Page 21 of Deep Sea Kiss
To Magnus’ credit, a flicker of regret passed over his face. Then he schooled his features into an impassive mask.
“Mikkel should have thought of that before he screwed some random human,” he spat.
Eiric wanted to punch him. He clenched his hands into fists by his sides, and he trembled with the strain of holding back.
“Aksel and Elise are your heirs,” he forced out through gritted teeth. “You might want to think about that before you alienate their mother.”
With that, he turned his back on Magnus and strode out of the hall, throwing open the large front door and leaving it open because he knew that would annoy his king. The rigid asshole needed someone to annoy him or worse.
Eiric walked back toward the harbor. There was nothing more on this island to bind him there, and Magnus could very well find a different architect if he wanted his fucking roof repaired next time. They hadn’t even discussed Mikkel’s British visitor, and he had no wish to go back and restart the conversation.
He hadn’t told Lottie about Aksel and Elise’s royal status yet, or that they now preceded him in the line for the throne because Mikkel was the second sibling and Eiric only the third. He hadn’t asked yet which one of the twins had been born first, either. Would little Elise one day be a sea dragon queen? He didn’t think Lottie was quite ready for that. In the old days, there would have been problems because the babies were born out of wedlock, but any dragon with a functioning nose would be able to tell that they were Mikkel’s offspring. They would remain heirs apparent until Magnus had children of his own—and since the great king was an insufferable jackass, Eiric doubted that would happen anytime soon.
So he wasn’t just protecting his niece and nephew but the possible future monarchs of the clan. And Magnus would probably do the same if he managed to get over the fact that their mother was human.
“Eiric!”
A familiar voice floated to him on the cool wind. He stopped on the pier, ready to lose his robe and plunge into the sea. His mother hurried toward him, her hand raised in a greeting. But he couldn’t talk to her now. He was still too angry at Magnus to form words, and he didn’t want to repeat the same story and face the same prejudice against humans.
With regret, he dropped the robe to the wet stone and jumped. His body exploded in a change, his limbs extending, his torso growing. He didn’t look back to his homeland but dove deep into the cool sea, eager to forget.
Eight
Lottie
Something had changedin Eiric since the last time they’d talked. He came by every couple of days, just to check up on them, and he hadn’t forced a conversation about his secret. He waited, patient and calm, for her to digest what he’d revealed to her, and she was beyond grateful for that.
They visited his restaurant together, and he seemed so proud to show them how he’d converted the old house into the modern establishment it was today. Lottie thought she’d be uncomfortable in his presence—the idea of her kids as sea monsters was slightly terrifying—but Eiric’s easy demeanor put her at ease.
In the light of day, the facts didn’t seem as terrible as that first night, and she finally thought she was ready to face the truth. She wanted to see how Aksel and Elise changed.
But Eiric’s expression was shuttered and forbidding when he knocked on her door one beautiful June morning. His eyebrows were knitted in a fierce frown, and he thrust a paper bag at her like it had offended him.
“Peaches,” he grumbled.
Lottie raised her eyebrows and peered inside the bag. “Right.”
“For the kids. I mean, for you, too.” He trailed off and rubbed the back of his neck.
She tugged his arm so he stepped across the threshold with her, then shut the door behind them. In the sudden darkness of the hallway, all she saw was the rough outline of him—and his eyes. His expression warmed, and her breath caught in her throat. He was so close, exuding heat she wanted to burrow into. They hadn’t been alone since that night, and she hadn’t wanted to be. But she’d realized his heritage was just a part of him, not something to beacceptedbut cherished, and there was no denying the feelings she’d developed for him.
Eiric reached up and touched her chin, lifting it with his finger. Then he pressed a slow kiss on her cheek, just to the right of her mouth. His beard tickled her skin, and butterflies exploded inside her, fluttering madly. Oh god, he was so hot and he smelled so nice, of fresh seawater and something wild and unchecked.
He smiled down at her, his teeth gleaming. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she breathed. “You’re, um. You seemed in a bad mood earlier.”
He shrugged. “Nothing some time with you can’t change.”
Ah, now, that was just too much. Lottie blushed furiously and tucked her hair behind her ear. She was still clutching the bag of peaches, forgotten in the moment. She realized they’d been standing in the hallway while her kiddos were alone in the living room; she hurried there now, suspicious because they weren’t making any sounds.
Sure enough, Aksel had found the dirt in the big flower pot—it was smeared on his chin and nose, so Lottie was fairly certain he’d ingested some of it. Elise sat next to him, chewing on her wooden giraffe, watching her brother.
Eiric laughed at the sight of the boy, and Aksel giggled back. Lottie shot the man a glare and picked up her son, carrying him over to the kitchen sink to clean him up.
“A little dirt won’t hurt him.” Eiric chuckled.
“You eat some if it’s that good for you,” she retorted, but she had to fight a grin of her own as she washed the black stains from Aksel’s fingers.
