Francesca, whether you admit it or not, whether we like it or not, whether you want to or not, uniting our powers is part of our destiny.
“Yeah? Well, destiny can take a hike if you keep being stealthy and secretive. Straight answers, Triton. Straight answers, or you’ll be power tripping all over your flukes to get back in my good graces.”
Come see me.
“You mean like this? Vampire to dolphin, or should we stay dry and hook up telepathically?”
Check your Sunday paper. Then come see me.
With that, Triton arched and dove under the water. I waited for him to surface again, but when he did, he was twenty feet away. Damn it.
Double damn when I realized I’d drifted toward the shore, and that Saber stood on the dune waiting for me. I threw myself flat on the board and paddled, catching one more wave on the way in, then carried my board up the beach to meet Saber.
At the top of the steps, he clasped my free hand.
“Was that Triton?” he asked as we walked toward the shack.
“Yeah, and he about scared me half to death. How did you know it was him?”
“Aside from the fact you don’t usually argue with dolphins, it’s the dark of the moon. You told me he only shifts then. Plus, I saw this in the paper today.”
He unfolded the business section and pointed.
I saw the headline “New in Town,” then read the few column inches aloud.
“‘Ocean Enchantments will specialize in shipwreck treasurers and kitschy maps purportedly drawn by mermaids. Owner Trey Delphinus.’” I met Saber’s gaze. “The mermaid on the treasure map charm.”
“Yeah.” Saber paused a beat. “You’re going to see him.”
It wasn’t a question.
“I have to if I want answers to my long list of questions about the Void and why he’s recruited me to fight the damn thing. I was hoping you’d go with me.”
“You think there will be sparks?”
I sighed and leaned my board against the shack.
“If you mean will I blow up at him, I just did, and, yeah, there’s a darn good chance I will again. If you mean romantic sparks, I can only tell you this: When I faced Marco, I wasn’t thinking about Triton rushing to help me. I was thinking about you.”
Saber cracked a grin. “Sure you don’t love me just for my big gun?”
“I love you,” I said as I went on tiptoe to steal a kiss, “because you love me. Fangs and all.”