Page 22 of Hot Summer's Prey

I lean into each of them as much as I can, my own internal strife over how this night has gone mostly dissipated. Now I’m just sleepy.

“Thanks guys. I’m so cozy—can we fall asleep like this?”

“Girl, I’m pushing forty, hell no am I falling asleep on low-pile carpet,” Anelisa cackles.

“Ew, thanks for the reminder,” Dawn grumbles. “Can’t you let me forget I’m forty-five just once?”

“Our ancient bones just can’t take it,” Zephyr sighs.

Dawn reaches for a pillow and wallops Zephyr with it. “Don’t make me put baby in a corner.”

Zephyr’s face sours. “Don’t call me baby!”

“You are a baby! I was a sophomore when you were born!”

“Alright, grandma, settle down. You’re telling one of your crazy stories again,” Zephyr says, patting Dawn in the most patronizing way.

I get up, feeling Anelisa at my side.

“Oh no, you didn’t!” her voice dropping in horror.

She grabs at another pillow and the two of them beat Zephyr with the pillows until the baby of our friend group is choking with laughter, begging for mercy. As soon as my giggling dies down, I’m suddenly overcome with utter exhaustion.

“I’ll see you guys in the morning. Thank you again,” I murmur, dragging myself to my feet.

“Bed seems like such a good idea!” Zephyr says, popping up to their feet, even though they don’t look the least bit tired.

“Run while you can,” Dawn threatens. “After I get my beauty sleep, I’ll seek my revenge.”

“You’re so funny, old lady,” Zephyr teases, darting straight for their room as soon as the words are out.

“It’s wrong to suffocate your best friend in their sleep, isn’t it?” Dawn sighs.

“Yeah, but it would be fun,” Anelisa laughs.

9

FRIENDLY WATERS

PACARI

As soon as I have returned Teresa to her abode, I run down the cliffside and dive into the waters. Slugger follows behind, barking happily until he too dives into the water.

Then I realize he has not transformed back—instead yapping in anxiety. His paws do not swim as well as his nudibranch body.

Panic shoots through me and I turn around, snatching him up into my arms and rising from the waters.

“I need some space. To… think. I’m so sorry. If I leave you with the tide dwellers, perhaps you can make some friends?”

The water-logged pup stares back at me, wide eyed and whiny. He wrestles to escape my arms and as soon as we are on solid land, I let him free. He shakes off, sending water flying in all directions. I wince as the water hits my skin. My body is a mess, transitioning from gilled form to human and back in such short increments—on top of the desires fueling my blood, demanding its due.

“I will come right back for you,” I promise. “Just as long as you do not leave the tide pools.”

Curse the witch’s magic. Curse my own stymied needs. Curse our deal and my dependence on her patronage to keep the life forms I adore so dearly alive.

Slugger sits his little body down and looks fairly annoyed at me. I suppose I can understand—ever since his home was destroyed in that quake, we have been together. He has yet to be alone. And now he is here, in this foreign world, in this strange body, and I’m asking him to be alone just because I’m having all sorts of unusual feelings. I bury my face in my hands.

“It’s wrong of me to ask. I’m sorry,” I groan. “I am terrible.”

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