Page 33 of Oceansong
Angie’s throat tightened and she wove her fingers together. “How did you know where I was?”
“I heard three royal sentinels say humans were approaching on a small boat.” Kaden shifted his weight.
“But how? We were so far from the usual places.” Angie’s voice dropped to a frightened whisper. “That area was specifically picked because humans and mer hadn’t encountered each other. And the boats were quiet.”
“We hear vibrations rippling when watercraft approach, even if they sound quiet to humans. There were more patrols sent out and in a wider swath, to watch for divers and boaters. I followed them, not believing humans would come this distance. They never do.” He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple rising and falling. “I sensed something was wrong, and then I saw you on the boat.”
“Thank you.” Angie faced him, and he gave her a nod of acknowledgment. “Where are we?”
“About one seamile from where we found you.” His eyes shifted away from her for a beat. “Angie, you asked me earlier, why I saved you again. I know you were not responsible for killing any of my people. I would like to work with you, convince our leaders for a ceasefire.”
Angie thought about Elise and Abigail, and her lower lip quivered. Earlier today, she was on a boat with them, about to bring fish home. She also thought of Luke. He was going to be a marine biologist because of her.
Now, the fish were gone. Elise and Abigail and Luke were also gone. His devastated parents would be the most difficult to persuade, but if Kaden hadn’t come on time, she would have died, just like them. She set her jaw and clenched her fists tighter, her fingertips digging hard between the bones in her hand.
“Okay. I can get on board with that.” Her voice surged with renewed fervor. “But I need to get home, somehow. I should have been back; I don’t know how long ago. And I need to figure out how to explain why I’m still alive, and the others aren’t. I’ll think of something,” she added, mostly to herself, a chill running through her bones. “I have to talk to my dad. Feed Lulu.”
“Who’s Lulu?” Kaden perked up.
Angie took a string of deep breaths to re-orient herself before answering him. “My cat.”
“What’s your cat like? I am unfamiliar with them. Except hearing aboutthem from the mer that encountered them. Described them as little terrors with cute faces, sharp claws and sharper teeth who strike fear into the hearts of my people.”
Angie brightened when she pictured Lulu’s sweet, mischievous face. “They’re curious, they want to see what glowy and shiny things are, like mer tails. Lulu’s loved shiny things since she was a kitten. Used to steal my jewelry and hoard them next to her bed. I think she was a barracuda in a past life. Or a literal cat burglar.”
“Intriguing. I’d like to see this mysterious creature myself,” Kaden mused aloud.
“I adopted her as a kitten. Her previous guardian hoarded cats, so she was neglected. For the first few months, she’d only come out to use the litter box,” Angie continued.
“The poor creature.” Kaden thinned his lips. “She must have trusted you eventually?”
“Yeah, after a lot of patience. I had to wait and feed her under the bed every day. Now she’s my spoiled girl.”
Another cough wedged out of her throat, and she lost her balance, throwing one arm out to keep from falling to her side.
He caught her, long fingers curled around her upper arm, and pushed her back into an upright position. Jolts of electricity fired through her nerves, originating from where his fingertips met her skin.
Angie put a hand on him to steady herself. His skin was warm to the touch, the high body heat likely an adaptation to living in arctic waters. He felt firm and lean. The sunlight winked off his broad shoulders, strong chest, and back. His stomach was flat, and his waist seamlessly transitioned into the transparent fins hugging the start of his tail.
He was a beautiful, ethereal merman, and it was hard to take her eyes off him.
Kaden seemed to have noticed the twitch in her bicep causing her to pull her hand back. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She glanced away, cupping her hand on the back of her neck and snapping out of whatever trance she was in. “Clumsy me. Can’t even keep myself upright with a stupid cough.”
Kaden lifted a single thick eyebrow and cocked his head, blinking.
Collecting herself, Angie looked around her once more.
After a stretch of silence, Kaden spoke again. “If you are feeling better, I will take you back to the main island.” He reached out as if to touch her arm, but stopped before it made contact.
“Thanks. So much for not seeing each other again, huh?” She forced asmall smile.
“I wasn’t planning on it until this happened. But, come. You can jump on my back. I’ll make sure you stay afloat.” He slid into the water, face-first, and she followed, trembling when the water rose to her mid-shin. She straddled his lower back, keeping her knees tight against his narrow waist, sitting upright and keeping her hands between his shoulder blades like a kickstand.
Angie didn’t want to get closer to him than she already had, and especially not as intimate as pressing her chest to his back.
Creston Harbor came into view within fifteen minutes, and Kaden picked up his speed, staying level beneath the surface, his back and side muscles contracting into her legs. His body heat kept her warm for most of the trip. Angie focused on the landmass ahead.
