Free Starving for Love by Nicole Zoltack Page A

to give up anything for me. I am so grateful I'm still alive, and I owe my life to her."
    The marine king grunted.
    "And you, too, of course."
    The king of the sea twirled his trident, at first slow but then faster and faster until it blurred and Kristian couldn't see which end was the points and which was the bottom. It shimmered into a golden reflective surface, almost like a gold mirror, and Kristian gasped when she appeared — in all of her beautiful radiance.
    Without conscious thought, he swam forward and reached out to touch her but before he could, her appearance distorted and changed into a grotesque monster.
    "Is that how I looked?" he asked, horror coloring his voice so much that he couldn't recognize it.
    "Yes. It appears that my saving you has condemned Sirena to your fate."
    "You have to do something!" Kristian's chest grew so tight it hurt to breathe.
    For the first time, the strong and impressive Tritonion appeared more like a terrified father than a powerful king. "Merlinasea foresaw that I might get involved. She added curses to her enchantments…" He shook his head and narrowed his eyes. "I can't risk returning her to her natural form. It could kill her." The king glowered at Kristian. "Or you for that matter."
    "Is there anything I can do?" Kristian asked eagerly. "Please let me help!"
    "You've done enough damage. I saved your life, and that is all the help you'll get from me. Go back to your castle, Prince Kristian. Leave my daughter be. Do not seek her out. Do not ever talk to her again."
    The king whirled around and swam away, his fin slapping against the waves, propelling himself forward. The prince didn't hesitate and was grateful the king didn't seem to notice he was being tailed. After all Sirena had done for him, Kristian wasn't about to sit around and do nothing, nor was he willing to never see or talk to her again. Surely she loved him, if she had given up so much for him. The thought filled his heart with joy even as it ached with the misery she must be going through right now, remembering all too well the agony and despair he had first felt when he had awoken as a zombie.
    Thankfully, the ruler of the sea didn't swim far before heading into a cave. Otherwise, Kristian would never have been able to keep up. The marine-dwelling place gave Kristian the creeps, but he followed the king inside. Several sharks and eels guarded nearby, and he tucked his body into a crevice in the wall.
    After a moment, he peeked out and no longer saw the sharks or eels, or any other fish for that matter. Farther into the cave came voices. When he saw a strange but familiar half-woman, half-squid creature, he ducked into another crevice and watched the proceedings.
    King Tritonion pointed his trident at the creature. "Merlinasea, you've crossed the line this time."
    She brushed her hair back from her face. "King Tritonion, I have no idea what you are referring to."
    The king emitted a low growl. "You tampered with my daughter's memory, didn't you?"
    Kristian covered his mouth. Memory of what? Memory of him? Is that why she didn't recognize him despite his zombie form when they had touched? He had seen through her hag-like appearance.
    "Oh, that." Merlinasea waved her hand. A puff of pink smoke covered her form. When it cleared, a blue and green sea dragon remained. "She wanted me to save a dead guy so I did." Merlinasea's voice came out of the huge dragon mouth.
    "By turning him into a zombie?"
    Kristian was glad the source of the king's anger was someone other than him.
    "She never specified what state she wanted him to be in."
    King Tritonion threw the trident. It pierced her long tail and speared it to the cave floor. A wince and a slight scowl was the only indication Merlinasea gave to reveal the pain she had to be in.
    Her dragon arms reached lovingly toward the trident, but the king jerked it away from her grasp. Freed, she transformed back into the half-woman, half-squid creature as she circled around the