Chapter 6
Dante
Two months later
Xexon hadn’t returned yet.
After the new High Queen, Evieza, honored the contract as more of a partnership than indentured servitude, Xaxen was allowed to come and go from Brasil and even be relieved of his duties for short periods of time.
However, ever since we’d left the underwater city and returned to his cavern, there has been an awkwardness between us.
When I thought that we would finally have time together and we could discuss the topic of being mates, Xexon would consistently change the subject, or go off on his perimeter checks.
I knew this was going to be an issue. I wasn’t what he wanted anymore.
Though he hadn’t offered to bring me back to the mainland, which I supposed was a good thing.
That meant he wasn’t outright rejecting me, but he had yet to mention anything about me being a Monvie, which most humans or shifters from the mainland would have a very strong opinion about.
While he was gone, I remained in the cavern, alone. I was able to swim up to the surface if I needed to, my shifted form easily surviving the pressure of the ocean. I wasn’t sure, but it could be due to the magic that Monvie had. Even though I had no idea how to use it.
I was useless. As a Monvie, and especially as a mate.
I finished fileting the thick fish that caught in my jaws near the surface and had brought back down to our dwelling. The bone knife that Xexon had was very useful and the weight was pretty even, like a dagger made by a blacksmith.
Xexon ate his raw, so I always tried to get him some fresh, daily.
Though a Monvie could eat fish raw too, I took one look at it and thought I was going to hurl.
Xexon was kind enough to stock us up on dried meats from a merchant ship.
He’d used his tentacles to steal it from the closest vessel about a month ago.
I salted the fish that I would save for myself and went to hang it in one of the side alcoves.
Water trickled excessively over near the entrance, hidden by the ridge before a few loud splashes echoed all around me.
My heart leaped into my throat and for a second I wondered if they’d come back for me.
Grolver appeared in my mind, even though I’d poisoned him and Xexon had finished him off.
My chest clenched, my heart racing in my throat.
My fingers began to tremble and a tense awareness rattled through my body.
I needed to flee. I had to get out of here.
But there was only one exit. I reached deep within, calling for my animal to come forth, the scales appearing along my flesh.
I could move quickly enough and it would be hard to see me if I stayed close to the wall.
The edges of my vision blurred as a form appeared just over the ridge. It wasn’t Grolver or any other guard from Brasil.
Xexon stood there, his long hair wavy yet stuck to his cheeks and shoulders as rivulets of ocean water cascaded down his shoulders and bare chest. His dark gaze found mine and he must see the terror that was obvious because his brow dipped and concern lanced through his features.
“My apologies, I didn’t mean to frighten you. I wish I could have sent word that I’d be back today.” He continued over the ridge, his tentacles moving with an agile fluidity that I both admired and envied. He was so perfect and strong.
“No, it’s okay. I’ve been waiting, so I shouldn’t have been surprised.” I forced a smile to twist my lips, but the fear was still tight within my body. It refused to release me, and my lungs started to squeeze right as I tried to breathe in.
Xexon moved over to the illuminated pool to his left and dipped right away under the fresh water. I had yet to ask him how he was able to keep the water clean and pure down here, with no access to a body of fresh water.
“How are you faring down here?” he asked, though his back was turned toward me.
I did my best not to ogle at his defined muscles or the way his back rippled when he ran his fingers through his hair.
It caused heat to bloom in my stomach, fluttering before my cock stirred.
Xexon hadn’t made a move, even though we now pretty much lived together.
I could only wonder if he was no longer attracted to me.
If what had happened, put him off on the idea of being with me.
Though, maybe it was just me. Could I be the one sending mixed signals?
For the first several weeks after Xexon took me home…
yeah, home. The beginning was difficult for me.
I was constantly getting nightmares and reliving the events within the castle.
Grolver was the star of most of them, sometimes the High King.
Either way, I always woke to Xexon with his tentacles wrapped tightly around me, his suckers moving in rhythm along my body as a way to ease the tension.
This couldn’t go on. I needed to prove to him that I was still able to fulfill my role as his mate. That I could satisfy him, even if I had no experience in that area.
