Page 59 of Unmoored

“Take me home?” I asked, staring up into his emerald green eyes.

“Home?” he asked, furrowing his brow.

“To your home,” I said. “I want to take you up on your offer of adding a dry room. And I’d like to request a quaint cottage above the surface, as well. Inaki said that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Oh did he, now?” Draya asked, smirking. “Of course. Though, I fear I haven’t been completely honest with you.”

“What?” I exclaimed, trying to push away.

“It’s not a bad thing,” he said pointedly. “But your dry room is already built.”

“What?!” I exclaimed again, louder this time.

“The first time we kissed,” he said, pausing to take in my expression. “When I ran from you like a frightened child, something inside me changed. I knew I’d never be able to let you go. So I went home, and I moved the water and the rocks around in my cottage, then used magic to drain the room. I’ve been stocking it with things you like, such as that rope-netting style bed and quilts, and lots of fresh water pods.”

“Draya,” I said, my eyes welling with tears for what felt like the hundredth time in twenty-four hours. “Thank you! Thank you, thank you thank you!” I cried into his arms, my heart overflowing with love and devotion. He’d built a room in his home forme. Solely for me!

He wrapped his arms around me and swam us out of the dark caverns, through the ominous city to an area of small, domed structures, separated by pathways marked by stones on the ground. It was nighttime, so I couldn’t see very well,but I could tell the structures were made with the same volcanic rock as the rest of the city.

“There are different pockets of residences,” Draya explained. “Some Talassi prefer larger homes, located inside the walls of the volcano, but I prefer living here in my cottage.”

“I’ve always wanted to live in something like that,” I said, though I had a feeling that my definition of a cottage differed from what I’d find in Draya’s home.

His house was simple, constructed of volcanic rock, stalagmites and stalactites. A now familiar pale blue light illuminated the domed structure, split into what appeared to be three rooms. I realized I had no idea what Draya used as a bed or furniture, or which rooms he used for what, but I supposed I would learn in time.

He pushed aside a slab of stone, revealing a much brighter room, and I stepped through the threshold in wonder, immediately greeted by dry air. Before me was a bed twice as large as the one in my old chambers, covered in linens and soft pillows. A dresser sat off to the side, along with another small table, and the ceiling was laced with so much pale blue stone I almost felt as if I was above the surface.

The room was so light and beautiful, and I absolutely loved it!

“Thank you, Draya!” I exclaimed, turning to find him in his human form behind me. I threw my arms around him, peppering his cheeks and jaw with kisses and running my hands over the planes of his body.

“I meant it when I said I loved you,” he said, cupping my face. “I cannot imagine a life without you in it, and Ipromise to keep you safe and happy as long as we both breathe air and water.”

“I love you, too!” I exclaimed, dragging his face towards mine for a long, desperate kiss. “I have a lot of adjusting to do, but I want nothing more than to do it by your side. Thank you.”

He tightened his grip around my waist and threw me atop the bed, ravishing me until I was sure I wouldn’t be able to walk anymore. To which he pointed out that it wouldn’t matter, because we are underwater and we can swim everywhere.

Oddly enough, I found that there were parts of human life above the surface that I missed. Learning you’re an entirely different species than you originally thought is… jarring to say the least. But I wouldn’t trade the situation I’d ended up in for the world. I knew I belonged to the water, for I was a child of the sea. And I knew Draya was my soul mate, if such a thing even existed for Talassi, and this city was my home.

Although there was still work to be done, I felt free, strong, and comfortable with these beautiful creatures. And for the first time in my life, I felt something like hope. I knew my future would be better than my past, and the work didn’t scare me anymore. I was grateful for the years I’d be able to spend in the waters, and I looked forward to the life I’d create with Draya and the rest of the Talassi.

41

DRAYA - ONE MONTH LATER

Three weeks after we freed Prince Inaki, Commander Adri received a summons from Captain Jogia, informing us that Emerson’s ship and body had returned to Whitethorn Bay without incident. Maki had been stationed in Whitethorn Bay, living undercover in his human form and collecting intel regarding Emerson’s fleet, company, and last will and testament. He returned this morning, immediately requesting a private meeting with Hazel, the Prince, the Queen, and myself to discuss his findings.

“Lord Emerson left his entire legacy to his second wife, Elizabeth Dunsmoor Emerson,” Maki said from the head of the driftwood table in the Warrior Room, his eyes carefully trained on Hazel. “His estate, his company, and all his assets. Hazel was not mentioned in the will at all.”

My eye twitched, fury coursing through my veins, though in all honesty I wasn’t surprised. Of course, that weasel didn’t leave her anything. Prior to seeing us ransacking his ship, he assumed she was dead.

“I’m unsurprised,” Hazel said with a sigh, “though I don’t recognize the name Elizabeth Dunsmoor.”

“It seemed like another political union,” Maki said, though I wondered if he was omitting something.

“It’s irrelevant to me now,” Hazel said. “I wish his legacy and his associates nothing but the worst.”

“Agreed,” The Queen interjected. “And luckily for you, Miss Emerson – we really ought to do something about that name – you shouldn’t want for anything ever again as part of the Talassi royal family.”