Page 52 of Chasing Tail
“I only have my recipes because Umiko insisted the food they ate in the sea was superior. She hated eating alone and thought it was wasteful to make two separate meals. She mostly just had something to prove. She didn’t decide she was in love with me until much later. I like women and relationships, but there are certain things I don’t enjoy giving. I was fond of her, but I couldn’t give her what she needed, so I broke things off.”
Taron and I were both gaping at Salem. It wasn’t a concept in the ocean, but I understood he enjoyed intimacy, but not mating. Now that I’d slept in Taron and Beck’s arms, it was a beautiful thing. Taron and I did that last night after talking for hours. In some ways, it was better than mating. Still, no sane person tried to get the interest of a sea witch unless they were in it for the long haul.
“And she didn’t drown you or curse you? That doesn’t sound like a sea witch.”
“Sea witches have a poor reputation. All magic has a price, even in the ocean. On land, sometimes, we know it, and sometimes we don’t. Every supernatural creature has unique powers, and they will tell you they are superior, but everyone has a downside. Sea witches have the ability to know what the price of their magic is. They are upfront and honest about it, but people think they are just cruel. Taron wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for a sea witch. I’m certain she explained to both of you what would happen if you came to land, and you came anyway.”
“She told me,” Taron said. “When you were swimming.”
“So help me, Taron, if the price were more than just not being able to go home, you’d better tell me right now.”
“That’s still an enormous price, Kishi,” Salem said. “Sharks aren’t given any type of education about land like mermaids are. He doesn’t even eat the same things you do in the ocean. Taron has probably never even swum in the shallows to see land from the top of the water. He had no idea what he was walking into, just that you were going to be there, and he wouldn’t be allowed back home. You’re a mermaid, but half of you is like us here on land. It was never like that for Taron until he accessed the magic and changed.”
I flung myself at Taron, and his entire chair tipped over. I thought I knew what he was doing coming here with me, but I really had no idea. He hadn’t made a single complaint this entire time. He took everything in and learned from it. Yes, there was a stabbing incident and some growling, but that was totally understandable.
“You big, stupid shark. I love you did this for me, and I love you. We’re going to have that little merman baby with shark teeth and be happy here on land after we murder the druid king and his evil wife.”
“I love happy endings,” Adamo sighed.
“It’s not happy yet,” Tristan pointed out. “Even our best plans have hiccups, and things always get hairy when the monarchy is involved.”
“Yeah, but only when we have to get an entirely new ass on the throne,” Adamo said. “His entire family hates him.”
“Topaz hates them botha lot,” Salem said. “Enough to not follow instructions.”
“She won’t,” I said. “She wants them dead, but not enough to risk her family. She’s similar to a mermaid in that regard. Something might go wrong, but it won’t be Topaz.”
“Make sure it’s not the two of you either,” Tristan said.
I tossed my long, white hair over my shoulder.
“I might not have done it on land before, but Taron and I are both capable of keeping it together while we kill someone.”
“I’m sure,” Adamo said. “Just keep in mind there are all kinds of scenarios that could happen here that you would never experience in the ocean. So follow our lead and don’t do anything crazy. All three of us know the plan is good. We just have a weird feeling about it.”
Taron and I both had seen battle before. We knew how to follow orders. We wanted him dead, but if something went wrong, it would not be because of us.
