Mere Passion (2 page)

Kai was more than a little surprised. “This is the triton’s home?”

The mere boy smiled broadly. “Yep, and the seat of our government. It’s also the summertime dormitory for about a third of the town. Welcome to Murrough Island, buddy.”

* * * *

Alara strode through the wide hallway, low-heeled clogs clicking along the marble floors with deadly purpose. She needed to inform her father of the dragon’s presence and obtain his permission before she attacked. Her idiot brother Florian stepped into her line of sight, but long strides vaulted Alara past him, and the slightly shorter man struggled to keep up.

“Hello, Sister. Did you find anything exciting on your patrol?”

The princes were forever mocking her role as head of the island’s armed forces. The boys claimed the island didn’t need protection now that the shark-shifter raids were becoming less and less frequent. Alara knew better. No nation could maintain independence for long without an army.

“Wonderful, Brother. No threats found.” She didn’t want to mention her dragon sighting so soon, not until she knew she had the go-ahead to take action.

“Well, gee, I’m glad you didn’t find any monsters or demons hidden out on the ice.” Her brothers always chided that their remote location protected them. They were idiots. Now that the island had money, Murrough was more of a target than ever.

“It’s been nice chatting, Florian, but don’t you have some online gambling or sleazy chat room to return to?” She couldn’t resist snapping. The idea of that snake-like animal near her home sent a chill to her bones.

“Screw you, dear Sis.” He stomped off, allowing Alara to return to her clacking down the hall.

She paused behind the door to the triton’s office to collect her thoughts before entering. A deep rumbling voice echoed from the room, melodic and strangely enticing like the ocean itself calling her.

She opened the door a couple inches, hoping to learn more before approaching her father. An informally-dressed six-and-a-half foot tall male with shoulders a yard wide filled the room. Stick-straight ebony hair reached halfway down a torso covered in black cashmere. She hadn’t seen a dragon in human form for half a century, but no way was this guy mere.

She gathered her calm like a coating of ice and strode into the room, not acknowledging the stranger as she approached her father. The triton’s graying beard and kindly face softened Alara’s temper just a hair, but her eyes narrowed in scolding.

“Hello, Father.” She pecked him on the cheek. Without looking behind her, she added, “I see you have a guest.”

The triton looked abashed, and his lips twisted to the side before he said, “Yes, this is General Kai Nasu. He is one of the Council’s generals.”

She trained her gaze on her father, “The Dragon Council?”

The air shifted, as if the dragon breathed heavier or changed position.

The old man continued. “Yes, the Dragon Council. They offered to come and investigate that incident last year. And…Well, I thought it would be nice to build bridges, renew…ties…” Her father’s words became quieter as he withered under her stare. Anger bubbled up in the pit of her stomach, but she took a deep breath and attempted to squash the feeling.

“How
kind
of them to offer assistance.” The dragon government had some nerve! They’d abandoned her island half a century ago, leaving her people impoverished and lacking defense during years of shark-shifter raids. Of course, the council was interested in the island again—now that they had more resources to steal.

She turned for the door. “Well, I’ll head out then. If you want to fraternize with—” The rest of the sentence died in her throat. Dang! He was…Just…Wow.

Almond-shaped eyes and high cheekbones suggested Asian descent, but his skin was the color of espresso. His face was all hard, chiseled angles, but the lips were slightly full—the type of lips you wanted to bite. After a moment, she realized she was staring and blinked rapidly to clear her mind. At that the dragon lifted his chin and sent her a haughty glare, as if she had no right to enjoy the sight of him.

The corner of her mouth pulled up into a half-smile. So, this dragon thought he was too good to be ogled by a lowly mere? Well, fuck him.

The triton’s secretary shuffled in for a quick word, and Alara seized the opportunity to blatantly pan down his body with her gaze. The thick cords of his neck led toward a muscular chest, defined even under his shirt and sweater. Her eyes darted up to his again, noting the twitching point at his jaw as he tried to appear unaffected. Deciding to go all-out, she calmly assessed the zipper of his slacks. The material bowed forward pleasantly, maybe even impressively, but that could just be the effect of long underwear. When she raised her face to his, a mortified expression met her satisfied smirk.

She sauntered toward the door, looking over her shoulder to get a view him from behind as she left.

“Nice to meet you, dragon. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

* * * *

Kai stared straight ahead, but he didn’t hear the words the triton uttered. Of all the base, inappropriate, offensive…Every place that damn female looked his blood had pooled. He shifted his hips to the side. Unfortunately the throbbing between his legs remained, making his too-exposed body even more uncomfortable than before. If that weren’t bad enough she’d left behind her scent, a heady mix of roses and ocean…and something he didn’t even want to place.

