Page 15 of Making Out With Mermaids (Haven Ever After #6)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BETMAL

“F ather, you’re quiet, what’s wrong?” Abemet looks over Morgan’s head at me, blond brows furrowed as he scans my face.

Morgan slips her arm through mine, laying her hand over my forearm. “Go on and spit it out. You know we’ll question you until you do.”

Abe snorts, and she glances over at him. Returning her focus to me, she beams. “Well, you know I will needle you until you do. Abe would probably do something insane like give you your privacy.”

I laugh and glance at the joys of my life. “Darlings, Amatheia is my mate, and I told her on the trip. Dropping her off at the lake, knowing she’s returning to Caralorn’s kingdom is eating me alive.”

Morgan turns and grabs her mate’s hand, looking utterly unsurprised. “You were right.”

He winks down at her. “You owe me. You can pay up later.”

She blushes but looks back at me. “She hates going home, huh?”

I growl as we walk along Main Street toward Herschel’s Fine Dining for a late dinner reservation. “He’s found a suitor for her, who is arriving the day after tomorrow, I believe. Obviously, she doesn’t want him, but she has responsibilities at home. All I want is her out of the lake and happy, but the situation is complicated.”

Abemet crosses his arms as we walk. “It’s not really that complicated, Father. Bring her home to your place and keep him away from you both. Haven leadership will get involved to keep everyone safe.”

I shake my head. “It’s more of an internal struggle, my darling. She’s very connected with her youngest cousin and also worried about bringing drama to Ever.” I glance at them both. “Fortunately, the house and I spent some time this morning coming up with a plan and several backup plans. Amatheia returns tomorrow to paint portraits downtown, and then I’ll speak with her about it.”

Abemet’s expression is calculated and cold as he drops his arms, grabs the handle, and opens the door to Herschel’s. “Don’t forget we have a blue witch, Father. Lou would move heaven and earth to keep Amatheia safe. You’re not without options.”

I sail through the door with my daughter-in-law on my arm. Abemet’s right, of course. There are plenty of threatening, violent solutions. But I’d rather not start there, if only for Ama’s sake. If it were up to me, I’d simply remove the king’s head for the pain he’s put her through over the years. But I know in my heart of hearts that would gut her, and I’m not willing to do that.

For her , I can put on a cloak of civility. But only ever for her peace of mind. The moment she tells me she’s through being civil, I will stain the lake with Caralorn’s blood.

A smile comes to my face as Herschel guides us to a lovely corner table. I hold a chair for Morgan, and she drops into it with a thankful smile.

Dinner’s as lovely as ever, the restaurant filled with familiar faces and plenty of new ones. Clearly tourism is on the rise. By the time we leave, Herschel’s has a line out the door, and the restauranteur himself is rushing around shouting orders.

We head across Main to Miriam’s Sweets. Miriam and Iggy are behind the checkout counter, whispering about something. When we enter, Iggy’s dark brows lift in surprise. He whoops and zips over the counter toward us. The moment he’s close enough, he wraps himself around Morgan’s head like a scarf, slinging his tail around her neck.

“Morrrgannnn!” he draws her name out long. “I just saw Lou and her mates, and she was showing me how she can make a spear with her blue magic, and it was so cool, and do you think I could do it one day? I’d really like to, and it would be good because I could protect everyone like Dad and Uncle Shepherd! They’d be so proud, right?!”

His hellhound, Minnie, lumbers out from behind the checkout counter, her pregnant belly swaying. She flops down in front of the register and watches us with Iggy.

Abemet looks at me. “Remarkable, isn’t it? That he bonded with a hellhound?”

I stare in wonder as Morgan unwraps Iggy, beaming at him. “Ig, what has your dad said about suffocating friends with your hugs?”

He flaps slowly in front of her face, crossing his arms and scowling. “To be more gentle because sometimes I’m overly exbuberent?”

Miriam laughs at the mispronunciation.

Morgan grabs him and drags him to her chest, squeezing him tightly. “Hugs we can do, suffocation not so much.”

He sighs and slips his tail around to rest it over her heart. Like all gargoyle children, he’s fascinated with heartbeats. He won’t have one until he meets his mate one day. Sweet boy.

Morgan carries Iggy back to Miriam, Minnie the hellhound watching them with glittering red eyes. She looks exhausted and pregnant, but she’s ready for action if Iggy’s in any danger at all.

As Morgan picks out candies with Iggy and Miriam’s help, my thoughts drift to my Ama, wondering how she’s doing in the merkingdom. It’s a struggle not to go to her, but the last thing I want to do is make things worse.

For now.

In my mind, there’s a plan. But I need to discuss it with her before I do anything that might set violent events into motion. Ever doesn’t deserve that, either.

But at the end of the day, it’s like I told Ama in Arcadia—she is my priority, and everything else comes second.