“Beaz?”
I saw him as I swam closer to the surface inside the cave, a big, unmoving shape that exuded despondence. It was warm in here. He was perfectly still on his favorite shelf, facing the wall. I had a moment of utter panic until I saw the subtle movement of his breath.
He was alive. But I was pretty sure my shark was depressed.
I swam closer, perching on my hip beside him. I lay my hand on his side.
“Beazil?”
He heaved a dramatic sigh but didn’t move.
“I’m so sorry, Beazil.”
Another sigh.
“I wanted to thank you. You saved my life.”
He twisted slightly so I could see his face. His left eye was gone, a thick bandage magically affixed to cover the wound. Then he sighed and twisted a bit more so I could see his working eye.
“Annaruth made you something.” Beazil lifted his head at last, and I smiled. “She made you an eye. But you have to come back to the camp to get it.”
He said nothing, but he nuzzled into my hand. I scratched his favorite spots, just sitting there peacefully together for a moment. He nosed my side where I usually kept my net bag.
“I didn’t have time to get you food, you greedy beggar! I woke up not long before the ceremony, and they wouldn’t let me out of bed until the last moment.”
I pressed a kiss to his nose to take the sting out of my teasing. He’d been through so much. I ran my hands over several long scratches. It looked as if someone had used a dagger to deliberately carve the marks into his magnificent skin.
“Do you want to stay here tonight? You are welcome at the ball, you know.”
Beazil sighed dramatically. I hid a grin. He was going to be all right.
“There will be food. Maybe even bucket loads of shrimp, just for you.” I bit my lip. “I shouldn’t stay here too long. My dress is kinda bright.”
It was dark in here already, and getting darker outside by the minute. The light was waning. It was time to go.
I took a look down at myself and gasped.
Well, that was unexpected.
Apparently, my dress required light to be seen. Right now, I was invisible. Not a little bit invisible. I could see the rock beneath me, as clearly as if my body was made of glass.
I assumed my arms and head could be seen, particularly from the way Beazil’s whole eye followed my movements. But sharks could feel vibrations. So that proved nothing.
But either way, my dress did not make a beacon as I’d feared.
“Come on, Beaz. Annaruth is waiting for us.”
He rolled over onto his back, and I laughed, vigorously scratching his belly.
“Starla is worried about you. And Dane—” My voice caught in my throat. Could I still call him Dane? I shook my head, pushing that thought aside. Of course I could. As long as I bowed, I supposed. “Dane is worried about you too.”
I could practically hear him grumble as he righted himself and swam off the shelf. I grinned and swam to the entrance of the cave. I took one look back, wondering if I would ever be here again.
I bade a silent goodbye to my secret cave and flipped my fins. We swam back toward the camp, where Annaruth had worked her magic once again. I was excited to see what she had done for the ball and what everyone would be wearing. And of course, the food. But nothing made me as excited as my familiar getting his new eye.
Beazil and I swam into camp, where he circled patiently while I sought out the High Priestess. I swam into her tent to find her waiting for me, with no sign of partygoers or magic.
“Hello, wild one.”
“Annaruth! Where is everyone? I thought the ball would be here.”
“No, the camp is being dismantled. The ball is just beginning at the Castle. You haven’t missed anything yet.”
“The Castle?”
“The Royal Castle. Your new home.”
My mouth opened. My father had been an Elite, but he had his own house where he lived with his wife and child. But perhaps that was only allowed after the first hundred years of service, or for the Elite with families of their own. I hadn’t imagined I would be living in the Castle.
The Castle where Dane lived.
Oh, Triton. Here we go.
“I see.”
“You will be fine.” She opened the curtains that covered the door and called out. “Come inside, Beazil.”
He swam through, his massive body taking up almost all the space. She stroked him gently, then adjusted his position so that he lay on his side.
“Such a brave, magnificent soul.”
I bit back a laugh.
“He doesn’t like to be brave.”
“That makes him all the braver.”
I nodded. I felt the same way. His actions in the Trials had been extraordinary, especially considering what a gentle creature he was. He’d been born in the wrong body. But he always rose to the occasion when I needed him to.
I couldn’t have asked for a more stalwart familiar.
“He’ll have his own accommodations in the Royal stables. And all the shrimp he can eat.”
Beazil seemed to smile at that. I know I did.
“I’m going to remove your bandage and give you your new eye now, okay?”
She showed him the magical eye she had created for him. He lowered his nose and offered up his wound in response. I watched as she gently removed the bandage. I closed my eyes when I saw the gaping hole Thalia had made with her dagger.
Thalia! I curse her name! A more vicious Mer never lived!
“Jealous and foolhardy, Katriana. Frightened. Not vicious.”
“But she tried to kill me!”
“I can see into all hearts, Tri. Not just yours. She never wanted you dead. She only meant to best you. She’s always known she is not your equal, in heart or talent.”
I stared at Annaruth as she used steady hands to slip the magic eye into Beazil’s empty socket. She waved her hand over it, and it came to life, whirring and spinning in a kaleidoscope of colors. I stared in wonder as the raw-edged flesh wove itself together to hug the new eye.
“Can you see, Beaz? Does it hurt?”
He nuzzled me and then Annaruth in answer. Then he rolled over and showed us his belly.
“I guess not,” I said with a laugh, giving his belly a scratch. Annaruth was charmed and ran her hand over his stomach, then she took some time to touch every one of his scars. I noticed that they grew at least a shade paler after she passed her hands over each one.
“That’s amazing. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure.” She winked at me. “Now, how about the ball?”
I nodded eagerly, calling Beaz to come with us.
We swam out of the tent and into the sea.
Epilogue
“May I have this dance?”
I stiffened at the sound of the familiar deep voice behind me. I hadn’t seen Dane yet. Not since the ceremony. And I wasn’t sure I was ready to face him. I’d already planned to make myself scarce if he was around. And now here he was, sneaking up on me.
Annaruth had guided us into the castle, introducing me to the guards. To my surprise, they knew who I was. They even knew Beazil. They showed no fear, though I did notice they gave him a wide berth as we swam through the wide gates.
We’d settled him in the stables, where Annaruth said he could come and go at his leisure. I’d laughed when she’d said ‘leisure.’ That was Beazil’s middle name.
I shook my head wryly.
I had no doubt my shark was about to get very fat.
He’d been immediately presented with two barrels full of shrimp, with the promise of more to come. Bottomless barrels, so to speak. I’d left him munching happily with a promise to see him in the morning.