Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
SALEM
It made sense. Salem knew that. He, Aurin, and the four hatchlings would be safer away from the cove, away from passing traffic, away from unwanted visitors.
Especially given Hadeom had asked for Salem by name, wanting information. He’d been sought out for many, many years. But it wasn’t just Salem now. He had his family to think of, and he would do anything to protect them.
And if staying up the river by the old miner’s hut kept his family safe, then it wasn’t really a question.
Sitting on Tobin’s boat with his arm around Aurin, both in human form, Salem could admit to fear. He’d never had anything to lose before. Now... well, everything was different now.
On Aurin’s lap, held safe in his hands, was a glass cannister containing the most precious cargo.
Ciaran and Sawyer sat opposite, Fray with Tobin at the wheel. The motor coughed now and then, but Tobin handled it like he trusted it more than he did most people. Which, Salem thought, was probably true.
“They are just so adorable,” Ciaran said. Salem wasn’t used to seeing Ciaran being so openly affectionate and... cute himself.
“Amazing,” Sawyer said, looking at the four hatchlings within the cannister. “They are the sweetest little babies I’ve ever seen.” His eyes became glassy. “Aurin, Salem. I’m so happy for you. And we’ll do anything to keep you all safe.”
“Thank you,” Aurin said. “We are very lucky.”
“Kellan said they’ve already grown more than he expected,” Ciaran added. “A good sign.”
They had grown, that was true; even if it was mere hours after hatching, they had each easily doubled in size. “And growing in personality already,” Salem said.
The river narrowed as the boat pushed further inland, its wake folding softly into the dark water behind them. Trees crowded the banks on either side, tall and unmoving except where the wind dragged through their leaves with a welcoming whisper.
Salem had never been to the hut before. He’d heard them talk of it over the years, describing how they’d restored it and spent time there.
He knew it to be humble but private, and he was grateful for the suggestion they come here, for the offer to bring them here safely.
He had no idea if they’d use the hut at all, given their little ones would be in water for the immediate future.
But there was a hut, should they need it.
A wooden house sat above the river’s edge. A dock stretched out into the water, uneven but sturdy enough, anchored by the banks of the river, which was made of large rocks. Behind the house, the forest climbed the hills in endless dark layers. The water was deep enough and moving but not too fast.
It wasn’t perfect like his cove, but it was utterly perfect for now. For his family.
Tobin brought the boat up to the dock with no more than a gentle bump, and Salem stepped onto the deck first, then held Aurin’s hand as he joined him. He cradled the cannister to his chest. Each of the hatchlings were looking out with a curiosity that made Salem smile.
Ciaran and Sawyer carried a crate of supplies into the hut, and Fray and Tobin waited on the boat for them to return.
“We’ll be back every day,” Tobin said. “Whoever this unwanted visitor is they’re supposed to be coming tomorrow, so all things going well, you guys might be back sooner rather than later. ”
“We’ll be fine,” Aurin said. “But thank you both, so much.”
“Otis and Pania said they’ll patrol the mouth of the river. You only have to say the word.”
“We will be safe here,” Salem said. He looked around, then focused on where the river disappeared behind a bend, seemingly swallowed by the dense forest. It was so secluded and far removed from, well, everything.
“It’s perfect, isn’t it?” Sawyer said as they walked back onto the dock. “I have very fond memories of this place.”
“Yeah,” Fray said. “The hut still reeks of sex, so we all know just how fond those memories are.”
Ciaran smirked and put a gentle hand on Salem’s arm. “Take care of them all,” he said. “And remember Sawyer put his police UHF walkie-talkie in the crate. If you need anything, just let us know. We’ll be back ASAP.”
Sawyer leaned down to get a closer look at the hatchlings in the cannister. “Oh my heart,” he said, hand to his chest. “You little ones be good for your dads. And eat your veggies so you grow up nice and strong.”
Ciaran ushered Sawyer onto the boat and gave Salem and Aurin a smile and a wave.