“As I was saying, General Nasu, it caused quite a stir when those girls disappeared. Thank the gods they were returned a couple days later, but we were never able to figure out what happened to them. Some suspect the sharks, but the local Czar vehemently denies any involvement. And then there’s the issue of the children’s memory loss.”

“Whenever you’re ready, I’m prepared to meet the commander and get started.”

The kindly ruler gave him a wide smile. “My dear boy, you just met her! I’m sorry my daughter wasn’t more friendly.”

Kai’s shoulders rose and fell as he took a deep breath. He almost growled in frustration at the exhale.

“We all suffered losses, both during and after the occupation.” A twitch of pain flashed on the triton’s face, but was soon replaced by a sympathetic smile. “That’s all yesterday’s tide. Time to move forward, I say!”

Kai regarded the triton with interest. The mere habitats had fought dragon rule, and Murrough was no exception. Surely they had rejoiced when his people left. Then again, he’d learned that mere were by nature malcontent.

“Yes, sir. I agree.” Kai nodded and moved for the door, but then turned back to the triton. “You have my word that the council will assist in any way we can.”

* * * *

The mere’s leader had set up accommodations, but Kai decided to meet with the crass mere female beforehand. If they were to work together, he needed to clarify his position. The male from the snowmobile led Kai through the grand building. He hardly needed the guide though, the princess’s scent wafted through the halls, becoming stronger as he neared her office.

His guide knocked on the door. “Alara, there’s someone to see you.”

Kai wondered at the informality with which this servant addressed a woman of such high standing. Perhaps the triton had less control over his subjects than Kai had been led to believe.

“Come in!” The door opened to a large room with windows along one side. Papers littered the desk and some kind of horrible noise screeched from a stereo. The most disturbing thing by far was the female he’d seen earlier. She pedaled a stationary bicycle, in nothing but shorts and some kind of exercise brassiere. Exertion brought her color high, and sweat beaded along her pale body. An intricate gray-blue pattern ran up the sides of each of her legs.

She’d been marked by a male. A growl arose from deep in his chest.

She held a finger up to him, as if to say “One more minute,” then closed her eyes before pumping her legs up and down viciously.

Her rapid movements made his pulse speed up. A fan blew air across damp shoulders, lifting the bits of hair that fell out of her high ponytail. The resulting fragrance flowed straight to his brain, and his groin swelled uncomfortably.

He raised his voice to shout over the chainsaw-like sound of the music. “Princess Alara! If you please, I have matters to discuss!” Her face popped up from its place near the handlebars. She let out an exaggerated groan and reached for a remote control to turn down the music before dismounting the bicycle and passing a towel across her shoulders.

“What is it you want from me, dragon?” The trollop looked at him with a sly smile, like she was playing some kind of game.

“The triton tells me that you lead the Armed Forces here?” Disbelief etched his words.

“Yeah, so?”

“And your mate allows this?” The question popped out without Kai’s intention. He turned away to avoid her eyes. However, she remained silent, not speaking for so long that Kai was forced to return his gaze to her.

She smiled as if in victory. “I’m not taken, if that’s what you’re asking.”

He scowled, wishing that she read him less accurately. What did it matter whether she had a mate or had taken a lover to get her marks? He had no business caring one way or another, no business tracking said male down and crushing his torso between his long jaws…

Alara coughed, covering what sounded like a laugh. He curled his lips, baring his teeth. “I need access to your records from the incident last year as well as your current patrol schedules, surveillance locations, and a detailed map of the area.”

Her eyes narrowed as he listed each request. Though unaccustomed to the movements of his human face, he felt his cheeks rise and crinkles form in the corners of his eyes. Making her angry was enjoyable.

“And my father okayed this?”

He tilted his head to the side, trying to decipher her slang. Then he understood. “Yes, he gave his okay. I’m to review and observe your methods and then advise on how to improve them.”

The female’s nostrils flared, her face reddened, and her hands balled into fists. She was taller than most mermaids, still far smaller than him, but at least five foot eight. Her body was strong, broad shouldered, defined for a female. Her full lips twisted to the side, reminding him of her father.

She closed her eyes briefly, shaking her head. “Well, if the triton demands it, I suppose I’ll have to comply.”

She turned and rustled papers on the desk, her red lips puckering like she was biting the insides of her cheeks. “That will take me some time. I’ll have the documents ready for you tomorrow.” Her tone was brittle. She was bowing to his demands, but he wished that the teasing lilt she used before would return.

He molded his features into a smile. Perhaps acting kind would return her good mood. He spoke softly, as he would to a child. “Then I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Princess.”

Those icy blue eyes rose sharply to his. The princess assessed him, as if she sensed the small dishonesty of his forced grin. He would have to watch what he said around this female. She was much too smart.