Marked by the Sea (Monsters’ Mates #1)

Chapter 15

Amora

Earlier

You never truly knew boredom until you were trapped on a rock in the middle of the sea. I couldn’t name the amount of times in my life that I had said I was bored. But now, as I looked around, without electronics, a book, or people, I knew I never knew the meaning of the word. Since Riftan left me in a puddle, I had been alone. I was left to my own devices, and there were only so many times a girl could bathe in a day. I couldn’t even run to the corner store and grab snacks. I had done everything I could think of, but I couldn’t even count the number of hours that had passed. Sighing, I lifted my arms and put my hands behind my head as I stared up at the ceiling.

Where do the guys go when they leave here?

Do they have their own homes?

Or do they live together?

Sharing an underwater apartment penthouse?

My shoulders bounced as I giggled. I couldn’t imagine the three of them getting anything done if they lived together. Hexon was constantly fucking or using his tentacles to touch Rowan. I had never seen Riftan with Rowan sexually, but I had seen him watch them together. There was something about the way the kraken used the slender faerie that was mesmerizing. Everything about Hexon was big.

And now I was getting sidetracked. There were more things I could do than think about Hexon’s thick cock. Like… Did they have universities under the sea? Laughing out loud, I imagined Riftan with a backward cap, his horns protruding through the holes it would have because, obviously, mermen had horns. If I thought about it, like really thought about it, Riftan was more of a knitted sweater, muscular nerd with perfect hair and black-rimmed glasses. All the girls wanted him to tutor them, but only the really pretty ones were confident enough to ask. Hexon was the one who was more of a jock. With long silver hair, I bet all the women liked him.

Are there female krakens?

Or do they mate outside of their species?

Do they have sports beneath the waves?

It was better to think about these random hypothetical things like universities, sports, and underwater shops. The alternative wasn’t too bright. But when I wasn’t wondering about the world beneath the waves, I spiraled. The nerves were already setting in, and the darkness reminded me I was still technically a prisoner on a rock in the middle of the ocean.

Kill joy.

Sitting up, I jumped to my feet. Walking out as far as I dared, I stopped before I reached the edge. I couldn’t help but search the horizon—yep, still no land in sight. And so what if there were? There was no way I’d swim out there. The taste of bitterness was on my tongue. Not because I couldn’t save myself, but because I wouldn’t even if I could.

My parents’ smiling faces came to mind. At least I wouldn’t ever have to worry about my parents forcing me into the water or dragging me on another vacation with them. Unbidden, tears sprang to my eyes. They weren’t the best parents when it came to my phobia, but I missed them.

What was going to happen to me?

Rowan’s words came back to me. I wanted to trust him. As impossible as it seemed, I wanted to believe him. He’d said my days weren’t numbered, and I prayed to whatever gods would hear me. I wanted to be different—set aside from the others that had come before me. I wished so badly for them to want to keep me. But I didn’t want to stay trapped forever. I might go crazy if I hadn’t already. As much as I missed my parents, the truth was clear.

I don’t want to go back.

A smile spread across my face. It was crazy, but it was true. Rowan had quickly become a friend… and a lover. Hexon, too. The tentacles were hard not to love. He had so many of them, and how many men could multitask? My cheeks heated, and I rolled my eyes. Rowan promised to come back tomorrow. I knew not to expect it, but I wanted them to come. God knew when I would see Riftan again. I was hoping he would come tomorrow, too. We hadn’t had a lot of time to talk, and I wanted to.

A splash had my spine straightening, but I didn’t want to appear too excited. My toes curled, and I bit down on my bottom lip as I acted like I didn’t hear anything. For emphasis, I ran my fingers through my hair. The comb from Rowan was meant for men and broke easily.

“I’m disappointed. My nephew risks the possibility of war for you?” I startled at the voice filled with hate. I didn’t know who this was. A merman. The first thing I noticed was his lack of horns. I’d assumed all merfolk had horns. A crown sat on his head, and he had a beard. He held a trident in his hand and had a deep green tail. Unlike the kind and caring merman in the fairy tales, or the one I’d grown fond of, this one looked mean. Like Riftan, his tail held him up as he eased toward me. This must be the king. He shoved his trident into the ground, and it remained standing as he moved away from it.

“Who are you? And what are you doing here?” Something didn’t feel right. My fight or flight instincts begged me to run, but my brain screamed there was nowhere to run.

“You’re not the brightest, are you?” His majesty scoffed.

And he’s condescending.

Great.

