Page 22 of Seducing Scylla (Mated Myths #1)
Morgan
M y chest pangs with a strange tightness that gradually builds.
Don’t tell me this is another mate bond thing.
I hope it doesn’t mean Scylla is hurt or in danger.
I don’t know what to do with idle hands, so I straighten up what little personal effects Scylla has in her home, admiring a shelf of knick-knacks that she must’ve found in her time exploring the sea.
I fluff the furs, stoke the fire, rearrange the stone knives on the bench, and then I go back to pacing.
The cave is comfortably warm now and there are no signs of Scylla’s pet sharks, so I sit by the edge of the pool and dip my toes in the cool water, keeping a careful eye out for shadows beneath the surface.
I think over the last few days and what a tumultuous ride it’s been; from being kidnapped to trafficked and now here I am, making myself at home in a sea monster’s cave after having kissed said sea monster and sending her on her way.
I look around at Scylla’s home; it’s sparse but warm, cozy even.
It’s not horrible at all and perhaps with a few extra adornments, I might be quite comfortable here.
There’s so much to learn about this island and it makes me uncomfortable to rely on Scylla for my survival, even though I get the impression she’s quite happy to look after me.
My biggest needs are a bathroom, food, and clothes, not necessarily in that order, but if I have to walk all the way to the hot spring to bathe every time I need to, it’s going to get old really fast. Clothing is going to be the biggest issue.
Obviously, Scylla doesn’t require any. I snort a laugh, imagining Scylla wearing pants that had leg holes for eight tentacles.
I don’t know how long this dress will last if I’m wearing it every day, and I’ll have to go out and try to look for my cardigan at some point.
If one of those containers has clothing in it, it would be a huge stroke of luck.
I’ll have to ask Scylla when she gets back.
That is, if she knows what she’s looking at.
Scylla. My thoughts linger on the striking seven-foot-tall sea monster and all the effort she’s gone through to make sure I have everything I need.
The tenderness and comfort I’ve felt in her arms. The unmistakable feeling of safety when I’m by her side.
Not once have I felt afraid since finding myself in her furs, like my soul knows she is my home.
I sigh, closing my eyes. What have I got myself into?
The heat that flares between us every time we touch assures me that our chemistry will be hot.
Scorchingly so. But how much of that is the mate bond and how much of it is genuine want?
It’s easier to assess my feelings when she’s not close by.
Her presence muddles my brain and I find it hard to think about anything other than her.
The tension in my chest begins to ease and I don’t know if that is a good sign or a worse one.
Three dark shadows circle beneath the water and I take that as my cue to remove my feet.
Standing, I straighten my dress, fiddling with the skirt of it before deciding it’ll do.
I’ve decided that I’d like to give this mate thing a chance.
After all, there’s not much to go back to if I did somehow make it off this island.
Sure, I’ll miss my job and modern amenities.
But something in my heart tells me that giving this a chance is important.
We’ll have to communicate, a lot, until I get the hang of, well, everything.
It sure isn’t going to be easy, but what in life is?
Now, I just have to tell Scylla that I’d like to stay with her.
If she’ll have me. Why are my palms so sweaty?
I wipe my hands along my dress, anxiety urging me to pace again.
Surely, Scylla won’t be much longer. The nagging tug in my chest is still present.
I do one lap of the cave before turning and retracing my invisible path in the stone.
“I wouldn’t move if I were you, Sunshine.”
I gasp, freezing in place as I face a bedraggled man holding one of the sharp stone blades from Scylla’s bench to my throat.
His dark hair is plastered to his head, matted and greasy.
His clothes are dirty and torn in places.
A thin layer of sand and dirt coats his sun-tanned skin, making him look like he hasn’t bathed in a couple of days.
His eyes are dark as he passes his gaze over me and licks his lips.
I shiver, invisible grime coats my skin under his gaze, and I feel queasy.
“What do you want?” My voice quivers.
“You, Sunshine. And your little tentacled friend.” His voice is gravelly, like a pack-of-cigarettes-a-day smoker.
He grins, showing a gold-capped tooth at the front of his smile. “You’re coming with me.” His hand darts out to grip me by the bicep.
“No!” I squirm under his firm hold, nostrils flaring as the stone blade bites into the soft skin at my neck .
“Uh, uh, uh, Sunshine. You struggle and I’ll slice the merchandise. The boss won’t be happy, of course, but I’m sure he’ll understand when I tell him you were trying to escape.”
“Your boss?” My bottom lip quivers, tears welling in my eyes. Not again. Please, for the love of god, this has to be a nightmare.
The man pulls me forward, half dragging me toward the entrance to Scylla’s home and back into the underground tunnels. I glance back at the pool, hoping like hell Scylla will pop her head out of the water any second and rescue me. But she doesn’t. I let out a whimper.
“When he comes back for me, he’ll reward me for keeping all the merch in one piece.” The man is only half talking to me, mostly to himself.
“When he comes back?”
He grunts, yanking me behind him through the dimly lit tunnels.
“When he rescues us off this fucking island. Now keep your mouth shut, or I’ll find a different way to shut you up.” He glances back at me, eyes menacing, his gold tooth glinting in the little light there is .
My imagination can only conjure up the worst scenarios, so I do as he says and keep my mouth shut.