Page 7 of Interlude

The doors open to the pool room, and I quickly strip off my clothes and dive into the pool, allowing the change to wash over me. I haven’t spent a lot of time in my Aquilian form, mostly just when we rescued Nikos and the swim previous to that, but it feels good to be in it again. I take a big breath, and the water running through my gills seems to wash away some of the fatigue I’ve been feeling. Down here, it’s easy to forget your troubles and just be. I flick my tail and start to swim towards Nikos’s little home. I’ll check there first. Link said he was still sleeping a lot because he was still recovering from his father’s horrific treatment.

The water rushes over my body as I move toward the tunnel at the bottom of his house. I swim past all sorts of weird and wonderful sea creatures, nothing I recognize having come from Earth. They dart here and there, cognizant of a bigger predator in the pool, but quickly return when they realize I’m not interested in them. I got my fair share of hunting when I was pregnant with the babies, and I am in no hurry to repeat the experience—or not for fish, at any rate. I still feel like gagging as I recall catching and eating them raw on Skar.

When I get to the tunnel, I swim up it, but I know before I even get there that he’s not in the house, which means he’s swimming, but judging by the size of him, that’s not an easy feat in his condition, so I’m guessing he is in the pretty jeweled cave that I used as my own refuge.

Spinning around, I head back in that direction, a small ball of nerves sitting in the bottom of my stomach. Nikos’s and my relationship has been bumpy, to say the least, and I was horrible to him after what happened with the babies. I feel guilty now knowing that he probably couldn’t control his reaction any more than I could. I’m also nervous because I’m seeing him alone. We had Link as a buffer when we first brought him back to the ship. I should have asked Cas to come with me, but that’s just me being a chicken shit.

Flicking my tail, I swim deeper into the pool, still blown away by this whole level and the fact that we’re on a starship in the middle of space. I could easily be swimming in a tropical reef in the Caribbean. The water is temperate, the artificial sun shines brightly above, and the serenity below the surface is a surefire way to calm one’s emotions.

The ball of nerves in my stomach grows the closer I get to the little cave. I run my hand across it in an attempt to alleviate it, but of course it does nothing.

I hear something. It sounds like singing. It’s soothing and calming, and it makes me feel warm and cherished. I stop at the entrance of the cave and stare at the sight before me. Nikos no longer looks listless and dull. Instead, his scales sparkle like gems in the mysterious light the cave produces, and his golden hair, which had looked unwashed and stringy, is shiny and full as he strokes a comb through it. He’s wrapped up by the anemone that lives in here, and he sings softly, his attention on his round belly, running his other hand over it in small circles. I can’t help the grin that crosses my lips. He looks sexy, and he’s glowing like an expecting mother—or in this case, father. I feel a rush of relief and gratitude toward my cyborg mate.

He finally senses me, and when he looks up, his eyes widen, and he tosses the comb to the side. I expect something ridiculous to come out of his mouth, but he just smiles.

Hello, Lila, he says in my mind, and I blink a couple of times, shocked that he’s using my name instead of a ridiculous pet name. He smirks at my reaction. I thought I should probably drop the bimbo act since we are going to become parents. I need to set a good example for our babies. He lovingly strokes a hand over his stomach, and I’m speechless, my mouth opening and closing a couple of times.

He chuckles and shifts slightly on the anemone, patting the space he made next to himself. Come sit. We have some things we need to talk about.

I swim toward him, still trying to wrap my mind around this incredibly normal person. What happened to my ridiculous can of tuna?

It isn’t easy to get comfortable sitting with a fish tail, but eventually, after a couple of attempts, I find myself reclined next to a very pregnant Nikos. We’re both stretched out, facing one another, with his baby bump between us.

Hi, I say to him shyly, my gaze swinging between his eyes and his belly that I’m trying hard not to reach out and rub my hand across.

I owe you an apology, he says, dragging my attention back up, and I see shame in his eyes. Before he can continue, though, I reach out and put a finger against his lips.

No, you don’t. Nixie explained everything to me. If anything, I owe you one. I was horrible to you, but in my defense, I was blind with worry for my babies.

