Page 23 of Making Out With Mermaids (Haven Ever After #6)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

BETMAL

I blink, gasping for breath as I struggle to fill my lungs.

“Oh depths!” Ama moans, hovering over my face, eyes wide. Her cousin sits beside her, glancing nervously between us.

When I roll to my side and choke out lake water, they clap my back to assist the water’s exit. Once it’s out, I sit up and wrap my arms around both girls. “My darlings, thank you. Speaking underwater and using my power like I did are…tiresome. I underestimated the toll they would take.”

“You scared me to death!” Ama shouts, throwing her arms around my neck.

Thatraeia shakes my shoulders. “And you stabbed Father! If you think he won’t come after you for that, you are crazy! Goddess, I think you might be crazy anyhow!” She flops onto her back and puts both hands over her eyes. “Thalassa help me process this.” A nervous giggle erupts from her.

“I thought you were really going to make Malakat kill him,” Ama whispers in my ear. “It was terrifying seeing you like that.”

“Apologies, my love,” I say. “We should have talked about that when we discussed the plan. I should have foreseen he’d be that unreasonable. Although, if I’m being honest, him allowing you to suffer was reason alone for me to consider slicing his entire tail off.”

She squeezes me tighter.

“Now what?” Thatraeia sits up and hugs her knees. “The reality of what we did just hit me. I don’t know if I can even go back down there. Oh goddess, what have I done? Should I have stayed and helped?”

Ama lets go of me and grasps her cousin’s hand, pulling her closer to us. “Come home with us, sweet Cousin. We will protect you until we figure this out, alright?”

She looks at Betmal. “I’ve never seen anyone control others like you did.”

“My power of influence is quite strong.” I give her an encouraging smile. “I will protect you, darling girl.”

Her frown doesn’t lessen. “You can’t be with us all of the time, Betmal. Father won’t let it go. He’ll figure out a weakness somewhere.” She glances at Ama. “That’s likely to be one of us.”

I lift my wrist and comm Abemet, asking him and Morgan to come to my house. Next I comm Arkan with the same request.

The girls are silent while I make the calls. When I’m finished, Ama’s frowning as much as her cousin. “I never wanted to cause drama for the landers, and here we are.”

I rest back on my hands, my soaked clothing clinging uncomfortably to me. “We were perhaps foolish to think Caralorn would see reason, especially with Stefan in the mix. I’m sure your uncle is eyeing Stefan’s coffers and thinking how close money is. He did mention that…”

“He’s broke,” Thatraeia whispers. “Completely.”

Ama gasps. “What? How do you know?”

Her cousin sighs. “I was sneaking past his quarters one day to go through the catacombs. I was…well, he was on his comm disk speaking with someone, shouting, and I overheard him say the kingdom is broke. There’s barely any money left, only your dowry, Ama. I’d bet that’s why Stefan’s gifts for your marriage are so important. The rest of us have no dowries at all unless he gets Stefan’s traditional jewels.”

“Broke,” Ama whispers. She glances at me. “He always told me my dowry was meager but maybe it’s not. In any case, it was always inaccessible until my marriage. What do you wanna bet he’s planned on giving just part of it to Stefan and keeping the rest for himself?”

Anger rushes through me as I consider the political wheeling and dealing the king is likely attempting here. Ama’s money is hers alone, a gift from her parents—Thalassa rest their souls—and I will not see it pawned off like this.

“Let’s go home,” I say. “We’ll discuss next steps with Abemet, Morgan, and Arkan. I need to consider this. For now, you’re both safe with me, and that’s all that matters.”

Ama says nothing the entire walk home, and I don’t push her. This day went sideways quickly, and I suspect the worst is not behind us. I embarrassed her uncle, albeit privately, and he will want recompense for that. I don’t give two shits about the suitor, Stefan, but Thatraeia was right when she said I can’t be with both girls twenty-four hours a day.

Perhaps Catherine could paint the lake into its own haven within ours so we can control the comings and goings. Hmm, that’s too prisonlike, and that is not our way. No, we’ve got to find an amenable solution that doesn’t lead to war within Ever.

