Claimed by the Mer-Shifter Prince I Made Cry novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: What She Held

I let go of the pearl.

Soren fell back against the pillows with a gasp.

His chest heaved.

His hands came up and flexed in front of his face.

I stood there with my heart going so hard I could see it in my vision.

"What did I do?" I whispered.

"Minnie."

"What did I just do to you?"

He pushed himself up against the headboard.

His face was gray, and he wouldn't look at me.

"Put some clothes on," he said quietly. "Please. I will tell you."

I pulled on my father's flannel, because it was the nearest thing, and stood at the foot of the bed with my arms wrapped around myself.

"Now," I said.

"The pearl in your pocket is mine."

"I know it's yours. I took it out of your hand on the beach."

"It is called a heart-pearl. Each royal of the Deep Court is born with one. It is the seat of our will."

"Your will."

"Whoever holds it can command me."

I stared at him.

"Command you how?"

"Stop me. Silence me. Make me kneel." He swallowed. "Make me say or do anything, as long as the pearl is in their hand."

My knees went weak.

I sat down on the end of the bed, hard.

"You knew," I said.

"Yes."

"Since when?"

He closed his eyes.

"Since you put it in your pocket on the beach. I felt it go."

"On the beach."

"Yes."

"Soren, that was three days ago."

"I know."

"You have been in my house. You've been in my bed. I have been carrying it around in my pocket like a, like a pack of gum, and you let me."

"I did not know how to tell you."

"You could have said, hey, Minnie, that's my entire will in your jacket!" I was shouting now, and I didn't care. "Anyone could have taken it, and you let me walk around town with it! Neris asked me about it to my face!"

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