15. Epilogue

N autilus families had their own form of connection and affection, but it was often more limited to the instincts that came from our shelled forms. I’d had a few laughs with some of my family above water, but it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t anything like the loud and expressive version I experienced with Cory’s family, but it was captivating. Watching the way they talked and laughed and supported each other made me feel warm through and through. They had a special bond, and they had extended that bond to welcome me in.

A part of me was still missing, still far away, but Cory and his family helped me see that home was more than my shell, more than my refuge. It was him . That night, I decided I would stop looking. Stop obsessing over something that was gone and wouldn’t be coming back .

The idea sat like a rock in my belly, but I needed to let it go and focus on the life I had with Cory. It was a beautiful life with him. He loved me, cherished me, and protected me. He was more than I could have ever hoped for in a mate. I needed to look ahead with him and not keep looking back. Starting with Christmas and the promise and hope it brought.

Cory

Christmas morning, I woke with a strange feeling in my chest. I thought it was my excitement to share the holiday with Nemo, or carry-over from the night before and my heart feeling so full at seeing him with my family. The sensation remained even after our breakfast and hot cocoa, making me feel restless. Perhaps it was simply heartburn after all the food I’d had the last couple of days.

Nemo sat in my lap, staring at the Christmas tree. “Do we have to take it down when Christmas is over?”

“Typically, yes, though people do it at different times. But if it makes you happy, we can keep it up as long as you’d like.”

“Hmm. I’ll think about it. I really enjoyed putting it up with you, and I think it would feel more special next year if we don’t keep it out too long.”

I kissed the side of his cheek, trying to focus on his presence. “You might be right.”

With my arms around him, I rested my chin on his shoulder. I felt a cirrus flicker over my skin as it wound its way around my belly. It was strange to think how, in less than a week, I’d grown used to feeling the thin tentacles on—and in —my body. They were a part of Nemo, and every part of him excited and soothed me. Except now. As nice as it felt, it didn’t soothe the agitation in my chest.

“Are you all right, Cory? My cirrus is sensing something bothering you.” Nemo tilted his head back and looked at me.

I ran a hand over my hair, not sure what to say because I didn’t understand the feeling, except that I felt like I needed to do something. “I’m very happy with you right here, Nemo. I don’t want you to think otherwise, but I have this urge within telling me I need to go.”

Nemo climbed off my lap so he could turn around to face me, concern etched on his face. “Go? Where?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Then you should go. You should listen to that feeling. Instincts are there for a reason. It’s something that comes natural to us shifters, maybe not as much for humans, but it’s there, and you should acknowledge it.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to mess up our Christmas.”

“No. You aren’t. If you need to go, then I’ll come with you…unless…you don’t want me to.” His voice got softer as he spoke.

I grabbed his hand. “I want you with me. I’m just not sure where we’ll end up.”

“Wherever it is, we’ll be there together.”

His assurance was what I needed. Knowing he would be with me eased some of the disquiet I felt. “Okay. Thank you, Nemo. Let’s do this. I guess it will be an adventure.”

I grabbed my hoodie, and Nemo took his Christmas sweater, and we got in the truck and left. I didn’t even know where we were going, but I had this pull inside of me. Since I was trusting my instincts, as Nemo said, I let the pull direct me.

Before long, we were driving along the PCH—Pacific Coast Highway—which followed the coast. We drove past our usual beach and kept going. Nemo placed his hand on my thigh, giving me a tether to hold on to while I embraced the unknown. Another twenty minutes down the highway and the pull grew stronger. It reminded me of the ache I used to feel when I stared out at the sea. An ache that I now realized had disappeared when Nemo arrived .

I inhaled sharply when that pull flared, making me swing the truck over to the side of the road and park on the street. I knew where we were, but then I was pretty familiar with almost all the beaches along California’s coast. I just wasn’t sure why we were here.

Nemo let out a loud laugh. He pointed to the sign of the beach. “Cory! It says Christmas Cove!”

I smiled at that. It seemed almost too perfect that I was brought here on this day. Christmas Cove was one of the beaches in Laguna Beach at the southern end of Orange County. I climbed out of the truck, and Nemo came to my side, taking my hand and twining our fingers together.

