to Eros for confirmation. “What happens in a pod is only for the pod to know about.”

  Michio’s smirk is the same as Eros’s.

  When I turn to Eros, he’s not smirking; he’s outright smiling. “She’s right, pods don’t share.”

  “Except they seemed to do it with you all the time, didn’t they, brother?”

  Eros’s smile disappears. “Are you going to help me or not?”

  “I’ll help you.” But the way he says it leaves a chill down my arm. Michio sits on the circular sofa, his arm resting on the back. He crosses his ankle over the opposing knee. His hand is on his block, his fingers flying faster than a freshman texting in class. “I’m the governor of Zaffiro, but I also have an office in Athens. I wasn’t there last week, but I have a colleague who was, our cousin.”

  Eros is pacing. “Daimon? Your big idea is Daimon Petrakis?”

  I look between Eros and Michio. They’re not alike at all. Eros is dangerous like Nico, but he’s wound a lot tighter. He’s skittish. It’s no surprise to me that he’s invited—used to be invited—into a lot of pod beds. He’s handsome, skilled, and fun. Guys like Michio, however, are handsome and dangerous. But unlike Eros, I’m not drawn to Michio at all. Why do I have no doubt that however he helps us is going to come back and haunt me?

  There’s a whirling outside. It’s the first noise from outside the dome I’ve picked up on. Eros double-checks that I’m out of view and pulls the side of the tight curtain back. “They’re taking away the shark.”

  My heart pangs for the big guy. I know he’s confused too. “How is Daimon going to help?” I need to get back to the apartment. I need to touch my mates, my other mates. I glance from Eros to Michio.

  “He’s going to lie,” Michio says. “The feed is full of how you’re missing. We say you were in Athens with him.”

  I nod. “For a society based on science, rituals, and laws, there’s a heck of a lot of lying going on.”

  “You said she was smart, but she’s perceptive too.”

  Eros glares at his brother. “No.”

  “What?” Michio drops his block on his leg.

  “We don’t need your help. Forget I asked.” His hands are tense at his sides.

  “You need me, Eros,” Michio says.

  “You might be right, but I’m not . . . No.”

  Michio laughs. “What are you afraid of, little brother? You think I want to join you in your pod?” Michio raises his eyebrows at me. His devious smirk is back. And while I find it intoxicating in Eros, in Michio it’s not. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life looking at your naked ass either, brother. Relax.”

  Eros crosses his arms over his chest and looks at me. “I’m not looking for any more pod mates. The ones I have seem to have enough difficulty staying out of trouble.”

  Michio laughs and slaps his leg. “Yes, well, at least you chose wisely, brother. I was afraid you’d end up with that possessive Vitrom guppy. Do you want my help or not? I’m busy. I have a ball to attend.” Michio says ball like it’s a death sentence.

  Eros glances at me, and I incline my head. This is up to him. Any way we plan it out, it’s going to have consequences for us moving forward. So many consequences.

  “Yes. Where is Daimon now?” Eros leans forward.

  “He’s just gone back to Athens. But he traveled back at the right time. It will buy you time to find a safe spot for your mate.”

  “He’s a courier now?” Eros asks like being a courier is beneath Daimon.

  “Don’t worry about what Daimon is doing, only that he is willing to help.”

  “And how do I say I found him and he brought me back?” I ask.

  Michio stands and hands me a typical human business card. The front is in Greek. The back says Deep Blue Jewels, and there’s a vector mermaid tail with scales made out of gems. “We have a storefront in Athens. It’s not far from the airport. In fact, we have digital marketing on the airport screens. Say you saw it and came to the store.” He holds out his block. A photo of a merman with dark hair and piercing blue eyes is on it.

  “That’s Daimon?”

  Eros moves to my side. “Yes. You say you begged for him to bring you back and he did. But he brought you to me. That you weren’t sure they wanted you, so you stayed here.”

  “It’s an alibi. But I’m telling Nico and Holter the truth.”

  Eros and Michio share a look. “Fine, Sunshine, you can.”

  “Good, now where is that book?”

  “Book?” Michio says, his scowl back in place.

  24

  CASTOR

  “You’re not going.” I glare at my best friend. A day ago, he was still having tremors from the Arg-leth, the poison—one of the many things—that almost killed him. Yes, we’ve talked to Annabelle through the book, but this can wait. He’s not strong enough yet.

  “I’m going.”

  Holter laughs.

  “What are you laughing about?”

  “You. You think you can keep him from going to the Vividaria ball? That’s absurd. We have the plan. Annabelle is going to appear at the ball with Eros’s sister. A public event, one that will show everyone she’s here, but where no one would dare attack her. Vividaria, it’s the perfect timing. You know it, I know it, and Mr. Death’s Door knows it.”

  “I’m good. I want to see her. The waiting is killing me.” Nico is sitting on the side of my childhood bed. A traditional nightshirt hangs open, the ties swinging at his waist. It’s dirty; he’s sweated through it. The nurses have offered to bathe him. At least one did before he scared them out of the room.

  “You are far from good,” I say. “You’re not even in the same ocean as fair. You don’t even know the address of ‘almost okay.’”

  He glares at me again.

  “Seriously, Nico. After everything you’ve been through, don’t let going out to a ball to collect Annabelle be what kills you. She will be here afterwards, and with all the security improvements we’ve made, no one will get close to Glyden.”