“Okay,” Sawyer said. “Now I want babies and a submarine.”
Fray burst out laughing, and Ciaran sighed. “Jesus Christ.”
Tobin steered the boat away, and then it was just Salem, Aurin, and their four little ones. “Did you want to eat some human food?” Salem asked.
Aurin shook his head. “No, I’m fine. Let’s get them back into the water and find us a safe place in these rocks.”
Salem put his finger under Aurin’s chin and lifted his face for a soft kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he said. “And I love our babies more than I ever thought possible.”
“As do I,” Salem murmured. “Incredible, isn’t it?”
He smiled at first, but it fell away. “I’m worried about who is coming to Tenebrae. What they want, and why Cern knew about it. He was concerned enough about our babies to come warn us.”
Salem brushed back Aurin’s golden hair from his forehead and studied his eyes. Gold and amber flecks stared back at him.
“Our babies are special,” Salem said. “With me as their father, they will be sought after and targeted. They are cursed by the same fate that I have been.” He sighed, trying to expel some of the sadness he felt.
“They will always be special. They are the descendants of my father. An old god of times gone by, but still a god, nonetheless.”
Aurin’s eyes shone like golden galaxies. “We will protect them, and they will never be alone. You will be a better father than yours ever was, old god or not.”
Salem smiled, overwhelmed by the love he felt for Aurin.
“Because of you,” he whispered. Then he tried to lighten the mood, needing to make Aurin smile.
“And our babies have an entire consortium of uncles and an aunt, including a human, who would go to war for them. A consortium who took down a monster to save me. And Cern. He will look out for them; he already has. Our little ones just might be the best protected babies on this planet.”
Aurin’s eyes went soft, and his smile was the private kind, the one he reserved for Salem alone, but then the small chirps coming from the cannister were getting louder. “Okay, our little impatient ones, okay,” he said to them. Then he looked up at Salem. “We’re not the ones in charge anymore.”
“I know,” he agreed with a laugh. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
They found the perfect home, a crevice in the rocks under the dock that opened into a larger den. Aurin ushered the four of them inside like he was a mother hen with a clutch, and Salem brought in what was left of the plankton.
They devoured it, chirping happily while using their tentacles to shove the food into their mouths.
What Kellan had said was true. They were growing faster than expected.
Cephamorphs did excel through the growing periods faster than normal octopuses, but these little ones were exceeding that easily.
They’ll be into the benthic stage soon, Salem mused.
Yes, they’re so big already, Aurin agreed. I can hear their minds now. Thought processes and learning are more coherent as they grow, it’s so fascinating.
It really is.
And their personalities. They’re so individual! This one— He gave the biggest one’s chubby cheek a gentle tweak as he ate. He’s brave.
Salem gave the second born a gentle rub on the head. And this one is so clever.
And this one is cheeky, Aurin said, giving number three a little tickle. And this one, he said, voice softening. She’s our little princess. She’s so sweet.
Salem was so proud, so in love, he felt he might burst. We will need to give them names to match.
We will.
You are named Aurin because you are gold, Salem said. And I am Salem because I am dark. He shrugged. You named me Salem because of the black cat on a television show.
Aurin’s eyes went wide. No. I called you Salem because you brought me peace. Salem means safe and calm. He sighed. You were nameless before that, and the cat on TV made sense because the others wouldn’t question it. I didn’t want them to know what you meant to me.
For many, many years, I was nameless, Salem agreed. My father’s bastard son. The son of a trickster father and a Mimic mother who was hunted because of what she was. I was alone then, and there is no point to a name when living in anonymity and solace.
Aurin linked a tentacle with Salem’s and pulled him close. That’s why we need to give them the most perfect names.
The babies were done eating then, and they soon nuzzled into Aurin’s and Salem’s arms and settled in to sleep.
Salem let the love inside his hearts pour out of him and seep into all of them.
Aurin sighed contentedly, closing his eyes with a smile. Salem, my love, he murmured. You’ll never be alone again.