Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin

Perla’s Perspective

Ira glided through the water in front of me, his half-human form and shimmering tail giving him a striking merman allure. Honestly, he was so incredibly attractive that it felt like a crime to even think about touching him—like, seriously, I might just combust! But I was holding back, feeling a bit like a flirtatious hoe. I mean, I really needed to sort out my feelings for Kai, and the guilt of jumping into something with Oliver was weighing on me. Sure, I was in a heat-induced frenzy when things escalated between us, but he’s such a sweetheart that I don’t really regret it, it was just the timing that was a bit off.

Then there’s Sam, which was a whole different story, and let’s not forget Titus—my fated mate. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that concept, even though I’ve indulged in a few shifter romances on my Kindle, where the covers are a secret. I’ve always had a soft spot for dragon shifters, but honestly, encountering one in real life? Yikes, that sounds terrifying! And then there’s Milo, who Kai turned into my servant while I was out of it.

It’s a lot to juggle, especially since I haven’t been in this world for long. I really need to pump the brakes before I start forgetting names and end up in awkward situations, like, "Wait, who are you again?" It’s like those reality shows where a girl is pregnant and has no clue who the father is because she’s been with half the town. Things can spiral out of control way too fast here! But seriously, why are all the guys so ridiculously hot or charming? I could use some blinders, and I definitely need to get a handle on when my heat is, so I can lock myself away and barricade the doors and windows when it hits!

I found myself captivated by Ira’s impeccably sculpted abs, which formed a stunning V at his perfectly toned hips, leading into the most exquisite pearlescent pink scales that shimmered enticingly, practically begging for a touch. His long hair danced around him in the water, a mesmerizing blend of seafoam green and pink—my absolute favorites. And let’s be real, calling a man beautiful felt a bit odd, but Ira was undeniably stunning. He could make even the most glamorous models look ordinary in comparison.

What set Ira apart from the rest was his ethereal beauty; while others like Oliver and Milo had their own charmingly adorable appeal, and the others had a masculine sexiness, Ira was beautiful. I felt utterly pampered being in Titus’s space, soaking up swimming lessons from Ira while Titus and the others made their way to Duarte Village. Initially, I hesitated to take a ride in Titus’s space for swimming lessons, but the guys convinced me it would be quicker and safer. Plus, I needed to squeeze in some swim time to ensure my scales developed properly; otherwise, I could face health issues later on. Growing scales felt like that should be the serious health issue, but this was my new reality, and I had to adapt quickly.

Ira demonstrated another tail flip, and I tried to mimic him, launching myself a bit too enthusiastically forward. Am I a mermaid now? Why isn’t swimming with a tail second nature? Or maybe I’m just not cut out for this mermaid life. Ira, however, was wonderfully patient and sweet. He had a charm that set him apart from the others, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that he might be on a different team—there’s just something about him that feels a bit... delicate? It’s hard to put into words, like a graceful elegance in the way he moves. I feel like I’m missing something, too, something I once read about seahorses, but it’s slipped my mind. It wouldn’t be very polite to ask, "Hey, is there something unique about your beastkin type? You seem too lovely to be a guy, and you’re so feminine!" Yeah, definitely not going there. I can be a bit socially awkward, but I’m not that clueless—well, I wasn’t before I arrived here, where biting is getting hitched and tail petting is practically public indecency. Milo was taken aback, and so was I when I realized this was all real. Or rather, biting is more like an engagement; if you don’t seal the deal, that mark will eventually fade away.

Once I got the hang of moving smoothly, Ira introduced me to the art of controlled turns. Then we dove into the world of bubble-making, which might sound a bit dull at first, but trust me, these aren’t your average bubbles—they’re magical barrier bubbles that can actually explode!

The trick is to create the bubble and then pump in more air, compressing it until the barrier can’t take it anymore. You can either give it a little nudge to make it pop or let it build up until it bursts on its own. It’s an absolute blast! Just a tad risky, as Ira demonstrated by blowing up a tree—no big deal, right?

After our aquatic adventures, I stepped out of the space, but the guys warned me that if any danger loomed, I might be yanked back in without a moment’s notice. And they weren’t kidding! I got shoved back into the space five times before I finally stood my ground and told them to chill out a bit. I mean, I was on the verge of losing my lunch from all the sudden jerks and squeezes!

Lirit’s Perspective

"You can leave this room whenever you want, but you just have to accept my mark first."

"I already have a mate," Kai mumbled, lounging on the bed I had him chained to, looking all sleepy and pathetic because I had drugged him with those cute little aphroditic flowers. He was fighting it, but honestly, it was kind of adorable. I glared at that annoying paw print on his neck, feeling my blood boil again. Ugh, it was barely there, and he was definitely getting weaker.

"You know, I could always slip you a hallucinogen and make you my mate that way. Then you’d be stuck with me forever, and trust me, I wouldn’t let you go."

"I would just kill you," he said casually as if he were talking about the weather.

"What?!" I was seriously shocked. No way he would actually kill me. I mean, how could he even say that so casually?

"If you force a mark on me, all I need to do is take you out. You can’t have a mate if you’re six feet under."

"You seriously think you could pull that on me? Please, even if you had the guts, you’d be in so much trouble for taking out someone like me. I’m basically a treasure."

"You believe I shy away from taking lives? I’m a General, and that’s just part of the territory. Have you lost sight of reality in your wild obsession? Killing beastkin is what I do for a living."

I just stared at him, wondering if I had totally misjudged this guy. But honestly, I had already invested too much time in this, and if he really wanted me gone, he would have made a move by now.

"I can only extend so much grace because you’re Miko Vera’s daughter. She’s a friend of mine, and I have no intention of being the one to harm her child. But if you believe you can come between me and my mate and walk away unscathed, you’re mistaken. That crosses a line I won’t accept. I’ve taken down more beastkin than I can remember, and I have immunity for defending myself against any female who dares to strike first."

"How are you even managing to talk so perfectly when you’ve had the max dose of that stuff?"

He shrugged nonchalantly, his voice dripping with indifference, "I’ve been trained to resist poisoning." The only thing the multiple poisons in his system seemed to be doing was making him tired, he could barely keep his eyes open.

I flipped my hair over my shoulder and let out a loud groan. "Just accept my mark already!"

His neck was covered in my bite marks, but he still wouldn’t accept my mark, so it just faded away. Honestly, any other guy would be too out of it to resist me, but he was just being infuriating!

"Your mark is weak enough to ignore, so why are you being such a stubborn jerk? You don’t owe her anything; she’s not even your real mate yet! You have no idea where she is!"

"I take full responsibility for not knowing her whereabouts, and I assure you, I won’t make that mistake again."

"Oh my gosh, can you just get over yourself and accept me already? I mean, seriously, I am like a million times better than her! I totally saw you flirting with her, and it was so obvious you were just trying to make me jealous. Like, come on, you know I’m the one you really want!" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

He glared at me and I saw something in his eyes that made me take a step back and feel a chill.

"I’ve been drugged, but you’re the one who’s lost touch with reality. Why would I want you to feel jealous? The truth is, I’ve never had the slightest interest in you. Not even a little."

Coming Next Time: Pyro