I cast those thoughts aside as we arrive home. Ama sits at the kitchen island, rubbing long fingers over the black marble, lost in thought until her cousin takes a seat next to her. The girls lean against one another, brushing their cheeks together.

Ama looks at me, opening her mouth to say something, when the front doors swing noisily open and Abemet calls my name. I glance backward through the archway toward the front. “In here, my darling!”

Smiling at the girls, I point toward our bedroom. “I’ve stocked the closet with clothes in Ama’s size, if you like.”

Ama glances down at her naked chest and laughs. “Oh, depths, I was so lost in thought I didn’t grab anything.”

Thatraeia arranges her long peach hair over her chest. “I forget landers are fussier about boobs.”

I grin as the girls rise, Ama taking her cousin’s hand and heading for our bedroom. She mouths a quick thank you as they head away from me.

Abemet and Morgan arrive with Arkan clip-clopping behind them. Coming into the kitchen, Morgan looks around. “Where’s Ama? What happened?”

I quickly fill them in on our trip before the girls emerge from the bedroom.

Morgan rushes to Ama and slings her arms around my love’s neck. “Ama, oh my gods, that sounds harrowing!” She steps back, eyes scanning Ama’s face. “Are you okay?”

Ama smiles softly, although the strain is clear in the wrinkle between her dark brows. “It went about how I expected.” She glances at Thatraeia, who stands just behind her with a hand on her elbow, rubbing at the skin there. “This is my cousin, Thatraeia. She was there when it all happened.”

Morgan smiles softly at the younger mermaid. “I imagine you don’t feel super comfy being home right now, huh?”

Thatraeia shakes her head. “I’ve always wanted to leave if Ama did, but now…I’m just not sure. I don’t think either of us can ever go back there.”

My muscles quiver from the adrenaline dump of everything that happened today. “I imagine Caralorn will hold a grudge, and, earlier, Thatraeia made the excellent point that I cannot be with both girls all day and night. If Caralorn does attempt retribution, it’s unlikely he’ll come for me, not with my power. But he’d perhaps come for the girls.”

Morgan grits her jaw tightly. “The hells he will.”

Arkan clears his throat. “Listen, as Keeper, there are a number of legal options we can take here. But what I don’t want to do is make the entire lake community suffer for Caralorn’s bullshit. For now, I can deliver him a notice that he’s unwelcome in downtown unless he comes in peace. There’s a magical component to that, which will make it…difficult for him to become violent.”

Ama’s brows lift. “Magical restraints? What about the King’s Guard, though, and Malakat?”

Arkan sighs. “It’s not a perfect system. It’s meant to be protective, so it’s not a very strong magic. While it’ll apply most stringently to your uncle, the power lessens down the reporting line. Malakat, as head of the guard, will be slightly less constrained. The King’s Guard even less so. It’s more of a formal reminder than anything.”

He crosses muscular arms over his chest. “It’s not perfect, but it’s a clear notice that the town of Ever is on your side. Plus, let’s not forget our resident blue witch, Lou Hector.” He shakes his head. “But just like you, Betmal, she can’t be everywhere all the time.”

Morgan wags a finger as if an idea’s coming to her. “You know what? That’s a good point. She’s at my place a lot.” She glances at Thatraeia and Ama. “Why don’t you come stay with us until this blows over?”

Ama presses into my arms. “I want to be with Betmal, but maybe when he’s busy, we can come your way?”

“Of course.” Morgan’s expression softens. “What about you, Thatraeia? We’re pretty fun, and we can keep you busy. Plus, your dad will never know where you are. And if for some reason he figures it out, Abe can fly, so we can keep you safe. It’s probably a good idea for you and Ama to be in different places to divide his focus.”

Ama sighs, and I feel her worry straight to the center of my chest. “I hate this. I never wanted to bring Caralorn’s nonsense to your doorstep. I’m so sorry.”

Arkan clip-clops around the island, dropping slowly to his front knees so his face is closer to hers. He takes Ama’s hands and brings them over his heart. “Amatheia, your safety and happiness are our primary concern. If Caralorn brings the fight to us, it is he who will be in the wrong. We’re here for you, okay?” He glances at Thatraeia. “Both of you.”

