We were locked together all night in what felt like one endless orgasm—and by the time it ended, there was nothing I could possibly do except fall asleep in my mate’s steady, open arms.

We slept in late the next morning, not getting up until Rayna broke into our heads to let us know the selkies were there.

“How do you feel, Sweetheart?” Triton asked me, his eyes warm even though his eyelids were heavy with sleep.

I stretched a little, trying to determine the answer. “Sore, but otherwise normal.”

“Good.” He ran a hand over the curve of my back.

“How about you? Everything back to normal?” I lifted the blanket over us playfully, pretending to check his cock.

As expected, there was only one. And for the first time since I met him, it wasn’t hard.

He chuckled. “Yep, back to the basics until next year.”

My chest warmed with the thought of next year.

That was a long time with Triton, and I was so insanely glad that I was going to have it.

“We should shower before we meet with the selkies,” I said. “Unless you’re going to treat me differently, now that I’ve let you breed me.”

“Yes, I must keep my broodmare locked away,” he drawled.

I snorted, and he grinned. “Come on, Sweetheart. Let’s get my cum washed off this pretty, soft skin so we can go to our meetings.”

“Mmkay.”

He hauled me out of bed and used his magic to carry us into the castle. After he started the water and pulled me in, I leaned against his chest beneath the stream of it.

I looked up at him, watching as he ran soap and his fingers through his hair.

A thought occurred to me, suddenly.

“Triton,” I said.

“Hmm?” He met my gaze, his hair still soapy.

“You told me you loved me yesterday, and I didn’t say it back.”

His lips curved. “You didn’t have to. I heard it from your thoughts.” He tapped my temple lightly.

“Well, I do love you.”

“I know.” He kissed me slowly, until I pulled away and made him finish washing his hair.

Triton and his two commanders—Platt and Greta had obviously been removed from duty ages ago—made a detailed plan to handle the monsters in the depths with the selkies that day. The selkies’ fighters would be helping them, so there was no chance they could make a move against those of us who stayed in the castle.

It sounded pretty straightforward to me, and none of the merrae seemed concerned with what the endeavor would require.

I was a little worried when I realized that Triton would need to leave me in the castle, but at the same time, I had expected it.

Being married to the king had to have some drawbacks, after all.

Thankfully, occasions like this one didn’t happen often.