Page 33 of Seduced By the Mermen
“Yes, that’s all he said. And for the love of Poseidon, would you stop pacing? You’re going to wear a hole in the dock.” Grayson holds his doctor’s bag next to his knee. But I catch it: his hand shakes at the handle. His hands never shake. This isn’t good.
“Are you okay? Are you sure you can treat her? He said nothing else?” Yeah, that was the wrong thing to say to him. When one of my high school athletes has the jitters, the last thing I ever want to do to him is ask him whether he can do it.
Grayson frowns and cocks his head at me. Understandably so. I don’t question pod members; I build them up. Just like my students. But this is different. We can’t mess this up. We have to take care of Blair. Not only is she a kind female—and one we all want to get to know better—like Annabelle, she’s the future of our people. We need females like her if we don’t want our society to die out.
I clear my throat. Grayson’s got a temper, and right now I need to protect my own safety. He’s wound tighter than an eel. “You’ve got this.”
“Of course I do.” Grayson smirks, but his hand has stopped shaking. “It can’t be all that serious, or Sterling would have taken her to the hospital.”
“Sterling. Hospital?” I stifle a laugh.
“Right, he could have his fluke cut off, and he’d still swim off. I had to fight him to let me bandage up his shoulder from a trident stab.”
I nod. I’ve heard the story. It was long before I joined the pod. So much history, and I had so little of it. But I never thought I would end up in a pod. My family isn’t wealthy. I’m the fifth-born son, and I have a sister. There’s no generational wealth for me to bring to a pod. A school teacher? My father warned me. But I’ve always been too emotionally tied, following my heart. I love podlets, and there’s nothing that brings me more joy than teaching.
I’m sure Mama would have much preferred it if I’d become a doctor like Grayson, but then I would never have met Anya. And I wouldn’t be standing here—a bundle of nerves in an expensive suit. Honestly, there were plenty of times when I questioned my decision. It’s not something you can undo.
Sterling’s omada pulls around the corner of the docking platform. The wake has parked solos rocking and rubbing against the dock.
The door lifts, and there sits Blair next to Eros and Holter Portsmouth.
Sterling jumps out of the pilot’s seat and points at Grayson. “Help her.”
Her eyebrows rise, and her lips are tight. My stomach twists. There really is something wrong. I push past Grayson. “Where are you hurt?”
Her face relaxes. “Mostly my pride. But I suppose my hand. Just a little.” She smiles at me and tips her head up at Grayson. It’s then I realize I’m basically standing on top of Eros. He’s leaning way back in his chair. “Grayson, it’s good to see you again,” Blair says.
“Yes, but not under these circumstances. Where are you injured?” Grayson’s gone into doctor mode. It’s not something I’ve seen often. He’s been an administrator for the entire time I’ve known him. I think the last time I saw him in doctor mode was when he was visiting Anya daily during lunch to check in on her. That’s a million years ago and yesterday.
“My knuckles. It’s nothing. Sterling is overreacting.”
“Show me,” Grayson growls.
“Honestly, it’s nothing.” Blair hasn’t gotten up from the seat, and Eros hasn’t moved either.
Eros places his hand on my side. “If you let us out, I’m sure you’ll see for yourself.” He gives me a light shove, and I back into Grayson.
“Everybody out,” Sterling yells like a dive bar bouncer at closing.
We step out of his omada. It’s government-issued and not his personal one.
As I step onto the dock, another omada pulls in behind Sterling’s. The door opens, and Annabelle and Blair’s daughter jump out.
“Mom, are you okay?”
Blair steps out onto the dock. She smooths her hair back and grimaces as she does. There’s no blood on her head, nothing on her clothes, but Grayson grabs her elbow and lightly holds her hand. “You hit someone?”
“You should see the other guy.” Blair laughs, directing it at her daughter and niece. “I’m fine.”
“He will—” Nico roars.
“We’ve got it under control, Poseidon,” Eros says. But I’m not sure if he’s swearing or calling Nico that. “Let’s go, Sunshine.” He puts an arm around his mate’s waist and rests his hand on Marlee’s back. “Blair will be fine. Grayson’s a good doctor.”
“But . . .” Annabelle digs her heels in.
“I’m fine. I’ll have Grayson look at my hand, and I’ll be along later.” Blair flicks her head up to Grayson, but he’s absorbed in examining her hand. Her knuckles are red and swelling. She turns to me. “Someone can take me back to Glyden?”
“Of course.” My heart’s thundering. “We will make sure she’s returned safely. Forrest has your block contacts?” I know he does. The Portsmouth pod saved his life when the Maelstrom collapsed.
