Free Proven (Daughters of the Sea #1) by Kristen Day

dessert. I brought them up to speed on the six Tyde Captains and it took about three-point-eight seconds for the conversation to take a wrong turn. We were gathered around the castle's private pool to relax and wait for our food to digest. The sun had set hours ago and the silver moon hid behind a plateau of clouds that swept over the island mid-afternoon. Sebastian, Natasha, and Finn, along with the help of Ricker and Ian, were planning to leave for another night of searching for Olivia and Fallon in the next hour.
    "So what do you think the deal is with the girl with the scar?" Avery pondered out loud. She swam up to the side of the pool to rest her crossed arms on the tile; gently kicking her legs behind her. "Why would you mutilate your own face?"
    "Maybe she's a cutter," Phoebe provided casually. "I had a cousin who used to cut her legs and arms and then wore long pants and turtlenecks to cover it up."
    "I doubt it." I kicked my legs in the water. "She seemed...defiant about it. Like she did it out of spite, not self loathing." I sat on the edge of the pool, but wanted nothing more than to disappear into the lagoon for the next twenty-four hours. I was worried that if I climbed all the way into the pool overflowing with the same essence-rich water, I would do just that.
    "As long as she can shoot a bow and arrow, I don't care how much she slices herself up." Carmen shrugged before glaring at Ricker. "And apparently Ricker doesn't either."
    "...And that's why you aren't a Captain." Phoebe frowned at her in disapproval, but she just shrugged in response. I glanced across the pool where Sebastian crouched silently, pensively gazing out toward the lagoon in deep thought. He'd been so quiet and withdrawn the past few days. I knew he was worried about Olivia, but I couldn't think of what to say to make it better. His patience had worn thin while waiting for the others to leave for another search mission, but Maera insisted they rest for a short period of time and fill their bellies before leaving.
    A dark, stealthy creature gliding towards me through the water grabbed my attention and I grinned with anticipation at his outstretched arms. His hands anchored around my feet and yanked me underwater in one quick motion, and then he darted around me as a cacophony of bubbles sizzled to the surface above. I gave chase and was able to wrap my arms around his waist.
    He spun around and pushed my head down playfully, sending me to the bottom of the deep end. He followed suit and sat with his legs crossed on the bottom, gracefully placing his hands on his knees as if to meditate. He peeked out of one eye to see if I was watching his overdramatic display. I faced him and mirrored his position.
    "I'm coming with you tonight," I informed him with conviction. His swirling blue eyes searched mine as his dark hair danced above his scalp like sinister black flames.
    "I'm not going to try to stop you." He raised an eyebrow knowingly and then set my heart pounding with a smile. "But if you happen to get left unexpectedly, don't blame me."
    "I can't sit around here and do nothing anymore!" I fumed. "I'm a sea Goddess, not a member of the royal family. I don't belong in a castle, I belong in the sea, protecting the people love."
    His eyes softened and he leaned forward, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me to him. I wrapped my legs around him and happily sat in his lap. He kissed me softly on the lips, then each cheek, before nipping the tip of my nose.  The cobalt ocean of his eyes caught my gaze and they twinkled with mischief. "I have a confession to make."
    "You have my attention," I prompted cautiously.
    "I would much rather fight by your side than with any Son, God, or Goddess; dead or alive."
    "You're biased." I dismissed his flattery with a roll of my eyes.
    "That's beside the point." He laughed and then returned to his resolved tone. "But this time you have Tydes here to protect. They need you, too. You can't be everywhere at