With embarrassment burning through my cheeks and my heart pounding, I eased myself into the water behind Xexon, my pants immediately getting soaked.
“It’s been lonely,” I admitted, finally answering his question.
I reached up and gently grabbed a chunk of his dark hair, running my fingers through it. Xexon all but jumped, half turning to look down at me.
“What–?”
“Can I wash you today?” the question scratched along my throat and I was worried my voice was too hoarse, or soft, and that he hadn’t heard me. His shoulders tensed, two of his tentacles splashing the water in odd patterns as he glanced away.
I looked down at the one arm that interested me the most. Though I wouldn’t tell Xexon, I’d asked Evieza about how mating works, even though Xexon is the only of his kind.
She explained his third tentacle and how that would insert inside of me, like a human cock, or at least that was what she believed.
“You do not have to.” Xexon’s voice was but a whisper.
Rejection slashed through my chest and I tried to swallow the pain. “Oh, if you don’t want me to…”
I backed away a few steps, trying to find an out before I broke down before him. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t be honest with him. I needed to get some space between us before I showed him how much he affected me.
“Wait,” Xexon whipped around, water splashing all around us as one of his tentacles and human arms grasped at mine.
His tentacle moved down so that it could wrap around my waist. “I only said that you didn’t have to.
I do not want you to feel pressured into serving me.
You are not here for me. You’re here for you. ”
Fuck, what was he so genuine?
“I just want to do something for you. To thank you for coming for me.” And there were tears now blurring my vision and I had to look away before he caught sight of them. Ever since I met Xexon my emotions weren’t the same. I was easy to irritate and upset. I needed to control my emotions better.
“Of course I came for you, you’re…” he trailed off and stared down at me, his brow still crumpled.
Xexon tilted his head and sighed, but didn’t continue.
“Xexon, I know about everything. I know what it is we should do as mates. I know that we are going to be together, from now on.” I placed my hand over his heart, the warmth of his skin causing a shiver to shoot down to my cock.
“Unless, uh, you don’t want me as a mate.
Which I would understand. I could go back to the mainland, or–”
“No!” Xexon yanked me forward until we slammed together, his face now scrunched with what appeared to be agony. “I don’t want you to leave. I can’t let you leave. Dante, I need you.”
I tried to swallow my heart, “But, I’ve done nothing for you. You keep your distance and won’t even try to solidify the bond. I thought… I thought you were going to reject me.”
“What? Never!” His voice is almost a roar as he tightens his grip.
I don’t even care in that moment if it bruises.
This was what I needed. This reassurance.
“Dante, you’re mine. Forever. There is no changing that.
I was simply trying to be considerate. I didn’t want to push you before you were ready.
I know it can be a lot to process after everything you’ve gone through, but I hoped one day you would be able to accept me and we could work through it together. ”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know how to bring it up, and I was scared you’d reject me.
I guess we were both being sensitive about that part.
” He gave me a weak smile and wrapped both his human arms around me and kissed the top of my head.
“I will always be here, and if you need more time to heal, I will do what I can to get you through it. Or be at your side if you are unable to.”
“Xexon,” I sighed his name, my cock pulsing with the need I’ve been holding back. The heated sensation rippled up into my chest and then down into my arms. I reached out and gripped his tentacle that was wrapped around me tightly.
He jumped, his eyes widening and his mouth dropping open.
He turned down to watch as I moved my hand slowly, back and forth, not too much, just a slow rhythm along his mating arm so that he could feel the pressure.
Instantly, his suckers that were already slightly wedged between my tunic and slacks connected with my bare flesh.
Heat radiated from each point of contact, a gasp escaping my lips as I fell into Xexon.
His lids lowered, a dark, angry lust contorting his features. It was only made more powerful by the way his hair draped over his face, overshadowing his cheeks. “Dante, I don’t know if you–”
“I do,” I confirmed before he could question my actions. I knew exactly what I was doing. I tightened my grip on his tentacle, then released it, before repeating the action over and over again. “Xexon, I’ve waited for two months already. I need you.”