Page 2 of Poseidon's Island Flower

But it would be unfair to her if we completed the bond—not with a broken soul like mine.

But I had to help my creations, my children—the ones that still lived at the bottom of the sea with me. How was I to explain how to find their mates if I do not have one of my own? Know what to look for?

The horrible question stood, however. Would she accept me? Could I allow her to return with me to the bottom of the sea? To take her away from the sun, to be with such a broken god?

“Your mate is a human,” Ember said, arriving suddenly in my chambers.

I had just come back from one of the Bergarian beaches. I was a mess, both physically and emotionally.

My eyes grew wide, and I wrung my hands. I felt the dampness of the seaweed wrap that held my lower body, and the shells that hung around my neck clinked with every movement. Sand was stuck all over my body where I had fallen on the beach to get away from the excited, unmated souls of Bergarian.

“Human?” I questioned. “Are you sure? She won’t know who I am. The humans have lost their knowledge of who we all are.”

Ember smiled, her hand reaching out to cup my face. I flinched, pulling away.

I hated it, I hated that I couldn’t stand the touch of hardly anyone. The only ones allowed to touch me were Uriel and Silas. The only reason for Uriel was because of her power of grace that calmed me. But now she was mated to my nephew. I couldn’t call upon her to help me all the time.

“She is human, Poseidon. And humans are more open than you think. But it will take time to get to know her, to tell her who you are.”

I shook my head in disbelief, running my hand through my thick red hair. “This seems like so much work. She will have to deal with me!” I stood up and waved my hand up and down my body. “I’m not strong like Hades, I am not a smooth talker like Zeus, I am a recluse, a no one. I can’t even sleep without nightmares; she needs someone stronger than me!”

I rushed over to the saltwater basin in my chambers, splashing my face to calm my racing heart. If I became too flustered, the seas would churn, and lives could be lost.

I gazed over the horizon. The sea was mostly calm, only a few whitecaps in the distance. The red flag was raised on the lifeguard stand, the wind blowing it violently.

“The undertow is wicked out there,” a human male said as he walked past us. “The waves are gonna be sick.” The small group ventured out onto the beach, the sun shining on them, the sound of the surf in the background as they all agreed with each other.

The restaurant we were sitting at gave us the perfect view of the beach. The gigantic waves of the Hawaiian Islands were extremely popular for surfing enthusiasts, and I couldn’t help but smile at that. At least I brought some joy to the surfers when my stress was at an all-time high.

“You should make them bigger!” Zeus said offhandedly. “Make them huge. Let them be amazed at all your glory! And while you are at it, but some hair on that face. Make yourself look rugged. Women are fond of that.”

I rolled my eyes and hunched over the unfinished picnic table. I had rid myself of the beard. My skin was now smoothed to the touched making me look far more vunerable, matching my mood.

Yet I was becoming comfortable sitting here. I felt more in control than I ever had been in Bergarian. They all knew who I was when I arrived on their shores. Here, I was just another human male on vacation. Humans, too wrapped up in their own selfish desires, couldn’t recognize the sheer power of a god.

“No, if the current is too strong, it will erode the sand too quickly,” I said. “This will keep the beach in balance for now.”

Zeus violently shook his head, his long locks of hair swaying with each motion. “I could always have the wind pick up. Move your waves that way.” Zeus winked, nudging my shoulder.

I stiffened.

“Hey man, I’m sorry.” Zeus scooted down the table. “I meant nothing by it.”

“No, no, it’s alright,” I said. I needed to get used to someone’s touch. “I’m just…” I buried my face in my hands.

Zeus shooed away the females that wanted to speak with him. “Hey, brother. I really am sorry. I didn’t mean–”

“You’re fine…Zeus. It’s just. There are issues I have.” I sighed heavily, dragging my fingers down my face.

I concentrated on the horizon, the waves of the ocean, the dolphins and surfers riding the waves together, the creatures playing in the current, and the seaweed dancing over the ocean floor.

Zeus stayed silent beside me. I felt his breathing, how he carried himself, how confident he was. He was trying; he was trying to be the brother that I never had. The few months he’d stayed with me couldn’t make up for thousands of years of him ignoring me, but at least he was trying.

However, it brought up another question.

“Why are you here, Zeus? Why help me?” I asked.

Zeus rolled his perfect cupid’s bow lips into his mouth. He had shaved the blond beard he usually wore, and the gentle glow of a tan coated his body. He was overly muscular. He flexed his arms and tapped the wooden table with his fingers.

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