The evening soiree occurred on the fifth floor of the Oamaren castle. After a quick change into my final evening gown, I ascended the stairs to an open-air salon, contained in a corner across from a shadowed corridor. Conversation hummed among small circles of guests, a faint accompaniment to the background classical music. I melted into the water, as relaxed as the silky, periwinkle dress that glittered against my skin. My hair no longer bore down on my scalp and instead flowed long and free, releasing some of the tension in my head. At last, I felt like I could breathe.

"Oh good! You're here!"

Catilli's arm linked with mine, her long, peach-colored dress brushing my ankles. I suppressed a sigh. It had been so peaceful. Catilli's buoyancy really didn't mesh with the orchestra.

"Let's head this way." Catilli ushered me toward the back wall. Nitov, Ayil, and Lira were suspended over a set of silvery divans.

"There you are," Lira said over her shoulder. She patted the narrow space on her left, and Catilli joined her, leaving me to slide in by Nitov on the other side.

Fatigued irritation riddled my mind. Throughout the ball, Catilli constantly encouraged us to dance, forcing me to learn abridged versions of "the hurricane," "the krill," and "the neap tide," three traditional Oamaren dances. That, combined with numerous disconcerting glances from Kao, exhausted all my energy. I couldn't take any more of their mer-people games, their constant urging for Nitov and I to dance, talk, eat, or really do anything together. I wanted to sleep, and I wanted to go home.

But when I looked at Nitov, I realized that his eyelids were just as heavy as mine. His weary smile eased my concerns. Surely if we both were tired, they'd be more lax in their prods.

A mermaid sailed by, setting a wooden box in front of us. Lira opened the floating container and placed a flower in her mouth.

"Would you like something to eat, Kiara?" Nitov asked.

My stomach ceased grumbling ages ago, replaced by a hollow ache. Perhaps some food would restore my strength, help me endure the rest of the evening. I nodded, and Nitov offered me the box. Scallops piled in the center, surrounded by a ring of flowers.

No. No more raw fish. I couldn't take it. I reached for a lilac flower. My mouth salivated at a whiff of its perfume. Finally, some delicious sweets to abate my stress. My teeth ground into the delicate petals, releasing herbal bitterness that numbed my taste buds. A neutral expression hardened on my face to hide my disgust.

I grabbed another flower from the box. It looked like a bloated, red animal with tentacles. I stared at it for a moment, my brain telling me to eat it, but my hand refusing to put it in my mouth. Finally, I built up the guts to try it. Sugary liquid burst the second I chewed it. My face scrunched at the feeling.

At least it tastes good.

"....what do you think, Kiara?"

I froze, my mouth full. Four curious faces stared at me. I forced a smile and rapidly started chewing. This is so awkward! I wanted to curl into a shell or disappear. Fortunately, I was going to disappear—without a doubt, I was leaving tomorrow.

Just a few hours, Kiara. Just a few more hours.

The remains of my flower slid down my throat. I suppressed a burp and said, "I'm sorry, what was the question again?"

The others exchanged a glance, a question in their eyes. Heat rose in my cheeks.

"We were wondering if you wanted to go downtown tomorrow," Catilli said. "You haven't seen very much of Oamer."

"I..."

How do I gracefully get out of this?

"Unless you'd prefer to go on a ride on the hippocampi," Lira said.

I drew in a steady breath. I could not—would not—get distracted by mythical sea horses.

"I...I think I'm well enough to get home," I stammered.

"Oh, well, in that case, you should visit Raehle again," Lira said. "We'll go right after our first meal. You will join us for our first meal, right?"

I paused. It was better to leave as early as possible, but I didn't want to intrude on their mealtime. "Alright."

"Yay!" Catilli exclaimed. "We'll have so much fun!"

The throb in my heart magnified. I missed Lani, and I missed home. And I was pretty sure that the amount of fun I could have in Oamer had come to an end. But I dipped my head and said no more.

"Let's have a toast," Lira said.

Everyone leaned forward for a flower. I took one despite my churning stomach.

"A toast," she said. "To...friendship. To all the friends we've known since our fins were stubs, the friends we've grown close to over many tides, the friends we've only seen one or two tides but are unforgettable, and the friends we have yet to meet. Yes, a toast to all our friends, tried and true, who stick by our sides through the good times and bad, and who don't forget us even when miles apart." She smiled at me, and happiness warmed my chest.

"A toast to all of you," I said quietly. "My mer-people friends."

We collectively ate the flowers. I stifled a gag. Once again, bitterness soured my tongue.

In the corner of my eye, I glimpsed a stocky merman by the wall, sea-green eyes trained on me. My head turned toward him, and he quickly looked away. Anxiety crept up my skin. I faced forward, but I caught him looking at me again.

It's probably nothing. He's just never seen a human before.Light shimmered in my peripheral as his blue and green ombre tail bobbed in the water. I stiffened. For a moment, I thought he was headed for me. But he hurried in the opposite direction, vanishing in the crowd. I breathed out slowly.

