Chapter 359

The waves were choppy today, making for an unpleasant boat ride. Even a boat as big as the yacht we were on was subject to many up and down jumps. My stomach was in knots. Though, admittedly, it probably would have been even without the constant ups and downs.

I had a dire feeling being out on the water again. Even on a boat as big as this one, I didn’t feel safe. It was that strong feeling that had me leave Elva ashore with the nanny. I could take a risk for myself, but I’d never endanger her.

I held onto the railing on the side of the boat and tried to keep my eyes on the horizon line. If I concentrated there, I was sure I could overcome my seasickness.

I wasn’t the only one who was ill. Jessica was lying down across one of the nearby benches, her arm thrown over her eyes. When the cameras came nearby, she would rouse herself and smile. But even then, she looked pale and queasy. I’m fairly certain she’d been sick, but she was discreet about it.

Losing her breakfast didn’t seem to help her disposition though. She still looked ill and miserable.

Every now and then, I dropped my gaze to the water nearer the boat. The yacht itself was creating a wake, and in that ripple of water, I occasionally caught glance of a merfolk soldier or two.

When Nathan had agreed to Bridget’s plan, he had alerted our merfolk protectors. Several of them agreed to follow around the boat to protect it and us, in case Prince Ronan was still lingering nearby looking to do one of us harm.

That was how they had formally put it. One of us. Like he was actually after anyone but me.

But it was fine. One of us still included me. As long as Prince Ronan was kept away, I didn’t care about semantics.

He was probably long gone by now, anyway. I hoped. If he was smart, he’d see the island as protected as it was and realize whatever plan he had wouldn’t work.

That did little to calm my nerves, however. If Prince Ronan wasn’t filled with blind rage, he never would have attacked me in the first place. I couldn’t exactly trust his judgement to stay away now, even with the obvious protection surrounding me.

Then, suddenly, looking down at the water, I saw the form of a merfolk take shape against the deep blue of the ocean depths. As he came nearer the surface, he turned toward me and I saw clearly his face.

Prince Ronan.

I stumbled backwards away from the railing. I tripped over a step and tumbled down onto my backside.

Both Nicholas and Julian were at my side in a moment.

“Piper?” Nicholas said, just as Julian asked, “What happened?”

I trembled with the sudden onslaught of fear. To see his face so near. Shouldn’t there have been merfolk guards around? Wouldn’t they have seen him before he got this close?

Had I imagined him?

Yes, that must have been it. There was no way it could have truly been him.

My fear was making me paranoid.

I had to fight it, or I risked losing myself. I was strong. I could survive this fear.

Only one more day until we were gone and none of this would matter anymore. Prince Ronan would lose all advantage outside of the water.

I just had to hold onto my courage – and my sanity – for that much longer.

“I’m okay,” I said. “The seasickness made me dizzy. I’m fine now.”

Both princes looked at me with skeptical expressions.

“Are you certain about that?” Julian asked.

Nicholas helped me stand. Julian stood as well, on my other side.

“I’m sure,” I said.

I felt much steadier now, especially when we moved toward a bench and I sat down. The brothers hovered, worrying over me so much that I was beginning to feel like a big fool. If they knew all this fuss was over me being paranoid, I would die of embarrassment.

“I’m okay now, really.”

The brothers thankfully began to realize that their presence was stressing me.

“I’ll go see if I can find something you can take for seasickness,” Nicholas said.

Julian, not to be outdone, said, “I’ll find you some water.”

They both made certain I was fine once more.

“We’ll be right back,” Julian said.

“Stay here,” Nicholas said.

I typically felt safer with them near, but since I was so very embarrassed, it was a relief to have them elsewhere, at least long enough for me to compose myself.

Yet, unfortunately, I was only alone for the length of three long breaths, before another figure stood before me, darkening me with her shadow.

Bridget.

“Piper? Do you think we could speak for a moment?”

Odd, she was giving me a sad sort of smile, almost like she was… apologetic. I didn’t want to believe she could be sorry. I knew she was a very good actor. But… maybe she really was about to open up to me in a way that she wouldn’t with Julian.

Maybe she had set Ronan on me by accident, and she wanted to know apologize.

Of course, I knew it was much more likely that she meant to manipulate me. But I didn’t see the harm in hearing her out if I kept that in mind.

“What did you want to talk about?” I asked.

Bridget glanced at the bench near mine, where Jessica stretched with her arm over her eyes. Her other hand was holding her stomach. She groaned in misery.

“I was hoping we could speak more privately.” Bridget pointed toward a more secluded section of the yacht, near the back railing. I wasn’t thrilled to be near the water again, but if I wanted answers, I knew I had to bring out my courage.

“Okay.”

I forced myself up onto shaky legs. Fortunately, even wobbly as I was, I was not near as dizzy as I had been and was able to follow Bridget toward the back of the boat where she had pointed.

When we were there, I gripped the railing with both hands.

“I have something to confess to you,” Bridget said. She leaned onto the railing beside me with one arm. Most of her body was turned toward me. “About Ronan.”

I was immediately glad I had decided to make this trek. “Oh?”

“I do know him. We were friends.” She sighed. “He wanted more, of course. They always do.”

“Right,” I said, even though I had no idea what she was talking about. Nicholas had been my only real boyfriend.

“He was sweet when I knew him.” She glanced up at the sky and laughed. “He would do anything for me, without me having to ask for it.”

I didn’t like where this was going.

Bridget sobered as she lowered her gaze back to me. “It is possible that he believes I want you out of the way… by any means necessary. He always had these ideas about what I want, you understand. He’d never actually ask.”

I pulled by brow together, struggling to believe. Ronan shouldn’t know anything about me, unless Ronan specifically complained about me. But that shouldn’t be, should it? Not if they only knew each other long ago, as she was implying.

“Why would he think that’s what you want?” I asked. That seemed the most pertinent question, shooting straight through all of her lies.

Bridget smiled sweetly at me for a moment. Then that smile turned sharp and dangers.

Suddenly, she moved behind me and before I could realize what was happening, she shoved me over the railing.