Chapter Eight
LUCA
“M ermaids!” I whisper-shrieked, endeavoring not to cause a scene, but also…
Fucking mermaids.
Cair smiled proudly. “I thought this may interest you.”
“Uh, hell yeah, it does!” I’d pestered him for the past two days, trying to pry out where he was taking me. He hadn’t relented, and I knew now that none of my guesses had been right. When we’d ventured into another forest, less creepy and dark than yesterday’s, I’d expected a remote cottage for us to spend the night in, maybe a picnic, or another primal chase like at our mating. Not a lagoon with freaking mermaids.
Boy did good.
Though the primal chase would have been up there in second place.
I glanced over the sparkling blue waters, regarding the mythical creatures I’d hoped weren’t a figment of my imagination since I was a child. I’d read about their existence back at the palace, but having them in front of me, living proof that they weren’t just sketches on old paper, had giddiness welling inside me that was difficult to stifle.
There was a small group frolicking at the far side of the pool, splashing one another and laughing as if they hadn’t a care in the world. Others were braiding their hair or gliding under the surface of the water, nothing but blurred shadows, before leaping into the air and flipping on the descent. It was impressive, the strength in their glistening tails making it seem so effortless. They were all so wonderfully unique, their tails a range of sizes, shapes, and colors. No two were exactly the same. Even if their scales matched in shade, their fins took on a different pattern. The only discerning features they shared were cloudy eyes, the gills on their necks and ribs, and the fin-like ears that twitched with every little sound.
They were technically humanoid from the hips up, but distinct enough that they were unmistakably supernatural. They had a severe edge about them, a sort of haunting beauty that was almost magnetic. My gaze caught on the merman draped across the nearest rock, basking in the hot sun, his tail a shimmering gold. He turned his head, pale eyes locking on mine under a fan of fluttering white lashes, and I went rigid. A smirk graced his lips before he rolled fluidly onto his front, cascades of ivory hair sliding over his muscular back and shoulders. He flicked his tail, his ears flaring in what seemed like a flirty gesture.
Then, he winked.
My face heated, and with a jolt, I unfroze, taking a fumbling step back out of view.
“Shit, I’m being weird, right? Peeking through the trees, watching pretty men and women bathe?” I winced, having answered my own question. “I was just fascinated, but I didn’t mean to be gross.”
“The tranquility pools are their habitat. They could ward the area completely, keep it to themselves, but instead they permit access to visitors for the sole purpose of being admired,” Cair explained, smoothing a hand over my lower back. “As long as you are respectful and do not act on any depraved thoughts—unless consent is given, of course—they bask in the attention. They are creatures of love, passion, and beauty. It pleases them to draw out fascination and lust in others, and their appreciation.”
I sighed with relief. “Well, thank Christ for that ’cause poor Gary seems to be even more bewitched than me.”
The dude had stumbled over his feet as soon as he ambled through the tree line, his jaw practically dragging on the floor—his tongue too, to be honest. Cee snapped her fingers in front of his face, breaking his concentration, which he clearly found offensive as he gestured toward the merfolk mouthing an enthusiastic “Are you seeing this?” before pretending to swoon against his companion.
He landed on the ground in a disgruntled heap when Cee took a deliberate sidestep.
I snorted before turning back to Cair. “Tranquility pools , you said? So there are more?”
“Yes, there are many. They are mostly hidden, protected, so that only those genuinely seeking their benefits can find them.”
“Merfolk live in all of them?”
He nodded. “There are caves far beneath the waters, an entire ecosystem. They only surface for the sunlight, and to socialize with land creatures.”
I had no way of knowing what the world beneath our feet looked like, but if it was anything similar to what was up above, then it had to be beautiful. The water itself was so blue and twinkly that it seemed photoshopped, and the grass was a shade of green you’d see in an advert for paradise. There were stacks of rocks along the bank, and a waterfall that flowed so gently it sounded like a rain shower. It was serene, and it only dawned on me then that I couldn’t even remember what stress felt like.
I had struggled a little on the way here, still on edge after the reaper attack. An incessant veil of tiredness had made every step feel like a chore, but just standing here, breathing the air in this quaint bubble of nature, I felt better . I could actually appreciate the near-silent rustle of the leaves above me and the cozy warmth of the sun beating down on my skin without it all being drowned out by the chaos in my head.
“This place is…” I paused, chewing over the right words. “I feel a sense of stillness like I’ve never known before. My head is quiet for the first time in God knows how long. I’m sleepy, but in a relaxed sort of way, instead of weariness. It’s… bizarre.”
