Chapter 16

Triton POV

I was angry, not with anyone but with myself, I have fallen so hard for Helena that each time she feels sad or pain, I feel it... How is this possible, she wasn't even my mate, but still, I didn't want to see her sad. I want to be a part of her life and her happiness. I marched through the castle, water dripping from my clothes. I need to change out of these and go see what the Queen needs. Nodding at the soldiers, I went to my chambers, slip into a dry, comfortable outfit, one I know the queen won't like very much, but it's fun to irritate her, might as well, if I am going to be married to a mermaid I had no real feelings for, why not be a pain in their asses until then.

Pulling the shirt over my torso, I ambled back into the hall, towards the queen's room,

"You summoned me," I taunted as I pushed opened her doors, finding her and Nakida standing close, belly to belly,

"I have been looking for you for hours, where were you? And why do you have to wear those ridiculous clothes,"

"Out swimming," I spoke without emotion, proud of the jeans and t-shirt I was in,

"With whom?" Nakida added,

"Sorry, but you are not allowed to ask me that question... I-I don't know what happened to you, but I loved you at one point in my life, and I even thought about building a life with you, even though you wore a warrior's armor, I looked past that because I saw you for you... Now you want to know what I see? Even if you wear the nicest dresses, made from the softest cotton, I see you as a slave... Kissing the queen's ass for acceptance..." I watched her lips part.

"I was your friend first Nakida, and William, the family that took you in... What last did you visit them? And so, you know I never accepted to marry you. I was told to do it... But if it was up to me... I wouldn't, while I might marry a friend, I will never love a stranger, and that's what you are... A stranger-"

"Quiet this very moment. Nakida will be your wife, have some respect, and you will not be seeing Helena again, do you understand?"

I said nothing, forcing me to marry, holding a forgotten crime over my head, now this... Picking my friends? What's next how I sleep and eat?

"Did you hear what I just said?"

"Loud and—"

"Why did you do it," Helena barged in, her focus was fixed on Nakida, and no one else,

"Lady Helena," the queen face got pale, even her bright orange hair look worn out, she was worried about something,

"Queen Marina."

"What a sudden surprise, what can I help you with?"

"Her," she pointed at Nakida,

"The other day I was talking to a child, that can control plants..."

A mother nature mermaid.

"And soon after the child left, a vine pulled me in the moon pool,"

"Oh, I am so sorry to hear that, what's the name of the child, they will be punished—"

"Listen to me," Helena walked past the Queen, and is now standing across from Nakida,

"Someone saw you. You were the one who pulled me in,"

"Lady Helena calm down, I am sure Nakida would never—"

"And you what I else I was thinking. The night when I discovered I was a mermaid, something pulled me under, a vine, why Nakida?"

I stood there as everything unfolds, so I was right Nakida probably has something to do with Helena being here. And the skid mark I found on the rock, now I have to know for sure and have her arrested, even if that means implicating myself too,

"Lady Helena, please. Where did you get this," the queen eyes danced in fear, taking bold of Helena's hand, which she yanked away,

"Tell me right now, where did you get that ring? Talk!"

"It's my mother's ring. I found it..." She glanced at me,

Shaking my head, I signaled no.

"I found it between some rocks"

"Lady Helena I am afraid you have to leave us now, and I will personally see to it these accusations are being investigated,"

Saying nothing more, she turned and left.

"Change of plans," the queen broke the silence,

"The wedding must happen tomorrow, at the first hour of light,"

"What," I mumbled, even Nakida, seems surprised.

"Why, I thought the offering had to be made first."

"Th-the offering was made. That's the reason I was calling for you to accompany the guards, but you didn't come. You were out swimming with a girl you can’t see after tomorrow, but I suggest you get some rest. Big day tomorrow."

She was lying, if the offering was paid Helena and I would have seen them, they have to swim past Atlantis to go to the Depts. of the Spear, but why...

"And where are the guards that brought the sacrifice?"

"Be realistic, whoever comes out of the depts. of the spear alive? Don't be silly,"

Why was she lying? Marching out of her room, I realized no guard was there and the passage was empty, so I leaned against the door, eavesdropping,

"My Queen..." I heard Nakida's voice,

"The half-blood, she knows it's me."

"Don't worry about it, she thinks it's you, big difference, you will be fine,"

So, it was her.

"Nakida... Are you sure you didn't see any marks when you brought her here,"

"No, I didn't,"

But why is Nakida lying, she and I both know Helena has a starfish at the back of her neck, but why was she lying to the queen about it, was it to protect Helena, or is it to protect herself?

"Okay, that ring can destroy us both... She must no remember because then she will know what to do,"

Hurrying away, head back to my room, I can’t report her, I have no evidence, just hearsay, Helena needs to remember, I thought falling asleep.

Opening my eyes slowly, I woke up to someone shaking me slightly,

"My prince... My prince, it's your wedding day, you must get up,"

Groaning lowly, I looked up, it was maid,

"What time is it?" I sat up, yawning,

"You are late my prince, come... Hurry," she began to comb my hair, late for my own wedding, how nice. Here I am sitting down in a fancy suit, marrying a woman I despise. Yes, it's hate. I hate Nakida. But if it the Queen who had Helena captured, why did she bring her here, unless, something happened, before that... Leading up to that very moment. I remember her sending me away that day, and was surprised when I came back early, I think finding out Helena was Serene's daughter took her by surprise, if she knew it before, she would have had Nakida kill her on spot, so why bring her here?

"Are you ready?" The maid spoke,

Guards are already waiting for you outside,"

"Why am I a prisoner, can't I find myself to the service?"

"My prince, I am sorry if I upset you, but it was the queen orders,"

Of course, it's the queen's orders, she didn't want me running off. Saying nothing, I left the room, finding more guards outside than usual,

"Are you here to detain me or get me to the service," I rolled my eyes, walking past them,

"In fact, yes, my prince. Someone tip us off with information that can lead to an ln arrest, we believe the criminal will be at your wedding sir,"

"What is the crime?"

"We believe it to be treason sir,"

The Queen leaked them that information to scare me, and she was winning.

Closing in on me, the guards utter among themselves as I walked ahead, even the men here gossips. Outside everyone was seated, Nakida was already at the altar, and a minister was standing with her, that's interesting, I thought it was the other way around, I wait for her, and she would march to me, but not today, something was wrong, why are they rushing this?

"Sorry I am late," I announced, searching the crowd with my eyes, I was looking for Helena, but I didn't find her, but I found the queen, our eyes made four, and she was smirking, where was Helena,

"Triton," I heard Nakida whisper, but I wasn't able to look her in the eye, she disgusts me, and my feelings about her built tension between us,

"Triton please, you have to hold my hands so the minister can—"

"Should I Nakida," I glared at her, the crowd couldn't hear us, but they didn't need to, they know from the moment I walked in,

"You and the queen, what he did to Helena... I know, I just want to know why?"

She stared, not saying anything.

"Please," the queen called out, "Skip the boring part, we are on a schedule here,"

"Okay, umm... Nakida do you take prince Triton as your husband?"

"I do,"

"And prince Triton," I rolled my eyes looking over to the moon pool. My lips parted when I saw her head above water watching us, why was she hiding and watching, did they not invite her?

"Triton..." The minister called, inciting me to shift my gaze to him,

"Do you take Nakida as your wife?"

Looking over the moon pool again, she was gone.

"I-I" I stammered,

"I don't."