“Can you pick something for me? Whatever’s the most similar to human food?”

“Of course. Unless you’d prefer I read you the menu.”

“I’ll take a rain check on that for next time.”

He ordered food for both of us. The man behind the counter was chatty, congratulating us on our mate bond and asking Triton a few questions. I gathered that they were about a farm of some sorts, though I didn’t push for details. It seemed safe to assume that the merrae would grow food both underwater and on their island.

“How are you feeling? And I want the full truth, Aria,” Triton warned as he led me out of the kitchen.

“Exhausted,” I admitted. “And sore. All of the swimming yesterday did a number on me. How long did I sleep for?”

“Eighteen hours. The sun will be setting soon. Where are you sore?”

“A better question would be where am I not sore. And the list is pretty short.”

He made a noise of dissatisfaction. “We’ll take the food back to our room when it’s ready.”

He started to lead me over to an empty table in the far corner of the room, but when he slowed, I noticed his gaze on the frazzled couples with the young kids that I’d seen earlier.

He wanted to help them. Something on his face said as much.

“You can go over there. I don’t mind sitting alone.” I nudged him in that direction, but he didn’t leave.

“I’m not leaving you to eat alone.”

With an inward sigh, I tugged Triton toward the couples. I didn’t have a problem with socializing, but I had been exhausted even before I came up into the castle and was itching to go back to bed.

I could wait, though.

The toddlers climbing around the table made sounds of excitement when they saw Triton. All four of them barreled toward him, three little boys and a little girl who crashed into his legs as they exclaimed, “King Triton!”

They couldn’t pronounce all of the sounds right, which was kind of adorable.

Triton laughed loudly, scooping all of them into his arms. My heart melted just a tiny bit, though I tried to harden myself against the feeling.

It didn’t really work.

There was no way to avoid acknowledging how attractive it was that the king was good with them.

“I think you’re supposed to be eating,” Triton said, setting them down in their seats before we took our own.

“They are,” one of the moms agreed. She looked even more exhausted up close, and was the only adult who wasn’t currently holding a baby.

“Do the magic,” the little girl yelled at Triton, pounding her tiny fist against the table.

One of the moms sighed heavily.

“After your food is gone,” Triton promised.

All four of them complained, but slowly started to eat.