inhabitants of Bimini Island, while others wanted to send an ambassador to try and reason with the madman. The only thing the advisors had agreed on was it was Gabe's fault things were suddenly going to hell. Why was it his fault? Just because he was bringing the problem to their attention and making them deal with the issue? One old mer had even wanted Gabe to be interrogated by the palace guard before they would take any action; thankfully, Paxton had put a stop to that idea very quickly.
What happened next was a dressing down by his mate to the advisors Gabe would never forget.
"You dare believe I would choose a mate who would threaten our way of life and bring about the downfall of our people?" Paxton had thundered, voice ringing throughout the council room as his gray eyes flashed. "You think me nothing more than a guppy? I have seen the damage done to the humans by this monster on the island of Bimini! I have seen the fear in my mate's eyes as he described the kidnapping and attempted murder; I held him as he shook and cried! He wasn't even here when any of these atrocities took place… I was there the night his plane crashed. I rescued him from the sea myself! Are you daring to call your King and King-Consort liars?"
No one spoke, and all eyes were focused on Paxton. The council members who had doubted seemed to shrink in their very seats under the King's wrath.
Paxton slammed the box of stolen mate-pearls down on the large bleached, beach-wood table in front of him. "This is all the proof we need! This box of stolen hopes and dreams is the only thing we need to focus on now. Not my mate. Turn your anger and hatred toward the true threat, gentlemen and ladies, because I plan to do something about it—with or without your backing."
It was one of the first times Gabe had ever seen his mate in full-on 'King' mode and boy was it a sight to be seen. Gabe would never admit it, but his mate was hot as hell when he was filled with righteous fury.
"Yes, Gabriel. Your friends will be fine. I trust both Dalia and Leando with my life; more importantly, I would trust them with your life as well. Now you must trust in me when I say both Mary and Aaron will be very well taken care of by their mates." Paxton smiled gently as he led Gabe into the most spacious and glorious bathroom he'd ever seen.
"I'm more worried about Aaron than I am Mary," Gabe confessed, right before he got distracted by the splendor surrounding them.
Gleaming white tiles, gold fixtures, and absolutely the biggest bathtub Gabe had ever seen made him want to camp out in the bathroom and never leave. The tub resembled a large Roman style bath, complete with fountains. The only thing missing was a person playing the harp and Gabe would be in heaven.
Paxton didn't seem to notice Gabe's distraction as he continued their conversation.
"I know what you mean. It's not the ideal situation, considering the drama that will no doubt occur once your friend learns everything. But I have faith in Leando to make everything right… I wish he had come to me earlier with the situation he and his mate found themselves in. Perhaps this whole situation could have been avoided." Paxton sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
He looks as tired as I feel. While he'd been in the meeting with his advisors, Paxton had managed to keep up the semblance of a proud, powerful King of the Merfolk; but now it was just the two of them alone together, Paxton was letting his guard down.
Gabe's conscience twinged with guilt. The last thing he wanted was to be the cause of even more stress for his mate.
"Hey, let's not think about it anymore. We'll take a bath and not worry about anything until tomorrow when you have to address your people." Gabe took his mate's hand and led him over to the bath, enjoying the way the steam rose from the water and caused Paxton's long, green hair to begin to curl.
Gabe started to untie the sash of his robe when he became distracted again; except
What happened next was a dressing down by his mate to the advisors Gabe would never forget.
"You dare believe I would choose a mate who would threaten our way of life and bring about the downfall of our people?" Paxton had thundered, voice ringing throughout the council room as his gray eyes flashed. "You think me nothing more than a guppy? I have seen the damage done to the humans by this monster on the island of Bimini! I have seen the fear in my mate's eyes as he described the kidnapping and attempted murder; I held him as he shook and cried! He wasn't even here when any of these atrocities took place… I was there the night his plane crashed. I rescued him from the sea myself! Are you daring to call your King and King-Consort liars?"
No one spoke, and all eyes were focused on Paxton. The council members who had doubted seemed to shrink in their very seats under the King's wrath.
Paxton slammed the box of stolen mate-pearls down on the large bleached, beach-wood table in front of him. "This is all the proof we need! This box of stolen hopes and dreams is the only thing we need to focus on now. Not my mate. Turn your anger and hatred toward the true threat, gentlemen and ladies, because I plan to do something about it—with or without your backing."
It was one of the first times Gabe had ever seen his mate in full-on 'King' mode and boy was it a sight to be seen. Gabe would never admit it, but his mate was hot as hell when he was filled with righteous fury.
"Yes, Gabriel. Your friends will be fine. I trust both Dalia and Leando with my life; more importantly, I would trust them with your life as well. Now you must trust in me when I say both Mary and Aaron will be very well taken care of by their mates." Paxton smiled gently as he led Gabe into the most spacious and glorious bathroom he'd ever seen.
"I'm more worried about Aaron than I am Mary," Gabe confessed, right before he got distracted by the splendor surrounding them.
Gleaming white tiles, gold fixtures, and absolutely the biggest bathtub Gabe had ever seen made him want to camp out in the bathroom and never leave. The tub resembled a large Roman style bath, complete with fountains. The only thing missing was a person playing the harp and Gabe would be in heaven.
Paxton didn't seem to notice Gabe's distraction as he continued their conversation.
"I know what you mean. It's not the ideal situation, considering the drama that will no doubt occur once your friend learns everything. But I have faith in Leando to make everything right… I wish he had come to me earlier with the situation he and his mate found themselves in. Perhaps this whole situation could have been avoided." Paxton sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
He looks as tired as I feel. While he'd been in the meeting with his advisors, Paxton had managed to keep up the semblance of a proud, powerful King of the Merfolk; but now it was just the two of them alone together, Paxton was letting his guard down.
Gabe's conscience twinged with guilt. The last thing he wanted was to be the cause of even more stress for his mate.
"Hey, let's not think about it anymore. We'll take a bath and not worry about anything until tomorrow when you have to address your people." Gabe took his mate's hand and led him over to the bath, enjoying the way the steam rose from the water and caused Paxton's long, green hair to begin to curl.
Gabe started to untie the sash of his robe when he became distracted again; except
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