With a soft sigh, I finally sat up.

Something crinkled beneath me when I did, and I looked at the place I’d been laying. A folded piece of paper was there, though it was really wrinkled. The wrinkles would’ve been my fault.

Oops.

I picked it up and opened the sheet. It took me a solid few minutes to translate the words written in his language, but eventually, I figured out what it said.

Aria,

I have to handle some things in the castle, but I’ll come check on you in a few hours. Just relax and take some time for yourself. You’re safe in our grotto.

My people returned with your things, so I made space for your books on one of the shelves. Use the bond to let me know if you need anything at all.

Triton

I folded the letter again and carried it with me as I forced myself out of bed. Every step made my entire body hurt, but I did my best to ignore it.

I was fine.

So very fine.

My legs were trembling when I reached the shelf that held my books. Leaning against the wood, I groaned softly.

Okay, fine, I was in bad shape.

My stomach rumbled.

And I was hungry, apparently.

Yay.

I had no idea where I was supposed to go to eat in the castle, but I hadn’t seen a kitchen in any of Triton’s rooms. So it seemed safe to say there was one somewhere.

I could ask Triton for help…

Or I could figure it out on my own.

Which sounded terrible. But also, useful. Talking to Joa had definitely opened my eyes to more of what was going on.

Leaving the room alone meant I could learn more about the castle and the merrae without Triton there to put everyone on their best behavior.

So… I was going to do it.

Assuming I could actually figure out how to control the water tube thing that would carry me out of the grotto.

I gave myself a few more seconds to catch my breath before I forced myself away from the wall and shuffled across the platform.

After staring enviously at the fish, who clearly weren’t sore from swimming like I was, I dove into the lake.

They ignored my presence as I shifted my legs to a tail. My magic seemed to have regenerated entirely, and it felt stronger than it had before. I was pretty sure that was good.

The itchiness I’d been feeling vanished entirely as I shifted. I guess my skin was just tired of being in human form or something.

Triton had mentioned my body forcing me to shift eventually. Maybe that was what he had been talking about.

Weird.

But not weirder than the fact that I could actually turn my butt into a fish tail.