Madeline

It was hot.

The closer we got to the equator the hotter it got.

And when I was too hot, I couldn't sleep. Then again, when I was dealing with an existential crisis I wasn't the best sleeper either. Regardless, it seemed like the kind of night you go to bed in nothing but your undies.

After I did the dishes, I slipped into the bathroom to wash my face with my favorite foaming cleanser, having a mini crisis on top of the already big crisis when I realized they probably didn't carry my foaming face cleanser in the legendary city of Atlantis, and shut myself in my cabin. I threw my sexy dress in the corner, my will to look hot for Caspian completely deflated by the turn of events.

Atlantis.

Holly fuck balls.

Was this real?

I mean, Caspian and Nikkos are real enough.

Fuck.

Atlantis.

I lay on top of my familiar quilt, a lone comfort in my cabin when the big picture came down and hit me hard. I was in the middle of nowhere on a boat with two Atlanteans. Scratch that, three Atlanteans, because I was one of them.

I rolled over for the umpteenth time and stared out the little cabin window. Not even finding the north star or any of the constellations I used to like looking for brought me any peace tonight.

There were still so many questions. If the sirens were so important in keeping the city in its bubble then why would someone take me to Michigan of all places? What role did a siren fill in this society? It occurred to me that I had heard mention of a senator but no other form of government. What was I getting into, really?

Caspian had answered so many questions before we left dry land and I thought I knew most of what I needed to about Atlantis, but after tonight I felt like I asked all of the wrong questions and now I was back to square one.

I turned onto my stomach, face buried in my pillow as I groaned. What am I supposed to do with this information? What do I even ask next?

A soft knocking at my door had me pulling my head out of my pillow.

"Madeline, are you still awake? It's Caspian."

His voice was soft, gentle. Concerned?

I looked down at the almost nothing I was wearing and sighed.

"Just a minute," I croaked. God, was that my voice? I sounded like shit.

I reached down and pulled up a big t-shirt that I liked to sleep in and yanked it down over my head.

"Come in."

The door slid open and Caspian looked me up and down. Sitting on the bed, hair a mess, big t-shirt, and probably a set of bags under my eyes from the sleepless nights I appeared to be accumulating on this stupid boat.

Okay, not fair, I actually really liked this stupid boat.

But Caspian looked upset too. Maybe he felt bad for not telling me this stuff earlier. Maybe he felt bad that I was in shock over everything.

He reached in, setting a plate on the tiny shelf next to my bed. On it was two pills and a cup of water with a lid.

"Xino vasilias is prone to give headaches and hangovers to those new to drinking it. This should help. I'll leave you alone now." Caspian slipped away, beginning to close the door.

"Wait," I said, softly. At least my voice didn't crack this time.

He paused in the doorway, still half-closed, but he turned back to look at me expectantly. I bit my lower lip, meeting his eyes for only a moment before looking away.

"Stay," I said quietly.

Without a word, he stepped into my cabin and closed the door. He stood next to the bed, hands in his pockets.

When we didn't say anything for a minute, he nodded his head toward the plate he had brought. "You know, I was serious about the water and aspirin. You should take it now before you need it."

I eyed the plate with a sigh. I liked drinking well enough, but wine always did me in the next morning. Reaching over, I took the pills, popped them into my mouth, and took a long drink of water to wash them down.

"Thanks," I said, setting the cup back down.

"So, how are you doing?" Caspian asked.

I fidgeted on the bed, scooting over some. "You can sit down, you know. I didn't invite you in to just make you stand there."

He finally had a smile to give me, then he sat down on the edge of the bed. When he turned to face me, his expression turned a little more serious. "You never answered my question, Madeline. How are you doing?"

I figited, pulling my pillow to me and hugging it to my chest. "I'm overwhelmed, to be honest."

Caspian nodded, but didn't interrupt.

"What you're telling me is some real fairy-tale level stuff. It's hard to swallow," I said.

He sighed through his nose. "I know. To us it's normal, but we as a society quickly found out that it wouldn't be wise to spread the word of us to the rest of the world. But you know how things are exaggerated over time, once you're there you'll find it completely normal."

"I'll find a city in a bubble in the ocean normal?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," he insisted with a smirk. "You won't even notice once you're there for a while."

I shrugged, looking away and holding my pillow tighter. "Can I ask more questions? Or do you need to keep an eye on the boat?"

Caspian shook his head. "No, I can answer your questions. Maybe it will help you feel better enough to get some rest."

"Okay," I started. "Who rules Atlantis? Is it like a president or a king or queen?"

"We call him a king in English but there isn't quite an equivalent title from our word for it in Atlantean. He, or she, is known as the basilli. The basilli is the head of one of the five ancient houses between which the rulership of Atlantis is shared. One house rules for fifty years, then the burden is passed to the next house in line, and so on until the circle starts again."

"Oh. That's..." I almost said weird, then realized that would probably be rude to say about his home. Sorry, our home.

He let out a soft laugh. "The founding purpose was that no one house could corrupt and keep hold of Atlantis in bad faith. Even the basilli needs to be aware of who will lead their house after the seat of power is no longer theirs."

"Makes sense," I said. "And you have a senate?"

"Yes." Caspian smiled. "Each of the five ancient houses has a seat to fill on the senate, but other representatives are sent for each of our societal concerns. A senator is elected by the people every five years to give a voice in the senate for agriculture, technology, culture, health, things like that."

"So even the basilli doesn't have the final say in it all," I said.

Caspian shook his head. "No, but there will be more time to pick apart our senate later if you still want to know. Actually, Nikkos would be a better teacher there. But I have a feeling you've got more on your mind than that."

