Mihail nodded, then cleared his throat. Giato held his breath and wasn't disappointed when Mihail spoke for the first time in Giato's hearing. "It worked." His voice was hoarse, and he promptly started coughing, even as Hanne cheered and Giato let out the breath he'd been holding.
"Hold on, I'll get you some water," Renato said. He was smiling as he crossed the work room to a table that held a pitcher of water and several empty glasses.
"Are you all right?" Giato asked, because Mihail still looked a little out of it.
Mihail nodded, accepting the water that Renato handed him. He drank half the glass, and then cleared his throat again.
"Magic and everything?" Hanne asked. "You said you had magic, right? Or was that..." She trailed off when Mihail nodded, holding up a hand and conjuring a small light.
"Excellent," Renato said. He straightened, glancing at Hanne, who was writing furiously in her notebook. "Do you need anything else from them, Hanne? They probably need to prepare to return to the coast."
"Hmm?" Hanne looked up. "No, I think I've got all the information I need for my report. Thank you both for your patience as we sorted the curse out."
"Thank you," Mihail said. His voice was smoother, less ragged, and Giato marveled at the sound of it. Standing, Giato offered Mihail a hand up. Mihail took it, swaying slightly when he stood. He blinked a few times again, and Giato decided it was a good thing they weren't having to travel that day. Mihail definitely needed to rest.
"Come on, let's go back to the room," Giato said. "Unless you want food?"
Mihail shook his head, releasing Giato's hand slowly. He led the way out of the work rooms slowly, and Giato kept a close eye on him just in case. Mihail kept his balance, however, though he stayed quiet as they made their way back to the room they were staying in. Once they reached the room, Mihail immediately sat on his bunk, smiling softly.
"I'm going to get supplies," Giato said, abruptly needing to distance himself. If he stayed, he might do or say something stupid, which would be especially stupid, given he was going to be saying goodbye in a few days. "You stay here and rest."
"I should..." Mihail trailed off, biting back a yawn. He smiled again, sheepish. "All right."
"Rest well," Giato said. He returned Mihail's smile, and then let himself out of the room. In the hall, he took a steadying breath before walking slowly away from the room. He had to get supplies. That would give him something to focus on besides Mihail.
*~*~*
Giato stretched his wings restlessly, pacing the beach as Mihail climbed out of the basket. He looked better than he had when they'd stopped the previous day, so either the proximity to the water was helping or he was getting used to flying. Not that he'd have reason to fly again.
He should shift back, bid Mihail farewell, and get himself off toward Caelfall, but he didn't want to. If he stayed in dragon form, he could pretend there was still a journey to be made.
Mihail had pulled his boots off and rolled up the legs of his trousers, and he sank his feet into the sand with a bright smile. Giato settled down on the sand, curling up like he did when they stopped for a night. Mihail didn't seem to mind, pacing toward the ocean's gentle waves. He waded into the water but didn't go far, letting the ocean lap at his ankles.
Giato stayed where he was, watching Mihail. Why wasn't he shifting and disappearing? Maybe he didn't like to shift in front of others either.
Mihail climbed out of the water slowly, approaching Giato. He didn't say anything, sitting down and cozying in next to Giato like he had each time they'd stopped during their travels. Giato rumbled in question, still not feeling like shifting, and he could feel Mihail shrug next to him. Even though he had his voice back, Mihail wasn't much for talking. Whether that was simply a habit from being cursed or if it was something Mihail didn't do habitually, Giato didn't know.
They stayed like that for most of the afternoon, and Giato actually dozed off for a while, tired from the morning's flight. He woke to his stomach rumbling, Mihail's steady, warm weight still resting against his side. Yawning, Giato blinked at the sun that was near to setting, its glow rippling across the ocean's surface. There was nothing in sight ahead of him, though he knew Startide was less than a mile up the beach.
"Shift?" Mihail asked, standing. He yawned himself, pulling his braided hair over his shoulder so it ran down his chest. "We should eat."
