I look down, my eyes widening as I realize what he is seeing. In my anger, I forgot all about the clothes. My waist-long hair is doing nothing to preserve my modesty. I grab the door and hide my lower half. Water droplets fly around me and glint in the fluorescent light. I stick my tongue out at him and close the door.
Proceeding to hit my forehead with the heel of my palm, I scream silently.
I just want my stupid tail back. Why the hell did I do that?!
I grab my disgusting clothes and then drop them on the floor. They still smell terrible.
I slide to the ground, wanting to cry and wallow in embarrassment, but another knock interrupts me a few moments later. I intentionally wrap myself in a towel and crack open the door. Only my head pops out, and I see Jean Luc standing with a pile of clothes. I’m still blushing furiously when I take them, so I close the door quickly and return to my hell.
I hate that Captain.
I dress quickly, trying to ignore that I smell like him.
I Can’t Sleep Right When She’s Here
ERIK
It’s been two days since Helena hijacked my shower and used my shampoo. I rub my eyes, trying to eliminate the memory of her standing in the doorway, dangerously gorgeous, flushed, and dripping with water from my brain. Not for the first time, might I add.
Yup. Two incredibly long, hellish days. Yesterday, we finally left Ice Mer waters, which means that I am meant to kill her by sundown tomorrow. If she hadn't invaded my thoughts, maybe I wouldn’t feel like a paper shredder is working on each of my internal organs. When I informed Conrad yesterday, he nodded before heading off to ensure we were on course. There was a part of me that was angry he didn’t try to stop me.
After this, I’m going to need a break. I’m getting too emotional, too involved, and it’s affecting my health.
Case in point: my current predicament. I’m sleeping on the small settee in my office, of all places, because the Crown Princess has taken up residence in the room across from mine. My neck has a weird kink, and my legs are sore from being bunched up for hours. I woke up from a less-than-stellar sleep ten minutes ago. Already, I can tell that this day will be a horrible one.
It’s all because of her. I don’t understand why she is being so damned frustrating. She asked for a book. It was given to her.
Should be enough, right?
Wrong.
She left these notes all over my ship,and thenshe had the gall to use my things.
A small, niggling voice at the back of my head tells me that my irritation is a placeholder for the awfulness of my situation, but I shove the thought away like it’s bad sushi. It’s best if I pretend that none of this is happening. After all, all anyone else will know is that the Ice Mer Princess disappeared. It’s none of my business.
I straighten my collar.
It’s fine if I’m mad about people using my things. I’m the captain, and this whole ship belongs to me. I should be able to leave my things wherever I want. If I want to leave all my clothes strewn over the deck, then I will. Should I choose to parade around naked, I will. No one will stop me.
Effectively numbed to reality and confident in my masculine right to my own space, I stand and stretch. I walk intomybathroom, shower inmyshower and then walk intomymess hall to have some coffee.
By the time I’ve finished my third cup of liquid gold, I’ve reached a conclusion: I’m not going to let some spoiled, bewitching Ice Mer princess take away my freedom. It’s not just my life, it’s the money too.
The thousands of gold marks that have been wasted in the hands of malevolent royalty should be reserved for those who actually need it. When I think of those who suffer, the humans without homes or jobs, left to the whims of the climate, or superior beings, my stomach roils. For the first time, I am angry enough not to care about the brutal reality. By the time the sun sets tomorrow, Helena will have breathed her last breath. It will be a small price to pay for what I can do as a free man.
Buoyed by the thought of a brighter future, I leave the mess hall feeling better than I have in days. I’m going to spend the day on the deck. I will talk to my men, do my job and enjoy the feeling of the sun on my face.
My plan works for all of three hours.
That’s all it takes before LaRue runs up to me on the deck and says, “Captain, there’s a call on your FaePhone for you.”
LaRue is panting as he extends his hand. He is holding the silver FaePhone like it’s a used diaper. It’s still ringing, the tune nothing but a set of rapid, high-pitched trills. Instantly, I know who is on the other line. That ringtone only belongs to one person.
I snatch the phone and accept the call by sliding my thumb across the screen.
“Hello?” I say, shoving the sailor aside and crossing to the railing. “This is Erik.”
“Please hold for His Majesty, King Phelix.” A shrill voice comes through the speaker. Gods-awful waiting room music begins blasting in my ear, and I grimace. I sit through ten minutes of mind-numbing music before it abruptly stops.