Page 13 of Cerban
Pam’s lips thinned. She opened her mouth, but Fionn spoke first, his voice calm but carrying the weight of command.
“Pam. Paul.” His gaze cut to each of them in turn before landing on me. “Cerban is my brother. I know his heart. He does not act rashly. If he chose to intervene, it is because there was no other choice.”
Pam’s brow furrowed. “That doesn’t excuse–”
“It does not excuse,” Fionn interrupted gently, respectful but firm. “But it explains. And it shows that he put the life of a human above his own safety and above our reputation. That is what we promised when we came here. To be better than Kelon. To earn trust.”
Paul shifted uncomfortably but didn’t speak. Elise leaned forward into the projection. “I was there when Kelon almost ruined everything. If Cerban had left Maelis to drown, what would that have proven? That we care more about rules than lives? That would have destroyed trust far worse.”
Pam exhaled sharply, the sound distorting in the holo-feed. “Be that as it may, rules are not suggestions. Cerban, you are confined to quarters until further notice. No contact with staff. If you break that order, you will be recalled to Finfolkaheem. Is that clear?”
Technically, she had no authority over me and the finmen - and yet she did. She had close contact with the Intergalactic Authority. They could revoke our licence to be on this planet at any moment. And if Pam decided to remove us from her dating agency... it would affect not just me, but all the other finmen who'd travelled with me on the Tidebound, my clutch-brothers included.
I inclined my head, though inside, the vow I’d made on the beach burned hotter than ever. “Clear.”
Fionn’s eyes met mine through the projection, steady and strong. He gave the smallest of smiles – silent solidarity, even as he upheld the rules.
Pam ended the call, the holo-screen dissolving into darkness. Paul turned on his heel without a word and left the room.
Rainse muttered a curse under his breath. He leaned against the wall, arms folded, studying me with a mix of amusement and concern.
"That went well."
I wasn't sure if he was joking. I let out a growl, low and sharp. “I would do it again. A hundred times.”
He smirked faintly. “I know. That’s why I’m standing here instead of dragging you back to your quarters by the greenskin like Pam would prefer.” He straightened, stepping closer. “Tell me, though. Why this human? What is she to you?"
I hesitated, the words heavy in my throat. But hiding them was useless. He already knew.
“She is mine,” I said.
Rainse’s brows rose, but he didn’t laugh. He just studied me, sharp-eyed. “You’re certain?”
“Yes.” The memory of her heartbeat echoed in my chest, calling to mine with a rhythm older than the tides. “When I heard her in that cave, it was not duty that drove me. It was need. As if the sea itself would not let me live if I let her die.”
"And your greenskin...?"
"Tense as my cock when I'm close to her."
Rainse laughed. "Smooth as always, brother. But she hasn't shown up as a match for you. You're in the database. It would have come up in the latest results."
"Not if Maelis isn't in the database. She's staff on the island. She is not one of the females sent here to find a mate."
"I guess we can't ask Pam just now to confirm."
I chuckled despite myself. "No, I doubt that would be received well."
"They will want proof. Paul, Pam and the others won't let you anywhere near her unless you can prove that she's your mate."
I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms. “Rules. Always rules. Yet the rules would have left her dead at the bottom of the sea. What good are they, if they deny what is true?”
Rainse clapped a hand to my shoulder. “Easy. I’m on your side. But if you mean to fight for her, you’d better be ready. Because proving she’s your mate when the agency says otherwise…” He shook his head, lips quirking. “That’s going to make the storm outside look like a gentle wave.”
I met his gaze, steady. “Then let it come. No force in this world or the next will keep me from her.”
Rainse’s smirk faded into something more serious. He nodded once. “Then we’ll face it together. Tell me how I can help."
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