AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What? Oh, shit. Ro, no. There are no monsters here. And don’t go around saying stuff like that! You’re going to make Mr. Landry wet himself in that suit and we will never hear the end of it!”
The adorably befuddled male on my arm blinks in confusion, and all hostility flees his face as it’s replaced by this new emotion. “Suit?”
“Yes. Suit.” I sigh and rub my eyes. “I suppose Aquanas don’t have fun, festive mascots.”
Ro’s brow lowers thoughtfully. “We have the agswal dance for the children, in which we perform under the massive skins for them during our festivals while recounting ancient stories. Is this something like that?” He peers behind him at Mr. Landry’s costume with interest. “Is this some great beast that was vanquished and there are recitations here at this festival celebrating its death?”
I laugh softly. “Not exactly. It’s a seafood festival, and so Seaside Sam here is to celebrate that our harbor is known for its good crabbing. We have other characters as well but Sam over there is our most popular character with the kids. And yeah, each of them kind of have a made-up story that goes with them, but I’m afraid nothing quite as awe inspiring as yours,” I admit.
“Hmm… But it is entertainment for the young ones? That is the main purpose? And your people are beneath all of that to entertain?” His tone is speculative, but if I’m not mistaken there is a gleam of appreciation in his eyes.
“Well, I think there are plenty of adults who appreciate it too,” I say as I gesture to a couple getting their photo taken with Sandy Shrimp George.
Ro gives another obvious shudder, but this time there is a hint of a smile on his face as he does so. It clearly still creeps him out, but the new perspective on the matter makes it far easier to haul him past the mascots and various decorations boasting our cheerful seafood family that provides so well for our community.
He’s positively precious. I find myself enjoying the seafood festival more than I have in years just by experiencing it through his eyes. He gags on the fried foods until we move onto the grilled and steamed offerings. His comments on the human tendency to cook things beyond death raises a few eyebrows, but he does everything with such enthusiasm that it’s hard for anyone to be insulted. Especially when he still asks for second helpings. I’ve had plenty of dates on the docks during one festival or another, but I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed one so thoroughly, or have been the clear center of my date’s attention.
Even when Ro is eager to try something new, he never lets go of me, and he never forgets about me in the midst of all the fun. He is always aware of my presence at his side and all too pleased to share his discoveries and moments with me. He makes me feel as if my company there is a large part of the experience for him. It makes me feel cherished, treasured, and wanted without Ro obviously trying. Even when he drags me out onto the open dancing spaces of the dock to twirl me around in a somewhat clumsy fashion, it is full of such life and gaiety that it makes me laugh with joy.
I can’t possibly be already falling in love with him, and yet how can I not? I could have fooled myself into believing I was equipped for any kind of seductive assault, but nothing could have prepared me for this. I have no defenses against Ro. Nothing but the reminder that the sun and sea steals time away from us—those jealous bitches.
I lean into his side, hating the fact that the sun is starting to sink lower into the sky, wanting to get every minute out of our dwindling day. It is because of this that I don’t protest when he drags me over to another grill laden with fish and instead giggle like a schoolgirl when he offers a bite to me with his claws. It is so gallant and sweet the way he always offers me the first morsel. At first I teased him that he was just using me to determine whether or not it was safe to eat, but his response tugged at my heart and stole my teasing laughter to make me yearn for all that he promised.
“It is only right for a hunter to first feed his mate. A mate is everything. The pearl of magic within his heart. Life. Purpose. You are the pinnacle of everything, and so I will always give you first of all that I have and all that I am so that we are sustained together for of our time.”
Warmth fills my heart in memory of his words as I open my mouth to receive the offering. The fish is juicy and flavorful on my tongue with a hint of lemon, pepper and rich butter. I sigh at the taste as I chew and swallow, but it quickly turns into a gasp of pleasure and surprise at the touch of his tongue as he licks the remaining flecks of fish from my lips. Then that marvelous tongue plunges between my lips to savor the mingled flavor of the fish and woman together.
