Page 9 of Hunter of the Tide

“Why would we wear such constrictive things? They would hinder our swimming and obscure our camouflage.”

“When you put it that way, it makes sense. But here I am, talking about your—” his eyes dipped to her chest and rose quickly. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Rhea. I didn’t mean to keep you standing in the hallway. Would you like to come in?” He stepped aside and gestured to the room behind him.

Rhea moved through the doorway. Randall’s unique scent permeated the air; she inhaled deeply and studied his living space. The prixxir stood atop the desk, gobbling up the flakes of cooked, white meat Melaina was feeding it. The bed, positioned against the wall to the right, was neatly made, something she’d rarely seen in Macy’s room. There were a few pieces of clothing visible, but the ones on the table were folded and the shirt on the bed was spread flat.

Had Randall always been so tidy, or was this him taking some control over his life after everything had been turned upside-down?

“He is eating so well,” Melaina said, twisting to grin at Rhea and Randall. Her attention immediately swung back to the prixxir. She offered another bite of fish, and the creature devoured the morsel, long tail waving eagerly.

“That’s good. It’ll help him heal faster,” Randall said.

Rhea watched her daughter pet the creature. Melaina’s face was aglow with delight, and her eyes sparkled with adoration. Rhea’s chest tightened; the youngling’s wanderlust had caused trouble over the last year, but seeing Melaina so happy filled Rhea’s hearts near to bursting.

And it was because of Randall. He’d made it possible by agreeing to care for the prixxir.

Ikaros chirruped, cocking its head and tilting it back when Melaina dangled a bit of fish higher up. The prixxir followed the moving food with large eyes, and the instant the meat came within its reach, it darted up to snatch the food out of Melaina’s fingers. She giggled.

“Once he’s fully grown, you won’t be able to hold food out of his reach anymore,” Randall said. “Not until you grow up, yourself.”

“When I’m as tall as you?” Melaina asked.

Randall glanced at Rhea, sweeping his gaze over her from tentacles to head, before looking back at Melaina. “You’ll probably be taller than me when you’re done.”

“Are you done growing? You don’t seem so tall for a male.”

Rhea smirked.

“Yeah, I’m all done growing. Maybe I’m not as big as Dracchus—”

“No oneis as big as Dracchus,” Melaina interrupted.

Randall smiled. “But I make up for it by being the hairiest one in this whole place.”

Melaina laughed, pointing at Randall’s chest. “You are!”

“Everyone has to have something they’re good at.”

“Being the hairiest cannot be all you are good at,” Rhea said.

“I might have a few other talents,” he replied, eyes roving over Rhea’s body again. Her brows rose, and her lips curved into a smile. “But I usually let other people judge that for themselves.”

Rhea turned her face toward her daughter. “Melaina, go visit with Macy and Sarina.”

Melaina straightened excitedly. “Can I bring Ikaros to show Macy?”

“Maybe another time, kid. He’s still adjusting to living in here, and we don’t want to overwhelm him,” Randall said.

She visibly deflated, but said, “I understand.” Melaina turned back to the prixxir and smiled, running her palm along its back. “I will see you again soon, Ikaros.”

Randall walked to the desk and knelt. Melaina gently lifted Ikaros and passed him to Randall, giving the creature one more scratch under the chin.

“You can come visit him any time your mom says you can,” Randall said, “but you have to promise me you’ll check with her first.”

“I will,” Melaina said, her smile widening. She placed a hand on Randall’s cheek. “Thank you, Randall.”

He smiled back at her, and though his expression was a bit off-balance — perhaps he hadn’t anticipated such contact — it was warm and genuine. “Any time. Better go and check on Macy and Sarina now, and make sure they’re doing okay.”

Melaina hurried to the door, opened it, and left. Rhea placed her hands on the doorframe and leaned into the hallway for a moment, ensuring the youngling went in the correct direction, before glancing at Randall over his shoulder.

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