Chapter 17 #2
After Verity had submitted her sample, she stifled a yawn. "Sorry. The adrenaline is wearing off."
"Food first," Fionn said. "Then sleep. You both look dead on your feet."
We made our way to the dining area, where the breakfast service was in full swing. The smell of fresh bread and coffee filled the air, mixing with the salt breeze from the ocean. Several finfolk and humans were scattered across the tables, and I felt their curious gazes tracking us as we entered.
"Everyone's staring," Verity murmured.
"Let them," I said. "They'll have to get used to seeing us together."
We claimed a table near the windows, and within moments, a server appeared with coffee for Verity and water for me. I ordered enough food for both of us—fruit, bread, eggs prepared three different ways, and a dish of raw fish that made Verity wrinkle her nose.
"You're actually going to eat that?" she asked.
"It's breakfast."
"It's... still moving."
"It's fresh."
She shuddered. "I'm going to have to watch you eat raw fish regularly, aren't I?"
"I'm afraid so. Unless you'd like to try it?"
"Absolutely not."
I smiled and took a bite, enjoying the way she deliberately looked away. "You study marine life but won't eat it raw?"
"I study marine life because I respect it," she said. "Eating it raw feels like a betrayal of that respect."
"Even though you eat it cooked?"
"That's different. Cooking is... civilised."
"And we're not?"
Her gaze flicked to me, warm and knowing. "Oh, you're many things, Rainse. Civilised might not be at the top of the list."
The bond hummed with shared amusement and something deeper—affection, desire, the promise of what we'd shared in the hut. My greenskin rippled in response.
"Behave," she murmured. "We're in public."
"I am behaving."
"Your greenskin is glowing again."
"That's not something I can control."
"Convenient."
Before I could respond, Cerban's voice carried across the dining area. "Well, well. What do we have here?"
I looked up to find my clutch-brother approaching, Maelis tucked against his side. They both wore matching grins—the kind that promised teasing and embarrassment in equal measure.
"Cerban," I said warily. "Maelis."
"Rainse." Cerban pulled out a chair without invitation, settling in across from us. "I heard an interesting rumour this morning. Something about mysterious lights on the north beach?"
"We took shelter from the storm," I said.
"I'm sure you did." His grin widened. "Very thorough shelter, from what I understand."
Maelis elbowed him. "Be nice." She turned to Verity, offering a genuine smile. "Hi. I'm Maelis, and this is my insufferable mate, Cerban. Welcome to the island. And congratulations."
"Thank you," Verity said, seeming relieved by the friendly greeting. "I'm Verity. And yes, before anyone asks, we're mates. The DNA test is being processed now, but for us that is just a formality."
"Smart," Maelis said. "Get ahead of the gossip. Trust me, on an island this small, everyone knows everything within about six hours."
"Five hours," Cerban corrected. "I timed it once."
"You did not."
"I absolutely did. Remember when we-"
"This is not the time." Maelis rolled her eyes but was smiling. She turned back to Verity. "So, marine biologist?"
"That's right. I study cetaceans—whales and dolphins, mostly. Or I did. Now I'm thinking about expanding into xenobiology."
"Studying us, you mean?" Cerban's expression shifted to something more interested. "That could be useful. We still don't fully understand why the mate bond works with humans."
"That would be one of my research questions," Verity said, warming to the topic.
"The biological compatibility between species that evolved on completely different planets—it shouldn't work.
But it does. Rainse mentioned that the dating agency works with other alien species, not just finfolk.
Why? What's the mechanism? Is it something in your DNA that happens to align with ours?
Or is there something more complex happening? "
"You're going to fit right in," Maelis said. "I'm a scuba diver, so I can't help much with the biology side, but if you ever need someone to collect samples or map underwater caves, I'm your person."
"Noted. Thank you." Verity glanced at me. "Shall we go and have a nap?"
"Yes. As soon as I have had another portion of this fish. It almost tastes like back home."
I felt Cerban's eyes on me, assessing. When Verity turned to respond to something Maelis said, he leaned forward slightly.
"You did it," he said quietly. "You found your mate."
"I did."
"How does it feel?"
I considered the question. How did it feel? Like everything had finally clicked into place. Like the loneliness that had haunted me since the Matriarchs' judgement had been washed away. Like I'd found the piece of myself I hadn't known was missing.
"Like drowning and breathing at the same time," I said finally.
Cerban smiled—a real smile, full of understanding. "Yes. Exactly like that."
After breakfast, Verity's exhaustion finally caught up with her. I walked her back to her room—a well-appointed bungalow high up on the hill, with windows that overlooked the water.
"You should rest," I said, though leaving her felt physically painful. The bond pulled at me, wanting me to stay close.
"Are you giving me orders now?" she asked, but there was no heat in it.
"I'm expressing concern for your wellbeing."
"Mmm." She swayed slightly, and I caught her elbow. "Okay, fine. Maybe I'm more tired than I thought. That hut didn't exactly have the world's most comfortable sleeping arrangements."
"We weren't doing much sleeping," I pointed out.
"True." She looked up at me, eyes soft despite her exhaustion. "Will you stay? Just until I fall asleep?"
The question hit me harder than it should have. "Of course."
Inside, the room was cool and quiet, the bed large and inviting. Verity kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto it with a grateful sigh.
"This is so much better than sand and cushions," she mumbled into the pillow.
I sat on the edge of the bed, running my hand down her back. The greenskin along my arm reached out instinctively, the strands brushing against her shirt in a gentle rhythm.
"Your greenskin does that a lot," she said drowsily. "The reaching thing. Is it conscious?"
"No. I have no control over it. It just... wants to touch you. To maintain the connection. I don't think my brothers' greenskin does it. But..."
"I like it." Her eyes were already closing. "It feels safe."
Safe. Such a simple word, but it meant everything.
I stayed there, hand on her back, greenskin maintaining that gentle contact, until her breathing evened out into sleep. Even then, I didn't want to leave. The bond was content, settled, humming with satisfaction at her nearness.
But I had things to do. Preparations to make. A life to build with her.
I pressed a kiss to her temple and whispered, "Twenty-four hours. Then you're officially mine."
She smiled in her sleep, and the bond pulsed with shared contentment.