Ro growls low, his entire body shivering with pleasure and I lean into him, savoring the connection and flavor of him.
I can’t be in love already, but I fear that I’m well on my way.
Keri
One week later
I frowndown at the notebook in front of me. I can feel the weight of Ro’s presence as he leans over me. Though his body doesn’t brush mine, his powerful hand is planted on one side of me from which his arm stretches up like a column of heat and strength. The definition of his muscles is distracting. That may have something to do with my hyperawareness of him. Or it could be all the sex.
I struggle not to blush at the thought.
Of course, that’s not all we’ve been doing. Ro has been practically attached to me from the time I get off work at the library until just minutes before sunset. All the while I’ve also been trying to work out a solution to the supplements he wants and not getting any closer.
Which is why we’re spending a portion of our day together, now that my day off has come again, a little over an hour inland to meet with my aunt Katherine here at the coven house. Her hair elegantly coifed, Katherine is both intimidating as the head of the coven and a comfortable, familiar presence as she frowns down at her copy of my notes while her dragon hovers anxiously behind her. At her elbow is a copy of the recipe from the Underidge coven. I don’t know how she acquired it, only that she made an oath that she would not share it or permit the recipe to be replicated in any fashion.
Not a difficult promise to keep considering that I have no intention of using it. Even if Ro eyes it with avid interest. Gah, I hate the rejected flounder look he’s been giving me since Katherine produced the recipe and then said she wasn’t handing it over to us. Suits me just fine, but I keep that to myself. I’m not going to drive the screw deeper even if I’m privately relieved.
Katherine sighs deeply and rubs her eyes. “Good gods, Keri. This is a mess. I see exactly what your concerns are. Even without seeing the recipe, you’ve underscored nearly everything problematic with the supplement the coven provides. On paper, what they are doing makes sense. Negate the regular tidal pull by dampening the connection. Separation from the source of the problem is often used to treat a problem. And if it was used only rarely then it probably doesn’t cause much harm, but our coastal communities are seeing a larger influx of aquatic species. Of course they aren’t going to want to have to go to the sea every evening. But the coven hasn’t considered the long-term effects that usage would have on an aquatic person using it on a daily basis.”
I nod and lean forward. “I figure that Ro’s people and other species like his must have some sort of inner biorhythm connected to the sea. Even though technically the tide goes in and out several times a day, we must consider it similar to their magic—at a certain point they are pulled back out to rejoin their source. And this may also be why the pull during the full moon, which has the strongest effect on the tides, is one that they cannot resist.”
I lick my lips nervously, uncertain if I’m correct with the direction my research and experiments have been directing me. My eyes drop to the cup of tea by my right hand. “So what if instead of blocking that connection, we work with it? We don’t try to separate their land-dwelling form from the sea. That would be like trying to separate the steeped essence of the leaves from the hot water. It is one. Instead, what if we try to change the pattern?”
I lift my hand over it, palm down, my first two fingertips pointing to the liquid and slowly work my fingers in a clockwise motion as I tap into the energy of the water and merge it with my own aura, calling on the nature of the substance as I’ve been slowly learning to do with my potion making. “The alchemical nature of water is transmutable, so it makes sense to work within their biorhythm to sustain their natural ability to form themselves… but what if we utilized something that works with the natural tide within his magic instead? We could simply convince his body that that it’s ‘high tide,’ so to speak.”
Katherine sits back in her chair and purses her lips thoughtfully. “You mean something that is the magical equivalent of a hormone-based birth control pill?”
I nod cautiously because it is, but it also isn’t. “Essentially yes—hopefully without the side effects that occur with hormonal treatments. But something that he could take daily but then once a month, or three days, if necessary, go off to keep in time with his natural tide.”
“I would assume that includes reproductive tides as well,” Asterion interrupts as he stares at the Aquana sitting beside me. “If I’m not mistaken, a lot of sea peoples have a fertile cycle highly in tune with the magical tides of the sea. If you are making him feel at his peak all month—” His voice drops as he chuckles as Katherine muffles a laugh behind her hand.
