ã€ŠDustedã€‹


 Chapter 1: Yuu

    "What do you want from me? Jewels? Potions? Information? Ask me."

    Yuu could feel it through his fingers, in his pulse. He didn''t just want her to ask. He needed it.

    _____________________________________________________________________

    Yuu''s roommate from her first year at NRC/Ramshackle has been gone a year now, participating in the Atlantican Exchange Program. The first Yuu hears from her is when a wedding invitation arrives on her doorstep announcing the union between her roommate, and the heir of the largest potion ingredients syndicate in Atlantica. Yuu attends the wedding for her friend, but for Azul Ashengrotto? In the midst of the wedding scandal, this is an opportunity for Azul to repair relations with the groom¡ªhis cousin. It''s not every day after all, that a merman in his position chooses to marry, and even rarer, chooses a human.

    Unfortunately for Azul, the prankster bride plants a handkerchief of Red Dust on Yuu. Through her, Azul is exposed to a substance designed to reveal secrets. Against Madam Ashengrotto''s wishes, Yuu and Azul find themselves pulled together by the residual effect of what happens at the wedding, far sooner than either are ready for. Both are unwittingly tied up in a spicy new scandal of their own¡ªthis time under the scrutiny of more than just a party.

    ______________________________________________________________________

    Chapter 1

    Yuu

    It was the most expensive invitation Yuu had ever seen: merfolk-made paper¡ªmuch heavier than parchment or cardstock¡ªand the lettering was inlaid, rather than written on the fibers, with real mother-of pearl.

    ¡®To Yuu, Head of Ramshackle House,¡¯ it read.

    Varun Banejaw Weds Malory Jean

    Join us as Varun Banejaw, son of Cetus and Silastia Banejaw, and Malory, daughter of the Jean family, pledge their love before the gathering of kin, coral, and current.

    ? Date: The Last Quarter Moon of the Coral Bloom, at the Evening Neap Tide

    ? Location: Banejaw Grotto, beneath the Pearl Arch

    Come adorned in the colors of the deep, respecting both human and mer traditions.

    Permits two guests.

    She turned the paper over. Then turned it over again. A brisk morning breeze threatened to take the envelope from her as she gripped the cover of the dilapidated mailbox that had rusted itself onto the outer wall of Ramshackle. A smaller note flipped out of the envelope in the wind. Yuu only just managed to catch it.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    This one was written by hand, on fluorescent pink A4, and she would know Mallory¡¯s handwriting anywhere.

    Hi, Yuu!

    The hardest part of the Atlantican Exchange program has been not being able to call and give you updates. I miss NRC. I miss Ramshackle. I miss YOU!

    Anyway, all the updates I have for you would fill a novel, but here¡¯s the ¡®back-of-the-cover¡¯ summary¡­The family hosting magical organic chemistry exchanges had a son. The son had eyes. And he saw me. And now we¡¯re getting hitched!

    Yuu sighed at the paper in her hand. She could read Malory¡¯s excitement by the way the paper nearly tore the page at some sentences, and the careless way she¡¯d started crossing her ¡®t¡¯s. Heart fluttering oddly, she continued reading.

    We¡¯re not doing a lot of the human traditions. No bachelor/ettes. No tupperware. No showers. (It¡¯s wet enough down here, anyway.) One thing I am keeping is that, well, I don¡¯t really have a bridal party, but you¡¯re the closest thing to a sister I¡¯ve got. If we can survive the ghosts of Ramshackle for a year together, then we can do a wedding, right?

    I have a seat saved for you next to me at the bridal table. Bring a plus-one if you have one. (Do you have one, now? I mean, it¡¯d serve me right for not updating you¡­) Wear whatever you want. You and Varun are really the only ones I need next to me to make the day go well.

    (Please PLEASE come. Some of the ¡®people¡¯ on the Banejaw guest list terrify me.)

    All my love,

    Mallory

    Yuu wrapped her jacket tighter around her, clutching at her scarf. She read the note. Then the invitation. Then the note again. Mallory was the least impulsive person she knew. Everything about her was ¡®even,¡¯ from her temperament to her handwriting to her flawlessly-level haircut. A year was long enough to have found true love, certainly. It was very like Mallory to make her event as no-fuss as possible. It seemed the whole thing had been planned by her fiance¡¯s family. Still, there was a scent, a feel of ¡®otherness¡¯ about the invitation in her hands that set her teeth on edge.

    ¡°Human! Why ya just standing around? My ear fires are gonna go out, it¡¯s so cold out here!¡± Grim yowled from around her ankles.

    Yuu tore her attention from the invitation, and tucked it into her bag before her little charge decided to warm himself up by setting it on fire.

    ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll carry you.¡± She offered a hand.

    Grim did a little happy dance, and heeled up on her boot.

    ¡°Finally! You¡¯ve recognized my greatness! The honor of carrying the Great Grim!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m carrying you because when your fur gets wet, you drip on my desk¡ªplease don¡¯t set my hair on fire,¡± she groaned, setting off for the Magical Linguistics building. Three years, and NRC was finally letting her specialize.

    ¡°Complain complain,¡± he grumbled into her shoulder. ¡°When¡¯s lunch again?¡±

    ¡°Same time as every day, but this time you¡¯re on your own. We¡¯re going to class, and then I¡¯m going to the lounge.¡±

    ¡°What, for fancy food? I¡¯m coming.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m getting answers, not food. Save me a sandwich?¡± she asked breezily. ¡°Unless you know what a Coral Bloom Moon is, or an Evening Neap Tide?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re pastries. One¡¯s a mooncake, and the other one¡¯s an alcohol cake,¡± Grim responded with the authority of a professor. ¡°Oooh, I love cake! When¡¯s lunch again?¡±

    Yuu sighed, shivering all the way to class, where yet another envelope waited in her desk.

 Chapter 2: Azul

Chapter 2

    Azul

    Jade. Please help me.¡±

    ¡°We?¡±

    fish, and you¡¯re the driest piece of toast I¡¯ve ever met.¡±

    professional.¡±

    ¡°Jade,¡± Azul hissed in warning.

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

 Chapter 3: Yuu

    Chapter 3

    Yuu

    Yuu knocked on the door to Azul¡¯s private office on the penthouse floor of Mostro Lounge exactly two minutes earlier than his note had requested. Then, after a whole minute of silence from within the room, she knocked again.

    ¡°Strange,¡± she muttered. ¡°Never seen him late before¡­¡±

    Then, with the intention to leave her own note on his desk before looking for him, she pushed the door open, only to find him sitting there at his desk, as usual, behind a mountain of papers. Merfolk-made, parchment, A4, and a scrubby sort of material made in Savannaclaw. He had it all.

    She cleared her throat. He didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°I thought I told you to get out,¡± he grumbled from between his fingers.

    ¡°Well, make up your mind, Zul,¡± she said, more cheekily than intended. ¡°I have it in writing that you wanted me here.¡±

    Azul snapped upright so quickly his glasses fell halfway off his face.

    ¡°Yuu,¡± he breathed, ¡°I¡ªI apologize. I thought you were¡ªI didn¡¯t think it was you. Is it time already? I was just¡ªjust¡ª¡±

    Yuu laughed. It was rare to see Azul Ashengrotto as anything other than pristine, so when he had a rare moment of being flustered, it certainly stood out. Azul was one of the school¡¯s top students, and at the same time somehow managed to run a business, keep up with his schoolwork, head his dormitory, and by the looks of him and his flawless, smooth skin, got enough sleep. It was like the man had eight arms. Seeing him like this, so obviously nervous, he suddenly felt so much more human, and she forgot for a moment that he was a merman like the rest of the members of his dorm.

    Before Yuu had stepped into his office, she¡¯d been a bundle of nerves over talking with him alone. When she¡¯d read his request to meet, it had seemed so formal¡ªso stiff, which was why the questions had been circulating in her head since she¡¯d found his note.

    Have I offended him somehow?

    Is this a reprimand? An interrogation? A confession?

    That last one was extremely unlikely, but he couldn¡¯t have been more vague in the request to meet.

    Perhaps that was merfolk tradition? Give as little information as possible?

    Her exasperation with the entire arrangement was how she found herself in his sleek, probably dubiously acquired office not an hour later¡ªteasing him.

    ¡°I was kidding,¡± she said, hands up in a placating gesture. ¡°But, if this really is a bad time, I can always come back later. Or you can just call m¡ª?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Azul snapped, too quickly, launching himself from his chair in his effort to keep her. He was halfway around his desk before he seemed to realize the behavior was unusual, and slipped back into his normal composure.

    ¡°No?¡± she blinked, surprised.

    He cleared his throat, shoving his glasses back up his nose, knocking off his hat in the process. As it hit the floor, his white hair spilled out in soft waves styled to give a sleek, polished look; however, his stiff posture and wrinkled jacket ruined the effect somewhat.

    He cleared his throat.

    ¡°No,¡± he repeated far more calmly, plastic placidity quickly replacing his earlier lack of candor. ¡°Please stay.¡±

    He cleared his throat again.

    ¡°I find myself today in¡­an odd sort of predicament. I¡ªah¡ªeurgh, this is going badly already. I could truly use your help, Yuu.¡±

    Despite his calm expression, she could already sense the slight bite behind his tone.

    So that was why he was so uncomfortable. Azul Ashengrotto was used to people coming to him for help. When he needed something himself, he had an endless network of students who owed him favors to call on. The question was, what on earth he could want from her that a network of magic students

    ¡°I¡¯ll always help a friend,¡± she said, trying hard to keep the laugh out of her voice. ¡°¡ªif it¡¯s within reason.¡±

    He stared at her, not seeming to notice his fallen hat, nor even the way his white and blue collar had managed to turn itself crookedly on his neck.

