The Kiss That Saved Me (The Tidal Kiss Trilogy Book 2) by Kristy Nicolle Page A

I rest my hands on the tops of his arms, careful not to step into the frame he has constructed with his body. Marina opens her lips and starts to belt out the lyrics of the translated Italian aria and Orion moves me in calculated rhythm, twirling me in choreographed time to the music. This is so far from our first dance across this floor. This is duty.

    After a three-course meal, more dancing, too much champagne, and a quick change of clothes, Orion and I are ushered down to the beach where Philippe is waiting on the sand. No longer clad in the heavy ball gown, I’m now scantily dressed in the outfit I will be wearing to the underwater segment of the celebration. We mount the Equinox, Orion rising behind me, to cheers from the crowd who are wrapped in white terry cloth robes, ready to embrace the change. As the sun begins to peak above the horizon Philippe whinnies, a harsh and brutal battle cry, and gallops back into the sea. The change overtakes us all, changing legs to tail and surrounding my eyes with scales. Orion’s arm slide around me, holding me as leathery wings spread out in front of me once more and the Equinox starts to plough through the water at epic speed. I turn my head and see the rest of the mer plunge into the depths with us, following in a trail of multihued glisten.

    Back within the Occulta Mirum I sense unrest within Orion. The crown of platinum seaweed like shapes is still on his head, just as my tiara is still on mine. I wonder if it’s bothering him as he keeps going to run his hand through his hair but stops himself, knowing he will dislodge his new accessory. I’m sat, gathering my bearings with him, alone in our suite at the top of the Alcazar Oceania when a knock on the porthole in the floor alerts us that we aren’t alone.
    “I’ll get it,” Orion says quickly as I brush through my hair rhythmically with my conch comb, readjusting my tiara. He moves in one fluid movement with a flick of his tailfin, lifting the hatch and disappearing beneath. I stare at myself, my eyelashes thick and my scaly chest heaving. I’m still wearing the teardrop diamond necklace from my father and I wonder where he is now. Will we ever meet? I hear the hatch open behind me and Orion re-enter.  
    “Who was it?” I ask him and he shakes his head looking disarmed.
    “Uh just… Marina,” he’s holding a single white clam shell in his palm.
    “What’s that?” I ask him innocently. He looks instantly panicked.
    “Uh… nothing. Some kind of coronation gift. It’s just a shell.” He tucks it into a pouch on the white belt hanging around the top of his tailfin, it’s studded with sapphires.
    “You’re gonna carry it around?”
    “Who knows, could be lucky,” he gives me a boyish grin and for the first time since we left the beach house I feel the need to be close to him. I swim forward and move to kiss him. He recoils, his skin covered in goose pimples.
    “Oh my Goddess, you’re an emotional wreck. What’s wrong?” I look up into his worried gaze and he crosses his arms defensively, biceps pulsating.
    “It’s been a long night. There’s a lot going on. It’s nothing,” he smiles and moves toward the hatch again to exit the room.
    “You’re going downstairs?” I question.
    “Yes. I’ll see you in a moment,” he moves, not looking me in the eye and descends out of the suite. I turn my back to the mirror, facing the room but looking back over my shoulder at my face in the reflective glass. I wonder why Orion’s being so distant. Have I done something wrong? I thought I’d been the perfect companion so far tonight. I’d laughed at his jokes, I kept him from drinking too much, I’d danced and curtseyed, and been kissed for display. I had been perfect. I feel something stir within me, something resembling anger. I push it back down as far as it will go. Now was no time for petty insecurities or anger over something I had no control. I try to remain serene, allowing the rose tinted haze