Chapter 31: Her Rules
"Shit…"
The book stayed open in her lap, feeling like chains around her chest. Nadeira stared at the page until the letters blurred.
'If they don't mate… one of them will die. Maybe me. Maybe them.'
Her fingers traced the necklace at her throat. It was her mother's. Somehow, everything always came back to her mother.
She whispered into the empty room, "Did you know about this? Is this why you disappeared? Did you… sacrifice yourself for the bond? No…how could you…father poisoned you.."
Everything was so still, but in her head, she could almost hear her mother's voice. They were not clear words, just the feeling of love.
Nadeira'a eyes were full of tears. She rubbed them away quickly.
'I care about them,' she admitted to herself. 'I care about my mermen. Even Nyxmaris, annoying as he is. I don't want them to die. I don't want to die either…'