    ¡°Yuu¡­we are friends, yes?¡± He asked the question like he¡¯d been rehearsing it in his head, and scowled like it hadn¡¯t come out quite right.

    She raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Azul, you¡¯ve known me for three years.¡±

    ¡°I have,¡± he said, although by his expression, he clearly didn¡¯t think that was telling at all.

    ¡°I do consider you a friend, at least,¡± she sighed at last, taking the seat across from his without invitation. He took her cue, and reluctantly sank into his own. ¡°The thing is, I don¡¯t think you go through something as traumatic as an overblot with someone, or a complete memory loss, or a world-change, or three years of study without being¡­well, if not friends, then at least¡­connected?¡±

    He cringed when she mentioned the overblot, but when he realized that most of the instances she¡¯d listed were her own experience, seemed to soften a little.

    ¡°I hadn¡¯t really considered it like that,¡± he said diplomatically. ¡°I am somewhat ashamed to admit, I hadn¡¯t considered most of what you¡¯ve been¡ªerm¡­.¡±

    He trailed off, however, and never finished that thought. She continued.

    ¡°We¡¯re also on a first name-basis, and you¡¯ve been responding to a nickname for months,¡± she pointed out before he could descend too far into his musings.

    ¡°Is that what that is?¡± he asked, appearing truly baffled. ¡°I¡¯d thought the name was simply cumbersome.¡±

    ¡°Yep!¡± she said, a cheeky grin returning. ¡°Friends, Zul?¡±

    Azul steepled his fingers under chin. ¡°Yes¡­yes. I suppose we are.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, friend,¡± she said, no longer holding back the mischief. ¡°Since we¡¯re established, could I offer you a smidgen of advice?¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± he groaned, leaning back in his chair. ¡°This meeting is already an absolute disaster.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not absolute yet,¡± she teased. ¡°You know, Zul, when you meet with friends, you don¡¯t need to send paper invitations and drink vouchers. You can call me. You can text me. You can say something when you¡¯re passing in the hall.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I have your number¡­¡± he said vaguely.

    She rolled her eyes. ¡°You have the number of everyone in this school.¡±

    His plastic smile didn¡¯t shift, but he shifted in his chair uncomfortably.

    ¡°Am I to take it that¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m giving you permission,¡± she interrupted, taking pity on him. She leaned forward in her chair, parallel now, to him. ¡°So, what can a magicless, studentless, connectionless dorm head do for you today?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t exactly call you without connection,¡± Azul muttered under his breath.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    Was that it, then? He wanted her to ask a favor from someone else?

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Before she had to ask, however, Azul rummaged at his chair¡¯s side, and from his briefcase, pulled a familiar white-and-pearescent invitation, which he set in front of her.

    ¡°I¡¯ve received an invitation to an event, and I find myself in need of a companion.¡±

    She stifled an unladylike snort. ¡°A companion?¡±

    He pushed up his glasses, though they no longer needed adjusting.

    ¡°My connections have informed me that attending with a companion will make me more approachable at the event. My family has a¡ªa well-known reputation at these sorts of things.¡±

    ¡°You need a date to the wedding so that the other guests don¡¯t think you¡¯ll bite their heads off?¡± she joked, but if possible, he paled even more than he already was. ¡°I¡¯m kidding,¡± she rushed. ¡°Of course I¡¯ll go with you. Actually, I was hoping to ask you a bit more about it, myself.¡±

    She pulled out her own invitation, and laid it next to his.

    ¡°How in the depths did you manage to get one of these?¡± he demanded, his mage stone flashing in his front pocket.

    She held up her hands. ¡°I¡¯m at the bridal table with Mal.¡±

    Azul¡¯s jaw opened and close several times. ¡°You¡¯re at the bridal table? You¡ªwhy?¡±

    She examined the dark wood trimmings on the ceiling around the office bookshelves in an attempt to hide an eyeroll.

    ¡°Did you even look at the bride¡¯s name?¡±

    ¡°Is this the other student from Ramshackle last year? I confess, that after the over¡ªerm, your first year at NRC¡ªI was a bit detached from everyone outside of my own dormitory. There was business to rebuild. Trust to regain¡ª¡±

    ¡°A thirty foot glass wall to repair?¡± she asked blithely.

    He nodded. ¡°That.¡±

    ¡°Anyway,¡± she gushed, before he could pull back into whatever tension he thought there had been between them, ¡°I¡¯m so relieved you¡¯re going. I thought I wouldn¡¯t know anyone there but Mal, and I don¡¯t know what any of the traditions there are. Or etiquette. Or even what this date and time mean! And, I mean, I doubt I can just magi-map my way there. It looks like something you have to just¡­know.¡±

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s not plotted on magi-map, it¡¯s¡ªYou¡¯ve never heard of the Pearl Arch?¡± Azul exclaimed, before he could stop himself.

    She crossed her legs over the velvet in her chair and cocked her head at him. ¡°Three years ago, I hadn¡¯t even heard of NRC, remember? I take it you know?¡±

    Azul ran his fingers through his hair.

    ¡°The event is mixed-species, so I doubt you¡¯ll offend anyone,¡± he said at last. ¡°And as the Bride¡¯s representative¡ªit¡¯s quite the honor. You will be playing the part of the Bride¡¯s Head-of-House. Apropo, as you were her dorm leader, but the position is typically filled by the matriarch of the family line.¡±

    Yuu threw her hands in the air. ¡°Now that she definitely didn¡¯t mention in her note¡ªand I¡¯d call that a crucial detail!¡±

    ¡°She is the bride¡­lots of things going on this week, I imagine.¡±

    ¡°This week?¡± Yuu deadpanned.

    ¡°The happy day will occur in the evening, between seven and nine on Friday.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s three days away?¡±

    ¡°Three days is the usual notice for merfolk,¡± Azul explained quickly, watching Yuu¡¯s face heat up. ¡°It¡¯s standard for contracts, deadlines, notices¡ª¡±

    ¡°And weddings?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m aware that humans usually give several months¡¯ notice for such an event, however¡ª¡±

    Yuu found herself kneading her forehead, and leaning heavily on one arm of the chair. ¡°However, she¡¯s not marrying a human,¡± she completed for him. ¡°Great. Just great. And what is the head of her matriarchal line supposed to wear to this sort of thing?¡±

    Azul cocked a brow. ¡°You are the human representative. Those traditions should be in your repertoire.¡±

    Yuu groaned. ¡°Well for us, usually the bride at least assigns a color. And it¡¯s usually anything but white. And of course, Mal¡¯s putting me at the head table without even telling me that.¡±

    ¡°The bride assigns colors?¡± Azul asked, mildly interested. ¡°What other duties does one usually fill?¡±

    ¡°The women in the bridal party usually buy the bride a new set of tupperware. And maybe cooking knives. And clothing.¡±

    ¡°Clothing?¡± he prompted.

    ¡°Erm, sexual clothing. Anyway,¡± Yuu rushed on, not wanting to dwell on THAT topic with Azul. ¡°Do mermaids not get assigned colors?¡±

    Azul shook his head once more, and though he seemed confused, mercifully didn¡¯t ask any more questions.

    ¡°Mermaids are assigned their own scale colors at birth, I suppose. They are born or hatch with them. It is both expensive and magically intensive to change it, although that could become easier in future¡­¡±

    ¡°Thanks for telling me the time,¡± Yuu exhaled deeply. She wanted very much to know why some mermaids hatched, and some didn¡¯t, but discussing merfolk birthing practices with Azul didn¡¯t seem like the right call, either. ¡°You never did say: is the Banejaw Lagoon far from here?¡±

    ¡°Banejaw Grotto,¡± Azul corrected patiently, though he still looked scandalized at the question. ¡°Under the Atlantican Pearl Arch. And it doesn¡¯t matter how far it is. I imagine the Banejaw family will have set up mirror transport for anyone in possession of one of these invitations.¡±

    Yuu¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Just how powerful is this family Mal¡¯s marrying?¡±

    Azul made a show of stacking the papers in front of him, though they were already as perfectly aligned as they would be.

    ¡°Oh, they are quite influential. Enough to give my own mother, and the Leech¡¯s parents healthy competition this past decade. Enough to give anyone competition, actually.¡±

    ¡°And the groom, is he decent? Or do you think he¡¯s just singing Mallory the siren song of success to get her to marry him?¡±

    That sent Azul sighing into the back of his seat.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen or spoken to Varun in many years, but when I did know him¡­.he seemed like the sincere sort. You never know, though, with the Banejaws. They always seem to be something.¡±

    There was a touch of bitterness in the way he said it, and Yuu wanted to ask more, but there were more pressing things to decide¡ªand she¡¯d have plenty of time the night of to question him more thoroughly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll catch you here then, after your shift. Is five okay? I¡¯d like to be early enough to help Mal if she needs it.¡±

    Azul nodded, looking more relieved than he¡¯d been their entire conversation, though whether that was because it was ending, or if he was simply glad to have ¡®a companion,¡¯ as he¡¯d put it, she couldn¡¯t say.

    ¡°I, myself, wouldn¡¯t mind being early enough to greet certain guests,¡± Azul answer vaguely.

    The memory of Mal¡¯s note flashed in her head. ¡®Some of the Banejaw guests terrify me,¡¯ she¡¯d written. That was another thing she¡¯d have to ask him about closer to the event. Until then, it wasn¡¯t about her own concerns. It was about Mal, and digging up what on earth she was going to need at this thing.

    ¡°Good,¡± Yuu said quickly, wondering how much longer Grim could be without her without causing destruction. ¡°And what will you be wearing? If I don¡¯t have a color, we might as well match.¡±

    Azul blinked.