Nikos nods, and his hair flows around us. I tied my own back before I got in the pool, knowing it would be annoying while swimming. Of course you were. I never would have put them in danger like that if I’d been in my right mind, but the minute you changed into your Aquilian form, I was mesmerized. The mating daze overcame me, and nothing else mattered. I am also very sorry for biting you—again, another effect of the daze. Will you ever forgive me? he asks, looking despondent.

Why me? I ask him, not answering his question yet. I was told that you don’t have fated mates, so you could have chosen anyone you wanted in Aquilia. I’m sure you had no shortage of potential mates. I mean, look at you. His lips turn up slightly at my comment, and he preens. Ah, that’s more like it. I feel relieved at seeing my ridiculous peacock again.

Because of exactly that, he admits, shrugging his shoulders. I could have anyone, and it was boring. I wanted a challenge, not someone who accepted that ridiculous act that I put on just because of who I was. They wanted the crown prince of Aquila, the future king, not Nikos the merman who likes to raise phadolls and collects ancient weapons. You didn’t though. You called me out, and I was the most turned on I’ve ever been in my life. Every time you slapped me down verbally, I thought my cock was going to burst out of my slit and wave around. He chuckles.

So you’re into degradation? I ask him, raising an eyebrow. I’m confused about all the things he just told me, so I grab onto the one thing I can make sense of.

No, not really. I just liked that you didn’t take any crap and all those ridiculous pet names I came up with. It made me feel seen, and it was intoxicating. I mean, you’re also gorgeous, so it wasn’t hard to fall for you.

Just like that? I ask, still skeptical, and he finally reaches out and takes my hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it.

Yes, just like that. Many species and races are quite primal in their instincts, Lila. It isn’t uncommon for quick courtships, not to mention fated mates like blood roses and intimates, as well as a person’s animal insisting on a mate, like Caspian.

Or Tirrian, I murmur, and his eyebrows jump in surprise.

The dragon prince believes you’re his mate? You really do have some very powerful people in your mating circle. But then you will need protection, because my father is not going to be the only one who has nefarious plans for you.

I scowl as he reminds me of that slug of a man, and I’m not sad at all that Cronus dealt with him. He’s my favorite father-in-law at the moment, though I have no doubt that Murphy would have done the same thing.

So we’re half mated? I ask him, gesturing to the scar around my nipple, and his eyes drop from my face to my breasts. I have to give him credit, it’s the first time it’s happened since I arrived, which is very unlike Nikos, especially since I didn’t bother to cover them with scales like I have before. One side of his mouth tips up in a smirk as he nods, staring at his mark with smugness. He drops my hand and trails a finger around his teeth marks, and a shiver runs down my spine as my tail fins quiver. He doesn’t miss it but stays where he is, though he shifts his body slightly like he’s uncomfortable.

Yes, again, I underestimated my control while under the mating daze. You see, mers don’t have sex in this form unless they are with their committed partner. I miscalculated how incredible it would feel doing that with you. He points at his rounded belly. I also did not expect this to happen, and when I realized it, it was too late, and I was too far gone to stop it. His cheeks darken, and I realize he’s blushing.

I look down and reach out hesitantly. Can I? I ask, and he quickly nods his head, grabbing my wrist and pulling it so I can run my hand over the smooth section of his skin.

I almost moan, and I bite my lip to stop it from escaping, even though my pussy throbs and my kraken roars inside my head. Fuck me, that’s sexy. I kind of want to fuck his brains out in celebration. Do I have a breeding kink, or is that my kraken? It’s hard to tell these days, but I promised I’d be open-minded. There’s also a primal part of me that isn’t going to let this man get away from me. He’s my can of tuna, and I’ll kill any bitch who thinks they can take him from me. I feel a possessive thrill, knowing I’m the only one he’s ever fucked in mer form before and I rocked his world so much that he couldn’t stop himself from becoming pregnant. Those are some mad sex skills, and there is no way I am letting him go now.

Before I can overthink any more of this, I feel my mer teeth form, and I launch myself at him to return the favor. My lips latch around one of his nipples, and I bite down until I feel his blood pour into my mouth. I expected him to taste fishy, but his blood has a smoky bourbon flavor. I release my teeth and suckle at the flesh around his nipple. I feel his body stiffen under me as his hands come up and grip my hips, our tails brushing together slightly, but his belly prohibits us from getting too close.

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