Page 113 of Storm and Sea

“Thank you, Mom,” he said, doing his best to ignore her masterful guilt-tripping.

“But you’ll visit us more often? Stay every once in a while?” she pleaded as though her acceptance could bind him back to her.

“I will make an effort to see you all more. Especially Sabella.”

“Good, good.” She rubbed her hands together uncomfortably. “And you two, seeing as you have taken care of my son all these weeks, I guess it’s safe to say you won’t hurt him now.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Nephi grumbled, then let out a stream of bubbles as Nyel elbowed him in the gut. “But no, I won’t hurt him. Pain in the ass or not, he’s my brother.”

It probably wasn’t healthy to feel such a wide range of emotions in such a short amount of time. Hearing Nephi call him his brother, not half-brother, was enough to make Nyel’s eyes sting for an entirely different reason.

“I would never. Even back then, all those years ago, I never wanted to hurt him,” Atreus said, his voice soft.

“Okay then. When Nyel comes for his very regular visits to us, both of you are also welcome.” She looked like she’d bitten into a spoiled sea prune as she said it, but she said it. And that was enough.

Donato was still visibly uncomfortable, and for a moment, Nyel worried he would raise his voice in protest. But as usual, he never challenged any of Bianca’s decisions.

“Well, if that’s it, I’m leaving,” Nephi said, swimming for the door. Their father reached out, almost touching his son’s burnt arm but stopping an inch short.

“I didn’t mean to say that you deserved the blame.”

Nyel watched with bated breath as Nephi stared down at Danoto as though their father were nothing more than slime.

“Yet you were the first to abandon me,” he hissed before darting out the door, his crimson fins flared so high they carved grooves in the ceiling.

Nyel approached his father. “He needs time, Dad. A lot of it.”

Donato nodded, though his expression seemed distant. When he spoke, his voice was low and weary. “The heaviest burden you’ll carry is regret—choices made in haste, without thought. If I can offer any wisdom, it’s this: follow tradition, do what’s expected, and don’t fight the will of the Spirits. Go against them, and you’ll find nothing but misery. When I was young, I didn’t listen; I was rebellious and overconfident. I met Nephi’s mother and⁠—”

“Don’t you dare speak of that sea witch in my home!” Bianca snapped loudly, arms crossed and looking pale in the face.

Nyel balked. He’d never heard his father string together so many words in one breath. Let alone those words. In all his life, he’d never once heard him mention Nephi’s mother. Who she was, and how Nephi came to be. But one thing was for certain. There was regret. And the reminder of that regret came in the form of Nephi. His own flesh and blood.

For the first time, Nyel felt the embers of anger flicker in his chest. He’d always brushed off his father’s Unbonded history, choosing not to dwell on it and giving him the benefit of the doubt. After all, his father had been a perfectly good dad to him, right? But now, watching this wrinkled sireno all but disown his own flesh and blood—refusing to accept the consequences of his actions—Nyel began to see a clearer picture of the man before him.

How could his father say such a thing? Sure, Nephi was flawed, but he was also a victim of circumstance. If he’d been offered the same love and acceptance Nyel had, things would have been different. Watching his father so blatantly deny his son only deepened Nyel’s understanding of Nephi’s rage.

One thing was for certain: Nyel would never regret calling Nephi his brother.

As though to remind him of his presence, Atreus gently brushed his tail against Nyel’s. Nyel tore his gaze from his father, too overwhelmed by the flood of emotions to come up with any more words. He needed to get out of here for a minute.

“I’m going to say bye to Sonia and Sabella. Meet me outside?” he said, offering Atreus an escape.

“Sure,” Atreus nodded, darting to the door, but not before exchanging a lingering look that sent Nyel’s already aching heart into a frenzy.

When Nyel entered Sonia’s room, he didn’t even open his mouth before she spoke.

“I heard.”

He sighed, the strain of the last hour making him feel like he was sinking into quicksand. “I know you’re going to tell me it’s dangerous and that⁠—”

“Nyel honey, hush,” she said with a tired smile. “Oh, hush. You don’t know a thing. Am I worried you’re spending time on a human island? Yes. A hundred times, yes. But do I have confidence that you’ve worked things out? Also, yes.”

Nyel let a tired grin take over his face. “Atreus has really helped me. He’s been living with them for years.”

“He sounds sensible. I hope the next time you come to see us, you’ll tell me more about him?”

“I will. And you’re okay that he’s a…”