Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
CIARAN
Aurin and Salem came back two days later, requesting a meeting with everyone at the bottom of the cove.
Which is where they all were, waiting for Aurin and Salem to make an appearance.
Ciaran understood, of course, but he still felt bad for Sawyer, who was left out once again and having to wait up on the dock because of his stupid human lungs.
He’s up there right now, drafting the plans for a single-person submarine, Fray said as they waited outside the cave.
I know he is, Ciaran said. And you shouldn’t encourage him.
Aww, come on, it’s funny, Fray added.
Ciaran bloomed a dark angry red. Funny? How is it funny?
Someone cleared their throat, and when Ciaran turned around, Aurin and Salem were now waiting outside the entrance of their little cave, nervous but excited.
Thank you for being so patient with us, Aurin said, while we adjusted to the cave, that is.... He curled a tentacle around Salem’s, looking at him and smiling before he turned to the audience again. We have some introductions to make.
Oh my..., Ciaran thought. He was so excited. Sure, he’d seen them when they first hatched, but they’d been gone three days, and they’d grown a lot, apparently.
Salem smiled, nervous also but incredibly proud. Please meet Llyr. Our firstborn. His name is old Celtic. It means “god of the sea.”
Then Llyr came out of the cave. He was barely the size of an apple, black like Salem. He was so much bigger than he’d been just three days ago. His eyes scanned the faces watching him, and then he lifted his little chin in defiance and crossed his arms.
Salem used a well-practiced tentacle to uncross Llyr’s tiny arms. Say hello, Salem prompted.
Hello, Llyr said, his voice small but strong.
Everyone gasped, and there was a chorus of Oh my gods. Ciaran was stunned, amazed, and his hearts grew in size, he was sure of it.
Then Salem said, Next is Ukko.
Ukko came out of the cave. He was gold like Aurin but shimmered with black flecks.
Then Aurin said, The name Ukko means—
Ukko sucked back two quick breaths and let out a cute little sneeze, which made him explode outward into a ball of spikes that zapped with gold static.
God of lightning, Aurin finished.
And everyone reacted at once. Most gasped, but Pania shook Otis and squealed, Dylan made a happy-dying sound, and Fray fell backwards, he was laughing so hard.
But Ciaran just felt emotional. He wanted to cry. He wanted to hold them all and hug Aurin and Salem, and he wished like fucking hell that Sawyer was down here to see it with him.
Aurin pulled Ukko in close and helped smooth him back out into a cephamorph state. He has Mimic traits, obviously. And an electricity thing we’re still trying to work out.
Everyone calmed down then, waiting for baby number three.
Salem held out his tentacle, but number three just zoomed straight past him, too impatient to wait. He was jet black and cute as hell. My name is Nyx, he said and waved his little tentacle hand. It means god of night. Then he looked up to Aurin, Is that right, Dadda?
Aurin nodded, and everyone swooned.
Dadda? He calls you Dadda? Ciaran asked.
Aurin nodded. I am Dadda, and Salem is Pappa.
And Ciaran had to blink back tears.
Fray shot Ciaran a look. You good, bro?
I’m fine, Ciaran said. They’re just... He shook his head and shrugged, gesturing to the three little ones. I wish Sawyer could see.
Tobin reached over and gave Ciaran a clap on the back. I’ll show him everything.
Aurin let a nervous breath. And our little godling number four, he said. Come on out, sweetheart.
And then, a very shy, very pretty little one came out of the cave and quickly hid behind Aurin’s arm, peeking out at everyone with big round eyes.
A girl. She was a dark golden bronze colour with lighter speckles; she was a beautiful metallic mix of Aurin’s gold and Salem’s black, and she had odd-coloured eyes. One gold, one black.
Ciaran’s hearts melted.
Everyone, Salem said, We’d like you to meet áine. Her name is Celtic, and it means radiance. áine was the goddess of sun and light, and the queen of the faerie.
