Too much my fucking ass.
As the Mermaid King droned on and on - and the Incubus King released tiny sparks of his power straight to my core - I focused on the men present. Namely, my mates.
Dair sat behind me, muscles taut and knuckles white where they gripped the wheels of his chair. He looked strikingly handsome today in his fighting leathers and with his golden hair slicked back. Beside him stood his three brothers. Tavvy and the twins, whose names I couldn’t recall. I would have to ask Dair at a later time.
Lupe and Devlin stood behind their fathers, eyes intently trained on me. Killian stood off to the side, not next to his father but still close enough for the King to flaunt his ownership.
My core tightened when I met Killian’s eyes, memories assaulting me of our time together only last night. The way he had taken control. The domineering voice. The lust emanating from his eyes. Who knew my sweet Incubus was an accidental dom?
He offered me a salacious grin, completely unlike the timid man I had grown to care for, and I felt my own lips curving in response. Just as quickly, I shut that shit down.
Now was not the time to lust over my sexy, seductive mate.
Bash was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes flickering from his sleeping father to me. His expression was unreadable whenever he met my gaze. Seeing Bash brought back the aches and pains that had all but diminished after my time with Killian. It rubbed repeatedly at the wound until blood sputtered out, draining me.
I wrenched my eyes away from Bash’s. Did he notice the pain and betrayal in my eyes?
Did he care?
Did I care?
It was the latter question that bounced around in my head. It brought about connotations that I had accepted the mate bond and everything that went with it. Accepted Bash as one of my mates.
The man barely tolerated me, keeping me at arm’s length as I did him. Still, my mind traveled backwards to when we had danced together, carefree and laughing. He had held me so tenderly, so reverently, as if he was afraid that I would dematerialize as quickly as I had arrived.
That was one road I couldn’t travel down until I was sure of where we stood. Sure of what we both wanted.
Jax and Ryland were both missing, and their absence slammed into me like a sledgehammer. I wasn’t necessarily surprised with Jax, but Ryland? Where the hell was he?
I hadn’t seen him all day, not after the awkward stare off in my bedroom. I would’ve believed him to be mad at me if I hadn’t known him better than that.
Everybody began walking towards the door at once, and I realized I had missed the dismissal. Oops.
Frowning, I once more removed the map the King had given me when announcing my first task. My eyes traced the sloping lines adorning the crinkled page. No particular landmarks stood out.
And then the description of the man I had to find and kill...or lack of one.
I sighed heavily. This wasn’t a mission that they expected me to complete. It was a game designed for failure.
“Dair,” the Mermaid King called, waving his hand. Dair’s jaw clenched, but he obediently wheeled himself towards his father. I remained standing near the entryway, watching their exchange with narrowed, suspicious eyes. The rest of my mates and their fathers had already been ushered out leaving only me, Tavvy, the Mermaid King, and Dair.
Tavvy’s smile was smug, almost sardonic, when his eyes met mine. He offered me a wink that he probably thought was attractive, but came across as constipated.
The King said something to Dair, and I watched my mate lower his head minutely. Reaching into his pocket, the King handed Dair a small bottle, the liquid continually changing colors in the artificial lighting. A spell, I realized dumbly.
As Dair put the liquid to his lips, my fascination turned to horror when he keeled over, falling out of his chair.
I ran towards him, ignoring Tavvy’s dark chuckle and the King’s expectant grin. Dropping to my knees, I pressed the palm of my hand against Dair’s forehead. His skin had taken on a ruddy tint, sweat plastering his hair to his forehead.
“What’s happening?” I asked, fear tightening my stomach until it was a mesh of tangled nerves. I glared at the older man towering over us. King or not, if he had hurt my mate, I would end him. Painfully.
Dair’s breathing evened out, but his eyes were pained.
“Z...” he whispered helplessly, and it was only then that I got a good look at him. Where his stubs had once been, two legs sprouted out, the skin as golden as the rest of him. His toes flexed, wiggling, before he slowly stumbled to his feet.
In my dazed state, I couldn’t help but think he reminded me of the little mermaid learning to walk for the first time. A laugh bubbled up, threatening to break free, at the accurate comparison.
“It’s...it’s a miracle!” I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand. Tears burned in my eyes, and I was not ashamed to admit that more than one escaped.
Dair’s smile was sheepish when he looked at me, eyes haunted. Why was he not more excited about this? He could walk!
Before I could stop myself, I threw myself into Dair’s arms and peppered him with kisses. He kissed me back instinctively, arms tightening around my waist before releasing me.
The Mermaid King released a feigned gasp of shock, and I threw him a glare. “I know you already know. Don’t act so fucking surprised.”
That expression of shock morphed into one of pseudo-sweetness. His eyes were bright, illuminating. It always struck me to see my mate’s blue eyes - the clearest shade of water - reflecting back at me from such a cold man’s face.
“I had my suspicions,” he hedged , that same damn amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Not suspicions,” I
