Tempted by the Forbidden Mate, page 27
“No,” Nico says, like I’ve lost my fluke. “She loves you, Holter. This isn’t something she wants out of pity, or because you’re friends with me and Castor.”
I hold back my scoff. Castor isn’t my friend.
“Or that you’re the hero of Hestertåtten. This is because you’re you. Kind, caring, attentive, and the second-best-looking male in all of Glyden.”
“I don’t know about that. I think I’m better looking than Castor.”
Nico laughs and slaps my shoulder. “Brothers and pod mates.” He nods.
If even for a day. I suppose. “And if she doesn’t want to go?”
Nico turns, and the faint scar of the shark that took the chunk out of the shoulder is there.
“I suppose you’re right. She’ll go.” I nod. And I wonder if I would have been able to build her a lab, anyway. The sort of machines she was asking for aren’t sold at the market. Though I know I could find them if I had enough time.
“Ready?” Nico cocks his head and steps into the bathroom.
She bolts upright as we enter, and her pink lips tip in the most glorious smile. “Did he tell you?”
How can I be so overjoyed and upset at the same time?
“It’s tradition for you to ask.” Nico crawls over the mattress and nestles himself behind Belle.
“Oh right. That makes sense.” She wiggles from the middle of the bed and takes my hand, then drops to one knee.
Nico is off the bed like a black marlin, but I’m already pulling her up. “What are you doing?”
“Going down on one knee. To propose.”
Nico is behind her, but I’ve pulled her into my arms.
“Is that wrong?” She glances between the two of us.
“Yes,” Nico says while I say, “No.”
I lift her into my arms and carry her back to the middle of the bed. “No. It’s not wrong. It’s just, well, taboo. Mermaids don’t kneel in front of a merman to pledge to them. You’re the center of the pod. We pledge to you.”
“So no kneeling.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.
“That’s not what he means.” Nico’s behind her on the bed again.
“Okay, I get it. So will you? Will you join our pod?”
“I would love nothing more than to be your pod mate.”
Her lips taste of apples. Each movement is one that I let sink into my consciousness. This could be the last day I touch her. I’m not going to let one second of it go to waste. I let go of her lips and kiss down her neck, stopping to suck one of her delectable nipples into my mouth. Skirting down to her core, I lick along her clit. Nico’s hand and mouth are at her nipples. She places her hand on the back of my head and grinds up on my face.
I slide my hands under her ass and pry her apart. My tongue licks along her dark pink flesh and then down to her center. I shake my head back and forth, sending her bucking and moaning.
Shifting my hands, I push her legs back and open her up more. Her hand moves from my head to Nico’s, who is now playing with her breast, and her other hand is fisted in my hair. I lick up her pussy and then drive my tongue in as deep as I can. I curl it up and tickle her G-spot.
Nico steals her gasping breath with a kiss. Her hips rock on my face, but I hold on to her, anchoring her to the mattress as best as possible. To the side of her thigh, I sink my sharpened teeth into her, sucking her iron-rich blood. Her orgasm shoots off. Her hands are in my hair. She’s pulling and moaning.
“Holter, I need you.” Her hips jerk in quick succession. I lick the wound closed and crawl up to her.
Nico moves away from her breast he was sucking on. She winds her arms around my neck, and in the next second has us flipped. Her on top of me. Her braids are loose and wild. Her lips are red and plumped from kissing all of us. On either side of my hips, she’s planted a knee.
She takes my straining cock in two hands and pumps me up and down. Then she lowers herself onto me. It’s the most exquisite feeling. She’s hot, and so wet I could drown.
She’s moaning with her eyes closed. And when I reach out and pinch her nipples, she tosses her hair back, her spine bent. I grip her hips and lift her up and down. She’s moving with a quick stroke on her own.
Nico moves behind her, one hand on her waist, the other on her new mate mark. He dips his head and sucks on the mark he left on her. It’s too much. She cries out, falling forward onto me. She takes my neck in her mouth, biting down.
