Page 11 of Taken By the Storm King

She stepped closer, her eyes searching my face. “Not at the cost of your people’s lives. There has to be a way we can-“

Thunder rolled in the distance, cutting off her words. The air grew heavy with approaching rain, and Lucy shivered.

“We should get inside,” I said, but I didn’t move.

“Thalassar.” She touched my arm, her fingers warm against my scales. “You’ve done so much to protect everyone. But has it made you happy?”

The question hit me like a physical blow. I started to brush it off - my happiness didn’t matter, only my duty did - but the words died in my throat.

A loose stone shifted under Lucy’s foot. She stumbled forward with a small sound of surprise, and I caught her automatically. My arms went around her waist, steadying her against my chest.

She looked up at me, her lips parted, and everything else fell away. The storm wall, my duty, the weight of my people’s safety - none of it existed. There was only Lucy, warm and real in my arms.

I cupped her face in my hand, my thumb brushing over her cheek. Her breath hitched, and I saw the want in her eyes - the same hunger that burned through my veins.

My control snapped.

I kissed her, pouring everything I couldn’t say into the press of my lips against hers. With a soft moan she melted into me, her fingers tangling in my hair. The taste of her, the feel of her body against mine, sent fire racing through my blood.

Thunder crashed overhead, but I barely heard it. Lucy’s mouth opened under mine, and I deepened the kiss, drawing a small moan from her. My hands slid down to her hips, pulling her closer.

The need to breathe finally forced me to break away. Lucy’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her lips swollen from my kiss. The sight of her like this - disheveled and wanting - nearly broke my control again.

But reality crashed back in. What was I doing? She was human. An outsider. This could never work.

I forced myself to step back, the effort tearing at something newly awakened within me. Control, always paramount, felt brittle. My breath was still ragged. “We need to focus.”

Lucy reached for me. “Thalassar-“

“No.” I cut her off before she could say more. Before she could make me want things I couldn’t have. “We need to try reaching your team.”

The hurt that flashed across her face made my chest ache, but I forced myself to turn away. “Come. The signal amplifier is in my study.”

The walk back to the palace passed in tense silence. Every step felt wrong, like I was walking away from something vital. But I couldn’t give in to this attraction. No matter how much I wanted to.

In my study, I retrieved the signal amplifier - a sleek device that pulsed with soft light. Lucy handed me her communicator, our fingers touching briefly. Even that small contact sent sparks through my skin.

I connected the devices, watching the screen flicker to life. Lucy leaned close, typing out a message to her team. The scent of her skin filled my nose, making it hard to think.

We waited. The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words. But no response came through.

Lucy’s shoulders slumped. I wanted to pull her into my arms, to comfort her, but I kept my distance. I had to maintain control.

Even if every fiber of my being screamed at me to kiss her again.

LUCY

The dining room sparkled with reflected light from the glowing pearls set into niches in the walls. A small circular table sat beneath an arched window that looked out over dark water, where fish painted trails of light as they darted past. The whole scene should have felt romantic, but my stomach lurched every time I thought about my team.

I stared at the variety of dishes spread before us. Strange fruits in vibrant colors, tender meats in savory sauces, and things I couldn’t begin to identify---some clearly from the sea, others from the island’s interior. The aromas made my mouth water despite my anxiety.

“You should eat,” Thalassar said.

I picked up what looked like a piece of fruit. The skin felt smooth against my fingers, and when I bit into it, sweetness burst across my tongue. “This is amazing.”

“Try the fish,” he encouraged, gesturing to a delicate fillet.

I took a small bite. The meat melted on my tongue, the sauce adding hints of spice that made my taste buds sing. But all I could think about was that kiss earlier. The way his lips had felt against mine, how his hands had---

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