Page 7 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

“Nico’s alive. And you’re going to help him. Aren’t you?” My ears pop from holding my breath. Shit, I can’t help how I feel about Eros. I want him too. But in my lessons, it’s not something mermaids are supposed to do, mating without discussing it with the current members of the pod. But then I remember Ophelia, Castor’s mother, saying a mermaid can do whatever she wants.

Is it getting hot in here? My eyes glide over the muscles in his arm, back up to his hazel eyes. I’m taking him in like cattle at the livestock auctions back home.

Oh, fudge pop. I’m not comparing a mate to cattle. I’ve got to stay focused. I’m going back to the city, to help Nico. This is going to help Nico. Eros will find a way. “You’re going to help him,” I say.

“Yes. Yes, I’m going to damn well try.” He takes my hand. “But if I fail, you could be in danger.”

I look out the windshield. It’s dark, and I can’t see much. I need to tell him. “I’ll be okay if Nico...” I can’t say it. I blurt, “I’m mated to Holter,” and cringe at what I expect Eros to say next.

He laughs. “No.”

I pull back in confusion. “Yes.”

He holds my hands to my knee, glances out the front, then back to me. “Well.” He nods, leaving me baffled.

“Well?” I ask.

“Well, that’s great. They don’t get better than Holter,viroorgeminae, and he will keep you from getting widow illness. But he can’t protect you.”

“Wha—”

“Oh, Sunshine, the hero of Hestertåtten has more clout than any othergeminaeout there. But he’s not going to be able to protect you on his own. I don’t want to scare you, but there are inky waters flowing through our city. Ones with a lot of power and agents. Onegeminaemate, no matter who he is, won’t keep you safe.”

“And you can.”

“When the dark forces are after you, it’s best to stick with someone who knows their kind.” The way he says it makes me shiver. “I’m not trying to scare you. In fact, I didn’t want to bring it up at all.”

I nod.

“You believe me?”

“I do.”

“Take some time and think about it.” He moves his hand from my leg, and I shiver from the cold. I really do believe him.

“I will.” I wrap my arms around my torso.

“You should get some more sleep.”

I nod and close my eyes. I don’t normally second-guess myself. I make a decision and stick with it. I’m not saying I’m being wishy-washy. When I walked away from Castor and Holter, it felt wrong. I was cracked open like an egg. And now a little part of me wonders if I made the wrong decision again. I don’t like the idea of mating Eros without talking to Nico and Holter.

But I can see how Eros is right. There is a lot about the Veiled City I still don’t understand.

3

EROS

“The bedroom is here.” I switch on the lights. I’ve got the windows set so no one can see into the dome. “The bathroom is off of it. I’m sorry there isn’t a mermaid lounge, but this was my uncle’s bachelor pad for a long time. He willed it to me.”

“Did he expect you to stay a bachelor?”

I laugh. “Yes, everyone expects me to stay a bachelor. Well, everyone but my uncle Rockney.”

“He’s a clerk at the dress shop?”

“Yes. He’s the only one in the family who doesn’t believe I’m a rogue.”

“I see.” Her arms are crossed over her chest.

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