12. Bay
Bay
It’s been two days since Alin went back to her mother, and I have no idea when she’ll return.
The hunting days in the ocean are over, and slowly but surely, the Guardian’s control over my mind is slipping away.
But just to be safe—just to be sure—I’ve been sleeping with Cora.
My voice can still affect her, and though she’s sensitive to it, stronger women, with enough focus and determination, can fight back against my influence far better than men.
Especially strong-willed women like Cora.
I chuckle quietly to myself, though it’s hollow—half-hearted, forced amusement masking the growing unease in my chest.
“How are you today?” Cora asks with a yawn, pulling me out of my thoughts as I stare at the cityscape through the glass wall in the room. It seems she’s finally woken up. She and Alin have the same sleep habits—if no one wakes them up, they could disappear for days.
“I don’t feel him in my head anymore. It seems the hunting days are ending now, and theCoral of Life has had its fill,” I answer honestly, feeling a strange new sensation blooming in my chest, a feeling that, for the first time in my life, I have a place that protects me, a place I can call home.
I lost my parents... or rather, they lost me when I cut ties with them completely. But in exchange, I gained a broader, much warmer family. And even though I’m still getting used to humans, I would choose them any day over the life my parents gave me in the ocean.
“That’s good. It’ll give us some time until Alin gets back. Do you have the earbuds in your pocket?” she asks, rubbing her eyes as another yawn overtakes her. I nod and chuckle to myself again—just like Alin. Especially now, with her pregnancy.
I slip my hand into the pocket of my shorts, feeling the earbuds Pedro left with me. Thanks to him, we found something that eased the torment the Guardian’s grip caused me.
He made it clear that I’m only family, and he doesn’t want to take unnecessary risks with me. So why does he still cling to me whenever he can? Does he purposely want to hurt me more?
I thought he was different from his brothers, but it seems they are all predators here.
The layout of this room is identical to Pedro’s, and as I glance back at Cora, now sitting up in bed, it takes me a few seconds to remember that this is her and Mariano’s room.
She sent him to sleep in the guest room at Luca’s apartment, while I’m here.
She said they have some business to handle anyway, so by the time he gets back, she’s already asleep.
But I think she only told me that so I wouldn’t feel bad about keeping them apart like this.
“I’m fine, really,” I send her a warm smile as her concerned gaze examines me, her eyebrows raised in worry, as if I’m a small whirlpool that could turn into a tsunami at any moment.
Maybe I really am like that?
I shake off the negative thoughts flooding my mind and hop over to her bed with a smile, jumping beside her.
“So, what are we doing today?” I ask with a mischievous grin, lifting my leg in the air and stretching it to my head like a small human child discovering their legs for the first time.
I did only discover them about a month ago, so I’m allowed to enjoy them.
I’m still thrilled by the fact that I can jump, run, dance—and Cora even says she doesn’t understand how I’ve only had legs for a short period and yet I’m so flexible, as if I’ve been practicing for years.
“You know we can’t leave the apartment until Alin gets back.
What do you say we go down to the playroom now that his influence over you is weaker?
We can watch a movie,” she suggests, and I immediately jump up in excitement.
Finally, I’m leaving this room after two days of being stuck here together.
I love Cora, but when she grabs my chest in her sleep like a merling searching for its mother’s breast, I start to wonder if she has other tendencies.
“Well? Am I going to wait much longer?” I urge her as she takes her time getting up from the bed, stretching lazily as if she only slept for twenty minutes instead of a full ten hours.
“Miss Bay, I know you’re excited about having legs for the first time and bouncing around on them, but mine are worn out after years of walking.
You’re not going to rush me,” she says, pointing at me with a mock threat, scrunching her nose just like Alin does when she teases me. It’s clear they’re very close.
Alin has everything—everything I ever dreamed of having. And now she has another family on land, and soon, a little merling too. She’ll help me find my freedom as well, I’m sure of it. I can’t let myself doubt her or slip back into self-pity. I’m not alone anymore!
“All set! I’m ready!” Cora shouts from the bathroom as she spits toothpaste back into the sink, flashing me a bright smile with her sparkling teeth and announcing, “Clean.”
“And now we’re off to dirty them again. Is Maria making us breakfast or lunch?” I tease her as I notice the time on my phone just switched to noon.
