Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

carriage.
    “ Are you okay?” she murmured under her breath as we took our seats. Badger hovered off to the side, glancing from the car to the lady with the rock slab and back again.
    “ I guess so. You?”
    She wrinkled up her brow, but continued to squeeze my hand. “I’m a little nervous.”
    Everything inside me wanted to take my hand back and refrain from skin contact, but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
    “ I’ll be back with ya in a moment, kids,” Badger said and left to talk to the lady in purple again.
    “ This is coming about a little faster than I hoped,” Lily said quickly. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like you and everything, but—it’s just—I don’t know you all that well yet.”
    I exhaled, relief washing over me like a cool shower. This was my perfect escape. We could announce a long engagement that hopefully would never come to fruition. “You’re right. We should get to know each other better first.”
    “ What?” she asked and blinked back at me with a sudden frown. “ You were the one who wanted to get promised right away.”
    “ Me? No . . .” I backpedaled in my brain for a moment. The King said the families were coming to Mom asking me to become promised to their daughters, not the other way around. “How did you get this proposal?”
    “ By letter. How else?”
    “ What?” I jerked backward in my seat. “I’d never send a letter. I’d do it in person. I was told that you—”
    I clammed up as soon as Badger appeared no longer feeling safe to talk casually anymore.
    “ Told what?” Lily demanded.
    I looked up towards Badge and Lily let go of my hand.
    “ Aye. I’m supposed to be sittin’ with ya accordin’ to Purple Petunia over there. Sandy’s goin’ to have me hide fer not dressin’ the part,” he said as he settled into the seat behind us, tilting the carriage backward with his weight.
    “ Uncle Badge, you look fine,” Lily said, flipping on the charm though I knew she was angry with me.
    Four goons came over and took up our buggy—two at the back and two in the front. I glared at them, unappreciative they kept such tight tabs on me. What was the purpose of the bracelet if I had to have guards too?
    “ I don’t want some bloke towin’ me about,” Badger grumbled under his breath behind us.
    Lily turned and swatted his arm. “Shhh.”
    “ Aye,” he barked and got out. He shooed one of the goons away and took up the back right corner. “I’m more fit to be carryin’ this jam jar than he is.”
    Lily threw her hands in the air and faced forward.
    At the blow of a horn, the parade was officially underway. All the mermen lifted the cars in unison and everyone cheered except us.
    “ You could act a little happier about being promised to me,” Lily said through her teeth while forcing a smile.
    “ I am.” I grabbed her hand to prove it.
    But she kept her hand limp when I tried to entwine my fingers with hers. Once the line proceeded away from the palace towards the town, Lily softened and waved to the cheering crowd. I tried to smile, but my lips pulled into a frown as I looked for Tatch again. They probably put her at the very end in some special float reserved for royalty.
    “ I need to talk to you later,” I said as Lily blew kisses.
    “ It’s a little late for talking, don’t you think?”
    True.
    I sighed. So much for acting happy. All I could wish for was the dumb parade to end soon and a private moment so I could just break things off. Forget the long engagement idea.
    Once we maneuvered around the last corner, the royal balcony finally came into view. My chest tightened when I spotted the royal couple—a sharp contrast. Queen Desiree appeared to be enjoying herself, while King Phaleon stayed stoic. But once he spotted our carriage, the corner of his lip lifted. I had news for him. His plan to grind my family into submission was about to come to a screeching halt. I’d never submit.
    “ Smile,” Badger whispered behind us. “The King and Queen are watchin’ ye.”
    Lily eagerly waved at the royal family, but when I didn’t respond, she jabbed me in the side with her elbow. I finally raised my hand, but gave him an evil eye instead. Watching him birthed my deepest wish; that someone would overthrow him and set the people free of his overbearing command. Mers deserved to promise to the ones they loved without chaperones and parental interference, and they deserved to be given some credit and live where they