Page 48 of Cruel Tides

“Need some help?” I asked, even though we both knew how terrible I was at winding nets. Dad always managed to keep the nets in a neat and usable state as he wound them, unlike the tangled disaster I created whenever I attempted the same.

The look in his eyes when he glanced up told me he was glad to have me for company. “I’ve got a few on top of the barrel that need mending.”

“Sounds easy enough,” I said, and he chuckled as he continued to work. After gathering my favorite mending shuttles, I fetched the topmost net and sat on the empty stool at the workbench.

As I held the shuttle and net in my hands, my head began to clear. Mending a net often felt like working through a puzzle, and it was nice to face a familiar problem I knew I could solve. Starting at the top and working side to side, I cut threads and tied new knots as we fell into a companionable silence.

For a moment, I could imagine nothing had changed, and I was home for good. That tomorrow morning, I’d wake up and do more of the usual, living this beautifully simple human life.

Only something in me had changed since the last time I’d sat here next to Dad mending nets. I wasn’t the same Claira I had been, and I wondered if I could ever fully return to this life.

Or if I even wanted to.

After securing the last nylon knot, I let the net sag in my lap. “Hey, Dad?”

For the first time since I came to join him with his chores, Dad’s hands stopped moving. He looked up from the net he’d been winding, his gaze thoughtful. “What’s on your mind, Claire-bear?”

“I—” And that’s when I told him. About fishing up Leander and about the merfolk’s curse. About King Eamon finding out, which led to my abduction and the impossible task that the mer kingdoms expected from me.

There were things I didn’t tell him—things that were too hard or too uncomfortable to explain, like thethrall, the cecaelia,and my encounters with my birth father. But Dad didn’t seem to mind the gaps in my story, and if there were any parts that didn’t quite make sense, he didn’t dwell on them.

By the time I’d made it to what our plan was next, the shuttle was shaking in my hand, and streams of silent tears had wet Dad’s face all the way down to his neck. Even though I’d left out the danger and uncertainty of heading to the portal, Dad was so overcome with emotion I wondered if he’d somehow felt all the words I was keeping to myself. “So, would you mind takingLady Ochrefor us? So we can see if—if the portal will work?”

He took the net I’d been working on from me to pull me into a tight bear hug. “I’ll take you to the Indian Ocean myself if that’s what you need.” When he pulled away, he sniffled, wiping fresh tears from his eyes. “Anything for you, kiddo. That’s what family’s for.”

13

Claira

Iwasn’t ready to leave. Not yet. But as Gram left to run her errands, I knew this would be our best chance to slip away. After all, how would we explain to Gram why we needed to leave in Dad’s boat? What would she say when we didn’t return on the boat later in the day?

It was best for us to go out while she was gone.

Not answering questions about our upcoming journey was in everyone’s best interest, even if leaving without saying goodbye to Gram wasn’t ideal. It definitely wasn’t something human Claira would do. But for now, it seemed I was stuck trying to pretend I was a mermaid. A mostly useless mermaid, armed with night vision and a magical seashell stuffed in my backpack that I was pretty sure was a switchblade, but a mermaid, nonetheless.

And mermaids were good at leaving their loved ones behind, weren’t they?

Why, then, was this so hard for me?

My heart ached for me to stay, but at least I’d spent time with Gram over breakfast. The hug we shared before she left for her errands would have to last me until I could come back home. Which would hopefully be soon.

Dive down into the sea, pass through the magical portal, grab the Indian Ocean’s trident, and have Barren return to his kingdom as a hero. Totally easy and doable, right?

Yeah—nothing was ever that easy, not for me, but the others didn’t seem to share my worries.

Kai followed me eagerly down the pier, his hands constantly moving like he could hardly contain his anticipation for the trip. “I can’t believe we’re going by boat!”

“First time?” I asked, and he responded with a vigorous nod. “Well, I hate to admit it, but I’m kind of glad Dad agreed to take us.” I drew in a heavy breath of the salty air, tinged with the musky smell of the pier underfoot. “I’ve missed this.”

Leander brushed past Kai, wedging between us. His arms folded over his chest as he chuckled. “We were just in the ocean, beautiful.”

“This is different. It’s like home to me.” Nose scrunching, I frowned at him. “This ismyocean, my shore, my boat.”

“We’ve been together on a few boats now, haven’t we?” He gave me a smoldering look that brought me right back to our first kiss. Leander’s body, chest heaving and tail dripping with salt water, pinning me to the deck of the boat back at the warehouse.

“A few,” I said, biting back my real retort. Dad was already aboard, and he didn’t need to hear me teasing Leander about how his naked ass and sea cucumber looked the last time he was on this boat.

Hopping off the pier, I landed onLady Ochre’sdeck and gave Dad a wave. Leander jumped next, his feet hitting the deck as lightly as if he were a feather, not even a single strand of his hair moving out of place.Show off.His grin turned teasing, like maybe he knew I was currently visualizing his sea cucumber, and I rolled my eyes.

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