“I had a long life with the perfect mate. Dying isn’t a hardship for me. I only wish I could fade faster.”

“Then… I guess I’m happy for you, instead.”

She smiled. “The fertility-suppressing plants are large, fuzzy balls in different colors. The roots are what you use, but you need to dry them out first or they’ll make you violently ill. You only need a shaving or two before things get kinky during your breeding time, and most people just add it to a glass of water to dull the taste. They grow along the cliffs in that direction.” She pointed toward the ocean with her entire arm, still lying on her back. The plants were clearly underwater.

“Thanks, but I don’t think I can swim alone. I’ve only shifted once, and I’d rather not be attacked by a selkie or kelpie.”

“Triton will follow you in, so your safety is unavoidable.”

“Is he still back there?”

“I’m sure he is.”

“It’ll make me look suspicious if I check again.”

“You’re really not understanding the mate thing. He wants you to look. He wants you to give him a reason to get off that balcony and come down here with you.”

“You’re forgetting that our mate bond only exists because your group didn’t win the vote,” I pointed out.

“Even the most cold-hearted man, which Triton is not, will feel drawn to spend time with their mate. You’ll see.”

“Sure.”

“If you don’t believe me, just get in the water. I bet he’s at your side in less than a minute.”

“The castle’s more than a minute away from the water,” I countered.

“I’ll start counting when you run.”

I laughed.

But, after a little more consideration, I genuinely did want to know if he’d follow me in. And I really did want to have one of those plants, even if there was no point in using it yet. At least I’d be ready for when it was time.

So, I waited a beat.

And launched to my feet, taking off into the water as fast as I could. Which wasn’t incredibly fast, because I wasn’t a runner. But hey, I was trying.

Water splashed around me as I struggled to move quickly through it. It was only to my bare breasts when a pair of warm, gigantic hands caught my waist.

“What are you doing, Sweetheart?” Triton spoke into my mind, sounding slightly wary. “What did Joa say?”

“Fifty-two seconds!” Joa yelled.

I laughed again.

Triton pulled my back to his chest. “Fifty-two seconds for what?”

“I didn’t think you’d follow me into the water. Joa said you’d be here in less than a minute.” I glanced backward, having to lean a little to look past Triton’s gigantic arm. She was sitting up again, watching us. “You win!”