    ¡°Is that a human tradition?¡± he asked.

    She nodded, smirking.

    ¡°It¡¯s custom for ¡®companions,¡¯ who go to ¡®events¡¯ together to wear the same color. So what are you?¡± she asked, realizing.

    Yuu had sort of seen Azul in his merman form when he¡¯d overblotted, but she¡¯d been too far away to see anything but corruption, dying magic, and broken glass. Now that she thought about it, NRC was a quick bus ride from the beach, but she¡¯d never even seen Azul near the water. She cocked her head, examining him. His hair was a perfect silver white, with touches of blue. So were his eyes.

    ¡°Are you blue?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I am not exactly a merman,¡± he admitted uncomfortably. ¡°I am cecaelian, which means that if I were blue, I would be extremely poisonous, and probably hunted for sport.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­¡± she stared, not sure if he was joking. ¡°Then what color are you?¡±

    ¡°Okay?¡± he asked, regarding her as though she¡¯d just sprouted a second head. ¡°Just¡­okay?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes,¡± she huffed, getting impatient. ¡°I¡¯m really just happy to be going with someone I know. Who knows people. Who knows the traditions. I don¡¯t think I could ask for better.¡±

    He stared as though she had sprouted a third head.

    ¡°Eurgh, Azul! I need to get back to Grim. We only have three days! Give me a color, and I will be here and ready before five.¡±

    ¡°Black,¡± he said flatly, surprising her. ¡°Since we evidently can¡¯t wear white, it¡¯s elegant enough for these sorts of things, and we¡¯ll both do fine with it.¡±

    ¡°Black,¡± she repeated. ¡°It¡¯s a little strange for a human wedding, but at least it¡¯ll be easy to find. Wonderful.¡±

    Somewhere below them, a glass shattered¡ªa typical sound for a drink restaurant, but it was a stark reminder that she¡¯d left Grim practically unsupervised, and she didn¡¯t exactly trust Ace and Deuce with the job. She stood.

    ¡°If you have time before then, would you message me? I¡¯d like to know more about what usually happens at these things¡­ and Mal¡¯s worried about the guest list, but she couldn¡¯t have possibly been more vague.¡±

    Azul nodded as she collected her bag, invitation, and checked around the seat to make sure she hadn¡¯t left anything. Her nerves returned somewhat as he scrutinized her movements, studying her closely enough that she felt like she was some new specimen he¡¯d been assigned in one of Professor Divus¡¯ hundreds of petri dishes.

    ¡°I will try, but I warn you my schedule might not open up until late at night. And you should perhaps know me a bit better¡­ some of the ¡®guests¡¯ that Miss Jean mentioned might have questions for you, and I¡¯d rather you hear the stranger things from me.¡±

    That made her pause. She glanced up at him as she rose from her chair, unable to stop the smirk

    ¡°I do know you, Zul,¡± she said, the nickname sounding heavier in her mouth now that he¡¯d acknowledged it, but she was determined to press on, anyway. ¡°I know that you work yourself to the point of breaking, that you have some strange vendetta against all things chicken, octopus, or crustacean, and I know all about your potioneering through last year. Mallory was obsessed. At one point there, you probably could have gotten her to marry you.¡±

    She laughed at the stunned look on his face.

    ¡°Still kidding. Don¡¯t worry too much about the questions. I¡¯m not the sort to believe crazy rumors from strangers¡­But if you thought you had any mystique, Zul, you should know¡­your vice house warden posts your schedule on the back of the office door.¡±

    Surprising herself, she winked at him over her shoulder.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to say. Your hat¡¯s on the floor.¡±

    With that, she escaped through the office door, leaving Azul looking downright disheveled.

 Chapter 4: Azul

    Chapter 4

    Azul

    It could have gone worse, the rational side of Azul, which sounded like suspiciously like Jade, chimed in his head.

    ¡°It. Could. Have gone. Better,¡± Azul growled, snatching up his hat from the floor, where it had apparently been his entire meeting with Yuu.

    ¡°Talking to yourself, Boss? Know what they say about people who do that¡­.¡± Floyd smarmed his way into the room, poorly timed, as per usual.

    Azul tapped his schedule open on his phone, ensuring there was definitely something he needed to get to that was more important than eviscerating the eel.

    Not a thing, he realized in surprise. Yuu is efficient. He had at least ten minutes before Lethal Botany.

    ¡°Floyd,¡± Azul clipped, preparing to leave. ¡°We find ourselves in need of a wedding gift. A Grand one.¡±

    ¡°You say Grand like it has a capital ¡®g,¡¯¡± Floyd said suspiciously.

    ¡°Because it does. Find something rare. And useful. And pretty.¡±

    ¡°And Grand?¡± Floyd put the ¡®g¡¯ in air quotes.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Azul approved. ¡°And do not bring me a piano. It should be something tasteful, moderately expensive, and something that a young wedded couple can actually use.¡±

    Floyd smirked. ¡°Why, Boss? Got nuptial plans the rest of us aren¡¯t aware of? I didn¡¯t know you and Yuu¡ª¡±

    ¡°Button it, Floyd. Jade will fill you in. I¡¯m off to learn how not to kill things with plants¡­or the reverse¡­.as needed.¡±

    Floyd held up his hands in surrender. ¡°Have it your way, Boss! Online purchase okay?¡±

    Azul groaned. ¡°No time. It will have to be something close to home. See what we have in the room of confiscated goods.¡±

    ¡°Oooh, somebody¡¯s losing an heirloom today?¡±

    ¡°Just look,¡± Azul snapped, on the way out of the room.

    The day passed in a flood of appointments, hurriedly rescheduled meetings, and coursework. By the end of the day, Azul had swallowed a mountain of information, and put out a mountain of orders, and yet, his suit was unprepared, the wedding gift was still unselected, and he had no idea how they would meet the month¡¯s quota, much less get the bad publicity offline before the eyes of the underwater world were once again on his business.

    He prepared for bed in the usual way, retiring late, but despite his desperate need for rest, sleep refused to penetrate through his mental wall of stress.

    Staring at the canopy of his four-poster bed, a ¡®ding¡¯ sounded from his phone. Floyd and Jade knew not to message him at this hour unless a truly dire emergency was occurring. Curious, he peered at the screen in the dark.

    Yuu had sent him a little video of a sheep-herder trying to corral cats with a stage hook.

    After some pause, and a small smile, he responded.

    Azul: You¡¯re up late. Was that meant to come to me?

    Yuu: It¡¯s how I feel about the next three days. Too much to get done.

    Azul: I admit, I¡¯m also starting to see why human weddings have more of an advance.

    Yuu: Mhm.

    She followed that with another message containing a picture of a young man being trampled by cats.

    Relatable, he thought.

    Azul: I¡¯ve been meaning to ask. What is tupperware?

    Yuu: Durable containers. And, no. If she¡¯s going to do this to me last notice, I¡¯m going to get her something with more personality.

    Azul: Such as?

    Yuu: I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know where they¡¯re going to live, so anything I think of seems useless. And then I thought of the things I WANT to give her, and they all just seemed¡­. Inappropriate.

    Azul: Such as?

    Yuu: A picture of me for their family wall? A saucy apron? A large supply of lemons and butter?

    Azul snorted, his fingers already flying over the keys.

    Azul: All entertaining, but definitely all declarations of war. Especially that last one.

    Yuu: Well, what are you getting them, o scheming overlord? A monogrammed breadpan?

    Azul: That¡¯s privileged information.

    Yuu: Meaning you haven¡¯t picked one yet.

    Azul: Meaning I am still considering my many options.

    Yuu: You could give them a contract disguised as a gift.

    Azul: Funny.

    Yuu: I really am. So. Formal wear, you said? Do you think anyone will notice if I just show up in my dorm uniform?

    Azul: Yes. Me. I will notice. And I will personally throw you out.

    Yuu: How cruel. Here, I thought you were the spirit of hospitality.

    Azul: Wear some kind of dress, Yuu. But you should also be prepared to get wet.

    Yuu: Formal gowns don¡¯t come in swimsuit versions, but my emotions are prepared.

    Azul: Well we¡¯d hate to get your emotions wet.

    Yuu: What are YOU wearing, then?

    Azul: I have options, but I¡¯m concerned my impeccable taste may intimidate the other guests.

    Yuu: Azul. Just wear a suit. You have several.

    Azul: Exactly. Should I go for ¡°respectable businessman¡± or ¡°mysterious gentleman with questionable motives?¡±

    Yuu: Considering how you claim people feel about you being there, I¡¯d go with ¡°trying his best not to get thrown out.¡±

    Azul: The grey one, it is.

    Yuu: Bravo. We¡¯ll be decently dressed. We¡¯ll be on best behavior. What could go wrong?

    Azul: Define ¡°best.¡±

    Yuu: Azul.

    Azul: Fine, fine. No trouble.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Azul: ...Unless someone else starts it. ??

    Yuu sent a laughing emoji, and eventually, her texts slowed until they stopped. To Azul''s surprise, he found himself¡­relaxing? It had happened quicker than usual, but already, he felt the lethargy of the day creeping through his limbs, and the stress of the endless to do¡¯s were seeming less daunting. Before he could do anything more that he might have done before sleeping¡ªchecking his investments, researching stocks, reviewing notes and schedules, his eyes had closed.

    *

    The following day, only two days until the wedding, Azul threw himself into his coursework with abandon. It was preposterous how much effort him leaving for a single evening was creating for him. Jade, efficient as usual, had already procured a hacker skilled enough to take down any bad publicity online, but Floyd¡¯s lewd foodie photos had spread quite far, and the timetable was going to be tight. His classes went perfectly as usual, his marks as high as they could be, to the hundredth percentile. The Mostro lounge required cleaning, which he and his eight arms assisted with when his shift came to call. Azul was worth five workers in the kitchen when things got busy, but it cost him just as much energy.

