Page 64 of Knot Letting Go

Konstantin. Was I dead? How did he get into the cistern? Figures an angel would look as hot as him.

Lillianna cheered and hugged her father from the other side. “Yay! You’re okay. Were you being a sleepy mermaid?”

I choked on a sob at hearing her sound like we just had another beach day. I nodded, not trusting my voice, and hid my tears against Konstantin’s shoulder. My body shook with relief and then was suddenly seized by another wave of heat pains. I clasped his arm so I wouldn’t sink as I curled up into myself.

“Hoist the girls up and we’ll get them.” A voice I recognized as Talis’ called down.

My chest heaved with each breath. It was all I could do not to scream.

“Okay, Lillianna. You’re first. I’m going to lift you up onto my shoulders. See if you can stand up and reach for UncleTalis and Uncle Quill. They’ll get you out, and then we’ll help Aubrielle out.” Konstantin’s words were like music in my ears. Lillianna was saved. I did what I needed to do. Now if I sank to the bottom and didn’t come up…

Being six foot two, Konstantin could stand on the bottom and his head still was partially above water. He didn’t tell me to let go of him, but deftly lifted Lillianna with one arm up onto his right shoulder. Her little feet balanced there as she carefully stood and stretched up. She was swiftly lifted out of the cistern by her uncles.

Both of Konstantin’s were fast around me. “Stay with me, bella. I know you’re hurting. Your scent is strong even in the water. Let us get you out and someplace safe.”

“Please… it hurts so much.” I whined, rubbing my cheek against his. I slid my hands over his chest and down his back. My fingers brushed over the cold metal of his gun and recoiled. Oh God. What did he do? We were kidnapped and stuffed in this metal coffin. How angry was Konstantin? “Lorenzo. Is he…?”

“Dead. You don’t have to worry anymore.” He kissed the top of my head. “You’re safe. I have you.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks. “Did you… uh… did you?”

He sighed and rubbed my back. “No. Neither of us pulled a weapon on each other. I was willing to give him everything for you and Lillianna, and he was that close to having it. He caught a stray bullet in the crossfire when Talis’ team arrived.”

Give it all up for me? I whimpered and glanced upward. “Matteo?”

Konstantin frowned and shook his head. His jaw hardened. “Dead. Why? What did he do?”

Dead. I couldn’t stop crying now. The brutal monster was dead.

“Okay. Send up Aubrielle now.” Quill shouted down. His voice sounded odd, but it was still so good to hear.

“I’ll duck down underwater and you sit on my shoulders. I’ll stand and they should be able to reach you.” Konstantin cupped my chin and kissed me. “Thank you for keeping my little girl safe. I owe you everything.”

“You don’t—”

“I do, and I will spend my entire life making you as happy as possible.” Konstantin caressed my cheek. Even in the dimly lit cistern, powerful emotion shone in his eyes. “If you’ll let me.”

“Yes.” I never thought I would get a happy ending. Even as my heat pangs wracked my body, my love for him rang true and gave me strength. “Oh yes.”

“I claim you as mine.” He growled the declaration and kissed me hard. “Later, bella. Later I’ll knot and mark you. Mine forever.”

Now! My whole body demanded it, but he was already dipping under the water and directing me to sit on his shoulders.

Faster than I could ready myself, I was situated and he was standing. I yelped at the suddenness of the movement and was gripped under my arms by Talis and Quill. Emerging into the rosy dusk, I wiped at my tears and wrapped my arms around Quill.

“I have you, baby. I’m never letting go again,” he murmured, kissing over my cheek to my neck. His body was hot against mine, and heck, he was wonderfully shirtless. I rubbed my chest on his, needing much more than just kisses.

“Aubrielle!” Lillianna joined in the hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay. Daddy and all my uncles are here. They were worried, but they said Nonno has gone and we can go home after we get checked out by the ambulance people. I told them that we were mermaids and being in water keeps us safe, but they really want us to see the ambulance people.”

My vision adjusted to the bright world around me, focusing on this amazing girl. I hugged and kissed her cheek.Behind her, Konstantin was being helped out of the cistern. “Well, most people don’t understand mermaids. I think it best if we get checked out just to give them some peace of mind.”

“Excellent advice, Miss Aubrielle mermaid.” Talis gave me a small smile and mouthed a thank you. He gestured to Konstantin and then Quill. “Kon, if you could take Lillianna around front. The first of the ambulances has arrived. Quill, take Aubrielle into one of the empty bedrooms and… get her warm.”

My cheeks flared from embarrassment that all the Alphas around here knew that I was in heat, but I was more than eager for Quill to get me alone.

Konstantin leaned over and kissed me before picking up Lillianna. No one batted an eye at his display of affection, not even his daughter. She hugged him tightly as they walked off.

Quill bent and scooped me up, cradling me in his arms. I stared into his gorgeous face surrounded by his wet and wild hair… with a bruise forming on his jaw and his neck. Oh fuck! I gasped and hovered my hand over the ugly marks. Not just marks, hand prints. Someone had tried to choke him.

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