Page 94 of Pregnant With Their Babes

Llyr shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“Help me out of the water,” Oz barked at Dagr, his tone tense.

Dagr bounded from the tub and lifted Oz to the side. Oz awkwardly flipped his tail over the edge—and the tail soon disappeared once outside the watery confines.

“Thank the gods,” Oz whispered.

“Would it be so terrible to be a merman?” Llyr asked, a bit hurt by Oz’s distress.

Oz faced the tub and ran a hand through Llyr’s damp curls. “No… it just took me by surprise. I had no idea I’d suddenly sprout a tail… without warning.”

“Well… your uncle was going straight to my brother when he left. Perhaps the exile was lifted,” Llyr said.

“What does that have to do with me?” Oz asked.

“Depending on the power of the curse, it could be passed down to generations of someone’s family. Queen Deandra’s tail was stolen from her when she was exiled, so she might not have been able to pass that part of herself to you. Perhaps breaking the curse will allow yourmerside to flourish now.”

Oz smiled broadly. “So I could swim the ocean depths?”

“Potentially,” Llyr said, relieved to see Oz’s anticipation grow.

“I’m once again jealous,” Dagr said, the grin on his lips belying any true envy. “Imagine the adventures the two of you could go on.”

“There are spells that could allow you to travel with us,” Llyr said. “I’d only have to ask the Enchantress.” He paused, a thought occurring. “There’s something I should probably tell you, Dagr.”

Dagr’s smile faded some. “Yes?”

“King Claus has a sorceress of his own. She helped bring down my father.”

“And?”

“She claims to be your mother.” Llyr gave his words a moment to sink in. “I met her… she has your smile. I believe she is who she says she is.”

“Why did she never come find me?” Dagr choked out as he slid back into the tub, a numb expression on his face.

“She’s unable to leave the water. Not even to break through the surface. So she had no way to return to you… but she is alive and well under the sea.”

Dagr met his stare. “I want to see her.”

“You will. I will find a way to get you down to her. A spell… something,” Llyr said.

Dagr reached out and clasped hands with Llyr. Llyr brought Dagr’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.

“King Claus said that your father paid the ultimate price. And now… you said Dagr’s mother helped bring him down. Is he… dead?”

Llyr nodded, a little knot forming in his stomach. He gazed down at where Dagr squeezed his hand. “Yes.”

“Are you… okay?” Oz asked.

He sighed and lifted his chin. “My father never truly had any love for me. Prawnsby was more a father than King Augustine.” He paused. “A lifetime of lies was all he gave me. I can only feel a vague numbness now that he’s gone.” He smiled wanly. “His death heralded both my freedom and our reunion, so thereissomething bittersweet about being here. Something terrible had to occur in order for me to find joy.”

Oz sank back into the tub, too. He caressed the side of Llyr’s cheek. “I’m so sorry for what you must’ve gone through. Learning of his lies and what he robbed from you.” Oz pressed a small kiss to Llyr’s forehead. “But you’re here with us now. And you—Blimey! It will take some time to get used to that.” Oz’s legs shifted into a tail again and he chuckled, splashing his tail. “Sorry. I ruined the moment.”

Llyr snuggled closer to his merman. “You ruinednothing.” He drew Dagr closer, snuggling between them. “This is my heaven… between the two of you. Loving me.”

Dagr caressed his expanded belly. “Because of you… we can all be happy. Together. And I love you for that gift, Llyr.”

“A family. AlegacyI can be proud of.” Oz turned to face Llyr. “Allbecause of you. There are no words to describe how happy you’ve made me.” He looked to Dagr. “Us. You’ve madeuswhole.”

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