Her cheek was against my pec, and she closed her eyes as she let out a long sigh. There was no frustration in the sound—just contentment. “What do we have to do today?”

“Nothing. I can clear the schedule.”

“Probably shouldn’t. I bet your people are already talking about how you’ve been corrupted by your human womb,” she mumbled.

My eyes narrowed. “Let them talk.”

“Nothing we can do about it anyway.”

“How are you feeling? It would be wise to get you swimming again if we can.”

She moved a little, and didn’t wince. “Mostly better.”

I lost the fight with myself and set my hand down on her bare back. I was addicted to her, and it was an obsession I had no desire to be free of.

But if I was going to make sure she was happy with me, I needed to know more about who she was before I brought her to Alterrae.

“What were you studying in college?” I asked.

She lifted her head, surprise on her face. “You remember me saying that?”

“I remember everything you’ve said.”

She nodded. “I was majoring in accounting. It was a terrible fit for my personality, and I struggled with every single class, but I wanted a safe career. Not having money was stressful, especially after my mom died and I didn’t have anyone to fall back on.”

“What would you have studied, if you didn’t have to worry about a job?”

Her lips curved slightly. “Literature. I was the biggest book snob I knew, but I think you’ve officially defeated me. Your library like the mermaid version of the Beast’s.”

I chuckled. “The Beast?”

“From Beauty and the Beast. It’s a human fairytale. I have a few retellings in my personal library that you can read.” She yawned and stretched, making my body ache more for her. “Where would you be if you weren’t the king? What would you want to do?”

“I have no idea. I’ve always been the king.”

“Not when you were a kid, right?”

“I didn’t have the throne, but I was the first merrae born with blue scales in nearly a thousand years. My fate was decided on the day of my birth.”

She frowned. “Wow. I’m sorry.”

“Are you really apologizing to me for the fact that I was born with strength?”

“No. I’m apologizing because I can’t imagine not having the freedom to decide who and what you wanted to be. There are a lot of shitty things about Earth, but at least where I’m from, I get to decide my own fate. Or I got to, at least. Before.”

“Do you resent me for taking that future away from you?”