Page 80 of Expecting in Oceans

“Cousin, please,” Kai said. “Relax, yeah? Things are gonna befine. I’ve got this. Just enjoy your trip. It’s a fucking vacation.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Just… stay out of trouble.”

“Alright,Dad,” he said with a shit-eating grin. He threw his arm around my neck. “You’re not gonna be thinking about us once your feet hit that hot spring bath. Trust me.”

We walked through the house to the center courtyard, where Istil was waiting for me with Visir and Grandmother. They were gathered in the waterfall pool, laughing with delight as Fala’u padded and splashed in the water.

“Yes, isn’t that fun?” Grandmother cooed. “Oh, you’re so fast!”

Fala’u had shown the first signs of her shift a week ago, and at just over two months old she was experiencing the random appearances of bits and pieces of her dragon form. She had her tail, which, despite its very subtle paddle shape looking more like a forest dragon than a sea dragon, didn’t slow her down at all. She couldn’t yet walk, but she was quite the swimmer.

Fala’u tumbled and flipped playfully around in the water, gurgling happily when she popped to the surface. Istil scooped her and secured her to his chest with a wrap of soft braided vines. She wriggled excitedly, flailing her little arms and legs.

“There’s your father,” Istil said, shaking her hand at me in a wave.

“My little ocean daughter,” I said as I gave her a kiss. “And my forest mate.”

I gently squeezed her puffy cheek, as soft as a ripe mango, and she smiled delightfully up at me. How could anything in this world be as perfect as her? She was the sun that made my heart grow, just like Istil was the wind that had lifted it to the sky.

“Ready?” Visir asked. “I’ll make the connection now.”

“I’m ready,” said Istil. “You know, I’m really looking forward to going home. And I can’t wait to introduce you to the rest of the flight.”

The water vibrated with a powerful energy as pale light glowed from beneath the surface.

“Let’s go meet the family,” I said.

We said our final goodbyes, then dove into the pool and swam down to the shimmering mirror portal that stood between the stone blocks. I reached over, took Istil’s hand and admired our reflection. This was the image I would keep in my mind forever—the three of us on the cusp of our life together, a grand new beginning.

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