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  “Aidan tells us you are a human scholar,” King Lucius said. Bridget looked around at the packed hall. She’d never been one for public speaking, so she merely nodded her head. “Wonderful! How very fortunate that we have found you. Please, join me at my table.”

  Caderyn led her to a chair next to the king and took his place beside her. The gathered found their way to other tables, openly staring at her in curiosity. Watching as the king took a drink from his goblet, she slowly picked up the one before her and did the same. It was a liquor of some sort, very stout. She coughed lightly and instantly King Lucius and Caderyn’s hands were on her and the hall became silent.

  “Are you well?” Caderyn asked, concerned.

  “My lady?” King Lucius inquired.

  Bridget nodded and whispered, “It’s strong.”

  “You are not hurt?” King Lucius persisted. He patted her like he expected her to poof into dust if he pressed any harder. “Should we call the healer?”

  “I’m fine. Really.” Bridget found herself leaning closer to Caderyn.

  The king waved his hand and the gathering again began to talk. She heard laughter all around her and excitement seemed to buzz through the air. Servants came by with bowls of water. She followed Caderyn’s example and dipped her fingers in, washing her hands.

  Servers brought out platters of food. She nearly choked to see fish that was on the menu. Almost horrified, she looked at Caderyn. He didn’t seem to notice.

  “I am sorry. We would’ve planned a proper banquet for you, had we known,” King Lucius said, drawing her attention back around to him. “But, I promise to rectify that soon.”

  Bridget looked at the great feast in awe. There were giant roasted fishes, piled high with vegetables and spiced with what smelled like ginger. There was a stack of warm flatbreads, scrambled eggs, nuts, dates, bowls of fruit and pitchers of wine and beer. It was more food than she’d ever seen in one place—except maybe on a restaurant buffet.

  “Allow me,” Caderyn said softly at her side. He served her a little from each dish, putting it on the rectangular plate. She watched him, touched by the sweet gesture. When he caught her staring, he gave a slight nod, but no smile. There was no silverware, except for the serving spoons. They ate with their hands, scooping the food with the flatbread.

  Caderyn dined in silence, not speaking. The king, however, asked her question after question. She wasn’t sure if it was her novelty, or a true curiosity about the world above, that prompted him. Dessert pastries, stuffed with fruit and glazed with honey, were brought around. She didn’t want the pastry, but she was too scared of offending them, so she forced it down.

  By the time she’d finished, she was so full she couldn’t breathe. It seemed like hours passed before Caderyn finally stood, escorting her from the hall. She was glad to get out of there.

  “You did well,” was all he said.

  Bridget wondered at his words but didn’t ask. The small compliment gave her some pleasure. She was too tired to think straight. These had been the longest couple of days of her life, and it wasn’t even nighttime yet.

  Caderyn brought her to his home, showed her the ‘bathing room’ and bid her to try to get some more rest as he left. Bridget watched him leave before turning to the bedroom. All she wanted to do was sleep and hopefully, in the morning, she’d discover that this was all a bad dream.

  Chapter 9

  The dream didn’t end. If anything it only became all the more surreal. The next morning she was spared the banquet hall as Caderyn brought her a tray of fruit for breakfast. The large pink slices had a salty sweet flavor to them and were extra juicy. As she ate, he left her, only to come back with several male tailors.

  “A gift from King Lucius,” Caderyn said, his jaw tight. He again left, leaving her alone with the men.

  Bridget wondered at his words. Caderyn had said he would get her tailors. Now they were a gift from King Lucius? She tried not to read anything into it. More than likely, it was nothing.

  The tailors measured her for dresses. They handed her bolts of material and fashion plates to choose from. It was all overwhelming and she wished Caderyn had stayed to help her out. She had no idea what was considered standard attire, so she just picked stuff she hoped would blend in with everyone else. A few times the tailors frowned at her choices, but when she tried to get their opinion, they refused to say.

