Harry Styles, a simple pizza delivery guy living a double life as a British pop star, finds love and adventure where no man would think to look: the ocean.
When one of One Direction's members, Zayn, a sexy vampire wizard, leaves the band abruptly, t...
Our faces break the water's surface, glass like beads of liquid glittering in the sun as they slip from Niall's hair and down his smooth face.
"Niall!" The girl exclaims.
"Leandra!" Niall returns. "I can explain."
I can't help but blush at her shirtlessness.
"You better explain," she berates, her thin eyebrows raised. "You brought a human into our sea garden?!"
"I was teaching him to swim," Niall responds weakly.
"With you lips?"
I feel my face redden again.
"Is he the reason you didn't attend your wedding? Because you're... he's... you..."
"It's not his fault, Lea. I never wanted to marry Anala. You knew that."
"Well no one likes arranged marriage! That's not the point! You've insulted the Ishlantian King! You've insulted Father. He's infuriated! Do you have any idea of what he's been doing to stave off war? Ishlantia thinks your refusal to marry was a way of breaking the treaty!"
I can see the dismay on Niall's face. This is all my fault... if I hadn't brought him on land...
"I am so sorry," I say, breaking the strained silence. "This is my fault."
Niall looks at me. "Don't blame yourself, Harry. I was the one that chose to go with you." He looks at the girl, who I've gathered must be his sister. "I want to sing. I can't do that in Ishlantia with Anala. I would be miserable there."
"It's not about what you want, Niall," she says, hurt and disappointment in her voice. "You had a chance to be a king. You're the 86th child out of 87. There's no other way you would get a throne."
"I don't want to be a king. I don't want to be like Father. I just want to be happy."
I look at him, my admiration for him growing. He's not just a pretty face it seems. He's a man that knows what he wants.
"Oh Niall," she says, reaching forward, cupping his cheek. "Don't we all?"
He laughs weakly. "I'm sorry."
She sniffles. "I forgive you. You know I love you, brother." She pulls her hand away. "But you probably shouldn't come back home. At least not for a while."
"It's okay." He forces a smile. "I have somewhere to stay." He looks at me. I give him a supportive smile, though I feel terrible.
Leandra looks at me. "Take care of my brother, human."
"I will," I look at him. "He's safe with me."
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