Page 91 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

I’ve never been one for going out to eat. I never saw the purpose. I understand that we can’t keep her locked up safe, as much as I want to. I search the dock, scanning for anything or anyone that could cause our mermaid harm.

There’s a group gathered near the door. Mermen. They’re clearly waiting to get in. But they take one look at us and part like water pulling back from the beach in advance of a tidal wave.

Annabelle’s eyes widen, and her shoulders shrug up to her ears. But Holter guides her through.

“Ah, it’s the Portsmouth pod. How lovely of you to come!” The maître d’ knows who we are. “I’ve got the best table for you.” He leads us through the crowded room.

There are several tables full of pods that I should know, ones that Castor has introduced me to before. There’s a redhead in the corner whose name starts with a T. We spent a weekend with her pod two years ago when theCentauriwas being rebuilt after a bad Viking battle, a battle that almost cost me my life—and worse yet, Holter’s life. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do, but resigning my commission? I thought it would be a lot more painful. And it’s not. I’m relieved. Annabelle is the only thing that matters now. Keeping her safe from the city, and from us. Mostly from our past mistakes.

True to his word, the maître d’ takes us to a table right in the middle of the restaurant. “Here we have it.”

Holter turns to me, his eyebrow raised. I shake my head. “How about something...”

“More defensible,” I suggest. I don’t like the positioning of the table. There’s a wall in the way of the main entrance, and still we would be open to the rest of the patrons.

“No one is going to bother the hero of Hestertåtten, the return of Poseidon, and...” The maître d’ stares at Eros. “...his mates.”

I laugh. I’m going to have to order his best bottle of dragon ale to thank the male for knocking on Eros.

“Even so, we would be more comfortable with something more private.” Eros smiles.

“I understand. Follow me.” He leads us away to the other side of the room. A darkened alcove holds a table just big enough for the four of us. Holter holds the chair out for Annabelle.

Drinks appear from the golden tray of a server not far behind him.

Holter blinks at the male. “We haven’t ordered yet.”

“Yes, but this is the first round, bought by the table in the corner. I have two more orders, but I’ll wait to bring them.” The server nods at me.

“Yes, wait.” I squint in the low light to see where he’s pointing. It’s a group of males without a mermaid. They raise their cups to us. “Send them back.”

“Nico, you don’t send good drinks like this back.” Eros has it in his hand, the thing partially gone.

“Wouldn’t that be rude?” Annabelle stares at the one in front of her.

“Yes, Belle. That would be vulgar. But you don’t have to drink it all. Just take a sip or even just bring it to your lips.”

“She doesn’t have to drink it.” Eros laughs. “She doesn’t have to do anything she doesn’t want to.”

“Unless it’s mate you?” Holter counters.

“Or him.” Eros wiggles his damn eyebrows at me.

“Apparently, yes.” I can’t help but smile because Annabelle is smiling too.

“Please stop. We’re here to bond, not argue.” Annabelle puts one hand on top of mine and the other on top of Eros’s.

“In my family, the two are the same thing.” Eros laughs.

“That we have in common.” I take a small sip of the dragon ale in front of me.

40

ANNABELLE

Itoss the stick. It doesn’t go far; it drifts away from me, but Mickey waits and then wiggles his big tail after it. Somehow Rockney has come through with a new shipment of them. And the guys have let me go outside, mostly by myself. It’s the first time I’ve been out of the apartment without a glove covering the mark on my hand too.

It’s been a good two weeks since our dinner. We’re settling into a new normal. Mickey brings the stick back, and I scratch his head. I need to remind myself he’s not a normal shark. Seeing how they can turn on different aspects of a species like a light switch makes me wonder. The Dorian are so much more advanced than us.

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