Chapter 29

Much later, as they sat around in the moonlight, the merfolk playing their instruments as delicious food was brought out, Luna gazed around at the merry crowd.

She tried not to think of tomorrow, tried to focus on the feast, which was made up of all kinds of land and sea-based food. On one side of her sat Tomas—no, Tom. She had to get used to calling him Tom now. And opposite her sat Kai. Their eyes kept snagging across the table as they ate and laughed and talked.

Her heart felt like it had a weight tied around it, despite her joy at finding her brother.

She tried not to think ahead to tomorrow, to saying goodbye to Kai.

Luckily, Letitia’s question brought her back. “So, Luna, what have you been doing all these years?”

Luna told them her story. About her difficult early years, and horrible old Edith, and working in her warehouse job. The Mer folk all looked horrified.

“I did okay,” she reassured them as Tom reached out and touched her arm solicitously, his face full of love and concern. Everyone here was just so caring… it was kind of… confronting.

She couldn’t look at Kai or she knew she’d end up a blubbering mess. “I—er, you know, I have a few good friends, and I learned to fight. That sounds bad, I guess. I decided to compete to make the kraken tell me what happened to my family, and then… this guy here he let me win so I could bargain with the kraken.”

“Wow! You are some strong gal,” Letitia said.

“I had to be. I was determined to find Tomas. And now, finding out that you live so close,” she smiled at her brother, “is wonderful, and kind of sad too.”

Brooke nodded her agreement. “We’re so sorry about that. If we’d known, we would have tried to get some secret squirrel message to you. But we were sworn to never talk about Tom when we took him. The kraken were worried about reprisals from humans. Our community was a good choice—we don’t mix with other species except on market days; we keep the outside world out. So we raised him as one of our own. He knew he was a human foundling, but only recently have we told him the whole story, at least what we know of it… but yes, we do lead a sheltered life here, and Tom has not yet ventured into the wider world.”

“Can he, is that allowed?”

“When he is eighteen, he will be able to attend the markets in Motham. When he’s twenty-one he gets the key to the sea, so he can choose where he goes. I guess he could choose to live on land, but we kind of hope he doesn’t.”

“I can’t imagine wanting to be land bound.” Tom looked at his Mer family, then at Luna. “But wherever you are Luna, I will visit often.”

Wherever she was. A crazy image came to mind. Of living under the sea. Somehow. Impossible. Stupid. Was she going soft in the head now that she’d found Tomas?

Since she’d spied his gills?

She felt Kai’s intense gaze resting on her again. She glanced at him then quickly away, and grabbed another oyster.

“And you guys,” Letitia looked from Kai to Luna. “Are you…”

“Had this conversation already, luv, with Kai. Don’t go there.” Brooke winked. Now Luna’s eyes did fly to Kai’s. What on earth had he said to the Mer clan leader?

She saw him blush, but before he could answer she chirped, “We’re just friends.” Somehow, she sensed Kai flinch. “I couldn’t have found you Tom, without Kai’s help. His,” she swallowed hard, “friendship has meant so much—his support has helped me to be here. It’s been a journey for sure.” She barked out a laugh. “More like a roller coaster ride, these past few weeks, to be honest.”

Just a few weeks. Was that all? It felt like Kai had always been in her life. And she would have to go back to it without him. Suddenly it was hard to swallow the delicious food in front of her.

And all the while, Kai was strangely quiet, as if deep in thought.

After they’d eaten, they sat around and listened to music and songs. Eventually, Brooke showed them to their cave, a special one for the very occasional guest, she explained, well away from the water to cater for land dwellers and their friends. And then she winked again.

Soon they were tucked up in the beds that had been made for them out of the dune grasses that grew on the sandhills nearby. Knowing Kai was next to her, it was hard not to throw back her coverlet and go lie with him on his rock. In the end, Luna could take it no longer. She got up, snuck over, and lay down next to him.

“Kai?”