“It’s the water. It has magical properties,” he said. “It calms you, evokes happiness, and makes you forget whatever worries or woes plague you.”
“A natural antidepressant? Nice.”
Cair hummed in agreement. “It’s certainly the perfect place if you find yourself in need of recovery, but only for a short duration. If you stay too long, like any drug, you will become addicted, and you’ll never leave.”
“Yeah, you might have to carry me out of here, ’cause at this moment in time, never leaving sounds like the best plan ever.”
“Take whatever time you need.” Cair laughed, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “Enjoy yourself.”
That was all the encouragement I needed. I set my pack in the shade under a tree before wandering down to the water’s edge. There were other creatures—orcs, goblins, and a few catlike hybrids, from what I could see—but it wasn’t busy, and no one really paid me any heed.
I shimmied out of my shoes and pants, leaving my shirt on but unclipping the harness Cee had given me to store Ivar’s dagger from around my waist—a safety precaution Cair had suggested for my own peace of mind. I lowered myself into the pool, sighing happily. It was cooler than I’d expected, but a welcome relief from the scorching sun. I stayed next to the bank, just hovering and enjoying that weightless feeling, watching others swim past, nodding in greeting.
I stayed there long enough for my fingers to prune, and when I eventually hauled myself out, I didn’t bother peeling off my soaked shirt—something I wouldn’t have entertained before, since wrinkly skin was gross and wet clothes were even worse, but neither seemed to even faze me now. Those pools really were a form of witchcraft. I was content knowing they would dry in the heat, so all there was left for me to do was pick a vacant spot with a little shade, let my feet dangle into the water, and just observe .
Cee had propped herself against a tree at the far edge of the meadow. She looked alert to her surroundings, but the odd flick of her amber eyes toward the pools suggested she wasn’t totally immune to the merfolk’s charms. She was still a bit of an enigma to me, hard to crack, but she was devoted to her duty, and I respected that. I’d learned she was an alseid, a grove nymph, and that piece of information had only served to puzzle me further. The nymphs I’d read about were jovial creatures, sometimes shy—depending on the species—but were often found playing in nature and generally being happy and quirky.
Cee was not like that.
Though I had noticed an affinity for nature and that she regarded animals and flora with more warmth and interest than people, she was also reserved. She didn’t engage in what she deemed unnecessary conversation, and I always got the sense that she had her own motivations for being here besides protecting Cair. She would vaguely tease or smirk, but she never smiled, and her glares could be cutting.
I’d long since learned not to judge a race solely based on what I’d read. Even those in the palace archives only gave a general idea of a species’ characteristics, but they weren’t one size fits all. There were factors to consider: upbringing, experiences, trauma. It was obvious there was a story behind her joining the Shades, but until she felt like sharing, it was none of my business.
Even if I desperately wanted to know every detail.
Gary, on the other hand, was an open book. He showed his emotions freely and let whatever was in his head tumble out of his mouth with very little planning. I could relate. He also wasn’t even pretending to be on guard. Less than an hour, and he’d already caved to the flirtations of both a mermaid and merman—twins, it looked like. I really couldn’t fault him for it. In fact, I silently cheered him on.
Get it, Gary.
I huffed a laugh, and my gaze drifted over to Cair as he gracefully hoisted himself from the pool like a slow-motion clip for men’s perfume. His thick chest was speckled with water droplets, and his underwear clung like a second skin, leaving little to the imagination. Luckily, being in a secluded corner of the lagoon, only I could see the view from the front. It was a nice view. Mouthwatering, really. Clearly sensing eyes on him, my mate’s lips curved with a wicked smirk as he began wiping himself down with the towel he’d left on the bank.
God, I love this guy.
It may not have been the right time to get mushy, but he honestly was my everything. Since the day we’d met, he’d shown me more care, kindness, and devotion than I ever thought I’d deserve. Being here was just one small sliver of proof of that attentiveness. Not only had he known I’d love it here, he’d sensed that I needed it, and that was an obvious theme throughout our whole relationship. He’d saved me from a sheltered past, coaxed me from my shell, and the thought of an existence without Cair in it was empty, meaningless, and hollow—like it was before him. He had breathed life into me, healed me in ways I never even knew I needed healing, and given me a place to feel safe, a home when nowhere else stuck.
