As I watch Prince Edwyrd’s ship sail away in the distance, anger roils deep inside me. He was a fool to break off his betrothal to Halla. That he could so easily do this simply because of her injury tells me that he would never have been worthy of her. If she were mine, I would never let her go.
Ever since she saw his ship, she’s been pushing herself harder than I’ve ever seen her do before. She has swum several laps back and forth between the rocks and the shoreline, bringing her to the point of exhaustion.
I watch her float on her back, staring up at the sky. Her chest rises and falls as she struggles to catch her breath.
“Shall we go back?” I ask, concerned.
“Not yet. I want to do another lap.”
I frown. “You push yourself too hard, Halla. You should rest.”
Her blue eyes narrow. “You’re just worried I’ll beat you, aren’t you?”
I laugh. “You’ve discovered the truth.”
A wide smile splits her face. “I’m going to swim to that far rock formation, Errik. I think I can make it.”
My expression sobers. I know which one she is talking about; this rock lies very far out to sea. The waves are much stronger there, and I worry she could be hurt.
“I do not think that would be wise.”
“Why not?”
“We’ve been swimming for hours. You’re exhausted. Your arms were already shaking when we swam the last lap, and your legs—” I stop short. She hates when I mention her disability, but I know that I must. “I do not think you will make it.”
She narrows her eyes. “The first thing you should learn about me, Errik, is that I never back down from a challenge.”
I have obviously offended her, and I open my mouth to assuage her, but she turns and starts for the rocks. I’m surprised by how quickly she can swim without the use of her legs. I doubt I’d be as fast if I were unable to use my tail.
I join her, keeping pace. She grins at me as she slices her hands through the water in that strange way humans help propel themselves forward while swimming. “Having a hard time keeping up?”
I arch a brow. “I am Mer. My body was made to move through the water. You’ll have to do better than that if you plan to beat me to the rocks.”
To my complete and utter surprise, she accelerates. She still isn’t swimming faster than me, but her pace is impressive, nonetheless.
A giant wave rushes toward us, and she takes a deep breath and dives beneath the surface. When she comes up on the other side, she draws in great gulping breaths of air.
I gaze at her in concern. “We should turn back, Halla.”
“No,” she snaps before diving beneath another wave.
I clench my jaw at her stubbornness. It’s going to get her killed someday.
I slip beneath the wave, watching her struggle to swim. Without the full use of her legs, her arms must work harder to compensate, and it is easy to see that she is already tiring when we’re not even halfway there.
When we surface, I request again, “We should go back.”
“No, I can make it, Errik. I know I can.”
Her face is set in a mask of determination as she presses on.
Another wave approaches quickly, and she dives, but not soon enough. The swell catches her, and I watch in horror as she goes tumbling underwater.
She cries out, and a stream of bubbles escapes her mouth along with all of her air.
I pull her into my arms and seal my mouth over hers, breathing air into her lungs.
When I pull back, she studies me. Her scarlet hair rises around her head, swaying with the tide. I gather her in my arms and swim to the surface. Her arms tremble with exhaustion as her hold weakens.
I lean down and whisper in her ear, “It’s all right, Halla. You can relax. I’ve got you.”
She sags against me as I swim us back to our rock island near the castle.
Carefully, I carry her onto the shore. I prop us both against a rock to sit up. She is quiet, her gaze fixed on the horizon across the sea. A tear slips down her cheek, but she quickly brushes it away.
I take her hand. “What is wrong?”
“Nothing,” she denies.
“Halla. Whatever it is, you can tell me. Is it Edwyrd? Is it because you saw his ship?”
She turns away, but even from this angle, I can see another tear roll down her cheek. “He rejected me because of my condition, Errik.” Her voice quavers. “I thought I was getting stronger.”
I squeeze her hand. “You are getting stronger. Every day. I can see it.”
“Every day I keep hoping… praying that I’ll somehow be able to walk again, but I still cannot, Errik. Prince Edwyrd didn’t want me because he thinks I’m broken… and I’m starting to believe that he’s right.”
I gather her to my chest, holding her close as I run my fingers through the long scarlet strands of her hair. I whisper in her ear. “You are not broken, Halla.” I pull back just enough to drop my forehead gently to hers. “Edwyrd was a fool to reject you. You are the strongest, bravest, and most beautiful female I have ever known. Any male who cannot see this, does not deserve you.”
I’m completely mesmerized as her blue eyes search mine. Her gaze drops to my mouth and my heart hammers as she leans in. The warmth of her breath fans across my skin and I go still.
Gently, her lips brush against mine in a featherlight touch.
“Halla!” her brother calls out, startling us both.
She pulls back, her eyes wide. “I’m sorry, Errik. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Halla, I—”
“I have to go.” She starts to swim toward the shore, but stops and looks over her shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
There is nothing I’d rather do more than see her again. Tomorrow, the day after… and every day for the rest of my life. “Yes.”
