Grayson heaved a sigh and typed out,“I’m only here because Jenna didn’t want to go alone. You’re not upset, right?”
He sent it and waited. The minutes ticked by, and still, Keld did not respond. Anxiety crept into Grayson’s stomach, curling its sharp tendrils into his bloodstream.
Did I do something wrong?
Another five minutes had passed without a message notification. Grayson jammed his phone back into his pocket and reentered the studio.
The polar Mer was still there, her gleaming hands covering Jenna’s as they formed something that could pass as a cylinder.
“How’s it going?” he asked, settling back on his stool. His own lump of clay was a sorry sight.
“So far, so good! I might end up making a very wide shot glass but hey, close enough.” Jenna grinned over at him and mouthed,“Score.”
The Alpha offered him a fleeting smile. “I’m Eiru.”
“Grayson.” Fear and worry tumbled through his mind as he fought to sound normal.
“Do you… also need some help?” she asked, eyeing his shapeless blob.
“You know, I think pottery isn’t really my thing,” he said. “She dragged me here.” He waved an accusatory hand at Jenna, who blew him a kiss.
“Are you sure?” Eiru jerked her chin at her seat across the room. “My brother’s a pro.”
Sure enough, partially hidden behind a table laden with pottery tools, there was a male Alpha with the same startling blue scales and white hair, shaping a tall vase.
Grayson stared at the Mer for a beat, then shook his head. “I appreciate it, but I’m just a wingman tonight.”
“Don’t you mean a fin-man?” Jenna joked.
“Jesus Christ.”
Chapter 24
Keld
“Jiei?Jiei!” Bags of groceries spilled from Keld’s arms. His mother was motionless, lying at the center of the grimy room, a filthy rag tied tightly around her neck. Keld fumbled with the knot, hating the sensation oftavrasap working its way under his claws. At last, he pried it loose and flung the rag into the pool he’d emerged from seconds before.
His mother stirred. Her scales were pale and cracked with dehydration, and her fins were brittle to the touch. How long had she been like this?
Jieicoughed. “What’re you doing?”
“I thought you were fucking dead,” Keld spat. He hauled her frail body into his arms and lowered her into the pool.
She grunted in discomfort as salt water filled the splits in her skin and scales, but didn’t resist.
“I wasn’t dead,biyuag, I was just sleeping.”
Keld gave a humorless laugh. “Right. Asleep on the floor until half your scales fell off and a goddamntavrarag around your gills.”
Jieisneered up at him. “I was fine. Matter of fact, you interrupted a great dream I’d like to get back to. Give it here.” She held out a bony hand.
Keld jerked his chin at the water. “Get it yourself.”
Jiei’s eyes blazed with fury at the sight of the rag floating at the far end of the pool. “That was my last fucking dose, you worthless piece of shit!”
“Good,” Keld snarled. He snatched up the grocery bags and stormed into the kitchen. His mother continued to howl and rage, but he ignored her
Resentment seethed through his veins. It was a cosmic joke that he was the only person who seemed to care whether his mother lived or died. He shoved food into the nearest empty cabinet and fled the neglected room.
