Page 56 of Nocturnal Desires

“Exactly,” he agrees, leading Zach and me up to a large log cabin with a covered porch and a perfect view of the lake.

“We just finished dinner. There is still plenty on the stove. Help yourselves while I go find you some warmer clothes.” He sizes up Zach and then me. “You’re closer to my mate's size, so I’ll grab you some of his.”

I freeze in place at his words. “His?”

Aryn steels himself, raising his chin.

“The goddess blessed me with a true mate that is also a man. Is that a problem?”

“Not a problem at all,” I tell him with a smile. “I watched men and women within my parliament struggle against the mate the goddess intended for them because most would not support them. It was unnecessary and painful to watch. Love is love.”

Aryn was prepared to fight that battle, but he breathes out another sigh of relief.

“Thank you.”

With that, he spins, heading up the stairs.

I follow Zach into the kitchen, where he’s already piling a plate high with spaghetti and meatballs.

“Save some for me,” I chuckle.

Chapter Fourteen

Pearl

“I’m going to go call Narissa from the beach and see if I can get an update,” I whisper to Skarlyt as the rest of the village continues packing up their belongings.

“I talked to her yesterday; there was nothing new to report.”

I give her a nod of thanks before looking around for Amelia. I spot her in the shadow of her Ya-Ya, talking animatedly about something. Knowing that she’s safe, I turn, take the path through the rocks and back out onto the beach, and pull my phone out.

“Hello?” A voice answers.

“Kristle?” I ask, recognizing her voice.

“Pearl?” she asks almost excitedly.

“Yes. I wanted to check in.”

“Thank the goddess,” she says, breathing out in what I imagine is a sigh of relief.

“What’s wrong?” Immediately, my hackles rise. She doesn’t sound like she’s underwater like I’d expect.

“I was just going to call you.”

“Why? Did something happen?”

“Kind of. We were starving them out like we planned, but then the sea expelled them and pushed them onto shore.”

“Where?” I ask. Wondering why, after ignoring their presence for almost three weeks, the goddess would choose to notice them now.

“I think we’re still somewhere in Greece, but that’s not the worst thing...”

“Spit it out, Kristle.”

“We can hear Sky… I mean… we can hear his screams of pain. It’s almost like they know we’re here, and they’re doing it to provoke us.”

As she speaks, I hear the wobble in her voice.

---