Page 12 of Tempting Triton
“I will be quick.” I dart further into shore now that the water is deeper, my Elena hot on my tail. I roll my eyes. Of course, she would not stay put.
I swim past the opening of the container I found my Elena in, now at least half submerged beneath frothing waves, still unsettled from being pulled to us so quickly by the power of my conch. I pop my head above the waves, inspecting the shoreline in both directions. The bright white sand is flat, untouched. No humans are sprawled in the sand, nor sitting around a makeshift camp waiting to be rescued. The tide and wind have done a good job of removing any evidence of anyone having been here at all.
I sing out. What would not affect a human below the waves acts as a lure above the surface. If anyone is out there, they will feel compelled to answer my call; the pull to head to water is hypnotizing. I wait a moment, scouring the shoreline and brush further inland for any sign of movement. Nothing answers my call except the quiet whooshing of the wind kicking up sand and rustling the scrub.
My Elena pops her head up beside me with a sharp intake of air.
“It wore off.” I assume she means my essence, and I mentally calculate that that one lasted at least twice as long as the first one. Would it double in effectiveness each time? How many times it will take to become permanent is as much of a guess to me as it is to myElena. Perhaps Ichó knows more tales of humans and Mer, the only ones he’s shared being of my human mother and Mer father.
“Anyone?” Elena brushes wet strands of hair from her face before pulling the tie from her hair to let her golden locks flow down her back and sway in the water around her.
“No. No one.”
Her face drops, and I am loath to disappoint my mate.
“I’ll check the other half of the container.” Before I can protest, my Elena paddles until the water is only waist height, then stands and walks the rest of the way out of the water. The sea clings to her skin like a lover’s embrace, drops glistening along her sun-kissed torso, her clothing wet and tight against the lightly muscled planes of her body. This is the first time I am seeing her fully out of the water, and I am in awe of her beauty. The sun casts her hair and skin in a golden glow as it reflects off the sand, and I am sure I am staring at an embodiment of the goddess of the sea.
12
Elena
The warmth from the sun on my skin is invigorating and so much more potent than it is filtered beneath the sea. I bask in it momentarily, allowing my body to soak up its rays and dry out my pruned fingers and toes. What would happen if I were to never step foot on the shore again? Would my skin soften so much, weakened by prolonged exposure to the water, and then slough off at the slightest touch? I shiver at the morbid thought, tingles racing down my spine at the nightmarish idea. So many questions, and not enough answers.
I look back at Triton, his head bobbing above the softening waves. He looks concerned, and maybe it’s for my safety, or maybe it’s because he knows I could run off and leave him, and there’s nothing he could do about it. The sea may be a tempting mistress, but from where I’m standing, it can so easily be my prison as well.
“Back in a sec!” I wave. Maybe that’ll ease his mind. Icouldrun off, but this cursed bond would have me right back at his side regardless, or have me unconscious in my stubbornness, easy prey for whatever else lurks on this island. The thought is uncomfortable as I search my surroundings for any sign of life. Did Morgan make it back? And if she didn’t, then what happened to her and the others in the couple of days I’ve been gone? Did they find help, but I had already been taken by Triton? Or has something sinister befallen them? If they’re not here, then where are they? So many thoughts race through my mind. Whatever has happened, wherever they are, I hope they’re all together. I may have gotten lucky with Triton being a mostly decent guy—merman. But if the rest of the world is anything to go by, decent people are few and far between. I just hope that it’s different here.
Sand sticks to my feet and ankles as I walk along the shore towards the other half of the shipping container. It’s not as far out as the half I was in, but shallow water eddies and swirls inside it. I can see there’s no one inside it from the shore. I didn’t think there would be, but I still needed to see it for myself, like an intrusive thought that needs to play out so I can let it go.
I need a minute to myself, or an hour, before I head back to Triton to reveal my findings, or lack thereof. I plop myself down on the hot sand, my wet exercise shorts absorbing some of the heat, so I don’t burn my ass. I survey the scene. Why us? Why me? An ache forms behind my eyes, tears pricking at the edges. I tilt my head back and stare up at the clear blue sky, fighting the urge to scream and cry. It’s no use, though, as stubborn tears track down my face. Everything aches—my body, mind, and heart. Will I ever leave this place? Will I ever see Brett again? That’s the part that kills me the most—the idea of him thinking I left on purpose without so much as a goodbye, our parting moments being harsh words and a door slammed in his face.
A shuddered breath escapes me as I angrily wipe away the tears that refuse to listen to my brain. There’s no use in crying. That’s not going to get me off this damn island. But the barrier—that’s something I can look into. If I help Triton investigate how on earth we got here, then it may be the key to my leaving as well. I stand, dusting myself off, and square my shoulders, determination settling inside my bones like an old friend.I’m not going to give up so easily.
Triton is still exactly where I left him, his head bobbing above the water like a golden buoy. I wade out towards him, the cool water lapping at my now too hot skin, siphoning the warmth the sun has imbued from basking in its rays.
“Let’s go.” My voice is quiet, subdued, as I avoid his worried gaze, not wanting him to know I’ve been crying. But I sense he knows anyway when he doesn’t ask if I found anyone. He awkwardly clears his throat, and I glance up to see him running a wet hand through his curly hair, his face pained.
“What?” A pit in my stomach opens up. What now?
“It’s just, uh—” He clears his throat again. “I have to, as you say, ‘kiss’ you again.” There’s no cocky smile. There’s no teasing jab. The silence is deafening.
“Oh. Right.” My face heats. How could I forget?
“Is that okay? I would not want you to hit me over the head again.” His eyes turn mischievous, a smile teasing at the corners of his mouth. Never mind, there he is.
I roll my eyes. “It’s fine. Just keep your hands to yourself, okay?” Lord knows I do not need a repeat of our earlier tryst. Things are complicated enough without this mate bond makingus do all sorts of uninhibited things, and the last thing I want is to make this harder on him when I leave here.
Triton moves into my space, and I eye his hands suspiciously as he raises them from the water. He holds them out beside his head where I can see them.
“Is this okay?” His voice is so smooth and melodic, it tickles my brain, and I catch myself leaning into him. He’s so close, I can feel his warm breath against my cheek. I note that his breath doesn’t smell bad, considering I watched him wolf down an entire crab earlier, shell and all. But now I’m conscious of my own breath since it’s not like I’ve had access to a toothbrush in days.
“Oh no.” I cover my mouth with my hand, so it comes out muffled between my fingers.
Triton moves back, misunderstanding my trepidation as him crossing a boundary, and cocks his head at me, his pretty golden-flecked green eyes questioning.
“Do I have bad breath?” I whisper, eyes wide.
Triton’s shoulders relax and then start shaking with laughter. His mouth splits open in a grin, perfectly white teeth on show, the sound of it skating over my skin like warm honey, luxurious and sweet.
