Chapter 20
Viviane’s POV
“I have a surprise for you.”
Caspian hasn’t let me out of his sight since Mordred attacked me at the stadium. If he can’t be with me himself, he assigns enforcers to guard me. He won’t admit it, but I’ve caught one too many suspiciously mature looking teenager wearing an earpiece roaming the halls of my school.
I know in my heart Caspian would never endanger me, but “surprise” has always sounded like another word for “trap” to me. “What kind of surprise?” I hedge warily.
Caspian huffs out a laugh, reading my mind. “A good one.” He pledges, planting a soft kiss on the tip of my nose.
Still I hesitate. “I don’t know Caspian, surprises are… couldn’t you just tell me what it is? I’ll appreciate it just as much, I swear.”
“You have to start trusting me sometime, Viviane.” The words could have sounded harsh, but he says them without a hint of judgment or annoyance.
“I know.” I whisper, bashfully fiddling with the buttons of his shirt.
Powerful hands knead my lower back and a hard, scruffy jaw nuzzles my cheek. “So why not today?”
My small hands abandon their fidgeting, closing into fists around the soft fabric of Caspian’s button-down. “You promise I’ll like it?” I ask, breathing in his addictive scent to bolster my strength.
“I promise.”
Crystalline water crashes into a sandy shore, leaving trails of foam and sea shells in its wake. As the swells roll in with a steady whoosh, a cool breeze steals the salt from the waves, carrying it through the trees and over my skin. The verdant land melds into the endless blue cauldron with breathtaking ease, joined by sparkling black beach.
Pearls land at my feet before I realize they’ve fallen, and Caspian’s arms come around my waist from behind with a comforting squeeze.
I’ve never seen the ocean before. I haven’t even been near water since we escaped the pearl farms. I’ve dreamt of the sea many times, my mermaid blood sending me visions of underwater palaces and hidden reefs – but nothing compares to standing here in the flesh.
The two hour drive from Asterion truly put my trust in Caspian to the test; the longer we drove the more convinced I became he was taking me for sale in another territory. He knew, though he did not say, bearing my lack of faith without complaint.
“I know you were afraid the ocean would remind you of the pearl farms.” His voice purrs in my ear. “I can’t erase all your terrible memories of the water, but I can help you make some new ones – happy ones – if you’ll let me.”
I shake my head, tears still falling, and Caspian stiffens slightly. “This is nothing like the farms.” I share hoarsely, “I love it.”
For the first time in my entire life, I understand what it is to belong somewhere. The water calls to me, it’s rhythmic song more beautiful than any music I’ve ever heard. Every sight, every smell, is perfect. Even the air tastes inexplicably, intrinsically right.
This is where I was meant to be, this is the home for which I was born.
I can feel Caspian watching me, gobbling up every flicker of emotion on my face with avid interest. His pride and happiness washes over me through our mental link, the same way I’m sure my joy, elation, reverence, and awe filter to him.
“Do you want to swim?” Caspian asks in a tone one might use to offer a child candy. “I brought–”
I never hear the end of his sentence, I’m already running for the water.
Caspian’s POV
If I were to die right now, my only regret would be not bringing Viviane here sooner.
I thought I understood what this would mean to her. I thought my connection to the moon and forest was one in the same as a mermaid’s connection to the ocean. They may be similar, but I failed to grasp just how devastating a lifetime of deprivation from one’s natural element would be. It’s the kind of pain and loss one can never truly know until they experience it for themselves.
Today I experienced a fraction of Viviane’s pain, and a fraction of her joy. I’ll never know how she survived the former, and nothing I do for the rest of my life will ever make me prouder than helping her find the latter.
The moon is high above us now, its reflection rippling in the starlit sea. The shore glitters with tiny glowing organisms and our own lanterns, but Viviane and I are still among the waves. I grew cold and wrinkly hours ago, but I could not bring myself to leave her.
She floats in my arms, exhausted from her lengthy underwater explorations and completely blissed out; like a kitten overdosing on catnip. “We’re going to have to leave soon, little mate.”
Her beautiful face turns toward me, “Do we have to?”
