Chapter 19

The thrill of the race abruptly vanishes, replaced by a sudden, chilling sense of dread. As the Mermaid sisters zip past me with wide, gleeful smiles, I realize with a pang of fear that Rey is nowhere in sight.

Hula, who's been waiting beside me at the finish line, seems to register my growing concern. She turns to her daughters, her voice echoing in our minds. "Where is Rey?"

Her daughters exchange a glance, confusion evident on their faces, before glancing back at their dolphins who bob and hover nervously nearby.

"She was right behind us,"Leona says, but her voice is unsure, tinged with worry.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spot a dolphin—Rey's dolphin—darting past us, its eyes wide and frantic. It's alone. Rey isn't with it.

"You were supposed to watch her!"Hula hisses, her mental voice loud and commanding. "What have you done?"

A cold, dread-filled chill sweeps through me. Fear, sharp and visceral, clutches at my heart.

I don't think, I don't hesitate. I simply act.

Turning swiftly, I shoot off in the direction they had come from. Rey is out there somewhere, alone.

And I need to find her. I'm not going to lose her. Not now. Not after getting to know her.

My instincts snap to the forefront, all my training as a lifeguard and the inherent hunter within me leaping into action. My tentacles propel me forward with powerful thrusts, retracing the racecourse as fast as possible.

My heart pounds against my chest, a relentless rhythm that drives me onward, my gaze scanning the water for any sign of Rey.

My Starfish.

The sudden blast of an emergency conch shell shatters the relative calm of the water. The sound echoes, a clear, distinct alarm that seizes the attention of everyone within earshot. An immediate sense of urgency fills the air, setting every creature into action, their movements suddenly hurried and frantic.

My eyes are locked on Rey's figure, her braided hair floating out behind her like a beacon in the murk. Her brown eyes are wide with fear as she struggles against the current, her small form protected only by the colorful bikini she's wearing. Seeing her in such a state drives a sharp stab of fear into my heart.

This is my mate, my Rey, struggling and afraid in the very environment I call home.

My instincts kick in and I surge toward her with all the speed my Kraken form affords me. I need to get to her. I need to pull her from the shadowy depths, to save her, to keep her safe.

She is my charge, my responsibility, and the idea of her being in danger rakes claws of ice down my back.

I rush towards her, my heart racing at the sight of her searching for me.

As my form bursts into her field of vision, her fear seems to lessen, replaced with a desperate hope. She reaches for me, her small hands extended toward my larger form.

I scoop her into my arms, cradling her against my chest. With a powerful flex of my tentacles, we're rocketing toward the surface, escaping the oppressive darkness of the depths. My every thought focused on getting her to safety.

But even as relief floods me, guilt follows close behind.

This is the second time I've failed her, the second time she's been in danger under my watch. The guilt gnaws at my insides, a relentless reminder of my failure. And the worry, the dread…

Would she want to leave now? Would she no longer want to stay with me?

It's an ache in my chest, a constant throb that refuses to let up. Once again, I failed her, and now I can"t shake off the fear that this time, she won"t forgive me.

When I see the light of the surface break around us, I feel a rush of relief, but it's tinged with guilt. The sting of that reality is harsh and raw, searing in my chest as I clutch her close and breathe hard.

"Are you all right, Rey?" I ask, my voice hoarse with worry.

She clings tighter to me, her slender fingers gripping the sturdy muscle of my upper arms. Pressing her head into the curve of my chest, she murmurs, "I'm better now… because I'm with you."

"I'm so sorry," I say, my voice thick with regret. "I should have followed closely behind the racers, to make sure everyone made it back safely. It's my responsibility as a lifeguard… and as your mate."

But she shakes her head, her wet hair tickling my skin. "No, Zethe. It's not your fault. My grip… it wasn't strong enough. And the water pressure… it's much different than swimming on the surface. I should have known."

Regardless of her reassurances, the weight of guilt remains. "Please, forgive me," I say, my voice barely a whisper as I meet her gaze. "As the lifeguard, and as your mate… I should have been more proactive. I should have protected you."

But instead of accepting my apology, she lifts her head from my chest. Her fingers, cool and damp from the water, press against my mouth, effectively silencing me. "Zethe," she says, her voice firm, her gaze unyielding, "I was scared, yes. But… I knew. I knew you wouldn't leave me. I knew you would come to save me. I trusted you… and I was right."

Her faith in me, despite my own guilt, is like a lifeline. Yet, I can"t shake the thought that I could have been faster, that I could have done better.

"I want you to promise me something," she says softly. "Promise me this won't ruin everything. That we can still… go swimming. But maybe… maybe we could stay closer to the reefs?"

Her words hit me like a surge of warm current. I pull her closer, relief washing over me like a tidal wave. "Of course, Rey," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "Anything for you."

"Can you take me home?" Rey asks, her voice small and vulnerable in the vast expanse of the ocean.

