Page 169 of Storm and Sea

She shook herself. “What?”

“Don’t what me. As your older brother, I forbid it.”

“Forbid what?”

He whipped his finger from the door to her. “Whatever the hell that was.”

“There wasn’t anything there.”

“There kinda was,” Nyel mumbled.

“You’re not helping,” she hissed at him.

“He’s got to be like forty years old, absolutely not,” Atreus declared.

“That’s a bit exaggerated, don’t you think?” Marina defended. Why the hell was she defending that jerk? “I seriously doubt he’s even close to that. What would you guess, Nyel?”

Nyel shrugged. “I can never tell with humans that have hair on their faces. It’s really confusing.”

“I’m guessing thirty, thirty-two max,” Marina said.

“It doesn’t matter because I forbid it as your brother.”

“You’ve been my brother for like an hour,” Marina said but couldn’t hold back the smile tugging at her mouth.

“And therefore, I have the right to monitor your love life.”

“That’s not how that works.”

Just as their sibling rivalry was about to ignite, the door creaked open, and Irena hushed them with a look. She gave Atreus a mild painkiller and was fastening his sling when another group appeared in the room.

Mayor Gianfranchi entered, followed by Sheriff Fanti and her deputies. The mayor looked ready to faint. Marina couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. After all, nearly losing a child during the town’s beloved event—and then the whole revelation about water people—must’ve thrown him completely off balance.

“Uomo del Mare, how are you feeling?” he asked Atreus, his sweaty brow glistening. He clearly would rather be anywhere else in the world.

“I’ll be okay,” Atreus said as Irena fastened the sling around his arm. “And please call me Atreus.”

“Mayor, please, only family in the room,” Irena said with a huff.

“Forgive me, but we have urgent matters to discuss.”

“So, is that city hall of yours only for show?”

Mayor Gianfranchi cleared his throat, folding under the nurse’s intensity. “I’ll see you there then.” He exited with his officers trailing behind.

“Honestly, this is a hospital, not a circus,” Irena huffed, finishing Atreus’s bandages.

“Is he done? Or does Doctor Romano need to check him again?” Marina asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

“No, he is free to go. Why? Would you like me to call the doctor back?”

“That won’t be necessary,” Atreus cut in. “I’m fine.”

Marina chewed the inside of her cheek, irritated with herself and her brother. As they left the hospital, she caught Nyel’s knowing smirk.

“And what are you so smiley about?”

“Nothing,” he said innocently. “C’mon, the Mayor’s waiting for us.”