“I see now that the stupid dragon isn’t stuck in your head, your sense of humor is back,” she fires back, throwing her face towel at me in a clear declaration of war, her eyebrows furrowed in clear annoyance. I laugh, waiting for her to unlock the door.
“Are you torturing me on purpose? Hurry up already; I regret letting you keep the key,” I shoot back at her.
She rolls her eyes at me and finally heads to the door, unlocking the heavy-duty lock Mariano installed.
They’ve gone all out with the security in this room, but I can’t blame them.
When I’m under the Guardian’s influence, I’m a risk to all the humans here.
The click of the lock opening makes my heart race with excitement. I’ve only been here for two days, but I was about ready to climb the walls.
My foot steps outside the door before it’s even halfway open, and I skip down the wide staircase to the second floor, wondering if Maria is already in the kitchen preparing food for us.
When the smell of warm pancakes hits my nose, I don’t even look back to see where Cora is—I run straight to the kitchen.
Pancakes have definitely become my favorite food on land.
They have such delicious food here that I don’t think I could ever go back to eating with this kind of enthusiasm in my city.
As if reading my thoughts, Maria immediately hands me a plate with the four perfectly stacked, syrup dripping pancakes a small pat of butter perched on top of this tempting tower. Yes, it gets me every single time.
I quickly sit down as Cora joins us, and Maria hands her a hot cup of coffee, along with a small plate of cookies instead of pancakes.
“You don’t eat pancakes? That’s a crime against humanity,” I declare as I shove an oversized bite into my mouth with the fork. “Th’res’ good,” I blurt with my mouth full, causing Cora to nearly spit out her sip of coffee as she struggles to suppress a laugh.
“Yes, they’re definitely delicious, but they’re a guaranteed recipe for heartburn for me, so I prefer to play it safe,” she replies, and I’m secretly glad that means more pancakes for me.
“So this is where you two are... Once again, Bay follows the pancakes, and Cora is munching,” Alin’s familiar laugh fills the kitchen, and I turn excitedly to see her walk in with Pedro.
“It’s about time you came back,” I say, grinning from ear to ear. “And I see you went to see your husband first if you’re walking in with Pedro. Two horny love whales. You were only apart for two days, two days!”
She rolls her eyes at me, ignoring my teasing. “Will you behave better if I tell you what my mother said?” she asks with a mischievous smile, raising an eyebrow playfully as she waits for my response.
I flutter my eyelashes in exaggerated innocence. “I’m always on my best behavior,” I say, getting off my chair and walking toward her. “When you bring me what I need,” I quickly add, dodging the playful kick she sends my way with a laugh.
“Cora, are you okay?” Alin turns to her, asking with concern when she hasn’t said a word.
“I’m perfectly fine, just waiting for you two to finish your games and get to talking.
You left me stuck with Bay for two whole days instead of sleeping with my husband, and now you’re dragging out the news?
” she grins wickedly, as if she and I had planned to get under Alin’s skin today.
A snort escapes me as Alin lets out a heavy sigh, and even Pedro struggles to maintain a stern expression.
“You two are going to get yours!” she warns, and I nudge her forward toward the kitchen counter, pulling out a chair for her to sit in so she can start talking. I quickly take my seat as well, with Pedro settling in close beside me. The three of us now stare expectantly at Alin.
She takes a deep breath. “So, I have good news and not-so-good news. Which do you want to hear first?” She glares at me, as if getting back at me for all my teasing, killing me slowly with the suspense.
“The good news,” Pedro answers before I can even open my mouth.
“The good news is that there is a way to break the Sacred Bride’s connection,” she starts and then pauses. I’m afraid to get too excited because, judging by the heavy sigh she releases, she’s about to tell me something I really won’t like.
“The not-so-good news,” she continues, her gaze fixed on me, and I brace myself for the blow, “is that you need the Guardian to reject you.”
I knew it was too good to be true. He’ll never let me go. I rest my elbows on the counter and bury my face in my hands as Pedro gently rubs my back. I can feel everyone’s pitying eyes on me now.
“Before you give up, it took me a while because my mother and I were trying to figure out a way to do this, and we found one,” Alin says, and I immediately lift my head to look at her with anticipation, my heart pounding in my chest. There’s a way—she hasn’t let me down.