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My knock at the Portsmouth apartment is quick. It’s there, but quick, and I open the door. This isn’t my home. This will never be my home.
I’m expecting Annabelle’s excited call of “Castor” when the door opens. It shouldn’t make my heart quake when she does it, but fuck me. I’m absolutely taken with her. She’s brilliant, kind, and the sexiest mermaid I’ve ever been with.
And she’s also not in the apartment.
Holter is, however. He’s sitting on the sofa, his focus out the window.
I stride across the apartment in long steps. “What are you looking at—” It’s Annabelle. She’s swimming outside. Naked. With sharks. Not one shark, but three. She’s rubbing their noses and throwing something. It’s not the rod that Milo used. “Those look like sticks.”
“That’s because they are sticks.”
“Where did she get sticks?” They’re honest sticks, not driftwood?
“Belle is outside in the water with sharks, and your question is where did she get the sticks?”
“I can see your point, but let’s start with the sticks.” I have a thousand follow-up questions.
“I took her shopping to get some, well, everything. And she mentioned to Rockney that she wished she had some sticks. The next thing I knew, she was back in Kai’s old clothing and clutching three sticks, saying she was ready to go home. With that sparkle in her eye. I can’t say no to that sparkle.”
I nod. He can’t say no to her, period. “And?”
“And that was yesterday afternoon. She’s been staying out in the ocean longer and longer each time. I figure all the swimming can’t be a bad thing.”
“Uh, huh? No, the time swimming has to be a good thing.” I can’t help but wonder, if she stays out there enough, will she get the ability to shift into fluke? “And...”
“I’m guessing you’re going to ask why I’m not out there with her?”
“Yes.” Because Nico is being released sometime today, and when he sees his mate outside with no one with her, he’s going to explode. “Why aren’t you out there with her?”
“Mickey.” Holter turns, his blue eyes wide. “That’s the one with the heart-shaped coloring on his head.” He takes a breath. “Mickey doesn’t want to perform if I’m around. Formerly M32.”
“She’s outside with them. The shark doesn’t like you, but he likes her and doesn’t want you around?”
“I was worried at first too. But look at her. Look how at ease she is in the water. It’s not a bad thing. Also, one of the patrols came too close to the sharks’ perimeter, and they chased the males away. They’re good. And they love her.”
I swallow. But watching Annabelle move through the water like she’s in one of my sister’s underwater ballets? Yeah, I won’t stop her. For the first time since I met her, she seems at ease with herself. One with who she’s become. With hand signals, she tells the sharks to wait while she launches the stick. It floats away with the current, and when she gives them a nod, they race after it.
“That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen,” I say. “And I’ve been around Constantine.”
“Right.”
“How long has she been out there?”
“It’s not a question of how long, but how many times and how long each time.”
“Oh.” I don’t ask him to elaborate.
The front door opens. Nico’s there, a Glyden robe tied around his waist. I’m staring at him, but Holter is still watching Annabelle.
“I would have come and gotten you,” says Holter.
“He’s awake.” Nico’s close to tears.
“What?” Holter’s off the sofa and across the room in a flash. “Alder’s awake? Why the fuck didn’t you contact me? I would have come back. I should go now.” Holter turns to the window and back to Nico.
“I don’t have a block,” Nico grunts. He hasn’t looked out the window yet. His gaze is on his podling brother.
“You could have borrowed one.”
