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being careful to hide her fins. Then she paused and looked back.
    He froze. Again, he spoke in soothing tones, and his hands remained out.
    Honestly, it did not seem as if he wished to harm her.
    There was one word she seemed to hear more than the rest.
    “Drake,” he said again as he pointed to himself. “I am Drake.”
    Perhaps it was his name. She did as he did and touched her chest lightly. “Pearl.”
    His smile grew, and he seemed incredibly happy right then. She watched him intently as he chattered away about all sorts of things. It was just about as adorable as she had ever seen anyone be. And then she noticed where he was pointing.
    There was a castle up on the hill she had not seen before. Was he some sort of royalty?
    She attempted to ask him as she pointed. “Do you live there?”
    The man halted. His jaw dropped. And then he smiled and sighed.
    She blinked at him, confused at his reaction. Did he not live there, then?
    When he began to chatter some more, she realized he was more excited about hearing her speak than what she had actually asked him. It seemed as if he was urging her to repeat herself.
    She laughed. “You are a funny thing.” Then she pointed to the castle once more. “Is that where you are from? Do you live there?”
    This time, he followed her arm and grinned, his head bobbing up and down. He spoke and pointed and said his name several more times. Then his look became more serious as he gestured to the water below her.
    Her heart dropped. How did he know? Had he seen her fins after all?
    He repeated the word, “Home,” gesturing to her and then the water. Then he said, “Drake’s home,” and pointed to the castle.
    She was afraid to answer. What would happen to her if she did?
    With the water up to his waist, Drake took a step toward her and then another. She hesitated long enough to allow him to come about six feet away, and then her heart began to race again. Where was Keel?
    Drake stopped and motioned with his hands for her to come closer. His grin was very enchanting as he continued to use a soothing voice and gestures, seemingly asking her to swim to him. Then oddly, he lowered himself to his knees in the water, the slowly rising tide bumping against them both.
    She could not help herself. Pearl swam a few feet up to him. There was no way this man meant her harm. How could he? Her whole body zinged with excitement. He was gentle and handsome, and seemed to be just as fascinated with her as she was with him.
    When she was within arms’ reach, she was shocked to feel his hand snatch hers. But instead of doing so forcefully, he gradually and gently brought her close to him.
    His eyes were dark brown and very beautiful. Trusting.
    Cautiously, he wrapped his other arm around her waist, and she gasped.
    Drake looked down at her mouth and then back into her eyes. Very slowly, he lowered his head bit by bit, his gaze questioning hers as he did so.
    She knew he wanted to kiss her, and her whole world seemed to jolt at the understanding that a very handsome prince on land had found her, seen that she was a mermaid, and wished to kiss her anyway. Of course she allowed it.
    Clutching onto his clothing, the small vial still in her hand, she tilted her face up to touch his warm lips with hers—and wham!
    Pearl had not a moment to properly register the kiss before she realized she had been captured. His hands wrapped wholly around her and lifted her, tail and all, out of the sea.

PEARL SHRIEKED AND ATTEMPTED to wriggle out of the prince’s tight clasp.
    Just then, she looked over Drake’s shoulder to see Keel slam a heavy, wet rock onto the human’s head, causing him to topple over into the ocean, releasing Pearl as he did so. She immediately swam to Keel’s side. One arm went protectively around her.
    Drake did not move. In fact, his body floated upside down upon the surface of the sea.
    They watched him for several seconds before Keel grunted and tossed the rock into the water. “I