Rey turns to me, her eyes wide. “Should I be scared?” she asks, a hint of nervousness creeping into her voice.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Sora and her Kraken mates know what they’re doing. You’re in safe hands,” I reassure her.
Her eyes widen even more as she looks back at the cooking raft, her gaze flicking between Sora and the Kraken twins. She leans closer, her voice dropping to a whisper as she asks, “Is she in a polyamorous relationship with the Kraken twins?”
I nod, confirming her suspicions. “Yes, Seb and Flo are her fated mates. It’s not unusual for twins to share a fated mate… it’s the interspecies aspect of their relationship that’s less common.”
Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “My monster studies class in college never went into the finer details about twins or interspecies relationships. And none of my online monster coworkers are in one, nor have I had any reason to inquire about them.
“I believe in love and witnessed many different relationships in college, including those between humans and monsters, as well as between different monster species. But, since I graduated, I’ve been working from home and getting whatever I need delivered, so I’m not used to seeing relationships open in public.”
I shrug. “Many of us have given up on the idea of finding our fated mates. Our society has become so focused on technology that it’s replaced personal interactions,” I confess. “It’s hard to find time to venture outside the resort when everyone is so distant and introverted, wanting to remain alone inside on their gadgets when they’re not working.”
The truth is, while I had held on to hope longer than most, even I had almost given up on ever finding my fated mate. But then Rey came into my life, and everything changed.
Now, I’m just grateful to have found her. I’m determined to make the most of the time we have together, and that includes giving her the best experiences the resort has to offer, starting with Sora’s unique cuisine.
“So, what’s the plan after lunch?” Rey asks, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
I lean back in my chair, the wood creaking softly under my weight. “I figured we could go shell searching,” I tell her. “The storm yesterday churned up the ocean, so there’ll be all sorts of interesting things washed up on the shore.”
Her face lights up, and she nods enthusiastically. “That sounds fun! Do you do that often?”
“I do,” I admit. “Not just for fun, though. It’s also to ensure the beaches are safe for the guests. But yeah, I find some pretty neat stuff sometimes. Once I even found a rubber duckie. It now sits in my bathroom window.”
She laughs at that, her eyes sparkling. “I trust you to know something fun and unique for us to do, together.”
Before I can respond, Sora swims over, a large tray balanced in her hands. She sets it down on the table between us, revealing an array of beautifully arranged sushi rolls. “I’ve been studying popular human foods,” Sora says, her voice filled with excitement. “MerSushi is a big hit, and since we use most of the ingredients already, I thought we’d give it a shot. I hope you like it, Rey.”
Rey looks at the sushi, her eyes wide. “Do you have chopsticks or any utensils?” she asks.
Sora and I exchange glances. “Actually, we don’t use utensils here,” Sora explains. “Everyone just uses their hands.”
Rey shrugs, a small smile playing on her lips. “That’s okay, I’ve never been good with chopsticks anyway,” she admits. “Eating with my hands works perfectly fine for me.”
She picks up one of the sushi rolls, studying it for a moment before popping it into her mouth. “Mmm, this is delicious!”
She grins at Sora, her eyes sparkling with delight, and I warmly share her enthusiasm.
“Rey,” Sora says, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she holds her tray to her chest with both arms. “I’m hoping to be able to offer dishes that humans will enjoy, especially since we’retrying to attract more visitors to this resort. Do you have any suggestions for improving my Fusion MerSushi rolls?”
“Sora, these rolls are absolutely perfect just the way they are. I love how the unique flavors come together,” Rey says after she swallows. “Maybe just change the fillings depending on what’s fresh or in season, but otherwise, I’d keep them the same. Customers, regardless of the dish, enjoy limited-time flavors, so changing the menu every two months or so could be a fun way to generate buzz.”
Sora’s face lights up, and a sense of relief washes over her. She has poured her heart and soul into creating these culinary delights, and it warms my heart to see her confidence restored. Her passion for food is contagious, and it’s evident in every dish she prepares.
“You really think so?” she asks, a mix of excitement and gratitude evident in her voice.
Rey nods enthusiastically, setting her drink down. “Absolutely. Your Fusion MerSushi rolls are unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before. The way you blend different flavors and textures together is certainly something I can’t find outside the resort.”
Sora’s smile widens, and she places her hands on the table, leaning in closer. “Rey, your words mean the world to me. I’ve worked tirelessly to create dishes that will create memorable experiences for my customers. My fear is that I wouldn’t have enough dishes for our human guests to enjoy, but to hear that you love my Fusion MerSushi rolls brings me immeasurable joy.”
I give her a reassuring smile, filled with genuine admiration. “Your Fusion MerSushi rolls are a testament to your talent and creativity. I can’t wait to try what else you have on your menu that I may enjoy.”
Sora’s eyes glisten with tears, and she nods to both of us. “Thank you, Rey! And thank you, Zethe. Now my fears have been calmed. It’s been my greatest worry ever since Svea announced that she was opening up the resort to humans. I wanted to make sure their needs were met.”
Then, she reaches out and lightly touches Rey’s hair. “Your hair is so pretty. Have you ever had it styled in a Merfolk design? We could do it while you’re here at the resort.”
I glance at Rey to gauge her reaction before speaking up. “We had plans for the day, Sora,” I remind her, not wanting to impose on Rey. “But if Rey is interested, we could arrange a hair session tomorrow.”
