Jasmine led Jee-shahn through the winding, water-carved corridors of the guest wing.
The air was cool, smelling of salt and ancient stone. As they walked, Jasmine's mind
was a whirlwind of family politics. Her father, the High Priest, didn't just rule this
shrine; he ruled the entire aquatic half of the Southern Empire. Under his commandwere both the armored Lizardmen and the graceful Mermaids—the two races born
from the Grandfather Draco.
"Listen to me, Jee-shahn," Jasmine whispered urgently, her pigtails swaying as she
checked around every corner. "My family is... complicated. I have four brothers and
three half-sisters. My sisters are all from my father's second wife, a Mermaid, while I
am the daughter of his first wife, a Lizardman. If they see you looking like a
disheveled traveler, my sisters will never stop mocking me, and my brothers will be
even worse."
Jee-shahn was barely listening. He was busy poking at a glowing coral lamp,
wondering if it was hot enough to slow-roast a snack. "You mentioned four brothers,"
he noted idly. "Where are they? Are they also hiding in the trees?"
Jasmine's expression darkened, a shadow of genuine pain crossing her blue eyes.
"My eldest brother... he went missing. He led a legion of over a hundred thousand
soldiers into the northern territories and simply vanished. Not a single scout returned.
My father hasn't been the same since."
Jee-shahn paused for a microsecond. A distant memory of a very "noisy" army in the
North trying to interrupt his nap flashed through his mind—along with the memory of
how he had silenced that noise permanently. He blinked, his expression returning to
its usual state of profound boredom. It wasn't his problem. He was here for the beach.
"Tragic," Jee-shahn said with a flat, bored voice. "Anyway, is this the room? I need a
bed that doesn't have roots growing through it."
They entered a lavish suite decorated with pearls and blue silk. Standing near the
balcony were three young women, each possessing a diferent kind of ethereal
beauty. They were Jasmine's half-sisters, their eyes sharp and curious. They wore
shimmering robes that seemed to flow like liquid, highlighting their mermaid heritage.
"Oh, Jasmine," the eldest of the three cooed, her voice like a siren's song. "Is this the
little groom Father was talking about? He's a bit... small, isn't he? Did you find him in
a toy box?"
Jasmine felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She stepped in front of Jee-shahn, still
holding his hand tightly. "He's a traveler! And he's very... capable! He saved me in the
forest!"
The sisters giggled, a sound like clinking glass. Jee-shahn, completely unfazed,
climbed onto a silk-covered divan and kicked off his shoes. He looked at the three
beautiful women with a dull, azure gaze.
"If you're going to stare, at least bring some fruit," Jee-shahn drawled, settling into
the cushions. "And make sure it's cold. I've had a very long day of being kidnapped
by your sister, and my patience is thinner than your robes."
The sisters froze, their smiles twitching. No one—not even the Royal Suitors—had
ever spoken to them with such casual arrogance. Jasmine felt a cold sweat break out.
She had brought a monster into a house of sharks, and the "groom" was already
trying to order the sharks to bring him snacks.