Page 109 of Sea's Secret

“Dominick–” I began, but Finn spoke up.

“The Cruel Hand, is it?” Finn asked with a chuckle. “Fearsome, but not as fearsome as what I have seen under the sea.”

“You are a mer?” Dominick asked.

I noticed then that Dominick had a knife out. I touched his shoulder, but did not know what else to do. He clearly thought Finn was a threat, and Finn, of course, was acting as if it were a joke. He was going to get gutted.

“Yes, I am Meria's–” but before Finn could finish, Dominick’s eyes grew wide with some understanding, and he moved quickly to pin Finn against the wall. His knife was at his throat, and Finn was no longer smiling.

“Get off my ship. You had your chance with Meria, and she did not want you. Leave, and never come back. How dare you!”

“Fine, I will leave, but you are horribly incorrect.”

“I doubt that after what you did to her,” Dominick growled.

“Just go, Finn; I will find you later,” I finally spoke.

Dominick reluctantly let him go and watched as he walked from the cabin. As soon as the door shut, Dominick turned to me.

“Are you alright, Meria?”

“Yes, I am fine. What is going on?”

His face was so close to mine that I caught my breath, unable to say anything else.

“I am so sorry you had to endure him coming here. I am so sorry for the pain you may be feeling. I can take it away if you’d like,” he said, rubbing his hand over my jaw.

“I am alright, thank you, but he would never hurt me.” I paused, and he waited for me to finish, tilting my chin up to look him in the eye.

“You do not need to thank me, Meria. I would do it again and so much more for you.” He bent down and kissed my cheek, making my entire body heat up, desiring nothing else but to be in his arms. “I came in here to tell you that we are ready to go onto the island.”

“Oh, that is great. But Dominick, Finn is not a threat to me. I have missed him so very much.” My words were jumbled. I knew I wasn’t saying enough.

“Finn, is it?”

“I am happy to see him again; he is my dearest friend, and I love him.”

“Great,” Dominick said, pulling away.

“Is something the matter?”

“No, you two can meet me at the back of the ship.” Then he left.

What is going on? What did I miss?

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Dominick

Ifelt sick. I never got seasickness, but I wondered if the queasy feeling in my belly and the pain in my chest was what it felt like. It really was horrid, and I was grateful I had never had it before. Dark thoughts misted around within me, and my veins pulsed with pain. I had taken upon myself pain so often that it was almost comforting at times. But at that moment, what was happening to my heart was the worst pain I had ever endured.

I need this pain–this ache–to end.

I paced back and forth in the hall, looking for something–anything to do, but all I could think of was Meria and him. That vile man who did not deserve her, whom she loved.

Loves.

She loves him.