Page 5 of Welcome to Seaman’s Cove: Part Two

“What do you want?” I snap, then immediately feel bad about my tone. It’s not Phoenix’s fault they’re gone.

“A hamburger, a coke, and Madi bouncing on my cock,” he says, clearly trying to pull a laugh from me.

The mention of Madi only sours my mood further, so I throw the pillow at him. He catches it without problem.

“I need to do something.” I swing my legs off the side of the bed and sit up. “Laying here helpless is making me want to pull my hair out.”

Phoenix steps further into the room. “I know the feeling. All I can think about is how unprepared we are. We’re about to attempt to find a single drop of water in the ocean. It’s…” He swallows before he can say impossible, but I know that’s where he was headed.

“We have the i’xal.” I stand and pace.

“That’s not enough,” he answers. “It’ll only work if we get close. We need a general direction.”

“Research. That’s what we need.” I’m already headed toward my office. This is what I do well. “Where’s that book with Caspian’s tattoo symbol in it?” The question is more for myself than my best friend as I rummage around on my desk, but I can’t find it.

“I might have stolen it,” Phoenix says from the doorway. “Or borrowed it, at least. After I found out Caspian’s a merman, I wanted to learn more. It’s in my suitcase. Not sure how much good it’ll do us, though. There weren’t any maps that I could tell, and half of it was pictures of scrolls that no one’s been able to interpret.”

“I’ll translate it.” There’s no other choice. There’s got to be answers there.

“You’re going to translate a language most people still think is a myth? Just like that?” He’s skeptical, which is fair.

I look at him, pleading. “I have to try, Nix. I have to.”

Turning away, my gaze lands on a few books and old journals that belonged to Madi’s aunt. When she died, most of her research went to the university and ended up with me. I gather all of it into a pile on my desk.

Phoenix sighs and pulls up a chair beside me. He takes a book from the top of the pile and opens it.

“Thank you,” I whisper before getting to work. We read for hours, scouring my office for anything else that might have a clue and should be brought with us. In the end, we’re no closer to answers than when we began.

“We should get some sleep,” Phoenix says, stretching his neck side to side. When he straightens, he eyes me warily. “We’ve got a lot ahead of us, and you’ll need your rest.”

He doesn’t mention the bonding sickness, but I know that’s what he’s thinking. It’ll only get worse in the coming days. I want to growl at him and stay up studying, but he’s right. I won’t be much good to Madi if I’m so sick and exhausted I can’t think straight.

“Fine,” I grit out, heading back toward my bedroom with the stack of books and papers in my hand. I dump them all into a second suitcase to take with us. Phoenix follows me.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” I say, sitting on the edge of the bed. Once he’s gone, maybe I’ll look at one more book. Only for a little while.

“Uh,” Phoenix leans against the wall, “can I sleep in here with you?”

I’m not sure if he’s asking because he thinks I need the support, doesn’t trust me to sleep, or really wants to be with me. We talked briefly about our feelings for each other and shared a kiss I’ll never forget, but then everything happened with Madi. And now, Sebastian’s coming—his very real boyfriend.

“Would Sebastian be okay with that?” I ask, unsure what their arrangement is. Considering what Phoenix engaged in when Madi had her heat spike in Ocearus, I imagine they must have some sort of open relationship, but I don’t know how open. He was intentional about not fucking Madi.

Phoenix takes a step toward the bed, then another. “Are you planning to seduce me?”

“No.” I flop back, staring at the ceiling fan as it spins round and round. “Not tonight, anyway.”

Phoenix’s laugh is like a balm. “That works for me.” He’s at the side of the bed now. “Would you let me hold you?”

He seems hesitant, so I reach out my hand. When our palms touch, I pull him onto the mattress. He comes easily, wrapping himself around me. The warmth and weight of his body settles some of the itch under my skin.

“I miss them, too,” he whispers.

Phoenix might not have bonded with Madi, but she’s his scent match. In fact, this might be harder on him. I can at least feel her presence, know she’s alive, and sense her care for me. To a lesser extent, I can even feel Caspian through my connection with Madi. Phoenix doesn’t have that.

I wrap an arm under his body and draw him in, so his cheek rests on my chest. Impulsively, I kiss the top of his head. “They’re alright,” I tell him. “She’s alive.”

“I wish I could feel them.”