Chapter 2:

By the time morning came Danny was shivering in my arms. "We're almost there. Then we will get you warm."

"Ooookkkkaaaaayyyyy." Danny chattered as he huddled closer.

"There's the shore Megan." I pointed. About ten minutes later we were lying on the sand back in human form. I pulled the blankets and dresses out of my bag and wrung them out. I learned that every time I changed my clothes somehow didn't make it back.

It looked like Megan was discovering the same thing. "Ahh, Aria where are my clothes?" She shrieked. I just laughed.

"Why do you think I packed clothes?" I asked as I handed her a dress. I bent down and wrapped Danny in a damp blanket.

"Does Eric know about you?" She asked as we put on our clothes.

"Of course. How do you think we met?" I smiled. "He was walking on the beach when I walked out of the ocean after swimming back here."

"How long ago was that?" She asked while she leaned against a rock.

"It's been a few months." I sighed as I picked up Danny and started walking up the hill toward the castle there.

"Wait did you say he ran into you right after you were swimming?" Megan jerked her head to face me, watching how I would respond.

My face broke into a wide grin. "Yes as I walked out of the ocean. It was quite funny seeing his face grow from shock to embarrassment in a matter of seconds." He had in fact been more stunned by me standing there, stark naked rather than seeing me change from mermaid to human. Apparently there were merpeople that came to shore in his kingdom a lot. Which he explained to me while I yanked on my clothing. The whole time I felt his eyes on me.

Growing up with five sisters who were all gorgeous I always just felt gawky and plain. My sisters, Megan included, had long wavy blonde hair and blue green eyes. They all had curves to die for and beautiful porcelain skin. I was a tall, skinny thing with straight red-gold hair. My older sisters, Delia, Ashlee and Jen, always made fun of my looks. Always saying that I had to be adopted, that mother couldn't have born an ugly child.

Feeling Eric's eyes on me that day though, it felt wonderful. I felt gorgeous while he looked at me, powerful. It made me smile just remembering the way my body flushed in response to the heat in his eyes.

We came to the city at the foot of the castle. Unlike father's castle that was surrounded by thick, stone walls, Eric's castle was open to everybody. He had royalty visiting from other countries constantly. As we walked up to the castle people smiled and greeted me. I had lived and worked here since I had been seventeen. Most of them knew me and were glad to see me back.

Danny was still shivering in my arms so I didn't stop to talk with anyone. I ran up the steps to the castle doors and knocked on them with my foot. A guard opened the door. "Yes? May I help you?"

"I'm Aria, the prince's fiancé and this is my sister and brother. Eric is expecting me." I stated.

"Oh, yes of course. Come with me." He waved us inside. He took us up some stairs to the guest wing. We went into the room he opened for us.

"Is there a chance you could send up some food and dry clothes for us?" I asked as he bowed to me.

"Of course my lady. I will also tell the prince you are back." He closed the door behind him. I went and sat Danny down on a chair. Megan got him undressed and under a blanket next to the fire. After a few minutes he stopped shivering.

"Aria, I'm hungry." Danny whispered just as the maid knocked on the door. I turned as she entered the room with a tray heavy with food.

I smiled at the maid. "Right on time." She brought the tray over and put it on the table. "You can have whatever you want to eat Danny."

He stood up with the blanket grasped in one hand as he sat down in front of the table and started scarfing down food as the maid came back in with some dry clothes.

"My lady, the prince has asked you to meet him in his rooms after you are comfortable." She bowed to us, and then left.

"Megan the bathroom is through that door right there if you want to bathe, there's the food and the bed if you guys are tired. The maid will be back to grab our wet clothes and you can ask her for anything you like. I will be back soon." I grinned as I went to change behind a screen in the dressing room. The maid had given me a simple chemise, corset and morning dress. It was pale green and had short sleeves. I pulled on my stockings and slipped into the slippers provided. When I was dressed I ran out the door.

I knew exactly where Eric's room was. I had been in there plenty of times. I quietly opened the door to his sitting room. I heard him walking around in the bedroom. I smiled and hid in one of the curtains as he walked into the sitting room. He was talking to his valet.

I peeked out to see where they were and saw Eric's back to me. Thomas, his valet, was facing me. His eyes flicked to mine as I put my finger up to my mouth, silently telling him not to say anything. I slipped into the bedroom and crawled onto the big four-poster bed. It felt so good to be back, in the castle, with Eric. I sighed as I laid back onto the pillows and waited for Eric to find me.

"Aria, Aria wake up." I heard in my ear.

"Mmm why?" I mumbled back as soft lips came over mine. They bit gently on mine to open.

"I missed you." Eric groaned against my mouth. He sat up and pulled me into his lap.

"And I missed you. What did I miss while I was away?" I asked as he hugged me tighter.

"Emma and Philip are here along with Sage. They are the first ones to get here. In the next few weeks everyone should be here for our wedding." He smiled. "They are excited to meet you."

"Good I'm hoping your friends will like me. When will I meet them?" I sighed and leaned into him.

"At dinner. I want you to myself for now." He started kissing my neck, up my jaw and finally to my lips. He kissed me softly at first, teasing me. Impatiently I turned towards him and shoved him down onto his back. I threw my leg over him and bent forward to kiss him harder. I bit his lower lip and he opened his mouth for me. I slid my tongue between his teeth and smiled as he met it with his.

His hands traveled down my arms back to the laces of my dress. He started to untie them when I sat up. "I love you Eric."

"I love you Aria." He started to pull me back down to him.

"Eric, my father is keeping my brothers and sisters prisoner. Megan and Danny came with me. They were the only two I saw before father locked me away. Danny is only six. He doesn't understand why we left, who I am, why he wasn't allowed out of the castle. Megan said we have another brother at home that's younger." I put my head in my hands as I started crying.

"Baby, we will figure this out. At least Megan and Danny are safe now." Eric slid over and pulled me into his arms.

"I didn't realize he would lock them up when I left. I don't understand why he doesn't want us to know about who we are. I just want my family to be happy, like me. I found you and Megan, Jen, Kane, Ashlee, Delia, Jace and Beth deserve the same. I'm afraid of what he's going to do." I shook my head and buried my face deeper into his shoulder.

"After the wedding we will talk to the guys and figure out what we can do. I will send someone to watch over your family until then. They will let us know what's going on with them okay?" He squeezed me tighter. "Now introduce me to your sister."

"Okay." I wiped my eyes, grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door.

Eric snickered as I turned to open the door. "Aria wait, your dress needs to be laced back up."

"You got farther than I thought you did." I laughed as he laced up my dress.

"This is the last thing I wanted to do you know. I was supposed to be taking the dress off you." He kissed under my ear and took my hand again. I grinned and opened the door.