Before anyone could question his choice of the word “safe,” Aurin elaborated. “Our kind believed Mimics to be extinct because they were all killed off for the sole reason that they have the ability to change and morph at will to many species. It was seen as a form of deception, and so they were hunted. His entirerace, his family, were decimated. He’s the last one of his kind. So yes, we kept it a secret. I’m sorry if you felt betrayed by my keeping that from you, but I’m not sorry for keeping him safe.”
Everyone stared, and no one spoke, but Sawyer smiled and slid his hand into Ciaran’s. Keeping your mate, your chosen one, safe was something they all understood.
Of course it was Fray who spoke first. “So, you’re, like, really old.”
Salem smiled. “Yes.”
Fray snorted. “Is that in human years, cephamorph years, or cat years?”
Trust Fray to bring levity.
“All three,” Salem replied with the hint of a smile.
“The son of a god,” Dylan said quietly. “What does that mean?”
“I’m no expert in these things,” Fray said, “but I’m pretty sure it means his dad was a god.”
Everyone rolled their eyes. Except Tobin, of course. He was smiling at Fray as if he hung the moon.
“It means,” Salem said, answering Dylan’s question. “It means I am old. I have been around a long time. I found my home here in Tenebrae Cove long before it was named as such by convict settlers.”
They sat with that for a beat.
“The water,” Tobin said. “You make the water here what it is.”
“Dark and sparkly. And soupy,” Sawyer said. “Is that really because of you?”
“Yes,” Salem replied. “A trait from my father’s side, only it manifests itself differently in conjunction with my mother’s. Given my mixed heritage, it’s an oddity, more than likely.”
“It’s a self-defence thing,” Aurin added. “Keeps predators away, human and otherwise.”
Salem smiled at him and nodded. “Yes. I have my mother’s traits as a Mimic cephamorph, and I also have my father’s traits of being able to take the form of a cat. With which you’re all familiar.” He shrugged at the two newcomers. “I can show you two later, if you wish. I only took cat form today for the first time since I was injured by Lusca, so maybe not for a day or two. Morphing into sea creatures is easier on my body. Cat form takes a lot more out of me.”
“She recognised you,” Ciaran said, always the one to keep the conversation on point. “Lusca. When she saw you, she knew who you were.”
Salem nodded. “Yes. I believe so. I’d never seen her before, but I believe she saw who—or, rather, what—I was. She was looking for a... donor, I think. Someone to fertilise her eggs. She originally wanted Tobin but must have thought someone with my lineage would be better suited.”
Fray patted Tobin’s thigh. “Dodged a bullet, baby.”
“Eww,” Dylan said, making a face. “Baby Luscas.” He shuddered, and Hendrix chuckled as he ran his hand over Dylan’s shoulder.
Aurin loved seeing them so affectionate.
“You feel okay now, though?” Kellan asked. Of course Kellan would pick up on Salem saying he’d rather not morph into cat form again just yet. Always the doctor.
“I do,” Salem said. “It’s difficult to know what my injuries were. Apart from multiple and extensive.”
“Cern healed him,” Aurin said. “I watched the whole thing and still can’t really explain what I saw. He coated him in a paste that smelled like... I can’t begin to describe how bad that smell was.” He made a face as he remembered.
“Putrid,” Salem said.
“And he used his metal necklace, his torc, I think it’s called?” Aurin looked at Salem, and Salem nodded. “And he chanted for,I don’t know, hours or days. I can’t be sure. He made some kind of crown with herbs, and he put his hands on Salem’s chest, as if he was using some sort of old healing power. He said the internal injuries would take time.” Aurin looked up at Salem, his beautiful face and his striking eyes, and Aurin got a little choked up. “I didn’t think he would ever wake up.”
Everyone was quiet, but Dylan stood up and came over to give Aurin a hug, then pulled back and peered into his eyes. “You okay?”
Aurin nodded. “I don’t know why I’m emotional. I cried so much in the first few days, I didn’t think I had tears left.”
Salem put his arm around Aurin and pulled him close, kissing the top of his head. “I’m fine,” he murmured. “Good as new.”
