Page 82 of Kit

If Connor had anything to say, he kept it to himself. Kit made an agreeable sound, his lashing tail relaxing into more of a swishing motion. He quickly wrapped Nick’s arm in a clean bandage, the bleeding sluggish.

“Keep this raised,” Kit instructed, guiding Nick’s arm to his chest and wrapping it in a sling. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

Kit’s brow creased into many lines. His eyes darted to Nick’s chest, though the bruising was now hidden beneath a plain dark shirt. “I can prepare something light so your stomach isn’t irritated.”

“That sounds good.”

Kit led them both to a dining room, one so fine and crowded with decor that Nick was now certain the house belonged to one of the council members. Most likely Desre, given Kit’s access. Nick slid into one of the overly plush and, admittedly, comfortable dining chairs and immediately his eyes were a struggle to keep open. Connor took the spot right next to him, a steady, watchful presence.

“Do you have a boat at the dock?” Nick asked.

“No, I came with Adonis.”

“If Kit doesn’t mind hosting, let’s sleep here. I’m exhausted. It has been a long few weeks.” Nick was almost grateful Trevor and Laurence were a day away. It gave him time to rest up.

“I’ll see.”

Nick looked sideways at Connor.

“Adonis has had trouble keeping his legs since you were taken.”

Nick’s lips twitched. At the smallest hint of irritation, Adonis had trouble keeping his legs, and the emotional merman found many things to be irritated by. Trevor looking at him, for example. “I didn’t realise he cared,” Nick said wryly.

Connor’s brows raised. “It was more to do with me being upset than him. But now that you’re found… I’ll go see if he can join us here. If not, I’d rather camp out on the dock for a few hours.”

“I don’t think anyone will bother you if you do. They’re all scared of the new ‘monarch’ in town.” And Nick had seen it in the church. Not just the reaction to Adonis, but the reaction toConnor himself. The way they’d regarded him as someone to be feared.

Connor shrugged. “No idea what that’s about.”

“I can just ask Kit.”

“Right. I’m sure your captor will know the intricacies of foetal genetic manipulation.” His delivery was bladed.

“No need to be an asshole. Just say you don’t want to talk about it.”

Connor released a sharp breath, looking away.

“Don’t call him that again,” Nick added, more stung by that little ‘captor’ remark than Connor’s tone.

“Dad’s going to have a lot to say about that relationship.”

“He’s just going to be happy that I’m okay.”

“And then he’s going to start asking if it was the way Kit handled your chains that drew you to him or –”

“I just said don’t be an asshole.”

Connor’s jaw tightened. It took him a few seconds to relax and speak again. “I’m just making sure. Alright? You were kidnapped, and now you’re dating the guy who kidnapped you. Put yourself in my shoes, or swap out yourself for Laurence. You’d freak.”

Nick couldn’t deny that.

“Kit’s a good person. He purposefully swapped boats in the middle of the day so that word would get to you guys about where I was. He’d even escaped from Desre, and the only reason he’s here now is because he came back for me,” Nick explained. Kit was willing to face down a monster that petrified him to keep Nick safe. He was willing to put himself back in her power to protect Nick.

“I can understand being grateful. Developing romantic feelings is a stretch.”

“I liked him at Vi’s party,” Nick admitted.