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I forgot to think.
I justwantedhim up, breathing the air again. Safe.
Mine.
No, he couldn’t be mine forever, but he was mine for that night. Deus was only in danger because he’d tried to face his fear to make me happy.
Without waiting for my approval, my body reacted on instinct.
My legs grew longer, stretching and glowing a fiery red. Suction cups popped out along their length and my toes fused together, each tentacle ending in a long, feathered point.
Four more tentacles sprouted from my back. The salty water was perfect, like a balm on my homesick skin. Finding themselves free, my tentacles twisted joyfully as we spun down after Deus’ sinking body.
Wrapping two tentacles around his waist, I drew him carefully up to the surface. His eyes were wild, his mouth open as he tried to shout but ended up choking. Why would a land-dweller try to speak while underwater?
We broke the surface seconds later, and I began pounding him on the back with a still-human arm. Deus spewed water all over my chest while he clung to me.
His heart hammered through his shirt and his shallow breath was interspersed with coughing.
“Sexy,” he heaved after a couple of minutes. “I know.”
“It’s all right.” I rubbed his back as we floated half out of the water. “I’m not going to let you go. I won’t drop you.”
“I know,” Deus murmured.
Water streamed from his hair, which was plastered to his head. Deus’ eyes seemed bluer than ever, and lightning flickered in their depths. I tried not to freeze.
“Let’s get you to shore, okay?” I murmured. “Nice and easy.”
But when I tried to swim, his legs tightened around me.
“I can’t.” His breathing was ragged.
“New plan. Let’s just float. I’ve got you.”Unless you fry us and everything else in this lake.
Memories of the tree he’d blackened when he’d lost control in the woods flashed through my mind. I hoped he couldn’t feel my heart banging against my chest.
“Yeah.” He managed a weak smile before swallowing hard and visibly trying to calm down. “We’re floating really well, actually.”
Then he looked down.
Seaweed and sushi!
My tentacles were visible.
The cuff only worked when I wanted it to, and I’d been so worried about Deus and the lake…
“You’re not really a mermaid, are you?” Deus didn’t sound disgusted or afraid.
He sounded…intrigued.
“Guilty,” I admitted. “On the bright side, it makes stabilizing you in the waterreallyeasy.”
“So…” Deus ran a finger along the sensitive, leathery skin of one tentacle.
It was the first time, other than in my imagination, that anyone had touched my shifted skin. I shivered in pleasure.
A sly smile crept across his face.