Giato grumbled but obliged, padding over to the basket so he could clothe himself properly after he'd shifted without having to run around the beach naked. Mihail politely turned his back, wading back into the water as Giato shifted. He dressed quickly, leaving his boots and socks in the basket like Mihail had. After a moment's hesitation, he waded out into the water to join Mihail.
The water was colder than Giato had anticipated, and he yelped when it hit his ankles. Mihail turned, a laugh bubbling up out of him. "It's not bad."
"It's cold," Giato muttered, making a face that only made Mihail's smile widen.
"It's colder out there," Mihail said. He gestured out, his smile slowly fading to a more pensive look.
"What's wrong?" Giato asked. He nearly lost his footing as the sand shifted under his feet, but a bit of wobbling got him to Mihail's side without dunking him in the water.
Mihail shrugged. He didn't reply, and Giato didn't push for an answer. They stood there for a long moment, until Giato's stomach rumbled loudly again, reminding him that he'd meant to eat when they'd landed and hadn't gotten there.
"I don't know what to tell my family," Mihail said. He grimaced, heading for the shore again. Giato followed, staying quiet in case Mihail would add to that. Mihail didn't immediately, walking over to the basket and fishing out some of the travel pies Giato had purchased for their trip. Stuffed with cheeses, meats, and vegetables, they were an easy meal that didn't require any sort of cooking. "They don't like being on land."
"They'd blame you?" Giato asked, settling in the sand. He was going to need to thoroughly launder his clothes later, but there was no way to keep the sand from getting everywhere in the meantime.
"I don't know," Mihail said, shrugging. "They may have even moved. We do that a lot."
"Your family or merfolk?" Giato asked. He took a large bite of his pie, eating it quickly.
"Both." Mihail fell quiet then, focusing on eating, and Giato did the same, watching as the sun slowly crept toward the horizon.
Giato finished eating and fell quiet, the creeping dread of having to leave making his dinner settle in his stomach like a rock. Mihail didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave either, at least. He'd finished his dinner and was sitting quietly next to Giato like he usually did.
Finally, Giato broke. He couldn't sit there any longer, not when he knew what was coming. "I should go."
Mihail stayed quiet, watching Giato with dark eyes, their usual vibrancy hidden in the shadows of sunset. Giato stood and leaned into the basket, pulling out his pack and making sure there was nothing else he needed to take. He'd leave the basket on the beach, since he wouldn't need it to travel back to Caelfall.
The only thing left was to give Mihail his farewell present. Giato didn't know how well the barrettes would work underwater, but it was up to Mihail if he wanted to keep them or discard or sell them. Pulling out the box, Giato secured the pack and slung it over his shoulder.
He turned back to Mihail and was nearly knocked over when Mihail all but threw himself into Giato's arms. He hugged Giato tightly and murmured, "Thank you. For everything. I would have died."
"You'd have found a way," Giato said, gingerly hugging Mihail back. "You're the one who decked that asshole in the park."
Mihail laughed, but it was a sad sound, and Giato's stomach twisted unhappily. Why did he have to say goodbye? Why did he have to live so far away? Mihail pulled away, brushing a kiss to Giato's cheek that made him smile despite himself. He could live on the beach forever, right? That seemed like a reasonable solution.
"For you," Giato said, shoving the box at Mi
hail. Impulsively, he added, "Don't open it until I'm gone."
Mihail took the box, shaking his head. "You didn't need to—"
"I wanted to," Giato said. He lingered for a brief moment, but then made himself move. "Good luck. I'll..." Giato swallowed the words see you around and instead said, "Stay safe."
Mihail nodded, and Giato turned and started walking toward Startide. He'd find a room for the night and head for home in the morning. Each step up the beach felt like he was slogging through thick honey, his legs heavy, and he tried not to listen for Mihail's voice, the potential that he'd call out to make Giato stop.
He heard nothing, though, and he couldn't bring himself to look back as he crested a hill and Startide came into sight. Hefting his pack, Giato walked toward the city.