Her words strike a chord deep within me. Home. The word rolls off her tongue so easily, a simple word loaded with promise and potential. A shared home, a shared future.

"Yes, Starfish," I say, my voice heavy with the depth of my emotions. "Let's go home."

The word feels like a secret between us, a promise of a shared future. A soft smile graces her lips and my heart thrum with delight. I feel the weight lift off my chest, replaced by a warmth that radiates from within.

My Rey is safe, and she wants to go home. Our home.

As I secure her in my arms, ready to guide us back, I glance at the setting sun, the underwater world darkening around us.

Her grip around my neck tightens, a silent agreement, and I propel us forward, heading toward the comforting embrace of our home. The guilt and fear from earlier seem to slowly dissolve, replaced by a sense of peace and contentment.

Nearing our secluded cove, I relish in the privacy and tranquility that surrounds us. All is well, and a sense of contentment washes over me.

While I may be a creature of the sea, it's clear that Rey is more at home on land. Her body, unaccustomed to the exertion of swimming for an extended period, could use a rest. It's time for her to be where she truly belongs—with me, in our home.

Throughout the day, we explored the ocean depths, immersing ourselves in its wonders and collecting treasures that have caught Rey's eye. Shells, shimmering stones, and other fascinating finds that she can use to craft jewelry or art with her new Merfolk friends.

It has been a day filled with adventure and discovery, a day that I hope has created memories she will cherish… and hopefully, she will want to explore the ocean depths again, with me never leaving her side.

As the night sky stretches above us, its velvety expanse dotted with countless stars, a serene peace settles upon us. The gentle lapping of the waves against the shore serves as a soothing backdrop to our moment of quiet reflection.

We lie side by side on the soft sand, our bodies cushioned by the earth beneath us. I glance at Rey and notice that her breaths are still a bit heavy, evidence of the exertion we experienced underwater.

Rey turns to me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Thank you," she whispers. "Thank you for letting me into your world, for letting me experience things I could only dream of. I'm sorry for it to end the way it did."

I reach out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face, my voice filled with sincerity. "It has been my greatest pleasure to share these experiences with you," I say, my words infused with tenderness. "There is no need to worry about what happened, because there will be many more to come. We can continue to explore, to discover, and to create beautiful memories."

In the glow of the full moon, the surface of the ocean sparkles like a thousand tiny diamonds, mesmerizing and magical. Three familiar figures emerge from the depths—Hula and her daughters Sora and Leona, their bodies glistening with a dazzling array of colors.

Rey gasps at their sudden appearance, the color draining from her face as she struggles with the clasp of the necklace.

"Hula!" she stammers, her fingers fumbling with the enchanted gem. "I… I should…"

Hula's powerful tail flicks in the water and she surges forward, effortlessly closing the distance between us. Her hand reaches out, grabbing Rey's before she can unclasp the necklace. Rey watches, wide-eyed and startled, as Hula pulls her closer, bending down to press a kiss to her forehead.

"I'm glad you're safe, dear, you had us worried. What happened to you is a sign from the Moon Goddess that I must do this," Hula says, her voice echoing with the power of the sea. "In accepting Zethe as your mate, you are now an honored daughter of the ocean, a sister to us Merfolk."

In her hands, the necklace glows with a soft, iridescent light. "You will need the necklace to join Zethe in the underwater world," Hula says, slipping the necklace back around Rey's neck. "You will be a part of both worlds now—him on the land and you under the sea."

My heart swells with an indescribable warmth at Hula's words. Tears of joy well up in Rey's eyes, glittering under the moonlight.

"Thank you, Hula," she whispers, her voice choked with emotion as Rey's face flickers. "How can I ever repay you for this?"

Hula just shakes her head, reaching up to touch the shells entwined in Rey's braided hair. "Help bridge the gap, Rey. Between land and water. Human and monster. That's all I ask."

Hula's voice grows soft as she continues, "The world's so consumed by technology that we've lost touch with nature and each other," she says, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. "But this resort, what Svea's built, is a beacon of hope. It's green, sustainable, and I admire that. She dreams of making this a place for both our kinds to find their true love—their fated mates. That's a dream I can get behind."

Rey wipes her eyes as she looks at me. "Do you think Svea will have any use for me?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. "Does the resort need their website and network updated?"

I shrug, wrapping a tentacle around her. "Even if she doesn't, I'm sure there's something for you to do here," I assure her, hoping to put her worries at ease.

Sora's voice breaks into our conversation, "Actually, a better system for the food and drink services would be really useful."

Leona nods eagerly in agreement. "I've been wanting to start a beauty service here, doing hair and makeup for guests. Having a way to promote it, and display the things we've crafted, would be great. I'm sure the other locations in the resort would like something similar made for them as well."

A spark of enthusiasm lights up in Rey's eyes. "That's a fantastic idea! I can definitely help with that."

I look at Rey, a warm feeling spreading in my chest. "See?" I tell her, wrapping my arm around her and gently squeezing her. "There's plenty for you to do here."