Chapter 22

Awave of laughter washes over the Cursed Crab as Zero nudges me, the large orc brimming with mischief. "Bet you're nervous about Rey talking to Svea, aren't ya?" He chuckles, gulping down his mead.

I give Zero a sidelong glance, tentacles coiling around my drink. "Should I be?" I question, turning my gaze back to my drink, worry creeping in.

Zero shrugs nonchalantly, but there's a twinkle in his eyes. "Who knows? Maybe talks went well and they are talking about Knitting and Bitching Sundays."

Sage, the Naga gardener, slithers in on the conversation, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "My Zoe adores those nights. Gives me some peace and quiet to catch up with my folks."

Zero lets out another hearty laugh, shaking his head at Sage. "Must be nice to finally find your fated mate after so many years of searching, eh Zethe? First Sage, and now you."

Their words spark a sense of curiosity and a tinge of envy. "And what about you two? Orcs have some of the highest mate-finding success rates, what with all your clan gatherings."

Eli sighs, resting his chin in his massive palm. "Just 'cause we have a lot of gatherings, doesn't mean our fated mate will be there. Our mate could be from another clan we never interact with."

"Or living independently in the city, or at some place like this resort," Zero adds, frowning as he gulps his drink.

My frown deepens, but an idea begins to form. "There must be something Rey could do… Maybe design a fated mates matching app?"

My tentacles curl tightly around my glass, the cool condensation a sharp contrast to the heat coursing through me. Zero's wide-eyed look of surprise is almost comical.

"She can do that? Really? Make an app?" he asks, disbelief coloring his words.

A shrug ripples through my body, tentacles and all. "I don't see why not," I reply, my mind already envisioning the possibilities. "Even if she can't, I'm sure she knows people who can."

Eli's eyes gleam with excitement. He leans in closer, almost toppling his drink in the process. "Imagine if she could tie the app to the resort, inviting matches to stay and discover their mates here. They might even leave together!"

A ripple of laughter spreads through us. Sage, the ever-calm Naga, chuckles at the thought. "Or maybe they get matched with a staff member and get invited to live here. Like Zoe and Rey."

The thought is intoxicating, a wave of hope and excitement flooding the room. We toast to the idea, drinks clinking together in the middle of the table.

Who knows? Maybe this wild idea could become a reality after all.

The loud chatter and boisterous laughter in the bar must have attracted their attention, because Rey, Zoe, and Svea make their way toward us.

Rey's eyes, sparkling with curiosity, scan the faces around the table before settling on mine.

"What's going on?" she asks, a playful smile curling her lips. "Zethe, what are you up to?"

I run a hand through my hair, looking at the guys who give me encouraging nods, and then back at Rey.

"Conspiring," I say, casting a glance toward my friends, their eager faces flushed with anticipation and a touch of alcohol. I turn back to Rey, her lovely face soft with curiosity. "We were just discussing an idea for the resort."

Rey raises an eyebrow at me, her gaze flitting between me and my companions before finally settling on me. "An idea? For the resort?"

The question hangs in the air, and I feel my heart skip a beat. How will she react? Can she bring this wild dream to life? Is she willing to?

I see Svea gently nudging Rey with a soft smile, and I find the courage to spill out the idea we had cooked up. "Yes, an idea," I say, meeting Rey's eyes. "We were wondering if you could help us develop an app, something to help people find their fated mates and invite them to the resort."

Rey stares at me, her gaze penetrating as if she's trying to see if I'm joking or not. When she realizes I'm serious, she blinks and then smiles. "That's quite an idea. You're right, it might help a lot of people find their fated mates."

"I'm happy for you and Zethe, as well as Sage and Zoe," Zero says solemnly. "But I want what you have. I'd like to find my fated mate and possibly have a horde of children with them."

Rey's reaction is immediate, her features scrunching up in surprise and amusement at the mention of a horde of children.

"What if your future fated mate wants none?" Rey's words echo my own thoughts, and I watch as Zero's gaze softens, his eyes full of understanding. He takes a moment to gather his thoughts, his voice steady and sincere.

"If my fated mate doesn't desire children, I will respect their wishes without hesitation," he begins, his tone gentle yet resolute. "Having a family, whether it's a horde or not, is not the essence of what I seek. What truly matters to me is finding the person who completes me. The number of children does not define the love we share. It is the bond we forge, the support we offer, and the joy we find in one another."

The room goes quiet. What started as a conversation among friends about the resort's future had spiraled to a suddenly deep conversation about children.

Something that Rey and I hadn't spoken about and will need to in the future.

But right now, I'm fine enjoying my time with her. If she craves children, or never wants any, it's up to her. I'm just happy that I've found her.

It seems that, despite our differences, there's something we all crave: companionship, love, and the sense of belonging that comes with finding your fated mate.

Eli finally breaks the silence, changing the subject back to what it was. "Rey, can you do it? Can you create this app?" His voice is hopeful, the edges tinged with a certain vulnerability I rarely see in the Orc brothers. I can tell the two of them are hoping that she can help them find their fated mates.

Rey ponders for a moment, her gaze drifting to the glowing, neon sign of the Cursed Crab. She bites her lower lip, a gesture I've come to recognize when she's deep in thought. Finally, her gaze returns to us, a spark in her eyes that mirrors the hope in ours.

"I've never designed a dating app before," she confesses, "But I have designed other kinds of apps. It might take some time, but… I don't see why I can't do it."

Svea, standing nearby, chuckles and wraps an arm around Rey, her voice filled with appreciation. "Well, good thing I hired you, Rey. You've got the skills and the heart to make this happen. We'll support you every step of the way."

The room buzzes with excitement as our monster resort family gathers to celebrate Rey's new role as a staff member. Congratulations and words of appreciation fill the air, each member expressing their joy and gratitude for her willingness to take on the task of creating the fated mates dating app.

"You don't know how much this means to us, Rey," Eli says, his deep voice trembling slightly with emotion. The Orcs, for all their rough exterior, have always been sensitive souls, and the hope of finding their fated mates hits them hard.

"Here's to finding our fated mates," I raise my glass, and everyone follows suit. The sound of clinking glasses fills the room, the promise of a better future echoing in every note. "To finding love, family, and home."

"And to Rey," Zero adds, his gaze lingering on the brilliant woman who is going to make this possible. "Our miracle worker."

Our voices rise in unison, a chorus of hope and gratitude. "To Rey!"