Austin didn’t particularly care to answer him, but he thought Connor might benefit from the information. “Ithappened in bursts. My gills appeared first at my throat, and then across my ribs. My tail came last. It wasn’t intentional the first time, but shifting between the two is easy now.”
“Really? It’s not easy for the other merfolk. Goldilocks is fine, but Adonis has to really concentrate to hold legs,” Laurence said. “And Bee and Dew almost never shift. The only times they’ll take on legs are when I convince them to go clubbing with me. Dew loves it because everyone calls him beautiful.” Laurence rolled his eyes, but an envious look crept over his expression as his eyes slid back to Austin. “Why are mermen all so good-looking?”
Austin ignored the last remark, though he quite agreed with it. “Tristan can’t take on legs at all in our world.”
“Adonis couldn’t do it for a few months either,” Connor said. “And for those clubbing nights with Bee and Dew, it’s only possible when I’m around.”
“Because you bring the depths of the ocean around with you,” Austin said.
Connor made a dismissive gesture. Laurence’s eyes burned with curiosity at Austin’s remark, but after a glance at Connor, he visibly swallowed his question.
“I need to talk to Connor alone,” Austin said.
“I’ll go for a swim.” Laurence stood.
“I wouldn’t if I were you. Tristan doesn’t like you,” Austin warned.
Laurence fixed a brilliant, challenging look on Austin before disappearing into the cabin. As the door shut, Austin couldn’t help but think that perhaps he didn’t hate Laurence after all.
“Your fever has burned through the cold you were spreading in the throne room,” Austin said. “I thought the air was about to spontaneously turn into water.”
“Would you have knelt, if that merman had ordered you to?”
As if. Austin would have brought Hal to his knees and torn out his throat for trying. “You lost, and it’s mine.”
Connor sighed. “I really was just there on Laurence’s behalf. He’s tried a few times to get back to that estate to apologise, but nobody would let him anywhere near it.” He sat up with a groan, moving stiffly, like his muscles and joints were sore. He was only a shade less pale than when Austin had dumped that octopus onto his lap.
“You should try diving down,” Austin said. “When I don’t feel good, that’s what I do, and it helps. Having the pressure pushing in on me. Tristan has to swim at least once a day. Hal, once every few weeks. I think I get two days out of the ocean before I start feeling sick.”
“I’ve done that already.” Connor tipped his head back. “It’ll pass in a few hours. I just have to ride it out.”
“Are the headaches from using your power?”
Connor didn’t answer.
“I get tired if I use my voice too much.”
“Who do you use it on?” Connor asked.
Austin tensed, but there was nothing accusatory in Connor’s tone. “The ocean.”
“Does it listen?”
“I make it.”
Connor huffed, as though Austin had said something funny. “Always so bossy.” There was an amused glint in his eye when he cast a sideways look at Austin. “I suppose having a city to order around suits you.”
“I have an empire in our world.”
“Yeah. And I’d say you get the same amount of enjoyment out of that as I do from what my dad left me.” Connor rose to his feet, muscles creaking. Pain flashed briefly in his eyes. BeforeAustin could comment on it, Connor offered a hand to help him stand. “Can I see you change?”
Austin accepted the offered hand. He felt odd inside, the conversation so calm that he wasn’t sure what to make of it. He’d expected confrontation and accusations, on both sides. “You can.”
Connor walked to the edge of the yacht and dropped into the water, fully clothed. Austin frowned at his stiff, lethargic movements and followed.
Below them, Adonis and Tristan circled. Adonis flashed his teeth and growled. Tristan watched him with unwavering focus. It was a purposeful tilt of Tristan’s head that took his attention away from Adonis. He glanced at Austin, read his face, and returned his attention to Adonis. Adonis started for Connor, only to turn back with a growl toward Tristan, realising he was showing his vulnerable back. His movements were erratic against Tristan’s calm, steady circling.
“You’re dating a predator,” Connor said, surfacing after observing the two of them.
