6. Traitor

6

TRAITOR

D elphin

I slept alongside Matt until I heard a noise, pulling me from my dreams.

I felt the magic barriers around our home tremble and I raised my head, scowling.

Our room was dark, the only sound the soft snoring from Matt.

I slowly peeled myself away from him, feeling a streak of worry.

Aegaeon had gone to talk to the Elders. If that hadn't gone well, then…

I felt the thrum of magic again and this time I got up, leaving the room and going down the hall to our space at the front of our home. I could see through the doorway and stopped, feeling a chill work down my spine.

There were three guards there. I knew that they couldn't see me, but I could see them— and they were angry. Talking amongst themselves. One of them banged on our doorway again.

A low growl left me and I went to the doorway, allowing the protective barrier of magic to disappear.

"Is the human in there?" one of them immediately asked.

"Excuse me?" I asked, pinning him with a cold glare.

All three of them moved back, sensing my fury.

"Exactly why are you banging on my doorway in the middle of the night?" I snarled. "Who do you think you are?"

"We were told to bring the human," one of them said warily.

"What human?" I asked.

"The Elders asked us to bring a human."

"I don't know what human you mean," I lied. "I had a human that I brought for a meal. He is dead now. All three of you are also about to die if you do not leave."

One of them made a noise, moving back from me.

I was used to being feared somewhat because I was by Aegaeon's side. But, still, I had always had a commanding presence.

I could fight the three of them if I needed to.

I would kill them if I had to.

Matt was mine.

"Can we search really quickly?" One pleaded.

"No," I said. "Now, goodnight."

Before they could argue, I drew the magic barrier up— cutting off their words and blocking them from seeing within.

I let out a breath, swallowing hard. The cold darkness soothed my thrashing heart, my hands curling into fists.

I needed to get Matt out of here.

If the Elders were asking for him, then that meant they either planned to kill him or they planned to have Aegaeon kill him.

"Fuck," I sighed, the human word coming to mind again.

I liked that word. It was versatile.

I watched as the three guards argued for a moment and then swam off, taking their spears with them.

I had friends that I could hide Matt with if needed. The sea was vast and not everyone was as close-minded.

I knew there were other merfolk who had fallen for humans. And surely, some of them found their happiness…

Boom .

The barriers around our home trembled, the magic shivering. I let out a curse.

Boom .

The sound of Matt's cry echoed through our home and I took off, darting down the hall and into our room.

I entered the room just in time to see my human being stolen through the windows by one of the guards.

"How dare you?!" I screeched, my blood immediately burning hot.

My tail thrashed through the water and I lunged forward, grabbing on to Matt. He kicked at the guard, who was holding on to him like a shark held on to its prey.

"Give us the human!" he snarled.

One of the others moved for me, trying to tear me back. I spun, feeling my fingertips burn with magic. My veins burned with neon light, casting an eerie glow on their hungry and scared faces.

They were simply obeying orders, but those orders would be the end of them.

I raked my claws across one of their chests, smacking him away with my heavy tail. My lungs heaved with ragged breaths as we fought, rolling through the water.

"Delphin!" Matt called.

I turned, letting out another growl as he was pulled from my home— out into the open sea. They were moving him fast, the two guards dragging him towards the deep trenches.

The guard fighting me tried to shove me off, but I hit him hard. His body went limp as he lost consciousness, floating as if he were lifeless.

A trickle of blood spread like ink from his lips, twirling through the water.

"Traitor," I growled at him.

They had betrayed me by taking my mate.

"Delphin!"

I turned to see Aeageon come through the doorway, his eyes wild.

"They took him," I snarled. "I'm surprised to see you."

"Fuck," he growled. "We will save him before anything happens. Most of the Elders had no problem with it, but there was one…He fought me, despite the fact that I outrank him."

"They went towards the trenches," I said.

"Let's go," Aegaeon said.

The two of us were already swimming now, moving out into the sea. I could feel the direction they had taken him, the mating bond winding up tightly like some of the plastic nettings I had seen capture fish. It constricted me, drawing me in the direction.

The currents moved, the temperature of the ocean growing colder as we dove deeper. I fought the feelings of dread that were turning my insides to lead.

"It'll be okay," Aegaeon promised, swimming ahead of me.

He was determined too. Determined to save his human.

We dove deeper and deeper, heading straight for some of the caverns we rarely visited. I wasn't sure why they would take him here, but I hoped we got to him in time.

"Once I mate him, we will have less of a fight," Aegaeon said. "I am a son of the gods, after all, and their leader."

I nodded and slowed as we entered a tunnel, listening for Matt.

Aegaeon turned his head, his tail swishing behind him.

He's close, he whispered into my mind, switching to the link that only the two of us shared.

To the right, I answered, moving towards the opening of a tunnel.

I heard a faint whimper and started to move forward, but Aegaeon caught me, drawing me back.

Wait. Let me go first, love.

I nodded, letting him slip by me. I watched as he summoned some of his power to dull his light, blending in with the shadows.

I will call for you. Wait here. I will return.