“That wasn’t nice,” I chide.

“I know,” he says, rubbing at his shoulder. “But it was the requirement of the test.”

Fine. I know Daddy wouldn’t have put me and Quince through this if he didn’t have to. And at the moment I guess I’m just so relieved that the trial is over that I’m willing to forgive the game.

“Just promise me one thing,” I say, stepping up so I’m closer to eye level with him. “No more tests.”

“No,” he says with a laugh. “No more tests.”

“Or challenges,” I say, wanting to clarify as much as possible. “Or ancient laws or long-forgotten rules or consequences or anything at all that will affect my relationship with Quince.”

Daddy’s humor fades, and his expression is all seriousness as he says, “No, none of the above.”

“Well,” Calliope interrupts, “there is the duplex amoris.”

Daddy and I both turn to glare at her.

She blushes. “But that only comes into effect if you fall in love with twins from the Southern Hemisphere.”

I glare harder.

“Look at the time,” she says. “Seems like my work here is done. I’ll sign off on the challenge as soon as I get back to the palace.” She twists past me and Quince and grabs her bike from where it’s leaning against the house. She climbs onto the seat and calls out, “Good-bye,” as she pedals down the driveway. “Love the blue hair.”

“I swear,” I say when she disappears around the corner, “that woman is out to make my life difficult.”

From behind, Quince slips his arms around my waist. He pulls me back down a step, and I lean into his body.

“She means well,” Daddy says. “I really am sorry that you had to go through that. If there had been any way around the law—”

“I know, I know,” I say. I place my hands on Quince’s arms. “As long as we’re together at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”

Daddy nods. “Well, I’ll leave you two, then.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow night,” I say. “At the council meeting.”

“Tomorrow night.”

When Daddy is gone and Quince and I are alone, he laughs. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand your mer-world ways,” he says.

I turn in the circle of his arms. “Luckily, you’ll have a whole lifetime to figure it out.”

“Heaven help me.” He rolls his eyes comically.

“Ha ha.” I plant a quick kiss on his mouth. “Now get going. I need a good night’s sleep, and I think I’m going to need like a three-hour bath to soak away all the stress in my bloodstream right now.”

“You know where I’ll be if you need me.”

I smile. “Always.”

Chapter 23

The doorbell rings a few minutes before the meeting is scheduled to begin, and my heart starts racing. I smooth my hands over the knee-length gray skirt Aunt Rachel bought me when I started interviewing for jobs after my sixteenth birthday. That plan quickly fell apart because employers—even fast-food restaurants and souvenir shops—like to have a Social Security number for their potential employees.

But I kept the skirt for special occasions.

Today definitely qualifies as a special occasion.

I cross the living room, my black ballet flats scuffing across the floor. I feel like I’m about to be executed.

If things go wrong, maybe I will be.

I wish I didn’t have to face them alone. Aunt Rachel’s living room will be a tight squeeze with just me, Tellin, and the ten rulers. Which is part of the reason I asked them to leave their advisers and attendants in the surf. We don’t have the space to accommodate their entourages.

As much as I want Doe or Peri or even the not-so-terrible trio at my side, I’d be all kinds of hypocritical if I didn’t play by my own rules.

At the door I take one more second to tug at the hem of my short-sleeve cotton blouse. The pale blue isn’t exactly Thalassinian royal colors, but it will have to do. I’m trying to project a mature and responsible image, and this is the closest thing I’ve got in my closet.

Taking one last deep breath for confidence—or extra oxygen to keep me from passing out—I paste a welcoming smile on my face and grab the handle.

“King Tiburo. Queen Sula.” I spread my arms wide and gesture into the house. “Welcome to my home.”

The rulers of Rosmarus and Nephropida, two of the most northern kingdoms in our region except for Glacialis, sport twin sour looks on their faces. I was expecting this kind of reaction. It’s not every day—meaning never—that a council of kings and queens is called to a land-based location.

Daddy assured me it was possible, but he also warned me that the other kings and queens would be unhappy. Many of them haven’t stepped out of the water in years. Some never have.

But this is all part of my plan. There are two main advantages to meeting on land, and one of them is that I will have what Quince calls the home court advantage. The kings and queens are coming onto my turf—even Daddy.

“Please,” I say, leading Tiburo and Sula to the living room and pointing at the trays of grape juice and sushi set out around the room. “Help yourself to some refreshments.”

They stand awkwardly, not taking me up on my offer. Their loss. Mushu makes the best sushi in Seaview.

The doorbell rings again, and I grab a spider roll on my way back.