Chapter 17

17

THORAK

T he crystal clear water of Mermaid's Lagoon shimmers as Finn and I sit on the grassy bank. Colorful fish dart beneath the surface and in the distance, the melodic songs of merfolk sunning themselves on the rocks drift over on the warm breeze.

Finn and I have been meeting up here for lunch once a week over the past couple of years. As we both got busier in our work lives—him with the law firm, me with the brewery start-up—we realized we needed to carve out regular time to maintain our friendship.

I take a swig of my Orc's Anvil oak barrel stout and pass him a bottle. "How are the negotiations between the trolls and the goblins going?" I ask him.

There's been a land ownership dispute happening at the edge of town. Once upon a time, these things would've been settled in a winner-takes-all battle to the death.

These days, litigators are involved.

Finn winces, putting his beer down. "A bloody nightmare. I'm running on fumes. But you seem extra tense today, even for you. What's eating you?"

It's remarkable how well he reads me. Most people take one look at me and just see a stoic, brutish monster but Finn can suss out every small change in my demeanor.

I sigh. "The deal with the investor and distributor, Robert, still isn't done. You saw what went down with my parents last night, right in front of him."

At that, Finn takes a big gulp of his drink. "Yeah that was…brutal."

I nod. "I think Mariah and I got him back on board, but he's taking his time making a decision."

I actually ran into Robert in town on my way over here, head down in a map of Elderberry Falls and looking, weirdly, every bit the excited tourist. He told me he'd be at the inn tonight for Ecco's next performance and I agreed to meet him there.

"And…Mariah?" Finn asks, a knowing look in his eye.

Finn didn't go to high school with us; he moved to Elderberry Falls after law school. He didn't see how horrible I was to her, although he's heard plenty from me about it over the years. And he knows how much I've been beating myself up over it ever since.

"Things are, uh, progressing."

I can't hold back my grin as thoughts of last night with Mariah flood my mind. The way it felt to hold her thighs open with my tusks, the sweet taste of her arousal on my tongue, the breathy moans she made as I pleasured her...

Finn arches an eyebrow. "Progressing, huh? Do tell. You two finally kiss and make up?"

I clear my throat, trying to play it cool. But my cheeks heat, probably deepening my skin into a telltale darker shade of green. "You could say that. We, um, reconnected recently."

"Reconnected?" Finn punches me in the arm, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"She needs time," I tell him. "Space. To figure out how she's feeling about all of this. I'm giving it to her."

I meant what I told Mariah this morning. I would wait for her until the end of time.

"Anyway," I continue onward, trying to shake thoughts of Mariah out of my head, "I'm meeting Robert at the inn tonight to see Ecco perform. You should join us."

Finn glances away, fidgeting with a blade of grass. "Ah, I would but I have...other plans tonight. Perhaps another time."

I raise an eyebrow. Finn never turns down a chance to socialize.

"Other plans, huh? Everything alright?" I probe gently, watching his face.

"Of course, just a prior engagement I need to attend to," he says breezily. But he still won't quite meet my eyes.

This caginess means one of two things when it comes to Finn. He either has a work thing going on at the law firm that he can't discuss.

Or he's seeing someone that he doesn't want to tell me about.

I frown but decide not to push it. Clearly something is going on, but I trust Finn will tell me when he's ready.

I have enough to worry about with Mariah and Robert.

By the evening, the lobby of the Moonflower has transformed into a cozy wonderland. Fairy lights drape the walls, pulsing gently like captured starlight. Glowing orbs hover near the ceiling, bathing everything in a dreamy luminescence.

My eyes scan the assembled guests, searching for the one person I'm most eager to see. It takes only a moment to spot Mariah across the room.

She's breathtaking in a flowing lavender dress, her chestnut hair tumbling down her back in glossy waves. Mariah smiles as she chats with Ecco, the picture of a gracious hostess.

I make my way towards her, a schoolboy blush rising on my cheeks. It's only been a few hours since I came by to talk to her, but it seems like an eternity. The memory of her soft skin beneath my hands sends a fresh wave of desire crashing through me.

I clench my fists, willing myself to stay in control.

As I approach, Mariah's eyes meet mine over Ecco's shoulder. For a split second, I see a flicker of uncertainty, and my stomach clenches. But then she smiles, soft and inviting, and the tension eases from my muscles.

"Thorak, you made it," she greets me warmly, stepping forward to loop her arm through mine. The casual intimacy of the gesture sends a thrill down my spine.

I remind myself that Mariah asked for time. This means nothing, probably.

"Of course." I cover her hand with my own, hyper-aware of every place our bodies touch. "I wouldn't miss it."

"Robert is already here," Mariah informs me, tilting her head towards a cluster of seats near the small stage. Sure enough, I spot the businessman sitting stiffly in the plush armchair, looking out of place among the more relaxed magical crowd. "We should probably join him before the show starts."

"Lead the way," I agree, allowing her to guide me through the throng of people.

As we near Robert, I can't help but marvel at the change in his demeanor. He still seems a bit ill at ease, but there's a spark of curiosity in his eyes as he takes in the enchanted decor and whimsical refreshments.

A marked difference from the disdain and unease he first arrived with a week ago.

We settle into the seats beside him, exchanging pleasantries. "I must say, this is quite the event," Robert comments, his gaze drifting over the room.

Mariah laughs, the sound like music to my ears.

"I'm hoping to turn Ecco's performances into a regular weekly event," she tells him. "The one you saw earlier in the week was sort of a last-minute trial run. This is more what I envision what it will look like going forward." She chews her lip, contemplative. "If this is successful, I could see this being a real draw for guests and tourists."

"I'm curious," I say, turning to Mariah. "Does Ecco use her siren powers when she sings? Not that I'm complaining, but I'd rather not end up in a trance on the floor...again."