    He missed lunch on purpose to stay ahead, and began researching the guest list to the wedding that the hacker had also acquired for him.

    It was an auspicious list, to be sure. Potions dealers, ingredient shippers, and even the farmers themselves had been invited. The entire Banejaw family, his mother, half of the noble class in Atlantica, and even the leech twins¡¯ parents were due to be present.

    He meticulously memorized every face and name that he could. This was going to me the networking event of the year. Perhaps his mother had been right to encourage him to have an escort. He would look suspicious mingling with that many professionals alone.

    When the lunch rush at the Mostro lounge died down, he was served with news that not one, but three of the appliances in the lounge kitchens had failed. Any free time he was due to have¡ªwhich was none at all¡ªwas taken while he dismantled and fixed them himself.

    By the time evening rolled around, Azul was well and truly exhausted. His body had nothing left to give. He ate the first food he¡¯d had that day without tasting it, his body hardly able to move, and his mind still racing over names and faces. Overwhelmed and aching, he found himself reaching for his phone, to mitigate yet another problem.

    Azul: It¡¯s come to my mind an answer to one of your questions back in my office.

    Yuu: Yes?

    Azul: I¡¯ve recalled some¡­.differences between our traditions. Human vs. Merfolk.

    Yuu: I¡¯m all ears.

    Azul: A proper merfolk wedding will involve the exchange of enchanted seashells instead of rings.

    Yuu: Oh? And what do these enchanted seashells do?

    Azul: They carry the voice of your beloved. When held to your ear, you¡¯ll always hear them.

    Yuu: Okay, that¡¯s actually kinda sweet.

    Azul: Of course, if the relationship ends poorly, the shell is ceremoniously crushed to sever the bond.

    Yuu: Aaand there it is. The built-in divorce feature.

    Azul: Wouldn¡¯t you like that? Instead of paperwork, you just dramatically smash something.

    Yuu: You¡¯re not wrong. That does sound satisfying.

    Azul: Exactly.

    Yuu: Still, I can¡¯t imagine you wanting your voice trapped in a shell for someone.

    Azul: Oh, certainly not. If someone wanted to hear my voice constantly, I¡¯d expect a proper contract and compensation.

    Yuu: Azul, you win.

    Azul: I usually do, but at what, exactly?

    Yuu: That is the least romantic thing I have ever heard from anyone. I¡¯m floored. I¡¯m stunned. My flabbers are GHASTED.

    Azul: I didn¡¯t understand all of those euphemisms, but I¡¯m taking it as a compliment.

    Azul: So you know what to expect, a sea witch usually blesses the wedding to ensure prosperity.

    Yuu: Let me guess¡ªyou played that role once, didn¡¯t you?

    Azul: Twice.

    Yuu: And let me guess again¡ªyou charged them.

    Azul: Obviously.

    Yuu: I knew it. You are exactly the type to look a couple in the eye, tell them, ¡°Your love will be eternal,¡± and then charge them a month¡¯s salary.

    Azul: *Oh, please. I wouldn¡¯t be so cheap.

    Yuu: So this wedding will likely have a very expensive, very wordy sea witch.

    Azul: Most likely.

    Yuu: Were you going to warn me of anything else? Or is everything else the same?

    Azul: Ah, yes. You might want to avoid eating too much at this wedding.

    Yuu: You might feel like skipping meals is a fast track to success, Azul, but you¡¯d be hard-pressed to keep me from dinner.

    Azul: Wedding feasts are enchanted. The more you eat, the more likely you are to get caught in the couple¡¯s love magic.

    Yuu: Mallory wouldn¡¯t¡­.actually, she would.

    Yuu: Hang on, are you making that up?

    Azul: Am I?

    Azul: Believe what you will. But if you suddenly find yourself flinging advances at the nearest merman.

    Yuu: Nah, I¡¯m safe. If that were real, you¡¯d be out here buying enchanted catering services for business purposes.

    Azul: ¡­Now that IS an idea.

    Yuu: Besides. I trust you to keep me from anything magically toxic.

    Azul: Me? Why?

    Yuu: You¡¯re my date. So guess who the nearest merman is?

    Azul: Point spectacularly taken.

    Yuu: Rude.

    Azul leaned back from his phone and tapped at the screen some more, waiting, until another text from Yuu pinged in.

    Yuu: I promise not to embarrass us both and fling myself at any present merman. If I do, I expect you to physically restrain me, and drag me from the event, with my hearty consent. Yes?

    Azul: I¡¯d rather it not come to that.

    Yuu: What? And I thought it sounded so fun. So classy. Definitely good for my reputation.

    Azul: Shall I keep telling you what to expect?

    Yuu: Sorry. Please. Carry on.

    Azul: Another thing: some merfolk cultures require the betrothed to complete a trial together before the ceremony. A test of survival and teamwork.

    Yuu: "swim across dangerous waters, fight a sea beast, endure the crushing depths¡±

    Azul: More or less. It ensures the pair can rely on each other in the worst conditions.

    Yuu: And if they fail?

    Azul: Then clearly, they weren¡¯t meant to be.

    Yuu: Wow, okay. Imagine planning a whole wedding, sending out invitations, and then finding out last minute you failed the pre-marriage boss fight.

    Azul: To be fair, your traditions seem equally tedious. Walking down aisles, standing in front of an audience, the speeches¡­

    Yuu: Which one sounds worse: an hour-long ceremony, or an underwater trial of death?

    Azul: ¡­It depends on the guest list.

    Yuu: ¡­

    Yuu: I think you have a point. Speaking of which, why is Mal terrified of the guest list?

    Azul: It is quite vast.

    Yuu: I¡¯ll be asking you more about that later. Alright, what¡¯s the mer-version of the bouquet toss?

    Azul: The couple releases a school of enchanted fish into the crowd.

    Yuu: And?

    Azul: Whoever catches the flashiest one is next to be married.

    Yuu: Wait¡ªso your people are out here diving after fish in the middle of a wedding?

    Azul: Correct.

    Yuu: That sounds so chaotic.

    Azul: It¡¯s a good way to test one¡¯s reflexes. And commitment.

    Yuu: So if you just stand back and don¡¯t try at all, it means you¡¯re safe?

    Azul: In theory. But the couple might take pity and throw one directly at you.

    Yuu: Suddenly, I like this tradition. What happens to the person who catches the ugliest fish?

    Azul: So glad you asked. That person has to kiss the ugliest person in the room.

    Yuu: Now I KNOW you¡¯re lying.

    Azul: Am I? Try it. :)

    Azul: Another tradition: after the wedding, the couple must depart dramatically. The grander the exit, the more prosperous their union will be.

    Yuu: I¡¯m almost afraid to ask.

    Azul: Oh, the usual. A sea chariot pulled by dolphins. Vanishing into the depths amidst a cloud of bioluminescent plankton. Being carried away by a tidal current.

    Yuu: You¡¯re telling me merfolk will just¡ª yeet themselves into the waves and let the ocean decide their honeymoon?

    Azul: Essentially, yes.

    Yuu: That is the most chaotic thing I¡¯ve ever heard.

    Azul: It¡¯s meant to symbolize trust in the tides of fate.

    Yuu: It sounds like a fast track to drowning.

    Azul: If you drown, then clearly the marriage wasn¡¯t meant to last.

    Yuu: What are the chances that Mallory, a very human woman, survives her own wedding?

    Azul: She is your friend. You tell me.

    Yuu: Those poor waves won¡¯t know what hit them.

    Azul¡¯s attention was yanked discourteously from his phone when Floyd came bursting into the room.

    ¡°Boss!¡± he declared, presenting Azul with a lumpy item under a sheet. ¡°I¡¯ve found the perfect wedding present!

    He whipped the fabric off with flair as he presented the item.

    ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± Azul groaned.

    ¡°A monogrammed breadpan!¡±

 Chapter 5: Yuu

    Chapter 5

    The Day Before the Wedding

    Azul: Is it customary for the maid of honor to attend alone?

    Yuu: Not necessarily.

    Azul: Interesting. So you could have brought a date, then?

    Yuu: I am. YOU asked me. Why?

    Azul: Just curious.

    ¡°Hey, human, aren¡¯t you going to that fancy fish event tomorrow?¡± Grim whined, sauntering into Yuu¡¯s bedroom.

    ¡°Hi Grim! Hey, what do you think of my dress?¡± Yuu greeted from in front of the mirror.

    ¡°It¡¯s a dress. It¡¯s black¡­.is there something wrong with it?¡± Grim sniffed at the hem of her black gown suspiciously.

    ¡°I really hope not,¡± Yuu said, glaring at her reflection. The dress was simple enough. Long. A little sparkly. Practically sleeved. She wouldn¡¯t be taking any attention away from the bride in this.

    ¡°I wanna go,¡± Grim said imperiously. ¡°Take me.¡±

    Yuu sighed, regarding the little feline demon. If he went, there would be trouble. Trouble like cake smashing, and champagne glasses flying, and possibly setting the fountains on fire like he¡¯d managed to do in NRC square last week.

    ¡°You could go¡­¡± Yuu said, thinking on her feet. ¡°But all the food¡¯s been enchanted to be practically inedible. And there are going to be hours of speeches where it¡¯s not even allowed.¡±

    ¡°Are you kiddin¡¯ me?¡± Grim yowled. ¡°I take it back. You sit through the speeches. But bring me back some tuna.¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t have tuna,¡± Yuu lied. ¡°I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re even going to have cake. It¡¯s a merman wedding, remember? Seaweed only.¡±

    ¡°Eurgh,¡± Grim moaned. ¡°Then why¡¯s Mal even going?¡±

    ¡°Well, she needs to do it to get married.¡±

    ¡°Yikes.¡± Grim announced. I¡¯m out!¡±

    ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll leave you with some tuna when I¡¯m gone. And I bet Ace and Deuce would love some gaming if you think that¡¯s better than speeches.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sold! Plus one someone else, Yuu!¡±

    ¡°I actually am¡ªhang on. My plus one might actually be¡­bakcing out!?¡± she snatched up her phone again, panicked.