I nod, “It’s been a long day and we still have a two hour drive ahead of us.”
“We could sleep here.” Viviane suggests hopefully.
I chuckle, much too tempted to give in. “Maybe next time.”
She sighs, “I think this has been the happiest day of my life.”
“For me too.” I admit, dipping my head to breathe in her new scent for the thousandth time. Without the cat shifter spray disguising her aroma, my mate smells even more addictive than before.
“Really?” Viviane asks, looking surprised.
“Really.” I confirm, turning her around to face me. Silky legs wrap around my waist while slender arms twine around my neck, the press of her body warming me to the core. I smooth her drenched hair back, catching her mouth with my own and delving deep. Viviane moans into the kiss, and the overwhelming culmination of sensation and emotion triggers my arousal.
Blood rushes south, swelling and lengthening the member trapped between our bodies. Viviane’s body goes instantly rigid, freezing completely even as her pulse begins to race dangerously fast. Panic floods through our connection, and I hitch her body up and away from my hardness.
“Easy Viviane, it’s alright.” My shifter eyes have no trouble making out the little mermaid’s wide doe-eyes and trembling lips. Mordred’s attack must have done more damage than I thought. “I’m sorry, it’s just a natural response. I don’t expect us to do anything.”
“Can you let me go?” She asks meekly.
Reluctantly I release her, not convinced this is the best course of action but not wanting to frighten her any further. I start moving towards the shore, hoping that cutting off the romantic atmosphere will help her relax. “Come on, baby. Let’s get dressed and pack up.”
Viviane follows me skittishly, trailing after me but jumping every time I make a move she doesn’t expect. As we load things into the car I decide to try distraction. “Once we’re mated we’ll have to get a house here. We can come for weekends and vacations, whenever you want.”
“Once we’re mated?” Viviane repeats, looking slightly more relaxed but infinitely more confused.
“Yes.” I smile reassuringly.
Her next question fairly bowls me over. “You plan on taking me as your mate?”
“That’s what mates do, kitten.” This can’t possibly be news to her. “In fact it’s kind of the entire point.”
Her nose crinkles in confusion. “But you’re going to be Alpha.”
“Probably,” I shrug, “Though nothing’s for certain yet.”
“So I can’t be your mate,” Viviane reasons, “I’m not a shifter.”
My temper flares slightly, I thought we were past this. “You are my mate, so you absolutely can be.”
“No. I mean I can’t be the Pack Luna.” She clarifies, referring to the formal title of an Alpha’s spouse. “It’s not possible. I’m a mutant, a freak.”
“What did you just say?” I snarl, my wolf roaring in outrage.
“I’m a –
“Don’t.” I snap, “don’t you dare repeat those horrible words.” My brain is fighting my body. I want to grab my mate, assert my dominance physically, but I don’t want to risk triggering her trauma again. “I don’t ever want to hear you say anything like that again.”
I can practically hear Viviane’s eyes roll. She’s truly testing me now. “They aren’t my words, Caspian. That’s the point. That is what wolves think of my kind.”
I almost retort, not all wolves, but bite the words back just in time. She’s right, of course, the abuses she’s experienced prove what it’s like for mermaids living among shifters.
“Then we’ll have to change that.” I finally respond. “I won’t tolerate sentiments like that among my pack.”
“You can’t legislate acceptance, Caspian.” Viviane argues, “People will feel exactly the same way, they just won’t say so in public. The pack would never accept me if they knew the truth and you know it.”
“I’ll make them.” I contest stubbornly, redirecting before she can answer. “I don’t understand. Where did you think this was going, Viviane?”
She shrugs. “I hadn’t given it much thought. I suppose I expected…” She trails off, adopting a decidedly guilty posture.
“You expected what?” I demand sternly.
“That you’d want me as a... mistress.” She squeaks when my wolf growls from deep in my chest, wrapping up hurriedly, “rather than a wife.”
Realization dawns like a freight train slamming into me. “You still don’t see me as a mate, do you?” I ask, closing the distance between us.
“I…” Viviane starts, “It’s not… you–”
“Yes or no, Viviane.” I interrupt harshly. “Do you, or do you not, believe we are mates?”
