I nodded, only realising after I did that he probably couldn't see me. "Yes. Follow me."
I didn't wait for him to respond and gave into the power of the magic within me, changing form instantly until I was in that of a monk seal. I dove down into the water, enjoying the way it rushed past my streamlined body. It had been too long since I'd taken this form, or any other, and I relished the freedom it gave me.
A larger seal appeared beside me with the tell-tale white patch on his belly that told me he was male. Not that I needed any other indication that it was Zale, it was rare for the other seals to appear on this part of the beach at this time of night.
I set off through the water, only breaching the surface to take a breath and led him further offshore until we reached the peaceful lagoon I knew was there. The water warmed as we passed into it, and became much stiller than it had been in thesea outside. I twisted my body around a few times until I reached a ledge and shifted back into my human form, hoping he'd do the same. There was no point in us being somewhere like this if we couldn't actually talk to one another.
Zale broke the surface, changing back into his human form as he did. His dark hair stuck to his face, making him look surprisingly dorky.
I laughed despite myself and reached out to brush it out of his face.
The gesture brought us surprisingly close together and my heart raced in response. It wouldn't take much for me to kiss him right now. If anything, it would be easy.
And there was a part of me that wanted that very much.
I was about to pull myself away when Zale reached out and touched my waist, making me gasp in response.
"Kiss me." The words slipped out unbidden. "Please."
He searched my face, probably wanting to be certain that I wanted this. Whatever he saw there, he seemed to decide I did and he pushed some of my wet hair out of my face almost tenderly as he leaned in.
The moment his lips brushed against mine, a tempest erupted within me that I could have sworn was long since gone.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer, relishing the feeling of my body against his as he deepened the kiss. My whole body tingled and it was all I could do to keep my thoughts focused andnotgo further than was sensible when we were in the middle of the sea.
He pulled back, and I felt flushed despite the cool air above the water of the lagoon.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time," he murmured.
"Why didn't you?" I asked.
"I know your story. I didn't want to push you into anything you didn't want to do."
I reached up and touched his face. "That's sweet."
"And I didn't want to risk you feeling the same as you did then."
"Zale..." I took a deep breath and gestured for us to sit on the ledge under the surface of the lagoon. I looked down into the water and thought about the best way to explain what happened to him. I didn't need to ask to know what he was referring to, he'd made it very clear that he knew of my history, at least the parts that made it into the legends.
"You don't have to say anything you don't want to," he said.
"I know that," I responded. "And trust me, if I didn't want to be here talking to you, then I wouldn't be. I'm stronger than I used to be."
"You were strong then too," he assured me.
I nodded and took a shaky breath. "What Aeacus did to me was horrible, and it left me in a bad place. But it was also a long time ago. And it gave me something wonderful too."
"Your son?"
I nodded. "I felt broken for a long time after what Aeacus did, but I found my joy again in Phocus." A bittersweet joy filled me at the memory of my son's smile, still etched there perfectly after thousands of years ago. "I've had time to come to terms with all of it, and help. Even the gods go to therapy sometimes."
He snorted. "Sorry, not an appropriate response."
"It's fine," I assured him, looking out over the sea. "I miss Phocus every day, just like I miss all my children. And my husband." I bit my lip, trying to reconcile what I'd just been doing with how I felt about Proteus.
"I'm sorry," Zale said softly. "I can't imagine what that must be like."
"It's as if someone stole a part of my heart that I can never get back. I think I've always felt like I'd never be able to feel anything for anyone because it was missing. Or maybe that I shouldn't. Iloved Proteus, he was a kind man and a good king. The day he died, it felt like a part of me did too. But I was already immortal by that point, and I should have known better than to fall for a mortal. And yet..." I trailed off, realising what I was about to say wasn't something I'd even accepted myself.