Page 139 of Midnightsong
“I’m glad my tail isn’t either of those colors, either.” He dropped a hand to the lateral side of her shin and brought his lips to hers.
“You look like you’re back to normal,” she murmured after pulling back.
“I feel much better. Making love to you is magical, in every sense of the way.” He pushed himself up on one arm, his eyes widening. “Wait. When I asked the healers about my condition, they told me I either had to not use my magic for a prolonged period, or bond and we’d exchange our magic.”
Angie let out a soft gasp. “Looks like it counts for bonding with a human, too.”
“Looks like it,” he echoed. “Let me try something.”
Angie chuckled and watched him as he sat upright. With a twist of his wrist, he created a starfish shape with mini water funnels. “Oh. This has no effect on me.” He brightened and moved his hand beneath Angie’s breasts and created a water funnel heart.
“That’s amazing!” she said with a happy laugh. “You’re healed.”
“I am. Oh, I haven’t felt this good in tidesmonths.” He eyed her. “For so many reasons.”
Another thought came to Angie as he laid back onto his side, and she snuggled into the crook of his neck. “Wait, this happened after we slept together, right?”
“Yes.”
“So how do two mermaids seal their bond?” She lifted her gaze to meet his, where he wore a bemused grin.
“I’ve missed your asking questions about everything and anything undersea and mer-related.” He tapped the tip of her nose.
“You’ve answered most of them in the last two years, but I keep learning new things.”
“They wrap their tails around each other in a specific way–”
“Oh! Like seahorses?”
“I’ve also missed your animal references, but you could say that, yes.” He laughed again. “But come for a swim with me, and then we can get something to eat? Here or on the surface. Your choice.” He wiggled his thick eyebrows at her.
Angie slid out of the hammock, reaching for and slipping on her dress, which Kaden must have hung beside his door at some point during the night.
When they emerged, members of the royal court were milling in the halls and stopped to bow to them. “Prince Kaden. Princess Angie. Smooth tides to you,” the three of them said in unison.
“Princess? I’m not—” Angie started, holding her hands up. The three mer paid no more attention to her and darted away to what she assumed was their daily duties. She stared at them, dumbfounded.
“Though you’re not a mermaid, you’re still a princess,” Kaden said. She faced him and the knowing grin on his handsome face. “My princess.” A kiss on her lips. “As I am your prince forevermore.”
Sixty
TEN YEARS LATER
Angie
A telltaledingcame through onAngie’s laptop, left open in front of her, jolting her awake from her short nap.
Fuzzy sunlight filtered through the small windows on her boat, and she opened her email.
Angie,
Wonderful job as usual on your last presentation! We have more vendor contracts willing to carry our product, and now it will be in all seven seas. Will you be available again in three months, around mid-October, to present to corporate? It will be at our branch in Vancouver. We have an upgraded ocean cleanup machine that has been improved to only target inorganic material. We’d love you to come two weeks early to trial it and let us know your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Bethany Jackson
C.E.O. of Bio-NautiKlean