  It took the better part of two days for them to finish their constant measuring and to get through all the material and patterns. During that time she had many visitors. Caderyn came and went, but hardly spoke. He brought her food, seeming to understand that she didn’t want to go back to the dining hall. Finally, after she agreed to more gowns than she’d ever owned in her life, the tailors left her alone.

  That night, she again slept by herself in Caderyn’s bed. It smelled like him, which made it hard to actually sleep. She found herself terribly aroused and unable to do anything about it. She stared around his bedroom, wishing she would get up the nerve to snoop. But, the only thing she really wanted to snoop in was the tall, skinny wardrobe. It was locked.

  Bridget knew Caderyn stayed on his couch, but he never once complained at the inconvenience. She took a shower each evening, loving the feel of the warm water. Shaving was awkward, as she had to use a straight blade, but she managed with only a few nicks.

  The morning of her fourth day at the palace, as he set the tray of fruit on a small table for her, Caderyn said, “The scholars have requested to meet you, my lady.”

  Bridget stood, crossing over to him and the tray. “You know, you saved my life. You don’t have to call me that.”

  He studied her, his expression shaded. “Aye, I do.”

  Bridget touched his arm. She looked shyly down to where her fingers lay against his strong, bronzed flesh. Biting her lip, she said, “I never did thank you for that.”

  “Yes, you did as I brought you from the healer’s right after the drowning. You must not remember. And you are welcome,” he answered. The smell of him, the warmth of his nearness, it stirred inside her. Nights spent trying not to have fantasies about him surged forth. “But, I was just doing my duty.”

  “But, you’ve fed me, given me your bed.” Bridget let her hand run up over his bare arm. He was so warm. Just being near him caused moisture to gather between her thighs, making her so wet she couldn’t see straight. There was something about this warrior-hunter man that always made her want to jump on him, straddle his waist and offer herself to him. When he didn’t move away, she looked up into his eyes. “I wish there was some way I could repay you for all you’ve done.”

  “My lady,” he began.

  Bridget cut him off by lifting up on her toes and pecking his lips lightly with hers. She waited to see what he would do. His eyes widened in what had to be surprise, but he didn’t pull away in repulsion. She rested her hands on his shoulders and did it again, brushing her lips to his. This time, she didn’t stop. She pulled his face to hers, deepening the pressure. Parting her lips, she moaned softly, running her tongue along the seam of his lips. He tasted like wine and fruit.

  Hands brushed her waist lightly, but did not pull her close. They fell away. He let her kiss him, allowing her mouth to work against his. Then, grabbing her hands, he pulled her off him and set her back.

  “You don’t have to do that. I don’t expect it,” he said, letting her go and stepping away.

  Bridget didn’t want to open her eyes. He was rejecting her. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. She was so aroused, so needy, and he wasn’t in the least affected. Only after she’d turned away from him did she open her eyes.

  “You should eat.” Caderyn sounded apologetic, which only made her feel worse. Great, now she was rejected and pitied.

  “Fine. If you still want me to, I’ll meet your scholars.” Bridget took a bite, doing her best to act nonchalant. The slices were sour with just a touch of sweet, like a lemony orange. However, in her haste to play it cool, she stuffed her mouth w
ith the food, choking slightly. She swallowed, coughing violently. Caderyn patted her back. The touch was purely functional. It stung her ego more than his words ever could. She said nothing.

  After she had eaten, she followed him from the home. “Will Aidan be there?”

  At that Caderyn finally smiled. He chuckled lightly, as if at a private joke. “Aye. He is one of them. He is most anxious to probe your mind.”

  Bridget laughed nervously at his choice of words. ‘Probing’ sounded suspiciously like something from science fiction. Though, looking around, so did merfolk and underwater worlds.

  “Caderyn?” she asked, biting her lip.

  “Aye?”

  “Do we have to go at this exact moment? Could we maybe just walk around the palace? Or perhaps the city?” Bridget hoped that she would get outside and find the sky above her head.

