Page 42 of Drown Me Gently

Silence followed.

Ulric reached for the potion one more time. He braced, waiting for the punishment. But it never came.

No pain.

His hand closed around the vial like an answered prayer. He raised it to his lips.

The ocean trembled, as though the very water knew what was about to happen, and already mourned the loss.

“I accept the price,” he whispered.

And drank.

The surface was everything he’d imagined it to be. Sun-drenched and waiting for him like he belonged there all along.

Soft linens, warm breezes, the taste of honeysuckle in every breath. Elias took him in without hesitation, without question, as though he’d been waiting for Auren’s arrival all his life.

The first thing Elias did was dress him. Light cotton shirts that clung to his shoulders and opened loosely at his sternum. Breeches that hugged his hips, stitched in navy and cream, the buttons carved from polished bone. The tailor’s eyes darted curiously over Auren’s body, but her hands were skilled and kind. Elias stood nearby, watching with a smile that made Auren’s skin buzz.

“Perfect,” Elias murmured. “You look like something from my dreams.”

Then came the servant girls, chattering in lilting voices as they fussed over his hair, braiding it into intricate patterns and weaving in soft blue beads.

“Weave these as well. He likes them.” Elias ordered, nodding to the silver and gold silks.

“Yes, Sir.”

Auren’s chest warmed under Elias’s attention. The girl’s fingers were nimble and practiced, and when they finished, Elias approached, eyes gleaming.

“Breathtaking,” he said, reaching out to tuck a loose strand behind Auren’s ear. His fingers brushed skin and lingered a beat longer. “They don’t make beauty like yours on land.”

Auren’s cheeks burned. He ducked his head, smiling despite himself. He couldn’t speak, but his face said enough. Elias offered his hand, and Auren took it without hesitation.

They spent the day roaming the city.

It was alive with color, sound, and scent. It was nothing like the solemn quiet of the sea. Vendors shouted over one another in a dozen different tongues, peddling fruits in all shapes and shades. Spices clung to the air. Cinnamon and clove, firepepper and sugar. Roasted meats turned on open flames, their smoke rising in savory ribbons. The taste of the world was as wild as its scent. Auren devoured soft bread smeared with jam, sucked the juice of honey-orange slices from his fingers, and let Elias feed him bite after bite of something he called lamb. It melted on Auren’s tongue like butter.

“You like that?” Elias chuckled, brushing his thumb over Auren’s lower lip. “There’s more where that came from. Anything you want—just ask.”

Coins passed hands all day. Shiny metallic pieces that Auren had only ever seen rusting in shipwrecks. Elias gave them freely, slipping them to merchants, performers, and servers with easy charm. All the while, he held Auren’s hand. Guiding him. Welcoming him. Choosing him.

Even though Auren couldn’t speak, they found ways to talk. Gestures. Smiles. Pointed looks and over-the-top expressions. Auren mimed frustration more than once, dramatically flailing his hands and pointing at his throat.

Elias laughed, grabbing his hand and pressing a kiss to the knuckles.

“I don’t need words to know what you’re thinking,” he said. “I’ve been dreaming of you too long for that.”

Auren didn’t know how his heart didn’t float right out of his chest.

They passed street musicians and tavern bands. Fiddles and flutes layered harmonies that clashed and danced and spun through the air like magic. Auren had never heard anything like it. The haunting hymns of the Merfolk in Atlantis couldn’t even compare.

This music was wild. Joyful. Human.

Elias led him into one of the largest taverns as the sun dipped beyond the horizon, the whole world washed in soft amber. The room was a riot of sound and movement. People danced, laughed, and drank freely. Flames danced in hanging lanterns, and candles clustered on long tables.

Auren’s wide eyes must’ve shown too much.

Elias leaned in, whispering, “This is the best tavern in town. And now, with you here, the night is absolutely perfect.”