Page 24

“Mm.”

Luke paused to clap at Colby’s successful destruction of the latest tower. “And when you’re healed, you’ll…return to them?” he asked carefully as he set up the blocks for a new build. “Your pod?”

Syrus didn’t answer at first, and with his attention focused on his construction, Luke couldn’t quite read his silence. Finally, Syrus softly said, “If they were still near, they would have heard my song.”

Luke froze, then turned toward Syrus again. “They…left? Even though you were missing? Taken?”

Syrus shrugged, like that was completely reasonable. “I am neither mate nor protector.”

So he was an outcast, was what he was saying. An old injury that kept him from procreating and they’d just left him for cruel humans to poke and prod at. Luke clenched his jaw, trying to bite back something scathing. It wasn’t his culture—it wasn’t even his species—so what the hell could he really say?

But apparently his face was an open book, because Syrus’s eyes narrowed lazily in what looked like satisfaction. “So angry, dear Luke,” he crooned.

Luke ignored the fresh heat in his cheeks. “It’s just… Aren’t they your family? What about—what about your parents?”

“We leave our birth pod when we’re grown, so as to mate with fresh blood. And I’m too young to join the older pods. I would not be welcome there.”

Luke tried to process that. Because if all that was true, then…where the fuck was Syrus welcome?

Lonely. He must have been so lonely all this time. Luke searched Syrus’s face for some sign of it, but Syrus’s attention was likewise fully on Luke. His pretty eyes crinkled in amusement. “Colby is trying to show you something.”

Luke quickly looked down to where Colby was shoving a brightly painted block in his face. He collected himself with some effort. “Ah, thank you, bud.” Luke took the block. “I needed that for my castle.”

Luke hurried to build a new tower for Colby, then excused himself to the restroom. He didn’t really have to pee. He just needed a moment.

He stood over the sink and clutched at the counter. He didn’t know why he was so worked up over this. He supposed he just didn’t understand how they could have left one of their own like that. Syrus had been going through hell in that fish tank, and his people had just…swum away.

Luke let himself wallow for a few minutes and no longer. Then he splashed some water on his face and washed his hands. He returned to the living room to find Syrus on the floor, his back against the couch and his legs sprawled in front of him. Colby was kneeling at his side, handing Syrus animal-shaped puzzle pieces with solemn intent.

“Wy-on.”

Syrus carefully took the piece from Luke’s son. “A lion, yes,” he said, as serious as Luke had ever heard him. “Ferocious beast.”

Colby nodded, then let out his toddler version of a roar, which sounded a little more like a raspy cough than anything else.

Syrus grinned. “And a ferocious Colby.”

Colby nodded again, satisfied with Syrus’s interpretation. He reclaimed his lion and added it to the pile of mismatched puzzle pieces he was gathering on the floor.

Luke took a deep breath, fighting the urge to move closer. “You two okay if I start dinner?”

Colby ignored the question, too busy removing a zebra from its puzzle, but surprise flashed across Syrus’s face, followed quickly by unmistakable glee. “Yes, I believe so.”

As a show of trust, it was small enough. It wasn’t like Luke was leaving the house entirely, and he could easily hear and see into the living room from the kitchen. But it was something, at least, and he felt like Syrus had earned it.

Not to mention it was usually a trial getting food made with Colby. He was way too interested in the oven and the hot stove burners by far. But apparently he was now equally interested in their guest, and Luke was able to cook in peace for once.

He kept it simple—pasta and a salad, plus a raw swordfish steak for Syrus. Luke helped Syrus to the kitchen table, and they all ate together. At Colby’s insistence, Syrus even tried some of the lettuce leaves. Which meant apparently he could eat more than just raw meat, if he wanted to.

Afterward, the three of them watched half an animated movie, and then Luke got Colby to his bath and to bed. He came down to find Syrus back on the couch, flipping through Colby’s books again.

“I’m going to clean up.”

Syrus hummed his acknowledgment, and Luke headed into the kitchen. He filled the sink with hot, soapy water and got to work.

The day had been surreal, but more for how ordinary it had been, minus the addition of a dangerously handsome sea creature at its periphery. So maybe having a merman as a houseguest wouldn’t be the weirdest thing. Maybe it would even be nice to have company while Syrus healed.

And then, of course, Syrus would go back to the ocean, and Luke and Colby would go back to their normal, small, quiet lives.