  “If you like,” he answered, unconcerned. He relaxed some at her request. She had noticed that no one seemed to be in a hurry in this place.

  The palace was pretty much the same wherever they went. The long halls led to the hunters’ wing where Caderyn lived, to the dining hall, the kitchens, the king’s quarters where Caderyn refused to take her. In fact, he went by them a little too quickly.

  As they walked, they passed several more people whom she hadn’t met, each one seeking to meet the ‘human.’ For the most part, the Merr were nice. They were very interested in her and treated her with more respect than she’d first expected. Bridget smiled as politely as she could, and gave as little of an answer as possible.

  Caderyn was a gentleman the whole time. Not once did he touch her or look at her for too long. She wondered at her disappointment. It was as if he wasn’t attracted to her at all. Well, judging by his reaction to her kiss, he wasn’t. She felt like a fool. If he was a merman, he probably wasn’t attracted. It was too bad. She found him incredibly sexy. The more she was in his presence, the more attracted she became—at least on a very primal level. She’d spent more time fantasizing about sex with Caderyn than she had thinking about logic and science. That was a definite first for her.

  “Is this real? I mean, you don’t look like…” Bridget hesitated as he turned his purple eyes to her. She really liked his eyes—dark violet. They were beautiful. “You look human. I mean, are you? Is this some kind of joke? Or a military brainwashing facility of some sort meant to confuse me?”

  “You still don’t believe us?”

  “How can I? We’re speaking the same language. If what you claim is true, you’d be talking some ancient dialect. No one here seems to even have an accent—”

  “It is not the same. You hear your language, I hear mine,” he said. “At least, that is the best we can make of it. Or maybe it’s that we automatically all speak the same language here. It’s hard to say for sure. Sometimes you just have to accept that it is what it is.”

  Bridget nodded.

  “If I show you? Will that help you to believe?” Caderyn stepped closer to her.

  Bridget again nodded. She looked down his firm body to his legs. With him standing so close she could feel the heat from him, smell the clean fragrance of his soap. He had teased her senses since that first day. “Yes.”

  “As you wish, my lady.”

  She followed him down the hall to a room. Two guards stood before a large, circular door. One sat in a chair, toying with the hem of his dark cloak. The other leaned against the wall. They both looked up in surprise at the intrusion.

  “Brennus,” Caderyn said.

  “Aye, my lord,” said the man who was seated. He instantly stood.

  “I’m to show Lady Bridget the caves.” Caderyn motioned back to her.

  The two guards looked at each other. Not as quickly as before, Brennus nodded. “Aye.”

  The men pushed the round door aside, straining under its weight. The cave was dim, but as they left the door open, light was reflected off the cave walls. Colorful gems caught the torches, reflecting it down the passageway.

  “It’s lovely,” she gasped in pleasure, intrigued by the cave passageway. Tiny lights danced over her hand as she lifted it.

  “Watch your step,” Caderyn said, holding out his arm to guide her. The path was made of uneven rock. They followed it downward for several paces. Bridget stopped to study the walls several times. He gently pulled her arm, getting her to follow. “These caves are the heart of our city.”

  “What’s that smell? It’s familiar,” Bridget said, taking a deep breath. The air was sweet, sort of a cross between a honeysuckle and rose, yet tangier.

  “Sea flowers. They’re in bloom. The women put it in their soaps.” Caderyn pulled away from her, stepping down a slight incline. “This is where we brought you in from the water.”

  Bridget stepped down. Before them was a narrow pool of water. She couldn’t see the bottom, but the gemstone light reflected off of it like multicolored stars. The glassy surface was still.

  “I remember the cold,” she whispered, coming closer to him. “You came to me.”

  “Aye,” he answered, not backing away.

  “And you…” She touched her lips, trying desperately to remember.

  “I breathed for you.” Caderyn looked at her mouth. For a second, she was sure he was going to kiss her. He didn’t.