*~*~*
Three days later, Giato was still in Startide. He told himself it was simply because he wanted to look around, to visit the shops and maybe set up some new contacts for his shop in Caelfall.
If he were slightly honest, he'd admit he was listening for news about Mihail.
If he were completely honest, he'd admit he was hoping to see Mihail again.
Giato didn't want to be honest, though. Honesty hurt, because if he were honest with himself, he'd be heading home, given there was next to no chance he'd ever see Mihail again.
Climbing out of the bed in his tiny inn room, Giato set about packing his things. It was time to give up. He'd only told himself that six times already and had packed up his things each day he'd been in Startide, but maybe it would stick today.
Once everything was packed up, Giato went downstairs and left the inn, heading for the markets. He could see if there were any last-minute buys he wanted to make before he left for Caelfall.
Or before he went and found another inn room.
Halfway to the market, Giato veered and headed out to the beach. He shouldn't, but then, if he were leaving, that would be a good, secluded spot to shift and fly off from. The basket he'd left on the beach was gone, and there was no sign of Mihail anywhere nearby. The beach itself was empty of people, which wasn't too surprising, given that it got rocky not far from the water. Apparently north of Startide was where the 'pretty' beaches were.
There was no sign of the tracks Giato and Mihail had made a few days previous, the weather and the ocean having erased them all. It was as though Mihail had never existed, had never been part of Giato's life. Except for the hole in his heart and the ocean rock in his aquarium in Caelfall, there was no evidence Mihail existed.
Sitting on the beach, Giato let his pack fall to the sand and stared out at the ocean. It was calming, sitting there and watching the ocean's waves rush in and then back out. There were sandpipers picking through the shells and pebbles, and Giato watched them for a while. It was only mid-morning, which gave him plenty of time to make some headway home. Giato wasn't in a rush, but he would be happy to see his fish. He'd pick up a new one if he thought he could transport it, but that would take more arrangements than he felt like making.
Giato removed his socks and boots, setting them next to his pack, and dug his toes into the sand. The sun was warm, making the beach cozy. There was no sign that spring had recently passed. Giato shut his eyes against the glow of the sun and just basked in its warmth.
He stayed like that a good few minutes, until the cheeping of a nearby sandpiper caught his attention. He opened his eyes, only to immediately spot something swimming in from the ocean. Giato's heart skipped a beat. Surely it couldn't be...but there was no mistaking Mihail's hair, gleaming wet in the sunlight.
Standing, Giato took a few slow steps toward the water's edge, watching as Mihail approached. He swam in close, the occasional flickers of a brilliant turquoise tail breaking the surface of the water as he drew closer. Giato rolled up the legs of his trousers and waded out to meet Mihail, his heart pounding in anticipation as they drew closer.
Mihail's body, much like Giato's when he was shifted, was covered in scales. They were brilliant, flashy, and shimmering, and Giato wanted to touch them. Mihail smiled at Giato, the closed-mouth smile of someone trying not to show their teeth, and Giato almost laughed. He'd bet his shop in Caelfall that Mihail had nice sharp teeth in this form.
"I thought you left," Mihail called. He'd gotten closer, but he was being hindered by the sand and lack of water close to shore.
"I..." Giato started, wading slightly closer. The water was halfway up his shins, and while he was worried about going deeper, the lure of getting closer to Mihail outweighed his concern. What was he going to say? That he didn't want to leave? That he wanted to stay with Mihail for as long as Mihail would have him?
Why not say it? He was already facing leaving Mihail behind forever. He should've said it before he'd left Mihail on the beach.
"You're wearing them," Giato said, the words bursting out before he could figure out how to say what he wanted to say. Mihail reached up and touched the barrettes, both on the left side of his head. His hands were webbed up to the first knuckle of each finger, the skin there almost see-through.
"Thank you for them," Mihail said. His tail flipped in the water, the fins at the end breaking the surface of the water again. He shifted closer, obviously sliding along the sand. "They're beautiful."