Thatraeia comes close and shoves her way into Ama’s arms. I bring my hand up and place it on her shoulder, reminding her I’m there as well. She looks over at Morgan. “I’d love to come with you, if you’re certain I won’t be in the way.”

Morgan laughs. “Naw, girl, there are people at our house all the time. In fact, Alba’s nephew Taylor is coming over with some friends tonight to play poker. I’ll teach you, and we can team up against the dudes.”

Thatraeia sighs. “That sounds nice. It sounds…normal.” She spins and looks up at Ama. “I think they’re right that splitting up will make it harder for Father to do something rash. Will you be okay with that?”

Ama presses her palm to her cousin’s cheek, leaning slightly away from me. “Go see a little bit of this beautiful world, Cousin. I will be fine here, and Morgan and Abe will take care of you. I trust them; they’ve been good friends to me.”

Abemet steps closer to us. “I will guard you with my life, Thatraeia. It’s a promise.”

The next quarter hour is a blur as Arkan and Abemet make calls from our house. Ama and Morgan help Thatraeia pack a bag, pilfering things I stocked in our closet.

Arkan leaves first, Morgan, Abemet and Thatraeia shortly after. She embraces Ama, but if I’m honest, she appears excited to be going with my son and his mate. There’s a glint in her eye despite today’s nonsense. I suspect when she lies down tonight, it will all hit her, and we may get a late night call. But I’ll worry about that later.

They go, and Ama turns to me, burying her face in my chest. She breathes quietly while I slide my hands up her back. We stand until everyone’s gone from view, then she looks up at me, elegant nostrils flared.

“Take me to bed, mate. I need to forget about today, if only for a little while.”

“Done,” I whisper as I bend to kiss her forehead. “I’ve got plenty of ideas on how to best keep you busy, ma siréne.”

We head into the kitchen, and I lean over the island onto my forearms, reaching for her hand with one of mine. When she glances up at me, I curl my fingers around hers.

“Darling, we can play this one of two ways, now that everyone’s gone. First, we can have a lovely dinner and an easy, relaxed night. Or?—”

“I want to forget , Betmal” she repeats, sliding onto the island top and crawling to me. “For a few hours, at least. This problem with Caralorn will still be here tomorrow, hanging over our heads.”

“Indeed it will,” I confirm, pulling her lithe body tightly to mine. “Then let us cast aside that topic, and instead discuss something more fun.” I grip her throat, running my thumb along her sharp jawline. “I want to hunt you, ma siréne, like the dangerous predator I am. I want you to run and hide, and I want to find you. And when I do…” I roll my second eyelid over my eyes as she smiles at me. “When I do, darling, I want to take you harder than I’ve done yet.”

She presses forward, nipping at my upper lip. “Betmal, have you been holding back on me?”

I growl and drag her head back, exposing the long column of her throat to my hungry gaze. “Not holding back, darling. Beginning with care. Teaching the basics. But tonight, we take that further.”

“Good,” she whispers, sighing as I lick a warm path up the front of her throat.

I bite just under her chin, teasing her with the barest hint of fang. As she should, she relaxes and sinks against me, head falling heavily into my hands.

I release the slight hold and pull her upright so I can look deep into her eyes. Pulling her to the edge of the counter, I kiss her hard, groaning as she opens for me. When we part, we’re both breathless. We need to connect deeply after a shit day.

I slide her miniskirt up. “I’m going to count to a hundred, ma siréne, and then I will hunt you. It’s time to flee, my little prey.”

She hops off the countertop and casts me a sultry look before taking off at a run down the hallway toward the guest rooms.

Calling on an age-old technique for concentration, I lean against the counter and close my eyes. I focus on muffling my hearing, my sense of smell, even my intuitive gift. I don’t want to know where she is before I begin. Instead, I focus on the sensations building inside me—bloodlust, the desire to hunt, to spread my wings and swoop down on my prey, to take, to claim, to fuck.

Dick straining against the front of my pants, I open my eyes and look around the room. Flaring my nostrils, I scent for her, but her sea spray perfume is stale in this room. I push off the countertop with a growl and stalk through the living room, twitching my sensitive ears to listen for her heartbeat.

Stalking from room to room, I hunt my mate.

She’s nowhere.

