I’m imagining things.Fuck.I probably do need that therapist.
11
Fianloathedto see his landbride—to see Kai—in that state.Worst, he wasn’t even exactly sure what that state was.All he knew was that Kai wanted to leave the magicked town and leaving it would do him good.
The farther he gets away from that spell the better.
Fian didn’t have many connections in the human realm—not any if he was being honest—but he was a valued freelancer for Demonic Designs, and when they had invited him to a company feast, Fian had found himself chatting to the most laid-back location scout demon in all the dreaming oceans.Her name was Zazine, she was the oldest of six seahorse demon children, and she had come out to eat pan fried mushrooms with Fian, calling himMy best womb-less buddyafter four green algae schnapps.
Because of that, Fian called her.
“Hello?Who is this?”
“Zazine, it’s Fian.”
“Oh, Fian!Want to get your suckers wet?”
“Well, not right now.And I cannot tell what you actually mean by that, Zazine.Listen, I’m in the human realm, and I need your help, urgently.”
“Is it about the carved cocks?Did they get loose and float to the surface over there?”
“What?No.Why would that happen?”
“I don’t know, but you’d be surprised what can happen when you build the kind of awesome seafoam attractions we build.Where are you?”
“A town called Salt Harbor.It is badly enchanted, and that has to do with why I need you.Oh, can you come in a car?And pretend you are from one of those driving services?And maybe can you loan me some human money?You know I’m good for it.”
She sighed.“Real friends only ever tell it to the waves, but just give me something to go on here.Did you sink a ship and need me for cleanup, anything like that?”
“What?No.I, uh.”Fian swallowed.He could feel his color shift.“I found someone.Someone special.Zazine, believe me or not, but I’ll make this human my landbride.He gifted me something, expecting nothing in return, and now…now…”
A sigh light as the incoming tide echoed from the other side.“You sound like my younger brother.But fine, I’m on my way.I’ll lie for you and pretend for you, but you’ll owe me drinks.”
“Of course, that works.”
“Ten minutes.”
She ended the call on her end, and Fian beamed when he walked back to where he had left Kai.
Except Kai wasn’t there.
It took Fian no more than maybe ten seconds to spot Kai.He stood outside the Jammery, looking at the front door and the lettering there that gave the opening hours and promiseddelicious jams and teas.
Nine to eight, seven days a week.Did he work here all by himself and make all the jams and teas by himself too?That barnacle must’ve made him.Oh, I should have throttled that human.
Fian stepped closer, relieved that Kai hadn’t gone far.“Kai?”
Fian’s pretty human turned, honey-brown eyes shimmering with moisture.“I moved.Fuck.Sorry about that.I just—”
Fian closed the distance between them though he moved slowly as if Kai were a clownfish about to hide himself away in the corals.But Fian succeeded, managing to place an arm around Kai’s shoulders.
He ached to shift and taste Kai.Tasting him would have made it easier for Fian to tell if Kai was truly all right.There is still enchantment on him like an ugly human oil spill clinging to a seabird’s feathers.The throttling spell is gone, but with what’s still there, it’s probably better if it washes away gradually.Holding him in his dream seems to have done so much good already.I cannot wait to hold him again next time he sleeps.Will he let me hold him then?
“It’s fine, Kai.I found you.”
Kai looked up at Fian.His eyes still threatened to overflow with salt, but they didn’t.Kai seemed too focused on Fian.Under normal circumstances, such tender attention would have forced vermilions and purples into Fian’s skin, but he kept himself composed.For Kai.
I’ll tell him.I’ll tell him everything, but in small doses.I promised to go shopping with him, so that is the most important thing right now.
