Mallory sighed. They’d obviously misunderstood her. “I’m not asking for anything.” She quickly spoke again, worried they might misunderstand her comment. “We’re not asking for anything.”
“But you keep saying you don’t have enough money and gear,” Danae said. “That you need to find ways to outfit yourselves better.”
“You’re refusing to help us?” the female merfolk demanded.
Ryan chuckled. “Give up, Mallory. They’ll figure it out eventually.” He started towards the shore.
Brodie looked from one merfolk to the other. “Or make them pay because they want to.”
The merfolk grabbed hold of Mallory’s arm, his grip tight. “What are you trying to say? Neither of us are leaders of our Shoal so we can’t offer everything it has. Only offer what we’re entitled to.”
She met his gaze, looking into h