"You're welcome," Giato said. He took another step out. He and Mihail were only a few paces apart now, and he could see how the lighter color of the scales on Mihail's chest grew brighter and brighter, culminating in the brilliance of his tail fins.
"Why are you still here?" Mihail asked, and Giato was close enough to see the sharpness of his teeth.
"I was going to go home," Giato said. He didn't get any closer, the tide rushing in and hitting his knees. He steeled himself, against the water and the inevitable rejection he was about to face. "I kept telling myself to go. I didn't want to leave. I don't want to leave."
Mihail tilted his head curiously, and Giato made himself keep talking, even though he wanted to turn and run up the beach. At the same time, he never wanted to leave because that would mean not seeing Mihail, who was even more gorgeous in mermaid form.
"I don't want to leave you."
Mihail grinned, showing off every one of his sharp teeth. There seemed to be two rows of them, which was fascinating, but the smile disappeared quickly. "But your shop. Your fish."
"I know," Giato said. His heart felt like it was about to beat out of its chest. "They're important, but..." Giato shrugged. "I'd rather have...more time with you."
"I want more time with you too," Mihail said softly. He looked down, at the water, and then up at Giato again. "But I don't want you to lose your home. I can't go to Caelfall, not like this."
"I know," Giato said again. "I can move the shop, move the fish. It would take work, but I don't care. Not if...not if you want me to be here." His heart was definitely going to explode. Giato didn't know how to make it calm down, and he wasn't sure he wanted it to.
"Come here," Mihail said, his fins flipping out of the water again. Giato obliged, nervously kneeling when Mihail gestured for him to. The water came up to his chest, but he could always stand. He didn't think Mihail would let him drown, even if he decided suddenly he wanted Giato to get out of his hair.
Mihail reached up and ran his wet fingers along Giato's face, trailing salt water along it, and then up into Giato's hair, teasing it slightly. He stared intently at Giato, then rested his webbed hand on Giato's chest. "You don't mind me, as me?"
"You mean, like this?" Giato asked. He gave into the urge he'd had almost since the first day he'd seen Mihail, sinking his fingers into Mihail's hair. "Why would I?"
Mihail bared his teeth. "I've had people run."
"I'm not going to run. I'm going nowhere unless you say you want me to go," Giato said. Even soaked with water, Mihail's hair was soft and silky, probably inherent to him being a merman.
"Stay then," Mihail said. His hand slid behind Giato's head. He tilted his head toward Giato and Giato took the invitation, sli
ding his lips across Mihail's. Mihail tasted of salt, the sea water still clinging to his lips. Giato drew him closer, barely noticing the waves around them, his hands sliding across Mihail's scales. They were far smaller than his were in his dragon form and didn't overlap nearly as much. Mihail returned the kiss eagerly. When Giato pulled away momentarily to get his bearings, Mihail threw both arms around his neck and pulled him close again, nearly knocking Giato over.
"Careful," Giato said, laughing. Mihail huffed but kissed him again, the scrape of his sharp teeth delightful. Giato sank his hands into Mihail's hair, heedless of the soaking he was getting. He'd dry. It was more important to taste every bit of Mihail's mouth.
Mihail pulled away after a long moment, trailing his fingers along the scattering of scales on Giato's forehead.
"Come swim with me," Mihail said, his smile beautiful and inviting.
"I can't swim," Giato admitted. Mihail laughed brightly and kissed him again.
"I'll teach you," Mihail said. He kissed Giato again, his teeth dragging along Giato's bottom lip and leaving it raw. "The ocean has a lot to show you."
"I have a lot to show you," Giato murmured, making Mihail laugh again. Giato grinned and let himself get lost in more kisses. If the tide came in, well, Mihail would save him from drowning.
FIN
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sasha L. Miller spends most of her time writing, reading, or playing with all things website design. She loves telling stories, especially romance, because there's nothing better than giving people their happily ever afters. When not writing, she spends time cooking, harassing her wife, and fussing over her cats.
Website: http://www.sashalmiller.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikerymis
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Mermaid Tails Page 9