“What happened?” Svea demands, her eyes wide with worry.
Guilt gnaws at me as I confess to Svea. “I was overseeing the security preparations for this week’s fireworks. I… I didn’t notice the storm brewing. I lost track of her.”
Zoe steps forward, her eyes wide as she kneels beside Rey’s prone form. “I came as soon as I got the emergency alarm from her wristband.” Water droplets trail down her fogged glasses from the rain as she looks at Rey’s hold on my tentacle and then up at me, her eyes as wide. “Is she… is she your fated mate? Is she the one?” she stammers, her voice a quiet tremor amidst the storm.
I simply nod, clearing my throat before I speak up, unable to hide the truth.
“I believe she is,” I admit, my hand instinctively moving to rest over my chest, over the strange sensation stirring within me. “There’s a heaviness here that wasn’t before. Our skin… it tingles wherever we touch. And I… I feel an undeniable pull toward her. An unexpected possessiveness.”
Sage, who had been watching the scene unfold, finally moves to wrap his tail protectively around Zoe. His green eyes meet mine, reflecting a deep understanding. “That’s exactly what I felt when Zoe tripped over my tail,” he shares, a knowing smile on his face. “I was drawn to her in a way I’d never experienced before. And I knew I couldn’t leave her.”
I stare at him, my mind racing to process his words. “I… I feel the same,” I admit, my gaze returning to Rey. “But… how can this be?”
Svea breaks the tense silence, her grin almost mischievous as she clasps my shoulder. “It’s the Moon Goddess’s will,” she simply states, her voice filled with certainty. “It appears our deity has blessed yet another human-monster pairing at our resort. We can only hope that this incident does not scare her away.”
A lump forms in my throat, a grim reminder of the fear that had gripped me when I pulled Rey from the water. My tentacles tighten instinctively around my drink as if it’s a lifeline. “I can’t lose her, not now, not ever,” I confess, my voice barely more than a whisper.
Svea nods, her gaze softening. “Zethe, you cannot control the future. All we can do is hope her injuries aren’t severe and make her feel welcome, safe, and cared for when she wakes up.”
Thank the Moon Goddess that I have been granted a second chance.
I am not about to waste it on doubts.
“I’ll do everything in my power to care for her and make her feel at home when she wakens,” I vow, meeting each of their gazes. “I will make up for my mistakes and make it up to her.”
I’ve spent my entire life waiting for my fated mate, and I’m not going to make the same mistake again.
Casting a glance toward Drax, gratitude welled up inside me. “Thank you, Drax,” I say. “For shielding us.”
Drax offers a gruff nod in response, his gaze remaining on the turbulent sky above. “Just doing my duty,” he says simply. “Glad I could help.”
Taking a deep breath, I turn my attention back to Rey, guilt gnawing at me. “I’m sorry, Rey,” I say, even though I know she can’t hear me. “I failed you. It was my job to keep everyone safe, and I didn’t…”
Svea squeezes her reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Zethe,” she says gently, “Sometimes, things just happen. We couldn’t have predicted this storm. What we can do now is learn from this and make sure it doesn’t happen again. More lifeguards, perhaps even Merfolk on duty when we have human guests.”
I consider her suggestion and nod, finding some comfort in her wisdom, my gaze drifting back to Eaen, who is still absorbed in his work. “How is she, Eaen? Do we need to take her to the resort’s hospital?”
“No, you got to her in time,” Eaen reassures me, his voice calm. “There’s a minuscule amount of water in her lungs, but it should clear out as she rests. She’ll need to be monitored until she wakes up. Make sure she gets a lot of rest and drinks plenty of water. We’ll need to do a check-up tomorrow to ensure she’s not dehydrated, and nothing develops overnight.”
My chest swells with a mixture of relief and worry. My tentacles tighten around her instinctively. “I’ll take care of her,” I assert, my voice resolute. “It’s my fault she’s in this situation. She’s my fated mate. I have to look after her.”
My gaze meets Svea’s, seeking her approval. “Can I… Can I take some time off to be her caretaker? To guide her around the resort so something else can happen to her?”
Svea’s surprised eyes meet mine, then soften. “I think that’s a good idea,” she agrees. “You’ve been working nonstop lately, and it’s about time you took some time off. This might be the perfect opportunity.”
I turn to our medic, my heart in my throat. “Eaen, would it be safe to take her to her villa? That’s where her things are, and she will probably want to get dressed when she wakes up. It would be more comfortable for her, being surrounded by her belongings.”
Eaen gives a nod. “Yes, it’s safe. But you should be careful not to jostle her too much.” He gazes at his scanner once more and then opens his medpack and grabs a pulse oximeter, placing it on her index finger. “The tiny amount of water in her lungs should go away naturally over time, but I want you to keep an eye on her oxygen levels and check them often. If her condition worsens, and she has trouble breathing, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”
“Understood.” I peer down at the small device and watch the steady flicker of the light as it updates her readings. “What would happen if that’s the case?”
“Then if I can’t take care of her at my clinic, I need to strap her to Drax here.” He gently pats the storm Dragon. “And he would have to jet her to the nearest human hospital so they can give her the treatment she needs.”
“Pray to the Moon Goddess that I caught her in time that none of that will be needed,” I mutter, combing back Rey’s hair as she gently squeezes the tentacle she still has in her hands in response, sending another jolt of electricity through me. “If there isn’t anything else I should know, I’ll take her to her villa so she doesn’t get cold. I’ll stay over and watch over her throughoutthe night, to make sure she doesn’t worsen. After she wakes and gets ready, I’ll make sure to bring her by, first thing, so you can do a check up.”
“It’s for the best,” Eaen replies as he closes his medpack and glances over Rey once more. “I didn’t see anything else amiss, so that’s all we can do for her at the time being.”
“Thank you for rushing over.”