I bit my lower lip, my mind racing to grab at some of the other thoughts that had plagued me since dinner.

"Yes, I want to know how you become a siren. You're... born one?" I asked.

"That's right," Caspian answered. "The sway is genetic. Only a siren can give birth to a siren."

"And if the baby is a boy or something else?" I asked.

But Caspian shook his head. "Sirens only bear sirens. We've never had a case otherwise."

I raised an eyebrow, wondering if Caspian was fooling around with me. But he seemed as serious as ever. It was a stretch to believe, but so was most of the rest of this bizarre situation.

I sighed. "Okay, then, what is a siren's role in this world? Do they have a seat on the senate too?"

Caspian looked taken back. "Sirens? No."

"Why not?" I asked. "Please don't tell me it's because they're all girls."

"No, nothing like that." Caspian shook his head. "The leader of our senate is a woman. To be honest, I don't know why sirens were never offered a seat, but they are usually preoccupied with their duties to keeping Atlantis from drowning to worry about the senate."

I cringed. "That sounds really important and intimidating."

"You won't be asked to do anything for a while, and certainly not until you're ready," Caspian assured me. "The sirens are one of Atlantis's most valuable resources, you won't be asked to do much you don't want to do."

So, the sirens were obviously important to the Atlanteans. I didn't know what to even compare that to. Like, a doctor? It's hard to have a society without medical care. From what Caspian told me, it would be total societal collapse if the sirens weren't there.

You know, just regular stuff, no pressure.

I flopped back on the bed, Caspian at my feet. "This is a lot. You get how this is a lot, right?"

"I know," Caspian said, placing a warm hand on my ankle. "I wish it wasn't going to be so shocking for you, but if my word means anything know that when you get there you'll be showered in more love and comfort than you know what to do with. And certainly a larger bedroom than this one."

He smirked as he gestured around the cramped cabin, but there was no humor in my expression as I got hung up on his words.

"A larger bedroom . . . at your house?" I asked. "I guess I thought I'd be with you guys."

Caspian looked surprised for a moment, but he thought through his words before answering. "I suppose you could stay with me for a short while before the sirens would want you to stay with them. I can't offer you what they have, you'll basically be offered a palace to live in with the rest of the sirens."

"But I don't know the rest of the sirens yet," I said, reaching over to grab his hand. "I know you, and I was hoping to stay with you for a while first. I thought . . . I was hoping we could get closer after our talk in the shower."

Caspian moved his hand from under mine to on top of it. His long fingers curled around my hand gently and it sent heat up my arm as my breath caught.

"Maddie, there's little I want more right now than to get closer to you." His stare was like a fire on my skin as it landed on my lips before flicking up to meet my eyes. "And I'm ready to move forward with that, but not on this tiny boat in the middle of the ocean."

Swallowing the lump of absolutely insatiable filth I was about to let fly out of my mouth, I clamped my lips shut and nodded.

Caspian smirked, as though he had an idea of what I might have said, and reached up with soft fingers to brush a stray lock of hair from my face. "I want to take you dancing."

That took me by surprise and I moved back from his touch. "Dancing?"

"Dancing," he insisted, his expression turning to mischief. "I want to dress you for it, just like we did at the shop before the Port and Mast, but I want it to be more hands-on."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh?"

His eyes gleamed with mischief as a finger trailed along the line of my neck where I'd worn that choker that caught his attention. "I wonder if I can guess your . . . tastes. You'll have to tell me if I get it right."

Hell fucking yeah.

"And after you . . . dress me?" I prodded.

"After I dress you, I want to take you dancing. Hold you against me as you get your fill of Atlantian music and drink. And when you've finally had enough, I want to take you home and remove every piece of clothing I put on you in the first place. Maybe I'll find out what your secret tattoo is."

His eyes were molten, as scorching hot as my panties right about now.

"Caspian-" I barely choked out his name, when a large wave tipped me off-balance enough to fall into him, breaking all the delicious tension. My head pressed against his chest, I felt the rumble from him before I heard the laughter.

"Fuck, Madeline, what you do to me," he murmured as we both sat upright again.

Sighing, I knew the moment was gone. "I'm going to hold you to that when we get to Atlantis."

His expression softened as he leaned back, taking me all in with his gaze. "I look forward to fulfilling my promises, but with a short few days left I think it would be best if we held off for long enough to get off of this boat. The first time I get to enjoy an evening with you, I want it to be somewhere more fitting than a cramped cabin."

Sighing, defeated, I knew he was right. "I understand, and I agree. I think I can hold out for a few more days until we get settled in Atlantis."

"I look forward to it." Caspian tipped up my chin, leaning in with me as we shared a hot kiss filled with promise and temptation. It was warm, giving, and everything I wanted out of a kiss that I rarely actually received.

With a sigh, we broke away and Caspian stood from the bed. "I'm going to go keep an eye on things outside. Get some sleep, I'll make breakfast when you and Nikkos get up."

Content, I shot him a lazy look as I bit my lower lip. Tossing the blanket off my lap, I made quite a show of uncrossing my legs to move into a different sitting position—fully displaying the lace of my panties in the process. His eyes locked just where I wanted them to and widened.

"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I'll have some very . . . sweet dreams tonight."

Caspian swallowed, the side of his mouth fighting not to twitch, and closed the door. Speechless.

A few more days I could agree to, but I'll be damned if I was going to let them be easy on Caspian.

A/N: Hey guys, I'm fooling around with Tiktok now! If you're there too come say hi @faeriesandcream <3