Page 106 of Storm and Sea

“That’s not a good idea, Ny,” Atreus cautioned. “I’ve done it, but I’ve been here a long time, and… what’s with the face?” Atreus asked at Nyel’s odd expression.

“You called me Ny.”

“Oh. Sorry, I didn’t realize. I can stop⁠—”

“No! I like it. Nobody has ever called me that before.”

Atreus didn’t know what to do with that information, but it made something in his stomach flip.

“Well, let’s take the stairs this time, Ny,” he added, making the sireno smile.

“Lead the way.”

She did it. Marina finally did it. It took her all freakin’ summer, but it was done. The only thing left to do was dot some I’s and cross some T’s.

Marina had completely revolutionized the Bayallon.

Instead of having children from all ages compete together, leaving the younger ones with zero chance of winning, Marina devised three separate courses for different age groups. The little ones had a kiddie course with a small running and swimming section. They were too small to ride bikes, so instead of biking, their final event would be a wagon pull, where the parents pulled their child in a wagon and raced for the finish line.

The middle age group would participate in all three events but with a lowered difficulty level, leaving the older kids with the hardest course. With no little ones to worry about getting in the way, the course she’d planned would kick their snarky teenage butts. They had to pedal their bikes all the way to the top of the valley, circle around the windmill, and then race down a brutal, steep slope to reach the square for the finish.

“There are going to be some tired kids on the island by the time I’m done with them,” Marina said proudly. The excitement was building to a boiling point. Townsfolk had seen her making preparations, and she could hardly leave the pescheria without being peppered with excited questions.

It would be the Bayallon of the century.

She didn’t have much for prizes for the kids, though. Funding from the mayor’s office had been non-existent. She would have loved to offer a brand-new bike as the prize for the older kids, but that would leave nothing for rest. Instead, she put together simple baskets filled with candies and treats from the mainland—delicacies that were exotic to island kids.

After tying the bow on the final basket, she decided to walk the kids’ course one more time and check for any hazards. As she cut through a narrow alley between two tightly pressed buildings, hushed voices made her pause.

Marina peeked around the corner and immediately recognized one of the two figures: the gorgeous man she’d danced with at the season festival.

It’s him.

Her heart lept to her throat so fast she almost choked on it. His long, wavy hair was as immaculate as she remembered, though this time, his clothes were more casual. He leaned heavily over the second figure, a young, pretty blonde woman with pink cheeks. Marina ducked behind a corner, listening hard.

“My- my name is Leigha,” the young woman said with a bashful flutter of her lashes.

“Leigha,” he purred, “now that is a name I won’t forget.”

“Wh-why?” she asked breathlessly.

“Because it’s beautiful.”

Marina held back a snort as the familiar line made the other woman’s knees go weak.

“Until next time, flower,” the man said, lifting her hand to his lips before leaving her red-faced and starry-eyed.

The flash of hurt that tightened Marina’s chest was gone in less than a second. Sure, she’d been swept away by this stunning man. Who wouldn’t? Sure, she let herself fall into a fairy fantasy. Sure, she’d imagined running into him again a thousand times in a thousand different ways. And sure, watching him put the exact same moves on another girl hurt. But her shock vanished within seconds and was replaced with mirth.

Marina couldn’t resist the pull at her lips as she followed the man through another alley, winding through a few paths until they were alone.

She called out, “Your delivery was a little off. Slow it down next time. Really lean into the ‘because it’s beautiful’ line.”

The man turned to her, and the moment their eyes met, Marina was immensely satisfied to see a flash of panic in his. It was gone in a wink, replaced by a devilishly charming smile.

“You think? I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

“Who knows, maybe one day you’ll actually remember one of their names.”