"....Kiara? Kiara?"

I snapped back to the conversation. Once again, all eyes were on me. My face burned with guilt. They must think I'm so rude.

"I-I'm sorry," I stuttered.

Nitov's brow wrinkled. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," I said. "I...just need some air, I guess."

They looked even more confused than before.

"Air?" Catilli repeated.

I wanted to face-palm. There was no air under the water.

"Oh, you mean that you need your air bubble changed," Lira said.

"Huh?"

"Every so often, we have to change the bubble so you can breathe in fresh air."

"Oh." There was a beat of silence. My eyes drifted to the other guests. The merman really was gone. I wasn't sure if I should be relieved, perplexed, or both.

"I can do that for you if you want," Nitov said, interrupting my thoughts. "It will probably help you feel better."

I nodded gratefully. Maybe that would help solve some of the problems I'd been experiencing.

"Follow me."

We went up a flight of stairs to an empty gallery. Luminescent flowers glowed in the room underneath the glass floor. Nitov's golden tail reflected off every crystalline surface, from the walls to the divan and table on the side of the room, mirroring natural morning sunlight.

"Whoa," I breathed.

"Do you like it?" Nitov asked. "It's made entirely of diamonds. You could say that it is the most special room in our entire castle."

My fingers traced the smooth grooves on the wall. It was like I entered some sort of pure, peaceful dream.

"It's beautiful," I said. "But why did you bring me here?"

"Because I need to change your air bubble." He chuckled softly. "I didn't want to do it in front of all those people."

It seemed logical enough, but I had a feeling there was another reason. We didn't need to be in the most exclusive room in the castle for that.

Nitov's hand moved around the perimeter of my face. It radiated heat, and I told myself that was the reason for my warming cheeks.

"These bubbles aren't easy to break," he said. His eyebrows furrowed in concentration. He moved his hand more rapidly now, doing everything possible to make the bubble break. Raehle was far better at this than he was.

A pop rang in my ear. My body went rigid, blood frozen, lungs packed with air. Pressure suffocated me, threatened to snap my limbs and squish my organs. I was numb to all but the mounting agony in my head. Liquid pushed past my lips, and something tugged me down, down...

Warmth flooded my body. The pressure released, leaving me weightless. I gasped for air, and my vision blurred. Slowly, my nerves regained sensation. My eyes refocused on blue eyes, Nitov's eyes.

"Sorry to scare you like that," he said.

"It's alright," I said. My cheeks flushed. It'd probably only taken him a few seconds to change the bubble, and yet I had completely panicked. I tried to stop panting. My lungs settled into a normal rhythm, inhaling crisp oxygen. A fresh clarity sharpened my thoughts.

"I think the change did help," I said.

Nitov grinned. "Glad to hear."

We floated in silence for a moment. Part of me wanted to head for the stairs, yet it'd be awkward if I moved first, wouldn't it?

"You fit right in, you know."

I looked down at my gemstone dress. I sparkled from head to toe in my gemstone dress.

"Yes. It's a gorgeous design."

"I wasn't talking about the dress."

My head titled. "Oh." I couldn't think of anything else to say.

Nitov cleared his throat. "I want to show you something."

His hand took mine and led me across the room. He pushed back a sliding glass door so we could float onto a white-stone balcony.

My breath caught in my throat. Glowing orbs dotted the ocean like welcoming lanterns. Almost every hue of light peered up at me. There was something enchanting about seeing Oamer from above. I was like a dove soaring high in the clouds, removed from the stresses of life and experiencing only the best the world offers.

I turned to Nitov. To my surprise, he bowed in front of me, a miniature shell in his hand.

"What's going on?" I asked. He gave me a dazzling smile in return.

"Kiara," he began, his voice soft and steady. "From the first day that I met you, I knew that you were the one for me. I can just feel it. We are meant to be together. I feel alive when I'm around you."

My heart started pounding. What the heck? I literally met him three days ago!

"I want to marry you Kiara." My wide eyes froze. He removed the lid of the shell, revealing three pure white pearls. "In our society, we propose by giving our bride a shell that has three pearls in it. They are very rare. If we are destined to be together, then the merman will be able to find the shell, regardless of how rare they are. If not, then it's a sign that the two are not meant to be married."

He set the shell in my palm. All I could do was stare at it.

"I spent the past ten tides searching for it. It was difficult, but I was determined, Kiara. I was determined because I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

I forced my gaze to meet his. His eyes searched for a response, any response, other than shock and disbelief.

As my brain wrapped around what he was asking, a strange affinity penetrated me. He was kind and handsome. I did love the ocean. Hippocampi were amazing.

I saw myself living in the castle, adorned in jewels. A hundred maids waited on me every day. I dressed up and attended parties; I made friends like Catilli and Lira. I didn't have a care in the world.

It would be cool to live under the sea...

Stop it! It would never work out. You are not even the same species!

Remorse gnawed at my belly. I handed the shell back to Nitov before I could change my mind.

