Zephyr directs a laugh at Zanthus. "Finally found someone other than me to stand up to you. Life just got interesting."
Our unhappy brother huffs a reply before walking over to my closet. Through that one small sound, I can tell he isn't as upset about the prospect of having her here as he wants us to believe. He might have an ounce of hope left in that shell after all. Smiling to myself again, I hurry to answer the knocking at the door, which can only be Merrick with the drink I ordered for our lady friend, or Rubi, as she called herself. She'd reeked of alcohol when we brought her in, so I knew she'd be feeling as down as Father used to after his kegs of ale post-battle.
Merrick had, of course, asked no questions when I called for him to bring it up. Though, as I open the door, there are a million written in his expression.
I have less answers for him than I do for myself and my brothers, so I give him a short nod in thanks, knowing we'll be discussing everything soon anyway. Shutting the door almost in his face, I turn to find a dress being shoved at me. It's long and flows all the way to the floor, essentially covering the wearer from shoulders to ankles. Shifting my gaze to my brother's, I notice Zanthus' lips twitch as though he's fighting a smile. This must be his version of payback for Rubi's comments about her dress moments ago. I shake my head but take it with me to my bathroom where she'd disappeared.
Knocking, I know I should wait until she gives the okay, but I'm eager to check and make sure she wasn't just a figment of our imagination after all. As I poke my head around the corner, it's to those deep indigo eyes falling from the ceiling to meet mine. I could swear my heart stops in my chest before picking up a racing pace. It only gets worse when I notice her interested perusal of my body. I feel like one of the speckled tario fish that live close to our kingdom, wanting to flash color in hopes a mate will notice me.
My mer instincts take over and do the next best thing, walking inside and allowing her to more intimately observe the family stones and hard-earned pieces of decorated glass throughout the tips of my hair.
Drawing her gaze back up to my face, I step close and set the items on the counter. "I brought you a few things. This is all we have for you to wear right now."
Technically, it's not a lie. It's all I was given for her to wear, though, I'm sure we could find something else if she truly desired. Then, of course, Zephyr has to open his lips and offer a shirt. We never wear them because it's just one more thing tying us to this curse and reminding us that we aren't allowed to be as we were created. There's a small scuffle outside the door, and I'd say Zanthus smacked him. If there's anything worse than this pretty little female walking around in that skimpy material we rescued her in, it would be one of our shirts with our scent marking her.
She has a ready retort for Zephyr, not at all bothered by either offer. A smile breaks out across my face before I can stop it. Never have I met a female fierce enough to dare match Zanthus head-on, plus a wild temperament to match that of Zephyr. Her eyes narrow in amusement and I realize I've been staring with that stupid grin, so I offer to fetch something else.
When she declines and unfolds the dress, I get to watch that pretty face light up in surprise as she appreciates it. But then she wants to put it on immediately, and my attention drops to the one thing I've been trying to avoid since walking through that door. The fact that the most perfect female I've ever set eyes on is as naked as can be. Trying to be a gentleman, I haven't looked further south than her face and get ready to retreat so she can dress without an audience.
I've barely lifted my foot off the ground before she slips and crashes into me. All of those luscious curves are pressed against me, making it hard to think. I hear the breath in my chest hitch and my eyes drop to her lips without my permission. There's a magnetic pull towards her, the likes of which I've never felt before.
Zanthus both ruins the moment and saves us all, bursting through the door like a mad man. I feel as though I'm on the outside listening in as they argue, and I forcibly remove my strong-willed brother from the room while explaining the drink to Rubi. Her gratitude isn't lost on me, but I need to remove us all from temptation until we're all thinking clearly.
"What in the name of the five kingdoms are you thinking, Zale?" Zanthus hisses at me. "We know nothing about anything that's going on. Thought you had a brain in that thick skull of yours."
I hold up my hands in defense, but it shocks us both when Zephyr jumps in first. "Leave him alone, Zan. You know he's smarter than both of us combined. There's something at play here, and you're a lying mer if you say you don't feel it too. I'll wait for her. You two go cool off, and we'll meet you in the study when she's done."
Not having to be told twice, I take the out instantly, Zanthus right on my heels.
"Since when did that airhead become the sensible one of us? And leaving him with her? We're out of our minds," he grumbles as we stroll down the hall together. Not bothering to wait for my response, he branches off toward his room.
He does have a point. Out of the three of us, our brother is known for indulging more than his fair share. At the moment, however, he may be just what she needs considering I wouldn't be able to keep myself from touching her again, and Zanthus is in the mood for a battle of wits. Chewing on the side of my bottom lip, I hurry the rest of the way to the study. We're going to need all of the head start we can get.
Merrick is there waiting but doesn't hurl the questions that must be burning on his tongue. Choosing, instead, to ask, "Should I prepare a meal?"
I nod absentmindedly as I search the row of shelves in the corner. I've read every title in here multiple times, but there's only one book that refers to any feeling like what currently sits in my chest. It takes more than ten minutes to find it and my hand has just reached for it when I hear a soft swish of fabric enter the room.
The female is so enamored by the glass wall that she doesn't even hear me as I approach. The magic of the kemp has once again proven its worthiness as the dress fits her perfectly, outlining in detail all of those perfect womanly curves that were pressed against me not long ago. Itching to touch her bare skin again, I narrowly refrain.
Not sure whether the question is directed at her or my brother, I wait until my lips are close to brushing her ear when I ask, "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
I start to give the dress another go, but the shower in the room catches my eye. Its clear doors allow me to see that more than one person can fit inside the space. If I’m honest, Zale’s shower is bigger than my entire room. They must have paid a fortune for this kind of space.
I glance towards the door. He said to come out when I was dressed, not that I couldn’t shower first. I smirk to myself at the thought of making Zanthus wait. Just from what I can tell, he’s a beastling with very little patience.
My brows furrow as I notice the shower isn’t exactly the same as a normal one, though. There aren’t nobs to turn the water on and off, just buttons. Stepping in, I go to take a closer look and get sprayed right in the face as an automatic system kicks the water on. It’s the perfect temperature, but I still let out a little girly squeal from the surprise.
Two knocks and Zephyr’s sandy brown head pokes around the corner of the door. “All good in here?”