The Otherworld was where I belonged. There were opportunities here that I hadn’t been afforded in Edenglas, a whole new way of living that just made sense to me, felt right . It was an experience, a new beginning, a calling, all rolled into one, and I only wished I’d known it sooner.
Except now I had forever to enjoy it, so could I really be greedy about it?
A melty feeling settled within me as Cair slotted in behind me, his legs bracketing mine as he slid his feet into the water. “A ruby for your thoughts, sweetheart?”
I sagged against his chest, sighing happily as his hands smoothed over my thighs. “Just thinking about how much better my life is having met you, and how much I adore being here. My home .”
He kissed the side of my neck. “That pleases me to hear. What do you like about it? The Otherworld, I mean.”
That was a loaded question, but… “It’s not as modern as I expected it to be.”
“I must admit, when I first stepped through the Veil into the human realm, it was a bit of a shock.” I tilted my head to show I was listening, and he carried on. “It was the early nineteen hundreds, and though it was vastly different than it is now, it was still more reliant on machinery than I was used to. The progression your kind has made over the years is… impressive. The Fae realm has magic, which we use for power, transport, and plumbing, but we keep to as simple a life as possible. Natural is our way.”
I hummed.
It must have been strange for him: the skyscrapers, the cars, the lack of greenery, the polluted air. He’d told me that he’d been interested in the human realm since he was a kid. He’d studied the lands, the customs, and inventions in between learning how to be a prince, but words and pictures on paper were vastly different from actually seeing it with your own eyes.
A fact I’d been finding out for myself every day since crossing that border in Edenglas.
“I like that.” I shrugged. “Sure, I miss watching movies and being able to call Alex, but those losses seem insignificant compared to what I’ve gained in return. I might not be cut out for prince-ing—or king-ing —and I would be more suited to a less extravagant existence, but I’m grateful for what I have, what you have granted me. The knowledge I was denied before, the freedom to be myself and explore my interests without judgment, a sense of belonging and a love I never thought I’d find.” I reached back to place my palm on the side of his face, suddenly feeling all sentimental. There was definitely something in the water. “Thank you for following that instinct in your soul all those years ago.”
“You have nothing to thank me for, sweet boy,” he said, nuzzling my hand. “We are destined. You would have found a way through the Veil had I not.” He drifted forward, his lips brushing softly against mine, his intention clear.
He didn’t get to bridge the final gap as, at that same moment, water sloshed beside us, snatching my attention. I squeaked, jerking out of his space and eyes widening at the sight of a mermaid with her arms laid on the bank, cheek resting on the fold, staring up at us. Her lower half was in the pool, but the fin of her fiery orange tail flitted in and out through the surface.
“Hello,” I said lamely.
Because what else am I supposed to say to a mermaid?
“Hello,” she said, amusement clear in her lilting tone. “I have ne’er seen one of your kind before. Human, yes?”
I swallowed thickly, nodding like a dumbstruck idiot meeting their favorite celebrity. “Uh, yeah. Half human.”
“Interesting,” she purred, elongating the word. Her opaque eyes switched to Cair. “And you are a prince.”
He dipped his head in agreement, saying nothing.
That didn’t deter her. She lifted her head, making a throaty, inhuman sound as the gills in her neck fluttered. She was… pleased?
“’Tis my lucky day,” she chirped, shifting to prop her hands—webbed, I noted—on the grass before rising further out of the water as if displaying herself. “’Twould be an honor to be taken by a human and his prince, should that please you.”
I blinked.
My jaw dropped.
“Um…” Not one coherent sentence was coming to me. What the fuck? “N-no, we don’t… We’re not?—”
Cair’s arm wound around my waist, hugging me to his chest in a possessive display. “Thank you,” he said, his voice level, but I could sense the jealousy in his words. “But my mate and I shall decline your offer.”
If she was disappointed or offended, there was no sign of it. She just smiled sweetly, nodding once before pushing off the bank and disappearing under the water. She popped up seconds later on the other side of the pool, much quicker than it took for me to come back online.
“You are positively bewildered, my heart,” Cair teased, trailing his nose up the column of my throat before kissing my jaw. “Should we have accepted her, hm?”
“No, no, no,” I chanted, and Cair’s pleased hum vibrated against my back. “I was just startled, is all. I didn’t expect to be propositioned by a mermaid. A mermaid , Cair.”
“And why not?” He sat back, staring down at me in both affront and confusion. “You are an enchanting creature, Luca, and it pains me to hear that you don’t recognize your own worth or allure.”
