Page 135 of Storm and Sea

“You’re finally learning. Fine, then you and I can stare into each other’s eyes all night long.”

Atreus huffed. “As if.”

“Right. You’d rather do that with my brother.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Nyel interjected and hated the way his face went warm.

He didn’t mean anything by that. Did he?

“It means what it means. Go to sleep. Apparently, you’ll have two guards on duty.”

“If you two aren’t sleeping, neither am I,” Nyel said stubbornly, even though his eyelids felt as heavy as anchors.

“It’s an all-night party,” Nephi said with a clap, settling by a window and gazing at Baia Vita in the distance.

Atreus made himself busy gathering the firewood around the room, and Nyel sat by the fire feeling useless.

Yeah… this is awkward.

She was in shock. Even as the sun rose and her father called from below, Marina couldn’t make herself move from her bed. Only when the bedroom door creaked open did she finally break free from her statue-like stillness.

“Piccola, what is wrong? Where are the boys?” Papá asked, worry crinkling his mustache.

Tears welled in her eyes. “They left. Had a family emergency and…”

Her mind finished the thought: And they are monsters. All this time. They’ve been lying to us. To me.

A heavy ‘whoosh’ sounded beside her as her father sat his bulk on the mattress.

“Did you have a fight, mia cara?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Something like that. I thought I knew them better. I thought they trusted me, but…”

Tears fell from her cheeks and onto her clasped hands. She could still feel the scales on her fingertips. How real they were. Nonno’s stories, right there in her bedroom.

Papá sighed heavily. “These things happen. Let me ask you, are you angry with them?”

“Yes!” she said so fast her hair flew.

And she was. She was so freakin’ mad at them. At Nyel, but especially Atreus. She’d known him almost all her life. They’d grown up together in this town, running around every summer. He’d heard her cry through the bedroom walls when she started her first period. And she’d heard him yell in pain as Giovanni dislodged yet another fishhook from his thumb. She knew his favorite food was red tuna and that he hated wearing shoes. Marina knew him better than anyone.

Or at least… she thought she did. Being distrusted by someone she considered family stung worse than when she had stepped on a sea urchin.

“Can you forgive them?” her father asked.

Marina clenched her fists. She was so angry. And hurt. And shocked.

But… yes. She could.

“Yeah.”

“Then that is all that matters.” He patted her back affectionately. “When they return, do not prolong it. Speak to them. It will work out.”

Marina sighed.

If only you knew Papà.

“Thank you. I should go to town; there are a few things to do before tomorrow.”