4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

D id she just…bite him? Anatolius stared after the rather ridiculous image of Maura in her otter form scampering down the hall. By the old gods, this woman was going to be the death of him. He couldn't help the smile that overtook his face.

He sighed and started after her. She was quick enough in the water, but a bit awkward on land, and he caught up with her easily. She kept running, however, and rounded a corner blind. She squeaked in surprise as she ran straight into the shins of his understandably shocked sister.

"Oh! Hello there," Cornelia said, looking down at the otter that now stood frozen at her midnight-blue feet.

"Sister, I see you've met my Chosen." Anatolius closed the remaining distance and met his sister's confused gaze.

"Your…Chosen? Is an otter?" Cornelia hadn't yet sensed Maura's humanity, apparently. Maura made an offended- sounding chuff. Her thoughts were too much of a tangle to make out any specific words.

"She's a shifter, actually. One of the Tuanadair of Beitar. Maura, this is my sister, Cornelia. Cornelia, Maura. We were just headed to her room to get her ready to greet our parents." Anatolious gave Maura a pointed look.

"I see," Cornelia said slowly, glancing back and forth between the two of them. He could see her mind working, realizing that there was something going on here. He widened his eyes slightly in a way that had always meant 'I'll tell you later'.

"Maura, if you'll follow me," Anatolius said, gesturing back the way they came. She chuffed again and reluctantly moved in front of him.

"I'll see you in the throne room shortly, Sister."

Cornelia only nodded as they left her in the hallway.

When they arrived back at Maura's room, Anatolius stepped in after her and pressed his hand onto a carved spot beside the door. It slid shut with a soft thud.

"Maura, I know this is overwhelming, and I know you have no reason to trust me, but I need you to try if you want to get out of here alive. I have every intention of helping you get home at the earliest possible time, but until the moment is right, everyone here needs to believe we are engaged to be married and deeply in love."

Maura's thoughts were still for a long moment before Anatolius felt the rush of powerful magic. He blinked once, and Maura's human form stood before him, still wearing the simple dress and cloak as when she’d plummeted from the cliffside, her rich brown hair damp and falling over her shoulders in thick waves. Her smooth, brown skin had the prettiest undertones highlighted by the watery light of Vathós. Gods, she was…so beautiful. He had only ever seen her from afar before her accident today, and then he'd only had a moment before she shifted. Standing before her now, her frustration burning in her deep brown eyes—she was a force of nature.

"So not only do I have to be trapped down here against my will, I now have to play nice with royals, and pretend to be in love with you?"

The sound of her voice rang out into Anatolius' soul, a call that he had been waiting his whole life to answer. What he felt when he held her in his arms, this tug on his spirit at the sound of her voice…he knew what it meant. He just couldn't believe it. He couldn’t allow himself to believe it–he had to get her home, no matter the cost to himself.

"Did you hear what I said?" Maura asked, and he realized he'd just been staring at her.

"I'm sorry, Maura. Truly, I am, but I don't know how else to keep you safe right now. I know you did not intend to enter our waters, but that doesn't matter to most of my people. You will be in grave danger the moment anyone finds out that our relationship is not real."

Her eyes flashed, but after a moment her expression softened. Her dark brows relaxed, and she rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Alright, tell me what I need to know. You said we're going to meet your parents?"

A wave of relief washed over him at her words. The urge to protect her overwhelmed him, and he was grateful that Maura trusted him enough to at least try.

"We will present you to the kings, my fathers, in the throne room. It is likely word of our arrival will not have spread too much just yet, so I doubt many of the nobles will be there. This first meeting will be brief, but they will ask you a bit about yourself and welcome you to Vathós. The true celebrations will start tomorrow."

The look of dread on Maura's face made Anatolius want to spirit her away this moment, consequences be damned. He knew, though, that would only end badly.

"Is there anything…nicer I can wear?" Maura asked, gesturing down to her slightly damp dress and cloak. Fascinating that somehow the Tuanadair kept their clothes when they shifted–and just the slightest bit disappointing. He wondered if sirens would keep their clothes through the shift if they wore any. Anatolius must have given away his line of thinking in his expression, because Maura's lovely face lit up with laughter.

"If you're wondering how I still have my clothes, I wish I could tell you," she said laughing. "I've actually never shifted before today. My people lost their magic, and well…it's a long story. One for another day."

Anatolius nodded, still speechless at the beauty of her laughter. He tried desperately to remember what she had asked him, but being close to her was intoxicating. He wanted to know everything about her.

"So…about that wardrobe change?"

"Of course. I'll return shortly, but please feel free to use the bath." Anatolius gestured toward the steaming pool on one side of the room.

Maura glanced over at it and nodded. "Thank you, Anatolius."

His name on her lips was, possibly, the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard.

"You can call me Ana, if you like," he offered with a smile. She returned it, and he noticed her eyes flick down to take in his body. He had never thought much of nudity, but the way her gaze heated truly laid him bare.

"Ana," she said, her eyes locked back on his.

He needed to get out of here before his cocks began to protrude; his slit was tingling, and he could feel the wetness of his lubrication.

"Alright, Ana, I'll take a bath and try to make myself decent to meet your parents. I don't like any of this, but I suppose I can at least try to enjoy seeing a city no human has set foot in for…how long did you say?"

"About two hundred years."

"Right. A very long time, then." Maura sighed and removed her cloak, laying it on the bed as she walked past it toward the massive window.

"Is anyone going to—you know—swim by and see me bathing?" Maura asked.

Anatolius chuckled.

"They won't get close enough to your window to make anything out. But like I said, nudity isn't really a problem for sirens."

"Right. Well, it is for me, so…" She made a shoo-ing gesture toward the door.

"I'll be back soon, princess," Anatolius said, the words out of his mouth before he could stop them. He didn't dare wait to see Maura's expression as he turned to leave.