I looked away, feeling a little exposed. “I mean, I have attractive traits, sure. My blue eyes, my curls, my lips, but I wouldn’t say I’m anything special .”
My mom would tell me I was too pretty, too good , but that was a typical mom thing, right? Sure, I’d gotten plenty of offers in my life, very few I had accepted, but I’d gradually come to the realization that they’d seen me as naive, and thus easier to manipulate.
Until Cair.
Only he had ever made me feel genuinely wanted.
Cair tipped my head up with a finger crooked under my chin. “I wish I could gut whoever made you feel that way.”
I snorted a laugh, imagining Cair killing my childhood bullies, and my ex, just for the crime of whittling away my self-esteem. I mean, fair , but also unnecessary. “Don’t let it get to you,” I said with a smile. “You treat me like I’m the most beautiful guy in the world, and that’s all that matters.”
He wanted to disagree, I could tell by the pinch of his brows, but I cupped his face in my hand, placating him. “Truly, I’m not worried. How can I be in a place like this? I can barely muster a single negative thought right now.”
“Alright.” He finally leaned in to kiss me as he had planned to before we were interrupted. “Though we may have to invest in a claiming trinket or badge of some sort. It seems my scent inside you is not enough of a deterrent.”
I laughed against his lips. “I’m pretty sure every monster we cross knows I’m yours, and they give us a wide berth. She was just bold, and wanted in on the action.”
“Can’t say I blame her,” he said. “But I don’t share.”
With that excitement over, we moved further into the shade. Cair lay in the grass, one arm under his head, and the other around my back as I tucked myself into his side, leg flung over his thighs. It was comfy, and after barely half an hour, I felt myself drifting off. My eyes closed, rocked by the gentle rise and fall of Cair’s chest, comforted by the lull of his heartbeat. Everything was slowing down, a dream flickering at the corners of my vision, and?—
A piercing screech.
A splash.
My eyes flew open and I shot upright. Gary had fallen into the shallow end of the pool, and was face down in the water. Panicking.
“I can’t swim,” he squawked when he surfaced, flailing and stumbling. He switched from green, to pink, to blue: all the colors of the rainbow. A concerned-looking mermaid reached out to help him find his footing—considering all he had to do was stand up —but had to swerve out of the way so she wouldn’t be clocked in the jaw.
With a growl that surprisingly didn’t shake the forest, Cee waded into the water, seized him by the scruff, and dragged him onto the bank. “You’re a lizard, for Creators’ sake,” she grumbled, teeth clenched. “And you’re going to drown in four feet of water?!”
“That was—” He coughed and spluttered. “At least eight feet. Pretty sure.”
“I can’t believe they gave you a weapon. You’re an idiot,” Cee muttered, leaving him on the bank, sprawled on his belly, soaked to the bone.
There was silence for a beat, and I thought Gary had passed out from sheer fright, but he groaned as if pained and rolled onto his back. “Don’t let this put you off, my aquatic angels,” he lamented to the two he’d been flirting with, reaching out blindly like a dying Romeo in an amateur theater production. They both laughed. “We can still make this work.”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed along with them, and with one glance at Cair—seeing him, in real time, question Rathe’s judgment—I fully lost it. My belly ached, and tears welled in my eyes. I might even have snorted. When was the last time I’d truly laughed until I cried? I couldn’t remember, and honestly, I wasn’t even sure what was so hilarious anymore, but it felt unbelievably good to just let go. To be loud, and unashamed, and carefree.
To be me .
Wiping my cheeks with my sleeve, I bounded into Cair’s lap, flung my arms around his shoulders and kissed him, deep and filthy, uncaring of our audience. There was a wolf whistle behind us. It was definitely Gary, because the sound was accompanied by a wet “Get it, boss” and I just grinned, sliding my tongue against Cair’s until I was gasping for breath.
Then I kissed him some more.
“What was that for?” he asked when we parted, his lips slick and kiss-bruised, satisfaction radiating from him in sweet, delicious waves.
I shrugged.
“Nothing in particular. I’m just happy, and so fucking in love I can hardly contain it.”
Cair mirrored my smile, his hands roving up my back to urge me closer. “As am I.”
* * *
For four days we traveled, barely stopping except to turn in for the night, passing through every tavern and inn along the path. We were back on track from our detour, only a straight day-and-a-half trek separating us from the Outerlands.
