Chapter 27

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

"What's going on, Reid? You're not looking so hot."

Perez sat across the booth, anxiously picking at a basket of French fries. She'd met him at a local diner chain, responding to his panicked text message, I think I fucked up. Or maybe, I'm fucked up.

"Don't feel it either." Shoving his hands into his hair, he tugged ruthlessly at the roots. "I've been thinking about what you and Hatcher said the other day. About Nireed."

"We didn't say those things to hurt you." Perez pulled his hands away, shooting them a disapproving look, as if they'd committed the offense all on their own. "Or judge you."

"From you? I believe that. Not so convinced that's the case with him."

"Hatcher cares about you. He's a distrustful asshole about it sometimes, especially when it comes to the merfolk. I'm not gonna lie, I'm side-eyeing him a bit for that, but I do believe it's ignorance, not outright maliciousness."

"Not much of a comfort though, is it?"

"Not really," she admitted. "But the mindset at the time was ‘wow, yikes, our friend just did something,'" her voice dropped to a whisper, "‘illegal.' And we just found out that you had feelings for Nireed and felt we needed to open your eyes to some things before you got too serious."

"It's already serious. And the thought that maybe this should be the end is eating me up inside, because I don't want it to be."

"Yeah?" she asked softly, far more forgiving than he'd expected. The last time they'd talked about personal shit, it had scraped his nerves like nails on a chalkboard, and he'd barely reigned in his temper. "Tell me why. Maybe it'll help."

"I think Nireed's the bravest, most selfless person I know." While Reid had waited for Perez to arrive, he reread the exposé about the mermaid lab on his phone twice over. Now, he showed it to his friend. "She volunteered for this because she wanted to make a real difference. And she's risking herself again now to keep her people safe from Nautic, knowing captivity or worse could be the consequence. That's who she really is." He lowered his voice. "The killing, and the rest, is a part of the picture, but it's not the whole picture. I think I'm supposed to feel more disgusted about that than I do."

"Is that why your text message said, ‘maybe, I'm fucked up'?"

He nodded. "While I'm not exactly thrilled about all the things she's done, it doesn't change how I feel about her. And yeah, maybe that's messed up, but I can rationalize it with the context. Merfolk don't hunt humans, not since the culmination of the study, and while they do hunt their enemies, they believe that death has value. Leaving a body unconsumed is to waste it."

Perez looked up from his phone, surprised. "That's morbid, but it makes a grim sort of logic."

"With The Merry Mariner, they took out an enemy and fed their families. With Gale's Promise , they prioritized getting the injured home safely. I think most would find fault with their methods, but they're not human. They live by different rules."

"And you're at peace with that." It wasn't even a question. Or a judgment. "And with the fact that Nireed also lives by these rules."

"I think I am."

Perez smiled. "That's all I wanted to hear. I was never against Nireed. Just wanted you to really understand what you were signing up for, and most of all, to be happy. Because that's how something like this works in the long term for the both of you. You gotta be damn sure about it. Resentments and doubts will only fester."

"You don't think there's either of those things?"

"Nah, it sounds more to me like you're totally gone for her. Even Hatcher couldn't disagree with that. I mean, it'll probably take him a long ass time to come around to this, but I think he will once he hears the full story and has a chance to get to know your girl."

"You really think so?"

"Wouldn't have said it if I didn't." Perez handed back his phone and popped a French fry into her mouth. "So, how'd you ‘fuck up'? Your text message said that too."

He groaned, and went to grab his hair again, but she swatted his hands away.

"Ah! None of that. What happened?"

Dropping his hands to the table, he began shredding a napkin into confetti instead. "We were talking about some dark, heavy shit. I got overwhelmed by it all and just left her, alone. I needed the space, but I didn't even take the time to explain why I was leaving."

"Yeah, you messed up, but it's fixable. If you manage to find her out there in that big, wide ocean, that is. She's not exactly reachable by phone."

"Don't I know it."

