“Good. They sent him home.” The feeling that I should know him hit me again. “Thank you. If you hadn’t shown up, I don’t think we would have made it.”

“It’s no problem.” He narrowed his eyes for a minute. “You must feel overwhelmed.”

“A bit.” I watched as Mireille let Stormy push her through the water. Her blue hair was pulled back in a tight braid. “So, is it real? Her hair?”

Jacen laughed. “She wishes. Mireille has a flair for the dramatic.”

“I didn’t know.” I shrugged. “There is so much I don’t know about us.”

“When I realized you seemed to not know what the bond was, I figured you might have been raised by humans.” He tilted his head up at me. “It happens, rarely. Mermaids are a pretty close-knit community, so we notice when one of our own goes missing. But it does happen sometimes. Just like in the human world. Do you remember anything about your parents? Your biological parents?”

“Not really.” I frowned. “I remember impressions, mostly. Being happy, swimming. Not much else. I don’t even remember what my mom looked like.”

“Ben said that she had red hair.” His voice was gentle and I wondered what he was getting at.

“I think so.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “This will sound crazy, but you look familiar.”

“My mom says that I look a lot like my Aunt Sabrina. She disappeared with her daughter a couple of months after her mate died.” He watched my face carefully and for a minute I just stared at him, looking at his features. “It was about eighteen years ago. I was about two when it happened.”

“You think that I might be your cousin?” My heart hammered in my chest. Could it be true?

“I called my mom and asked her to tell me a little more about her sister and my cousin.” He pulled himself up out of the water and sat next to me. “My uncle died in a car accident. Not long after that, my grandparents invited Aunt Sabrina and my cousin, Maleena, to stay with them in Jamaica. They never showed up.”

I couldn’t think of anything to say. Maleena sounded a lot like Meena. I could see how a child might not be able to say it just right. My parents were standing on the dock, their arms around each other. They were watching us and I realized that Jacen must’ve already told them this.

“Mermaids come from clans. Each clan has an affinity for a certain animal. Ours is with dolphins. We aren’t the only clan out there connected to dolphins, but we know all the clans on this side of the world that are. When Aunt Sabrina left for my grandparents, she traveled with a dolphin that had recently calved.” He looked out at where Jallia played with Mireille. “We tend to bond with an animal, a lot like a mating bond. If you’re Maleena, Sabrina’s dolphin would not have left you, even after her death. She would have seen you as her responsibility.”

I chuckled, but it was watery. “Jallia thinks she’s my mom.”

“That sounds about right.” He leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows.

“So, you and Mireille are my cousins?”

“Well, if you’re Maleena, which I think you are, then you’d be my cousin. Mireille is my cousin on the other side.” He smiled. “I wasn’t kidding. Mermaids are a tight group.”

“Is that why you go on swimabouts? To try and find a mate that you’re not related to?” I pulled my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them.

“Partly. But as you noticed, we mate with humans, too.” He winked at me. “More than you might think, which I think is to introduce fresh blood to the community. The swimabout started a long time ago. When we come of age, something in us automatically wants us to find a mate. Probably to ensure the continuation of the species. We start early, because it can take a long time. Mermaids can’t reproduce without their mates, except for very rare instances. Like the siren I killed on your beach.”

“So, his mom was a mermaid?” I frowned.

“It would have been one of his parents, but it’s likely that his father had some mermaid in his DNA, too. If you breed without your mate, then it comes out wrong. Some of them are mostly human, usually gorgeous by human standards, to help lure people to the water. But once they hit the water, they change into something closer to the animal the mermaid’s clan claimed.” He rubbed the top of Mitch’s head with his foot.

“I’ve never had trouble with sharks. They usually leave me alone.” I shuddered and reminded myself that Devin hadn’t been a true shark.

“It wasn’t the shark part that hated you. It was the siren.” Jacen sat up and frowned, obviously choosing his words. “Sirens hate us. We’re what they should have been but aren’t. We gain strength from the water, can change easily into forms that work well on land and in the sea. Sirens gain strength from stealing the energy of humans. Usually in a physical manner. Sex or violence. Not all sirens do it. They live their lives like humans for the most part, but it’s easy to fall into that cycle.”

