Page 115 of Storm and Sea

“Humans have a word for that. But I don’t think it’s a belief they practice a lot on Baia Vita.”

“Neither do we,” Nyel said, shrugging. “It’s just something we say. Like calling to the Spirits. You know?”

Yet, as the words left his mouth, they felt wrong. Back in the house, his father had been more pious than Nyel had ever thought him to be.

Atreus shook his head. “I really don’t, but I’ll take your word for it.”

They floated there, the silence thick with the weight of words both wanted to say but couldn’t. Atreus’s presence was like an anchor, tethering Nyel and keeping him from drifting off course. He didn’t want him to go.

“Ny?”

“Yes?” Nyel said too quickly, perking up.

“If you aren’t back in two days, I’m coming to get you.”

Something about the way he said it made Nyel’s heart thud heavier. “You will?”

“Yes. You don’t belong here, Ny. You belong in Baia Vita with—” Atreus hesitated. “With all of us,” he finished.

A small wave of disappointment rippled through Nyel’s chest. “Yeah. Thanks. I’ll be back,” Nyel promised.

“Nyel!” his mother’s shrill voice cut through the water.

“I better get to that before she comes to get me,” Nyel said, wanting to spare Atreus from another heavy interaction.

“Don’t be too long,” Atreus said with a parting wave.

“I won’t be.”

As Nyel settled into his old bed for the night, his mind replayed their final exchange on a loop—replayed it with the words he’d wanted to hear.

You belong in Baia Vita with me.

The next morning, Nyel was shocked to see Sonia upright with baby Sabella asleep in her arms.

“Should you be swimming around like that?” Nyel asked with concern.

“We, sirena are made of tougher stuff than you males,” she said with a wink, handing him the babe. “Hold her for a second, will you? I want to help with dinner.”

Nyel held his baby cousin; her squishy face contorted in an irritable expression. Dark, mossy green scales bordered her eyes before cresting onto her forehead like a crown. The fins on her head would come in when she turned two, and the rounded crest on her tail wouldn’t develop until she was closer to his age.

“Hey there, baby girl. I’m your cousin,” he said, gently bouncing her in his arms. A tiny hand reached out, wrapping around his finger, and in that moment, he was a goner. This precious new life had him in a chokehold, and he knew there was no going back. Sabella fussed, and he pulled her close, remembering that Mer infants needed tight, enclosed spaces, especially before their eyes opened. She settled and resumed snoozing in his hold. He couldn’t wait for her eyes to open and see him, but that was still at least a week away.

Voices from the main room had Nyel swimming over to investigate. His entire body stiffened when, in the room, floated none other than Chel.

Immediately, Nyel’s angry gaze darted to his mother.

“Are you serious right now?” he hissed in a heated whisper, trying not to wake Sabella.

“Nyel, calm yourself,” Bianca said with an eye roll. “Mr. Ernesti came to talk with your father, and Chel wanted to see you.”

He wouldn’t put it past his mother to arrange another ‘courting dinner’ the day he came home, but that didn’t appear to be the case, and he relaxed.

“Right. Sorry.” Nyel said more to Chel.

“While your fathers are talking, why don’t you two take a second to catch up? Here, give her to me,” Bianca said, taking Sabella from his arms and practically shoving them out the door.

Nyel sighed loudly, a stream of bubbles tickling his gills. “Chel, I’m⁠—”