Mariah shakes her head with an amused smile. "No, she's got them under control now. It took a lot of practice, but Ecco can perform without unintentionally enchanting everyone."

She leans in conspiratorially toward, lowering her voice. "She does weave in a bit of siren magic though. Nothing too strong, just enough to create a nice, warm atmosphere. Like wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket or sipping a really good ale."

"Magic and ale? Now that sounds like my kind of performance," I quip, drawing a chuckle from Mariah and an intrigued look from Robert.

"You can use magic to recreate the sensation of drinking ale?" the businessman asks, his brow furrowing. "Fascinating. I never would have thought..."

He trails off, shaking his head as if to clear it.

"Forgive me, I'm still learning to expand my horizons when it comes to the magical world. This is all very new to me."

"It's a learning curve," I say with a wry grin. "Even those of us who live here don't truly understand the nuances of other folks' powers."

The last of the guests take their seats and the lights begin to dim, signaling the start of the show. I settle back in my chair, intensely aware of Mariah's presence beside me.

No matter what transpires on stage tonight, I know the real magic is happening right here, in the space between us.

Ecco takes the stage and her ethereal melody flows through the room, weaving its spell over the enraptured audience. Her voice rises and falls like the tide, and the music resonates in my bones, stirring something deep and primal within me.

Beside me, Mariah sways slightly, her eyes half-closed as she loses herself in the siren's song. The fairy lights cast a soft glow over her delicate features, making her seem almost dreamlike.

I long to reach out and pull her close, to have the warmth of her body against mine, but I resist the urge. We're not there yet, no matter how badly I want it.

Instead, I let my gaze drift to Robert, curious to see how the human is reacting to the magic. To my surprise, he appears utterly transfixed, leaning forward in his seat as if trying to absorb every note. The lines of tension that usually crease his face have smoothed out, replaced by an expression of wonder and delight.

Robert turns to the elf sitting beside him and strikes up a conversation, gesturing animatedly as he speaks. The elf responds with a smile, and soon the two are engaged in a lively discussion, their voices barely audible over the music.

When the final notes of the final song fade away, the room erupts in applause. I join in, clapping until my hands sting, a grin spreading across my face.

Beside me, Robert leaps to his feet, his expression one of pure joy.

"Bravo!" he shouts, his voice carrying over the din. "Absolutely magnificent!"

Then he turns to me, clapping me on the shoulder. "I have to go call my wife and tell her about this. She'll never believe it. Magical music…"

Robert shakes his head and wanders off toward his room, delight written all over his face. Mariah and I exchange pleased looks before she's swept off into the crowd.

Eventually, the last of the guests filter out of the lobby and Mariah's already starting to clean up, gathering discarded programs and empty glasses. I move to help her, ignoring her protests.

"Thorak, you don't have to do that. I can handle it."

"I know you can," I say, my voice low. "But I'd like to help. Let me do this for you, Mariah."

She hesitates. For a moment, I think she's going to refuse, but then she nods, her mouth curving into a small smile.

We work in silence for a while, moving around each other with a practiced ease. Every brush of her hand against mine sends a jolt of electricity through me, every glimpse of her flushed cheeks and bright eyes making it harder to attend to the task at hand.

Tension builds between us and I catch Mariah sneaking glances at me when she thinks I'm not looking, her gaze lingering on my hands, my chest, my lips.

It's maddening, being so close to her and yet so far away. I want to take her in my arms, to crush her against me and claim her mouth with my own. But I won't, not until she's ready.

We finish cleaning up the inn's lobby and I'm about to say goodnight, to give Mariah the space she asked for this morning, when she suddenly turns to face me.

"Thorak, I..." She takes a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm ready for the conversation you wanted to have earlier."

I step closer, barely daring to hope. "Mariah, what are you saying?"

She reaches out, her small, pale fingers grazing my cheek, and I lean into her touch, savoring the warmth of her skin against mine. "I'm saying that I'm not ready to put a label on it, but…I want you, Thorak. I'd like to see where this leads."

I loosen a breath. "Are you sure? I don't mean to talk you out of this, but you weren't in this place this morning."

Mariah nods firmly. "I'm sure. I was giving into fear and I'm done doing that."

A wave of joy crashes over me, so intense that it nearly brings me to my knees. I take her hand in mine, pressing a fervent kiss to her palm.

"Mariah, you have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say those words."

She smiles a radiant, heart-stopping smile that I know I'll remember for the rest of my days. "I won't lie, it's been hard for me to come to terms with my feelings for you. But I've decided to accept that you're not the same person you were back then. Neither am I. And I'm not going to fight this any longer."

I gather her in my arms, marveling at how perfectly her small body fits against my large one.

"I meant what I said before, Mariah. We'll go at your pace, follow your lead. You're in control here, and I'll never push you for more than you're ready to give."

Mariah's eyes darken with desire as she gazes up at me. Unable to resist the magnetic pull between us any longer, I lean in, capturing her soft, inviting lips with my own.

The kiss starts off slow, tender, a gentle exploration. But as Mariah's fingers tangle in my hair, her body melting against mine, the kiss deepens, becoming more urgent.

I pour every ounce of my longing, my devotion, into the kiss, my hands roaming the curves of her body, mapping out the contours I've dreamed of touching for years. Mariah matches my fervor, her tongue tangling with mine, her teeth grazing my bottom lip in a way that has my cock twitching.

The world around us fades away, until there's nothing but the two of us, lost in the intoxicating haze of our desire.

When we finally break apart, both of us breathless and flushed, Mariah's eyes are hooded with want, her lips swollen from my kisses. She takes my hand, her touch sending sparks of electricity dancing across my skin, and leads me towards the back hallway.

"Come with me," she murmurs, her voice low and husky.