Page 60 of The Noble's Merman

But Allen was still just as confused as everyone else as to what really had happened, blinking his worries away and relaxing his face as the music continued to play. Mo could use this to his advantage.

“I’m feeling a bit sick,” he answered truthfully. “I—I must’ve drank too much rum…”

“Did you? I thought I was being cautious with what we were giving you but… I suppose this is your first time.” Kent gave his shoulder a light squeeze.

“How are you? Are you really all right?”

“You know what? Yes, I’m feeling just about fine.” He smiled. “I’m not sure what that was. I suppose alcohol can do odd things, but I think it was just a wave like Davies said.”

Mo couldn’t help but glance at Allen again. His stomach twisted in knots as they made eye contact for a brief moment, but—Allen appeared to have no malice in his gaze, surprisingly. It looked more like… fascination. He turned quickly back to the crowd, and Mo addressed Kent, “That’s… that’s good. I mean, good that you’re fine.”

“What about you, though? If you’re sick, should you have some saltwater? Or… do you need to go back into the sea?”

“No, no I don’t want to leave,” Mo said quickly. “I want to be with you. Oh, may I just stay with you? Please…” His breathing was still heavy, but as more time went on, thankfully, the nausea began to dissipate. The coils around his throat were unraveling, the tentacles losing their grip.

“Yes, of course! What am I thinking?”

“You’re not thinking. That’s the whole point—you’re drunk,” commented Davies.

“Shut your mouth, he doesn’t need to hear that now.” Walker nudged him with his elbow, and it got Mo and everyone nearby to chuckle.

“Then how about we retire to my quarters?” offered Kent. “You can use the tub there.”

“Yes. Yes, that sounds lovely.” Mo nodded.

“Allen!” Walker called. “Would you be so kind as to help our merman friend here? Or, if you’re too drunk, I suppose I can do it.”

“I’m feeling fine,” said Allen. “I’ll help. I’m usually the one to do it anyway.”

Mo wasn’t sure if Allen or Walker would be a better pick, but he truly had no say when he didn’t have legs of his own. Times like this he especially wished he did.

“All right, let’s go,” said Mo.

TWENTY-ONE

The sickness in Mo’s stomach faded as Allen brought him down the stairs, Kent walking ahead of them, leading them all toward his quarters. Reluctantly, Mo steadied himself holding onto Allen’s shoulders, still a bit dizzy in the head. He believed, at least now, that this dizziness was due to the rum he’d drunk and not the side effects of the Song. Well, at least he hoped. The whole situation shook him in a way he couldn’t quite describe. Thankfully, Allen stayed silent as they walked. He wouldn’t know what to say if Allen voiced any suspicions of what happened as anything magical. He’d simply have to lie some more.

But if Allen was going to keep quiet and brush it off as nothing, trusting him, then Mo would be fine. He sank into the human’s strong arms with relief, eternally grateful.

Once they made it to Kent’s quarters, Allen lowered Mo into the tub. As soon as the water hit the scales on his bottom, Mo vocalized a much needed sigh. He sank as far in as he could, resting his head back on the wooden wall behind him, ripples of water reaching as high as his navel.

Allen brushed off excess water from his hands onto his breeches. “Will you be all right by yourselves in here?”

“I believe so,” said Kent, lighting some sort of lamp on the dresser. The sun was nearly set, casting pinks and reds through the window. “If we need anything, I’ll call for you.”

“Aye.” Allen nodded. “You two take care,” he said, and he wandered out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Mo let out another exasperated sigh, basking in the shallow water. This was all he needed after such a scare—calm, stillness, and Kent’s comforting presence. Kent knelt next to the tub, putting a hand on the one of Mo’s resting against the edge.

“How are you feeling now?”

“Much, much better.” Mo smiled. “I’m still a bit dizzy, but nothing horrible.”

“That’s well good.” They linked their fingers together, sending a pleasant warmth through Mo’s chest. “I was worried, you know. I may be a surgeon and went to school for physicianship, but I’ve no clue what to give a merman for his ailments,” he chuckled.

“I’m fine, really, I’m fine!” He chuckled as well, lifting his head and sitting up straight. “Just a temporary thing, it was. Your company alone makes me feel better than anything else.”

Kent’s cheeks tinged adorably darker. “Thank you. Being with you always makes me feel better as well.”

---