Pg. 144 The Bond isn't severed

"Thanks for showing me around today, Doe," Quince called out, his hand in Lily's. It was weird, but he could sense her rage. Not only the physical tension in the air (or, water) or the way people understood body language, the way humans were. There was something magic that made him almost feel her rage. But...it was still up to him to interpret the emotion. It felt like anger, but anger at him, at Dosinia? It seemed almost to be coming from a place of jealousy.

"Anytime. Next time you kiss a mermaid, maybe you can stay longer," she called out.. As he laughed at her comment, Lily's rage intensified and she jerked his arm to pull him along.

"There won't be a next time," Lily muttered quietly, but it was not lost on Quince. He was finally released in front of the throne, next to the princess, allowing him to look up at her father as she said, "Let's get this over with."

Dosinia was still floating in the doorway to the throne room, watching on with anticipation.

"Lily and Quince," her father began, but he appeared deep in thought. Quince's emotions were heavily guarded, he knew the effects of the bond were already taking effect for him, giving him deeper insights as to how Lily felt. He wasn't sure he was prepared to be that open with Lily. However, he was torn. He knew that Lily was not prepared to commit to a bond with him, and he couldn't be certain that he was ready for that either. Quince still felt himself growing even more protective and affectionate of her by the moment. Throwing this away felt like so soon to give up a future with her.

"I'm sorry," her father continued suddenly. "I cannot grant this separation."

Quince frowned, confused. Had he done something wrong? What happened with Lily in the courtroom that afternoon?

"Daddy!" she shouted. "What are you doing? You can't leave us bonded forever. You can't make him my king," ouch. That one hurt a bit to hear. The idea that he even could be a 'king' at all. "Is this about my birthday? You can't tie me to him just so I don't lose my place in court. I can find a better mate."

Quince blinked at the mention of her birthday. He wasn't sure what that had to do with things, she talked about returning to the sea after her graduation, which was just after her birthday. Maybe that was another deadline.

"It's not about that, Lily," her father replied. He looked between Quince himself, then Dosinia, and then back directly at Quince. "Our conversation about your mother reminded me of the serious nature of bonding. A bond is a gift-a connection that has no equal in the seven seas and beyond. I can't just dissolve a bonding without cause. Especially when you obviously-"

Quince was rather curious to hear more of the king's words, his perspective being one that Lily had to value, and he was certainly going to respect it. He didn't know any of the norms or laws in this world, and he needed to remain on his best behavior.

"Without cause?!" Lily shouted, furious. Quince could feel her rage, her heat in his chest. "There is so much cause, I can't even begin to list it all. Did you know he throws paper wads at me? And peeps on me from his bathroom window? And last year he spent a week following me to and from school on his motorcycle-ooh, he rides a motorcycle, which is way more dangerous than a wakemaker. And he-"

"Enough!"

Quince jumped slightly at his booming voice putting such a sudden stop to Lily's rant.

"My decision has been made," he says, and nobody argues. "You shall return to the sea in one week, and you will have an opportunity to prove that you should not be bonded for life. If I am satisfied that you are unsuitable, then I shall perform the separation at that time."

"But Daddy, you can't-"

"I can, and I have," the king speaks, and then Quince catches the switch from royalty to acting as a parental figure. His father was never around enough to experience the kind of softness that he shows just then. "I want you to be one hundred percent certain about what you-"

"But I am certain," Lily says, with far more confidence than Quince could muster right then. "Quince and I practically hate each other. He doesn't want to be bonded to me any more than I want to be stuck with him."

Quince could feel her gaze on him, but he didn't look up to meet her eyes. One week to change her mind. One week to somehow convince Lily that the deep connection he felt for her was real, and that the potential was there for her, too. And to convince himself that the confidence in his own feelings for Lily would somehow work out. Before yesterday, if he ever let himself entertain thoughts of Lily and him as a couple, they certainly never included any plans of running a mermaid kingdom together.

"I know you believe you know your mind, but I have doubts. I worry that you are letting other emotions interfere with the clarity of the bond. I will not perform the separation until I am satisfied that you truly know what you want. You will give the bond a week."

There were several moments hanging in the water before Lily answered him. "One week. For you."

Quince feels her hand wrap around his forearm, a familiar aggression from her at this point, as she drags him through the doors to exit.

"See you next week, Quincy," Dosinia sings out.

He can feel Lily's anger as she powerfully kicks them away from her, out into the open ocean. "Careful, princess, someone might think you're jealous," he warned, the only tease he could manage in the moment.

"You wish," she snapped at him.

Lily didn't know how right that was.