I wake up the next morning with a groan, not yet ready to awake. Last night was long and tiring, as it took me nearly an hour to find my way out of the caves and back to my room in the dark of the night. I had a fitful sleep, full of horrifying nightmares. My mind is restless, tired, and I wish I could stay in bed all day.

But a prince cannot take a day off, especially when there are 6 girls waiting to be attended to.

By the time I'm showered and ready, it's time for breakfast. The girls chatter anxiously about our day at the beach, discussing what bikinis they'll wear and how long they can hold their breath. I pick at my omelette, wondering what America is doing right now. Is she with Aspen? Are they becoming close? Are they becoming something?

I shake my head. America said she doesn't like him, at least not like that. But from what I've heard, he's a handsome, charming guard that could easily steal her heart. The jealousy creeps through my veins and it takes all of my power not to react. I just try to stay calm, focusing on the pleasant afternoon I have ahead of me.

When we're finished eating, the girls rush frantically to their rooms to change. I excuse myself and head to the palace's secret library. America told me she has searched vigorously for the means of her transformation, but I hadn't realized till last night, when I was swimming back alone, that I hadn't given the search much effort. And what better place to start then Illéa's most exclusive library?

"Good morning, Your Majesty," an officer bows to me as I pass him. I give him a slight nod and keep walking down the hall till I find the doorway. I sift through the shelves, ignoring useless titles like The Founding of a Great Nation. However, some titles strike me as peculiar. I make a tiny stack, consisting of Illéa's Mysteries, The Secrets of our Universe, and The Undiscovered Ocean. The last one seems particularly relevant, but it appears to simply be a marine biology textbook. Still, I take the three books back to my room and start reading.

The ocean book proves to be just that - a book depicting marine life, with descriptions of rare fish and beautiful seaweeds. The first book discusses scandals within the Illéan government, most of them ridiculously exaggerated, but a few of them true. It's quite amusing. But the second one - The Secrets of our Universe - now, this book is interesting.

While it starts out discussing space and galaxies, it quickly drifts into talk of magic and the supernatural. One page even uses mermaids as an example of mythological being. However, that's the last mention of them. I skim the book as beset as I can in the short time I have but come up short. Nothing but the slight suspicion that our world isn't as it seems.

Discouraged, I shove the books under my bed and change into my swim trunks.

"Come on, it's not that cold!" Marlee calls out to Celeste, who is still standing on the sand, her toes barely touching the water. The rest of the girls are already in the ocean, swimming around joyously, splashing each other and enjoying the freedom. To my surprise, none of them have taken this afternoon as an opportunity to "woo" me. They all seem to be taking some time off for themselves, which makes me happy. They shouldn't be working to win me over. This should be fun for them.

"I'd rather tan," she replies, heading away from the shore and back to the row of towels laid out on the beach. She lays down on one of them, perfect body exposed to the sun, and closes her eyes. Marlee rolls her eyes and I can't help but smile.

"Let's play hide and seek!" Kriss decides, clapping her hands together.

"What a fun idea!"

"But what about sharks?"

"What if someone drowns?"

"Girls, I'm sure we'll all be fine," I say, breaking the cacophony of voices. Hide and seek, though a game for children, sounds practically perfect right now. I could use some mindless play. "Just nobody go past those buoys, okay? And if you feel unsafe, call out."

"Great!" Marlee smiles. Natalie frowns, but I know she'll play to please me. Elise smirks deviously, like she has a plan. "I'll count to 30. Go!"

I race off in the direction of the caves, knowing she'd never look there. The caves are menacing at first glance - large and ominous, intimidating and towering. But I feel safe within them and swim to their comfort.

"15 . . . 14 . . ."

I tuck myself behind a rock, curling into a ball, and hold my breath. I haven't played this game since I was a young boy, but it still gives me chills. I'm jittery at the idea of being found, and I feel slightly giddy from the anticipation. I can't help but laugh out loud at this - a grown man, a prince, is playing hide and seek with a bunch of girls in the water. Ridiculous.

