Page 27 of Marked By the Sea

“Let it drift at sea,” Rowan spat.

“No. He doesn’t deserve to return home. We’ll burn him and bury him on land. He’ll never be at rest.”

For the first time since they’d found me beneath Lucien, Riftan looked at me. I forgot how to breathe as those piercing blues finally focused on me. Rowan’s grip on me finally eased.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes,” I whispered on an inhale.

The faerie stood and left me. He walked until he stood beside the old king.

“We’ll have to do it tomorrow. I don’t have what’s needed,” he murmured.

Riftan hadn’t said a word to me. He searched my face, pausing on every scratch and bruise before lowering to my neck and doing the same. I wanted him to rush to me and hold me in his arms. But he did the opposite, turning from me and heading toward the sea.

“Riftan!” I called after him as panic seized me. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me. The distance had felt too great.What was he waiting for?

“Can I touch you?”

“Are you asking… permission?” I would have laughed if I had it in me. I hadn’t intended to throw what they had done to me in their faces, but I wasn’t going to correct it. They had doneterrible things to me, and I had liked it. It hadn’t left me feeling as gross as that one experience with Lucien had. He closed his eyes, and Hexon sucked in air through his teeth. Rowan remained silent but held his head high, as he should. He was the only one who hadn’t forced himself on me.

“Yes,” Riftan rasped.

“Please. Please don’t leave.”

Chapter 17

Amora

“We’re not going anywhere,” Riftan murmured.

“What are you begging for?” Hexon was to my right, and Rowan was to my left.

“You. All of you,” I rasped desperately.

“You don’t know what you’re asking for.” The merking chuckled, and I wanted to shove him. Irritation flared as his focus dropped to my lips. I eyed his horns, and they swished as he shook his head. Black strands of hair swayed across the scales of his neck. Raising my hand, I gripped right below the gills there.

“Don’t do that. Don’t treat me like I don’t know what I want,” I warned, holding his gaze as I tightened my grip. Of course, the ass smirked at me like I wasn’t trying to threaten him.

“And what is it you want?” His tone was exasperated. Rowan’s hand was on my lower back, his fingers drawing soothing circles into my hip. It hadn’t been long since I’d been with them, but they’d had an effect on me. I’d changed. I was comfortable in my own skin and didn’t shy away from their touch. Taking my time, I looked at Rowan, Hexon, and then Riftan.

“You. I want all three of you. You guys are mine, and know I’m yours.”

“I want you, too.” Rowan grabbed my hand, bent in half, and kissed the back of my hand. Hexon inhaled sharply, his gaze on Rowan as he bowed to me, but after a pause, did the same. A tentacle wrapped around my other hand, and I stared, mesmerized, as Hexon, in all of his kraken glory, lowered his head. Sneaking a glance up at me, he nipped at my knuckles before dragging his lips along them, making me blush.

“I’m yours if you’ll have me,” Hexon murmured.

“Of course, I will,” I whispered. Straightening, he kissed my temple, and the three of us turned to Riftan. He was the only one left.

“I desire a life with the three of you. Do you not want the same?” It was time to ask the hard questions, to see if he’d open up and talk to me.

Riftan laughed. It echoed in the cave as his shoulders shook, and he blessed me with those crescent moons. Sighing, he stared at me.

“You question my feelings? I just killed my king and last remaining relative for you. I would say they’re clear and unattested.” Blue eyes sparkled, and it wasn’t hard to ignore the body lying behind him. I now had his answer and didn’t know what to do with it. He felt the same. I grabbed his hand and interlocked my fingers with his.

“Then why are you holding back?” I rasped. His chin dipped, and his eyes dragged down my body to our hands before returning to mine.

“Before I came here, I was with a woman.” His words cut deep as I conjured a scene of him with her. I knew he was betrothed, but I hated this mystery woman he was supposed to marry and make cute merbabies with. Was she waiting back home for him? Did he sleep with her after he left me? My spiraling gut hurt, and it felt as if my pain spilled from my chest.

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