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I nod, confirming her suspicions. “Yes, Seb and Flo are her fated mates. It’s not unusual for twins to share a fated mate… it’s the interspecies aspect of their relationship that’s less common.”
Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “My monster studies class in college never went into the finer details about twins or interspecies relationships.”
I shrug, leaning back in my chair. “Many of us have given up on the idea of finding our fated mates. Our society has become so focused on technology that it’s replaced personal interactions,” I confess. “Most of our knowledge has been lost because of it.”
The truth is, while I had held on to hope longer than most, even I had almost given up on ever finding my fated mate. But then Rey came into my life, and everything changed.
Now, I’m just grateful to have found her. I’m determined to make the most of the time we have together, and that includes giving her the best experiences the resort has to offer, starting with Sora’s unique cuisine.
“So, what’s the plan after lunch?” Rey asks, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
I lean back in my chair, the wood creaking softly under my weight. “I figured we could go shell searching,” I tell her. “The storm yesterday churned up the ocean, so there’ll be all sorts of interesting things washed up on the shore.”
Her face lights up, and she nods enthusiastically. “That sounds fun! Do you do that often?”
“I do,” I admit. “Not just for fun, though. It’s also to ensure the beaches are safe for the guests. But yeah, I find some pretty neat stuff sometimes. Once I even found a rubber duckie. It now sits in my bathroom window.”
She laughs at that, her eyes sparkling. “I hope we find something fun and unique too.”
Before I can respond, Sora swims over, a large tray balanced in her hands. She sets it down on the table between us, revealing an array of beautifully arranged sushi rolls. “I’ve been studying popular human foods,” Sora says, her voice filled with excitement. “Sushi is a big hit, and since we use most of the ingredients already, I thought we’d give it a shot. I hope you like it, Rey.”
Rey looks at the sushi, her eyes wide. “Do you have chopsticks or any utensils?” she asks.
Sora and I exchange glances. “Actually, we don’t use utensils here,” Sora explains. “Everyone just uses their hands.”
Rey shrugs, a small smile playing on her lips. “That’s okay, I’ve never been good with chopsticks anyway,” she admits. She picks up one of the sushi rolls, studying it for a moment before popping it into her mouth. “Mmm, this is delicious! Eating with my hands works perfectly fine for me.” She grins at Sora, her eyes sparkling with delight, and I warmly share her enthusiasm.
“Sora,” Rey says after she swallows. “You shouldn’t change anything about these rolls. Maybe just alter the fillings depending on what’s fresh or in season.”
Sora’s bright eyes widen, and she clasps her hands together. “Thank you, Rey! That’s wonderful advice.”
Then, she reaches out and lightly touches Rey’s hair. “Your hair is so pretty. Have you ever had it styled in a merfolk design? We could do it while you’re here at the resort.”
I glance at Rey to gauge her reaction before speaking up. “We had plans for the day, Sora,” I remind her, not wanting to impose on Rey. “But if Rey is interested, we could arrange a hair session tomorrow.”
Rey’s eyes brighten at the idea. “I would love that, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
“Trouble? Not at all!” Sora exclaims. “Come to the lagoon after breakfast, and I would be delighted to style your hair with the help of my friends and sisters.”
Rey turns to me, her eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and apprehension. “Should I be worried, Zethe?”
I can only chuckle at her question. “Not at all. Sora takes hair very seriously. She won’t let anyone mess it up.”
Sora nods, clearly appreciative of my support. “That’s true. And I want to do it as a thank you for your help, Rey.”
Rey’s face softens, and she takes another bite of her sushi, her eyes closing in delight as she savors the flavors. “I’d be happy to help out as much as you need, Sora,” she says once she swallows. “And I definitely want more of this.”
Sora beams at her, her tail twitching in excitement. “How about I arrange for some of our Mer Sushi Rolls to be delivered to your villa whenever you want?”
With a smile, I explain to Rey how the resort operates. “You can place orders on the vidtablet to any of the resort’s restaurants and have the food and refreshments delivered, if you’d like.”
Rey mulls over my words as she takes a bite of her sushi. “That would be nice on a rainy day,” she admits after she swallows, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “But I think I’d prefer to see the restaurants in person. I want to experience everything I can at this resort.”
My heart swells at her words, a warmth spreading through me. “Of course,” I tell her, a fond smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “I’d be more than happy to guide you anywhere you’d like to go.”
Rey flashes me a radiant smile, turning her attention to Sora. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Sora,” she says, her words filled with warmth and promise.
Sora’s face lights up, her eyes gleaming. “I’m looking forward to it, Rey,” she tells her. “Thank you again for your help.” With a final wave of her tail, she swims off, leaving us to enjoy the rest of our meal.