Everyone was stunned, silent, and in complete and utter awe. The Cove was filled with so much love. And Ciaran couldn’t stop the tears. He tried to hold it in, but a sob escaped.
Everyone looked at him, and all he could do was shake his head. I don’t know what to say. I love them. I will protect them with my life.
Dylan was nodding, teary, too, and Hendrix held him close. Kellan put his arms around them both. Pania pressed two tentacles to her face, her eyes heart-shaped, and all Ciaran could think about was Sawyer.
I would fucking die for them, Fray exclaimed loudly.
Then little Nyx looked up at Aurin with big curious eyes. Dadda, what does fucking mean?
Everyone burst out laughing, and Otis clipped Fray up the back of the mantle. No more swearing in front of little ears.
Ciaran laughed through his tears, swept forward to give Aurin and Salem a hug, and then he—very, very gently—shook the hands of each little one. I am so very pleased to meet you.
Then he stood back as everyone else hugged and introduced themselves, watching his consortium thrive in familial love and friendship. It made his hearts swell impossibly, and yet... it wasn’t complete.
Come on, Tobin said, surprising Ciaran out of his sorrow. Let’s go. I’ll show him right now.
They went up to the surface, leaving behind the chatter and laughter, and Sawyer met them on the jetty. “Oh thank god,” he said, helping Ciaran out of the water. He handed him a towel and then gave one to Tobin. “Is everything okay? What did they want? Are the babies okay?”
“Here,” Tobin said, taking Sawyer’s hand.
And Ciaran watched as Sawyer’s eyes met his, impossibly big. He gasped, mouth open, and then his eyes got all watery and his chin wobbled. “Their names. Their little faces.”
“I know,” Ciaran said, trying to rein in his emotions. “I’m so sorry you can’t see them yourself. Sawyer, I...”
Sawyer grabbed Ciaran’s hand. “Hey. It’s okay. Don’t be sad. I can see, thanks to Tobin.” He gave Tobin a soft smile. “Thank you, so much.”
“You’re welcome,” Tobin said. “Did you see little Ukko? He sneezed himself into a sea urchin. Definitely Salem’s son.”
Sawyer nodded, half laughing, half crying. “Never in my life have I ever seen anything so cute. And Anya? Is that her name, the little girl? She has different coloured eyes; one of Aurin’s, one of Salem’s. How incredible.”
“áine,” Ciaran corrected gently. “Sounds like Anya, though, but not quite. It’s an Irish name.”
“A girl,” Sawyer said, sniffling. Then he frowned at Ciaran. “You know, you say girl cephamorphs are rare, but I dunno, because you have two in your consortium, so...”
Tobin laughed at that. “I better get back down there and save the little godlings from Fray,” he said, then slipped back into the water.
“Godlings,” Sawyer said. “Oh my god, Ciar. Is that not the best word ever?”
He nodded. “I got so emotional down there,” he admitted quietly. “I wished you were with me, so bad.”
Sawyer sighed and cupped Ciaran’s cheek before pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “We’ll be okay,” he said. He tried to brighten up, smiling. “Tell me about them. They’ve grown so much!”
“Crazy fast,” Ciaran said. “They’ll be morphing into humans soon, I bet. It usually takes a little while, but they’re already talking. That’s fast for our kind.”
“Salem’s genes, so...”
Ciaran nodded. “I bet áine and Ukko can morph into cats. Ukko definitely. He’s a Mimic, for sure.”
“He sneezed himself into a sea urchin, Ciaran,” Sawyer said, eyes welling with tears. “A sea urchin!”
Ciaran let out a teary laugh. “So freaking cute. And everyone’s just... happy. Everyone, the whole consortium, is just... happy.”
Sawyer looked up at him, his ice-blue eyes soft and warm. “You mean family. Your whole family is happy.”
Ciaran nodded, blinking back more tears. “Family.”