Authors: Erin Tate
He was a V’yl. He would find an answer.
Another crash, which was followed by two female voices snapping at each other. Their
dams
would kill one another at any moment. Considering their intrusion, he wasn’t sure he would be sad at his
dam’s
demise.
Who was he kidding? He loved his
dam.
He just didn’t want her in his mate’s house while his mate was in pain.
Because of him.
He wondered if subjecting to public punishment would work as an apology and made a note to ask Rina when they were alone. If he could merely take a public whipping to earn back her smile…
This time it sounded as if furniture was being shoved around. Tave frowned and cut a glance at his mate. Worry coated her features as she nibbled her lower lip, biting that small plump bit of flesh.
He
should be the one nibbling.
He needed to find an appropriate method of apology. Now.
“My
pyabi
,” he murmured and turned toward her. She rested in one corner of the couch while he occupied the other and this new position gave him a greater visual. Her whole face was flushed pink now. From injury or embarrassment over their
dams
? Perhaps both. “On my honor, I regret that my presence resulted in your injury.”
She gave him a small smile and he felt as if the skies rained pure water down on him. It was cool and glorious. “It wasn’t your fault.”
Tave shook his head. “No, had I not—”
“I promise it’s—”
“If I had—”
She moved faster than the quickest of the Ujal females. The distance between them disappeared in an instant as she jerked forward and pressed her fingertips to his lips with a gentle pressure. “Hush. Today isn’t any more your fault than yesterday was. Things happen.”
He didn’t agree and didn’t tell her so. He didn’t think that adding to their argument was a clear way to make it cease.
More crashing. The female voices raised but remained muffled by the distance between the living room and kitchen.
Rina’s sigh troubled him. It wasn’t one of pleasure; he had heard those in the past. Not from her, but he was a smart enough male to know the difference. And also to keep silent about how he gained such knowledge.
This one was… sad.
He didn’t like thinking of her being sad.
Then fear overtook her, the emotion stomping over her body and she jumped to her feet in a rush, tossing the ice pack aside as she rose. It was then he heard the reason for her fright.
His
dam
. She’d obviously become frustrated with Rina’s and now… now she was releasing a warning call that not only brought Tave and Rina rushing into the room, but Vados and Niax from the back of the house as well.
The four of them slid to a stop within the kitchen, gazes frozen on the two females.
They’d given birth to the future of Ujal. They should be respected and cared for with utmost care. They shouldn’t be laughed at… especially when Tave’s
dam
jabbed a rolling pin at Rina’s
dam
, who then prodded back with a butcher knife.
Both females were covered in flour.
Both females looked deadlier than a great white shark.
Tave reminded himself he wouldn’t laugh. Twice.
“Mom!”
“
Dam!
” He fought to mimic his female’s tone as he pretended to be shocked. He shouldn’t be. His father was not a male others got along with easily. He had no doubt his
dam
had to resort to interesting tactics to ensure his sire’s attention.
Both females remained tense but didn’t turn their attention to the others in the room.
“I was making you comfort cookies and this one—”
“There is the perfect recipe passed down through generations—”
“—and she tried to take your seaweed flour!”
“—and although seaweed flour is a poor substitute—”
“
Can you believe it?
”
Tave lost track of who was speaking, but based on the look gracing his mate’s features, she didn’t.
“Mom, you can’t—she’s the…” She turned her attention to him, her eyes pleading.
Hours ago, he’d been consumed by lust and wanting of her, but now he desired nothing but banishing that stricken expression. Something to do with their
dams
fighting upset her.
The answer to that problem was easily solved.
The two females continued bickering, but his voice rose above them all. “
Enough!
” Kelara squeaked—he now knew where Rina got the sound—while his mother glared at him. He would not cower. He had a female to protect, both bodily and emotionally. She held his loyalty in her hands, within her body, in her heart. “I want everyone to leave. Now.”
“
Tave
.” His
dam
was scandalized by his rudeness.
