Page 30 of Storm and Sea

“What are you… how did you…!?”

Rough hands grabbed his shirt and yanked him inside. Nyel hardly noticed as Atreus frantically dried his feet. Because his nose was on fire. The smell of blood, guts, and flesh made his throat lurch and his stomach squirm. He was going to be sick.

“What in Spirits-blessed is that?”

“It’s a fishery; what did you expect?” Atreus tossed aside the rag.

“How was I supposed to know? I was looking for you.” Nyel confessed.

“Do you realize how dangerous this is? Do you realize what could have happened if anyone saw you?” Atreus kept his voice low, but the intensity made it feel like he was yelling. Nyel took a nervous step, aware of how much bigger Atreus was. But he wasn’t about to back down. He’d come too far.

“Hence the tarp,” Nyel retorted with as much snark as he could muster.

Atreus ran a hand through his curls. “How did you even find me?”

“Uuuh, your scent? I followed it.”

“My… my what? You know what, it doesn’t matter. What matters right now is getting you back to the ocean where you belong.”

“I’m not going back. I already told you,” Nyel said, planting his feet for emphasis.

“Well, you sure as hell aren’t staying here.”

Atreus was really and truly starting to panic, and Nyel almost felt bad.

Almost.

Definitely not bad enough to go home. When a voice from the front of the building called Atreus’s name, both of them froze.

Was that a human? Am I about to meet one?

Fear and excitement buzzed in Nyel’s blood, but before he could open his mouth to ask any questions, Atreus shoved him into the wall.

His head bounced on the wood, and he cried out in surprise. But his cry was silenced as Atreus pressed his arm into his throat. He could hardly breathe. And when his attacker spoke, Nyel’s body went cold.

“You listen, and you listen good,” Atreus growled, leaning into him and cutting off more air. “This is my life you’re playing with. Do you understand that? My life.”

Nyel knew what he was doing was dangerous. But until this moment, he’d never considered what it would mean for the man pinning him to the wall. He was a liability, and Atreus wasn’t prepared to take the risk.

He only made it this far by not taking risks.

“Don’t. Get. Wet.” Atreus ordered. It was less of an order and more of a threat. A promise that if Nyel messed up, Atreus wouldn’t save him.

He was truly alone.

“I understand,” he croaked before gasping as the pressure disappeared from his throat.

Nyel rubbed at it, taking deep breaths. Atreus made a jerking movement with his hand, motioning him to follow. Nyel would do as he was told. He had to trust that Atreus, after all his time spent in the presence of humans, knew what he was doing.

If Nyel wanted to stay here, he’d have to trust this aggressive stranger. And even then, it might not be enough.

His nerves were shot, and even though he put on his best casual face, Giovanni would see right through him. The old man had a way of seeing through his walls as though they were made of glass.

“Atreus?” Giovanni said, but it was more like a question.

“Yes, sorry. I was talking to my…” He hesitated. “Friend. He just showed up.”

“A friend, you say?” Giovanni turned to inspect Nyel, “This is the first time Atreus has brought over a face I didn’t recognize. It’s your home he’s staying in on the far side of the island, yes?”