7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

M aura watched Anatolius leave, and tried not to think about how he would be back soon to sleep in her room with her. The muscles of his back were…sort of comically well-defined. All that swimming, she supposed. She couldn't help but flick her eyes a bit lower just as he stepped out of the doorframe, and a rush of arousal pulsed through her at the sight of his toned rear and massive thighs.

She had to pull herself together. She was here to avoid being murdered, not to ogle her rescuer. Captor. Both.

Maura didn't know what to do. Logically, she knew she was stuck here. She did believe Anatolius that he intended to help her escape. He did seem to want to keep her safe. Why else would he have had a reason to save her right after her fall? She also strongly suspected trying to escape on her own would get her killed. She believed what Ana had said about his siren magic allowing her body to withstand the long journey to the surface.

As desperate as she was to run, she wasn't a fool. She would bide her time, and if Ana's plan to get her out wasn't materializing, she would take matters into her own hands. Rushing into an escape wouldn't serve her well.

A soft rap on her door interrupted her thoughts. Galana entered a few moments later carrying a tray. Steam wafted from one of the dishes, and Maura’s stomach instantly grumbled in response.

"Your dinner, princess," the young, lavender siren said, and Maura must have visibly recoiled at the title. Galana laughed good-heartedly. "That's what you are now, may as well get used to it!"

Maura would certainly not get used to it. She felt a twinge of sadness and a bit of guilt—whoever Anatolius' true Chosen was should be here, using that title, charming his fathers, sleeping in this room.

Maura stood and walked to meet Galana where she had set the tray down on the vanity. Only a few of the dishes looked familiar, but everything smelled incredible–even the small plate of what appeared to be seaweed and the tiny bowl of something with tentacles.

"I hope everything is to your liking, princess," Galana said with a genuine smile.

"Thank you," Maura answered, sitting down on the small bench. Galana was just about to turn to go when a thought occurred to Maura. It was past her lips before she could think better of it.

"Galana, why are outsiders not allowed in Vathós?"

Galana froze with a look of surprise lighting her eyes.

"Oh, uh…" Galana hesitated.

"I am sorry for the abrupt question, but I feel like I need to know if this is going to be my home now." Those last few words nearly caught in her throat.

Galana hesitated for a moment, worry clouding her lovely blue features, before she spoke. "There was a time when we were plagued by human poachers. They hailed from Illathir, and they used their illusions to trap our people and steal their scales. Sirens…do not survive the loss of their scales."

Galana's words wrought horror in Maura's heart. She was sure her disgust was written on her face.

Galana continued, "The only way to keep ourselves safe was to expel all outsiders from Vathós and set vigilant patrols. Our isolation is our survival."

"Galana, I'm…so sorry. For your people to be hunted so is unforgivable. Thank you for explaining." Maura didn't know what else to say. Galana nodded once, her eyes heavy with sadness for what her people had endured all those years ago. Then she turned to go and left Maura with her thoughts.