Page 96 of Pregnant With Their Babes

Llyr chuckled inside his mind.

Nearby was an oyster reef, with small schools of fish. They explored it, swimming around the collection of seaweed, mussels, and other assorted sea creatures.

We really need to find a way to bring Dagr under the water with us.

“Maybe I can help,” a voice called out.

Oz spun to see they weren’t alone.

A mermaid swam closer to Oz, eyeing him close. She smiled at him—and it was then he comprehended. Dagr’s mother.

“Yes. I am Jade. Dagr’s mother,” she said. She lifted a hand, a jewel-encrusted pendant hanging from her fingers. “Have him wear this—and he can swim as you do.”

Oz swam a little closer to her without taking the necklace. He eyed the woman, so many questions circling his mind. She had sacrificed herself for Dagr so long ago… and had she not, he would’ve never known the man’s love.

She lifted her free hand, cupping his cheek. “I amsohappy to see you’ve loved him so well when I couldn’t.” A shine came to her eyes. “But I wish to see my baby again. Please.” She placed the pendant in Oz’s hand. “Bring him to me.”

Oz nodded before eyeing Llyr. Together, they raced back for the beach.

To their Dagr.

As soon as Oz reached the beach, he saw Dagr stand and walk closer. He lay on the sands, his tail to the side. Llyr lay behind him, watchful.

“How was your swim?” Dagr asked, brushing sand off his bottom.

“Better if it was with you,” Oz said before lifting the necklace in his hand. “Wear this and you can join us.”

Dagr frowned. “Where did you get that?”

“Your mother gave it to us. She’s anxious to meet you,” Llyr said.

Dagr’s smile faded. He stared at the pendant a moment before taking a step back. Tears welled in his eyes for a moment before he rubbed his face with both hands. “I’m not sure that I can.”

Oz lowered his hand. “You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. I can go tell her you need more time, if that’s what you want.”

Dagr stood silently a moment before shaking his head. “No. Thirty-five years is more than enough time to wait.” He peeled his shirt off and tossed it to the sand. Once his bottom was bare, he reached for the necklace and pulled it over his head. “Here goes nothing.”

* * *

Dagr plunged into the ice-cold water and swam a few lengths before he sensed a tightening in his lower body. Like theirs, his legs fused together before a tail took form. He dove under the waves, but had to break for the surface a few moments later, gasping for air. After a few more strokes, he shot under again, seeing if he could breathe as Llyr, and now Oz, could.

He took a breath, gasped, choked… but after a moment, his lungs stopped burning. He breathed. Looking down, he saw his silver tail was slightly different than theirs. The skin was smooth, like that of a whale or shark. Glancing at his wrists, he lacked the same feathery fins as Oz and Llyr.

Pausing to investigate a moment, they gave each other a perusal.

“We’re going to get into so much trouble down here,” Oz murmured in Dagr’s head. “By the way, think and we’ll hear it, according to Llyr.”

It’s probably a good thing we didn’t have this ability when we were sailing the world. We got into enough trouble.

Oz laughed.

“Someone’s waiting on us,” Llyr’s voice sounded. He waved them along.

He and Oz trailed behind Llyr, passed the crashing waves and toward a reef of oysters. There, immediately before the reef, swam a familiar-looking woman. Dagr stopped a couple of feet away and searched her face.

Tears shone in her golden eyes. “Hello, Dagr. I’ve waiteda lifetimeto meet you.”

Words failed him. The moment was too overwhelming. But then he felt Llyr on one side and Oz on the other… and their strength lent to his. When his mother opened her arms, he swam into them, clutching her tight.

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