“Raine?”

Raine’s heart pounded as she peeked over the covers at her mother’s face as the other woman walked in the room.

“Are you awake dear?”

Raine’s eyes snapped shut. Maybe she would leave and Raine could sleep, or put on dry clothes. What would the servants think about the sodden mess she was making? She felt the mattress dip as her mother sat beside her.

“Raine. Sweetie. We need to talk.”

Raine blinked her eyes open in what she hoped was a sleepy manner and gazed up at her mother. “Mmm…” she moaned. “Is it morning already?”

“Oh Raine, are you feeling alright?”

Raine felt her damp hair sliding around and presumably knotting inside her nightcap as she sluggishly shook her head and silently pleaded for her mother to leave.

Her mother rubbed Raine’s cheek. “You’re so cold,” she sighed. “Still weeping over your cousin? I know you might wish that your tears might pull him from the grave and bring him back, but it can’t be done.” She gave a small smile and stood up. She moved to the window and pulled open the curtains. “I know your grief shows how much you loved your cousin, but too many tears makes it seem like you’re too emotional and without any logic to rule your mind.”

“I don’t care,” Raine whined as she snuggled further into the damp sheets. “I just want to cry for a bit. I’ve lost so much. Leave me be.”

Her mother moved around the room, occasionally picking up the dolls, books, and other trinkets that were carefully displayed on her shelves. “You can feel the loss.” Her tone turned cruel as she squeezed one of Raine’s dolls. “But don’t mourn for Garrick, mourn for the lack of justice to the villain who killed him.”

“Who was that?” Raine sniffed and hoped her voice remained the clueless innocent her mother thought she was.

“A merman by the name of Cidaris.” Tossing the doll aside, she stormed back to Raine’s bed. “That monster still lives.”

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Raine wiped her eyes, and said a silent prayer for Cidaris’ safety and one asking for forgiveness for the words she was about to utter. “I wish I was stronger, then I would kill him myself for what he did to Garrick.”

Her mother smiled and gently rubbed her head. “Don’t worry child, we will have vengeance. I’ve heard where he is going to be living for his exile. I’ll send someone to poison the waters there. Fear not, he’ll keep Garrick company soon enough. Perhaps then you’ll dry your tears.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever dry my tears until I see Cidaris myself.” Dramatically, she wiped her eyes again. “Mother, if you can find someone to create such a poison, I’d like to be the one to deliver it. So I can show that monster the love I felt for my cousin.”

Her mother laughed. “If you can find a way to get to him, I will find a man to create the poison child. But now, let’s leave this talk of murder and revenge alone. I did not come here before I went to bed to talk of death, but of new life and love.”

“What new life or love can there be at a time like this?” Raine sighed and glanced around her mother to the open window. The blue sky reminded her of the ocean and her love within it.

“Well,” her mother began slowly, “as you know, your father loves you very much.”

Raine nodded suspiciously.

“And he is concerned by all of these tears and terrible times that have befallen you. So, he’s found a way to pull you from your misery. A special celebration for you, though perhaps not the kind of celebration you or I had thought of, but a good one nonetheless.” She smiled and tugged at the covers, but Raine held tight.

“I’m not ready to get up yet, mother. What celebration?”

“Marriage, my dear Raine.” Standing, she danced a few steps from a waltz.

As she did so, Raine bolted upright in the bed, before remembering her sodden clothes and pulling the blankets up around her.

Lady Aurora, finished her dance and turned to face her wide-eyed daughter again. “Next Thursday you and that lovely young nobleman Derrin will be wed. I can’t think of a better way to bring you joy.”

“I don’t care what you think, this will not make me happy. I will never be a happy bride if you force me to marry that man.” She balled her hands into fists in the soft blankets. “Why does he think I should get married or even want to get married this quickly. I beg you, tell father that I will not marry that man.” Her voice raised higher as she glared at her mother. “I will not marry, and when I do, I promise you, the man I marry will be Cidaris. I know you hate him, but he’s the one who holds my heart.”

Her mother’s mouth dropped open before she recovered and spun on her heel. “You can tell him yourself child. We will be back.” The door slammed shut behind her and Raine flew out of the bed to put on dry clothes and make herself look presentable.

“What have I done?” she said to herself in the mirror as she yanked a brush through her matted hair.