    Yuu: Oh no¡­ Azul, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re getting cold feet the day before?

    Azul: Of course not.

    Yuu: Phew. I didn¡¯t mean to accuse. It didn¡¯t seem in character for you anyway. There¡¯s just been¡­ a lot.

    Azul: Strange how you claim to know me, yet I know so little about you.

    Yuu: Are you bored, Azul?

    Azul: Do I have to be bored to have a chat with a friend.

    Yuu: Well?

    Azul: I¡¯m in a meeting with the vice house wardens discussing the terms for turf restoration on the spelldrive fields.

    Yuu: That¡¯s mind-numbing. You might as well watch grass grow. Why are they making you do this? Jade¡¯s busy?

    Azul: Jade is otherwise occupied.

    Azul: When Crowley pipes down, that is exactly the question I plan to ask.

    Yuu smiled at her phone, imagining Azul pinning Crowley into the sort of political corner he always did, probably with questions like ¡®shouldn¡¯t This have already been taken care of?¡¯ and ¡®Why do we pay tuition when the school¡¯s maintenance falls to the students? And the best of them all: Why wasn¡¯t this meeting an EMAIL?

    ¡°Hey, human,¡± Grim¡¯s voice brought her back into the room. ¡°You¡¯ve been¡­ looking at your phone weird lately.¡±

    Yuu blinked down at him. ¡°I have?¡±

    Grim nodded, yawned, and then draped himself over her sofa.

    ¡°Yep. Weird things with your mouth. You sick or something?¡±

    ¡°No, just busy. And, one of my friends has more of a sense of humor than I thought.¡±

    ¡°Blah blah¡­what¡¯s so funny when there isn¡¯t any tuna?¡±

    ¡°Give me a few minutes and we¡¯ll go for dinner, okay?¡±

    ¡°Nyah! That¡¯s all I needed to hear! I¡¯ll be by the door.¡±

    She sighed, looking back down at her phone.

    Azul: Twenty questions? What¡¯s Yuu actually like?

    Yuu: There¡¯s really nothing to know¡­.well, not beyond what you know from knowing me for three years.

    Azul: Impossible. You¡¯re the ¡®maid of honor,¡¯ as they call it. You clearly have connections.

    Yuu: Or, even without a history, I¡¯m just very likable.

    Azul: Debatable.

    Yuu: Rude.

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Azul: Enlighten me, then. Where did you grow up?

    Yuu: A normal town. With normal things.

    Azul: How informative. ?? Favorite food?

    Yuu: Anything that isn¡¯t a contractual trap.

    Azul: Now that¡¯s just unfair.

    Yuu: Oh, like your ¡°not telling¡± earlier?

    Azul: Tch.

    Yuu: See? You don¡¯t like it either.

    Azul: I was only saying it was Strange that you didn¡¯t already have a date, considering how ¡°likable¡± you claim to be.

    Yuu: Oh, so now I¡¯m likable?

    Azul: I never said you weren¡¯t.

    Yuu: You heavily implied it.

    Azul: But I never confirmed it.

    Yuu: And yet you¡¯re still talking to me. A win. :) I¡¯m more interesting than field turf.

    Azul: Perhaps I enjoy a challenge.

    Yuu: Is that why you asked me to this wedding? It occurs to me that you didn¡¯t know I was already going when you asked. Just think. We could have had a normal evening. You conniving your way into the good graces of the potions dealers (Mal texted me the list.) Me enjoying the enchanted and probably cursed sushi¡­. Good times. Why didn¡¯t you ask a mermaid? Aren¡¯t there a bunch of them in Octavinelle dorm? Some probably have family there.

    Azul: Hah. As if anyone would willingly accompany the ¡°unwanted guest.¡±

    Yuu: I dunno. You might have convinced some poor soul.

    Azul: No one as entertaining as you, I¡¯m afraid.

    Yuu: Very good save.

    Azul: Serious question: what does the esteemed maid of honor do for fun?

    Yuu: And a good deflection, too! But you¡¯re pinned, so I do feel for you.

    Yuu: I Work. Sleep. Occasionally suffer.

    Azul: Charming. Truly.

    Yuu: What? Not all of us get to build empires of morally questionable business ventures.

    Azul: It¡¯s not morally questionable if it¡¯s legal.

    Yuu: My morals are freed. Get ready for the rival lounge at Ramshackle.

    Azul: Avoiding the question, are we? You must do something in your free time.

    Yuu: Fine. I read. Sometimes.

    Azul: Oh? And what riveting literature holds your interest? Economic theory? Strategic warfare? Perhaps a biography of some tragic historical figure?

    Yuu: Why do you assume I have the same tastes as you?

    Azul: Because I can¡¯t imagine you reading something lighthearted.

    Yuu: I like fiction. With¡­.good subplots.

    Azul: Example?

    Yuu: ¡­No.

    Azul: Scandalous.

    Yuu: You¡¯ll never know.

    Azul: Ah, but I am a businessman, Yuu. And I always get what I want.

    Yuu: Not always, if I recall.

    Azul: It is but an eventuality. You underestimate my patience.

    Yuu: And you underestimate my ability to be vague. ??

    Yuu: Truly, you would be an interesting companion to any event. Why not ask the mermaids? I¡¯m curious.

    Azul: As I said before¡­ scurrilous rumors have been spread about my family, perpetuated by a noxious bunch of crustaceans.

    Yuu: Lousy bottom-feeders.

    Azul: EXACTLY.

    Yuu: What are they really hiding in those adorable little shells?

    Azul: Are you¡­ mocking me?

    Yuu: I would never. But I would definitely hope you know that I¡¯m not the sort of person to believe a crab¡¯s word over yours.

    Azul: That is¡­ somewhat comforting, I suppose.

    Yuu: Even if it¡¯s cute.

    Azul: Crabs are NOT cute.

    Yuu: I¡¯ve never met a crab. Will you introduce me?

    Azul: No.

    Yuu: Would it tell me that the restaurant I now frequent is served by possible man-eating eels and dubiously contracted slave workers?

    Azul: I do PAY them, Yuu.

    Yuu: With benefits?

    Azul: Money IS a benefit.

    Yuu: That sounds like something a crab would say.

    Yuu: ¡­Everything going well in the meeting? It¡¯s been a few minutes.

    Azul: Congratulations. I have publicly laughed at the headmaster, and Octavinelle is officially in charge of the turf replacement.

    Yuu: EXCELLENT!

    Azul: Do you enjoy making my life difficult?

    Yuu: I enjoy keeping you on your toes. There¡¯s a difference.?? I have a proposition. Get a wad of ocean plastic. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll hear about some while we¡¯re at the wedding. Then have it toted in and hire the spinners to make turf grass out of it. (Free material, as well.) Borrow Vil¡¯s long-lasting charms and voila! The next field-turf meeting will be well after you¡¯ve graduated.

    Yuu: ¡ª It would also have the added benefit that whoever you¡¯ve removed the plastic from (territory-wise) will now owe you a sizeable favor.

    Azul: Perhaps you have a future in business after all.

    Yuu: I¡¯m not just a pretty face. Voila! Now, you have a business ¡®in¡¯ with some lucky sucker at the wedding.

    Yuu: And also the prettiest date.

    Azul: Smart and humble. How lucky of me. I take it you found suitable clothing?

    Yuu: I did. Did you ever manage to find a gift for the wedding?

    Azul: Of sorts¡­it¡¯s certainly not my best work, but late notice and all that.

    Yuu: Same. I ended up making something.

    Azul: Oh?

    Yuu: I can show you tomorrow, if you¡¯re on time.

    Azul: I always am.

    Yuu: I know. ??

    Yuu changed out of her dress and rushed downstairs, where Grim was waiting, very impatiently.

    ¡°Took you long enough, human. How long does it take to change a dress?¡±

    ¡°Long time,¡± Yuu said with a grave nod. ¡°Ever tried one on?¡±

    ¡°Eurgh! Nuffa that! You said we were getting dinner!¡±

    ¡°We are! How about¡­. The chicken place? It¡¯s next to a store I need to go to. Finishing touches for tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine. As long as we hurry, but for the life of me, I can¡¯t see why you¡¯re so excited about that thing.¡±

 Chapter 6: Yuu/Azul

    Chapter 6

    The Wedding

    The morning of the wedding day dragged through time like tar. Yuu found herself counting the seconds during her morning classes, and she could have sworn that the second hand in every classroom at NRC had gone sticky. And made of lead. Possibly even disconnected from the timepieces completely, as the hour hands refused to move at all. After what felt like a week in the morning classes, she rushed back to Grim, dropped him off at Heartslabyul for games and enough sugary snacks to kill a herd of flamingos.

    Using the makeup forced on her by Vil the year previous, and the curling iron she¡¯d purchased the night before, she was ready and off for Octavinelle a half hour early, anxious to get to mal, and curious at what she would find once she arrived.

    *

    It was thirty minutes before he had to be ready to leave with Yuu, and Azul had only just finished getting dressed for the wedding when an emergency in the lounge demanded his attention.

    ¡°Why does it matter if the blenders have combusted?¡± he demanded of Jade, who, yet again, failed to be able to fix the appliances on his own. ¡°If they are broken, they are simply broken. I¡¯ll fix them when I return, the Mostro lounge is closed for the night!¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, we still have stragglers on the dining floor,¡± Jade said, in his ever-present calm.