I’d given up on my ‘walk the whole way’ idea pretty fast, especially when every mile had begun feeling like a slog. Cair would fly us a decent distance before returning to the ground whenever the motion got too much for me. I was convinced I’d eaten something funny, or the unfamiliar bout of exercise was taking its toll on my body. Either way, everything was aching, and even the simplest tasks took more effort than they used to.
It may have had something to do with the tranquility pools. Maybe some sort of comedown, the crash after a high, since I’d needed suppression for twenty-odd years of anxiety and messy thoughts. Having those return was bound to have an effect, but even if that was the case, I didn’t regret going there. It would no doubt smooth itself over in another day or so, and I’d be back to my typical ole self.
Except, I’d had a cloud of exhaustion hanging over me since the ambush, a fog lingering on the sidelines. My sleep was interrupted, my nerves were frayed, and the enthusiasm and curiosity I’d had for exploring the Otherworld was depleted. Cair was worried, it was obvious in the way he fretted and kept touching me as if to appease his instincts. He insisted we take a break every time one of my sighs were even slightly off, and he had ordered Cee or Gary to scout ahead for medical supplies to aid me, but nothing worked. I assured him it was just my lazy ass not being used to this level of physical activity outside the bedroom, and that I’d obviously grown too comfortable with being waited on hand and foot, but he was never truly convinced.
I was sick. He knew it, I knew it, but I would deal with it properly when we reached Zadok. He was a mage; maybe he would know of a spell or potion to fix whatever was going on if he felt inclined to help, and we were so close .
I’d already added days to this journey too many times. I didn’t want to stall us again.
“Would you like me to fly us the rest of the way?” Cair asked, his hand resting on my back. My stomach lurched at the thought of leaving solid ground.
“Not yet. Let me walk for a few more miles, then yeah, you can.”
“Alright, but at least take a drink. Your mouth is drying.”
I shook my head. “I’m not thirsty.”
Cair handed me the waterskin, a determined look on his face. “Just a sip. Please.”
With a strained smile, I appeased him, letting the crisp liquid trickle slowly down my throat. He was right, I was dry, and after guzzling almost half the bottle, I felt my energy pick up a little, refreshed and more awake. I wiped my sleeve across my mouth, catching the stream that had escaped my lips before nodding and carrying on.
We passed a meadow, clusters of wildflowers surrounding a formation of mossy stones in the center. My interest was piqued, which was a pleasant surprise, since I’d felt my motivation for anything even remotely stimulating dwindle bit by bit each day. But I couldn’t follow its lure. I already felt guilty for wasting time, particularly when I’d waved off many of Cair’s suggestions to rest. If I couldn’t indulge my mate’s genuine concerns for my well-being, then I couldn’t indulge my own fancies either.
“Would you like to get closer?” Cair said, obviously having noticed my longing glance at the crumbled stone, wondering about its origins.
I chewed my lip, hesitating.
“Yeah, but we’re almost at Rosewood Creek. I’m so close to possibly getting answers I’ve waited a lifetime for, so I don’t want to delay us anymore.”
His fingers grazed my cheek, the touch feather-light. “We can be quick.”
I nodded, and veered off the path in the direction of the stones, feeling a burst of the elation I’d mourned since the pools. However, there was a sudden stinging pain in my side, and I couldn’t catch my breath. I tried to push through, to reach the center of the rock creation, but it was persistent. There was a fallen tree on the periphery, so I headed toward it instead, intending on sitting a while and admiring the scenery from afar.
“I need to stop,” I murmured, my head swimming and my legs weak. It felt as though every ounce of color was draining from me. There was a brief swoop of nausea, and then nothing. My heart was beating too fast, my eyes losing focus, and I couldn’t figure out how to lift one foot in front of the other. Was I stumbling?
Was I falling?
Slowly, I blinked. My mate had me cradled in his arms as he knelt beside me in the tall, tickling grass. There was a concerned furrow to his brow, and I tried to smile, to assure him that everything was fine—I just needed to rest for a moment in the pretty glade—but I didn’t know if the words were coming out.
“Luca…” His voice was muffled and distant, but he sounded frightened. Sad. Why was he sad? “Talk to me.”
A scent drifted past my nose, woodsy and comforting—the scent of home —and I burrowed closer to it, into its familiar warmth. The pain in my side was a dull throb, barely there, and quickly fading with the deep swell of peace settling in my chest.
Sleepy.
Wet droplets hit my cheek. Was it raining? I liked the rain. It was calm.
Cold.
“Luca, sweetheart, please say something…”
There was a soft gasp, a caress of air on my lips. “I love you.”
Dark .