Señorita Pufferfish | ONC 2020

Chapter 13 We Can Wait

Aphrodite's POV

A year had passed since Sapphire's wedding to King James and Aphrodite couldn't be more delighted with the results as she watched events unfold with her fellow conspirators. Ahem...allies in the battle of love.

It had taken a great deal of coaxing to compel Hades and Poseidon to visit her castle on Mount Olympus with their respective wives, but Aphrodite was nothing if not persistent. Besides, the goddess of love had always been pleased with their respective matches.

Poseidon and Amphitrite complimented each other perfectly. The dark haired sea nymph with skin the precise hue of ivory navigated her husband's unpredictable moods with the grace of an experienced sailor while he doted on her even if he strayed from time to time.

"I told you all your fretting was for naught, my love." Persephone's eyes brightened. They were as green as newborn leaves. "Sapphire and James seem happy together and if all goes well, their first hatchling should arrive today."

Hades and Persephone were the ultimate example of opposites attracting. Never before had Aphrodite seen two deities so different from one another, complete each other so well. Zeus and Hera really needed to get marriage counseling from these two.

Hades' toyed with a lock of his wife's hair. It was the color of fertile soil and extended all the way to her waist. "You did, but you must admit that while Aphrodite loves happy endings and chaos in equal measure."

Aphrodite huffed, pointing towards the pool of water in the center of room. "Hush. The show is about to start."

The water was blessed and allowed Aphrodite to monitor the progress of whichever of her matches wished. Magic was a beautiful thing sometimes.

Inside the clear depths of the pool an image began to take shape. One of kelp bed and several huddling around it. A bubblegum pink egg the size of watermelon had been placed there.

"Thank goodness. The egg is pink. That's a Calidum." Alexander sighed in relief. "Perhaps that means the hatchling will favor James."

James swatted the other merman upside the head. "We've already discussed this, but you're at least partially correct. There's no denying that is a Calidum egg."

"How do they know that?" Persephone tilted her head in confusion. "The mother is an Anguis and father a Calidum. Should the child not be both?"

Amphitrite shook her head. "Nay. When two different species of merpeople conceive a child together, that child will favor one parent over the other. Their babe could have been an Anguis or a Calidum, but it cannot be both."

"Don't bother whacking him. If Bashira hasn't managed to smack some sense into him, I doubt anyone can." Sapphire shrugged, caressing the trembling egg with a smile. "It really doesn't matter. Whether an Anguis or a Calidum, I'm certain our child will be more intelligent than that strutting seahorse."

Bashira giggled. "I assure you that my Mate has many admirable qualities even if he'll never be a scholar."

"Exactly! I have many admirable qualities." Alexander smiled, but a frown soon replaced it. "Wait. What precisely do you mean by that scholar comment?"

"Damn. I'm lucky you're not as mean as Bashira." Marcos grinned, kissing Olivia's forehead. "Bossy yes, but never mean and it's more in a sexy way than anything."

"They are an amusing lot to be certain." Hades watched the scene unfold before them in amusement. "Though as Amphitrite said, their biology is a complicated affair. Essentially, species is determined by dominant and recessive traits, but I suspect personality plays a role."