These past few weeks, Nireed had been everywhere he turned, but now, if she meant to avoid him? Mermaids had been elusive myths for centuries. She could easily disappear into the ocean if she wanted to and never see his sorry ass again.

Reid didn't go home until well past dark, all while wishing he might find Nireed right where he'd left her, but knowing she'd be gone.

And she was. But there was a new note in the journal, beads of tears trapped between its waxy pages. It broke his heart to see them and the apology she wrote. She didn't say it outright, but she thought what they'd started was over, that he thought she was an irredeemable monster.

He hadn't given her a reason to believe otherwise. He ran. And in fear. But it wasn't because he realized he loathed the monster. Quite the opposite, in fact.

The next morning, Reid found himself once again searching the museum's website for his sister's work number. He paced the length of his houseboat six times before taking a deep breath and dialing.

She picked up on the fourth ring. "Lorelei Roth, Museum Director. What can I do for you?"

There it was, that slight Yooper accent. He'd dismissed it before, but it was a glaring beacon of proof now. "Hi, uh, it's Reid." He swallowed thickly. "Your brother."

The line was quiet on the other end.

Several long seconds ticked by, and he was just about to say ‘hello?' when his sister responded, voice steeped in teary emotion, "You know?"

He exhaled, tears stinging his eyes. "Yeah, my—I mean—our mom told me yesterday. So, it's true?"

"Yeah," she said with a nervous laugh. "Apparently. Wild, right?"

"Wild, yeah." He rubbed his hand behind his neck. "You know, you kind of sound like her. Grandma Greta, I mean."

"Grandma Greta," she repeated softly. "I used to think of her as my mom."

"I mean she raised you, right? Did you know?"

"No, never. I thought she'd adopted me from the child welfare system."

"Damn." So, this had been a closely guarded secret from them both.

"Did Annaliese—I mean, Mom—tell you everything?"

Fuck. What a loaded question. That she was a child born out of sexual assault? A flesh-craving mermaid? Or was there even more to this story that hadn't been divulged to him yet? "I know about the ‘how.' And that you and Nireed have more in common than meets the eye. Anything else I'm missing?"

"Nope." Lorelei chuckled darkly. "That about sums it up."

"Well, thank Jesus. I don't think I could take more earth-shattering news."

"No triple whammies here. Just hitting doubles."

A long pause fell between them.

"Do you, uh, maybe want to meet?" he ventured.

"Oh, fuck yes." She exhaled, sounding relieved. "You're more than welcome to come over, I promise I don't bite." Knowing what he did about her, it wasn't just a flippant joke, but his heart twinged at the thought that maybe his sister had gotten unkind responses to her oceanic heritage in the past. "Or we can meet somewhere public if you feel more comfortable with that."

He didn't know her. Really, there was no reason to trust her, but he did, implicitly. His mom did, after all, and they were family. That had to count for something. "We can meet at your place."

"I still have your number from when Nireed called. I'll text you my address."

Nireed.

Bitter regret weighed heavy in his chest. He'd really botched that up. When he demanded the truth from her, she gave it, and while it was a hard pill to swallow, he never should've run from her like he was fleeing a bloodthirsty monster. It would serve him right if she swam off into the proverbial sunset and never looked back, just as he realized how much she really meant to him.

"Reid?"

"Yeah, sorry. Text me your address. I'm off duty for the next two days."

Reid drove to Lorelei's house for brunch the next day after having an early breakfast with their mom.

He zipped down a long country road, stretching through a dense, forested corridor. It was slightly overcast, a light layer of fog spilling out from between the trees and onto the road. A touch spooky but at least it didn't impair visibility. He slowed down to make the turnoff, easing his bike up an access road and to a tall iron gate. The property's perimeter was walled off with high-stacked stone, cutting through the forest as far as his eye could see.

Noting a security camera and speaker system, he took off his helmet and punched the intercom with his finger. A few seconds ticked by before the speaker crackled, followed by a deep male-sounding voice on the other end. "Quinn-Roth residence."

