Page 43 of Last Shot at Love

“I decided I needed a vacation, too.” Her eyes didn’t quite meet mine, sending worry shooting through me.

“Everyone is healthy?” I asked, pushing up from the sandy seafloor.

Azurea waved a tentacle. “Stop fretting. Everyone is just how you left them, and before you ask—yes, the business is flourishing as usual.”

I lay back down on the seafloor. “Okay, then. Start talking, Azurea. You wouldn’t have traveled halfway around the world without a purpose.”

Azurea flopped onto her back next to me, sending a cloud of sand billowing up around us. “When you announced you were moving to the US, it wasn’t a surprise since you’ve been doing most of your work remotely. But after you left, word on the currents was that you’re actually taking a mate.”

She lifted a crab from the seafloor, petting the cranky creature until it cuddled against her tentacle. Azurea had always had a soothing effect on most creatures of the sea.

“At the same time, a rumor began drifting through the investment world that a certain hot-shot businesswoman in Boston has gone silent.” Azurea fell silent, waiting for me to say something.

When I didn’t speak, she huffed. “Listen, it didn’t take a lot of work to figure out that she’s here as well. Are you telling me that’s just a coincidence? A little more research revealed that the Last Shot Resort is rumored to help paranormals find a mate.”

She fell quiet again.

Taking a deep breath of water, I blew it out a long, bubbling sigh. “It’s not a coincidence.”

Azurea’s tentacle squeezed my shoulder. “Are you so desperate for a wife that you’d leave the sea? Hundreds of sea-dwelling women throw themselves at you every year. If you’d quit hiding from them, you’d already be mated and have a dozen hatchlings clinging to your tentacles.”

She was right… but that’s not the life I wanted.

I’d wanted to leave the sea and the expectations that had been placed on me since I was young. And by moving to land, I’d be free to explore and do what I wanted without being recognized. I could just focus on being Beryl’s husband.

Reaching out a tentacle, I ruffled Azurea’s pale blonde hair. “I love our family, and I swear I won’t turn my back on the business, but I want something different for my life. Sis, I’ve spent years in the sea hoping to meet my mate—hoping to fall in love. But it never happened. It’s time for me to try something different.”

“But a land-dweller, Rule?” She’d reverted to my childhood nickname, which meant Azurea was getting emotional.

“She’s amazing, Az.” A smile spread across my face just thinking of my mate.

Azurea studied my face for several minutes. “You’ve let her bite you.”

Her fingertips brushed the tiny marks left by Beryl’s fangs. “You need to be careful. If you lose control—”

“I won’t,” I snarled, then seeing the hurt in her eyes, I softened my tone. “You know I’ve never lost control before, and I wouldn’t risk it now.”

My sister looked dubious but said nothing else about it. “Does she know who you are?”

This made me chuckle. “I don’t think so. The agency didn’t hide my identity, but I think she’s been too distracted by work to put two and two together.”

Azurea choked, bubbles bursting from her mouth. “Are you serious?”

“Az, I’m pretty sure she believes I’m a broke-arse beach bum.” I started laughing.

After a moment, Azurea joined me. We laughed until tears leaked from our eyes, and our tentacles slapped at the sand.

When our laughter finally died down, we lay on our backs, staring up at the surface. A small shark moved lazily through the water, sending a school of shimmering fish darting around us. We watched the show in companionable silence.

After a while, I sat up and stretched my tentacles. “I should head back.”

Az wrapped me in a tight hug. “Don’t get hurt, big brother.”

Chuckling, I squeezed her tight. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m venomous. It would be a challenge for someone to hurt me.”

“I’m not talking about your hulking body, Rule. It’s your heart I’m worried about. Your future bride is known for her incredible business skills—not her warmth.”

“That’s because she has to keep a tough exterior. Underneath, she’s a completely different person.” I paused, then added, “A person I’m falling in love with.”

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