“You can’t seriously think I’ll listen.” Rina’s
dam
was not.
“I believe my mate needs quiet and rest.
We
need quiet and rest. We cannot begin our mating with the two of you underfoot and screeching at each other like hatchlings who have lost a toy.” The words might not have true meaning to humans, but Kelara seemed to understand him well enough if her renewed glare was any indication. Tave reached for Rina, slid his arm across her shoulders and gently tugged her against him. He mentally shouted with joy when she snuggled against him and pressed her cool cheek to his side. She was seeking comfort from him. First protection and now comfort. After this, he had no doubt that securing Rina as his would be easy. “We appreciate your desire to care for us—”
“Rina—” Kelara glared at him, but he pushed on.
“But it is time we cared for one another.” He focused fully on his
dam
. “You know it is a mate’s responsibility and joy to ensure his mate’s happiness.”
With those simple words, her anger and frustration vanished and she deflated. “I know this.” She rose to her full height and carefully set the rolling pin aside. “We cannot remain, but we
can
begin preparations for hatchlings.”
Tave didn’t like the sound of this.
“Babies? Grandbabies?” Rina’s
dam
perked up.
He truly didn’t like the sound of this.
“
Mom
…” Rina released the low warning.
“Hush, dear, grown-ups are talking.”
Tave glared at the female. No one would talk to his
pyabi
in that way. Not even her
dam
. He opened his mouth to tell her exactly that when the two annoying
dams
twined their arms together and turned toward him and Rina.
“We’ll call later to check up on you.” Kelara was smiling widely, which made him uneasy. “Have a great day!”
The females disregarded them as they strode to the front of the house and straight out the door. He wasn’t worried for his and Rina’s safety—guards were positioned all around Rina’s home—yet unease gnawed at him.
“Oh, that is not good.”
“I agree,” he murmured, his gaze intent on their path. “Yet, I do not know why.” The soft scuff of a shoe reminded him they weren’t alone and he immediately zeroed in on Vados and Niax. “Out.”
“Prince…” Niax, the more diplomatic of his most senior guards, spoke. “It is best if you have protection within—”
“Out.” He would have no argument. “I do not want any other than my
pyabi
within these walls.”
Vados’ lips tightened, pressing together until they were pale white, and his red scales slithered beneath his skin. His explosive guard wasn’t happy with Tave’s decision. Though he knew Vados was generally unhappy about being away from his own, newly claimed mate.
He didn’t care if they disagreed with his decision to kick them out. His mate needed his attention. “I will notify you if I need assistance, but at this time we simply require space and quiet.”
He left no room for argument. He was the crown prince and didn’t answer to any other but his father. Vados remained in place, his scales stretching harder against his skin as anger grew. It… was a display unlike any he’d seen from his longtime guard and friend. Tave didn’t doubt he’d win if Vados became physical, but he didn’t want to risk his mate in such a battle. Losing Vados would make her more vulnerable. Plus, it would upset the male’s mate.
Tave eased his hold on Rina and slipped his arm from her shoulders. He stepped closer to the other male and let his growing fury fill his words. “You will abide my orders, even if you do not agree or respect them.”
“As you say.” Vados refrained from sneering the words. Barely. Abstinence was obviously taking a toll since the male had been required to stay near Rina.
The second those two departed, he allowed himself to relax and focus fully on his mate. A light dusting of purple bruising marred her cheek, and from what he understood, it would darken further before it got better.
Which hurt him somewhere in the area of his heart.
Tave stepped close to her once again, tugging her into his arms. She went easily; her body relaxed and gently conformed to his. He knew she was agreeable due to shock and he wasn’t above taking advantage to an extent. He didn’t think there was much wrong with holding her near. Perhaps a kiss. He cupped her uninjured cheek and encouraged her to focus on him so he might brush his lips across hers. Only, when their gazes collided, he noticed the tears in her eyes.
Perhaps no kiss.
But he could still hold her.
“How do you feel, my
pyabi
?”
