Chapter 5
Chapter
Five
SALEM
Cern’s car was always going to attract an audience, and by the time he came to a stop, the entire consortium had come out to greet them.
Salem really wasn’t sure what to expect.
He had some explaining to do—he knew that with certainty. But how his truth would be received could go either way.
Salem wasn’t sure he liked Ciaran, but he respected him. He respected his leadership, and he respected how he put his consortium’s needs above his own.
Well, he had. Until Sawyer arrived.
But the whole bonding thing was a curveball no one could practice for. So Salem certainly didn’t hold Ciaran’s swing and a miss against him in that regard.
How anyone handled the bond process was a journey each their own. There’d been an unprecedented number of bonds in the lead-up to Lusca’s arrival. Salem was curious to see how that had gone in the week of their absence.
He was also curious about the two strange faces that came out to greet them. Men he’d never seen before. Who were they? What were they doing here? What was their intention? The others seemed familiar with them. New residents, perhaps....
Aurin got out of the car, and Salem was quick to stand beside him. Cern gave no more than a wave of his hand and a “See you soon” as he drove away, leaving Salem and Aurin to face everyone on their own.
“Oh, the smell of home,” Aurin said, inhaling deeply with his eyes closed. “And cold air.”
Salem, on the other hand, was looking at everyone who was looking at him.
“Hello,” he said. “I am Salem. A proper introduction long overdue. I should expect you have questions, and I’ll be more than happy to answer them, though perhaps Aurin could take a swim first. He’s been too many days without saltwater. ”
“Well, about that,” Fray said, the corner of his mouth pulling down. “The water is.... Well, it’s weird.”
That got Aurin’s attention. “Weird? How is it weird? What happened to it?” He then noticed the two strangers and did a double-take. “Oh. Hi. I’m Aurin.”
“Beau,” the taller of them replied.
“Hudson,” the second man said. “We, uh, we left the Bass Strait consortium.”
“Oh,” Aurin said simply. Then he looked across at the water. “Can I not swim? I’d really like to...”
“Aurin, do you feel okay?” Kellan asked.
“I am incredibly hungover,” he replied.
“You weren’t at Cern’s place,” Ciaran said. It wasn’t exactly accusatory but close enough. “Sawyer and I went up to see how you were getting on.”
“We went up into the mountains,” Aurin said. “With Cern and his... family.”
Ciaran didn’t seem to like that much, and no doubt his list of questions just grew longer. His gaze fell to Salem. “You are healed?”
“Yes.”
“Cern saved his life,” Aurin said. “I watched the whole ceremony and still can’t begin to describe what I saw.”
“Looking a bit green,” Hendrix said. He grinned at Aurin. “Hungover, huh?”
“Ugh,” Aurin said, pressing his hand to his stomach. “Please don’t. The words ‘honey mead’ are forbidden forever. A swim would fix me, I’m sure of it.” Then his gaze darted to Kellan before he smiled at Hendrix and Dylan. “Congratulations, by the way. I’m so happy for you. All of you.”
Then he grinned at Otis and Pania. “And you both, as well. I’m sorry if I seemed insensitive before. I was... worried to the point of distraction over Salem.”
Salem didn’t miss the way Otis’s eyes went to Ciaran before he smiled at Aurin. “It’s okay, brother. Glad to have you home.” Then Otis looked at Salem. “And you. Though you’re more human, less feline nowadays. Look a little different. Except for the eyes. They’re cool.”
Ah yes, his cat-eyes. Something he could never hide.
Salem smiled at that and conceded with a nod. “I will explain everything,” he said before looking at Aurin for some moral support. They’d always said they’d explain it together.
But Aurin wasn’t listening. His attention was drawn back to the jetty. “What’s wrong with the water?”
“It’s lost its sparkle,” Sawyer replied. “You know how it would shine like a galaxy, and how it was so dark it was almost black? Well, it’s clearing up.”
“We don’t know if Lusca had anything to do with it,” Kellan added.
“No,” Salem said, smiling to himself. “It’s me. My absence will return the water to its natural state. I uh, I’d forgotten that might happen, and so quickly. I’m sorry—”
“You,” Ciaran said sceptically. “You’re the reason for the water being...”
“Sparkly,” Sawyer added.
“Yes,” Salem replied. “And dark. It’s a defence mechanism to camouflage me.
The cove has been my home for so long, I forgot how my absence would affect it.
” He sighed, needing to put an end to the chitchat and focus on Aurin.