A boyfriend? A partner? It struck him especially hard in that moment that he barely knew anything about his older sister.

Clearing his throat, he replied, "Hi. I'm Reid. Lorelei's long-lost half brother?"

A pause, then, "She told me you were coming. Come on up."

Gears and other mechanisms whirred to life as the gate slid back, clearing the way forward, and his heart climbed to his throat. It was now or nothing. After sliding the helmet back onto his head, Reid lightly eased the throttle forward, puttering up toward the house.

The trees opened to the ocean and a stunning, isolated inlet.

Given the state-of-the-art gate system, he'd expected to find a coastal mansion on the other end, but instead he pulled up to a charming, but modest, two-story stone cottage. He would've thought the thick wall of trees and long stretch of empty country road, would've provided enough privacy, but maybe one couldn't be too careful when they were a shore-dwelling mermaid.

Leaving his helmet and leather jacket with his bike, Reid approached the front door, gravel crunching beneath his boots. He paused, staring at its iron ring knocker a moment before taking a deep breath and using it. The door opened so suddenly she had to have been waiting for him on the other side.

A dark-haired redhead with striking green eyes stared back at him, her mouth slightly ajar. Lorelei. His sister.

His family.

She had mom's mismatched eyebrows and Grandma Greta's proud, stubborn chin. But aside from the unusual shade of green that contrasted with the rest of the family's dark browns, she didn't look like a mermaid.

And then she pounced, wrapping him in a fierce, too tight hug, the air whooshing out of him. Ah, there it was. The mermaid strength.

"Easy, sis." He wheezed, tapping her back, and she immediately loosened her arms without ending the hug.

"Sorry. I forget sometimes."

"It's all right." He hugged her back, the all-encompassing kind that only siblings can give moments before a headlock or wet willy. Not that he was going to do either, but the pesky, little brother urge was there, lurking somewhere in the background, waiting for the right moment. "Could've used you in grade school."

They both drew back at the same time.

"It's not too late." Her eyes flashed an eerie neon green as she waggled her fingers, the rounded tips extending into sharp claws, and he couldn't help but stare in wonder. There'd been no reason to doubt she was a mermaid, but here was the confirmation. "Can still beat up your bullies if you want."

"Great. I'll put you on speed-dial."

"Come on." She took his hand, tugging him inside. "Killian's got second breakfast on."

The open-concept interior was all handcrafted stone and reclaimed driftwood. Truly quintessential seaside cottage vibes. And in the kitchen was a tall guy with salt and pepper hair, pulling a steaming pie dish out of the oven. Quiche, by the looks and smells of it.

After setting the dish on the counter, the man turned around, shucking off an oven mitt and offering his hand.

Gesturing between the two of them, Lorelei beamed. "Husband, meet brother."

"Killian," the man supplied, clasping Reid's hand in a firm handshake. Short scruff lined his jaw and prominent crow's feet flanked grayish blue eyes. His sister's husband was significantly older than them both. Early forties if he had to guess, and no stranger to the sun. Fisherman, perhaps?

"How'd you two meet?"

The couple shared a wistful look.

"That's a long story," Lorelei replied.

"I've got time."

They sat around the dining room table, sharing the story over breakfast. Turned out, Killian was the captain of the fishing crew that found Lorelei among The Osprey's wreckage and had brought her back to shore for medical evaluation.

And Killian's first fishing boat, Dawn Chaser , had sunk just over a year later. Reid had been the rescue swimmer on that case, too, flown up from Cape Cod. But again, too late, and he later learned that the injured and hypothermic crew had been towed back to shore by merfolk and treated by landside EMS.

Those two incidents, and a general uptick in merfolk activity, were driving factors in installing a new Coast Guard aviation unit at Haven Cove Airport. Being closer meant getting on scene quicker and increasing their chances of saving lives.

But to think, he and his sister had come so close to crossing paths before, not just once, but twice. Maybe it had always been just a matter of time.

