Chapter 46
Viviane
I stayed invisible for five years before Caspian, but a few weeks with him and my picture is plastered all over the front page of the newspaper. Nightshade’s Next Luna – Everything We Know About Viviane Belle, the headline reads. What follows is an invasive and alarming article detailing my life, down to the last sordid detail.
Luckily Nerissa, Courtney and Amanda seem to have kept their mouths shut about my mermaid identity, but there’s plenty of other information to fuel the city’s rumor mill. James’ kidnap during the pack games, Mordred’s attack and imprisonment, my initial rejection of Caspian – they even have photographs of my old apartment.
However the worst part is seeing the close up shots of my shoulder, where Caspian’s claiming mark still burns. The photographers surprised us outside the Pack House on Monday morning when we left for school. Apparently the news was already out and everyone in Asterion was clamoring for a glimpse of the future Luna.
Caspian was furious, but there were too many of them to track down. He had to settle for clutching me close and yelling until every last paparazzo skulked home with their tails between their legs. Of course that only spurred the gossip mongers on, prompting reporters to interview my classmates and forcing my headmaster to bar them from school grounds.
The article says nothing about my personality or intelligence, only my impoverished past and beauty. I would be annoyed, only I’d rather them think I’m some sort of Cinderella than some sort of mutant. As long as they stay far away from the truth, I don’t care what they say about me.
“I can’t stand this,” Caspian grumbles, eyeing the paper over my shoulder. His rugged features are drawn with concern and his arm loops possessively around my waist. “They’ll be following you next.”
“Are you surprised?” I ask, handing over the paper and slipping out of his hold. “Did you think they wouldn’t care who their Luna is?”
“I didn’t think it would happen this fast.” He admits with a sigh, following me to the breakfast table. “I’m not going to be Alpha for at least five years – unless something happens to my father.”
“Mates are forever.” I remind him, “it doesn’t matter how far away it is, when the time comes I’m…” Gods I can’t say it. I still can’t bear to think of myself as a public persona, let alone a Luna.
“When the time comes, you will be ready.” Caspian assures me, sitting down. “But I’m not going to put up with this for the next five years.” He eyes me soberly, and I know I’m not going to like the next words out of his mouth.”How would you feel about transferring to Nightshade Academy?”
I gape, “Caspian it’s my senior year –I’m valedictorian for heaven’s sake.” Actually the idea doesn’t seem quite so terrible after my first day back at school. Everyone from the other students to my teachers, even the custodial staff, have been treating me like an alien. Either they whisper behind their hands whenever I pass, or they fawn all over me, trying to be friends even though no one had any interest in spending time with me before. Even so, I’ve worked too hard to give up now, and I doubt things would be any better at the academy.
“I know, kitten.” He replies gently. “It was just a thought. I’d feel better if we were in the same school, if we’re together during the day you wouldn’t need the guards anymore.”
“You’d get sick of me before the week is out.” I laugh.
He shakes his head, eyeing me hungrily. “Not possible.” Suddenly my chair is moving, and I realize he must be using his foot to pull me towards him. “I will never have my fill of you, Viviane.”
I slide easily into his lap, a wide smile splitting my cheeks. “Never is a long time.”
His big hands slide down my sides and over my bottom, sparking familiar heat in my core. As crazy as I think someone would have to be to want to spend their life with me, I know what he means. Every time Caspian touches me it’s like the first, he can still give me butterflies with a single look, even spending the entire weekend in bed with him.
He offers me a wolfish grin. “Are you questioning your mate’s love for you, little mermaid?”
“Of course not.” I promise, my insides melting the way they always do when he says he loves me.
“You better not be.” He teases, kissing me. “I’d hate it if we had to miss school because you needed to be reminded.”
“Oh no.” I rebut, “You might be able to afford playing hooky, but I can’t.” I announce firmly.
“Hmmm,” He purrs, nuzzling my neck and breathing in my scent. “I don’t know, I’m not convinced you believe me.” The vibrations of his deep voice send shivers down my spine. “Besides, I can always write you a note – tell them you’re needed for pack business.”
His fingers dip into my sides, tickling me sending me into a fit of giggles. My breath is coming in gasps by the time he lets up, and he steals even more with his kisses. Arousal kindles low in my belly, and suddenly I’m thinking missing school isn’t such a bad idea after all.
“You’re a bad influence.” I moan, trying to find the will to pull away while he nibbles my collar.
His blue eyes are glowing when he lifts his head and pins me with his heated gaze, “And I’m only just getting started.”
My mother still hasn’t recovered from our trip to the settlements. In truth, I don’t know if she’ll ever recover. It used to be that she would have a bad spell and slowly bounce back, but the more time that passes, the longer it takes for her to get back on her feet. I’m terribly afraid that we’re nearing a day when she won’t be able to get back up again.
She’s sitting up in her bed, watching me pack my bags with a sad smile. “I’m happy for you, Angelfish.” I’m only moving upstairs into Caspian’s rooms, but it still feels like a momentous change. My heart flutters every time I think about waking up in my mate’s bed every morning, but it also aches when I contemplate leaving my mother’s loving shelter.
I flush, unused to this strange new dynamic between us. Two weeks ago I was still her baby. Now I’m a mated woman. Of course Mom doesn’t seem to find it odd at all, she simply seems content – as if she’s been waiting for this day to come.
A haunted look passes over her face as she continues, “It comforts me to know you’ll be taken care of after I’m gone.”
I freeze in place, dropping the pile of folded clothes in my arms. “Don’t talk like that.” I chastise her, feeling the bottom drop out of my stomach. “Caspian has money, connections, we can finally get you the care you need.”
“No doctors can reverse this, Viviane.” She murmurs, “I don’t have a disease they can medicate or an injury they can stitch. I simply spent too many years in the farms… There’s no fixing this.”
“You sound like you’re giving up.” I accuse her, lashing out against the pain her words inflict.
“I’m tired, sweetheart.” She admits. “I’ve been holding on for a long time because you needed me, but you don’t anymore.”
“Of course I do!” I exclaim stubbornly. “You’re my mother. I will always need you.”
I can feel tears forming on my lashes, and she opens her arms to me. I immediately sink into her embrace, resting my cheek on her shoulder. “I love you so much.” She whispers against my hair, “I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become. And I wish I could stay with you forever, but I can’t.”
“You could if you tried.” I say petulantly, sparking her tinkling laugh.
“That’s not how it works, my darling.”
“I hate this.” I moan, “Everything is changing so fast.”
“You’re growing up.” She reminds me, “time only moves slowly when you’re young.”
“I do still need you.” I repeat, lifting my head to stare into her kelp-colored eyes. “I don’t know the settlements like you do, I don’t understand what’s happening there.”
I regret the words as soon as they’re out of my mouth. The color drains from her face, and she takes my face in her hands. “And you’re not going to.” She informs me sternly. “Whatever Mordred was doing there, it isn’t good. You can’t ever go back, Viviane.”
“We have to stop the traffickers.” I argue, “before long there aren’t going to be any mermaids left in Asterion. You can’t ask me to just stand by and watch them go extinct.”
“No one is asking that of you.” Mom clarifies, “but you can help without putting your own neck on the line.” She pins me with a hard stare. “Promise me– whatever happens, promise me that you will never return to the settlements.”
I don’t want to upset her further, but I can’t agree to what she’s asking me. I know the torture Mordred can inflict, the idea that he’s out there hurting other mermaids the way he hurt me makes my skin crawl.
I don’t have much experience lying to my mother, but this is a fib I will gladly tell if it puts her mind at ease. “I promise.” I vow, already contemplating breaking my word, “I won’t ever go back.”
