Page 31 of Tempting Triton
“We set up camp outside the barrier where we were instructed the island might be. Our patrols rotate every hundred years, and we wait.”
“Wait for what, exactly?” I lean forward, resting my chin atop my Elena’s shoulder.
“For the barrier to come down. Imagine our surprise when the island appeared out of nowhere. We could not risk it popping back up again without getting word to the Mer here, so we crossed over and came straight here. Your mother’s directions were exact, thankfully.”
“I am the only one.” All three look at me quizzically.
“There are no other Mer. It is just I,” I spit out bitterly.
Their mouths fall open before sharing looks between one another. “But it has been a thousand years—”
“It has.” I can feel the anger deep and low in my gut. I swallow it down. It has been a thousand years. A thousand years alone, save for Ichó.
“Wh-what happened to the others? Your mother said there were others with you when they left.”
“They died.” My voice is flat. It is a time I do not like to revisit in my memories. If it were not for Ichó, I would be dead too.
I watch the Mer’s throat bob. My anger rises, and I can feel the beast pacing and ready within me. I steel myself and lock away my feelings. “What is the message?”
The Mer stammers, “J-just that she is waiting, and that she never stopped trying to return to you.”
And just like that, my heart twists and burns, tearing itself asunder. I shut my eyes against the stinging in them, before flashing them wide again.
“The barrier is up again. You are stuck here for the foreseeable future. You are welcome to make a home here in the castle, but”—I eye each one of them—“you will not come near my mate.” The three of them nod vigorously. “I will have many questions for you later, but for now, my Elena and I have had a long journey and wish torest.” We take our leave, leaving the three male Mer to Ichó to deal with. I guess he will not be retiring after all, now that we have house guests.
We head back to our room, and I throw my Elena over my shoulder, eliciting a yelp from her. Grinning as I cross the threshold, I drop her down upon our bed before falling upon her.
“Those Mer are lucky I did not let my beast rip their heads from their shoulders,” I growl, nuzzling my nose into her neck before sprinkling kisses along her throat and down her collarbones, growling at the tight band of fabric restricting her breasts from me.
My Elena gasps. “Wh-why?”
“They looked at you as if you were a meal, but you are mine.”
My Elena giggles. Giggles! I expected her to be wary or shocked. Not giggles.
“It is so unlike you to be so possessive. Your beast, yes. But not you.” She runs her hands throughmy loose curls floating in the water.
“I did not have a reason to be possessive before. You are mine, and they cannot have you.” I bury my face into her chest, curling my arms beneath.
“Such a child.” She laughs, and I gaze up at her with a grin, before sobering.
“My mother is alive.”
She hums, still stroking my hair. “How do you feel about that?”
I roll to lie beside her with a sigh. “I do not know. My brain and my heart feel tangled up in knots. On the one hand, it is a good sign. She has lived for over a thousand years as a human bonded to a Mer, but on the other hand, how? Is there some sort of magic needed for it to work?”
My Elena sighs too. “While that’s important, and I want to know as well, that’s not what I mean, and you know it.” She looks at me pointedly.
“I do not know how to feel. I am pleased that she is still alive and that she never stopped trying to return to me. But there is bitterness in my heart for having been left in the first place.”
My mate nods sadly, her hand finding mine to give it a littlesqueeze.
“I want you to be here and live a long and happy life with me by your side. But I cannot help but worry you are giving up too much for me.”
“Oh, Triton.” She throws her arm over my stomach, scooching in tight to rest her head upon my shoulder. “I choose you. I choose you in every which way you come, and in any way that means we get to be together. Maybe we don’t need to have it all figured out right now, but with the Mer here, maybe they have some of the answers we need?”
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