Page 24 of Little Saint Nautilus

“And if it confirms my shell is well and truly lost? What then?”

“I don’t know, little one, but whatever happens, you’re not alone. We’ll figure it out together.”

His small hand rested on my cheek. “Thank you. You are very kind, Cory.”

He turned and walked toward the water, removing his shirt along the way. At the edge of the water, he looked around before stepping out of his pants. Naked, he walked into the sea. I ran forward, splashing into the shallow water, and watched as he sank down into the water and several tendrils slapped against the surface. They were thin, snake-like, and there were more than I could count as he disappeared below the water. I would have been more intrigued if it weren’t for my heart lodged in my throat.

Again, I was left waiting, feeling helpless, but this time Nemo returned much quicker. Much paler. His brown hair appeared above the water. He gave a subtle shake of his head before flopping down, his head resting on his folded arms in the foot-high water, with his face below the surface.

I hurried to him, scooping him up. He was still in his hybrid form, his cirri formed below his waist and flowed from him like ribbons of flesh from the lower half of his body. It was a wonder to see him like this. I’d only gotten a tease with a couple of cirri in bed earlier, but seeing all of them was entirely different, each one flicking and movingon their own. Otherworldly, perhaps, but completely remarkable.

Strangely, they all seemed to react to my touch as they draped over my arm. Some danced over my skin, as if tasting me. A couple found their way beneath the bottom of my hoodie, wrapping around my waist. That mucus-type fluid they produced earlier when they’d locked onto my nipples released from the tips of some now, and I felt them grip my back and my belly. Being touched in so many places at once might have been alarming if I hadn’t been so concerned about Nemo. I didn’t mind it, though. It almost felt as if they were all seeking any comfort I could provide.

Nemo rested his cheek against my chest. I didn’t want to rush him, not while he was clearly trying to process the difficult news he’d had confirmed, but it was still daylight, and right now his cirri were on full display, beautiful and mysterious as they were. Anyone could come down those stairs or peer over the railing at the lookout point at any time. The last thing we needed was someone reporting the sighting or getting photos or videos. Nemo would never know peace again if he ended up on the internet.

I kissed the top of his head. “I’m sorry, little one, but I think you need to change back. There’s no guarantee how long we’ll be alone here.”

“Yes. You’re right.” His voice sounded so much heavier than the light airiness it usually carried.From what I could see, his lower half was all cirri, no legs, so I couldn’t exactly stand him up. I lowered him to the sand and turned around to block him from view as much as possible, despite my curiosity to see his body transform.

It didn’t take long before he walked to my side, on two legs. I hugged him quickly before getting his clothes. Once he was dressed, he returned to my side, as if needing to stay as close to me as he could, much like his cirri, wrapping around my arm and waist.

“Why don’t we go back to my place and then we can figure out what to do next?”

He dipped his head, and I began moving toward the staircase. I hated to do it, but I had to let go of him in order to hold the railing for stabilization. Nemo moved like a zombie in front of me. Our ascension was much slower than when we came down the stairs.

When we reached the top, I pulled Nemo to me again. His arms hung at his side as he let me envelop him. “You can stay with me as long as you like.”

I had kind of assumed—or hoped—he would return with me anyway, but I needed him to know he wasn’t alone. He had somewhere to go, even if it wasn’t what he needed.

He let out a heavy breath and answered softly. “Thank you.”

Ilet Cory guide me down the path, unsure if I would make it on my own. Silence hung heavy between us, and I could sense Cory hurting as I did. I’d been able to sense it through the connection when my cirri wrapped around him after he pulled me from the ocean.

When we reached the bottom of the path, Cory hesitated instead of leading me directly to his truck. I didn’t really care, not when I felt like my world was crumbling beneath me. He offered for me to stay with him, and though my response had been brief, the offer was huge. Even now, he was protecting and providing for me in the best way he could. There wasn’t anything he could do about my shell, just as I couldn’t. Maybe Ididcare that we weren't on our way back to his home; it was at least oneplace that felt safe.

Cory sucked his teeth. “This is really bad timing and I’m sorry to bring it up, but do you think we should pick out a few more outfits for you to wear?”

I inhaled and ran my hands over my white pants and cast a glance back to the cove. There was no telling how long I would be stuck, maybe forever. Though, I’d been hoping to be with my mate forever, just not like this. Still, I probably would need some more clothes. “I suppose that would be wise.”

Cory kissed my cheek and led me down the boardwalk to his shop. We had to stay to one side as people on various wheeled devices zipped past us. It was far more crowded than it had been earlier in the morning. Cory leaned down and whispered the name of each new thing we came across. Surreys, bicycles, skateboards, tandem bikes. Everyone was in a hurry to get places. The human world was very fast. In my current state, I felt slower than ever. I suppose it made sense that they would find ways to move faster, as two legs were rather tedious. The earth did nothing to move people along, unlike the sea, where you could catch a current and it could take you hundreds of miles with no effort at all.

I clung to Cory tightly when a bicyclist zipped by us. “Is it always so busy?”

“A lot of times, yes. It’s one of those places where people like to go to get away from the city and enjoy the fresh air and the view. Right now, many folks are on a break from work and school because of the holidays. Like I said, youwere lucky it was early and cold when you walked across the beach earlier.”

“I had to.” The words came out so softly, I wasn’t even sure if I’d said them.

Cory looked down at me. “Why?”

I met his gaze and offered the best smile I could, which, admittedly, wasn’t a strong one at the moment. But Cory… he was the bright spot in all of this. “You.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“I felt you. When your foot was in the water, I knew it was you. I could feel you like I would be able to feel my shell, but I had to be sure.”

Cory’s eyes gleamed. “So itwasyou, your cirri, that I felt when I put my hand in the water.”

My tight smile grew a little wider and my unfocused eyes became a little clearer. I found my mate. I had to remind myself.I had found my mate. “Yes. It was me.”

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