Free Everlost by Brenda Pandos Page A

healer’s large bugged-out eyes sent a shiver down Tatiana’s fin. She turned Tatiana’s head to the side with her gloved fingers and peered into her ear. From her apron, she pulled out a weed and shoved the mangled pulp into the sore ear. Twigs poked the delicate skin lining the canal, making her wince. Relief wasn’t as quick or as wonderful as when Xirene had treated her, but the pain lessened nonetheless.
    The girl continued, checking Tatiana’s tongue and eyes, then kneading her hands over her ribs, making her giggle. And then, without permission, the girl removed Tatiana’s top and studied her breasts.
    “Hey,” Tatiana said with a squeak and covered herself with her arms. “Is this really necessary?”
    Tatiana held her hand out for her top she’d handcrafted the night prior. The Queen blew out a breath of water and grimaced, acting as if her servant had merely inspected cantaloupes at a farmers market.
    With the Queen’s nod, the healer gave Tatiana her top back.
    “We must make sure you haven’t been infected with the Ichthyopthirius multifilis,” the Queen simply stated.
    “What? On my breasts?” Tatiana startled at the accusation, knowing the “ick” parasites showed up as white spots on one’s gills first. “I highly doubt it.”
    Tatiana quickly fastened the button in the back and eyed the healer suspiciously.
    “May I feel your abdomen?” the healer asked with a smile.
    Tatiana looked to the Queen in a plea to which she merely gestured with her hand. “Please, let the healer finish.”
    Tatiana clenched her fists and lay on the bed. “I promise you, I don’t have the ick.”
    Both women remained quiet, intent on studying Tatiana’s body like she was on display at the zoo. The healer’s hands kneaded her scale-covered stomach, pressing all around the area under her bellybutton.
    “Hey, that tickles,” Tatiana said, squirming.
    The healer gave the Queen an insightful look before motioning that she roll over. “I’m almost finished.”
    Tatiana groaned.
    “Please cooperate.” The Queen smacked her tail, impatient.
    Tatiana rolled over, wishing the exam would end soon, and felt the healer examine her spine, checking each vertebra. The healer pressed into her skin where her tail started and tugged on Tatiana’s scales with a hum. Then with a quick lift of the cloth encircling Tatiana’s hips, the healer squished her fingers into the spot where only her mate should ever touch, releasing her mating scent into the water. Tatiana flipped her tail and slid out from the healer’s probing touch.
    “Hey! What are you doing?” She pulled the cloth down to cover her cloaca, angered.
    The healer pulled her head back, stunned, and looked to the Queen. “It’s all part of the exam.”
    “Please, Tatiana. It’s to know the condition of your female system.” Queen Desiree pulled aside her long white tresses and leaned in. “Aren’t you curious to know if all your parts are functioning properly?”
    Parts? The Queen made her sound more like a starfish than a person. “I’m sure they’re working just fine, thank you.”
    “Are they?” Queen Desiree pushed up her brow, giving Tatiana a knowing look. “Now let’s not kid ourselves. If that were true, you wouldn’t be here… alone, would you?”
    Tatiana froze in her spot, her mouth agape. Salt in her wounded heart. The reason for the examination settled into focus. Azor must have said she had the ick to get out of why they weren’t celebrating their promisetide. And now, after the examination, the Queen knew full well that wasn’t the case. She blamed Tatiana’s inability to seduce him as the culprit. She felt weak, her fin slowly flattening against the ground.
    “Don’t despair. Having a beta-mer as a mother, of course you don’t know these things. You should have come to me sooner. Many have issue when it comes to the act. I’ll set up a private class with the mer matrons. They’ll show you the dance. Then when Azor