Page 48 of Oceansong
“How long will it last?” Angie asked in awe. She struggled to wrap her mind around what he just said, and narrowed her eyes at him. “How do you give it to me? And how are we going to avoid other mer?”
“Okay, one question at a time. It will only be trouble if we encounter a sentinel, or palace workers. I will take you to where it is most desolate, so the chances are lessened. And the gift lasts for a full tidesday. As for your other question.” He paused, resting his hands on his tail. “I would press my lips to yours and give you breath.”
“We have to kiss?”
“Only briefly. Mere seconds.” His forehead wrinkled. “Or I could justlet you stress me out until I release it inadvertently, but I’d rather not go that route.”
“Uh, I can dive. It’s-it’s not a big deal.” Her heart leaped around her chest, and she thought if she suppressed the warm and fuzzy feelings long enough, they would quench.
Kissing him, even for a second, would pull those feelings to the surface.
“All that gear would slow you down, and the mer are on high alert for divers. Are you interested in my offer?” Kaden leaned in, his tailfin tensing and curling upward. “No hard feelings if you are not. We can come back when you are ready. Or if you prefer to dive.”
Angie racked her mind. She did want to see Mama, more than anything. If what Kaden said was true, and she could be in the sea unburdened…
“Okay, fine. Give me a minute to get my drysuit, at least. I don’t want my clothes to get wet. And my flippers to help me swim.”
“You won’t need flippers. You’ll see what I mean,” Kaden assured her.
Angie stepped into her crushed neoprene drysuit and zipped it up with hurried hands. She pulled out the last lock of hair stuck inside the collar.
“Ready.” She sat cross legged in front of him.
He put a hand on her face. She closed her eyes and parted her lips.
Kaden pushed his mouth to hers, exhaled deep, and pulled back. Quick and passionless, a simple transaction. Angie clutched at herself, rubbing her elbows, her heart feeling like it shrank into a small ball.
She forced herself to ignore the sensation. No, she hadn’t wanted him to really kiss her.
Had she?
Then a calming warmth bloomed in her, flowing through her blood and lungs. “What is this feeling? The magic? I feel hot. How does–how does all this work? What is it doing to me?”
“That’s normal. The magic will affect your lungs so they essentially act as gills, and shield your eyes from the salt. Just breathe normally when you’re undersea. Your blood will be warmed, and it will soon travel to your vocal cords and ears–”
As if by cue, her throat and ears heated, and her hand flew to her neck.
“So you can speak and hear unhindered.”
“Okay, got it.” She wanted to ask more about the magic, but she didn’t want to waste time on land. Mama was waiting for her, somewhere down there.
“Let’s go.” He took her hand and used his tail to push himself off the ground. She followed suit and attempted to mimic his form, his back and tail arched into a perfect semicircle. They landed into the water, slicing throughthe waves like two knives. Angie caused a light splash where Kaden didn’t make a noise as they broke the barrier between air and sea.
Damn it, she should have put on a hood or her flippers and gloves. Why did she listen to Kaden about not putting on flippers?
She hovered near the surface, and tried taking a breath through her nose. It felt like breathing on land, and not even bubbles escaped her lips when she exhaled.
Okay, so the magic worked, and she shook her head slowly and in disbelief.
Her drysuit did its job of keeping her body warm, but most shocking, she didn’t feel the glacial water’s sting on her exposed skin. Nor did it feel warm. The temperature was neutral, comfortable. Her hair fanned out around her head, flowing with the sea’s constant sway.
Kaden leaned into her. “Next time, make sure you tie your hair back. We’re going deep.”
“I can hear you perfectly.” She gasped, and then surprised herself when her own voice came out clear as if she were projecting it through thin air. It wasn’t muffled, and she could articulate clearly, and her body vibrated with her words. “Is this because of that magic?”
They moved toward the ocean’s twilight zone, and Angie stopped several feet down, preparing to equalize; however, there was no pressure in her ears or sinuses, so she kept swimming with Kaden. Her arms circled before her in a broad breaststroke, and she flutter-kicked behind her, breaking through the water’s resistance. Even without flippers, she felt more streamlined and smooth when swimming.
Kaden paused before the sun stopped illuminating the world beneath. Finally answering her, he confirmed her suspicion. He winced, his hands flying to his chest.
