Chapter Four #3
Mia grinned and snapped a cuff on. “Not yet. You will be the second to know. Maybe the third.”
Mia left with a swing in her hips.
Meeda opened her eyes wide as she returned her focus to the table.
Akervel said, “I thought she was asexual.”
“Nope. She just doesn’t have a uterus, and her ovaries don’t lead anywhere. They left her one, and the sucker should have burned out by now, but she has our father’s genes, so maybe not.”
“Was he the water-born or the pixie?”
“Water-born. The pixie, it seems, was my mother’s side of the family.”
He smiled. “That would explain why it went undetected.”
She nodded.
“So, Mia is really going to go out and—”
“Obtain entertainment? Yes.” She smiled. “The guys have fun, she has fun, and she’s picked up any number of them who like older women.”
“Do any of them want something permanent?”
“Of course, but she’s sterile, and she doesn’t pretend to be anything else.”
“Did she want children?”
“She did but not a mate. Back when she was young, omegas were handed to wealthy businessmen and expected to stand next to their wives as nothing but sex pets. That was her destiny, and her family found a way out. It was for her sanity that they didn’t have more kids.”
“That—her parents must have loved her very much.”
“With everything they were and everything they had.” She started slumping to the side, and he wrapped an arm around her. “Expect a doctor in the next hour.”
A strong voice said, “Or sooner. Hello, Meeda.”
“Hey, Iro. This is Akervel.”
Akervel continued to hold her but turned his head. “Dr. Iro.”
“Pleased to meet you. Now, Meeda, Mia said you were injured?”
She sighed. “Shark bite. Mostly healed, though.”
“May I see?”
She nodded, leaned away from Akervel, opened the gauzy robe, and exposed her side.
“How did it catch you?”
“I was distracted by—um.” She glanced at Akervel.
He smiled.
Iro was outraged. “And you didn’t help her?”
Meeda covered her eyes. “Show him the video.”
Akervel nodded and brought up the video, showing her grabbing for the tail.
Iro said, “What’s that?”
Akervel shrugged. “Me.”
Iro nodded and flinched at the impact point. “Right, got you with the overbite. Shit, it’s big.”
“Yeah. Anyway, that’s what happened.”
Iro looked at her ribs and nodded. “There are still bite marks.”
“I am aware,” she said wryly.
“No broken ribs?”
“Nope.”
“Good. Keep an eye out for infection. He could have put his previous meal under your skin.”
“Gross. Thanks for that.”
“No problem. How long did you bleed?”
“Ten minutes?”
“I am amazed that more didn’t come for you.”
“Well, I remembered to put up my shielding at that point, and then Akervel was there, and he helped me get home.”
She sighed as Iro kept prodding, and then she hissed as he pressed. “Do you have claws?”
She nodded, and he held the item under her skin. She took in a slow breath and sliced on the rigid lump. He eased a shark’s tooth to the surface. She exhaled. “Okay. That explains the itching there.”
There was a clatter on the table, and she exhaled and felt the surge of blood that hit Iro’s hands.
He muttered, “Oh, shit.”
Akervel’s tentacle wrapped around her, slimed her, and then held pressure on her. Iro leaned back. “That works.”
She sighed and slumped against her merman, and then she was out.
She woke up held by arms and tentacles on one of the loungers. Akervel kissed her neck. “I am relieved you are awake. I would have taken you to your room, but they both smell like you and Mia.”
“Oh, she likes to cuddle, and I have nightmares. Is she back with... company?”
He laughed. “Yes, and you are correct. She’s loud.”
Meeda sighed. “Told yah.”
She pointed toward the side of the house closest to the ocean. “That’s my room.”
“Shall I take you there?”
“Loaded question.” She chuckled.
“You are in no state to do anything but sleep, my heart’s current.”
She tried to turn to look at him, but he was firmly behind her, and she was wrapped in place.
“Your wound is healed, and the others are healing better now. The marks are nearly gone. Sleep here. I have you. And it is quieter than inside the house.”
She laughed, and it turned into a yawn.
“Rest, Meeda. Oh, Mia met with Serin and Haravin, and Harper has been contacted. I believe she is on her way.”
“I don’t want to rest.”
“You lost a lot of blood.”
“Oh, yeah. Forgot about that. Your tentacles are nice and comfy. Oh, did Vine come home?”
“She and Kazuya went for a swim, and they are still out there.”
“Oh.” She giggled. “I am guessing he doesn’t get to the ocean nearly enough.”
He laughed. “He’s looking into opening a spa out here. Ohno has no issue. The hotel is overloaded with bookings.”
“Oh, that’s fun. King Kekoa will make sure that the new arrivals pace themselves.” She smiled. “And the business people, too.”
He laughed softly in her ear. “Funny. Now, get some sleep. I’ve got you.”
She nodded and relaxed. He was warm and solid behind her, holding her securely but letting her move. She settled into him and let her normal hesitation take a day off. The wings could demand blood if anything went wrong.