    ¡°They¡¯re not the only ones. Got a new one in¡ªhey, Shrimpy, is that YOU?¡± Floyd yelled way too loudly. ¡°Come and look, y¡¯all; Shrimpy is lookin¡¯ FINE!¡±

    ¡°Stop harassing the customers, Floyd!¡± Azul barked. ¡°Yuu isn¡¯t due here for another half hour.¡±

    Yuu stepped around the front counter, and scooped up a tray. Falling into step with Jade, she helped him bus some of the last few tables.

    ¡°Thanks, Yuu,¡± Jade said sincerely. ¡°It appears the Boss has been in a bit of a mood.¡±

    ¡°What was that, Jade?¡± Azul huffed, stepping out of the kitchen. It was rare that Jade mocked him to the customers, but he certainly wasn¡¯t going to let it stand.

    He wore a gray suit, and had chosen to go without a hat. Azul was always well-groomed, so for him, this was nothing out of the ordinary.

    ¡°Your date has arrived,¡± Jade said, and Yuu thought she detected a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

    ¡°Dishes coming through!¡± she announced pleasantly, squeezing past him.

    He almost didn¡¯t let her through, not because he didn¡¯t trust her, but simply because he didn¡¯t recognize her. Yuu was well-groomed as well, but her grooming focused more on the practical, than the flashy, dramatic, or beautiful like those in Pomfiore. This evening, however, in a dark gown that reached the floor, she had managed all three.

    It was probably for the best that he didn¡¯t say anything as she walked by, carrying a mountain of dishes in each arm. If he had, it might have come out wrong, like ¡°who are you,¡± ¡°what are you doing in my kitchen,¡± and ¡°are you sure you¡¯re my date for the evening?¡±

    Swallowing, Azul, Jade, and Floyd put the rest of the service floor to rights, dismissing themselves at last as the end shift gained control.

    When Yuu came out of the kitchens, she was flushed, but still put together.

    ¡°Hi Azul!¡± she said cheerily, joining them in the foyer. ¡°Jade! Floyd! Good to see you both.¡±

    ¡°Hey, Shrimpy! You¡¯re looking good enough to eat tonight! Wanna come somewhere with me?¡±

    Traitor, Azul nearly snarled. First the bread pan, and now threatening to take his escort. Floyd really was lucky he was irreplaceable. The man even had the gall to toss him a wink over Yuu¡¯s head.

    ¡°You look quite beautiful tonight, Miss Yuu,¡± Jade added smoothly.

    ¡°Thank you both!¡± Yuu actually laughed. ¡°I¡¯m just hoping it lasts through the mirror travel. Speaking of which,¡± Yuu turned to address him now, forcing him to smooth his scowl, ¡°Where is the mirror we¡¯ll be taking? We just need the invitations, and then¡­we go?¡±

    Azul nodded, grateful for the change of subject.

    ¡°The Octavinelle mirror is down the hall from the main building. We can go now and be there at five on the dot.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± she said, seemingly unaware of the faces Jade and Floyd were making behind her. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    *

    Yuu was entirely aware of the faces that Floyd and Jade were pulling at Azul just behind her line of sight.

    Boys, she groaned internally, welcoming wholeheartedly the arm that Azul offered her as an escape.

    She took it, immediately disoriented by something about Azul that she¡¯d never noticed.

    ¡°You smell like¡­cedar? A tree? A land tree?¡± she gaped, open-mouthed.

    Azul actually rolled his eyes.

    ¡°Is there any other kind of tree, Yuu?¡±

    Yuu glanced back at Floyd and Jade. ¡°Is there?¡±

    In her grasp, Azul sighed. ¡°I¡¯m a merman. What did you expect me to smell like?¡± he asked, exasperated.

    She shrugged. ¡°Butter and lemon?¡±

    Somewhere behind them, Floyd choked on his drink, and Jade suspiciously hid his face behind one of the photos he was busy taking down.

    ¡°Marvelous,¡± Azul drawled. ¡°Ramshackle has a resident comedian.¡±

    ¡°I perform to a full house,¡± she deadpanned. ¡°So, the mirror?¡±

    She watched Azul pull himself back into composure. ¡°This way.¡±

    The travel mirror was the size of a wall, and more ornate than anything she¡¯d expect to find in a palace. Its border was wrought silver, and covered in tentacle and scale designs set with pearls.

    Azul pulled his invitation away from his side at the same time as Yuu gripped hers.

    ¡°Just in case¡­How soon after the ceremony is it socially acceptable to leave?¡± Azul asked tepidly.

    She nudged him playfully. ¡°Why? Got somewhere to be?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± he said matter-of-factly. ¡°Just weighing my options in case the crowd turns on me.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re paranoid.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m prepared,¡± he rebuffed.

    ¡°You¡¯re going with a guest specifically requested by the bride. I won¡¯t let anything eat you,¡± she teased. ¡°Besides, if you leave too early, I will tell people you got scared and ran away.¡±

    The corner of his mouth quirked in a smile. ¡°¡­You are truly ruthless.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Shall we?¡± she offered.

    And they stepped through.

    Travel by mirror felt like getting sucked into a wall of jelly, and then spat out again, but at least it didn¡¯t ruin her hair. Yuu and Azul stepped out into the Banejaw Lagoon, beneath the Pearl Arch, and suddenly, Yuu understood why Azul was surprised she hadn¡¯t heard of it.

    The Pearl Arch was just that¡ªan enormous pearl archway spanning the entryway over a circle of free-standing mirrors, from which guests were already arriving. The grotto itself stood as a mouthway to a gorgeous lagoon, where the sun had just begun to set, and a magically warm breeze heated a posh circle of tastefully decorated tables. In place of a ballroom, a giant pool separated the lower tables from the bridal head table, where Yuu spotted¡ª

    ¡°Mal!¡±

    Ignoring decorum, Yuu unhooked herself from Azul¡¯s arm and hurried forward, hardly aware of Azul trailing behind, until she reached her friend.

    ¡°Mallory, you owe me a story, and you look absolutely beautiful,¡± Yuu cried, throwing her arms around Mallory Jean, her former roommate, who was standing near the head table, a vision in white. Yuu couldn¡¯t help laughing. ¡°You picked a mermaid dress?¡±

    ¡°It seemed like it fit the occasion,¡± Mallory laughed into Yuu¡¯s hair. ¡°It¡¯s been too long. Hang on, is that Azul Ashengrotto you came with?¡±

    Mallory glanced behind Yuu¡¯s shoulder, where Azul was still making his way to the table.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuu nodded. ¡°Yeah, since I didn¡¯t know how to decode the invitation, he helped, and it turned out he was going, too. How does it feel to have Azul as a cousin-in-law?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s Varun¡¯s cousin?¡± Mallory was genuinely surprised.

    ¡°On his father¡¯s side,¡± Yuu nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I bet the guest list ou¡¯ve had to memorize is enormous.¡±

    Mallory sighed. ¡°It is. And so¡¯s Varun¡¯s family, apparently.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m excited to meet this Varun. What¡¯s he like?¡±

    Mallory gave Yuu the smirkiest smirk since the expression was invented. ¡°Well, he¡¯s a tiger-fish, for starters.¡±

    Yuu snorted. ¡°Right. Got time for details?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the bride. I can do whatever I want.¡±

    Mallory lapsed into an embellished and romantic tale of her ¡®tiger-fish¡¯ that had Yuu giggling behind a napkin for a full fifteen minutes.

    ¡°Mal, you¡¯re making my eyeliner run!¡± Yuu gasped, when Mal finally came up for breath from the tale. ¡°He asked you out by bringing you a bunch of urchins? The one thing in the whole wide ocean you¡¯re allergic to, and he picks those?¡±

    ¡°He nearly killed me,¡± Mal whispered conspiratorially.

    ¡°Bet you got him back tenfold.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m about to¡­¡± Mal whispered behind her own napkin. ¡°I¡¯ve been designing something new. Gonna try it tonight, actually. Hey, how¡¯s MY eyeliner.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± Yuu said, setting about fixing it. ¡°You¡¯ve been designing something?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Malory said around the napkin. ¡°Ever heard of the red string of fate? It¡¯s¡­ a more proactive version.¡±

    Yuu was about to ask more, but as she¡¯d nearly finished with the makeup, Azul cleared his throat behind them.

    ¡°May I join you?¡± he asked politely.

    ¡°Sure thing, cousin!¡± Mal winked at him. ¡°Nice choice of date, I have to say.¡±

    ¡°Yes, extremely serendipitous,¡± Azul agreed, taking the seat next to Yuu¡¯s.

    ¡°Did you make her sign a contract for it?¡± Mal asked cheekily.

    Yuu burst out laughing.

    ¡°Of course no¡ª¡± Azul tried to correct quickly.

    ¡°He nearly did,¡± Yuu interjected.

    Azul sighed, shaking his head at them both. ¡°I do have some class, Yuu¡­ I should also congratulate you, soon-to-be cousin. You make a beautiful bride.¡±

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°Relax, Azul.¡± Mallory smiled at him. ¡°I¡¯m happy to have two friends at my table. It¡¯s not like I have any family to call on from my side. I guess you get to represent both. You absolutely belong here.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªthank you, Mallory. I can call you that, yes?¡± Azul said, looking oddly touched.

    ¡°Mal, please,¡± she corrected quickly. ¡°Oh, I have to get going. The ceremony¡¯s about to start. No worries, though. I told Varun that if it lasts longer than ten minutes, I¡¯m jumping ship.¡±

    ¡°You are the coolest bride in the world,¡± Yuu said in awe. ¡°Teach me your ways.¡±

    ¡°Do I NEED to?¡± Mal snarked back at her.

