Rey blushes a deep red, but her voice is firm when she answers. “Yes, Hula. I have claimed him.”
Pride and desire surge through me. I can't resist pulling Rey closer, wrapping my tentacle around her waist. I wanted the world to know, and now, they do.
We are mates. We are claimed. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Hmm,” Hula muses, her gaze traveling over Rey’s body, studying the tiny purple marks dotting her skin. Her eyes sparkle with amusement. “It seems that Zethe’s tentacles have indeed been… busy.”
A soft laugh escapes my lips, and I feel Rey’s body shaking slightly with laughter against mine. It’s a wonderful sound, the sound of her joy, and I find myself wanting to hear it more often.
Hula then turns to Rey, her tone suddenly soft. “Rey, my dear, my pod and I would love to spend more time with you. My daughters are quite taken with you.”
Rey’s smile is brilliant, her eyes shining. “I’d love that, Hula. Now that I’ve accepted Zethe and this… bond.” She waves a hand between us. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Hula’s gaze returns to me, her eyes narrowing slightly. “But there’s something else, isn’t there, Zethe?”
I bow my head in acknowledgment. “Indeed, Hula. I was wondering if we could borrow your spelled gem necklace. I want Rey to experience the ocean like we do.”
A chuckle escapes Hula’s lips. “So, being patient finally paid off for you, huh?” She reaches up to untie the gem from her hair netting and hands it to me. “As long as Rey wears this, she can breathe underwater. Lose it, and the water will become your enemy.”
“My enemy?” Rey asks. I can hear the fear in her voice as she looks at me with confusion.
“Yes, your enemy, and any who aren’t born of the sea,” Hula explains. “Water both creates and consumes life. It surrounds you. It allows you to be there when you swim in it. Pressure, temperature, and currents are all present.
“The necklace proves you’re respected by sea monsters. You have permission to be with us if you wear it.”
“As long as you have this on, Rey,” I say, wrapping the necklace around her neck and tying it to her Merfolk hairnet. “You’ll be able to breathe, as well as withstand the water pressure and temperature.”
“Wow, that sounds incredible.” She lifts the gem to her face and looks up at the sky through it, staring at the swirls of the living water sealed inside. “But why allow me to use it?”
“Because you’ve accepted Zethe as your own,” Hula replies, her gaze fixed on Rey. “As a result, we accept you as one of us.”
“Thank you, Hula,” I say, staring at the gem in Rey’s hand. Its surface shimmers with an ethereal glow, as if the spirit of the ocean itself resides within it. “I appreciate your generosity.”
“It’s not me, it’s the will of the Moon Goddess,” she says with a knowing smile before turning her gaze back toward the water.
Rey’s gaze turns to the Merfolk pod, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Do you guys want to come swim with us?” She glances up at me, her eyes wide with excitement and a bit of nervousness.
I nod in approval. I understand her desire to share this experience, and the more aquatic monsters around us, the safer I’ll feel if anything goes awry.
The last thing I want is a repeat of what happened, especially if we get separated.
The Merfolk respond with a chorus of excited cheers, dropping what they’re doing to dive into the water. Their excited voices echo through the area, filled with anticipation about swimming with a human for the first time. Even other land monsters nearby stop and watch as the excitement builds.
Rey, her nervousness now more visible, turns to me. “What if… what if it doesn’t work, Zethe?”
Hula chuckles softly. “Oh, it’ll work, Rey. Just go and see for yourself.” She gestures toward the water, her eyes twinkling with certainty.
I squeeze Rey’s hand reassuringly, and we dive in.
Eighteen
Rey
With excitement coursing through me, Zethe and I jump into the lagoon, plunging into the cool water. As the liquid engulfs me, I brace myself for the usual urge to gasp for air.
But to my surprise, I feel perfectly fine. I can breathe underwater without any difficulty.
I glance down at my body, and my eyes widen in awe. A thin layer of shimmer covers my skin, as if I’ve been bathed in a pool of glitter. I’m mesmerized by the ethereal glow that envelops me, enhancing the beauty of this underwater realm.
