Zethe gives my hand another squeeze, his face serious. “We have time, Rey. We don’t need to make any decisions right now.”
“But it’s something to consider,” Sage says, nodding to himself as if confirming a thought. “If you’re going to be together, you’ll need to figure out how to make it work.”
Zethe’s strong tentacle wraps around my hand, his grip secure, grounding. “Zoe and Sage… they decided to move in together the day they acknowledged their bond and chose to stay together as a couple.”
“But you both were already living here, and had jobs here,” I protest gently. “I’m an outsider. I don’t have a place here yet, and I can’t expect Zethe to change his whole life to accommodate me.”
“Isn’t that what love is, Rey?” Zoe asks softly. “Accommodating each other, making sacrifices, finding a way to make it work?”
I slowly put my pizza back on the plate and swallow hard, turning to look at Zethe. His dark blue eyes meet mine, and the tenderness in them nearly brings me to tears.
My lips curve upward involuntarily in a smile as I respond, "You're right."
Here I am, a human in a monster’s world, and I’ve found someone I truly care about. Someone who cares about me. It’s overwhelming and incredible and…
Her words echo in my heart, stirring up emotions I can’t quite name. But one thing is clear: I’m not alone. And with Zethe by my side, I feel like I can take on anything.
I look up to find both Zoe and Sage watching me, their expressions filled with understanding and warmth.
With a deep breath, I nod, meeting Zoe’s gaze. “Thank you,” I say, my voice steady. “For sharing your story. It’s proof that a human and a monster can be fated and have everything work out for them.”
“I’m so happy for you, Zoe,” I say, my voice choked with emotion. “For both of you.”
Zoe smiles at me, her eyes brimming with happiness. “And we’re happy for you, Rey. I hope nothing but the best for you both, no matter what path the two of you take.”
I glance at Zethe once again, his gaze steady on me, full of unspoken promises and love.
I am his fated mate. His other half.
And he… he is mine.
As I look around the table, at my fated mate, at my friends, I realize that for the first time in a long time, I’m genuinely happy too.
Fourteen
Zethe
Ilead Rey on my private walkway, through the lush tropical foliage, the vibrant colors of the flowers and the sweet scent of the fruit trees filling the air.
We reach the small cove, and I feel a surge of pride as I watch her eyes widen in awe. The thin beach stands as a barrier between the cove and the vast ocean, connected only by a gentle stream flowing between them.
“This is… incredible,” Rey breathes out, her voice filled with wonder. She gazes at the picturesque scene before her, taking in the beach, the sunbathing rock, and the exotic flowers and foliage that line the border, providing privacy.
The beachfront villa, made of carved rock, stone, and wood, stands tall with a grand entryway, inviting and impressive.
I smile at her reaction, feeling a warm satisfaction bubbling within me. “Yes,” I reply, my voice filled with certainty. “This is where I live. I’ve called this place my home since the resort was first built.”
I close the distance between us. “If you decide to stay with me,” I say, my voice gentle yet filled with hope, “all of this is yours too.”
Her gaze softens, and she looks around once again, as if imagining herself as a part of this paradise. “This is beyond anything I could have imagined,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. “And to think… this is where you live. I’d thought you would be living in an underwater pod, not on the shore.”
“All Merfolk and the vast majority of Kraken live underwater in the middle of deep lakes, seas and oceans,” I explain. “However, the other aquatic monsters tend to live in underwater domes near the shore or in homes along the beaches, allowing them to live in both worlds.”
I reach out, gently cupping her cheek in my hand, the rough texture of my skin contrasting with the softness of hers. “I want nothing more than to share this place with you,” I say earnestly, my voice filled with sincerity. “But more importantly, I want to share my life with you. I’ve waited for someone like you for a long time… and I can’t fathom you leaving in four days.”
Rey’s words echo in my mind, her worries about the bond between us clouding her judgment and the uncertainties that linger in her heart. I understand her fears, the nagging doubts that can plague any relationship. But I won’t let those doubts consume us. I won’t allow our connection to be tarnished by what-ifs.
Taking a deep breath, I reach out to grasp her hand, intertwining our fingers. “The bond between us is not something to fear,” I begin, my voice steady and reassuring. “It’s a gift, a sign that we are meant to be together.”
