Page 29 of Chasing Tail
Chapter 16
Taron had never been this mad at me before, and he had some serious opinions about some of the mermen I’d dated or some of the stunts I got up to just for fun. I’d always been a bit of a thrill-seeker, but I’d tried to be careful on land. Of course, I didn’t intend for the brothers to find out what I was when we met them, but I would have had to have given them something, and it worked out in the end.
“Was it worth it, Kishi? I couldn’t stand hearing you in pain like that, and now Beck knows the truth. I told you I liked your stink, and you insisted on getting in that smelly water, anyway.”
“The water smelled amazing, but we didn’t. It worked out for the best. I’m starting to dislike lying to them. As soon as I took that potion and acted like it cured me, they were going to ask what we are. I was going to have to come up with something. This nasty feeling in the pit of my gut has lessened now that Beck knows I’m a mermaid.”
“That’s because of the cheese they eat here. It passes once you have a bowel movement in those strange rooms they have for that on land.”
“Taron, quit being a fucking shark. You don’t like it when people lie to you either.”
“I liked watching you scream in pain less. And I know it’s uncomfortable losing the tail too.”
“Do you want to drop this, Taron? We can go back to the sea and hope they welcome us back. We can help sink any ships that come back. You wouldn’t have to deal with me being in pain again, but more mermaids and sharks could end up in those nets. Take me out of this bath and help me get rid of my tail or decide that we drop this and go back to the ocean. It’s up to you.”
“Damn it, Kishi. Don’t put this kind of pressure on me. Both scenarios are bad.”
“No, they aren’t. My pain and discomfort stop. You can leave the room if you don’t want to witness it, and I’ll be perfectly fine when you get back. A lot of creatures in the ocean won’t be fine if they get caught in those nets. I can deal with the temporary pain of changing. I can’t abide by more lives lost. Especially when all three brothers have repeatedly told us that the kind of magic their father is doing doesn’t even work. Lives are being lost on land too.”
“Fine. But I don’t enjoy watching you in pain.”
Taron stood and carried me out of the pool. He let out a little grunt and set me on the floor.
“I get you prefer your tail over those legs, but my back hurts much less carrying you when you have legs.”
“Sorry. I like being in your arms, though. So, you’re with me on this?”
Taron kissed my forehead.
“I’m always with you, Kishi. The three brothers aren’t bad. Although, I will admit that Beck’s reaction to your tail was worthy of a shark.”
It really was, and that was unexpected. Before I came to land, I assumed land dwellers would want to hurt or own us. Beck didn’t do that. Instead, he wanted us to go back to the sea.
I trusted Beck unconditionally now. I really hoped Forrest and Callum reacted the same way because I was coming to care for them.
