Page 22 of Alien Triton's Prize

“Algrim and I just signed for a top-level luxury condo in the heart of the city. Did you know that old killjoy you call grandsire wouldn’t let me move into the family home? And all because I wanted it redecorated to my tastes.” She sighed dramatically. “Doesn’t he know I get to do whatever I want with it when he finally croaks?” She eyed me disdainfully. “I should’ve known you’d go to Starlight Brides. I bet she was alotcheaper. You always were all about reducing costs and maximizing profits. I’m not surprised the old curmudgeon left the business to you.”

When Cetius didn’t react, she turned to me, smiling predatorily. “You poor thing,” she tutted. “Cetius didn’t even give you apropercelebration. Just an e-signature. How sad.”

And then she was off, swishing her tail like the ocean itself owed her simply for being alive.

Chapter 11

Cetius

I had been having such a good time exploring the city with Vera; it was a shame Nerial had to stop by and ruin it. I knew she hadn’t ever actually been interested in me. Her proposal to me had been purely a means to an end. She’d sent my brother the exact same proposal, word for word, at the same time she sent it to me, clearly to hedge her bets.

I only knew all this because Cetia had requested a copy from Algrim, claiming it was so she could learn how to write a proper proposal when the time came.

Unfortunately, because my brother had accepted her proposal, I had to at least try not to strangle her for the next four years while she was technically temporary family.

But Nerial did have a point. I had not offered Vera everything she was due. Sure, she was only staying for one year, but that was not really all that different from some of the contracts put forth by our females; it was just a little shorter. She still deserved a proper celebration.

“If you wish, we can hold a party to celebrate your arrival,” I said, hoping late was better than never.

Vera waved the thought away. “Pssh, don’t worry about that. I don’t need a party, and you’re doing plenty for me already.” She looked the way Nerial had left. “And I don’t mean to be bitchy, but forget dodging a bullet; you dodged a fucking harpoon with that one. Your poor brother.”

That had me choking on my drink and guffawing as my translator confirmed that her words really did mean what I thought they meant.

“I didn’t know Earth used harpoons too.”

“Not anymore. A long time ago. They used them to hunt giant marine mammals and fish.”

“You’re pulling my tail. Humans hunted inwater?” I tried to imagine humans hunting anything in the ocean and promptly failed. Any marine animal worth hunting with a harpoon would drag the poor human hunter under to a watery grave.

“Not underwater. From big boats.”

Ah. That made a lot more sense.

“How do your kind use harpoons?” she asked.

“We use them on prey much larger than ourselves. It’s less of a killing weapon and more a way of tracking where they are so we don’t lose our prey if the hunt goes on for days. I was on such a hunt when I was younger. It was very tiring.”

“I bet.” She took another absent-minded sip from her drink and was disappointed when she got nothing. She pouted at the empty orb, which had shrunk in her hands.

“Nerial as a harpoon or not, do not worry about my brother. They are perfect for each other.”

That had Vera frowning. “I keep hearing about Algrim, but none of you will tell me anything more than I already know, which isn’t much. And I still haven’t met him.”

“Yes, for good reason. He is…unpleasant. I guess we should thank Nerial for keeping him busy planning their big coupling celebration. Did you know they’d expected to hold it at the family home until our grandsire put his foot down and insisted that they find a more suitable venue?”

Vera made a face. “I haven’t known Cetion long, but he doesn’t strike me as the type to want random strangers showing up to his home to party.”

“And you’d be correct. My grandsire likes to keep his home private. I know it upsets him that Algrim and Nerial are treating it like it’s theirs already. As the eldest male of our generation, Algrim has been used to getting everything he demanded, especially after what happened to our parents. My grandsire spoiled him. Then again, he spoiled me and Cetia too, and we turned out all right. At least, I think we did.”

“You totally did. Can I ask why you and Cetia have similar names to Cetion and Algrim doesn’t?”

“Algrim was named after our sire, Algone.”

“Oh. Yeah, that makes sense. Gosh, I’m sorry your brother turned out to be an entitled prick.”

“It wasn’t just the entitled behavior that tipped us off that something was wrong; it was the violent outbursts. The first time, we had to bail him out because he’d attacked someone over a disagreement. We paid the media to stay quiet about it and compensated the victim handsomely.”

Vera did not look impressed. She was probably thinking it was proof that we were all entitled. Unfortunately, the storygot worse. Seeing as there wasn’t anyone within earshot of our bubble booth, I continued. “But only a few moons later, it happened again. This time, there was no amount of wealth that could keep the spotlight off our family. It was all anyone talked about for a whole moon cycle.

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