His Sea Maid

Chapter 66: Expect the Unexpected

Returning home felt like breathing again after being underwater for too long. The weight that had clung to me during my time away lifted, replaced by the warmth and peace that came from being back with Finn. Our long-awaited honeymoon on my special island was everything I had hoped for. The salty sea breeze tugged at our hair as we explored, and the crash of waves was a constant rhythm to our laughter. I showed him my hidden treasures—trinkets from shipwrecks, rare pearls, and shimmering jewels that the ocean had gifted me over the years. We even visited the new sea king together, though I had to practically abduct him there. But the rest of our days? Those were spent in the bedroom, lost in each other, making up for lost time.

Once we returned, reality settled back in. Being queen meant responsibilities, and I resumed my duties, taking care of the kingdom’s finances. I worked side by side with Finn, his ideas always complementing mine, our minds in sync. We were a perfect team. And we often found moments between meetings and paperwork for a little extra "activity." I also took over Lida's duties, sharpening my skills alongside Finn during training sessions. Kassandra had grown so much stronger, and sometimes, we'd sneak out with Claudia for old times’ sake, going on missions like we used to. It was a thrill, like reliving a piece of the past.

But Claudia... She was as mysterious and unpredictable as ever. She gave up on love and relationships, focusing entirely on becoming some sort of assassin for the gods, or whatever she calls it now. It still surprised me to learn she had a daughter. I was just as shocked as she was. It was a strange turn of events, one none of us saw coming.

It all began when she tried to make Himeros jealous. Eventually, she gave up on that and decided to move on, becoming a battle angel for Zeus and completing her missions. Then, sometime before I returned, she and Himeros crossed paths again. They had a one-time fling, and that was it—she became pregnant. She hid the pregnancy from everyone, refusing to acknowledge it. Motherhood wasn’t in her plans; she was made to fight, not to nurture. Two months after I returned, she appeared with her child in her arms, pleading with us to keep the secret. She handed her daughter over to Kassandra and Axel, knowing they could offer her a better life than she ever could. The child was special—immortal, a goddess—and though we all knew Aphrodite would eventually discover her granddaughter, we were determined to protect her for as long as we could.

That child, despite her age, was as stubborn and mischievous as her mother. Only a year old and already causing trouble, her willfulness brought a strange joy to our otherwise steady lives.

Life was good. A year had passed since I returned, and I felt fulfilled—ruling alongside Finn, loving him, living this new chapter of our lives together. I didn’t need anything more.

Except… There was Finn, standing in the middle of the bedroom, complaining again.

"Floriana, I hate what you've done to the garden!" he groaned, arms crossed. "It's too colourful, too many flowers, too many scents—it’s overwhelming!" His voice carried a playful exasperation, though I could tell he meant it.

I didn’t have the energy for his complaints today. My head spun, and exhaustion weighed heavily on me. I leaned back against the stone wall, the cool surface grounding me. "Finn, please, let’s talk about this tomorrow," I murmured, closing my eyes briefly.

He glanced at me for the hundredth time, his concern deepening. For weeks, he had been telling me to see a physician. I’d been sick, constantly tired, and feeding from the blood garden which wasn't normal. My body craved the nourishment, but it felt like something deeper than just the heatwave.

"Floriana, we need to see someone," Finn said, his voice more serious now. "You haven’t been yourself. This isn’t normal."

"I just need to feed…" I muttered, rubbing my temples.