Trapped in Beast World: My Husbands Are All Animals! Novel

---- Chapter 82 She's With Calder He was the most beautiful merman among all merfolk-even the mermaids from the deep sea couldn't compare to him. Ardenia's mind was a complete blur. She was totally captivated by Calder's merman form. Calder smiled. This was one of the special gifts all merfolk had. As long as they surfaced, they could lock anyone's attention on themselves, making it impossible to put up any walls. He leaned in and kissed Ardenia, the cool sensation snapping her awake. "It's so hot." Ardenia sat on Calder's tail, her cheeks flushed pink.

Calder chuckled, lifting Ardenia a bit higher. Once she seemed comfortable, he finally pulled her close and hugged her tight. After wetting some animal skins, Calder wiped Ardenia down. "Get cleaned up. You'll sleep better tonight." This felt like a luxury spa! ---- Soaking in the hot spring really did make Ardenia feel a lot better. Beneath the water, Calder's tail wrapped around Ardenia's legs, constantly moving-an intimate merfolk gesture, and also a mating ritual. Calder was over the moon, even if Ardenia didn't seem to. realize it.

As mist drifted around them, Calder circled Ardenia slowly with a smile, beautiful music spilling from his throat. In her eyes, he looked so gorgeous and enchanting...utterly mesmerizing. While this side was full of song and joy, things were not so easy for the other two mates. Tobias had waited patiently for hours, but Ardenia never came back to her cave. He'd cleaned himself up and obediently lay on Ardenia's bed, waiting for her-only to be left waiting all night. He nearly fell asleep. Niall wasn't much better. He'd spent ages getting ready for ---- tonight, but Ardenia never showed up.

Sure, Ardenia hadn't promised him anything, but sometimes one just had to go for what they wanted. With this in mind, Niall was the first to get up and go looking. If Ardenia wouldn't come out, then he'd go find her. He circled the area and finally spotted her dress near Calder's hot spring... Niall stood there, not sure what to feel. That d*mned merman Calder was always such a show-off. Singing in the middle of the night-how annoying could he get? Niall really felt like he should rush over there, but this was Ardenia's choice. She had five mates-she couldn't cater only to his needs.

He used to wish she'd stay far away from him. Now, he didn't even know what he wanted. With a sigh, he turned around, feeling totally deflated. ---- He really thought Ardenia would be with him tonight. After all, she was wearing the outfit he'd given her, and he'd even prepared his beast core... The frustrated Niall ran into Tobias on the way back. Seeing that dark, scaly guy seemed to be looking for Ardenia, too, Niall reached out, grabbing his arm with a sigh. "Stop looking. She's with Calder!" What? Tobias was stunned. His heart broke a little.

Ardenia had just kissed him and given him a gift. He'd thought she was inviting him, but now she picked Calder instead? "Listen..." Niall let out a long, dramatic sigh. The long night was filled with heartbreak and unspoken longing. Tobias was silent. Calder's song drifted through the air. Tobias clenched his fists, furious. Fine, if that's how it is, / will ---- just leave. Clearly, Ardenia didn't like him-she simply made sweet, empty promises, but she never kept her word. The more Tobias thought about it, the angrier he got. What did she think he was, her pet?

How was she any different from Deria? It hurt. He felt miserable. Tobias had his own pride, too. Right now, Calder and Ardenia's happiness was just too much for him to bear. At that thought, Tobias yanked his arm from Niall and stormed off into the woods, disappearing completely. Niall shrugged. That stupid snake is still as hot-headed and sensitive as ever. Stuff like this all came down to luck and skills, didn't it? If Calder managed to swoop in tonight, they could always try again next time. So what was there to get so mad about? Calder's song continued in the background.

Ardenia leaned ---- against the edge of the pool, sipping a strong drink from her storage space, a little dizzy and flushed, lost in perfect enjoyment. A little merman's singing really was incredible. Ardenia was floating, her eyes heavy-lidded as she beckoned Calder closer, her skin flushed pink from the hot spring. Calder swallowed hard, his face burning up. "Ardenia..." he called softly, and just the sound of his voice made Ardenia's bones melt. "Come here. Drink with me." Ardenia giggled, looking up at the bright moon. The two of them looked like a king and his favorite mistress.

Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Calder by the neck and poured a big gulp into his mouth. The liquor wasn't harsh, but Calder still teared up, as the cool liquid spilled down his chin and slid along his abs. After just two sips, Calder's eyes had gone hazy. This drink was strange. It made him dizzy and relaxed, not uncomfortable like a love potion, but soft and languid all over.