  “How?” Bridget’s heart beat fast. Why was she torturing herself over this? She was the mutant freak here. He couldn’t want her. It was possible that a human and a Merr couldn’t even ‘work’ together in the bedroom.

  “Like this.” He leaned forward. His hands threaded behind his back, as if to keep from touching her. Bridget stiffened, watching him as he opened his mouth and tilted his head to the side. His mouth brushed hers, wrapping around her lips. She closed her eyes. The warmth of him spread through her body. Desire stirred heavily in her limbs and she tried to hold it at bay. She didn’t touch him and he didn’t hold her, save for their lips. Parting her lips slightly, she breathed him in. The air from his lungs filled her. It was incredibly intimate.

  Just when she was about to move her mouth along his in sensual invitation, he pulled back. Quietly, he asked, “You understand that I won’t hurt you?”

  “Yes.”

  He looked concerned. “You still want to see?”

  “Yes, show me. I need to know it’s true before I can even begin to accept what is happening here.”

  “I won’t be able to speak to you. We use telepathy when in the water.” Caderyn reached for his shoulder and unpinned the broach. His clothing slithered to the floor, and he stepped back. Bridget couldn’t help it. She had to look. He was completely naked and altogether very human in appearance. His strong legs led up to very trim hips and a lean waist. Nestled between his thighs was a very human, very large cock, and it was extremely erect.

  Bridget swallowed nervously. Caderyn looked down and chuckled, unembarrassed by his large arousal. Turning, he gave her the all too pleasing view of his taut butt. It dimpled just right in the cheeks when he moved.

  Okay, that is just mean!

  Like she wasn’t aroused enough to begin with! Now she had this image floating around in her brain. Her whole body surged with liquid hot arousal, pooling between her thighs and dampening her sex. Bridget balled her hands into fists, forcing them to stay at her sides.

  Raising his arms over his head, he dove into the black water. Bridget gasped as he broke the surface, almost scared of what might be down there. She couldn’t see anything. Several seconds passed, turning into longer minutes. She couldn’t take it as she leaned over the water in worry. Should she dive down after him? No man could stay under so long.

  “Caderyn?” she asked softly, before raising her voice to yell, “Caderyn? Can you hear me? Where did you go?”

  Chapter 10

  Caderyn let his body shift completely as he watched Bridget from below. He enjoyed taking her about the castle, spending time with her, even though she did seem nervous around him. But, really, how could he blame her for her fears? They were
only natural.

  When she’d pressed her mouth to his in his home earlier, she had tasted sweet on his lips, so sweet that he’d almost returned her kiss. But, she’d said it herself. She was only kissing him to repay him for saving her life. He didn’t want her to kiss him because she felt obligated, because she felt she owed him some kind of life debt. No doubt that was how she would look at it. Or, worse, she’d be with him because she was scared of her fate. He didn’t want to be her only option. Of course, that wouldn’t be the case, but it would be her reasoning.

  Caderyn knew that his constant desire for her had to be apparent. He couldn’t stop staring at her body every time she was near, and his arousal was always hard and full. It didn’t seem right relieving himself when she lay in the next room sleeping. Well, temptation had made him give in once, but he’d gone to the shower to take care of the affliction.

  His transformation into Merr form was mostly from the waist down. The freezing water had cooled his erection before the scales took it over completely. It was a small, physical relief only, for his blood still stirred with unreleased passion. There was a moment of discomfort as he breathed the first gulp of water through his gills, but he’d done it so many times in the past that he didn’t give it more than a passing notice.

  Bridget looked worried as she stared down after him. He watched curiously as she lifted her gown and dipped her toe into the water. She jerked it back. Leaning over the side, she reached down into the depths, holding her long sleeve up out of the way. Her hand came near his face, stirring the water as she searched, and he knew she couldn’t see him.

  Frowning, she bit her lip. He noticed she did that when she was uncomfortable or concentrating. Her mouth moved. She was calling his name. He heard it distorted by the water. Reaching further into the water, her fingers again swept close before drawing back.