Chapter 8
Caspian’s POV
Viviane jerks around the moment Courtney pulls the glasses from her eyes. I don’t know why I let the she-wolf bully my mate this way, but then again, I rarely know what I’m doing when it comes to Viviane. I want to be with her every second of every day, but I have no idea how to express this to her. I want to spoil and shower her with affection, but it seems like all I actually end up doing is teasing her.
Granted, I do love the way she blushes and squirms, but surely there is more to being mates than this. Even as the thoughts race through my head, I do not regret letting Courtney take Viviane’s sunglasses – not one bit. Because now Viviane is using me to shield her face from the room, and I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. Her eyes are the exact shade of a tropical sea – a bright turquoise unlike anything I’ve seen before. Her cheekbones are high and sharp, accenting her pert nose and full lips.
She’s not just pretty, or striking, or even gorgeous. She is everything I never knew I needed and more.
I smell the tears a second before I see them in her luminous eyes, and for the first time I know exactly what to do. I retrieve the glasses from Courtney and return them to Viviane, just in time for her to slip them back onto her nose and flee from the room, her friend close on her heels.
Once they are out of sight, Chase, Courtney and the others gathered around us look to me for confirmation. “Well?” Courtney asks. “Which was it?”
Annoyance sparks in my chest. I don’t like the she-wolf’s presumption. Viviane is my mate, and Courtney just tried to publicly embarrass her. I’m starting to think that only I should be allowed to tease her. After all, I know that my teasing comes from a place of affection. I doubt the same can be said of those around me.
At the same time, I don’t want to give the vipers more cause to target my little cat shifter, so I simply shrug. “Not sure, it was too fast.”
“Asterion Scholars Tournament?” I say incredulously, shoving the flier back into Chase’s hands. “Are you drunk?”
“Kiera invited me. You know, Viviane’s friend?” He explains, waggling his eyebrows. “Apparently your new pet is competing.” Chase remarks pointedly, “And more importantly – So is Madison Smithers.”
I remember Madison from grade school. She’s attractive, smart and very forward; exactly Chase’s type. Not that it matters, I would go watch a troll compete if it meant getting to see Viviane again. “Viviane’s competing?”
Chase nods, grinning broadly. “Kiera says she’s a shoe-in.”
I check my watch. The competition begins in an hour. “Let’s go.” I abandon my motorcycle, heading for Chase’s sports car. I pause with my hand on the door handle, “We’ll need to make a stop first.”
“Alright, now I think you’re the one who’s drunk.” Chase gripes, looking thoroughly embarrassed to be standing in front of a flower stand.
I scan the assembled bouquets, trying to figure out what Viviane’s taste might be without a single hint to go on. “Win or lose, she deserves something nice.” I bite back. “What do you think she’d like?”
“I don’t know!” Chase throws his arms out in exasperation, “I don’t know what kind of flowers women like any more than you do. Especially not this one – she seems like she’s afraid of her own shadow.”
He’s not wrong, but he’s also not as unhelpful as he thinks. Viviane wouldn’t like anything too flashy or bold. She needs something delicate and sweet, just like her.
Not roses, those are too traditional. Daisies or chrysanthemums are too common, and wildflowers too brazen. Tulips or daffodils are sweet enough, but they still don’t feel quite right.
Finally, my gaze lands on an arrangement of orchids, silken and soft. I can’t explain how I know, but I do. I call the shop attendant over. “I’ll take them.”
Madison is waiting when we get to Asterion High School. She hugs us both eagerly, “I’m so glad you came!” She preens, batting her eyelashes at me.
I try to steer her attention towards my friend, “Don’t thank me. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.”
Her smile falters for a moment and presumably she says something to Chase, but I’m not listening. I’m scanning the halls for a blonde with dark glasses and a walking staff, or even her dark haired friend – but I find neither.
Madison steers us into the auditorium, getting us settled in the front row before sashaying off towards the stage.
“Really?” I ask Chase.
“Don’t give me that. This time last week she would have already been in your bed.” My friend answers scathingly.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I grumble, but we both know it’s true.
I forget all about Madison, and Chase, and everyone else in the room the moment Viviane steps on stage. She’s wearing her usual black glasses with a simple sundress and sandals, her golden skin glowing as if we were bathed in sun rays rather than cold fluorescent lights.
My heart pounds as she crosses the stage, the memory of her beautiful face rising to the front of my mind. Why does she wear those things? Why does she carry the staff? She clearly isn’t blind. What does such a flawless creature have to hide?
