Page 68 of Drown Me Gently

Something was wrong with Ulric.

And whatever it was, it was creeping closer. The hesitation in the Kraken’s stride, the faint hitch in his movements. It was so subtle at first that Auren convinced himself he imagined it.

But now… now there was no denying it.

The tattoos along Ulric’s body were fading. Some had disappeared entirely, while others dimmed from inky black to a wispy gray. The thick glyphs over his chest, the ones Auren had traced with searching fingers, looked worn thin.

Auren tried to explain it away. It must be the toll of being away from the sea for too long. Ulric’s magic was draining. His body straining to hold its shape above the waves. But if that were the case, why wasn’t Auren feeling it? If anything, he felt better than ever. Buzzing with energy. Alive in ways he hadn’t known were possible.

And still, every time he tried to ask the Kraken, Ulric always found some new way to pull his attention elsewhere. He led Auren to sprawling stables where horses in every imaginable color—coal black, pearl gray, flame red—snorted and stamped their hooves against the dust. To a sun-drenched garden market where sweetmeats, roasted nuts, and jewel-bright fruits perfumed the air. To a dockside artisan’s square where glassblowers shaped molten fire into delicate baubles that caught the light and glittered like stars in the palm of Auren’s hand.

Beautiful distractions. But distractions all the same.

It gnawed at him. A knot of worry in the pit of his stomach.

That morning, it all came to a head.

Auren woke, groggy from the wine they’d indulged in the night before, but otherwise rested. The fire had long since died, leaving the room cool and blue in the pre-dawn light. Ulric lay beside him, warm and strong, his face turned toward the window, the light gilding the lines of his jaw.

Auren smiled to himself and slid his hand under the covers, running his fingers through the thick hair on Ulric’s chest.

“Can I interest you in a little breakfast, Kraken?” he teased, voice still rough with sleep, waiting for the gruff, amused remark that usually followed. Something about overeager spritelings or the scandal of being propositioned so early in the morning.

But none came.

Auren’s fingers hesitated. Truthfully, it had been several days since they’d indulged in each other’s bodies. Ulric had been so insistent on showing him everything. Every horse, every market, every garden, every sunset. Dragging Auren from wonder to wonder until he collapsed into bed, too exhausted to do more than kiss Ulric goodnight. It was wonderful. It was perfect.

But it wasn’t enough.

Auren suspected Ulric was doing it on purpose. Holding himself back. Afraid of hurting him somehow.

Don’t hide from me. I want all of you, my monster of the deep.

Auren grinned against his chest, already plotting how he might rectify that. He tilted his head, bumping his elbow against Ulric’s shoulder.

“Did the wine carry you to such a deep sleep? Here I thought you could hold your drink better than I.”

Still nothing.

Ulric breathed, a faint rise and fall of his ribs. There was a steady throb of his pulse in the hollow of his throat. But he didn’t stir. Didn’t even twitch.

Auren’s own pulse picked up. “Ulric,” he said, sharper now. He shook him once, twice. “Ulric. Wake up.”

No response.

His blood coursed with ice. Auren scrambled on top of him, pressing his ear against Ulric’s chest, desperate to hear the familiar, steady beat. It was there, but so faint. So weak.

“Ulric—Ulric!” Auren was shouting now, shaking his shoulders. “What is going on? What’s happening?”

And right before his eyes, one of Ulric’s runes, a sailfish etched beneath his ear, the one Auren knew by taste, flickered… and vanished.

“Oh no,” Auren choked. “No, no, no—Don’t do this. Ulric, please!”

Another shake, this one harsh enough to send Ulric’s head lolling. And finally, Ulric groaned. His eyelids fluttered open, his mouth parting in a quick gasp. Auren let out a choked sound and collapsed against him, burying his face against Ulric’s neck.

“What the hell was that?” he breathed, shaken. “Don’t you ever do that again!”

Ulric stirred, sluggish. Sluggish like something that had remained still for too long. He managed to lift a hand, clumsily patting Auren’s back.