Page 45 of A Deeper Blue
“Shoot,” said Azure.
“Well, Grandpa invited some selkies he knows in California.”
Rafe groaned.
“Oh, hush,” said Moira. “Anyway, he also invited some mermaids. Only we’re not sure if we should seat them together or not. Grandpa didn’t think the mermaids would come, so we didn’t worry about it before. But he just got word that they left the Columbia this morning, so they should be here soon. Do we tell the selkies? Do we seat them together?”
“Oh, yikes,” said Scarlet. “That’s all you, Azure.”
“What clan are the mermaids from?” asked Azure, trying to remember the current state of mermaid politics.
“Um, British Columbia?” offered Moira, sounding not entirely sure.
“OK, put the mermaids as far from the fire as possible. And if you’ve got a kiddie pool or something, you should get it out and put it near their seats. Even if it’s hose water, it’s fine, but toss a little sea salt in it and make it clear that it’s just for them. They’ll shift for the summit, but it’s polite to give them something to take a break in. You can put the selkies closer to the fire, but if you can offer them some sort of fish snacks at regular intervals, that will keep them from tweaking.”
“Good luck with that,” said Rafe. “Selkies are the spazzes of the sea.”
“Don’t be speciesist,” said Azure.
“Am I wrong?” asked Rafe.
Azure’s nose wrinkled as she tried to form a sentence that didn’t agree with him but also didn’t lie.
“Right,” said Rafe smugly when she took too long. Scarlet chuckled.
“Thanks,” said Moira, smiling. “Now, wish me luck. I have to go talk to the cat people. I don’t even know what I’m going to say. What do cats talk about?”
“The same thing as everyone else,” said Azure reassuringly. “And also grooming. A lot.”
“Great,” said Moira. “I will… ask about pedicures or something. I like pedicures.”
“I can’t believe Dad got all these people here,” said Rafe.
“We’re going to have to out ourselves, aren’t we?” asked Scarlet assessing the gathering.
“Yeah,” said Azure. “We are.”
“I don’t understand,” said Liam. “Is there a problem with saying you’re Fae?” He looked concerned.
“Some people want us dead,” said Scarlet.
“Some people want to use us for our magic,” added Azure.
“And some people blame the Fae leaving for screwing everything up in the first place,” said Rafe.
“That’s not...” Liam looked confused. “That’s not accurate.”
“No, it’s not,” said Azure, “but it doesn’t stop people from thinking it. What we’re saying is that not everyone is going to like us.”
“I didn’t think it would be this big,” said Rafe, echoing her thoughts of a few moments earlier. “Being here is putting you in danger.” He made a rumbly noise deep in his chest that no human could match, but Liam did. The two men shared a single look, and then they looked away, the conversation apparently complete.
“Yes,” said Scarlet, looking uncertainly from Rafe to Liam, “but being here is important.”
“Being here is destiny,” said Azure, watching as a silver basin was brought out. It was set on a pedestal, and the Hydro Flask was set ceremoniously next to it.
She felt a deep flutter of nerves in the pit of her stomach. She could feel the echo of the future in every movement being made. It was as if the second sight was giving her reverb, and with every step, she was getting closer to her destiny. The Lady in the Lake had been right—fate worked the best when the participants made choices of their own free will. But she was supposed to be able to tell when it was her choices that were being tested. Once again, the second sight was fucking with her. She glanced at Rafe, and although he was looking at someone else in the crowd, he reached out and took her hand. He finally turned back to her and raised an eyebrow of inquiry.
“I feel manipulated by my own gift,” she said, her voice breathless and barely above a whisper.