He propped up on a tentacle. Clearly, he’d been wide awake too.

She let her fingers drift across his chest softly, trying to find the right words. “I’m sorry,” she managed finally. “That I told you not to touch me earlier. It’s just… all this—feeling loved, feeling cared about, like I actually matter—it’s too much for me at times. It makes me feel vulnerable. And when I feel vulnerable, I hit out. I’m sorry, I hate myself for it.”

He gathered her hand in his and put it to his lips, dropped a soft kiss on the back of it.

“Then take my kisses,” he turned her hand over and laid kisses on the palm, “and drown out the hate.” And when he held out a tentacle, inviting her to snuggle in next to him, what else could a girl do but accept?

The next morning, after a huge breakfast of sea hen eggs, cooked up with the most delicious medley of sea vegetables, it was time to say their farewells.

Luna and Tom hugged, and he tried to give her back the locket she’d given him as a gift yesterday. “No Tom. I vowed if I ever found you, that you would keep this forever.”

“But it’s all you have to remind you of Mom and Dad.”

“And I’ve had it with me for the last fifteen years, so now it’s your turn. Besides,” she fingered the mother of pearl pendant at her neck that he’d made for her, “I have this from you now.”

With a grin, he looped the chain back over his head. “I will cherish it forever.”

“And I will see it every time I visit.” Luna hugged him close. It was definitely getting easier, this whole hugging thing. “Goodbye, my dearest brother, Tom.”

“Goodbye, my lovely sister, Luna.”

Kai watched Luna coming toward them, her arm looped in Tom’s after their private goodbye. She was so beautiful with the sun turning her hair to spun gold, he couldn’t help gawking at her. The tension that had made her look sharp and tight when he’d first met her was gone, and that let her beauty shine out. She glanced over at him quizzically, then he saw the stain of a blush creeping across her cheeks, her lips parting softly.

My Luna.

But not for much longer.

With difficulty, Kai ripped his gaze away and focused back on the group of merfolk bidding them a warm farewell. They assured him he would always be welcome, as would any of his kind.

“We don’t have nought against kraken here,” Brooke said, hugging him.

“What happens now?” Luna asked Brooke.

“You can visit whenever you wish. Even come live here with us, if you choose. You’d be welcome, sweetheart.”

He saw Luna retract into herself, the wall coming up as love was sent her way. He guessed it would take a while for her to totally trust that folks cared about her.

“That’s very kind. I will certainly visit, but I’m… I’m set up in my life, in my home. I’m not sure I could take all this...”

“All this what?” Brooke cocked her head.

Luna shook her head, laughing softly. “All this… kindness.”

“Oh you daft girl.” Brooke beckoned her with a strong arm, and Luna walked over. Brooke grinned and pointed at her rosy round cheek. “Won’t hug you if that feels too much, but you can kiss my cheek if you like.”

Luna did, and then, hesitating, she put her arms round Brooke and hugged her.

“Ah, that’s more like it, kiddo.”

“Thank you.” She went to Letitia next and did the same, and all the Mer folks cheered. “Remember, make love, not war,” Brooke called after them as they left.

Kai smiled to himself. It was a message he intended to heed.

At the gate, they turned and waved. Luna moved closer, and then he felt the softest thing against his tentacle. Her hand. She wanted to hold his, and he couldn’t let that opportunity go. Swiftly he transformed the end of his tentacle into fingers, then closed his palm around hers. Squeezed. She squeezed back.

He was amazed when a minute went past, then two, and she didn’t try to remove her hand from his. They kept walking, hand in hand, like… real lovers.

It felt wonderful. So right. Perfect. As if all his life he’d known he was meant to be side by side with this beautiful human.

And that’s when Kai knew that before the day was up, he had to confess his true feelings.

That he’d fallen madly in love with Luna Storm.

And that the only fight he was prepared to engage in now was the one he would have to wage with his own people, to be with her.