Page 34 of Magic Potions and the Merman's Lure

“What was all that about last night? I thought I heard you singing but it was a way off and sounded a little creepy.”

“Another Aquana was in the water,” he informs me as he sits up.

“What?” I yelp and jerk up, just barely avoiding hitting my head against his only because he straightens in reflex.

At first, I’m sure I misheard him, but he slowly nods in affirmation and my heart nearly jumps out of my chest in panic. I’m not at all ready to deal with what could have happened, but he lifts a hand in an attempt to calm me.

“It’s not quite as you imagine. He’s a juvenile. Although he is sexually mature, he isn’t really of age to have a mating drive yet. You would have been safe around him.”

“Safe? How would I have been safe around a strange male intentionally trying lure me into the water?”

He grimaces and I know that he is fully aware of how that sounds. “I know how it looks, especially given what you know of my kind—and it was my first thought as well—but I assure you that he didn’t mean any harm. He lost his entire pod—ah, family—and was reaching out for the first companion he came across. A male of his age would never have been left to fend for themselves. They never would have traveled out into open water alone away from their pod’s territory.” He settles back with a thoughtful expression on his face, and it’s only then I notice that he is completely nude except for a blanket wrapped around his hips. I’m trying not to stare and focus on his words as he continues talking. “It is actually surprising that he has survived this long.”

That—actually makes me feel bad for him. Although having a large family often drives me nuts, I can’t imagine losing them and being so alone. Especially not someplace as dangerous as the sea.

I clasp my hands tightly in my lap as I consider the matter. “What will happen with him now?”

Ro gives me a curious look. Did he not expect me to ask? I return his stare in bewilderment and his throat works for a moment as he considers how to answer.

“He is waiting for me at the harbor. I doubt he has ever been on land for an extended amount of time before, so I will have to assist him.” His lips twist grimly. “Normally, an orphaned male would be taken in by his kin’s pod, but the Saluha are slower to breed and live in smaller family groups than many Aquanas. His family was searching for another pod—for some time I suspect—before he lost those who were left. Except for adult males who chose to mate land-dwellers and therefore remain close to shore, a lone Aquana will not fare well in the sea. For a juvenile, it would be a death sentence.”

I fidget with my fingers, uncomfortable with the thought. “Does he have to be adopted by a Saluha pod?” I hesitantly ask.

Ro shakes his head. “Technically, no. But it is difficult to convince unrelated Aquana to take juveniles in to compete with resources and mating within the pod.”

I inwardly grimace. That is not entirely shocking. Among many species, there is a degree of inflexibility when it comes to rearing outsiders. I didn’t realize that the various subgroups of Aquana were quite that distinct from each other. In such an instance it would probably serve him better to remain close to land where he can have some safety and accessibility to food.

“Does he necessarily have to go to a pod at all?” I hedge, wondering just how taboo the territory is I’m venturing into with my questioning.

“You would suggest that he remains near land?” The look of surprise is unmistakable on his face, but it is the look of relief that tugs at my heart more than a little. Clearly, he had the same thought but didn’t risk saying it. I nod and his lips thin for a moment before replying. “It is possible and perhaps more advantageous for his general welfare than searching fruitlessly for even longer for others who might take him in. There is something that must be considered, however.”

“And that is? Are you afraid he will object?”

A faint smile curls the corner of his mouth. “That is doubtful, given that he was desperate enough to lure in a female he could not even mate with. No, it’s just that you must realize that he will still ideally need care from an Aquana. Even fostered along your shores, his ability to survive depends on these formative years before adulthood. Otherwise, he will be locked entirely to those shores for all his adult life.”

Okay, that is a pretty big snag.

Ro silently watches me as I chew over that for a long moment. I admit that I have no ideas to offer. The corner of his mouth twitches when I fail to come up with a suggestion. His heavy sigh, however, startles me.

“You are not understanding. Let me be clear. I have set up the boundaries of my territory in these waters. If I allow him to stay, I will be considered his fosterer by other Aquana.” He pauses, peering at me. “And when I mate, she will need to also understand that responsibility.”

I blink at him, for a moment struck painfully by his casual mention of mating, but giggle with the relief that immediately follows. “Oh. I thought you were going to mention some sort of huge obstacle. Yeah, that makes sense if you allow him to stay.”

Not to mention the fact that this is going to put a crimp in Ro’s mate hunting. Is it wrong that a good part of the relief is knowing that I will likely have him to myself for at least a little while longer?

I also didn’t realize Aquanas are that significantly territorial. I make a mental note to add that to my observations. Actually, this whole conversation is giving me an angle that I never even considered when it came to family structures and interactions among unrelated members. This also means that Ro is going to need the supplement not only for himself but likely also for the male he will be fostering. For a juvenile it will be even more important to get things right to not inadvertently cause problems with his development.

Ro is staring at me and I’m starting to fidget again under his scrutiny. Whatever response he expected, that clearly wasn’t it. His brow furrows and he slowly nods as if settling something within his mind. His gaze finally breaks away from mine and he looks around the room. He studies our surroundings so intently that I’m very much aware of the fact that he is now far more interested in that than our previous line of conversation.

“This place does not smell of you. Where are we?” The words fall casually from his lips but there is a faint snarl underlying his words that makes me frown with confusion.

“Well, no, it wouldn’t,” I agree. “This isn’t my apartment. This property belongs to my family. Anyone within the coven is welcome to use it. I’m staying here for the weekend.”

Pale hair flutters as he whips his head around to stare at me and I’m taken aback by the look of anguish on his face. “You would rather remain here?”

“What’s wrong with being out here?” My response is quiet as my heart drops. It’s just as I thought. Of course he would find this little cove boring.

A pink flush rushes over his alabaster cheeks but to my surprise, he doesn’t look away. His jaw hardens and he pins me with his gaze as if preparing to do battle. His expression catches me off guard and I’m gaping a little when he grabs my hands in his.

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