In my bedroom, I look into the backyard and smile. Perhaps she’s in the lake or the workshop. Pushing my double doors to the outside wide open, I call my wings and rise above the lake, high enough to see the entirety of its depths.

No Ama to be seen.

With a smile, I swoop to the workshop doors. Darling girl that the workshop is, she opens them for me, and I sail through, alighting in the main room where Ama usually paints.

She’s not here, but her scent is stronger. Bingo. I walk around the kitchen, but her scent stales toward the back of the workshop. Humming, I glance up at the ceiling.

I ascend the stairs slowly, anticipation tightening my sack as my dick throbs against my thigh. At the landing, I pause.

Ama sits on my desk, one long leg crossed over the other as she leans back on her hands. A tiny smirk tilts her lips up. Lips I’ve had wrapped around my cock. Lips I need on it again.

“Hello, Betmal,” she murmurs, her voice husky with need.

I stalk around the table, eyeing her as I do. She turns her head, following with the same smirky smile.

“Hello, ma siréne.” I flare my wings wide and cocoon us within them, effectively blotting out the light so we’re cloaked in darkness. I lean over the desk from behind her, mouth at her neck. “Do you know how hot it makes me to look for you? To hunt you? Next time, I want you to?—”

She bursts off the desk with surprising speed, across the room before I process the fact that she’s running.

She’s fucking running from me.

Gods, yesssssss.

I slip over the desk with zip past her, stopping on the first step. She slams into my body and grunts, falling back.

I’ve already got an arm around her waist to keep her from landing on the ground.

“I will always catch you,” I purr, fangs descending, throbbing with venom as she brings her head up and stares at me like a queen.

“Want to know why I came to this particular spot, Betmal?” She rights herself and trails a finger seductively down my chest.

“Tell me,” I manage, dipping down to capture her lower lip with my teeth.

She moans as I suck on her plump bow of a mouth. When we part, she gives me a devious look. “This room needs some red, mate, don’t you think?”

Pushing off the landing, I soar across the room with Ama in my arms. I don’t stop until we hit the bookshelf. Shoving her high around my waist, I grab her wrists in one hand and slowly place them above her head.

“Leave them there,” I command, my voice ragged with need.

“Yes, sir,” she whispers, and those words from her lips send my lust soaring.

With one hand, I shove my pants down. I notch my cock between her legs and drag the spongy head over her clit and through her folds.

Ama moans, letting her head fall to one side as she bats her lashes playfully at me. “I need that bite, Betmal. I want to feel you in my chest like the last time you bit me.”

“The beginnings of our mate bond,” I murmur. “If I bite you with full intention, and you accept me with full intention, we’ll feel one anothers’ emotions in that bond. Just like that sensation in your chest, but stronger.”

Ama cocks her head sideways. “And so? I’ve read about it in the book and I want it, mate. Or is that not what you are to me?” She shoots me a devious, feral look.

“Patience, darling.” I’m dripping precum like a faucet, so I deposit it all over her slick channel, teasing her with the tip of my cock. She tries to rock her hips to get me inside, but she can’t move pressed to the bookshelves.

A little growl is the first sign of her frustration. She curls her lips back and snarls at me as I rub my cockhead along her slit, teasing the first inch or so inside her.

With a quick, violent jerk of her hips, she manages to take another inch of me into her sweet, hot pussy. The cilia take over and drag my cock and sack inside, kneading and sucking at my skin as I bark out a stream of inelegant curses.

“Naughty girl,” I caution. “Running from your mate, disobeying my orders. What’s next? You’ll move those hands from where I told you to keep them?”

On cue, she drops them from their spot against the wall and wraps them around my neck, leaning forward as I continue to tease her. “I think I’m learning that I like disobeying, Betmal. I like it when you get all ‘let me teach you a lesson, ma siréne.’”

Growling, I shift backward with her in my arms. I settle onto my desk with her straddling my lap as I kick my pants fully off. I move my hands to the swell of her ass and part her, guiding her onto my cock. She sinks down with a needy moan, pussy clenching around me as her inner walls stroke and tease my thick length.

“Ahhh, my little mate,” I say with a groan. “This pussy is perfection.”