Free Heart of Shell (The Mercrutian Chronicles Book 1) by Zara Steen

sound of her voice.
    “Nothing!” Coral said and I shifted to block the star. It was almost completely gone but there was no way I would be able to capture the mist with Gina standing there. She would see the change in me immediately.
    “Well, what are you guys making?” Gina asked.
    “Fish, brussel sprouts, and perogies,” Pearl offered as an answer while Rayne walked next to me and leaned back on the island to block the star from the other side.
    “I don't really like fish,” Gina said. “Don't you guys have anything else?”
    “Not really,” Rayne said, starting to look annoyed. “The food will be done in about twenty minutes anyway.”
    “Is there anything to snack on then?” Gina asked. In my eyes she was pushing her luck, but I guessed she must have felt hungry.
    Pearl and Coral both gestured to the fruit bowl, and Rayne matched them by pointing her knife there as well.
    “Nevermind,” Gina huffed and left the room, thankfully not asking any more questions. We were all relieved.
    Her parents called her before the food was even finished, furious that she had not told them where she was going after school, but she didn't seem to care. Fifteen minutes later, when her dad showed up to pick her up, he looked disapprovingly at Rayne for not ensuring that she had called them. Gina didn't take any responsibility, and her father, Mr. Amos, threatened to have a word with their parents. He was giving Merrick unfavourable looks when Rayne apologized, which I knew killed her a little on the inside. So, I stepped up to take the blame and tried to smooth things out.
    “Mr. Amos, it's really my fault. See, it's my birthday next weekend and I invited Gina to come along with us. We got so distracted in the kitchen, since we were all hungry, that we didn't make note of the time.”
    His stern exterior started to soften, until he glanced at Merrick. Gina had no sense to let go of his arm, and was still wrapped around him. Even though I kind of wanted Gina's father to disliked my mate, it would be selfish of me. I sent out a calming wave of emotion.
    “Please don't be too angry with Gina for my excitement.” I added an inflection I so rarely used, my honeyed words, drenched in empathic energy, reached out to him. Then, his emotions unravelled, and he was like putty.
    “I'm sorry, girls. It's okay. I understand, but Gina, you're coming home with me. Your mother wants to speak with you.” I smiled at him softly though my eyes were still intense.
    “Have a wonderful evening...” He looked embarrassed that he didn't know my name.
    “Anya,” I supplied him, the same emotional evocation in my words. At least I could plant fondness in his heart, so that if Gina were to speak poorly of me, he would doubt it at first.
    “Well I hope you have a wonderful birthday celebration, Anya,” Mr. Amos said before he made a 'come here' gesture to Gina. She pouted and stomped her foot like a child, but gathered her things and followed. As soon as the door closed, everyone but Merrick, let out a sigh of relief.
    Rayne rushed forward and hugged me. “Anya you were awesome! Thank you for saving me.” Pearl and Coral agreed, but when I turned around to Merrick he had a dark look on his face.
    “Why did you do that?” He asked me.
    “We'll give you two a moment,” Rayne and pushed Coral and Pearl along. I nodded to them before answering.
    “What do you mean?” I asked. Shouldn't you be grateful? I wanted to say. He could continue on with his life plan of freedom.
    “You took the blame. You used your powers to smooth things out for me.”
    “Not just you!” I snapped raising my chin a little, “Rayne didn't deserve the blame for your girlfriend's actions.” I couldn't help it, and I spit out the last part with a bit of edge that I tried too late to soften.
    “My girlfriend?” He said challenging me, still angry that I had interfered.
    I shrugged. I wanted to roll my eyes, but that would just create more distance between us and