Page 38 of Poseidon's Island Flower

She chose me over thatboy.

“I’m sorry.” Candice held up her hands. “It was more of a joke. I knew she wouldn’treallygo out with him, but it was so fun watching how excited Cory was and then he got stood up on a date. Now come on! That’s real comedy!”

Zeus laughed with her, raising his hand, and nodding his head for Candice to do something in return. But she ignored his advances.

“But now I have to go apologize,” Lani whined. “I’ll be right back and make it right, okay? Candice, no more setting up dates,” Lani whispered.

“I’m sorry, Lani,” Candice said sheepishly. “I didn't think he would have the balls to face you, not really.”

“It's fine. Cory doesn't get stood up, so it is kinda funny." Lani smiled. "But just know I can get a date just fine.” Her hand squeezed mine again, and I let go, reluctantly.

So, this was a date.

Like a date, date.

Not just a “thank you” dinner.

I smiled, albeit a bit too widely, and Zeus kicked me under the table. He shook his head as I rubbed my knee, ready to scold him, but instead I realized, I hadn’t shy away from Zeus’s touch.

Zeus’s eyes widened, his lips parted.

“I’m…okay,” I said.

As Cory approached, Lani cocked a hip and crossed her arms, her bangles jangling against her wrist. Good, she wasn’t welcoming him.

“I was told to meet you at the bar, and you weren’t there. You know how many dates I turned down to meet up with you?” The boy grinned devilishly, and I noticed his eyes tracing my mate's chest.

I gripped the table, the wood splintering beneath my fingers. I’d never felt jealous like this before. I’d been jealous of how the other gods could handle day-to-day situations, and how easily they were able to move on with their lives, but never so much fire in my gut that it made me sick.

Now I wanted nothing more than to break this human for looking at my mate. The same mate I almost gave up just days ago because I felt unworthy of her. She made me want to feel worthy, she made the deepest darkest parts of the depths of the ocean move to the surface.

“Yeah, sorry. Candice was trying to help me out, but I told her I didn’t need it. She forgot to tell you it was canceled. Sorry about that. I won’t be needing you for a date.” Lani waved her hand.

Lani tried to turn, but Cory grabbed her elbow tightly and pulled her back. It was so rough her hair fell out of its messy bun in a cascade of ringlets down her back. She went rigid and tried to pull away from him.

“I don’t like my time wasted,” Cory said lowly. “And I still think you owe me at least a date. Why don’t we go sit by the bar and have a drink?”

“Oh shells, I’ve never seen him mad like that,” Candice said, grabbing Zeus’s arm. She looked at her hand and back to Zeus and pulled away.

It wasn’t a question he had asked Lani; it was a command. My eyes slit with anger and the waves crashed down harder onto the sand.

“The ocean is acting funny again,” I heard Naia say behind me. “Maybe we should get off the edge of the beach.”

Murmurs began as the hard roaring waves smashed harder onto the sands. Zeus grabbed my arm, but I didn’t flinch away. I did not cower at his touch like I had for months. Instead, my arm bulged, my true form wanting to break through. I wanted to show this male he would never be worthy of a woman like Lani. She was patient, caring, and as bright as the bioluminescent creatures that lived in my palace.

I stood abruptly from the table, Cory continuing to pull my mate away to the inside of the restaurant. Once I approached, I pushed on his shoulder, looking him in his eyes.

I wasn’t afraid, I wasn’t cowering, not when my mate was now within my reach. And it was my duty to protect her. “Get your hands off her,” I growled.

Cory scoffed after getting his bearings. “And who the fuck are you?” He waved his free arm at me.

In my human form, I didn’t appear to be strong, but little did this human know I could break him in half if I wanted. It wasn’t my natural personality. I liked to speak of resolutions to problems, but my possessiveness over Lani was too great.

A primal part of me, the same possessiveness that I had seen in Hades and Lucifer over their mates, had appeared. I had wondered what it felt like, how it affected two bonded souls.

Now, a new side of me had risen, and I wouldn’t fall into the sand like a weakling.

This male was trouble. He was cocky and used his bigger built body to his advantage. And to make him seem larger, he picked and bullied those that were weaker than him.

---