“Harder, Belle. Make me yours. Fuck, that feels so good.”
Belle’s bite breaks the skin, and when she draws on my neck, I feel it in my cock. I can’t hold back anymore. We are thrusting, burning like the sun.
My orgasm takes me hard to a place outside of my body.
She falls to my chest. But she’s become a strong mermaid with a passion that is limitless. We fall together several more times, the three of us. Hands, lips, and skin all night.
I can’t sleep. But mercifully, both Nico and Belle are unconscious. Her head is on Nico’s chest. But she’s holding my hand as I spoon her from behind. I’m propped up enough to watch them.
I have a mate. She’s more precious to me than all the gold on earth. And Nico’s right. I have to let her go. Now my purpose will be to keep myself alive, to protect her. Keep her safe, even when I’m not with her.
Her breathing changes. She’s awake. Belle pulls my hand to her chest, and my cock begins to stir. Then her stomach sounds, growling louder than a torpedo being launched. I should get her some food. I kiss her neck and start to ease out of bed, when I remember.
I give Nico a good tap with my foot. Newly mated additions to a pod are served by the others. And since I’m the newest male, that means Nico makes the food.
“Nico, we want breakfast. Get up.”
One eye pops open and then the other. He growls, “I’m regretting this already.”
I know he doesn’t mean it. But he slides out of bed and thuds out of the room like a podlet announcing they are leaving.
Belle rolls onto my chest. “I can get us food.”
“No, newly mated mates are waited on by the others.”
“Oh.” She runs her hands down my chest. “Things are going to get rough now, aren’t they?”
I don’t want to answer her, but I can’t help it. “Yes.”
She gives me a minuscule nod.
I hold her chin, tipping it up to me. “Do you miss home?”
She pulls in her lips and averts her eyes. That’s the loudest yes never uttered.
42
Castor
I’ve got the actual papers on the inside of my coat. Fuck.
The solo is fueled for the trip. Milo is going to drive it away from the shore. A pack with clothes. All the details worked out. Just how Nico wanted. My insides are hard.
I could look after her, if not mate her. Because fuck, he’s right. I’m going to be like my grandpa. The stoic king. Make a difference. Change how things are done. It’s my mantra: I have to stay focused on what’s most important.
Want isn’t all it takes to be a good mate. I need to be able to not have regret. And right now, I can’t say that I wouldn’t have regret.
The ride down to their apartment is the longest its ever taken. I swear it’s longer than normal. And when the elevator stops, it gives a little shake. Like it’s trying to say get the fuck out.
I’m cleared for the apartment. I should be able to just walk right in, but I don’t. It’s one, in the afternoon. And damn, the way the tides are this week, we are going to need to leave in a few hours.
I raise my fist but stop. There’s sound coming from inside: laugher. I’m like the fucking grim reaper. My knock sounds on the door, but they don’t hear it. Not over Annabelle’s giggling.
I give a good thud this time, and Annabelle opens the door. She’s barefoot and mid-laugh. “Castor! It’s so good to see you.” Her hair is wild and her smile radiant. She’s a well-fucked mermaid. And the pang of jealousy at being left out hits me hard. “Did you hear the good news?”
“No, what?” I haven’t heard the news from anyone. But I can smell it and guess it, even if I can’t see Holter’s mate mark.
“Holter and I are mated!’”
“Congrats.” It’s hard not to smile when she’s this happy. But behind her, Holter and Nico are both standing, their faces stoic. Holter’s jaw ticks. Annabelle turns around and stares at them.
“No, no, no. Not yet. They can’t take Nico.” She’s on the verge of tears, and it pulls me apart.
“He’s not here for me, Little Krill.”
Her forehead furrows. “He’s not?”
“He’s here for you,” Nico says.
Holter grabs her hand. She looks at him, and he nods. “You’re going home.”
“Home.” It’s like a foreign word coming out of her mouth. “Like, Boston?”
