Page 8

Bree

S ince it was midweek, the drive from D.C. to Delaware would only take a few hours. On warm weekends and during the summer, those same few hours turned into half a day or longer, as everyone had the same idea of escaping city life for the beach.

Finley rode on the seat next to me in a small bowl of water.

The water wasn’t necessary for his magical species of axolotl thanks to the ancient sigils etched into his skin, especially for such a short time, but it would keep him calm before our journey.

Plus, the gentle rocking as the water sloshed with the car’s movements made him happy.

I had only a few hours of practice driving a car and a fake license Frankie had gotten me years ago, but highway driving was a breeze compared to the dense city streets.

No real need to watch for pedestrians or bikes.

I rolled down the Honda Accord’s windows, breathing in the fresh air outside the city.

As much as I tried to focus on the road and scenery since I had never traveled this far outside the city—after Marissa’s and my initial wide-eyed arrival—my thoughts always brought me back to Dominic.

The only other time I’d ventured farther away from home was on the back of his motorcycle.

My arms wrapped tight around the dragon’s hard body, my hair flying in the wind.

And that experience had been nothing short of life-changing.

Not just because of the amazing orgasm he’d given me after we parked, but because I’d realized how much I’d missed out on by always playing it safe. Always following the rules to the detriment of my own happiness.

I glanced over at Finley, basking in a sun puddle with a smile on his sweet little face, and winced as a pang of regret tore through my insides. Marissa and I weren’t the only ones who had sacrificed our homes and lives among others of our kind.

As guilt resumed its residence in my heart, I gripped the steering wheel tighter. The orphaned axolotl would never leave us, not of his own free will. The least I could do was bring him along for a swim in salt-filled waters.

When we neared the Delaware beaches, a cool breeze carried the distinct scent of seaweed through the car windows, and my heartbeat fluttered with anticipation. It had been years since Marissa and I swam in the ocean. Over a decade now. I was just as excited as I was terrified.

Finley must have caught the scent or change in the air because his eyes snapped open. He moved to the edge of the bowl, tilting his head curiously. His eyes were wide with excitement.

"Almost there," I said with a smile.

He wiggled his tail eagerly.

Only a few minutes later, I found a public parking lot and pulled into a space. I turned off the car and faced Finley. "You ready, buddy?"

The axolotl gripped the lip of the bowl and chirped, his head bobbing up and down. The movement nearly tipped over the bowl.

I laughed and scooped him up before he could fall out and spill water everywhere.

Yep, he was ready.

After settling Finley onto my shoulder—his favorite perch—I grabbed my duffel bag and headed for the beach. The sun climbed high in the cloudless sky, casting a warmth on sand that seemed to stretch out endlessly along the shoreline.

As soon as I reached the sand’s edge, I took off my sandals and a relaxed sigh escaped my lips.

The heat from the sun-soaked ground enveloped my bare feet, sending a tingling sensation through my entire body.

Grains of sand shifted beneath my weight, soft and yielding, like a comforting embrace from the earth herself.

I took my time wandering away from the parking lot and civilization in general, relishing the feeling spreading up from the soles of my feet and deep into my very soul. It was a simple joy, grounding and invigorating, as if the essence of the ocean reached out to welcome me home.

A silly thought to humans, maybe, but sirens knew how alive the ocean truly was.

When I found a secluded section of the beach, I quickly stripped down to the two-piece swimsuit I wore beneath my clothes.

I turned off my phone and tucked everything except a small satchel into the duffel I’d brought before hiding it all among the tall grasses growing along the beach’s edge.

Hopefully, everything would still be there when I returned.

I swallowed hard.

If I returned.

No, don’t think like that , I chided myself.

I would come back, even if it was with bad news.

My heart pounded as I stood on the beach and stared out over the water. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air and thrummed inside me. A breeze tousled my hair into a dance around my face, and the salt-laden air caressed my skin.

It was time.

I approached the gently lapping waves and let the water rush over my feet. The cool touch of the ocean sent shivers down my spine, and I sucked in a breath as the sand buried my toes. I hesitated before going farther, but not because of the cold. Nostalgia surged within me, as did fear.