He’s closer now. If I reached out, I could touch him.

Fight or flight.

Fight or flight.

I held my ground, and he tutted like I was a child. I didn’t know this man, but I hated him. His eyes roamed down my half-naked body, and I felt sick. When his cold green eyes locked with my disgusted one, his lip curled.

“What is it about you that holds his attention? You’re a temptress set on our kind’s destruction,” he spat.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I said with false bravado. The merman without horns laughed. It wasn’t like Riftan’s; it lacked warmth.

“This is my sea. I can go wherever the fuck I damn well please,” he hissed. It almost seemed like… he was throwing a fit, as if he needed to remind me of his position.

“I’m not in the sea. I’m on it. And I’m not one of yours.” Taunting the merman king probably wasn’t the best idea, but it was too late. The words were out, and I was fucked.

“Everything is mine. Everything of Riftan’s is mine. And I think it’s about time I figured out what it was about you that ensnared my nephew.” He reached out with his filthy hand, and I scrambled for something—anything—that would make him reconsider.

“Riftan will kill you,” I replied weakly. My breathing picked up. The guys weren’t coming back today. By the time they found me, it would be too late.

“You think yourself irreplaceable?” The king’s words were a mixture of amusement and taunting. He was closer now; a cold draft came off him.

“I’m special.” Even as the words came out, I doubted them. All I had was Rowan’s word and this hope that burned inside me.

“None of them were. And neither are you.” Ivy-green claws dragged down my cheek. Strength and power oozed from every pore. The hunter stared down at his prey. Just like with my monsters, I was useless against this one. With a weapon, I could have hurt him. Without one—I had no chance. Craning my head back to peer at him, long white hair fell to his chest.

“Will you kill me?” I rasped.

“Yes.” His hand lowered to my breast. He cupped me, and my chin trembled. His touch felt like a betrayal. I didn’t want this.

“Why?”

“With you out of the way, Riftan will have no more distractions. Worry not. I’ll have a taste first. I need to sample what’s caused my nephew to disobey me.” His claws ran over my rolls, and he grabbed my hand, raising it to the bulge that protruded from his cock pocket. I refused to look at it. I couldn’t.

I may not be able to kill him, but…

Wrapping my hand around his vile length, I looked up at him. Green eyes watched me. Curling my fingers, I used my nails to dig into his flesh before bending his cock. He swung his massive arm, and I went flying. Crashing into the wall, my head bounced off the rock with a thud.

Fuck.

My vision was blurry as I slumped to the ground. The world spun as I attempted to crawl away. The monster growled behind me, and I knew I needed to get up and do something before he could heal. As I gripped the wall and pushed up off the ground, a large hand wrapped around my ankle. Yanked back, my body was pulled down by gravity before I could catch myself. My face slapped against the rock before he flipped me and lugged me beneath him.

No, no, no.

Please, gods, no.

The monster’s broad chest and beard hung above me. Unlike Riftan, he didn’t have a single scar. Too close. I knew it was useless, but I wasn’t going to just lay there. I’d hurt him once; I could do it again. He didn’t even flinch as I scratched every inch I could touch. He backhanded me, and I saw stars. My face jerked with the force, and my cheek slapped against the cool stone.

Refocusing on him, he raised his arm, and I watched as the trident flew into his waiting hand. Then he threw it at me, and the metal held me in place. My hands grasped the cold bars as I kicked at him. My feet bounced off his chest. He gripped himself and slapped my thighs apart before sliding between my legs. I watched in horror as he jerked himself, pulling down his foreskin to reveal the pink cock beneath. Tears came to my eyes as time slowed.

Bringing his other hand to his mouth, he spat in it. I watched in horror as he brought it down to my spread lips. Wriggling, I fought uselessly to break free of the trident. A growl pierced the sky and echoed through the cave. Riftan was here. I knew it was him before I laid eyes on him. In the next moment, the King’s weight lifted off me. A few more seconds, and it would have been too late. Two monstrous men fought above me while I lay beneath them, confined by the trident. They were a blur of claws, brute strength, and grunts.

Tentacles wrapped around the gold handle, and an overpowering charred, salty scent hit me. My gaze locked on where smoke came off the trident. He was burning. Beautiful silver hair moved into my line of sight, and I looked up into red, worried-filled eyes as they searched my face. I let out a sob as it finally dawned on me—they’d come for me. I was safe. Hexon flinched and clenched his jaw as he yanked the trident from the ground. He tossed it with a clang, and Rowan swooped in.