Page 82 of King of Tides

“Thanks,” I say and take the bag.

“Yeah, I get it. Call me when you remember who you are, Billy,” Car seethes and storms off.

I don’t bother to call after him because I don’t like the feeling I get when he’s around. I turn to face Ardan and he’s glaring in the direction Carson just went.

“Calm down,” I say, placing a hand on his chest.

“He smells odd. I want you to stay away from him. His human scent has been compromised. I don’t know why yet, and I can’t just confront him and reveal myself,” Ardan says tightly.

“I don’t know what you’re smelling, but I do feel like something is off about him. Is there a way I could check?”

“No.”

“There is, you just don’t want me to know,” I accuse.

He grunts and looks down into my eyes. “Finish your shift. We will talk when we get home.”

“Ardan—”

“No.”

Without another word, he vanishes. I know he’s back in the necklace, as the weight of it makes itself known between my breasts. I sigh and head inside to eat and get to work. Hopefully, I won’t be called out again tonight.

Ardan

I’m still fumingfrom Carson’s visit to Billy’s station. I know I’m not crazy. Something was off about him. He smelled less like a human and more like one of my mother’s kind.

I’m aware those hunters are still out there, but attacking him could be a trap. They could have placed their scent on him just to cause me to harm a human. I can feel that Billy still cares about him, which is the other reason I didn’t rip him apart as soon as I caught the scent.

“Ardan, you are causing the pool to stir with all your brooding,” Billy says as she lies in bed beside me.

I focus on the room and realize she’s right. The pool around the bed is troubled with my mood. I reel it in and turn onto my side to look down at her.

“Am I keeping you from sleeping?”

“No,” she says, reaching up to cup my face. “I’m not tired at all. Maybe I can help you clear your mind.”

I smile back at her. I had wanted to allow her to rest, but I want her more than anything. It occurs to me that I haven’t revealed to her my latest addition to our place.

I place my hand over hers and bring the back to my lips. Her eyes fill with lust and my mind is made up. Before I can change my mind, I use my magic to move us to the room I added this morning.

All the walls in this room are made of glass. Behind three of the walls of glass are water and sea life. Schools of fish swim by as sharks float around as well.

The fourth wall holds shelves—some open-faced—others have mirrored soft-touch cabinet doors that sit flush to give the illusion of large panels.

“Ardan, this is beautiful. Where are we?”

“The third floor of our apartment. Our playroom, if you want a name for it.”

She looks around in awe. Then she turns to me and places her hands on my waist. I lift a brow as she looks up at me from beneath her lashes as she bites her lower lip.

“What are you up to, my pretty one?”

She doesn’t give me an answer. Instead, music begins to play throughout the room. “Slow” by Tank, that’s what she told me the name was the last time she played it. I grin down at her and search her pretty face.

Billy lifts her right hand and snaps her fingers. The next thing I know, my arms are cuffed behind my back and I’m standing before her naked.

I tilt my head to the side as I look at her while the design of the room begins to change. At first, the walls begin to cover with condensation. Blue lighting wraps the room, rising from the floor and illuminating the glass panels.

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