Suddenly, I’m aware of a presence waiting quietly by the pool. It’s Gray. My stomach twists uneasily. Things have been awkward between us since our fight and all this stuff with Sammy hasn’t helped.
I float up to the surface to see what the demon wants. His dark eyes regard me calmly. The scent of several men wafts on the breeze and burns my nose. He has been to the sex club again. I wrinkle my nose to try to dislodge the smell. I don’t like it, but I can feel the tremendous power rolling off Gray. I can see why he does it.
If I was a sex demon, I would have withered and died by now. He is much braverthan me.
“I have something for you,” he says quietly.
I pull myself out of the water and stand beside him. He holds out his hand. In it I see my favorite pebble and the sight of it is like a sucker punch. Of course Gray is returning my mating offering. Sammy and I are no longer mates.
“I’ve been working on it for a while. It was going to be a mating gift, but I think you should still have it.”
I blink. The pebble has been polished, and a small hole drilled into it. A silver chain loops through it. Gray has turned it into a necklace.
“Thank you,” I manage to breathe out.
It’s a lovely gift, it really is. And I adore everything it signifies. It’s an olive branch. It’s forgiveness. It’s an offer of friendship that I probably don’t deserve.
Back in the harem, I rarely tried to help him. He was locked in a room. Chained to a bed. His mind broken and thoughts scattered. He had been imprisoned and used by humans for a hundred years. I was in the harem for a mere five. Yet, I cowered and thought of no one else.
My shaking hand takes the necklace and I slip it over my head. As it settles against my chest, a tidal wave of immense power washes over me. I stare wide eyed at Gray. This necklace is enchanted.
“It’s a powerful shield,” he says.
I stare at him blankly.
“Sirens won’t be able to sense you,” he says.
There is not a single thought left in my head. All I can do is stand here and stare at Gray.
“You can return to the ocean,” he says slowly and carefully.
Explaining it to me as if I’m witless. Which I probably am right now. I’m like a discarded shell. I look like a creature, but there is nothing inside.
Gray speaks again. “They will still be able to physically see you, of course. But you can sense them and stay away.” He shrugs. “The ocean is a big place.”
“It…it really is,” I stammer as my ability to speak comes flooding back.
A whole barrage of emotions overwhelms me now that my mind has caught up. Elation. Joy. Excitement. Gratitude. A thousand others that I cannot name.
“I should have made it for you sooner,” Gray says as his cheeks tinge with color. “But I was too caught up in my own shit.”
Amphitrite, do I know all about that. Gray has nothing, absolutely nothing, to feel ashamed about. He has given me the most wondrous gift in all the world. I don’t care if it is a little late.
I move awkwardly towards him. If anything deserves a hug, this does. But he skitters back from me and I freeze. We stare at each other. He chuckles and then I do too.
I hate that touch is difficult for him, I really do. But also a selfish part of me is so very glad I’m not the only one.
“Thank you,” I say again.
He nods. I can see in his eyes that he is aware of how very much this means to me. He gives me a shy smile and then drifts away. Across the grass, back to the house and his mate.
If only I had a mate to show my wonderful gift to.
This has to have been the worst idea of my life. Shopping malls are awful. Noisy, busy, brightly lit. I cannot fathom why humans like them.
As for being inspired by Gray’s immense gift, and thinking to win Sammy over with an offering, a shopping mall was a dreadful choice for my hunt. What the hell was I thinking? I should just admit defeat and go home. But returning empty-handed seems all kinds of wrong.
I sigh heavily and peer at the mall map to see if I’ve missed any sections. Clothes are no good because I’ve completely lost track of what humans think is fashionable. Fancy chocolates seemfrivolous. I didn’t like any of the jewelry, but maybe I should take another look. Or maybe a new phone? Sammy’s has a crack on it, but it appears to still work fine.
