Page 84 of The Kraken Games

“Hmmm.” He eyed her. “We got one who lives here—well, kinda hybrid he is. Looks like you he does, too. Nice kid though, exception to my rule about humans, that one.”

Kai saw Luna visibly jump. “Yes… I…”

The turtle didn’t seem to know the facts, but he waved them in.

They entered the community and waded waist deep in water around to the rocky caves which signaled the town. Mer folks lazed on rocks, dipped into the water. There were folks weaving on large looms and a group making shell jewelry on the beach, laughing and chatting in the late afternoon sun.

A cabana with a straw roof sat on stilts in the shallows, and a few Mer folks were lounging on low rocks, drinking cocktails. It all looked… idyllic.

A big plump Mer woman swam toward them, her tail swishing in the water.

“Hey there, I’m Brooke. I run this rag tag of artists. You must be Luna, yes? And Kai.”

Luna nodded, twisting her hands together.

“You’re here to see our Tom. Finally.”

“Tom!” Luna exclaimed. “How did you know to call him that?”

“No special reason.” Brooke shrugged. “Guess it’s a solid human name.”

Luna’s mouth dropped open. “His name was Tomas, before…” she whispered. “That’s uncanny.”

“Nah, not really.” Brooke laughed. “He looked like a Tom. And it’s easy, neat. We like easy here. Anyway, come, come, he’s working on a piece at present.”

“A piece?”

“For you. As a gift. He’s a really talented pearl jeweler. He’s an apprentice now, to my partner, Letitia. Good at art he was, from early on. We saw his talent even as a little kiddo.”

“From my mom, probably. She painted,” Luna murmured.

They entered the workshop and Kai heard Luna’s indrawn breath. His eyes followed hers. There at a bench, working on a piece of pearl shell with a fine chisel, was a blonde-haired teenager. He was wearing a loin cloth in shades of iridescent green and blue, and a leather belt with tools, and he had Luna’s lithe muscles and tone.

He raised his head and Kai glanced from one to the other as their gazes fused.

Luna let out a little sound, somewhere between a gasp and a sigh. “Tom-as,” she whispered. Haltingly, she stepped forward. “I—I’m Luna. I’m your sister.”

His face broke into a smile. He put down his tools and came around the work bench on strong muscled legs. Kai noticed hewas wearing strange boots up to his knees that almost looked like fins.

They stood in front of each other, and Kai could see Luna frowning, her hands clenched at her sides. The boy searched her face, his blue eyes suddenly uncertain, his smile fading.

Oh gods, Luna was nervous and giving out totally the wrong vibes. She had her scowly face on.

He had to get her to smile. Somehow.

He looped out a tentacle and gave her a little tap on the butt. She swung round, her eyes surprised, and he drew a big smile on his face, eyebrows waggling at her madly.

Her mouth formed an O of comprehension.

And then she turned back to her brother and her face lit up in a great big, beaming smile, and she opened her arms.

And the kid who was both Tom and Tomas smiled big in answer.

And walked straight into her outstretched arms.

CHAPTER 28

As Luna hugged her brother, it felt like all the moments since she was eight years old had been leading up to this one.

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