“Yes, you’ll get to finish your doctorate and have a wonderful life. All this will be like a faint dream,” Nico says.
“You want me to go home?” She’s looking at Holter.
“That’s what you’ve wanted all along. You can sit on the beach and look at the stars.” Holter nods.
A thud hits the window. It’s one of the sharks. He’s rammed the glass. We all stare at it.
“I’m okay, Mickey. I’m okay,” she says to the window. Annabelle turns back to Nico and Holter. “I . . .”
“This is what you want, right?” Fuck, what am I doing to this female? I’ve mucked with her emotions enough. “Home will be good for you,” I say more firmly.
“But how?” Her mouth is open, her eyes wide in wonder, and yet her forehead is creased in worry.
“We have a short window before Nico is taken. We need to get you out of the city. Once he’s gone, the sharks swarming around your apartment will be mermen. We can get you out now and say that you escaped.”
“Taken . . . but the governors? They could overrule the judges? Isn’t that why—”
“Belle.” Holter’s next to her. He shakes his head. Nico must have told him.
“Really?”
Nico shakes his head again.
“But won’t they come looking for me? If you let me go back to Boston, I mean.”
“No. To most of the population of the Veiled City, the human world is a scary place, one they would never dream of going to. No. You’ll be safe, plus you’ll have this.” I hand her the packet.
“What’s this?”
Nico puts his hand on the swell of her back. “It’s my inheritance, and my savings.”
“What? I can’t take that. Your inheritance belongs to Holter.”
Holter’s face brightens. “You’re my mate too. That makes it yours, not mine.” He pushes the envelope across the counter.
“I can’t take this. It’s too much.” She pushes it back.
“Annabelle.” Nico’s tone is deep and warning.
She sighs and picks it up. “When do I go?” She clutches it to her chest, then touches a box next to a chair. “I guess we shouldn’t have gotten all this stuff.”
“It’s fine,” I say. I want to make her feel better. I don’t care about the money.
She stops next to another box. “I . . .” Her braids shake. “I’ll change.” A few steps. “What should I change into?”
“We’ll be going to Athens. Something that will fit in with humans.” I try not to look at Holter and Nico. I can feel them breathing on the other side of the room. Annabelle glances back at them. “Holter can come and drop you off,” I say without thinking.
Her shoulders relax. “I’d like that.” She heads into the hall.
“Why did you tell her that?” Nico barks in a hushed tone.
“He can. Milo is going to drive the solo. There’s room.”
“Alder,” Nico growls.
“I can get Jonas or Soren to sit with Alder.” Surely my brother owes me that.
Nico nods. “Okay, okay,” he says in a way that makes me wonder if he’s thought all of this through yet. “It’s important to get her to Athens safely.”
“I agree.” Holter stands like a soldier, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s going to do once his father is doing okay. “This is what she’s wanted all along.”
“I’m ready.” Annabelle is standing in the doorway wearing what looks like . . . she looks homeless.
“What is that?” I motion my hand up and down.
“They’re human clothes. What I left Boston with.” She’s wearing black leggings and an oversized T-shirt.
“Belle.” Holter takes her hands. “You look wonderful.”
“She looks like a kraken dressed her,” Nico huffs.
“My assistant in Athens can get her some things for the plane.”
“Oh right, a plane. Plane! I don’t have a passport.”
“Look in the envelope again.”
She pulls out the passport, ignoring the bank documents. I had the ID made. “This isn’t mine. I have a stamp when I went to Canada. They weren’t going to stamp it, and I made them. Because I figured I wouldn’t be going anywhere for a long time.”
“It’s a duplicate.”
“You mean a fake.”
“A fake that no one will be able to spot because it’s an exact duplicate.” I also made sure to enter her leaving the country into the government system too. I didn’t want her to get held up at customs when she landed.
“An almost duplicate.” She looks from the empty pages to me. “But if you can do all of this, a passport is easy.” She opens up her arms. “This is what I came with. This is what I’m leaving with.”
