Patiently waiting until he sets his silverware down, I lay one arm over the other on the table and ask my first question, "Did you know Zanthus and I did the mating thing?"
Four different reactions happen instantaneously at my words. Merrick smiles with surprise and nods toward Zanthus, who I see in the corner of my eye has his chest puffed out in pride. Zephyr on my other side barks a laugh that shakes the table while Zale chokes on his drink. No one bothers to help him either.
He's still sputtering when he tries to admonish me. "Damselfish, that's hardly appropriate conversation for breakfast."
I roll my eyes at him before focusing back on Merrick as he answers, "I felt a shift in power. We all did, so I assumed something had happened between you and the princes."
"The necklace or talisman, whatever you want to call it," I continue, compelled to get my information, "burned me then exploded like a bomb. Do you know why?"
Zanthus' growl stops Merrick's curious inspection of my body, forcing his eyes back up to mine as he answers, "If I had to guess, I'd say it was part of the witch's magic being released."
"So, it wasn't part of the curse breaking?" I ask.
One side of his lips turns up in a half smile. "A different witch cast that spell, highness. One would have nothing to do with the other."
Dismay weighs my heart down, so I don't bother correcting the highness thing.
Then, giving me a small amount of hope back, he adds, "However, we all felt the stirs of our magic at the same time. It faded quickly, but it was there. So either the spell is weakening or whatever you did is working."
Heat fills my cheeks, but I'm not ashamed of mating with my brutish mer. Nor will I be with the other two. It doesn't matter, though, because his words have put my mind on another track.
"You say we all. How many is that? How many survivors were there after the war?" I ask, tossing out the questions for any of them to answer.
Zale picks it up. "We're only fifty or so strong here and the Keep is the main thing that kept us from perishing with the rest of our brethren."
"I don't think I'm following," I admit. "What did the curse actually do?"
"It sealed away the powers of any living descendant of Poseidon," Merrick replies smoothly.
I sit up straight and hold my palms up. "Wait, Poseidon is real?"
"In the same sense that any god is real under a religion," he tells me.
Zeph throws his arm on the back of my chair and rubs a thumb across my shoulder. "Where do you think human mythology stems from, little siren? They aren't that creative on their own."
I bristle defensively for a moment before remembering I wasn't actually born into the human realm.
Sucking in a breath and letting it out slowly, I ask, "So, if you hadn't been close to the Keep when she put the curse into effect, what would've happened?"
"We'd all be dead," Zanthus states at my side. No preamble, no working up to the big reveal. Just facts, plain and simple.
Merrick's voice drops into a soothing tone. "Many lives were lost in vain that day. We know not of the other Keeps or kingdoms because the curse doesn't allow us to travel far enough away. Since no one came for the princes, it's a safe bet to assume they've all perished or are suffering the same fate."
Two birds with one stone with that answer, but I'm still curious enough to ask, "There's more than one kingdom?"
"Yes, highness," he says, standing and going to grab a book off the shelf. He flips through several pages before twisting it around to set in front of me. "There are five total and each with their own ruler. The princes are heirs to the kingdom of the south, Yhalwgon."
Glancing at the large map spanning both pages of the book, I determine the name is in their language because it looks nothing like his pronunciation 'all-gen'. Still though, it'd be hard to deny that out of the five kingdoms, it's the largest by far. A huge round chunk of land sits off by itself in the corner of the map, surrounded completely by water. Four smaller islands are spread throughout the ocean.
"Not to be rude or seem ignorant," I start, running a finger over the page, "but why are the kingdoms above water? Aren't mermaids supposed to have underwater palaces like Atlantis or something?"
Zephyr chuckles again, and even Merrick smiles as he explains, "That was the way of our people long ago. Until our ancestral leaders grew bored and desired more power. It's said they searched to be rulers of both land and sea. Thus, creating the five kingdoms. It's where the royal palaces now reside. Many of our people used to live within the kingdoms as well, but with the females gone and every man at war, there's no telling the state of disrepair that fell upon our once-wealthy land."
This conversation has taken a more than morbid turn, but I feel the need to keep pressing. My entire life has been one big April Fool's joke, and I’m being left with what feels like very little time to fix it.
"Will one of you teach me the Luanerik language?" I request.
"Zale would love you to teach you, little siren," Zephyr volunteers, smirking at his brother at the end of the table. "He always excelled at studies and is a decent instructor."
I'm surprised he tacked on a compliment, but I turn to the man in question who nods in return.
Diving in with two feet, I put the attention back on Merrick. "Do you think that once I'm mated with the other two princes it will break the curse?"
"It's a possibility, highness," he agrees.
"You really don't have to call me that, Merrick," I tell him, which earns a stern scowl from Zanthus.
"Yes, you do," he tells the man. "You need to get used to being addressed per your station, Princess, because once this curse is lifted and we've reclaimed our kingdom, you'll be crowned our queen."
My heart pounds in fear. Through all of this other crazy business with curses and witches and sexy ass mermen, I never stopped to think about the after. Holy royal balls in a handbasket. I hope the panic sitting in my chest isn't written on my face.
Merrick's voice softens again. "The curse didn't come with an instruction manual, but if I had to guess, I'd say that we're on the right track."
Fidgeting and my mind now on other things, I hum goodbyes to Zanthus and Zephyr when they get up to leave, both dropping a kiss against the top of my head.
I go to help clean up, but Merrick tsks, and Zale pulls me away.
Letting him lead me to a comfortable chair near the aquatic barrier in the room, I then get to admire his backside as he turns to take a couple books off a shelf.
Boldly, not caring if I get busted, my head tilts sideways when he moves to keep enjoying the view as I ask, "Why do we eat in the study? Is there not a dining room or something of the sort in the Keep?"
Finally, he spins back around, the pride in his smile evident for being under my scrutiny. "There is one here, but it's this massive formal thing. My brothers and I have habitually made this a routine. We'd be more than happy to use the other room if you prefer."
Shaking my head, I decline, "No, that's okay. I was just curious. Would it be okay to explore the Keep some?"
"Of course you can, Damselfish," he says instantly. "This is your home, and while we're still protected underneath the barrier, you're as safe as you'll ever be. Just promise me you'll take one of us with you for the sake of our sanity."