Viviane’s POV
I see Caspian the moment I step onto the competition stage. What is he doing here?! As if I’m not nervous enough already.
I search the crowd for Kiera, sensing her hand in this unexpected turn of events. When I find her, seated in the third row with a false smile plastered on her face, some of the ire drains out of me. From the looks of it, she meant to invite Chase so they could attend together, but his eyes are glued to Madison.
Madison, on the other hand, is twirling her hair around her finger and making eyes at the future Alpha.
What a mess.
It all seems so trivial to me. These silly spats and competitions – don’t these people know how easy their lives are? How much freedom they have? How little they have to worry about?
In the pearl farms this life is a dream beyond imagining, yet these shifters treat all their privilege as if it is nothing, as if it is a given, something to be taken for granted.
As time passes I find my despair and grief slowly transforming into resentment. I think about the way my mother suffered, all she sacrificed. And what has her hardship earned her? Nothing but more pain.
Yet Caspian, Chase, Madison, and Courtney have the world at their feet and no reason to complain – but still they find fault in their blessings. They are violent when it is not needed, they see fit to resent their privilege and take out those feelings on those who do not deserve it.
As the competition begins, I feel my frustration reach a boiling point. I would not mind if one of the other students won – my lab partner Ryan is a worthy opponent and a genuinely kind person, and I have nothing against Sophie, George, and Megan. But Madison is in the lead, and I refuse to let her triumph, not when she is putting that wretched look on Kiera’s face. My annoyance gives me the strength to speak up, to hit the buzzer even when my nerves are threatening to pull me under.
With every right answer my confidence grows, and soon I am buzzing in without hesitation, acting on reflex. I forget Madison. I forget Caspian and Chase. I even forget Kiera. I’ve always been gifted – with beauty, with song, with magic and pearls – but those are gifts all mermaids possess.
This is different. This is the first and only thing I’ve ever been good at that has nothing to do with being a mermaid and everything to do with being me. I can’t be ashamed of it. If anything, this is the only thing about which I have a right to be proud.
When the final buzzer rings I am so full of excitement that I don’t even realize I’ve won. I’m so caught up in this new-found confidence that reality doesn’t sink in until I see the look on Madison’s face.
She is unquestionably livid.
When the judges call my name alongside the words: “First Prize!” My only thought is of going home to tell my mother and celebrate. I won. I actually won. This could change everything for us.
I politely shake hands with the other competitors, even exchanging exuberant high fives with Ryan. Then Kiera runs up to me, squeezing me tightly and jumping up and down.
“Do you see Madison’s face?” She squeals, half whispering. “She looks like she’s ready to explode.”
Before I can reply, a dark shadow falls over us.
Caspian.
He’s standing behind Kiera, his intense blue eyes glued to my face. Kiera follows my gaze over her shoulder, her eyes going comically wide. Oh my Gods. She mouths, stepping to the side.
Kiera is still mouthing things and making faces behind the future Alpha’s back when he steps forward. “Congratulations.” As always, his gruff tone dissolves my nerve endings into molten heat.
“What are you doing here?” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, but for once, Caspian doesn’t seem displeased by my candor.
He shrugs, the corners of his mouth tugging upward. “I heard you were competing.”
“Why should that matter?” I hedge, nerves fluttering in my belly.
“Because I want to support you.” His smile is much too charming.
“You didn’t seem to want that the other night.” I barely get the words out, glancing around cagily.
“I wanted to see you.” Caspian argues unapologetically. “You wouldn’t show me yourself, I did what I had to.”
My spine stiffens slightly. “Well now you have.” I still can’t meet his eyes, “So what’s left to be of interest?”
“Only you.” He purrs, extending a bouquet of flowers. “All of you.”
I lock my fingers together behind my back to prevent myself from accepting the orchids, “I’m of no interest.” I insist. “You should give those to Madison.”
“I bought them for you.” Caspian argues.
“You shouldn’t have.” I bite my tongue as soon as the words are out of my mouth, “I mean–”
“You mean what?” Caspian rumbles, “You really hate me so much, you can’t even accept a few flowers from me, flowers you’ve more than earned?”
“I didn’t ask for flowers.” I fight down the burning in my throat, “I didn’t ask for anything.”
“Fine.” Caspian snarls, “Don’t take them. But don’t ask me to give them to anyone else. I’d rather no one have them.” Without another word, he shoves the bouquet into the garbage bin, stalking away from me as if I’d never been there to begin with.