“Since I’m bonded with Blake, our children won’t be sirens?”

“No. They will be merfolk.” Blake smiled. “And since you haven’t been around many merfolk, let me tell you that when you decide to have kids, you’re going to have your hands full.”

Relief washed over me and I couldn’t help the giant smile that pulled at my cheeks. I couldn’t wait to see little mermaids. Mom and Dad didn’t have any pictures of me in my tail for fear that they might be found.

“Thank you, Jacen. You’ve given me so much more than I could have hoped for.” I grabbed him in a hug and laughed. “I feel like I understand myself so much better.”

He hugged me back and patted my shoulders. “You’ll rethink that when my family descends on you. My mom was in hysterics when I told her about you. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s already swimming here.”

“I don’t even know where you guys live!” I laughed again. “There’s so much I still don’t know.”

“Mom and Dad live in Melbourne, Florida, with my younger sister and brother, but Mireille and I were going to college in California.”

“Meena! I think you should get ready. Jallia is getting ready to welcome her baby boy.” Mireille raised her voice so that it would drift across the water.

Chapter Twenty-Two

- Meena -

As soon as the workers were gone, I wasted no time changing. I hadn’t been able to attend any of the other births in mer-form, and I really wanted to be able to assist Jallia.

Jacen and Mireille had changed to their mer-forms, too, which had been an interesting experience. I felt like a pervert, but I couldn’t help but watch as they shifted. They didn’t seem to have any nudity hang-ups, but Mireille left her bikini top on. I was pretty sure that was for my family’s sake.

There really wasn’t much to do for the actual birth. I mainly swam with Jallia and Mitch around the enclosure, offering soothing thoughts. Jacen and Mireille took turns swimming with us, offering support and love. I surfaced at one point, floating next to her as she rested, and realized that Blake was sitting on the dock. He was watching me with a smile, his feet dangling in the water. I swam over to where he was sitting and propped my chin on his knee.

“Hey.”

“How’s she doing?” He reached a hand out and traced my jaw.

“Good. Jallia’s a pro.” I reached up and tugged at his hand. “Come in with me.”

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“Meena!” Jacen called. “The flukes are out.”

“C’mon! I want you to be part of this.” I tugged at him again and he caved.

“Okay.” His eyes were warm as he watched me. He pulled his shirt off and slid into the water. The stitches along his shoulder and arm made me wince, but the wound was looking even less angry and red than it had earlier that day. I took his hand and crossed the water quickly, careful to keep my flukes from slapping into his shoulder. Jallia was in the shallows now, so Blake would be able to stand. I kissed his cheek quickly and let go of his hand so I could check on her progress. Mitch swam around us, nudging Blake to make sure that he was okay. I could feel her giving him grief for getting hurt and then turning around to make sure he really was okay.

Jallia was moving back and forth in the shallows. Once the baby’s flukes are out, it isn’t long to the full birth.

“Hey, lady.” I ran a hand over her back, checking her progress and how the baby was handling it. She twisted in the water, her body trying to expel the baby. I hummed quietly, wanting to offer her some kind of support.

Blake moved closer to me and ran a hand over Jallia’s back. “That’s pretty amazing.”

“The tail comes out first so that the baby can swim to the surface as soon as it’s free.” As Jallia twisted again, the baby slid out a bit more.

“Looks painful.” Blake winced.

“Good things are often painful.” I kept my eyes on Jallia, her body working through the labor process. “But worth it.”

Jacen and Mireille were in the pen, but had swum away to allow us some room. I liked having them here, but I also felt like this was a very important moment for Jallia. Mitch dipped down under the water, checking the progress. She surfaced next to Blake and urged him to move closer.

“Geez, Mitch! I don’t want to step on her!” Blake tripped on a rock and reached out to steady himself and brushed along my tail.

“Are you blushing?” I turned to look at him surprised.

“No. Why would I blush?” His eyes were opened a little wider than they should have been and I started laughing.