"I'm sorry, Nitov," I said. "You are amazing, kind, and such a gentleman. But it wouldn't work out. I'd get homesick being away from my family. I...I can't marry you."

The light in his eyes extinguished. His chest heaved, lips pressing inward. I felt like I dropped a boulder on him. I searched for words to calm the situation.

"But we'd be your family," he said. "You can visit your family every few tide cycles, if you wish." The muscles in his face strained, pleading with me to say yes.

Remorse clutched at my throat. "It'd never work. Besides, I'm a human and you're a merman."

"We can change you into a mermaid," he insisted. "We can change your whole family into mer-people. We can..."

He stopped. I realized that my head had been shaking the entire time. Tears glistened in his eyes, though the water hid any stray ones from view.

"I'm sorry, but we've only met two days ago. You can understand that I want to get to know someone before I promise to marry them," I explained. "Besides, I'm only eighteen. I have my whole life ahead of me for that sort of thing. I...I can't..." I broke off. If I continued, I might cry, too.

This is too much for me. I started for the exit. The intensity was too great for me to stay any longer.

"Will you at least consider it?" he asked. I paused in the glass doorway.

"I-I'm leaving tomorrow."

"But can you sleep on it?" He rushed forward and squeezed my hands. "I know it's a big decision. I don't want to pressure you, I honestly don't. All I want is for you to be happy, and I just want you to know that I'd do anything for you. Even..." He sniffed, taking a breath. "Even if it means letting you go."

I felt a tear join the sea. Why was this so difficult? I barely knew him.

"I'll think about it," I agreed reluctantly. "I can't promise anything right now, but I'll consider it." If it would help him feel better to know that I thought about his proposal, then I would.

A spark of happiness returned to his eyes. "Thank you. Please, do. Take as much time as you need to get to know me. I don't want you to be uncomfortable with a sudden marriage, but you have to understand that we are meant for each other."

I gave a tiny smile. He offered me his arm and together we floated back to the party. Nitov stayed silent the entire time, thank goodness. It gave my brain a chance to process what just transpired. Thoughts still dizzied my head when we rejoined our friends. I only knew that I had to leave before anything else happened.

"Where have you two been?" Catilli asked playfully. As I swam to my spot over the divan, I realized that Kao and Merlah now joined us. The Prince's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, where have you been?" he repeated.

I died internally. No more. I couldn't take any more.

"Fixing my air bubble," I said. I tried to sound nonchalant, but I believe my voice jumped an octave.

"This whole time?" Merlah scoffed. Her black eyes threw daggers at me. I wanted to disappear.

"Nitov," Lira said, a grin stretched on her lips. "Do you have something to share?"

"I proposed to her," Nitov said. Fire ignited on my face, a mixture of embarrassment and guilt. Kao's face turned pale.

"Really?" Catilli exclaimed. "Oh, how wonderful! Shaila, isn't this wonderful?" Her tail bounced in the water. She seemed like a volcano of excitement.

Bewilderment sparked in my brain. "Shaila? W-who's Shaila?"

Catilli paused. "Huh? Oh, I meant Kiara. Isn't it wonderful, Kiara? When's the wedding going to be?"

As I glanced at the others, I realized that she was the only jubilant one. Kao sank in the water, eyes distant. Merlah looked like she was about to burst into tears. And Lira's gaze shifted between Nitov and I.

"Excuse me," Merlah choked out as she rushed away.

Catilli stopped bouncing. "What's up with her? Oh, well. Let's not let her spoil the evening. Let's have a toast to the happy couple!"

"I didn't say yes," I blurted out. "I said I'd think about it."

Horror consumed Catilli's face. "What? But this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to become the Princess, even the future Queen!"

"That's why I said I'd think about it," I said, trying to calm her. A relieved smile spread across Kao's face. What's that about? I wondered.

"I-I don't understand," Lira said. Her mouth parted as if to ask a question, but no words came out. Nitov's eyebrow twitched. The Princess quickly pursed her lips into a smile.

Blood pounded in my head, tightening my fatigued thoughts. I became hyperaware of my aching muscles. This party was really stretching my energy.

"Catilli, is it alright if we leave soon? I'm very tired." My jaw stretched into a yawn. Not on purpose, of course.

"Aw, can't we stay a little longer?" she whined.

"I'm sorry, but I really need to get some rest." I felt like I was about to keel over at any moment.

"Fine," she sighed.

"I'll escort you down," Nitov offered.

"Me too," Kao quickly added.

We wound our way down the stairs. The narrow path didn't support four people traveling side by side, and as other, faster-moving guests passed, our position changed from me swimming beside Catilli, then Nitov, then Kao. As we glided along, the Mertondon Prince leaned over.

"Let me know if things don't work out between you and Nitov," he whispered. I nodded sluggishly. He said no more since another mermaid hurried behind us, and I realigned next to Catilli.

Something from before still bothered me. Shaila...where had I heard that name before?

Whoever she was, I'd have to wait until morning to figure it out. I was too numb to think.