“Tired. Achy. Hungry. With everything going on I never ate.” Her stomach made those grumbling sounds that were particular to humans. If an Ujal’s stomach made sounds while it was out on a hunt…that Ujal would not feast.
“I can do something about one of those things. Perhaps two.”
She raised her eyebrows and he didn’t miss the wince that came with the movement. “How? Which?”
“The sea is not simply our people’s home, but it is also soothing which helps with healing. The ocean shall care for you, and I shall hunt for you. And when we are finished, I shall watch you sleep.”
“Our people? I’m not exactly Ujal.”
He shrugged. “I am Ujal and you are my mate. You are Ujal. It is done.” He forced himself to release her, forced his mind to pull away from his other plans. Once she came to him, joined with him, she wouldn’t exactly be fully human any longer. “Go gather what you require and meet me on the back porch.”
“What will I need?”
“Unless you wish to let me feast on your glorious bare body, a human bathing suit.” She didn’t snap at him for his comment, but instead blushed a bright pink.
When she strode away from him, her generous hips swaying with each step, he felt the need to send a gift of thanks to Kelara and to Rina’s
sire
in appreciation for creating such a creature of pure perfection.
Then he recalled that Rina was embarrassed when her
dam
commented on his “package.”
Perhaps he would send a gift in secret.
“I’m not accusing you of being shady or manipulative, I’m just saying that your ‘let’s go make you better in the ocean where I’ll get to see you in a bikini while I strut around with my sexy man tail’ suggestion combined with my bruised face is a little too convenient.” The words seemed to tumble out of Rina’s mouth without any thought. Because, had she paused for a moment before going on the offensive, she would’ve realized it wasn’t as if he’d shoved her to the ground on purpose.
But
nooo
… She had to word vomit all over him because
she
was uncomfortable by how fast things were moving. And really, it wasn’t as if they were boinking in the middle of the ocean or anything. But he’d be
naked
and she’d be
half-naked
and together. In the ocean. And he had a tail, which meant he could be a happy half-fish flicking through the water, while she’d flounder if he didn’t help her and, and, and…
Was she really worried about him abandoning her? No. Or taking advantage of her? No. Besides, she wasn’t sure what happened to his mer-junk when he grew a tail. Though, the idea of finding out was intriguing…
Dammit. She felt as if she had a split personality. One that said wet-sexytimes was on the
go
list while the other wanted to don her hooded, footy pajamas.
Tave froze in place, each muscle unmoving as he stood there. Shock covered his features but quickly vanished and was replaced with a blank mask. She couldn’t read him any longer, no hint of his thoughts came forward. He took a step away from her, increasing the distance between them. “I didn’t realize my desire to care for you was distasteful to you.”
Rina winced. “I didn’t say that. I meant—”
“I didn’t realize you thought of me as such a dishonorable male.” Another move away from her.
“Wait—” She reached for him, but he remained out of reach. Regret pummeled her, and she realized she well and truly fucked up.
“Since you find my motives suspect,” he said, as strode around her and toward the front door, “I shall—”
Dammit, now she was the one doing the chasing. “Tave.” She growled and followed him. “Wait.” He didn’t slow, but he didn’t speed up either. So, she darted forward, sliding around him and blocking his path. “Wait a minute. I didn’t mean—”
“You believe I manipulated the situation and that my only thought now is how to best take advantage of you in your current state. Deny it.” He crossed his arms over his chest and his anger—and hurt?—rolled off him in violent waves.
Tave was the Crown Prince of Ujal and despite the fact that the position was passed from father to son, she felt like he lived by his honor—his dedication to his people—every day. It was something she knew, but until this moment, she hadn’t
known
. The knowledge had never been more than a notation on a dossier, but now she realized it was so much more than a black-and-white paragraph.
“Look, I won’t deny—”
“As I thought.” He ground out the words and took a step to the left, which she mirrored, cutting him off once again.
“My God, is this how every fight is gonna be? I say something stupid and then you crawl on your high seahorse and ride off?”