    Yuu held up her hands. ¡°I take it all back. Teach me nothing. I¡¯m an empty shell.¡±

    ¡°I missed you,¡± Mal said, giggling as she left.

    ¡°She seems happy¡­¡± Yuu said, watching her leave. ¡°I just wish I¡¯d have gotten to live with her longer.¡±

    ¡°Life has a way of throwing you surprises,¡± Azul said, placatingly.

    She glanced at him.

    ¡°This for example,¡± he said, gesturing to the place set before him. ¡°Me sitting at the bridal table of a Banejaw wedding¡­and not even on a serving plate.¡±

    Yuu laughed, elbowing him in the side. ¡°You¡¯re not THAT unlikeable, Azul. Speaking of which, don¡¯t you have people to mingle with? Those look like Jade and Floyd¡¯s parents down there!¡±

    Yuu smiled, sending them a shy wave.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen them since parent-teacher conferences. I doubt they remember me,¡± she said quietly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll greet them later,¡± Azul promised. ¡°For now, I do believe Mallory was being serious about her ceremony. Look there.¡±

    But what Yuu saw, was brewing trouble.

    ¡°Hang on. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    It took Yuu all of three minutes to determine the situation, and she was back to Azul before he could get up from the table.

    ¡°Well?¡± he asked smoothly.

    ¡°One of the guests arrived tipsy and spilled something on Mal¡¯s dress, the groom is missing a shoe and is insisting that they aren¡¯t actually necessary, and someone forgot to bring the rings because apparently¡­those also aren¡¯t necessary under the sea?¡±

    Azul stared at her as though she had just otld him the moon was falling.

    ¡°¡­Are you certain this is a wedding and not a tragedy in three acts?¡±

    ¡°I thought something like this would happen.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re here with me. What exactly do you expect me to do about it?¡± he asked, cutting to the chase.

    ¡°You always have a plan.¡±

    ¡°Flattering. But I do believe this falls outside my usual domain.¡±

    ¡°Azul.¡±

    She could tell that he didn¡¯t want to get involved. Getting involved meant risk. Exposure. People. However, after a short breath, he agreed.

    ¡°Fine. I may have an emergency stain-removal method. As for the rings¡­ well, you¡¯ll just have to owe me for that one.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± she gasped, as he left the table, and headed for the pavilion where Mallory and Varun stood, in heated conversation with a large ample-waisted sea witch.

    Not one to stand around, Yuu followed.

    ¡°I have officially been designated "person-who-fixes-everyone''s-problems,¡± she panted, not five minutes later, when, together with Azul, everything had been put to rights.

    ¡°A less prestigious title than Maid-of-honor,¡± Azul remarked, flicking imaginary dust from the cuff of his jacket sleeve. She was exhausted. He looked like he¡¯d just dealt with a particularly customer at the lounge and come out on top. ¡°Do you at least get paid?¡±

    Yuu nodded, leaning on him briefly as she adjusted a shoe.

    ¡°In stress and gray hairs.¡±

    ¡°Tempting offer, but I think I¡¯ll pass,¡± he said, lending her a hand for support. His fingers lingered on hers a moment longer than was necessary, bringing her attention back up to his face.

    ¡°Of course you¡¯ll pass. Your hair is already gray.¡±

    ¡°It is not gray¡ª¡± he started indignantly, before the ceremonial music started, and all rose as Mallory walked down the shortest wedding aisle that Yuu had ever been privileged to witness.

    ¡°Amazing,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°She took three steps,¡± muttered Azul.

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    The happy couple stepped up to each other. Varun was handsome, in a traditional sense, and his suit was nothing but the best. His cheeks had actual tiger-stripes on them, which Yuu could only imagine Mallory finding forever amusing. Her friend really was happy, smiling and tearing up at all the right moments. The wedding ceremony really was over and blessed by the sea witch in ten minutes, but with what was said, it was perfectly ¡®Mal.¡¯

    ¡°Wow, those vows were really something,¡± Yuu wondered as the ceremony closed.

    ¡°I suppose. A bit¡­ dramatic, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Yuu shot him a sideways glance. ¡°I would¡¯ve thought you liked grand declarations.¡±

    ¡°I prefer promises that aren¡¯t made in front of a hundred people crying into handkerchiefs.¡±

    ¡°It was lovely.¡± Yuu smiled. ¡°Very her.¡±

    ¡°LADIES AND GENTLEFISH! If you would take your places on the ballroom floor for the sealing song!!!¡± the seawitch announced from the altar.

    Azul sighed. ¡°It appears there¡¯s a mandatory dance.¡±

    Yuu hummed. ¡°How tragic.¡±

    Azul was already standing with the rest of the guests, ready to file forward.

    ¡°Truly. The question is, who is going to rescue me from this predicament?¡±

    Was he¡­teasing her? In person?

    She took his hand. ¡°It¡¯s almost as though there¡¯s a purpose to bringing a date to these things.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. You spare me from an overeager partner, and I ensure you don¡¯t end up with a questionable one.¡±

    ¡°You make it sound so¡­ transactional,¡± she sighed, letting him guide her to one of the only dry-land dancing areas. The rest seemed quite eager to head down into the pool, where, formal gowns and all, the music began.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Azul corrected, once they were facing each other. ¡°Yuu, would you do me the great honor of allowing me this dance?¡±

    She nodded. ¡°That was a little more sarcastic than it needed to be, but I¡¯ll take it.¡±

    The ceremony was certainly efficient. The couple was already dancing to the song under the pearl archway, the lyrics spilling over the crowd like a spell.

    ¡°What are they saying?¡± Yuu asked, swaying in Azul¡¯s arms to the tune. There wasn¡¯t much room for dancing, and Yuu was just find with that. Even so, she was hardly surprised that Azul was a skilled leader.

    ¡°A proper wedding is sealed with an ancient siren¡¯s song, ensuring harmony in the couple¡¯s union,¡± Azul explained.

    ¡°That sounds beautiful.¡±

    ¡°It is.¡±

    ¡°And I assume the lyrics are meaningful and poetic?¡± she said, prompting a translation.

    Azul was oddly reticent to share, not meeting her eyes as they swayed. But of course he was. Azul was always¡­at odds when it came to physical contact.

    ¡°Deeply so,¡± he informed her vaguely.

    ¡°You won¡¯t translate it for me?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he said blandly. ¡°Absolutely not.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because the translation doesn¡¯t come across directly, and therefore has to be sung.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t sing?¡±

    He looked at her then, smirking. ¡°I refuse to sing for free.¡±

    Shaking her head, Yuu put her hand on his chest in shock, glaring at his tie.

    He was as surprised as he was exasperated, but he didn¡¯t stop her.

    ¡°What are you doing, Yuu?¡±

    ¡°Checking to make sure you¡¯re not having a coronary. Was that an actual joke?¡±

    He sighed, pulling them away from a tall, half-transformed couple swaying beside them, gills still clamped behind their ears.

    ¡°I do have a sense of humor, Yuu.¡±

    ¡°I was just checking¡ªhang on.¡± She gasped. ¡°Do you have¡­two heartbeats?¡±

    ¡°Three, actually. But only in my true form. Frankly, I don¡¯t know how you humans make do with just two¡ª¡±

    She leaned back to properly see his face. He was being serious.

    ¡°THREE?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re surprised.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ it¡¯s not the sort of thing you just¡­find out,¡± she spluttered.

    He gave a posh sort of shrug. ¡°You never asked.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. How could I forget to quiz my date about his number of vital organs. The naivete is killing me. Next time, I¡¯ll go into the date making sure he has both kidneys too, just in case.¡±

    ¡°If you do, you have an excellent chance of making your date feel like a black market target.¡±

    ¡°To think, I left my coolers of ice at home,¡± she shot back.

    ¡°Funny,¡± he remarked, cocking a brow. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not Floyd disguised as Yuu?¡±

    ¡°Ha. If I were Floyd, I wouldn¡¯t have been surprised, I think. Is that a common thing for merfolk?¡± she asked, genuinely curious.

    ¡°Quite uncommon,¡± he said. ¡°Having two or more rows of teeth, however¡ªvery common.¡±

    ¡°You have twice the teeth, too?¡±

    ¡°Yuu,¡± he scolded. ¡°Have you ever even looked at me? What do you think?¡±

    So, she really looked. From his white hair, to the matching light glint on his glasses, and his eyes in the color parrot-fish blue. She took in his amused scowl, wondering at how a scowl could ever look amused, and decided that it was probably one of the more genuine expressions he¡¯d given her. Letting the silvery music slide over them, she just¡­looked, until he said:

    ¡°Of course, if you you were FLoyd, you¡¯d probably be threatening to eat me by now, too, if I bored you.¡±

    The comment caught her so off guard, she laughed, too loudly, right in his face.

    ¡°I have a policy against eating friends,¡± she said too quickly. ¡°I mean, I¡¯d never eat you. I mean¡ª¡±

    She realized what it sounded like too late, and a hard blush caught up to her face before her brain could connect with her mouth and give it the command to stop talking.

    ¡°¡ªIt¡¯s not that I¡¯m trying to insult the way you taste. I¡¯m sure you taste fine. You¡¯re probably¡ª¡±

    It was his turn to go a little pink.

    ¡°Oh man¡­ can we please pretend I didn¡¯t say any of that? Let¡¯s go back to the song lyrics.¡±

    ¡°Ironically, those are about¡­um¡­tasting, as well.¡±

    She groaned, letting her head fall into his chest where she didn¡¯t have to look at him, until, she realized, that was another of the worser options. She straightened comically fast, nearly knocking into his glasses as she did so.

