Chapter 30
Chapter
Thirty
By the side of the lake, Malachi packed away the mayaweed.
Trent stood, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
“Cold?” Malachi asked.
Trent wrapped his arms around his chest. “A little. I don’t know how you aren’t frozen through. You were the one swimming in the lake.”
Malachi chuckled. “Sirens can handle colder temperatures.” He reached for his clothes.
“Obviously.” Trent watched Malachi dress, gaze sliding over his torso.
Normally, if Trent gave him that sort of look, Malachi would get Trent naked in seconds. But considering Trent’s lips were currently blue, Malachi thought that would be a bad idea. “I appreciate you coming with me today.”
“Thanks for inviting me.” Trent looked out over the lake. “I don’t come to the forest often in winter. It’s lovely.”
Malachi stood and followed his gaze. A flock of geese flew across the flat surface. Soft sunlight glinted on the water.
“It is.” Malachi never really appreciated the beauty of the lake. It had always been bleak and dull. Even in summer, he’d not noticed it.
But today, he perceived the water shimmering in the breeze. The air smelled crisp. The white snow gleamed. The birdsong, melodic and sweet, even made him smile.
Since Trent had entered his life, he’d started to notice the beauty that existed in the world.
It was amazing the difference a friend could make.
Two jackalopes sprinted across the snow. They paused for a second, raising their heads to look around, ears twitching. Then one dashed off and disappeared amongst the bare tree-trunks. The second one followed.
Trent turned to him. “Do you miss the ocean?”
“I do. But…” There was a time Malachi couldn’t imagine being away for even a few months. Now it had been years. “It was hard to stay after Forathia died.”
He had yet to button up his shirt. It hung open, and he touched the seashell that hung around his neck.
“Can I ask how he died?” Trent asked softly.
Malachi took a deep breath and ran his fingers over the smooth swirl of the seashell. “A sea serpent. We were swimming along the rocky coast, diving and swirling through the water. Suddenly, a sea serpent darted out from amongst the rocks and attacked him.”
Malachi closed his eyes and wrapped his hand around the seashell. “It happened so quickly.” Blood and water flittered before his eyes. “I swam towards him. But by the time I reached him… The wounds themselves weren’t too bad. But a sea serpent’s bite is poisonous.”
His fingers around the shell tightened, squeezing so hard it might shatter. A tear slid down his cheek. “I tried to save him, but there was nothing I could do.”
A hand pressed against his shoulder.
Letting out a breath, Malachi released his grip. He opened his eyes and blinked away the tears and memories. He took a slow, deep breath. “The sea serpent must have had a nest or something. That’s usually why they get aggressive.”
He swallowed. “After he died, I stayed for a while, wanting to be near my family, wanting their comfort and companionship.”
Trent nodded.
“But sirens don’t like to be around those who’ve lost a mate.”
Trent frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“It reminds them that they could lose their mate too. To a siren, there is nothing worse than losing their mate.” Malachi swallowed. “So they prefer sirens like me to not exist. To disappear or just die.”
Trent shook his head. “That can’t be true.”
Malachi took a shaky breath, and the icy air filled his lungs. “Most just swam away from me when I approached.”
“Your family did that?” Trent asked, shock clear in his voice.
“My siblings would swim away. My parents did not. But they avoided looking at me. They were so uncomfortable in my presence.” He exhaled. “I needed them, and they abandoned me. So I left without telling anyone.”
“On your own?”
Malachi’s throat tightened. “I was so already alone amongst my family. It didn’t seem like there would be any difference if I left.”
“That’s not right! They shouldn’t have—” Trent’s features twisted. “I’m so sorry.”
The actions of Malachi’s family must seem despicable to Trent, whose family were always there for one another. “A siren mate bond is revered. And it is very strong. Many sirens who lose a mate die.”
Malachi glanced out over the water. “I didn’t. Perhaps because I was too young and healthy. Or perhaps because I didn’t love Forathia enough.” Malachi’s lungs constricted. “Either way, it would have been easier for my family if I had done the proper thing and died of grief.”
Trent made a choking noise. “They would really prefer you dead?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. I just know they didn’t want me around after Forathia died.”
Trent wrapped his arms around Malachi’s waist. “I’m glad you didn’t die. And I’m sorry you had to go through all that alone.”
Malachi returned the embrace, resting his head on Trent’s shoulder.
A gust of wind blew, and Malachi pulled Trent closer, protecting him from the cold air. It was still strange to talk of Forathia. But now, he at least had someone he could talk to about him. And that made him feel less alone with his grief. “Thank you, Trent. I’m grateful you are in my life.”
Trent’s arms tightened around his waist. For several moments, they stood there, just holding each other.
Malachi’s skin prickled with awareness. He turned his head. Two men watched them. He’d seen the pair in the forest before. But they’d never watched him like this.
On instinct, his muscles tensed. Trent, sensing the shift, lifted his head and looked at Malachi. Then followed his gaze.
Surprisingly, he smiled. “Briar! Wulfric!”
The two began to walk towards them. A pigeon circled overhead.
Trent released him and approached the two.
“What are you doing out here, Trent?” one of them, a human with glasses, asked.
“Malachi invited me to help him harvest some aquatic plants from the lake.” Trent gestured to the sacks and crates. “Although, I just stood here and watched him do it. It’s way too cold in the lake for me.” He laughed.
“Will you introduce us?” the one with glasses asked.
“Oh! Right! Malachi, this is Briar, my brother, and Wulfric, his mate.” Then Trent gestured to Malachi. “This is Malachi.”
“Pleasure to meet you both.” Malachi inclined his head.
“It’s nice to finally put a name to a face.” Briar pushed his glasses up his nose. “There is a lot of talk about you in the bakery.”
Malachi looked between them. What sort of talk?
Briar pointed in the direction they’d come. “Wulfric and I live out here in a cave not so far away. We’re on our way to the bakery now.”
“And we should get going if we don’t want to be late.” Wulfric placed a large hand on Briar’s shoulder. “Otherwise, Grady might have words with us.”
“You should come,” Briar said to Malachi. “You haven’t been to the bakery yet, have you? Everyone is curious to meet you.”
“They are?” Malachi hesitated.
“Only if you want,” Trent said. “You don’t have to.”
Meeting more of Trent’s siblings did seem like a lot of pressure. He imagined it would be quite overwhelming. But he was curious about Trent’s siblings. And it seemed they were curious about him.
Which made sense, since Trent had been spending a lot of time with him. Maybe Malachi dropping by would put their minds at ease.
Malachi hesitated. “I can come by briefly. But I will need to get back to the emporium soon.” He reached down to grab his collection of aquatic plants.
Wulfric stepped in. “Here, let me help you with that.” He lifted the crates with ease.
“Thank you.” Malachi tugged his rucksack onto his back.
As they set off in the direction of the city, he tried to squash the nerves that wriggled in his belly. He was just meeting Trent’s family. No need to be worried.