“Not going to happen, Sweetheart.” He dragged his thumb over my clit, slipping a thick finger inside me. My legs pressed together tighter. “If you want me inside you, you have to accept our bond.”

“That’s fucked up.”

“Welcome to Alterrae.”

I groaned as he rocked his thumb against my clit, sending a gentle bolt of his magic through me.

I came hard, gasping at the sudden hit of pleasure while I writhed on his hand.

He made a sound of satisfaction, and I pushed his arm, turning away from him.

The feeling of his fingers sliding out of me was far more intense than it should’ve been, but I ignored the sensations as I shifted back and swam away.

Though my sense of direction was still pretty much useless, I could have my choice of any puffy birth control plant I wanted.

After I checked to make sure the shark was gone, I swam toward one that looked bigger than the others.

Mentally, I cursed Triton.

His responding chuckle told me he heard it loud and clear.

He bumped into my back when I stopped in front of the puff, inspecting it. It was a strange shade of purple, and part of me wondered if there was a creature living inside it.

Triton’s hand found my hip, and I pushed it off.

He brought it right back. “Easy, Sweetheart. I was just steadying you.”

“You just wanted to touch me. Don’t lie to me.”

“Of course I want to touch you. You’re my female. But I really was steadying you. You favor your left side, and it’s difficult to remove these plants.”

The king was going to be the death of me. He really, truly was. Or maybe I was going to be the death of him. Hard to say which of us would kill the other first. Probably me, because he was so protective. I didn’t have that instinct.

“Just back off.” I reached for the base of the plant, eyeing the puffball.

Whatever it was, I hoped it didn’t bite me.

With one sharp motion, I ripped it away from the wall.

Or tried to, at least.

It didn’t budge.

I shifted my feet back, braced them against the rock, and tried once again to pull it out. When it still didn’t move, I put all of my strength into it.

The stupid thing still didn’t flinch.

I looked back at Triton with a flat expression.

He wasn’t even trying not to look amused.

Bastard.

He grinned at the insult, which he must’ve heard even though I hadn’t purposefully thought it at him.

“Would you like help, mate?”

“Don’t call me mate.”

His eyes gleamed wickedly. “Wife.”

I wasn’t going to win this argument, and we both knew it. Because as much as I didn’t want to admit it, we were freaking married.