Page 4 of The Siren & the Sea

Fine.

They approached a balcony at the top of one of the palace spires and Anatolius swam straight into a small enclosed room. Maura couldn't stop herself from squirming again at being in such a small space. The door they had just entered through slid shut and Maura's panic increased.

"Shhh, it's alright. We'll be out of here in a moment." Anatolius' voice was, Maura thought begrudgingly, rather soothing.

She looked up to see a pocket of air slowly lowering toward them. Maura watched, confused and silent, as the water continued to drain out of the room, the weight of her oversized otter self settling into the cradle of Anatolious’s massive arms. With a light sneeze, Maura was breathing again.

She startled slightly as the wall behind them slid open to reveal a hallway glowing with soft, warm light. She couldn’t believe she allowed him to continue holding her, but for some reason, being close to him felt safe. She chastised herself for that thought, given the small fact he’d justkidnappedher. Then, they were moving again, and instead of the smooth motion of swimming through the water propelled by his tail, she noticed a rhythmic rocking. He was walking?

"Our palace is filled with air, and we use our two-legged forms here. A bit of a holdover from the days when our people actually had visitors from the surface, but it's tradition. That, and…no one could figure out how to undo the magic binding the air in place," Anatolius whispered conspiratorially. Everything he said sounded like a flirtation somehow; not in his words, but in his tone. He held a hint of lilting laughter in his voice that irked Maura. Was this a game for him?

He tensed as he wound them through empty corridors. "Your safety is not a game to me, Maura," Anatolius said softly. "Here we are; this will be your room during your stay in Vathós."

He pressed a hand to an ornately carved stone panel on the wall, and it slid up to reveal the most lovely, cozy space Maura had ever seen.

It was rendered from the same moon-white stone as the rest of the city, but soft, warm shades of coral and pink made the space feel homey. A large window out into the ocean took up most of the far wall, and a massive inset pool sat directly in front of the window, steam curling lazily off its surface. A large round bed occupied another wall; it was really more of a nest of coral-colored pillows and blankets. A small vanity and a wardrobe, both white, sat opposite the bed.

As she took in the space, Anatolius lowered her to the ground, and she stepped out of his arms. Her claws made soft clicks on the stone floor, which was surprisingly warm given how cold the sea was.

"What do you think?" Anatolius asked. Maura turned to look up at him, forgetting that she still couldn't speak aloud, and jolted in surprise as she took in the sight of him. He had human legs, alright, and he was absolutely naked.

His blue skin and hair had been somehow less startling in the water, but here, it was impossible not to notice he wasn't human. His long, deep blue hair hung wet around his shoulders, and Maura could see dozens of tiny braids scattered throughout. Lace-like fins adorned his forearms. His beard was a beautiful shade of teal, too, and Maura had the urge to touch it. He was…glorious. And very naked. And she was staring. Her eyes drifted below his hips, and she was shocked at the lack of…well, anything. And he could still hear her thoughts.

Anatolius smirked down at her. "Siren culture doesn't really bother much with clothes, feisty one. I am sorry I forgot to warn you, but I hope you can forgive me given the circumstances. Oh, and siren genitals are all internal until we need them," he said, obviously trying to suppress a smile.

They don't….wear clothes? Shit. Did that mean Maura would have to be naked this whole time, too? Maybe she should just stay in her otter form after all.

"No no, just because we don't bother doesn't mean you have to follow suit. I'll go to find something for you to wear to greet the kings. They'll want to see you as soon as possible to start the rites."

You want me to meet the kings?Suddenly, Maura felt truly in over her head. She was at the bottom of the sea, trapped in a palace with a bunch of deadly sirens who would kill her instantly if they could, and everyone was going to be naked, and…

"Take a deep breath, Maura. We are going to get through this together."

Hearing her name from his lips had her eyes snapping up to meet his. There was a hurricane of emotions as she looked at him: anger that he brought her here, gratitude that he apparently saved her life, frustration at her own curiosity about him. More than anything, though, she felt overwhelmed, and she was cornered, and she just…

Without thinking any more about it, she darted forward and sank her teeth into the smooth blue expanse of his leg and then took off into the hallway at a run.

Chapter 4

Did she just…bite him?Anatolius stared after the rather ridiculous image of Maura in her otter form scampering down the hall. By the old gods, this woman was going to be the death of him. He couldn't help the smile that overtook his face.

He sighed and started after her. She was quick enough in the water, but a bit awkward on land, and he caught up with her easily. She kept running, however, and rounded a corner blind. She squeaked in surprise as she ran straight into the shins of his understandably shocked sister.

"Oh! Hello there," Cornelia said, looking down at the otter that now stood frozen at her midnight-blue feet.

"Sister, I see you've met my Chosen." Anatolius closed the remaining distance and met his sister's confused gaze.

"Your…Chosen? Is an otter?" Cornelia hadn't yet sensed Maura's humanity, apparently. Maura made an offended-sounding chuff. Her thoughts were too much of a tangle to make out any specific words.

"She's a shifter, actually. One of the Tuanadair of Beitar. Maura, this is my sister, Cornelia. Cornelia, Maura. We were just headed to her room to get her ready to greet our parents." Anatolious gave Maura a pointed look.

"I see," Cornelia said slowly, glancing back and forth between the two of them. He could see her mind working, realizing that there was something going on here. He widened his eyes slightly in a way that had always meant 'I'll tell you later'.

"Maura, if you'll follow me," Anatolius said, gesturing back the way they came. She chuffed again and reluctantly moved in front of him.

"I'll see you in the throne room shortly, Sister."

Cornelia only nodded as they left her in the hallway.

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