Page 67 of Mermaid on Heels
“Care to explain what in all of the ocean you were talking about when you mentioned Faelina?”
Liriya narrowed her eyes back. “As if you did not know I had been waiting to get the three of us alone to explain so.”
“Well then, explain. We are all ears.” Ella folded her arms across her chest, standing in front of Liriya.
“I had a situation.” Liriya sighed and confessed to them what made her come up with an older sister ruse.
“And you could not think of anyothername but our blasted evil half-sister’s?” Ella cried in pure disbelief.
“You think I am content with that?” Liriya shot back.
“You could have said our mother’s name!” Ella narrowed her eyes. “Or Kitty, or Bia—if you had not mentioned them already.”
“I did not think about it then! I could not! You do not understand, I had to be quick—”
“Yes, and Faelina was the only one in your mind. Right. I got it.” Ella scoffed.
Liriya curled her fists and groaned inwardly.Why cannot she just understand?“Because, loath I am to admit it, she filled my head at the mere thought of an older sister ruse!”
Ella snorted with a roll of her eyes.
Exasperated, Liriya turned to Sessa who sat on the bed next to her, watching the two of them argue. “Why areyounot saying anything?”
“I think it is wise not to get in between a shark fight.” Sessa shook her head.
Liriya’s hard face cracked. Before she could stop it, laughter ripped out of her chest and escaped her lips, sounding like someone spitting water—like how Kitty spat seawater when they took her and Bianca to the shore one day to show the sisters their mermaid transformation and Kitty had tried to taste the water.
In a split moment, Liriya found herself swayed backwards with the force of Ella’s attempted hug. “I am sorry. I got a little carried away,” she confessed ruefully and sheepishly.
“It is okay, I get you.” Liriya hugged her back, smiling into her hair that smelled so good, like never before. “We all get carried away when it comes to her.Iam sorry.”
Ella’s grip tightened around her. “No, do not apologize. You really did act fast, even though we had to use that evil siren’s name for an excuse.”
“Thank you.” Liriya pulled Sessa into the hug as well, and changed the subject. “So, are you or are you not going to tell me whatever Luke spoke with you about?”
Sessa pulled away first and opened her mouth, when a knock sounded at the door. She frowned. “Violet said she would come only if I ring the bell for her.”
“It does not have to be Violet,” Ella said as she released her arms from Liriya, allowing her to climb down from the bed.
Liriya walked to the door and opened it, and met with a pair of blue eyes and a soft smile.
Chapter 15
“Iknew I would find you here.” Luke’s smile turned lopsided as he crossed his arms across his chest and leaned against the doorframe.
“I did not think I would findyouhere.” Liriya composed herself from her surprise and answered. Her heart began racing, but she ignored it.
Seeing him at the dinner after a long day, she had avoided meeting his eyes. Liriya didn’t know why, but she clearly didn’t like the fact that he chose Lady Riley as the first elite to spend his day with, after all that he had said to her last night. Seeing an icy Lady Riley warm up when they met her at the dinner hadn’t helped matters.
Therefore, Luke wasn’t going to get anything like a smile from her.
Luke’s smirk only grew. “That’s because you had no idea I’d been planning on coming to you tonight, the moment you entered the palace gates today.”
“Oh, really?” Liriya cocked her head to the side.
Luke hummed, fixing his eyes on her with a glint in them.
“Why?”