He'd tried to help with dishes once brunch was done, but the couple waved him off, so he wandered over to a pair of bookshelves in the living room. Picture frames were interspersed between the stacks of titles, one catching his eye in particular.

A wedding photo.

Lorelei and Killian stood off-center, hands clasped, with their bodies twisted to face the camera. To their right was Dr. Lila Branson with an older Black couple and a man giving jovial, short Thor energy. To their left was a dark-haired white woman wearing a bridesmaid's dress, and beside her, Nireed.

He brushed a finger along the frame, longing dropping anchor in his chest.

Nireed's hair had been loosely curled and braided, spilling over a bare shoulder in a waterfall of silky brown. Her Grecian-style dress was a deliberate nod to the sirens of old and in a light blue shade that reminded him of the periwinkle flowers his mom grew back home. The bouquet in her hands was a mix of blues, whites, and filler greens, and he didn't know enough about plants to identify any of them, but they had a distinctly wild, plucked from a field look.

At a glance, Nireed might be mistaken for human, but her eyes were just a little too luminescent, her nails a little too sharp, and along the smooth, ivory column of her neck, three faint horizontal slashes teased where her gills would be. That was, if you knew to look.

His sister drew up beside him, only the whisper of footsteps alerting him to her approach. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

Ethereal. A sea goddess gracing the shore with her divinity.

"Takes my breath away every single time." Figuratively, sometimes literally.

Smiling, his sister bent, pulling a black photo album from the bottom shelf, and flipped it open to a page with individual shots of all the bridesmaids. Carefully, she removed the one of Nireed from its sleeve and handed it to him. "You can have this one."

He took it reverently, keeping his fingers at the edges so not to smudge the surface.

Fierce amber eyes stared straight into the camera; lips quirked mischievously. This one snapshot in time was so quintessentially Nireed his heart squeezed, and for one beautiful moment, it felt like she was looking right at him and smiling, and that they existed in a world where he hadn't run when she needed him to trust her. "Thank you."

Lorelei took him down to the beach to talk, just the two of them. They plopped on the sand, sitting side-by-side with their arms folded around their knees, wind whipping their dark auburn hair. Mirror images of one another.

"So, you and Nireed, huh?" Lorelei bumped her shoulder into his. "That's new."

He sighed heavily.

"Uh-oh. That's got ‘complicated' written all over it."

Picking up a broken piece of mussel shell, Reid ran his thumb across its sharp edge before chucking it out into the ocean. "I fucked it up already."

Her smile dimmed. "Want to talk about it?"

"I didn't exactly handle my emotions well when I found out the truth behind The Osprey and the origins of Shorewalkers. She gave context, and I understood it, but I had also just found out that you were my sister and that Mom had been attacked. It all just dogpiled. I took off without explanation."

"It's a lot to take in. I'm sure she understands that."

He bowed his head. "She could smell fear on me. Since the day I met her, she's tried to prove to me that she's not some mindless, bloodthirsty monster. Leaving like I did? It's like I never listened."

"You had a lot to process." Lorelei's tone was even and judgment-free, which was rather gracious considering he'd hurt her friend. "It's okay to shut down for a little bit and make space to lick your wounds. I've done it plenty, in my own way. And yeah, it would've been better if you'd told her, but there's still time to do that."

He nodded along, unable to voice his fear that he'd irreparably broken Nireed's trust, as if saying it would make it come true.

"What were you afraid of?"

"Loving her."

"Oh," she breathed. "You love her?"

Practically heartsick with it.

When he didn't answer, she kept going. "This kind of stuff happens to couples all the time. Doesn't mean it's over. Not until one of you says it is."

A shred of hope was still hope, and he'd take it if it meant he'd a chance at earning Nireed's forgiveness and keeping her affection.

"I want to find her and apologize, but I don't know how."

Lorelei perked up. "Oh, I do!"

Launching to her feet, she reached for his hand and yanked him up with ease despite their significant height and weight difference. "Come on. We're calling Lila."