Page 23 of Alien Triton's Prize

“The media lumped me and Cetia in with him, calling us spoiled delinquents, too wealthy for the law. Cetia was younger then, and at that age, words hurt her more than they should and affected her a lot. My grandsire and I tried to get to the root of his new behavior, reminding Algrim that we were family and that if there was anything bothering him, he could talk to us. He lashed out, smashing and breaking things. He shoved our grandsire pretty hard too.

“Since then, many of the staff living at the family home have quit, claiming that he threatened them. I managed to convince Seena, who’d been with our family for decades, to work for me instead. Since Cetia had moved in with me, she readily agreed.”

“And he wasn’t like this before?”

“No. No sign of violence at all when we were growing up. Unless you count the need to go out and hunt, but that’s normal for all of us.”

“I think I see why your grandsire is handing the business to you instead.”

“We’ve received messages from many of the businesses we work with saying they are ecstatic I will be taking over. It’s a first. It is customary in our culture that the business always goes to the eldest.”

“So that’s why you work so hard. You feel you have something to prove.”

How did Vera know me so well in such a short time? “We lost a lot of shareholders because of Algrim’s behavior. I want to restore Ebb Tide Trading to its former glory out of respect for my grandsire. It’s one of the reasons I work so hard on the family business.”

“And what’s the other?”

“There were plenty who thought Ebb Tide Trading would end with Cetion. They believe that I, like my brother, am too spoiled, and that I’ll run it to the ocean floor.” My tail flicked with annoyance, remembering the moment I’d read those words. “I want to prove them wrong.”

She smiled, baring those cute little flat teeth of hers. “You will. I know you will. You might have been raised with a silver spoon in your mouth, but you’re not spoiled or entitled. You work hard. You really care. And you have your granddad’s drive to grow and explore. Whoever said that about you is going to be eating his words!”

She said it was such certainty that I wanted more than anything to believe her. I realized it was the first time I’d said any of that out loud. I hadn’t had anyone I could confide with up till now.

Starlight Brides had known exactly what I needed and sent her to me. I knew she might still want to leave for the human colony when the year was up, but I was beginning to think that perhaps I wanted a real wife after all. Not just to make my grandsire happy, but for myself and my future. That went double if that wife was Vera.

And that had me thinking about what Nerial had said again. The female had definitely come to cause mischief. She’d called Vera the cheaper option and mentioned the lack of a celebration in the hopes it would hurt her. I’d already felt a little bad whenCetia had asked why we weren’t having a celebration. I’d told her that I was giving Vera a chance to get settled.

What if Nerial’s words had hurt Vera more than she let on?

“I didn’t go to Starlight Brides because it was the cheaper option,” I said quietly.

“I know.” She played with the tube to her empty drink orb awkwardly.

Damn. She was hurt. I could tell.

“If you want a celebration—”

She put a tiny hand on my forearm. “It’s okay. I don’t know anyone here. And we don’t know what’s happening after the year is up. But ifyouwant a celebration because it’s what’s expected and it will make Cetion happy, please, go ahead and plan one. But maybe make it small and low-key? I think Cetion would enjoy that more.”

A lump formed in my throat thinking yet again that our time was limited. Which was strange, considering I hadn’t wanted a wife to begin with.

And earlier, when she’d suggested going out to explore the wilderness with me, I’d been thrilled by the idea until I remembered she wasn’t a Thalassonian and wouldn’t be able to survive in the open waters. I wished Icouldbring her out to explore with me. I had loved exploring, but it got lonely sometimes. Having a companion would have been so much better.

When I’d gone out into the open ocean, I’d brought home everything and anything that happened to catch my eye. All those things that now graced my home, from the tiles on the floor and walls to the lights that illuminated my hallways, had allbeen brought home from my travels or made from raw materials I’d found out there.

Some of these items ended up forming part of Ebb Tide’s extensive catalog. That catalog hadn’t had anything added to it in a while. Perhaps I’d been looking at this the wrong way. I’d thought that Ebb Tide needed me in the office working and guiding it. But that wasn’t my forte. We had people who were more suitable and better trained for that. Perhaps I could be more use out there looking for more treasures, something to give our offerings new life.

It was definitely something to think about.

Chapter 12

Vera

I huffed in frustration as I contorted my torso and reached behind me, trying to get the salve onto a spot at the center of my back. It wasn’t working. I just couldn’t reach, and I was sure that my attempt to splotch it on last time hadn’t worked because after spending all that time exploring the city today, I’d started to feel discomfort in that one area.

I went to the computer and sent a message to Cetius, who was just wrapping up an online meeting with Iravan in the home office. With our trip coming up, he’d made a list of all the things he had to do, and now it was time to actually delegate the work. I hoped my message would give him plenty of motivation to come straight back here when he was done.

Tonight, I was going to push for more. I was done merely eyeing that magnificent cock and imagining how it would feel inside me. I had toknow.

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