“Are you sure, Belle?”
“I’m sure.”
Holter pulls her into a hug. And when he does, one of the sharks taps its nose at the window. Annabelle places her hand on the glass, and each of them comes to the window. “Be good boys.” When she turns around, there are tears in her eyes. She races over to Nico. “I know you can make your way out of the chasm.”
“Indeed.” Nico kisses her hard and long.
It’s hard to watch, but then we don’t have much time. I have paid off the guards who are picking Nico up. We maybe have a few minutes, and Nico was specific. He wants her to leave the dome before they come and get him. She’s already seen enough of him being led away in cuffs.
“I’m going to miss you.” She leans into him and huffs in his shirt.
“I won’t miss you.”
She flinches back. “Nico.”
“I won’t miss you because I will always have you in my heart.”
She groans and smiles.
“You need to get going, Little Krill. Milo and the solo await.” Nico pulls her back in for another kiss. And when they separate, he squeezes her hand and passes it to Holter.
“I love you.” Nico’s words are a loud whisper.
“And I love you.” She sighs, her shoulders curling.
“Good luck, my friend.” I grab Nico’s arm in the customary way. But he pulls me into a hug. Annabelle is right. If anyone can beat the chasm, it’s Nico. My best friend is stronger than anyone I know. But more so, he’s quick thinking. The fact that he was bitten by a bull shark only proved how much he cares for Annabelle. His focus was on her safety, not his own.
“I don’t need luck. I have skill.”
It’s enough to make the rest of us laugh. Holter ushers Annabelle out the door while she’s still laughing. The click the door makes behind us, though . . . That sobers us all right up. I jab at the call button with my finger. Willing it to come faster. The faster we’re away, hopefully the less stress this will cause her.
In the lobby in my peripheral, I catch sight of the guards waiting to claim Nico. Holter points to a statue or something on the other side of the wall, directing Annabelle’s attention away from them. But I know she’s seen them. There’s no way she hasn’t.
Milo’s waiting. The new larger solo with the long-distance range is something I was meaning to buy, anyway. Maybe I’ll have Milo ferry me back and forth from now on. I know he’d like that better, anyway.
“Milo. It’s good to see you again.” Annabelle’s smile doesn’t twinkle in her eye. But the fact that she’s kind to my youngest brother, even when I know she’s hurting, means a lot to me. She and Holter climb in the back.
“It’s nice to see you too. I know M32 is going to miss you.” Milo cranes his neck to look at her, then turns back, focusing on his steering.
“Mickey.”
“Right, Mickey.”
“You’ll give him his afternoon snacks?”
“I’ll make sure.” Milo weaves through the city, past the public buildings and out through the edge of the final force field.
“And lots of pets?”
“Yes,” Milo says, focusing out the front windshield.
I glance at my brother as we get close. He’s rarely been outside the field. But I know he can do it. I hit our cloak as we near the edge of the perimeter and engage the shield that allows us to push through it. He pulls the throttle back, and we’re through. I turn to him. He’s all smiles while the rest of us are gutted. I don’t want her to leave. But I understand why she has to go.
It will be midday by the time we get to Athens, too late to put her on a plane. I wanted to rent a jet, but it’s too conspicuous. She’ll be safer blending into the mass of American tourists. The window of the solo is tinted. Not that I think that matters. They’ve got Nico. I’m not sure they’re going to be watching Annabelle. But if they are, this solo has some modifications. Ones that will help us remain undetected, at least until we arrive in Athens. She wants her life back.
I glance at her and Holter. “Doing okay back there?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty.”
“Well, we’ve got a long trip ahead of us. There’s a bathroom and some snacks in the back if you need them.”
“I’m good.” Annabelle turns from Holter to look out the window, although she doesn’t let go of his hand.
I stare at Holter. He doesn’t deserve this, any of this. I incline my head to him, but he turns away, staring out the opposite window into the dappled sunlight penetrating the depths.