The sea had been my home and sanctuary for more than half my life, and yet the bustling city had also become home, weaving its way into the fabric of my existence. I had grown accustomed to the constant noise, the distinct hum of urban living.

I had even known a taste of love for the briefest of moments. Dominic had shown me a side to life I didn’t know existed, a side I thought only belonged in fairytales and fantasies. I wasn’t sure I’d ever find that real of a feeling again, and if my father had any say in the matter, I never would.

A soft touch against my cheek brought me back to the present. Finley rubbed his head against my skin, trilling softly. Even without words, I knew he could sense my conflicted thoughts.

Never going back to that crazy human world was a genuine risk, but it was a risk I had to take. I clenched my fists at my sides.

It was now or never.

Taking a deep breath, I ran into the waves and dove beneath the surface. The reunion with the cold, briny water was everything I hoped it would be, and more. Judging by Finley’s trills as he pushed away from me and disappeared in the surge, he agreed.

I took a moment to soak in the sensation before resurfacing for air. Finley returned to my side as I swam farther out, away from the waves tugging us back toward the beach.

When I was sure I was far enough to avoid any notice from the few humans walking the beach, I ducked beneath the surface.

The water enveloped me again, and a sense of weightlessness embraced me like a long-lost friend.

The gentle melody of the ocean replaced the sounds of the world above, like whispers that echoed through the underwater world.

Without another thought, I grasped the talisman and pulled it over my head. The pain was immediate and excruciating. I cried out, only to suck water down my still-human lungs.

I thrashed against the throbbing in my chest, competing with the agony ripping through my entire body. Fear clawed at my throat.

Oh, sweet Tethys…

I was going to drown.

A fiery heat swept down my legs as they rejoined, my skin seeming to melt as my limbs fused.

Purple scales erupted along the length of my merging legs, covering them and continuing to rise toward my belly, and shimmery webbing grew between my fingers.

My body jerked uncontrollably as my lungs fought for air despite the water filling them.

Then suddenly, I could breathe again. I sucked in gasping breaths through my gills, thankful Marissa wouldn’t be attending my funeral later. At least not from this ridiculous moment.

I had experienced the transformation’s pain during our few swims over the years, but I had been smarter those times and stayed above the surface until the change was complete. This time, excitement and nerves had gotten the better of me, and I’d nearly paid the ultimate price.

This is amazing! Finley’s tinkling voice chimed in my mind.

I let out a surprised bubble. Oh, how I’d missed his voice! I had almost forgotten our ability to communicate this way underwater.

Whee! He swam in circles around me and through the shredded pieces of my swimsuit bottoms. Luminara axolotls had a longer-than-normal lifespan, often outliving sirens by two or three generations. At nineteen years old, he was hardly more than a toddler.

His happiness was contagious, and I gave in to the moment. I laughed and spun around, my hair floating like a curtain around me.

I wished I didn’t have to choose one or the other, legs or a tail. I wanted both. But my father’s strict demands for my life meant having both was impossible.

Shaking off my frustration before it could ruin this moment, I dove forward.

My tail fin caught the currents, and the membranes unfolded completely.

The ocean welcomed me with a tapestry of blues and greens that sparkled in the sunlight, and I let out a trill of joy, a sound that resonated through the water.

Miles away, a pod of whales sang back, recognizing me for what I was. I couldn’t help the wide grin that tugged at my cheeks. Since this might be the last time I got to swim in salty waters for a long time, I was going to make the most of it.

Of course, it could also be the first time for the rest of my life if we were forced to leave our human lives.

Nope. No more of that. Focusing on the bright side was the only way I was going to get through this day.

Finley and I swam together, taking our time as we stretched muscles we hadn’t used in years.

Memories flooded back to me the farther we went—childhood games with dolphins, the vibrant coral gardens I had called my backyard, and the lullabies of the ocean currents that had sung me to sleep.

My heart swelled with a mixture of happiness and longing. It was a bittersweet collision of emotions that seemed to reach across time and distance. A connection to my true self spread through me, like a part of my identity that had been dormant for far too long.