"You're going to lose if you keep laughing so loudly," somebody says and I nearly scream. But then my heart settles and I force myself to stay calm. America's popped up beside me, only her head peaking out of the water, so as not to give away my hiding spot.

"America, I'm so so-" I start, but she holds up a hand.

"It's fine. It's forgotten." She peaks over the rock and ducks back down.

"I think I found something, Mer," I say, leaning in closer.

"What?" she asks, her eyes wide with hope.

"I found a book that mentioned mermaids. It's about the secrets of the world, or something like that. I didn't have time to read it fully, but I think that once I do, I might discover something," I smile. I don't want to get her hopes up, but somehow, seeing her gives me confidence in the book.

"Really?" Her eyes light up and I smile at the sight. I lean in and place a small kiss on her forehead, my lips tasting faintly of salt after.

"Yes, my dear. Though I wouldn't bet on it," I add.

"So you've been doing some research, I see?"

"Minimal, but yes," I joke.

She nods her head and leans back against the rock. We both listen for a moment as Marlee exclaims something and Elise shrieks in response. "I'm going to ask Aspen about it tonight."

"What?"

"Don't worry," she says hastily, placing a hand gently on my calf. "He can be trusted, I promise you."

"But what if he finds out your plan? What if he turns you in and you - what if - oh god, America - "

"Shh, it's fine," she whispers, calming me. The multiple outcomes of this situation, of the damage Aspen could cause for both of us, is horrifying to imagine. How is she so calm about this? Why did she begin this in the first place? "Aspen talked to me last night, when I got home late. He . . . he knew something was up. We talked for a while and I told him about you." I think I stopped breathing. "He wants to help me, Maxon. He's going to try to break our engagement, but he's going to have to think of a good story. But he's helping us, Maxon. He's helping us!" she cheers, giddy with excitement.

I'm still lost.

"Why would he help us? Doesn't he need a wife? Doesn't he like you? Mer, what's going on?" I ask frantically, my brain racing furiously to put the pieces together.

"Ah, found you!" Marlee yelps, eliciting a groan from Natalie. A quick glance around the cave wall tells me I'm the last one left, which means I'll have to hurry up. I give America an impatient glance and she gets the message.

"Aspen . . . he doesn't really want to mate with me. He has to, though, in order to keep his place in society. He needs money and support for his family, and that requires marrying up. I'm ranked above him, socially, Maxon. Not by much, but still." I wish she'd get to the point. None of this seems relevant. "Anyway, he chose me because he had apparently always admired me growing up." I growl at America rolls her eyes. This story isn't getting any better. "But it turns out he has a plan of his own."

"And what would that be?"

"Maxon, he doesn't want to mate with me. He's just buying time so that he can find a way to marry down!"

"I'm still not getting it."

"Aspen's in love with someone else, Maxon. A servant girl: Lucy! He's just as eager to get out of this engagement as I am."

"Maxon? Maxon, where are you?" Kriss calls, seemingly worried that I've drowned. I have to go soon, or the girls will all panic.

"So you're saying . . . you're not going to be married? And Aspen's going to help us find a way to turn you human?"

"Yes!"

I pull her in and kiss her fiercely, more excited than I thought I could ever be. All of my jealousy slips awy and I'm left with radiant affection for America. And hope. Because now, with someone else on the inside of the mermaid world, we might have a chance at this..

"Oooh, check behind the rocks" a giri calls. That's my cue.

"I love you," I whisper, giving America one last kiss. Red hair falls in her face and I gently brush it aside. She repeats those three words to me before diving under, her tail shimmering beneath the surface of the clear water.

"Found him!" Marlee shrieks, poking her head around the rock and settling her eyes on me. "It seems, Your Majesty, that you've just won the game! What an honor!" she jokes, extending her hand. I smile brightly, America's shining face in my mind, hope bursting in my chest. We have a chance.

We have a chance.