“I understand that, Theo. We all do.” Theo looked towards Pippa, and his expression softened further. “We’ve all been there. Not in the exact position that you’re in, but we’ve had to do our fair share of curse-breaking these past few years. It finds a way of bringing everything unresolved in your life to the surface. You feel as though you’ve got the entire weight of the world on your shoulders and your whole life is up for questioning, even though you set out with a singular goal in mind.”
“Yeah, that’s…” Theo trailed off for a second, lost in thought. “That’s exactly what it's like.”
“My advice?” Emmett shrugged. “Let it happen. You never know what the fates have in store for you.”
“Thanks, Emmett,” Theo offered him a genuine smile. “I will.”
Emmett pulled him in for a hug and raised Theo off the ground with a tight squeeze.
“Do you want to stand here all day and say your goodbyes?” Lyra called out from the water, hurrying their farewells along.
Pippa sneered and pointed her finger at Lyra. “Don’t rush us. For the record, I don’t like you, and I don’t like this bargain.”
Lyra rolled her eyes. “It’s been duly noted. Multiple times. If you’re actually writing all of this down, then please let the record show that I’m not a fan of the pushy blood-sucking one either.”
“All right, you seaweed-smelling—” Pippa started to advance towards Lyra, but Emmett wrapped an arm around her waist.
“That’s enough from you.” Emmett gave Theo and Lyra a tense smile as he hauled Pippa over his shoulder.
“If you need anything, there are multiple ways for you to get a hold of us,” Emmett spoke loudly over Pippa’s complaints.
“We’ll be fine.” Lyra was short, looking anywhere but directly at Emmett and Theo.
“Theo,” Emmett smiled softly, “remember what I said.” He lowered his voice slightly. “Take it one day at a time.”
With that parting statement, Emmett turned and started walking back the way they came with Pippa over his shoulder.
“Have fun!” Pippa laughed, picking her head up as best as she could in her position. “Enjoy nature! Let us know if that mermaid…” Pippa’s voice trailed off as they disappeared into the woods, leaving Theo alone with Lyra for the first time.
The silence was deafening. It took Theo a couple of minutes before he summoned enough courage to look over at Lyra, offering her a polite grin.
“I’m ready if you are.” He nodded towards the mouth of the river. Lyra was studying him and taking a few more minutes to respond, which Theo was starting to realize was a habit of hers. Whether she always did this or didn’t trust Theo, he had no idea.
Lyra was standing in the shallows of the water, her hair dripping water from the ends even though Theo hadn’t seen her dip her head underneath the water. The simple dress she was wearing hung to each perilous curve, making her look as appealing as fresh water itself. It had been ages since the sight of a woman had so intensely affected Theo, and he was beginning to feel like a faeling again.
Lyra tucked some of her long hair behind her ear. Even though she looked fully human in this form, her claws and fangs were gone, her ears still tapered to delicate pointed fins. It wasn’t unlike fae ears but much more dramatic and striking. There was no form in which Lyra could ever be mistaken foranything other than a supernatural creature, created for the sole purpose of dragging men to the depths.
Theo was ready to jump in.
“We’ll head towards Loch Cluarie,” Lyra started, her voice sounding matter-of-fact. “That is where the selkies hang out. They will have more information on the men of the Minch.”
“Whatever you say.” Theo tried to sound amenable and friendly, thinking of what a poor start Pippa and Lyra had gotten off to.
“Remember that.” Lyra pointed a long, graceful finger at him. “When I say something out here, you need to do it immediately. If we’re going to keep up the pretense that I've captured you for Cliodhna, it won’t do us any good to have you arguing with me.”
Theo fidgeted uncomfortably. He had no problem listening to Lyra when they were out traveling, but she was speaking to him in a way that made him feel like his existence was a problem. It was an insecurity that had been building since he had to go to Calum to ask for help with his curse.
“I understand.” Theo tried and failed to sound more confident and easygoing. “No arguments here.”
Lyra studied him intently, and Theo held her stare for a few more seconds than before, which he counted as a win.
“If we encounter other mermaids and water-folk, you need to let me speak first.” There was something in her voice that made Theo realize she was testing him again.
“Go ahead.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I know you and Emmett completed your bargain. I’m not concerned. Whatever you need to do to get us there, that’s fine.”
Theo watched as Lyra’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and some of the tension disappeared from her face. It appeared she was looking for signs to see if he was going to give her an attitudelike Pippa, but Theo didn’t have it in him. He was open to the experience, like Emmett advised.
“Great. It seems like we agree. Do you mind if I swim alongside you? It’s easier for me instead of walking.” Lyra smiled.
