Page 18 of Tempting Triton
Triton grimaces and nods. “Until it is permanent.”
“How do you know so much about your essence, but don’t know how long I have?” I don’t mean to sound accusing, but it comes out that way regardless.
“It is very rare that Merfolk will exchange their essence with a human. They tend to drown before we can form any sort of attachment.”
A strangled sound escapes my throat. “Drown?”
The water around us becomes murkier the closer to the island we get, the waves crashing against sand and rock, swirling up the sediment beneath us.
“Merfolk have a long history of drowning sailors.” He flicks his head back toward me, gauging my reaction.
I pale. How is it possible for such a kind and handsome creature to be a killer? I remember that he was a baby when the barrier came down, so he probably isn’t actually a killer himself, but his family. Should I judge him on the transgressions of his ancestors? Is the drowning warranted, or for fun? Does it matter? My moral compass spins wildly out of control.
“You didn’t drown me,” I press. I feel like I’m trying to give him an out, a reason or justification for the actions of his predecessors.
“You are my mate. I would not have drowned you.”
I cock an eyebrow, not that he can see me as he carries on forward through the murky waters.
“Would you have drowned me if I were not your mate?”
He stops so abruptly, I paddle right into him, his tail swishing beneath us as he steadies me with strong hands around my shoulders. He stares at my face. His eyes are darker in the shadows, like the sea during a storm. “I do not know.”
My shoulders tense beneath his grip.
“I do not have control of my beasts’ instincts, especially when I scent blood in the water, or sense a threat. Your blood sang to me, drew me to you. I cannot say what I would have done if the matebond had not snapped into place the moment I laid eyes upon you. Perhaps, I would have tasted your blood and devoured you. Perhaps I still will.”
A shiver runs down my spine. How is it possible for something to sound so threatening and enticing all at once, and why do I like it? Our bodies have drifted closer together, or perhaps he has pulled me against him, and I didn’t notice, but we are now chest to chest. Our bodies burn in every place our skin touches. Still, our eyes are locked, and I could easily imagine an invisible tether linking us, threading around our hearts and knotting our souls together. We are so close, either one of us could close the distance in a breath. The thought alone has me licking my lips in anticipation.
We drift into a current while treading water, knocking our heads together, our lips smashing together by accident. Or was it? Triton’s fingers dig into my skin as both our eyes widen in shock, yet neither of us immediately pulls away like I know we should.Ishould. Instead, my body heats up as if something, or someone, has lit a fire at my core. Every inch of my body that sits flush against Triton tingles, and we relax into each other almost as if we are in sync. I reach up to grip Triton’s elbows, his hands still molded around my shoulders.We stay frozen in the moment. The kiss doesn’t evolve; we just hold each other, our lips pressed together, as we gaze into each other’s eyes, wide in disbelief. I’d consider it chaste in comparison to the previous kisses, yet it feels more honest, even though it was an accident, and definitely not on purpose.
I pull away slowly with a sigh, eyes blinking. Triton stares at me wide-eyed, and I clear my throat, a hot flush creeping up the sides of my neck. “The current…” I trail off; it’s a pathetic excuse, anyway. Triton’s forehead creases into a frown, his shoulders tense as his hands fall from my shoulders, and he turns his back on me.
“If we continue at this pace, it will take us two, perhaps three more days to swim the rest of the perimeter.” Gone is his teasing tone and happy smile. In its place, there is a more stoic and reserved version of Triton, and I can’t help this sinking feeling in my gut that I’ve said or done something to offend him, and what’s worse is that I think I care.
I run my hand over my face, guilt gnawing at my bones. Who am I kidding? It wasn’t an accident at all. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted—no, IwantTriton, but I also want to go home. I’m more confused nowthan ever.
I stare forlornly after Triton as he darts towards a rocky cliff face that stands sentinel, half concealed by glittering sandy debris stirred up by the tide. As we approach, a fissure ruptures in the stone, chunks of rock falling away to reveal a dark entrance. My mouth pops open, a couple of bubbles escaping like a stunned goldfish.
“Wha—?”
Triton doesn’t even spare me a glance as he darts inside the dark hole with a stiff twitch of his tail. I grimace, his dismissal revealing the true extent of his unhappiness with me. I have no choice but to follow him inside and hope I’m not going to be swallowed up by a monster lurking in the dark. Tingles run down my spine as darkness encompasses me in the rocky passage. I need to reach out with a hand to find the wall, fingers trailing along the rough texture to guide me forward.
“Triton?” I call into the dark, trying my best and failing at hiding the quiver in my voice as I kick forward. “Just keep going,” I whisper to myself. It has to end somewhere. The darkness is so pervading that I imagine the walls closing in on me, pressing against me until I’m unable tomove.
“My Elena.” Soft hands shake me roughly, and I blink away bright spots forming at the edges of my vision as Triton floats before me, his melodic voice shaking me from my panic.I’m not stuck, I’m not stuck, I’m not stuck.
“You are okay, my mate.” Soft hands rub my arms in the dark. “I should not have left you.”
“I’m okay.” I lean into him, my arms wrapping around his warm body, needing something solid to figuratively ground myself. He still wears the shirt I found, and part of me wishes he didn’t, so I could feel the warmth of his skin against the exposed parts of me. He tenses beneath my touch, and I pull my arms away, fearing I have upset him once more.
“No.” He grabs my forearms, pulling them back around his waist. “I do not know what this is, but it feels… nice.”
“Oh.” I let a small smile free, not sure he can see it in the dark. “It’s called a hug.”
“I have never had a hug before,” Triton grumbles.
“No, I suppose you haven’t.” Tears prick at the corner of my eyes. To go your whole life without the touch of another person—Ishudder, my heart breaking for Triton. There is so much he has been deprived of, trapped here and separated from his kind.
