Page 16 of Fionn (Starlight Mermen #1 | Starlight Alien Mail Order Brides #7)

Fionn

H er scan results were all within ordinary parameters, save for too much lactic acid in her blood, something the pod quickly rectified.

Elise had a few scratches on her face, probably Kelon's doing.

My blood boiled as I watched the pod spray a healing salve on the cuts.

I would make sure he regretted what he'd done to her.

She was fast asleep when I lifted her out of the medpod.

For a moment, I was tempted to carry her into the cabin I shared with my brothers, but it was small and untidy.

Besides, the Tidebound was the first place Kelon would return to.

I'd checked with Rainse and Cerban. There had been no sign of him yet.

It was strange; he shouldn't have stayed unconscious for very long.

He would also have been swimming much faster than I had been, carrying Elise, so where was he?

Rainse had said that the atmosphere among the crew was getting darker.

It wasn't safe for her to stay on the ship, at least not while Kelon was in power.

After what he had done to her, I was tempted to start a mutiny myself.

But why would anyone other than my clutch-brothers follow me? We had nothing to offer them...

Or did we?

I carried Elise through the Tidebound and regrouped with my brothers at the ramp. Wordlessly, they walked either side of me, back to the main Peritan building where a group of her kind had gathered.

"What did you do to her?" Paul shouted, barging his way through the crowd. "Put her down!"

Cerban and Rainse closed the distance between us, guarding my flanks. "I have not done anything to her," I said firmly. "She is simply sleeping, exhausted from swimming. I have had her checked over and am taking her to her own bed so that she may rest more comfortably."

Paul's expression softened. "What happened?"

"Kelon, our leader, thought to take her as his female even though it was not her choice. He will be dealt with. If you see him, will you inform me and my brothers as soon as possible? I will call Pam now to see how we shall best proceed."

"If you don't mind, I would like to sit in on this call.

" Paul didn't look as if he'd take no for an answer.

I looked at him with new eyes. He was tall for a Peritan, with thick arms and the look of someone who could handle himself in a fight.

Maybe he had not always been a resort manager - or he had been chosen not just for his hospitality qualifications.

"That is agreeable to us. Lead us to her quarters. I want to get Elise comfortable before we call the agency."

Elise woke when I placed her in her bed, but drifted off again as soon as I'd pulled a silky blanket over her.

She was smiling in her sleep. I hoped that she would not be plagued by nightmares of what Kelon had done and threatened her with.

I could only guard her in life, not in her dreams - no matter how much I wanted to.

We gathered around a small table in her living room. I left her bedroom door open in case she woke confused or disorientated. This time, Paul didn't flinch when I activated my holoband. Pam answered on the first ring.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" She glared at all four of us. The holo projector was not of the best quality and her image was a little washed out around the edges, but her intense stare was enough to make us all feel like finboys being berated by their teacher.

"I called her earlier," Paul admitted. "The agency had to know."

"Yes, we did," Pam snapped. "I can't believe you lost one of your potential matches. You told me you were trustworthy men who knew how to treat a woman. What happened? Where is Elise? I want to know everything or I swear I will jump on the next plane."

"She is sleeping next door," I reassured her, keeping my voice as calm and confident as possible. "She is fine. Exhausted but fine. I will not wake her, but I can show you a video feed if that reassures you."

"She seems to be alright," Paul confirmed.

Pam's expression didn't become any less stern. "What happened?"

I sighed, not sure how best to explain this without her judging us all for one male's behaviour.

"She was out for a dive when Kelon took her.

Back when we first learned of your planet, his intention was to fly here and abduct some females.

When we found your agency and made our arrangement, I thought that I'd managed to persuade him that his was the better way, the right way.

But it seems he never believed in waiting to find his mate.

Today, he decided to take Elise for himself. "

Pam's voice was icy. "And did she consent to this? Did she willingly go with him?"

"She did not. I arrived just in time to pull him away from her.

I brought her back to the island and had the medpod check her over.

She is unharmed, except for some scratches, but the experience has exhausted her beyond measure.

She insisted on swimming by herself for as long as she could, but Kelon had brought her far offshore and Peritans are not made to swim such long a distance. "

"Where is he now?"

"We do not know," I admitted. "I left him unconscious in the ocean, but he should have recovered by now."

"Could he be planning to kidnap her again?"

"I will protect her," I snapped, insulted that she didn't think me enough of a protection for Elise.

"That is not what I asked."

Rainse put a hand on my shoulder. "He may. Kelon is a spoilt finman who is not used to having others reject him or ignore his demands. I am worried he might make plans to go after the female again."

"Then you have to find him. Fast. The plane with the other women is still in the air. I will tell them to circle in a holding pattern above the island until I know it is safe for my girls to be there. Paul, I want you to gather all female staff and have them guarded."

Rainse straightened. "I volunteer to guard them.

" When both Paul and Pam shot him a strange glance, he pushed back his shoulders.

"I swear I will not let any harm come to them.

I will protect them with my life. My brothers and I are trained warriors.

Your Peritan males won't stand a chance against Kelon, but we are stronger than him.

Let me do this to atone for our leader's misdeeds. "

"He's no leader of mine," Cerban spat. "I will patrol the sea to search for him. But first, we should meet with our ship's captain and crew. If we get them on our side, the Tidebound can easily scan the ocean for Kelon."

I nodded. "I wanted to talk to you about that, Pam.

I know that right now, you will find it hard to trust any of us.

Kelon has broken not just our, but your trust. However, we need to convince the rest of the crew to switch sides.

I see only one way to achieve that other than double their salary, which is not something we have the means for. "

Pam grimaced. "I can see where this is going."

"I would like to politely request that all twenty-one finmen are added to your database. I don't want to promise them a female, not if they are of Kelon's stock and don't deserve one. Just the chance that they might find their mate. I believe it might be enough to sway them."

Paul cleared his throat. "Do any of them have a record of mistreating women? Or a criminal conviction? Are they safe to be around women?"

"Kelon's adoptive mother is a matriarch of much power and influence.

The Tidebound was chartered with her money.

I doubt she would have allowed Kelon to hire anyone without an impeccable record.

But I promise we will check, each and every one of them.

Even if a few crew members will be ineligible to join your agency's database, it will be enough as long as we have the majority on our side. "

"I'm not sure this is what I want," Pam sighed.

"But if it means protecting Elise and the other women from harm, I am willing to give it a go.

But only under strict conditions. I will personally look at every single man's profile.

If I don't like what I see, he will not be added to the Hot Tatties database.

And of course they will all have to supply a DNA sample.

For this, I will not allow matches based on personality alone.

Our genetic algorithm will be the deciding factor. "

I bowed my head, relief flooding me. I tried not to show it. "I agree. Thank you, Pam. We really do appreciate it."

"Thank you," both my clutch-brothers said earnestly. They readied themselves to go. Paul also looked as if he was itching to leave and assemble the island's female staff.

"Fionn, I need to talk to you," Pam suddenly said. "Once you have talked to the crew. It is important, but it can wait a little bit."

Again, I felt reminded of clutch-school. Pam would have made a great teacher in another life.

"Of course, Pam. I will call you as soon as I can."