“Blake, I’ll explain mermaid anatomy later!” Jacen cupped his hands to his mouth and mock-whispered across the water from where he was floating next to the dock. It was my turn to blush because my parents were sitting less than twenty feet away. Jacen tilted his head back and laughed while Mireille smacked his shoulder. Thankfully, neither of my parents acted like they had heard him.

Jallia twisted again, and the baby slid down some more. I felt Blake lean forward, his excitement mounting. He knelt down a little, trying to see the baby as Jallia twisted and swam in a small circle. He was willing the baby out, his thoughts intent on the little one.

I could feel Jallia’s body tensing and she made a few hard strokes with her tail. Mitch stayed a little ways behind her and I took the other side. When Jallia twisted through the water, her body gave a little and the baby dolphin swam free. Mitch was there immediately, helping the little one to the surface while Jallia spun in the water. I backed away a little, giving them a moment to meet. I bumped into Blake and looked back at him.

“You’re crying.” He brushed my cheek with his thumb.

“Oh, I’m just happy.” Jallia swam in circles with her new little boy, trying to let him get control of his fins. After a few laps, she herded him toward us and the little guy went straight for Blake.

“Hey, fella.” Softly, Blake reached out and stroked his fingers on the newborn’s melon. Mitch squealed happily and a soft sense of happiness filled my heart. As I watched Blake with the new baby, Jallia and Mitch nosed at my sides. I ran my hands over them, praising them for a job well done.

The infant swam happily around with his mother and sister. We went to the other side of the pen so I could change and climb out. Blake helped clean up around the sanctuary while Jacen and Mireille told us things they thought might be important to know.

“I think we might stay for a little longer than we had planned.” Mireille looked at me with wide eyes. “Would that be okay?”

“You’re welcome here as long as you like,” Mom said. She patted Mireille on the shoulder as she walked by. “Just don’t be surprised if Ben puts you to work.”

“Thank you,” Mireille said.

“I figured you might need backup when Mom gets here.” Jacen smiled and it was infectious. “She hasn’t answered her phone in hours, so I’m thinking she’s on her way.”

I was excited and scared, nervous and ready to jump out of my skin. The thought of meeting more blood relatives made my brain a jumbled mess. Blake seemed to understand that, because he was never far from my side. Even when Dad demanded to see the markings on our wrists. It was awkward but special at the same time. Mireille made a fuss over the pattern, saying that she hadn’t seen one so intricate before.

Jacen and Mireille left not long after that, wanting baths and their beds. They were staying at an extended family member’s vacation home not far away. Apparently, it was pretty normal to stay at other merfolks’ homes when doing your swimabout. I took a shower and slipped into a little cotton dress. I wanted to show Blake what I had talked to Mom about.

He had showered while I was dressing, and I realized that he had a bag stuck just inside my door. There were clothes and things for him to stay, and I felt my heartbeat pick up. I knew I should get used to it, to the fact that he was mine and we would live together, but it was still so new it made me nervous. I went to the kitchen and poured some orange juice. The natural sugar made me feel so much better.

Mom and Dad had gone out for dinner and I was pretty sure it was just to give Blake and me some time alone. When he came out of the shower, he had a towel wrapped around his hips and water dripping from his hair. He winked at me as he sauntered into my room and didn’t bother to close the door. I rolled my eyes. Did he think I was going to stand there and watch him dress? I started to turn away but thought again. He was mine, right? And I liked seeing him naked.

The towel dropped to the ground and my stomach followed it. He was gorgeous. There were little dimples just above each butt cheek and I found that I couldn’t look away from them.

Once he had pulled his clothes on, I was able to breathe again. And hoped I wasn’t blushing too much.

“So where are we going?” He held his hand out for me and I smiled. I hadn’t told him anything yet.

“You’ll see.” I led him down to my beach but didn’t stop. We walked all the way to the opposite end and I could see his curious expression in the moonlight. We made our way through one of the small paths that cut through the dunes. Just past the dunes was a small rise with a cottage. I bit my lip, worrying that he wouldn’t like it. It needed work, but you couldn’t beat the view.

“I thought since we’re going to move in together, that we could start looking at places tonight.” I looked up at him to see what he thought. “It needs work, but that could be fun, right? Make it our own.”