Page 39 of Poseidon's Island Flower

“Stay away from her.” I simply stated my case and steered Lani away from him to lead her back to the table. I was going to be reasonable. As much as I wanted to show him my power, I was a god, and I was not about to fight in a human brawl.

However, Cory had other plans. He pulled on my arm, yanked me around, and punched me square in the nose. I fell, the sucker punch knocking me flat on my back. The human doubled over in laughter.

Now I look like an idiot.

“Can’t even take a shot to face, can you, fucker? Now come on, Lani. Just one drink at the bar and I’ll call it even.” He waved his hand over.

Zeus stood from the table. Candice rushed to Lani’s side who was on her knees trying to help me up. Blood spurted from my nose, getting all over my freshly pressed shirt and Lani’s beautiful dress.

My fighting skills were lacking, that much I knew, but I should have never turned my back on him. A crack of lightning lit the sky, the waves thundering closer to the shack on the beach. Dolphins could be heard screaming in the ocean, and the beautiful sunset was erased as black clouds covered the painted sky.

“Do you know who the fuck we are?” Zeus roared, stepping beside me. “We could break you like a twig.”

“Guys, just stop!” Lani stood between us. “Not here. Let’s figure this out.”

“No, I don’t know who you are.” Cory stepped forward. “And I don’t give a rat’s ass who you are. I just know you are a bunch of sunburned white folk trying to steal some ass I’ve been dying to get to. Oh, and look, it’s Candice.” Cory wiggled his fingers toward her.

Candice scowled, throwing up her middle finger.

“Haven’t had her yet either. Maybe a threesome is in order?”

Like a wrapped lollipop hammer from Candy Crush, I rose to my feet and threw a punch at the boy’s face. As I did, the lightning pierced the sky along with the breaking of his jaw. Screams from the dolphins tickled my ear. I wanted to smile. I wanted to throw Lani over my shoulder and carry her away into the ocean and lay claim to her.

Yeah, that was another problem. Exactly how to do that.

But it felt good to protect her. The only time I felt comfortable enough with her was when I needed to protect her the most. When she was near death, when Cory tried to take her away from me, I needed the push. I needed to feel wanted.

Lani was looking up at me with such awe that I preened inside. I’d saved her twice in just a few days. She has been holding my hand, talking to me, wanting to get to know me and now she acted like I have hung the stars for her.

Cory groaned, holding his jaw. It was broken. There was no mistaking that. A bruise formed at the hinge, and it was quickly swelling.

“That was outstanding!” Zeus said. “I never thought you had it in ya!” He swatted my back, and I chuckled.

Adrenaline coursed through my body, giving me an overwhelming sense of courage.

I did it. Saved the girl and punched a human.

“This ain’t over,” Cory said, his voice muffled. “You and your roid-loving friend over there will pay somehow. Later, Lani.” He winked out of his swollen eye.

My hand didn’t even throb when Lani took it, looking it over like she expected it to be broken. For a human, I guess it would be.

“Cy, what…what the heck were you thinking?” she half shrieked.

Naia trotted up to us, holding white plastic bags full of food containers. “Time for you guys to go,” Naia said. “Probably shouldn’t bring them back, Nini. It’s for the best.” Lani frowned, taking the bags and nodding.

“What? What happened? Why do we have to leave? He threw the first punch!” Zeus said.

“Doesn’t matter, his father is the richest native on the island. We got to care for our own and keeping this little restaurant open is the priority.” Lani pursed her lips and nodded for us to go.

Once we all piled in the car, Lani gave directions to her house, then reached over and grabbed my hand. The silence didn’t last for long once we started driving.

“Thanks for rescuing me. That was very sweet of you. You wouldn’t have known.”

I shook my head. “Didn’t know what? I was defending myself,” I said softly. “I was defending you, and I am the one at fault when he hit me first?”

Lani sighed, her head hitting the back of the headrest. “Naia pays a landlord for that place. She doesn’t own it outright. The land is owned by Keola, Cory’s father, and he is more worried about making a dollar than protecting his own people. Naia signed a hundred year contract with Keola’s father. The only way out is if that contract is broken. I don’t know the details, but if she said we needed to leave, it was for the best. We still got food!” Lani’s face lit up.

All the excitement of protecting my mate was now overshadowed by the impending doom that may befall Naia. But I would make sure they would not suffer because of my transgressions.

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