The mermen outside were so excited they began to push and shove each other, trying to get closer to the palace. They pulled out their treasures, waving them around like they wanted me to see what they had to offer. Luminescent pearls, bright corals, rare shells, gold and jewels, and many more.
The sight made me feel uneasy, a bit sick, and my hand moved to my stomach, to hold it.
"There's no need to be afraid." Gold took me away from the window, back to the hallway, "The presence of a female calms them down. They are happy to just look at her, and try to gain her favor. Even if they are not chosen, they are content with having the chance to be near her. But without a female, the peace shatters."
"They...fight?" I asked.
"They gang up against their leader, the cause of their extinction. No offspring means no future. Stressed females can't conceive, and it's the leader's role to fix the problem," he explained, "Fear of extinction makes them turn against their own kind. Stupid, isn't it?"
I wanted to agree with him, but it was hard to see the bigger picture when I was just a sheep. If my species went extinct, would I be the same as Gold? Care about the future? Not just about my survival?
"Only one female...wouldn't that be..."
"My mother," he finished my sentence, "My mate, and the one who left us to rot."
The murderous rage in his voice made my head duck lower. I didn't want to be the one to remind him of her.
The bracelet on his wrist buzzed, and Michael's voice came from it, "THEY LEFT ME BEHIND! THOSE TRAITORS! THEY DIDN'T EVEN TAKE ME WITH THEM! I SUFFERED THE DAMM RAIN, AND NOW I HAVE TO SUFFER THEIR ABSENCE?!"
"Isn't Skaris with you?" Gold replied.
"THAT BLIND FOOL FLEW OFF TO GO HUNTING! MY TENT IS LEAKING! I AM WET! I HATE WATER! I WAS BEING A GOOD MALE FOR ONCE, AND THIS IS WHAT I GET FOR IT! LEFT BEHIND TO DROWN!"
"Who wanted to stay there despite the rainy season?" Gold questioned, his calm tone showing how little he cared for Michael's plight. He walked me away from the window.
"YOU SHOULD HAVE FORCED ME TO COME WITH YOU! I WOULD HAVE FOUGHT YOU, BUT AT LEAST I WOULDN'T BE HERE, ALONE, AND WET!"
"I didn't take away your riftstone, Moyu did," Gold said, feeding me a berry from the bag as we walked.
"That flying rat keeps finding ways to make my life miserable!" Michael cried, and then his voice changed into a whisper, "I think he cheated to win the bet. I just can't find the evidence yet. Help me find it and I will give you a mountain of gold."
"Your tears. I want a jar of your tears," Gold said, and Michael's gasp echoed through the bracelet, "Then we have a deal."
"If you want to fuck with me, just say so, you golden snail! I'll show you a good fuck! I'll fuck you up!"
A smile escaped Gold's lips, "I will pass. I don't fuck males."
"YOU SON OF A... I AM NOT A MALE! I AM A FUCKING KING. A FUCKING WET KING!"
I covered my mouth, stopping myself from laughing at the way Michael called himself a king but not a male.
Gold patted my head, "Give me a second, I need to take care of him before he does something stupid because of the rain."
I nodded, still trying to hold my laughter in. He disappeared behind a wall, and returned with Michael in tow, who looked miserable. His hair was wet and sticking to his forehead, the rain still dripping from him.
He saw me and huffed, "What is she doing here?" wiping his face with Gold's sleeve.
"Having a look around," Gold replied, "Would you like to join us?" and began walking again.
Michael didn't answer, but walked along with us, his tail smacking my skirt as it passed by, getting me wet. He must have done it on purpose.
A fist swished past my head, missing Michael's jaw. The scales on Gold's arm were protruding, his fist ready for a second punch.
Michael kissed Gold's outstretched fist and ran away, "Darling, save me! Gold is trying to kill me again!"
"Is Madam...here as well?" I asked.
Gold shook his head, "He is sending her proof of my attempted murder. She should be back by tonight."
Michael was still running away, and Gold didn't chase him, instead brought me to the clam farm as we planned.
We passed by a clear tunnel, surrounded by the mermen, who were pressing their faces and hands against it, watching me with awe. Gold chased them away with a single gaze, and they scattered like baby fishes.
It didn't take long for them to gather again, and even more appeared, forming an ocean of bodies. Their mouths moved, making bubbles in the water, and their hands and colorful tails moved in excitement.
"What's gotten into them? They always listen on first warning," Gold had to release his beast aura for them to back off.
Like a small boat in a stormy sea, I was thrown around by his aura. He had to catch me before I hit the walls of the tunnel, my body limp from the fear he induced.
I passed out. The males from my world released their beast auras for fun, and the ones in this world did it without noticing. I felt like I was cursed to have my life in danger from males, in one way or another.
'I like owners, I like owners, I like owners, I like them, I like them, I do.'
I repeated. I had to like the owners, or else...or else…
'Madam will find another one for them...'
I gasped and opened my eyes to find myself in Gold's arms.
I didn't know how much time had passed, but I hugged him tightly, "I love you," my body was still shaking from the fear induced by the beast aura, "I didn't mean to be scared. I'm sorry. I love you. I love you..."
His body tensed as I licked his neck, trying to show how much I loved him. See? Not scared, not anymore.
He ran back to the palace, "Michael, something is wrong with Little Miss."
Wrong? What was wrong with me? I hugged his neck tighter, kissing and biting like they would, trying to show him my love, "I love you," I kissed, "I like you, I love, I love... don't tell Madam...please, I...I can be better."
"Michael!" Gold yelled, entering a different hallway.
"I'm busy! Don't bother me!" Michael's voice was muffled, like he was busy eating.
Gold kicked open the door. Michael was sprawled on the couch, his legs spread wide, his hands in between them, moving something inside him. He looked more like he was having fun than being busy.