We walked down the ramp that led to the beach. At the bottom, I felt guided to follow the path to the left, which would take us to the part of the beach where the tide pools were. I pointed out the sign to Nemo, which said, ‘ Collecting of rocks, shells, or marine life is prohibited .’

“You aren’t allowed to collect me, Cory.”

I snorted. “It’s a good thing I already have you.”

Nemo got distracted by the tide pools, giggling as he poked at sea anemones or talked to crabs. I couldn’t stay and watch him, not then. Not when the pull was so strong it was all I could think about. Beyond the cove, there was a dry stretch of sand where the water didn’t reach. The sunlight gleamed off something poking out of the sand .

I ran, well, trotted, toward the gleaming object. Going down on one knee, I hurriedly brushed the sand away and let out a shout when I saw what it was. “Holy shit!”

“Cory? Are you all right?”

My heart lodged itself in my throat and I couldn’t respond, but I scraped at the sand with my hand, trying to free it.

I heard Nemo approaching. “Cory?”

The object in the sand gave way until I held it in my hands. I stared at it with utter disbelief. How? How did I find it? I’d never actually seen it, but I knew, without a doubt, that it was his. I fell back on my ass, landing in the soft sand.

When Nemo saw what I was holding, he froze. A loud sob burst out of him as he shouted, “My shell!”

He ran toward me and tackled me, pushing me until I was on my back in the sand. He grabbed the shell and clutched it to his chest. I held him as the relief of his fears, worries, and loss poured out of him.

“You found it. I can’t believe you found it. Thank you, Cory!”

“I’m not sure how, but I am so happy I did.”

“We’re mated, Cory. We’re mated, and you found the part of me I couldn’t find. It was on land, and I couldn’t find it. But you could because you are of the land.” He peppered kisses over my face.

“Merry Christmas, Nemo. ”

“Oh! Merry Christmas! Thank you. Thank you for bringing this back to me. This is the best gift! It means so much to me. I was prepared to let it go, but am so relieved I don't have to. I only wish I had something special to give to you, too.”

“You already have. You are the best Christmas present I could have hoped for, Nemo. You saved me once and now you’re here, saving me again by filling my life with joy. You’re my miracle. My…mate. You’re mine, Nemo. And I’m yours. I love you.”

He kissed me hard and though his eyes were misty, overcome with emotion, he grinned so big it made my heart explode.

“I know it said no removing of shells or marine life, but I'm the marine life and it's my shell, so I'm not leaving without it.”

I smirked at his adorably determined face. “I'm not sure how it got here, but at least it managed to end up in a protected area.”

Nemo bobbed his head in agreement before looking out at the ocean. “Would you mind…would it be okay if I shifted for a little while? I’ve missed it so much.”

“Of course, little one.”

A flash of fear crept in as the thought returned of him going into the sea and never coming back. I forced it aside, though. It wouldn't happen. He would come back to me. But even if it did, we were mated, bonded. A tether connected us. If I could find his shell on a beach thirty miles away, I could find him in the sea. All I had to do was follow my heart and it would lead me to him. I watched with delight as he held his shell and ran full force into the sea. My humanness had me watching for him to come up for air, but I knew he didn’t need to.

I stripped off my hoodie and walked out into the water, bracing myself against the biting cold. I was waist-deep when I felt a familiar flicker against my skin. A smile stretched my lips wide. I looked into the water, expecting to see his face, the face underwater I’d spent years dreaming of.

Instead, I caught a glimpse of the beautiful brown and white shell floating around me as the cirri fluttered against my skin. I let out a laugh. He was ten times bigger than any nautilus I'd seen in an aquarium, and he was mine. The color of the shell matched his hair and fair skin tone. I felt him, too. Within me. Even if I hadn't seen him go into the sea, I would have known him anywhere. My mate .

“Look at you! You are utterly remarkable. My little saint nautilus.”

*Thank you for reading Little Saint Nautilus, if you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review- https://mybook.to/littlesaintnautilu s

**Don’t forget to check out the rest of Tinsel & Tentacles 2.0 series for more tentacle holiday fun- https://mybook.to/TinselAndTentacles2

***If you’d like to read about the mer-prince and the musician, Calder and Denver, you can find their story here- https://mybook.to/songofthesea