Lyra froze, her face suddenly devoid of anger while an indifferent expression took its place.
“You went in the water because you were worried about me?”
“Yes,” Theo admitted openly, not wanting to elaborate because clearly, something he’d said had already spooked her.
Lyra was silent for a few minutes. Theo waited, refusing to move. Finally, she started braiding her hair and twisting it up.
“Don’t do it again.” Lyra shook her head. “You’re more of a liability in the water. If I’m in trouble, I can’t look after myself and you. I don’t need your male ego getting in the way, either.” She finally made eye contact with Theo. “Can you understand that?”
Theo tried to bite back his laughter, holding both of his hands up in surrender. “Hey, no arguments from me.” He pointed to himself. “Liability in the water, Virgo, likes jazz music and hates spiders.”
Lyra tilted her head and studied him. “I’m starting to see why Cliodhna wants to kill you.”
There was enough brevity in her tone that Theo knew she wasn’t serious. He grinned widely.
“You’re starting to like me. Admit it!” Theo desperately wanted to get through Lyra’s defenses and see what she was really like, when she was comfortable and carefree, even though a curse-breaking adventure might not be the time to do it.
Lyra rolled her eyes and ignored Theo’s question entirely. She pointed towards the trail that continued alongside the river.
“I’ll go on foot with you today after all. If other mermaids are going to try to come after me to steal your bounty, to yourpoint, it’ll be easier to avoid them entirely. There are a few selkie women I’m familiar with in this area. They might be willing to help.”
Lyra started down the trail without any further instruction, adjusting some of the ties on her blouse. Theo slung his pack over his shoulder and obediently plodded along behind her.
“I have another question, if it’s not too insensitive to ask,” Theo piped up, and Lyra groaned exaggeratedly.
“Oh, good, and here I thought we’d have to spend the morning walking in peaceful silence.”
Theo bit his lip and hesitated for a moment. “We can, if that’s what you'd prefer.” Lyra looked over her shoulder, an expression halfway between confusion and admiration. She turned back towards the path.
“It’s all right. Ask your questions, prince.” Lyra sounded almost regretful. “Although I have no way of knowing if it’s insensitive until you ask. I have found humans and fae to be more cautious than merfolk, however, so you’ll probably be fine.”
Theo chuckled softly. “And if I do offend you?”
Lyra flashed him a smile full of fang. “My pact with your brother is about keeping you alive, not uninjured.” She sounded positively gleeful.
“Got it.” Theo was unfazed. “Where do your clothes go when you switch forms? Unless you were stashing a pair of trousers and a blouse somewhere on the shore.”
“Ah,” Lyra laughed. “Disappointed that I didn’t appear naked in the sea foam like Aphrodite this morning?”
Theo’s face went bright red, and he found himself starting to stammer.
“Uh, no. Of course not. Not that it would be a bad sight, or anything, like, you’re good-looking.”
“Just good-looking?” Lyra turned around to face Theo and stopped walking. “Don’t let the other maighdann-mara hear you. They’ll think I’m losing my touch.”
Theo scratched the back of his head, wholly unsure what to think. Lyra seemingly took pity on him and moved on.
“I don’t know how to answer that question. The clothes go wherever my legs disappear to, I guess.”
Theo nearly tripped over a downed log on the trail, entirely distracted by following Lyra.
“Well, that’s convenient, I suppose.”
“It’s the only thing convenient about maigihdann-mara.” Lyra didn’t offer any further explanation.
The rest of the morning was passed with a never-ending stream of questions from Theo, who asked about everything from mermaid customs to whether siren songs had ever been properly recorded.
He did trip and fall when Lyra revealed that a few popular musicians were actually sirens. It did make sense—there was no chance Adele was human.
