But then I forced myself to settle.This was normal.This was what people did. Women complimented each other on dresses, on hair, on jewelry—some unspoken kind of code. Besides, Kara was good at this. I had seen it before, that effortless, practiced ease she slipped into when she needed it—her “poker face,” as she called it. She didn’t need me stepping in.
“Oh,” she said so easily it was almost nonchalant compared to how I was feeling at the moment. “It’s an old family heirloom belonging to my—”
“Fifth cousin,” I cut in dryly, not missing a beat.
“Yes. Fifth cousin,” she repeated seamlessly. “She used to live here years ago, and I thought it might be nice to come see where some of my family’s roots came from.”
The server tilted her head slightly, intrigued. “Oh, really? What was her name?”
Kara didn’t hesitate.
“Ashley,” she said, tapping her chin like she was trying to recall it. “Ashley... oh gosh, I don’t remember her last name. She changed it after she left Crescent Cove, so I only ever knew her as Ashley Thompson. She was a sea sprite, but only half, and as the generations went on—well, you know how sea sprites are.” She winked and let out a confident laugh, like she and the waitress were old friends just sharing a bit of gossip. “I barely inherited any of the sprite magic, just enough to move a few small waves in the tide pool here or there.”
She said it so casually that even I might have believed her. Thompson was the name she had given me the day we met, only for me to find out her real last name was DiMari the night she confessed. I had to give it to her—Thompson was a much harder name to track than DiMari. Though keeping her first name was probably risky enough, but somehow she had managed to fool us all.Well, not all of us. My suspicions had been nearly correct from the start, but still... she was good with herlittle white lies.
The server hummed softly, clearly turning it over in her mind. “A sea sprite named Ashley... I can’t say I remember one, but honestly, people come and go all the time. It’s hard to keep track.”
“That’s what I’ve noticed,” I added, leaning back smoothly. “I’ve only been here a couple of years myself, and I still don’t know half the names in this town.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie—just more of a strategically placed truth.
The server smiled again, the tension in the moment easing. “Well, it’s wonderful to have you here. And even better knowing that old cottage finally got fixed up. I thought for sure that place would stay vacant until the next strong breeze blew it out to sea.”
Kara grinned. “All stable now,” she said, casting me a playful look. “I had some help from my tentacle-wielding friend here.”
“Right, well, team effort, I’m sure.” She let out a laugh, though it didn’t sound lighthearted. It almost sounded like she was making a judgment about Kara and her situation. “Well, it really is a beautiful necklace.” Her gaze lingered just a little longer on the pearl before she gave a polite nod. “Anywho, I’ll let you two enjoy your dinner.”
I watched her leave, but something about that interaction still hadn’t sat quite right. Maybe I was becoming just as paranoid as Kara had been when she first arrived, but I could sense emotions, and right now something had felt... off.
My attention shifted back to Kara, and she was completely unbothered, already reaching for another piece of sushi like she hadn’t just effortlessly lied her way through a conversation that could have gone very differently.
I exhaled slowly, letting my shoulders relax as I realized I was just being an overprotective shifter. But it was because I cared about this human—this human sitting across from me with a piece of raw fish practically dangling from the side of her mouth—more than I had ever thought I could care for someone. And with that came something I couldn’t entirely suppress: that instinct to hover and protect.
She hadn’t needed me in that moment, though. She was fully capable of handling herself, of taking her power back in her own way, even if that meant bending the truth here and there. If it helped her build confidence and feel stronger, I would always let her fight her own battles—though I would be right beside her, just in case.
OUR HANDS WERE INTERTWINED, her fingers slipping easily between mine as if they had always belonged there. One of my tentacles curled loosely around her waist, keeping her close as we made our way up the now-familiar path to her cottage.
“Do you want to come in?” she asked as we reached her door.
My jaw tightened slightly, and I let out a slow breath as I looked at her. “You know I do.” Her lips curved immediately, and I almost hated that I was about to disappoint her. “But we’ll be up all night.”
Her eyes flickered with challenge, like she was ready to turn this into a very adult slumber party.
“And I have early clients tomorrow,” I added, watching the mischievous look on her face fade.
“Alright, fine,” she said lightly, stepping a little closer into my space. “I guess it’ll just be me and my vibrator tonight.”
I let out a short laugh. “Are you trying to make me jealous?”
“Maybe...”
“Well, make sure you use your rabbit vibrator. It’s a full moon tonight, after all,” I joked, though from the look on her face, I didn’t think she understood. “Never mind. It’s a Japanese thing.”
“IloveJapanese things,” she said, her gaze dropping to where I was already hard, because apparently, when it came to this woman, I was always turned on. “But I guess a vibrator at full speed will have to do, since it’s your fault I’m all hot and bothered,” she added with a dramatic sigh. “After all, you were the one who taunted me with that whole ‘being rough later’ bit.”
“Kara,” I started, but she cut me off.
“What can I say? I got a little turned on by the idea.”
