I think that’s a request for food,Salem said.
I think it is,Aurin agreed.And we are able to return home now. Is that what he said?
Yes.
Aurin hummed.Or maybe we could spend another day or two here, just us. You know once we go back, we’ll have everyone coming by all the time.
Salem chuckled.Absolutely. And as wonderful as that sounds, just us for another day or two sounds even better.
Chapter
Nineteen
CIARAN
Aurin and Salemcame back two days later, requesting a meeting with everyone at the bottom of the cove. Which is where they all were, waiting for Aurin and Salem to make an appearance. Ciaran understood, of course, but he still felt bad for Sawyer, who was left out once again and having to wait up on the dock because of his stupid human lungs.
He’s up there right now, drafting the plans for a single-person submarine,Fray said as they waited outside the cave.
I know he is, Ciaran said.And you shouldn’t encourage him.
Aww, come on, it’s funny, Fray added.
Ciaran bloomed a dark angry red.Funny? How is it funny?
Someone cleared their throat, and when Ciaran turned around, Aurin and Salem were now waiting outside the entrance of their little cave, nervous but excited.
Thank you for being so patient with us,Aurin said, while we adjusted to the cave, that is.... He curled a tentacle around Salem’s, looking at him and smiling before he turned to the audience again.We have some introductions to make.
Oh my...,Ciaran thought. He was so excited. Sure, he’d seen them when they first hatched, but they’d been gone three days, and they’d grown a lot, apparently.
Salem smiled, nervous also but incredibly proud.Please meet Llyr. Our firstborn. His name is old Celtic. It means “god of the sea.”
Then Llyr came out of the cave. He was barely the size of an apple, black like Salem. He was so much bigger than he’d been just three days ago. His eyes scanned the faces watching him, and then he lifted his little chin in defiance and crossed his arms.
Salem used a well-practiced tentacle to uncross Llyr’s tiny arms.Say hello, Salem prompted.
Hello, Llyr said, his voice small but strong.
Everyone gasped, and there was a chorus ofOh my gods. Ciaran was stunned, amazed, and his hearts grew in size, he was sure of it.
Then Salem said,Next is Ukko.
Ukko came out of the cave. He was gold like Aurin but shimmered with black flecks.
Then Aurin said,The name Ukko means?—
Ukko sucked back two quick breaths and let out a cute little sneeze, which made him explode outward into a ball of spikes that zapped with gold static.
God of lightning,Aurin finished.
And everyone reacted at once. Most gasped, but Pania shook Otis and squealed, Dylan made a happy-dying sound, and Fray fell backwards, he was laughing so hard.
But Ciaran just felt emotional. He wanted to cry. He wanted to hold them all and hug Aurin and Salem, and he wished like fucking hell that Sawyer was down here to see it with him.
Aurin pulled Ukko in close and helped smooth him back out into a cephamorph state.He has Mimic traits, obviously. And an electricity thing we’re still trying to work out.
Everyone calmed down then, waiting for baby number three.
