Page 101 of Storm and Sea

Why can’t Nyel understand that?

In all honesty, despite the proof, Atreus still couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that Nyel hadn’t left. Their secluded minutes on the beach, under the light of the fireworks, felt like a dream—something he would have imagined on those lonely nights in the lighthouse. Yet it’d happened. And Nyel saw him.

Could I get lucky enough to be accepted twice?

Atreus doubted it, and he didn’t need the voice in his head to tell him that.

Still, how did this always happen? How did he always end up fighting with Nyel? With the one person in this world that accepted him?

“You’re messing this up,” he hissed, the sound building in his throat before descending into his chest. It was like a massive serpent was coiled where his heart should be. Atreus forced calming breaths through his lungs, silencing the sound. He waited, making sure no one heard. The hiss was unnatural to humans. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d let it slip.

Man, I’m losing it.

He continued pacing.

“Keep this up, and he’ll leave for sure.”

The voice purred, excited by the idea of Atreus alone and miserable.

“I know!” he yelled in the empty room.

Atreus didn't have a clue how to navigate his feelings around Nyel. One moment, they were laughing and joking; the next, Atreus was irrationally upset whenever Nyel's attention was diverted. At times, like now, he was so frustrated with Nyel that he could hardly stand it. And this all happened within a single day.

Before Nyel showed up, his life was consistent. His days were predictable and safe. He more or less understood how to navigate the maze of human emotions. How to navigate through the lies he’d built around himself like a shield. Yet, even knowing that— Atreus couldn’t bring himself to wish Nyel was gone. In fact, the idea sank a leaden stone in his stomach.

And if he wanted the sireno to stay, he had to fix this. Soon.

“We’re closing the bay for the day. Everyone’s boats are docked. With quiet waters, hopefully, we can coax some of the fish to return.”

It was the first thing Giovanni said to him when he rose for breakfast the next morning.

“No one is going out today?” Atreus asked, dumbfounded. In all his years working the docks, he’d never seen Baia Vita halt the fishing for even a second of daylight.

“I got word from Leo. He and some of the younger men are going door to door to spread the word.”

They sat in oppressive quiet, Giovanni’s gaze so unfocused that Atreus wondered if he was seeing anything at all.

“Do you think it’ll help?” Nyel’s voice startled him as the sireno approached from behind. “Signore Marcello?”

“Huh?” Giovanni reacted much too late. “Sorry, ragazzo. Will it help?” He exhaled loudly. “That is the question. I do not know. But what else can we do? There are simply no more fish left for us.”

“Well, I’ll just have to take the boat and go scare those big ships off now, will I?” Marina said much too loud for so early in the morning.

Giovanni pulled his daughter in for a half-hug. “That wouldn’t do my Bambani. Your beauty would only draw them nearer.”

“Or she could start singing for them. That’d scare them off,” Nyel murmured so only Atreus could hear. Atreus choked on his eggs in his haste to stifle the sudden burst of laughter.

“What are you two idioti laughing about?” Marina glared.

“Nothing, nothing!” Nyel said, patting Atreus on the back as he choked.

There, he did it again. Somehow, even when things were grim, Nyel made him laugh.

Nobody had ever been able to do that before.

Atreus thanked Nyel and remained determined to do better—to be better—for this sireno. For this male who had the uncanny ability to make him smile all through breakfast.

With the docks closed, Atreus and Nyel had nothing to do. Marina busied herself running errands and preparing for the Bayallon. Atreus wondered what she could possibly be spending so much time on. It was a silly relay race. Yet Marina was elbow-deep in paint, banners, and other crafts whenever he saw her.