Page 32 of Alien Triton's Prize

“It was,” he agreed. “And unlike the contracts drafted by our females, yours is forever. In our society, if a male expires, the mating contract legally passes to the next available related male. And that”…he grinned at me, his teeth looking terrifyingly sharp…“is me.”

Oh shit.

“They’re going to find out.”

He shrugged. “And do what? None of it will come back to me. Technically, I had no hand in this. I just gave Nerial the idea. They won’t believe a word you say. Because where was I? In the spectator stands with you and Cetia.” He eyed the rocks I’d thrown at the window which were now scattered across the floor. “Let’s get you out of here before you destroy this apartment. You may return to civilization when you stop acting like a savage and appreciate the things I give you. You’re lucky I saved you from Nerial. She wanted to feed you to the selach.”

I backed away from him, but he moved close to me, grabbed my wrist again, and started hauling me toward the door. Vile hatred and a sense of danger zipped through my body, telling me to run even though there was nowhere to go.

“I know. You are angry with me now. But I will convince you that this is better. By the time I bring you to the family home, you’ll have come around to my way of thinking. I’m doing you a favor, Vera. Cetius is weak. Or should I saywasweak. I’m sure he’s dead by now. You will see in time that I am the stronger brother, the better choice for you. I should have strangled him in the womb. Because really, what did he promise you? His pathetic home? A business that’s going under?” He scoffed.

I didn’t reply, especially when he opened the front door and I saw one of those carriages I’d seen around town waiting outside. Shit. If he got me inside that thing and took me out of town, I’dbe screwed. Even if I escaped him, out there I’d never survive the trip back to Coral’s Deep, if I even knew the way.

I surreptitiously stuck my hand into my harness, hoping he wouldn’t notice the movement as he tried again to shove me inside. Then I lashed out, slashing him across the chest with my tiny knife. I didn’t give him any time to think or react. I just kept attacking him, cutting anything I could reach until firm hands grabbed my wrist and pried the knife out of my grip. Algrim shook me and slammed me hard against the side of the carriage as the knife drifted down to the street below.

To my surprise, he chuckled. “So you do have some fight in you. Good. This is going to be fun. But we can play later, when we are out of the city. For now—behave.” His hands tightened around my neck and squeezed as he manhandled me into the vehicle.

I fought him, scratching uselessly at his tough scales.

“I said behave,” he snarled. “Or I’ll feed you to a selach myself!”

An angry snarl filled the water, and suddenly, he was torn away from me.

“Get your hands off my wife.”

Cetius! He was alive! He looked paler than usual, but he was right there in front of me, and he didn’t look like he was going to die any time soon. I would have jumped for joy if I could. He held something that looked very much like a mini crossbow, pointing it at Algrim.

“You’re alive?!” Algrim coughed and quickly changed his tone. “You’re alive! That’s great! I found Vera wandering the streets. I was just about to bring her to you at the healing facility.”

Such a lying asshat! “Don’t believe him,” I yelled. I didn’t want Cetius to let down his guard and allow Algrim to get close enough to finish the job. He might have survived the poison, but he was weak now, and an easy target.

“And that’s why you have pieces of her external gills on your claws? She’s bleeding!”

I looked down, and sure enough, a portion of my gills were missing. Now that I thought about it, I hurt everywhere his claws had dug in. My blood seeped out into the water.

Algrim decided he was done talking and went in for the attack. Cetius pulled the trigger on his crossbow. The projectile, more dart than arrow, hit Algrim in the arm, but it wasn’t enough to stop him as he charged Cetius.

“Watch out!” I screamed.

From the side, Iravan shot out and tackled Algrim before he could reach Cetius. The massive sea serpent pinned him up against the side of the building, holding him in place.

“You have no proof of anything!” Algrim hissed through gritted teeth. “This is assault! I’m going to get you locked up!”

It was only then that I spotted Seena coming out from behind a nearby vehicle. Cetia was here too. They had both been there, filming with their devices the whole time.

“According to all the recordings, you launched yourself at me.”

“Self defense! You were pointing a weapon at me.”

“You attacked mywife!”

But there was no more communication between the brothers because whatever they’d shot Algrim with was starting to work, and he began slurring his words. Then he slumped against the wall.

Cetius started toward me before he himself faltered. Iravan released Algrim’s limp body to help him. Cetius had looked so strong, but it had all been a ruse. Now, he looked ready to collapse.

I wanted to swim to Cetius, to wrap my arms around him and revel in the fact that he was alive and that he’d come to save me, but everything was spinning for me. It felt like everything was moving slow as molasses, and the world was losing color.

I gasped for air, recognizing what this was. I needed air. I couldn’t breathe. I was drowning.

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