"I want you to know the truth," Taehyung answered Thal's question calmly, "I don't like that Vasilissa has hidden you away like she's ashamed,"

Thal frowned, "What are you talking about?" She held up her hand to stop him from replying, "No. What am I talking about? I don't know or trust you. You have to go. Bye,"

Taehyung's hand shot out, gripping the door and holding it open, "You never wondered why she wouldn't let you in the ocean?" He said, his eyes focused on hers, "And why she has so many baths? What about her tattoo, or the fact that she won't allow you to eat meat or fish?"

Thal paused, releasing the pressure on the door, "How do you know these things?" She frowned, "Mum-"

"You don't even know your mothers real name," He said, taking a step towards her, "You don't even know the name of your father, or your older brother,"

Her hand dropped from the door, eyes widening, "Brother?"

Taehyung nodded, "Thalassa-"

"Thal,"

He smiled briefly, "Thal. Our people are so few in numbers now. We need Queen Vasilissa to return. We need our Princess,"

—-

Lissa's hands were trembling as the guards led her through the ornate white stone of the palace walls.

Her pearl tail was not betraying her anxiety as it propelled her slowly forward, and she wasn't sure if she should be grateful for that or not. She would probably be better off if she was unable to move through fear.

They came to a set of large white doors which were promptly opened, revealing a large white room decorated beautifully with rare shells and gems. Red fabric sewn from the most expensive and rare seaweeds flowed down the elaborate walls, beckoning her forward.

The other end of the hall was shrouded in shadow, and as the guards gestured for her to move towards where she assumed the throne sat, a powerful voice sounded out.

"Leave us,"

The guards bowed and quickly left, closing the doors behind them. Lissa's tail finally gave up on her and she froze, silver eyes wide as she saw movement from the darkness.

"Come to me, my female," The Poseidon ordered, "Or do you wish to make me come to you?"

Trembling, Lissa tried to force herself to obey, but she was too afraid to move.

"Oh, how you tremble, beautiful one,"

There was a soft rustling as the Poseidon unfurled his tail from his seated position, and he slowly emerged from the dark.

Lissa quickly lowered her eyes but the deep voice sounded again.

"Look at your future mate, my love," He said, reaching her and gently lifting her chin with a long finger, "You are no longer a common Princess from a dying tribe. You are my Queen,"

His voice was smooth and gentle and Lissa felt her trembling slowly stop. As ordered, she raised her eyes to the Poseidon, almost gasping in shock.

Unlike the stories of a madmale stained red by the blood he had spilt, the Poseidon looked kind.

In fact, he was blessed with incredible beauty. His hair was a dark brown, thick and soft as it gently swayed in the water. His body was built powerful and strong - stronger than any male she had ever seen. His eyes were deep and dark, full of intelligence and hidden emotions and his face was perfectly symmetrical. His lips were full and pink and tilted up just a little with a soft amused smile.

He was long, with a jet black tail that had a similar iridescence to her own and on his left pec he had the tattoo that represented his tribe. The most powerful sirens in all the oceans.

The royal insignia of three wavy lines wrapped in a perfect circle. On the very top of his, there was a smaller circle with a thick outline, showing that he was the chief, the king, the Poseidon.

"That is better," He smiled at her, pleased that she had done as she was told.

"Tell me, beautiful one, what do they call you? I only know you as Vasilissa. I unfortunately do not know you well enough yet to decide on your mated pet name,"

Lissa's voice was soft as she replied, "Bee, your highness,"

She knew that telling him a pet name that was given to her by another male was risky, but she did not want to mate the Poseidon. She wanted to mate her sweetheart, Jimin.

"Bee," The Poseidon repeated with a hum, "Very well. As soon as we are mated, you may call me by my given name. Do you know what that name is?"

Lissa knew what the Poseidon's birth name was, but like all Sirens in his kingdom, she was forbidden from speaking it. That honour went only to his parents and his mate. Which she was about to be.

She nodded.

He leaned forward, his eyes burning, "Say my name, my Queen,"

"Hoseok," Lissa whispered, lowering her eyes out of sudden fear that she would be struck for breaking the law.

"Very good," The Poseidon leaned back, "My guards will take you to your room where your new staff will explain the rules of the palace to you,"

He smiled and took her hand, planting the softest brush of his lips across her smooth skin, "Until the morning, Bee,"

—-

AN: yeahhhh age means nothing in this book lol, I KNOW that Yoongi is older than Hobi but it's just a book ok 🤣