Page 1 of Filthy Wishes
Chapter One
Tridenton
In all of the brine and murky depths of Poseidon’s expansive empire, I sulk, as I usually do. I am twenty-seven years old and beyond ready to find my mate. She is not of my tribe nor any of the tribes in all of the world’s ocean. I have traveled extensively, looking for my mermaid, but alas, she has not been found. It leaves me no other alternative but to think my mate is a human. It’s rare but not unheard of. I am not looking forward to walking on land, but I must do what needs to be done. In our underwater castle, sixty or so miles off the coast of Greece, I find my father reading the paper. You may be wondering about how we live underwater and are able to do things we shouldn’t. The answer is simply magic. Ancient magic that not only allows us to not realize water is all around us but it also shields us from detection by curious humans. The depths of the ocean are far deeper than they realize, and more happens down here than even I understand.
“Good evening, Father,” I say, coming into our family room. We have more formal settings, but we only use them when the occasion calls for it. Destan Vanne, also known as father, is the leader of our tribe, a king really, but he doesn’t lord it over anyone. One day this will all be mine, and I hope to rule inmuch the same way with my mate by my side.
“Why so serious, son?” he says, looking over the edge of the paper.
“I have decided to try to find my mate among the humans,” I say.
“Very well. Are you looking for my permission? You’re a grown merman,” he says.
“Not at all. I am looking for your blessing.”
“You have it. We will love and welcome anyone you bring into this family. Have you had the dreams?”
“Yes. For years now, but I can’t see her face.”
“It will become clearer the closer you get to finding her.”
“I should hope so.”
“Where will you begin?”
“Greece,” I reply.
“Nearby then,” he says jovially.
“I love the countryside there. It seems as good a place as any to start.”
“It is gorgeous. Remember to get your fin wet, even if it’s just for a little while each day.”
“I won’t forget,” I say, shuddering when I think about the pain. We have the ability to have legs for just two weeks a year, but there are restrictions. One such limitation is that we must allow our fin to come back for a time each day, or pain, as you’ve never known, will flood your lower extremities.
“Don’t forget to tell your mother and sisters that you are leaving,” he says before going back to his paper. “Oh, good luck, Tridenton.”
“Thank you, father. I will be leaving at once.”
He doesn’t say anything else as I leave to seek out the ladies of the house. They hardly spare me a second glance, but that’s not surprising. Soraya is in an uproar about something, and I don’t have time for that. She’s usually off by herself, so I am not sure what she’s doing home anyway.
We are close enough to the shore of Greece that I am there in less than fifteen minutes. Besides, I am quite a powerful swimmer.
Magic is impressive, I must say. When I willed my legs to come forth, I was also dressed in a pair of swim trunks befitting the weather in Corfu, a large Greek island in the Ionian Sea. Something has drawn me here, and as soon as I step out of the water, I see what that is.
A gorgeous woman with chestnut hair in a two-piece black swimsuit plays on the beach with two small children. Indeed, they are not her children. She looks barely old enough to be let out alone, let alone be mated. I find myself walking toward her as if I am being led by an invisible string strung between us.
“Oy! Sir, can you stop that ball?” The little boy shouts from across the beach to me. I stop the ball with my foot and bend to pick it up. Using it as my excuse to go over to her, I walk toward them, ball in hand.
“Looking for this?”
“Yes. Thank you. I can’t keep these kids occupied long enough while their parents take some private time,” the woman says with a British accent.
“I imagine that can be difficult on a beach,” I reply.
“Yes. Well, thank you for returning the ball. We wouldn’t want to keep you.”
“It’s no trouble, really. Perhaps I could keep you company?”