Page 22 of A Sea So Cruel
Halsten stood behind her and shrugged as he shot Kaid a look that saidI have no idea how to help you, mate.Useless. Kaid’s chief courtier was bloody useless. That was his fault for hiring his best friend for the job.
Asta ball her fists at her sides.
He pinched the flowing sleeve of her blouse then let it fall. “What if I wanted to match you, Princess? Though I do think I wore it better, if there’s a competition.”
The lord held his arms out wide and spun in a circle before striking multiple muscle-displaying poses.He swore he saw the corners of Asta’s mouth twitch up then quickly turn back down.
Asta looked to the remaining group of people behind them and waved a hand. “Leave us.”
Linnea lingered for a moment and Asta whispered something to the auburn-haired woman that had her following the previous order, taking Dyri with her. Halsten clapped Kaid on the back as he left and the second twin gestured that she would be watching from afar.
As soon as they were alone, Asta commanded Kaid to show her everything he remembered from their lessons. He fumbled with some of the words and Asta helped correct them, noticing how quickly she pulled away every time she touched him to fix a finger placement or wrist angle.
After about thirty minutes, Asta was pleased enough to allow him to stop. To Kaid’s surprise, she sat in the sand and started removing her boots. He watched in curiosity as she rolled up her pant legs as high as they would go.
“What are you doing?” he asked as she approached the water.
Asta peered over her shoulder and smiled, something wicked in her grin.
The princess stepped into the waves until the water was halfway up her calves. “The water hasn’t yet cooled from the turning seasons. Figured I’d let myself enjoy it one last time before I’m forced to avoid it for the entirety of winter. Join me?”
Kaid shook his head. “Not much of a swimmer. I prefer land.”
“Afraid of getting wet, like a pampered pussy cat? That makes sense.”
The lord narrowed his eyes at her and crossed his arms over his chest. Asta shrugged and turned away.
Kaid watched her as she kicked her legs around, the seawater rippling against the tide. The water was so tempting, but he remembered his father’s warnings.
Danger. Evil. Death.
But how? How could the sea be filled with such cruel things and yet feel so enchanting? It called to him, like an instrument yearning to be played. Could he resist the song of the sea for the rest of his life?
Asta was so stunning as she meandered about in the clear blue water. Her blonde, wavy hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall and her sage eyes glistened from the reflection of the mirrorlike substance below her. This version of Asta was far different from the warrior he had seen the other night, but still as captivating. She was just so—
Water smacked Kaid on his face, his chest, his legs. Asta burst into laughter as he stumbled back, then she doubled over and held her stomach.
Irritating. She was just soirritating.
Emotions ran through Kaid. Worry from the ocean water touching him, something his father had warned him to avoid. Relief that nothing detrimental happened immediately, even though it had been embedded into his brain since childhood. And annoyance, because Asta was finding so much amusement in his discomfort.
Kaid took a step back, worry coursing through him. He couldn’t feel an earthquake, there wasn’t a tsunami on the horizon, hail wasn’t falling from the sky. No, the thing that worried him was that he wanted more. So much more of theocean that it was causing him to grind his teeth. Causing every muscle in his body to seize.
The ocean was pulling him in. Whispering to him. A flash of white glowing eyes flickered in his mind. The courtesan’s eyes.
Closer, young male. Come closer, and you will discover your fate.
The faint hushes were all Kaid could hear, as though something long asleep inside of him had finally awoken. The waves carried the voices of the sea to him and he couldn’t step away.
Return, Lost One. Return to sea.
Every spot where the water had touched his skin warmed and tingled. It felt familiar, yet new. Young, yet old. Welcoming, yet harrowing.
“Kaid!” He felt his body shake and he snapped from his stupor. He was face-to-face with Asta, her sea glass eyes frantically darting all over him. She was panting, her grip on his shoulders so tight it would surely leave a bruise. Was she worried?
Kaid looked down to see that he was a few inches from the water and he jumped back.
What the hell was that? His conversation he’d had with Niklas during their beach walk one night came back to him, pouring into his thoughts like a current sweeping him away. Was that a siren trying to lure him in? Or was that how it felt to be called by a finfolk?
