Chapter
One
Finn & Margaid’s Wedding
Room with a Tomb, October
Ask her to dance,idiot.
Phineas pulled at the bow tie around his throat. He wasn’t used to wearing a suit, but he gladly did for Finn’s wedding. Finn had bought the suit for him as a best man gift, which was so nice.
Though, in all honesty, he would’ve preferred some maki or rice as a gift instead of an itchy formal outfit. Even tofu or falafel over clothes, but he understood Finn’s reasoning. It was Margaid’s wedding and she wanted everything to look nice and classy. It was Margaid’s wish: no flannel, or rubber boots, or fishing lures. Phineas knew it was a direct warning to Finn, her glashtyn fiancé, who ran Harmony Glen’s bait and tackle shop. Finn had a propensity for dressing like he was going out on the lake every single day.
Phineas would’ve looked totally out of place because everyone who attended the wedding at the dead-and-breakfast was dressed up. So he appreciated his new suit.
Still, food was always a better present as far as he was concerned.
Stop thinking about food. Focus on Pearl.
Phineas straightened the jacket and rolled his shoulders, trying to ignore the discomfort. He only wore clothes to be conventional. It’s not like he had anything to hide when he went about with the norms. It was a perk of having your junk safely encased in a cloaca. When he was at home though, not a stitch of fabric was on him.
It was all gills and free-balling it, all the time.
However, this was a nice occasion in town, and he was the best man. Phineas was so honored to be Finn’s best man, because Finn was like a big brother to him and his best friend.
When Phineas was orphaned at a young age, it was Finn Clague’s father, also a glashtyn, who took him under his wing and helped him stand on his own two feet. When the senior Clague died tragically, Finn stepped up and watched out for Phineas too. Water horse and gill man, it was the perfect family for Phineas to be included in.
It meant everything to Phineas to have this adoptive family.
And Pearl was part of all that. Except, he loved her more than anything.
He always had.
Now, he was at the wedding reception, the music jamming thanks to Asher, the town’s werewolf late-night DJ, and he was once again standing on the sidelines, just staring at the beautiful, proverbial flower that was Pearl Clague.
Finn’s little sister.
Pearl had been his childhood friend and then, as they grew up, she was much more. There was so much to love about her, it felt as if his heart would burst.
And today, she looked as beautiful and ethereal as ever. Her hair shimmered like an opalescent pearl, silvery with some lightlavender hues. It was subtle. Her skin seemed to sparkle in the dim lights of the opulently decorated hall where wedding guests were dancing. He’d never seen Room with a Tomb so dressed up, it was like a whole new world and made tonight extra special. As if knowing he was staring at her, she glanced shyly at him. Her big violet eyes and long lashes beckoning him. Her plump pink lips turned up in a smile, with a faint hint of pink on her pale cheeks.
There were old stories about unicorns and their enchanting beauty. Yeah, he totally got that, but it wasn’t just her outward beauty. Pearl was a beautiful, kind and empathetic soul.
She was special.
Something to cherish.
She was aptly named, for he thought she was the most precious thing of all.
He tugged on his tie again, staring at her like a goofball, of that he was certain.
Ask her to dance. It’s a wedding. No one will pay attention.
He genuinely liked most people in Harmony Glen, but his late parents had taught him to be cautious, so he didn’t like attention on him.
As he glanced around at the guests, all enjoying the reception, he realized no one was even looking at him.
He was safe here.
