Page 109 of Slaying With Sylphs

“What’s going on here? What happened? I don’t remember…” Her voice is tremulous, luminescent blue eyes wide.

Slade drops to a knee between Amatheia’s tub and the small table Bellami was on. He looks between them both, smiles, and recounts the story of what just happened. By the end of it, they both look shocked, but Bellami sits up and gives Lou a wry grin.

“So you were our savior, huh? Why am I not surprised?” He crosses both arms.

Lou matches his stance, stalking across the room and picking him up by both shoulders. She brings him right to her face, and I prep myself for the snark she’s inevitably going to deliver. But my mate surprises me.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Bellami,” she whispers. “I had no idea how we were going to fix things, and gnome village wouldn’t be the same without you.”

He reaches for her, and she pulls him to her cheek, squeezing him tight. He hugs her back. I watch in shocked silence. Gnomes can only be described as brusque and surly. I’ve never seen a gnome displayanysort of affection.

Bellami kisses Lou’s cheek, then bends toward her ear, whispering loud enough that I’m able to hear him, “Don’t think any of this gets you out of helping us, Lou. We need you, okay? It’ll go so much faster if?—”

“I get it,” she says with a huffy laugh. “Jesus, I can’t believe that’s your first thought after being knocked out for ages.”

He tips his head at her, then blushes and looks around. “Err, where’s my hat? It’s highly inappropriate for you to see my whole head.”

Slade appears with a tiny red hat between his fingers, handing it to Bellami.

The gnome takes the hat and places it on his head. Then he wriggles out of Lou’s hands. She sighs as he trots up her arm and slides down her side, using her clothing.

Amber eyes flash to Dirk and me. “I’m getting used to males being all over me all the time.”

Heat. Lust. They sizzle through me as Dirk takes a step closer to me and slides his hand up the back of my shirt.

Lou’s eyes move to the tub, and she smiles softly. “Amatheia, we haven’t met, but I’m Lou. My mates and I found you when you were hurt, and we brought you here.”

The mermaid shifts upright, long dark hair falling over her exposed breasts. “You have a lifetime of my thanks.”

“And of course we’ll return you to the lake the moment you’re ready,” Slade offers, his eyes softening.

Amatheia hunches over, tucking wet hair behind her long, tapered ear as she flattens them to her head. “I’d like to stay here a bit longer, if you don’t mind. I still feel…weak.”

“Of course, Sweetheart,” Slade says gently.

Laerith makes a strangled noise at the back of her throat, and I turn to see. But her fierce gaze is focused on Slade and the way he’s staring thoughtfully at the woman in the water.

Oh moons.

“I’d be happy to help you get home,” Laerith croons. I don’t know if it’s the predator in me that senses an innate deviance in Laerith’s tone, but Amatheia doesn’t seem to mind.

She smiles brightly at the female vampire. “Give me a day to luxuriate in this tub and figure out what I’m going to tell my father, and then I’ll take you up on your offer.”

“I can speak with him,” Slade says, “if you’d find it helpful.”

Amatheia blushes, dark blue tinting her high cheeks. “That won’t be necessary, Doctor. King Caralorn doesn’t come to the surface.”

“Richard and I would be happy to assist,” I offer. “And I’m sure Arkan or Abemet would too.”

Mermaid society is incredibly structured and rigid. Caralorn’s word is law, and I suspect he won’t be pleased that his daughter disappeared without a word, even though she was attacked.

“Maybe Richard could speak with him,” Amatheia says softly. “He might listen to Richard.”

I nod. “Consider it done. When you’re ready to go home, we’ll deliver you there and request an audience with your father.”

She smiles, but there’s no joy in it. She sinks further into the water until all that’s visible is her wide eyes and the tops of her pointy, flared ears.

I glance at Dirk. “I’m ready to take our mate home. She’s probably exhausted.”

---