“If we could save this conversation for a later time. Aurin isn’t well, and he’s been too long out of saltwater. He needs to swim.”
“Yes,” Kellan said, studying Aurin. “Get him into the water. We can talk later. We’ll fix some food for you both as well.”
“Thank you, Kellan,” Salem said. He’d always liked Kellan. “We shan’t be long.”
Aurin looked at Hendrix and Dylan. “When I resurface, I’ll need you to please distract Otis so I can raid his fridge, thanks.”
Otis gave a belly laugh. “No need, my friend. I’ll prepare your favourites,” he said. “Pizza and pasta for Aurin, and Whiskers for Salem.”
There were a few bursts of laughter. Fray and Hendrix were the loudest.
Aurin smiled at Otis. “Any food would be most appreciated, brother. I’ve missed your cooking. But you can hold the cat food.”
Salem rolled his eyes at the cat food comment, but he was secretly pleased they seemed placated and were joking around. There’d been no pitchforks at any rate, so he considered it a win. He took Aurin’s hand. “Come on, my love. Let’s get you into the water.”
They headed toward the jetty, and Salem could hear the conversation behind them.
“So does the water change immediately?” Fray asked.
“Let’s go watch,” Tobin said. “I wonder how it works. Is it a Mimic thing?”
“It’s an old god thing,” Aurin said, and he clearly didn’t care if they heard. He simply shed his clothes as he walked, and without so much as a pause, he plunged straight into the water. Salem was quick to follow to make sure Aurin was okay.
He was more than okay. He was glorious.
He was floating, suspended with his eight arms outstretched, his eyes closed. Oh, this is so good. Oh my goodness, is this heaven, Salem?
Salem chuckled. Heaven is wherever you are. So yes, since you are here, it must be.
Aurin opened his eyes slowly, giving him a shy smile. You are the sweetest talker.
It’s the truth.
Aurin let out a deep sigh. I can feel it reinvigorating me.
He was stunningly beautiful. His golden flecks glimmered, his big eyes shone as he let his arms coil and stretch. Sink with me, he said. I need to feel the depth, the weight.
Salem linked an arm with Aurin’s, and they reached the bottom together. And mercy be, Aurin was right. He usually was. But oh yes, how Salem needed this too.
He needed to be in his cephamorph form, on the sea floor beneath the weight of water. Saltwater, darkness, pressure holding his form to rights.
He felt as if he’d been holding his breath for weeks and was now finally able to breathe, Aurin’s limbs entwined with his—touching, feeling, tasting—their hearts beating in sync.
He could clear his mind and just... be.
Be himself. Be true. Be happy.
Be home.
This is your home, Aurin said.
Yes, it has been for a long time.
Aurin looked up toward the surface. They were right. The water is clearer. Not as dark.
Give it time. Now it knows I’m back, it will recover.
I love that this place missed you when you were gone.
I suppose I don’t need the water to camouflage me anymore, now they all know about me.
Aurin scanned the water above them. But it’s beautiful, and it’s yours. The way it glitters, and how it moves. Plus, it keeps all the humans out. They’re petrified of it.
That much was true.
It’s not only the water they’re afraid of here, Salem said.
Aurin smiled then. No, it’s not. I always knew this place was special. But now that I’ve seen the other forest folk, I know why. But then his smile became something pensive. Does what we saw fall under the treaty? I’m sure Ciaran will have questions, and I don’t know what I’m allowed to tell him.
Salem wasn’t up to speed on the pedantry of it all. It might be moot anyway, given Tobin can see into our minds if he so wishes.
I’d forgotten about that.
It’s quite the gift.
I suppose we should go up there. We’ll have a lot of questions to answer. And I want to know everything that happened after we left. What happened with Lusca. The two new guys. There’s a lot to catch up on.
Are you feeling well enough?
I feel better just for being in this water, Aurin said. Still not great, though. I think food and sleep will fix me.
Salem chuckled, but then he drew a gentle line along the side of Aurin’s face. I hope so. I don’t like to see you unwell.
I’m never drinking honey mead again, just so you know.
That made Salem laugh. Okay, my love. Let’s get the interrogation over with. The sooner we do, the sooner you can go to bed.
Deal. But before they could begin their ascent, Aurin stopped him. What are you telling them? About you? How much do you want them to know? We need to have our stories straight before we start talking. Whatever you decide. Whatever you’re comfortable with them knowing.
Oh, my darling, Salem replied. I plan to tell them everything. No more lies, no more hiding.