Page 66 of Kringle and the Kraken

After that, Levi wasted no time in telling the crowd the same thing I’d shared with my family.

“The thing is, the haven towns aren’t old legends. They’re real. And you live in one.”

An uncertain murmur passed through the human side of the crowd. All the sea monsters already knew.

Levi kept going. “In the other haven towns around the world, including the one I’m from in Ireland, there is balance in the magic because everyone knows and respects everyone else’s culture and differences. Those differences are what make the magic strong.” The big reveal was coming, and I could tell the crowd was waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Here in Lifeboat, the magic is suffering because we are out of balance because we don’t know each other as we should. In Lifeboat, we need to coexist, to openly be friends, mates, and lovers.”

The murmurs from the crowd increased.

“Wait!” A voice I recognized came from the back of the crowd, and Lawrence Tidewell rushed up the aisle carrying a sparking and sputtering blue orb that reminded me of the tiny bit of Levi’s magic in each talisman in larger form. The short man ran up onto the stage. “What Levi is saying is true. This sphere shows the health of Lifeboat’s ley line magic. Does it look healthy to you?” The orb kept flickering from dark to light. Occasionally sparks jumped out of the light. It looked like a dying light bulb.

Levi shrugged out of his jacket and I took it, reminding me of the way he’d handed me his clothes those nights on the beach when he’d been trying to harness his inner magic, and that made me smile. We hadn’t known each other all that long, but here we were trying to save our town. We’d already been through some shit, and regardless of how this went, I knew we’d weather it together.

Levi closed his eyes. “The magic in here isn’t healthy because half of the town can’t openly share who they are.” He turned toward the human side of the crowd. “It is time you know you live among sea monsters.” Levi’s tentacles lifted from his skin. “I’m Levi Shoal, and I’m a kraken.” He reached back for my hand, and I took it, letting him pull me forward to stand next to him. “And this is Kris Kringle, my human mate.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd, and the sputtering in the orb slowed. This was working.

For a long moment, nothing happened, then Marvin stood up and stepped in front of the other KELPS members. “My friends, I’ve wanted to share this part of myself with you all for so long. I’m sorry I’ve kept this secret.” He transformed into his full pearly white kelpie form. The other KELPS members’ eyes went wide, and Pete started to openly weep as he stood and wrapped his arms around Marvin’s neck. The rest of the guys stood andapproached Marvin too, and as they all hugged him in turn, the light in the ley line orb steadied even further.

The group of teenagers who’d helped us pass out talismans earlier came forward in a bunch. One of the mermaids stuck a hand on her hip and dropped part of her glamour, revealing long green hair and seafoam green skin. “I’m a mermaid, and my bestie is a human. Deal with it.” She threw her arms around the short blonde girl in the group as the other merfolk in their huddle also dropped their glamours.

Slowly sea monsters approached their human friends on the other side of the aisle and revealed themselves. And maybe it was holiday magic, or maybe I just didn’t give my fellow humans enough credit, but despite lots of shocked reactions, there was no open hostility, and with every reveal, the light in the orb steadied until almost every sea monster had partially transformed and the humans and monsters were mixed together, resettled on the benches in groups no longer divided by species.

If my heart hadn’t already grown three sizes that day, it would have seeing the acceptance happening among the crowd.

Levi glanced to where Tidewell had taken his natural water sprite form, his skin a pale teal and hair navy blue. His ears and nose were pointy, his teeth sharp, and his eyes round and almost completely black. He was studying the orb.

“What’s wrong?” Levi asked, and Tidewell turned his way.

“Isn’t it supposed to be brighter? I mean, it looks better than it did, but it’s still not right, is it?”

Levi stared at the orb for a moment. “No, it’s not. But I think I know what I need to do.” He grabbed my hand, and we took a few steps away from Tidewell. “Kris, I’m so sorry to put another thing on you, but I need to know if you are ready to be my mate for life.”

I looked into his golden eyes that were starting to glow, and I imagined looking at them for the rest of my life. Which would be a hell of a lot shorter than Levi’s. Could I say yes knowing I would only have him for a few more decades? I didn’t really even need to think about it. Having Levi for a day would be better than not having him at all. “I’m happy to be yours for as long as I live.”

“Which is going to be a pretty long time.”

“What do you mean?” Hope flared to life in my chest.

“When we mate, your life will be tied to mine. You’ll live until I die, and then we’ll move to the next plane together.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am.”

“Then yes, Levi, I’m ready to be your mate.”

“I love you, Kris.”

“I love you too, Levi.”

He stepped up to the microphone and asked for everyone’s attention again. “There are two more orders of business to attend to. First, since you’re all here, I was hoping you could act as witnesses as Kris and I join as mates.”

“I told you they were engaged!” one of Kris’s siblings yelled from somewhere near the front of the crowd.

Kris just laughed and shook his head as I turned to face him.

“Are you ready?”

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