Mars, I could see this.

Cassius and True?

Not a chance.

“Aramus—”

“No.”

Oh dear.

Now I was getting angry.

“Aramus,” I said slowly, my new mood vibrating in his name.

“Ha-Lah, you will be at risk. This power will be coveted. I will protect you and the knowledge of it until I have no choice but not to.”

You do not have to protect me. You don’t because you don’t understand just how powerful I am, as I’m mermaid.

I almost said it.

I did not.

As I had not in the weeks since that day long ago when I’d determined to do it.

Frey, Finnie, Apollo, Maddie, dragons, breaking camp, sailing, meeting Aramus’s ships, weddings and assassinations had all gotten in the way.

My husband now knew nearly everything about me. And along the way, he’d put great effort into memorizing every inch of me.

That was the only thing of grave importance he did not know.

And the longer it took for me to tell him, the harder it was to do so.

For before, I worried what he would feel, being married to one of my kind.

But now, I worried how he would feel that I kept it from him for so long, through so much, including us falling in love, consummating our marriage (repeatedly), and moving from one traumatic drama to the next that befell our friends.

My husband broke into my thoughts by asking, “Is what I said understood?”

“I still wish to spend time with my sisters,” I mumbled.

“I would not deny you this, my queen, of course not,” he muttered. “But protect your secret. For if you don’t, it will make it nearly impossible for me to do so.”

I did not agree with this, but I did not wish to discuss it any further. The day had been trying enough. I refused to end it arguing (any longer) with my husband.

However, I could not stop myself from heaving a deep, beleaguered sigh.

This made Aramus’s lips twitch again.

I decided I was going to ignore that too.

“There is one thing I have not yet shared,” he told me.

I braced.

Aramus spoke.

“After Cassius received his dire news, he asked me to take his daughters to Mar-el for safekeeping. He needs to discuss this with Elena. If she agrees, they will be under our protection. Do you have issue with that?”

“Of course not,” I answered. “However, wouldn’t the most expedient choice be The Enchantments?”

He shook his head. “Cassius was vague about it, but apparently, Ophelia gave him the impression The Enchantments weren’t safe. As it seems no realm on the mainland is, Mar-el is their only choice.”

I stole my arms around him. “We will take good care of them. And should Elena agree, I will assure them both of the same.”

My husband watched me as I said this, and he continued to do so with an unusual, but far from unattractive, expression on his face.