Page 69 of Finding Love with the Fae King

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” I screamed, threw the rock back in the water behind me, and started swimming to the shore, only to be grabbed by my foot.

“Hey, now, not so fast.” I was splashing like a mad woman while Horus hissed a laugh. My fear became wonder as I stopped struggling. If Horus wasn’t rushing to the rescue, maybe I was all right. Turning to my attacker, I saw no one other than Lucca.

“Ya see? That’s better.” The shock on my face was apparent as he threw back his head and laughed. “You are a strange one. I can’t figure you out.” Lucca grabbed my hand and pulled me to a nearby rock, so I could sit on it. Being fully aware of my situation of just wearing a bra and panties, I grabbed my legs and held them to my chest.

“Now, what is a pretty girl like you doing all the way out here?” He smirked as he leaned on the rock with his elbow.

“That’s none of your business,” I snapped.

“Someone grew a spine, eh?” Lucca swam backward and laid on his back. “Must be something serious to get special permission from the dragons to be out ‘ere.”

“Then why are you out here?” I asked.

“I’m not considered a ‘two feet,’ hence the fin.” He waved at it nonchalantly.

“Oh,” I sighed. “Well, what are you doing here?”

“That is a good question.” He put his hands behind his head. “Every time you enter the water, I’m called to you. Not like a mating call, just a call. I sense your presence, and I’m not sure why.” He hummed.

“If that is supposed to be some crazy pickup line, it won’t work,” I huffed.

“Princess, you are beautiful, but I’m not ready to start a war with the fae against the water dwellers. Besides, you aren’t my type.”

“Well, good.” I huffed. “How are you here, anyway? This is a freshwater source, and you are supposed to be in the ocean!” Lucca flicked a few stray leaves that were in the water away from him.

“All water leads to the sea, Princess. I could swim up a stream or take underwater caverns from the ocean, which I just did.”

Lucca swam around on his back while Horus watched intently. A gleam in his eyes danced over to us as he looked between the two of us. An enormous grin showed all his beautiful sharp teeth.

“What’s with him?” Lucca asked, and I shrugged my shoulders.

“Anyway”—he rolled his eyes—“tell me about yourself, Melina. I need to figure out this situation between us, or it will drive me mad.”

“I don’t think I should talk to you.” I crossed my arms. “Osirus said you were dangerous.”

“Yeah, what else did the little King say about me? That I abduct women and make them stay in my harem?” I blinked a few times and nodded my head yes.

“Ha! Damn fool. Doesn’t he learn from his own experience?” Lucca threw a rock that pegged off a tree. “You have heard the rumors, right? He had sex with so many women, used them, then threw them out like yesterday’s garbage?”

“Yes, but he didn’t, really!” I came to Osirus’s defense.

“Same rumor ‘ere, Princess. The only girls I take are the ones that ask to be taken to get away from abusing men or looking to start anew. They all have found their mates down here and never return to the surface. The Goddess has a funny way of presenting them to me while I look for my own damn mate.” Lucca took another rock and threw it harshly against another tree.

“I never thought of it like that. I guess I was quick to judge. I’m sorry. This entire world is new to me. Don’t know who to trust and who to stay away from…” My voice trailed away while Lucca raised his hand.

“It’s fine. He thinks that way because he saw me take one of the fae girls that was running to the water. She was trying to get away from some rutting wolf that wanted to claim her as his chosen mate. I had told her the day before I would take her. She was just screaming for me to take her quickly.” Lucca’s face was forlorn. His mind was taking him to another place. I had a powerful urge to comfort him, a man I didn’t know. His blue-green scales were darker than they were the first time I met him.

“I’m so sorry, Lucca. I had no idea. What you did for those women, that was very heroic of you to take them in like that.” Lucca scoffed.

“Doesn’t really matter. I just don’t want them to end up like my father did.” Lucca bit his lip harshly but gave a sinister smile. “My mother wasn’t my father’s real mate, all for political gains pushed by her. Once she found her true mate, though, she left him. She left us.”

My heart broke for Lucca. He might have had a family full of brothers and a father, but knowing the loss of a family member was something I was also all too familiar with.

“Your father still cares for you, doesn’t he?” He nodded his head. “Very much.”

“That’s good,” I whispered.

“And you?” Lucca pried. “Surely they were upset when their daughter got taken by a fae.” He snickered.

---