Requital

CHAPTER 10

LEITH

I sit here holding my mate. She has cried so much, most of the time I've known her. I didn't even get to ask her for her name. Im sure it's as beautiful as her, my love. Even though we know nothing about one another she will always be mine forevermore. Her having another mate doesn't change that. Since he rejected her does that mean their bond is severed? So many questions that will just have to wait until she wakes up

Eventually I take her to the back of the cave to lay down in my makeshift bed. I end up drifting off myself. I wake to the feeling of being watched, It's her. She's awake. "Sorry" she says, "You're just so different from anyone I've seen before. "What are you?" I chuckle. "You've never seen anyone from the Abyssus?" "Abyssus?" She's serious, wherever shes from she must not have gotten out much. "Yes the people of the water, there are many species. I am a mer." "Mer?" Again she parrots. "Yes, would you like me to show you?" I say, she nods her head. I stand and help her up. I take her hand and walk back to the front of the cave at the edge by the water. I let go of her hand and I turn to her. "I need to take my clothes off, you may turn around if you must. Im okay with you watching." I wink, she squeaks and turns around faster than someone of the fang. I laugh again and strip my clothing off my body, I dive into the water. I feel the change course through me as I make my way back to the surface. She's turned around and she's staring at me. She gasps "Wow" she says, "Beautiful." She's staring at my tail. That's the first time I've been called beautiful, but I'll take it from her. "So you're like a mermaid or something?" "No merman or mer" I say. "Wow" is all she says. I let her stare at me a bit longer before I pull myself back up on the side of the cave and sit, waiting to dry. "So" I say "Since you are a little better today may I ask your name?" Her face turns crimson and she says "Sorry, my name is Deianira whats yours?" "A beautiful name for my beautiful mate" I say "My name love is Leith" "Leith, I like it" she says. "Where are we Leith?" "This is my home, has been for quite some time. It's a little underwater cave I found years ago on my way.." "Your way?" Im not ready to share all of that so I deflect, "tell me about where you're from. I want to know all about you." "Well, honestly I dont know where Im from. Tarkik and his father found me when I was a child in the middle of their lands." Tarkik must be the mate whose ass I will beat once I lay eyes on him. "A couple adopted me when they took me back to their village. My mother and father have been so great to me. I have a best friend Apaay, she's feisty and so sweet. I know they are just worried sick about me." She gets blurry eyed again. I dont want her to cry , I snatch her up and hold her close to me. She feels so tiny in my arms. My tail picks this time to turn back into my two legs. Now she's straddling me, a very naked me. We both gasp and look into each others eyes. I lean forward and touch her lips with mine. We kiss, I peak my tongue out to try and part her lips but she breaks away. "As good and as magical as this feels I just can't right now I need time. Tarkik he.." "You dont have to explain yourself to me. I will be here whenever you're ready. Always" I say. She climbs off of me and turns away from me while I dress. Once dressed I tell her to turn back around. I take her hand once more and lead her over to the fire to sit with me. We just sit and talk. We learn much about one another. She tells me much about the village she grew up in, what her life was like. I tell her some things to but I try not to give much away. If she knew my past she might not want to even be in the same place as me "You must be hungry," I say after a while "I will go and fetch us something. Ill be back in a while please make yourself at home." I say and I go to the caves edge once more and dive in

It's been a week since I have found Deianira. It's been like a dream. Wrapped up in our own little bubble. It's like I have always known her. I know she's getting sick of being cooped up in here. "Can we go somewhere today." She speaks my thoughts, "as wonderful as this has been I need some fresh air." "Apologies, Im so used to being here never really having anyone else to think about" I say. "Get your warm clothes on you had when I rescued you and we will go to the surface. "Wont they get wet though?" I smile at her question. "I have a few tricks" is all I say. Once she's dressed we go to the edge, and I dive in once again. Once in the water looking at her I let my magic loose. She gasps again. Shes so fascinated by me, it fills my chest with pride. "Take my hand" I say, "trust me." "I do" she says. I grab her and pull her to me. "How am I not getting wet?" "My magic, as long as you're by my side you wont get wet and you will be able to breathe under water." "Amazing" she says. Then we are off, I swim through the water at a pace that excites her. We emerge from the water in no time. I take her back to where I found her. Maybe seeing a little bit of home might make her feel less homesick. Once out of the water I dress in the clothes I brought myself and we go on a little stroll. She picks out berries and things saying we could take them back home. She thinks my home as her home, my heart grows

As we get further away from the water we here someone yelling. "Deianira" We both turn to the voice that was calling her. She takes off into a sprint to this man. I dont think its her ex mate though, possibly someone else. "Father" she sobs and they crash together. "My sweet where have you been? Who is this?" She looks at me and smiles "Father this Leith my mate" "Your mate I thought Tarkik was your.." I growl "He is no more to her. "Well since you have this Leith now maybe your bond with Tarkik is gone and you can come home." She looks at me then with question in her gaze, I nod. "We will come visit father as long as the chief is okay with it we must see him first." "You dont want to stay?" he says. "I.. dont know father. After everything I.." He shushes her and takes her hand. We set off to the village my mate is from..