Chapter 76 Illuminate
1051words
The merfolk law was ridiculous.
"I've been following you around enough to know you two have grown quite close," Graves said. He leaned closer, a grin spreading across his face. "In fact, I have a special talent."
"And whatever may that be," I couldn't hold back the sarcasm.
"I can see emotions," he continued. "And bonds between our kind."
"Right."
"You do know how the bond thing works?" he asked. He pointed to Kayn. "Did he tell you?"
"I have no idea what you're on about."
"You see, our kind has this thing called a bond mate. It's when you're connected to another one of our kind on a deep, personal level. It's pretty rare, but it's extraordinary when it does happen. It's like what you humans call love, but much, much stronger. It's fused into your being. You can't escape or run from it. If you fight it, it gets worse and worse."
"Oookay?"
"They always end up married and have babies and the works," he rolled his eyes. "The point is, this is where you come in, girl."
"Do elaborate."
"You have the bond with this one right here."
I wondered if merfolk smoked crack.
"Didn't you say that it only happens between merfolk?" I snorted.
"Exactly," his eyes lit up. "But you two have it, little human. It's unheard of. We don't form bonds with humans. Besides that, it's against our law for our kind and humans to mix. It's punishable by death."
I swallowed. "You're making this up to save your ass. There's no way we have that bond thing. We can't stand each other."
His brows raised, and the corners of his lips twisted into a grin. "Oh little human, your emotions toward this one is blazing hotter than the deepest depths of hell. And girl, the feeling is mutual."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I blustered.
"Why do you think he keeps saving your life?"
I blinked. "I'm best friends with his sister. He loves her and doesn't want to see her get hurt."
Graves threw back his head and laughed. "You two are hopeless, aren't you? How cute."
He turned around and snatched up a pair of chains from the table. "Unfortunately, it's not enough to save you."
"How are you going to prove we have this crazy bond thing going on?"
Graves lowered the chains and sighed. "You ask too many questions."
"You owe me the answers if you plan to hand us over to the council. I'd like to know why I and everyone else I care about is going to die for."
"Very well," he breathed. "I have the ability. To make emotions and connections visible," he sounded proud. "It's a highly valued talent around our people."
I noticed a shadow descending behind Graves. I stretched my neck to get a better look, only to withdraw immediately. I cursed under my breath when a jab of pain shot from my neck and down my spine.
I didn't want to think about how many bones I had broken.
"What, jealous now?" he smirked.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but I've been beaten up. Badly, I gritted.
He gave me a once-over and clucked his tongue. "Sucks to be human, doesn't it. Such feeble little things."
In my peripheral, I noted the shadow descend closer. Careful not to hurt myself further, I gradually turned my head to realize it was a school of snakelike fish.
Their behaviour was off. They moved too straight, too intent, and robotic.
I felt a flicker of hope.
My eyes swiveled toward Graves. "Show me. Please."
He placed down the chains he'd been working with, and my eyes bounced back toward the fish. My heartbeat sped up when I spotted a familiar face peering out from behind a cluster of kelp.
Hector raised a finger to his lips and shook his head. I nodded and flinched from another jab of pain. I tore my eyes back toward Graves in time as he turned to face me.
He released a sigh, but his expression was smug. He was a show-off, which counted in my favor because this could buy a distraction from whatever Hector planned to do.
Graves unlocked the cage and swam inside, pushing Kayn out of the way to get to me. As he did, I could see the severe injuries across Kayn's face and body.
A sick feeling expanded in the pit of my stomach. I inched closer toward him, placing a hand on his back to make sure he was still breathing.
I couldn't feel anything.
Graves snorted. "I would say he'll live, but we know that's not going to happen."
I swallowed down the array of insults I wanted to throw at him, trying to focus on keeping him distracted or from swimming out of the cage again.
"So, let's see what you can do." I grazed my palm across Kayn's back until I felt the gentle flutter of his heart.
A maniacal grin spread across his face as he flicked his wrist midair. I didn't notice anything at first, up until a tingling sensation rushed through my fingers. I turned to glance at the spot where I touched Kayn. A crimson bloom illuminated beneath my hand.
When I raised my hand, a long, glowing crimson string stretched between my palm and on the spot on Kayn's back where I last touched him.
"See that?" Graves sounded smug. "That's the bond."
"That's it?" I pretended to sound unimpressed. "I thought I was going to see something more remarkable."
"That is extraordinary," he snapped. "My talent is rare and highly valuable to the council."
I arched a brow. "Really? Because from where I float, it looks like you're trying way too hard to prove yourself to them."
"What would a little human know?" His face reddened. He twisted his attention back to the table, his hands shaking as he reached for something.
My words had gotten to him. Good.
