Page 61 of Secretly Abducted
"Why are they here?" Vel'aan's colors are cycling through panic green and frustrated purple. "It's barely past dawn!"
"We thought you might enjoy a morning meal before the day gets too warm," Tav'ik calls out. We can see them now—all three of them, carrying what looks like picnic baskets.
I look down at myself. My erection is extremely obvious in these thin, wet shorts. Vel'aan's not much better off.
"Stay in the water," he mutters. "Deep enough to hide... that."
"Good morning!" I call out, sinking lower until the water hits my chest. "What a nice surprise!"
Kar'on is grinning like he knows exactly what he interrupted. Sar'na and Tav'ik look oblivious, already spreading out containers on the platform.
"We brought traditional morning foods," Sar'na announces. "To share with you both."
"That's... very thoughtful," Vel'aan manages, swimming closer to the platform but staying strategically submerged.
"Come, eat with us," Tav'ik says.
"We're all wet," I point out.
"You're aquatic farmers. We expected that." Sar'na pulls out something that looks like cushions but seems to be waterproof. "We can eat at the edge, feet in the water."
"Actually," Vel'aan says quickly, "why don't you hand us plates? We can eat in the water. It's... refreshing."
Kar'on definitely knows now. His grin is widening.
"If you prefer," Sar'na says, though she looks puzzled.
They pass us plates, and I get my first look at traditional Nereidan breakfast food. There's something green and gelatinous that jiggles when the plate moves. Something else that looks like hair but smells like the ocean. A purple paste thathas the consistency of mucus. And what appears to be fermented kelp that makes my eyes water from three feet away.
"This looks... interesting," I manage.
"These are delicacies," Tav'ik says, watching me closely. "The gel is concentrated algae protein. Very nutritious."
I take a spoonful. It's like eating savory jello that's been left out too long—slimy, warm, with a texture that makes my throat rebel. But they're all watching, and I can feel Vel'aan's anxiety through the bond.
"Mmm," I say, swallowing with effort. "Unique texture."
"Try the fermented kelp," Sar'na suggests. "It's Vel'aan's favorite from childhood."
I look at Vel'aan, who is clearly trying not to laugh. The kelp looks like something that died and was left to rot. The smell is overwhelming—like low tide mixed with gym socks.
I take a bite.
It's worse than I imagined. The texture is both crunchy and slimy, and the taste is so intensely fishy-fermented that my stomach immediately protests. But Sar'na is watching with sharp eyes, waiting for me to spit it out, to prove I can't handle their culture.
I swallow. Take another bite.
"It's very... complex," I say. "I can see why it's a childhood favorite."
Through the bond, Vel'aan sends a wave of amused affection.
The purple paste is next. It looks like paste, feels like paste, and tastes like... actually, it's not bad. Mild, slightly sweet, with a normal texture.
"This is good," I say with genuine relief.
"That's dessert," Kar'on informs me, laughing. "You're supposed to eat it last."
"Oops."