    ¡°So!¡± she said, falsely bright. ¡°How does a pearl arch that big happen, anyway? Is it alchemically designed? I don¡¯t see any pearls like that happening naturally.¡±

    ¡°I believe the Banejaw family trained a pack of oysters to have a ¡®taste¡¯ for a particular type of rock, and then just let them loose,¡± Azul said, watching her amusedly.

    ¡°Wow. He does have a sense of humor,¡± Yuu muttered, glaring. ¡°And it¡¯s vicious.¡±

    ¡°I thought the joke was more than tasteful,¡± he said, heaving a dramatic sigh.

    ¡°Please¡­please make it stop,¡± she begged.

    ¡°I¡¯d be willing to negotiate terms,¡± he responded, smirking wider.

    ¡°Wonderful,¡± she said dryly. ¡°You stop, and I won¡¯t break any of your toes during this dance.¡±

    ¡°And she says I¡¯m the vicious one,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Unfortunately, you shouldn¡¯t make any threats you can¡¯t keep.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s time to rejoin the bridal party at the high table,¡± Azul said, a little quieter.

    Yuu looked around. The song was already over, and the rest of the couples were shuffling off to their seats. There was no reason for her to be standing as close to Azul as she was, and yet, she¡¯d hardly notice the time passing.

    He cleared his throat politely.

    ¡°Right,¡± she agreed, pulling away from him to stand at an equally polite distance.

    The conversation they¡¯d been having had brought them nearly nose to nose,  and he was still holding her hand, as though leading, though there was nowhere to lead. Quickly, she slipped away from him, and let him lead the way back to their positions next to Mal.

    The sea witch stepped up to the podium, jowels wobbling, an announced in his blubbery tone, ¡°LADIES AND GENTLEFISH! Presenting the new couple, Varun and Mallory BANEJAW!¡±

    The crowd, including Yuu and Azul, erupted in applause, polite at first, and dissolving into whoops and hollers when Varun swept Mallory in for a kiss.

    It was in that moment, watching Varrun with Mallory that gave Yuu a window into their relationship, far more than the dramatic vows and bowing. Varrun very obviously loved her friend. He didn¡¯t give into the more crude suggestions from the wedding crowd for attention. Instead, he presented Mallory like his treasure. Like his prize. Like someone he truly, and genuinely admired and planned on keeping. Yuu¡¯s eyes misted at that kiss, wondering, oh-so briefly, what it would be like to find the thing that she and Mallory had lost when they¡¯d come to this world¡ªa family.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Azul¡¯s voice rumbled low in her ear, muffled somewhat by the cheerful din.

    Yuu nodded, unsure of what to say. She wasn¡¯t crying. She wasn¡¯t even tearing up¡ªyet. She¡¯d also been facing away from him. Even so, he¡¯d noticed her shift in mood, and had already produced a silvery handkerchief from a suit pocket.

    She almost laughed, but was afraid it would turn into a sob.

    Of course he has handkerchiefs, she thought.

    Accepting it without looking at him, she cheered as loudly as the rest when Mallory and Varrun sat next to them, and beckoned for the wedding feast to be served.

    Under the table, Mallory reached for Yuu¡¯s hand, and squeezed it. She glanced over, very briefly, and Yuu managed a smile before Mal looked back to her guests, and to the mountain of steamed salmon and tuna headed their way.

    Yuu wanted to say something.

    You were beautiful up there. I¡¯m so happy for you. This is everything I wanted for you.

    But all that came out was:

    ¡°That was great, Mal,¡± in her softest, smallest voice.

    Then, before there was any room for commentary, the speeches began¡ªall from the Banejaw family. Luckily for Yuu, Mal hadn¡¯t decided to put her on the spot. Instead they sat together, the fingers of her right hand in Mal¡¯s, and Azul¡¯s handkerchief in the other. Memories of their second year at NRC flashing through Yuu¡¯s head, wondering how things had gone so very differently for them both.

    As one of the more comedic speeches from one of Varrun¡¯s schoolmates waxed on, Mal leaned over to whisper.

    ¡°I have something for you,¡± Mal hissed cheekily.

    If they¡¯d been anywhere else but under the scrutiny of hundreds of guests, Yuu would have snorted.

    ¡°You¡¯re the bride. I¡¯m supposed to give things to you,¡± Yuu hissed back. ¡°And you¡­.will probably like what I brought. Just don¡¯t open it until I¡¯m far, far away.¡±

    ¡°That good huh,¡± Mal snickered under her hand, disguising it as a reaction to the speech.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s good,¡± Yuu promised. ¡°Varrun¡¯s gonna love it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m taking it with me, then,¡± whispered Mal.

    ¡°What, you¡¯re not just gonna yeet yourself into the waves? No luggage? Let the ocean take you?¡±

    ¡°Varrun wanted to.¡±

    ¡°Show off,¡± Yuu whispered half-heartedly.

    ¡°You dunno the half of it,¡± Mal agreed vehemently. ¡°And you¡¯re distracting me. I have something for you. Just¡­. Careful when you open yours, too, kay?¡±

    ¡°Is it explosive?¡± Yuu asked.

    It was a fair question. Mal had nearly blown up Ramshackle just doing potions homework.

    ¡°Well that would have been a good idea,¡± Mal teased. ¡°Remember when I said I¡¯ve been working on something? With the red string?¡±

    ¡°You turned destiny into a potions ingredient? Did you bottle a love potion, too?¡±

    ¡°Those aren¡¯t real.¡±

    ¡°Yet.¡±

    ¡°Yet,¡± Mal agreed.

    ¡°I was kidding. What does it do?¡±

    ¡°It just helps you¡­. Find things,¡± said Mal, smiling wider than she should. ¡°You might see it work tonight. And then you¡¯ll know how to use it later.¡±

    ¡°No instructions?¡±

    ¡°No fun.¡± Mal cut off as the speech ended, though not before putting a small, wadded-up handkerchief into her hand, and withdrawing with Varrun to go and mingle.

    Not before she left, a corner of the handkerchief opened, and spilled bright crimson dust onto Yuu¡¯s and Malory¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Careful, you¡¯re gonna get this stuff on your dress!¡± Yuu gasped, but Mal was already gone.

    ¡°What a mess.¡±

 Chapter 7: Yuu

    Yuu froze, hand covered in red dust¡ªright next to a white tablecloth, hand holding a white handkerchief, and surrounded by white decorations. She tried in vain to scrub it away with Azul¡¯s kerchief. Opening her mouth to ask him if he knew how to get red stains out as well, she found him already gone, mingling easily with the other guests. He was standing in a circle not too far off from the ballroom pool, where several guests and diners had already congregated. She watched his cool, collected smile as he presented some sort of anecdote to a slender woman with green hair, and a boisterous man whose arm was still a monstrous crab claw. They laughed at whatever he was saying, trying to keep him in their own circle before he moved on to someone else.

    ¡°Silly thing,¡± she muttered, watching him go. ¡°He was so worried he¡¯d be hated¡­¡±

    Clearly, though, nearly everyone wanted to know the two strangers who had been posted as the bride¡¯s very small party, and Azul was using that fact to his maximum advantage.

    As Yuu watched his movements, she was careless about the cloth of red powder still on her lap, and an errant breeze sent some of it puffing into her face. She coughed hard.

    ¡°This stuff gets everywhere!¡± she growled, tying it up properly, and stuffing it into her purse. ¡°Was Mal trying to ruin her dress!?¡±

    Grateful to be wearing black, Yuu wrapped her hand in Azul¡¯s handkerchief, and, unsure of how much of the stuff had blown into her face, went to find her date, the only person here who could help her with it.

    She stepped away from the bridal table, and made her way to the lower guest seating, weaving between guests. A blue and white-haired woman, flirting with a human shopkeep. A human shopkeep flirting with a red-haired mermaid who peered up at him from the side of the pool. Several people with the same tiger-striped markings on their cheeks as the groom milled across her path, all clad in finely tailored dresses and suits.

    Azul had been at the far end of the pool earlier, but now, with the shifting of the crowd, Yuu found herself struggling to spot one head of white hair in a sea of color.

    As she walked, she began to notice something odd¡ªshe wasn¡¯t the only one who had been stained by red. In fact, several guests had little red marks on wrists, inner arms, or even faces. As she made her way to the far ballroom floor, there were even guests who had streaks of the stuff, looking around as though hunting for something. For some reason, Yuu did not want to be seen by them, and hurried her steps.

    There, at the long end of the pool, she saw the source of the red dust. Waiters had stationed little pots of the stuff for guests to dip their fingers into. She was close enough to smell the stuff, its scent unfamiliar¡ªearthy, with a sharp tang of crushed kelp and something metallic.

    Was this some mermaid tradition?

    She promised herself that she would ask Azul when she found him, and got the stuff off of herself.

    At last, she spotted him, speaking in hushed tones with a tall, angular man, whom Yuu recognized immediately as Floyd and Jade¡¯s father. He stood to the corner, avoiding anyone marked in red, and Jade¡¯s father was one of the few who wasn¡¯t.

    ¡°Azul!¡± she called, making her way to him. ¡°And Mr. Leech,¡± she greeted with a friendly smile.

    ¡°Yuu,¡± Mr. Leech¡¯s answering grin was mercurial, slippery, and as usual, entirely unreadable. The man put even Azul to shame. ¡°How nice to see you here¡­looking for someone?¡±

    There was a meaning that she couldn¡¯t quite decipher in his tone, so she answered honestly.

    ¡°Just Azul,¡± she said brightly. ¡°Mal spilled¡­something on me. I bet it¡¯s all over my face. I was just hoping you knew how to get it off? How bad is it?¡±

    Her question was addressed to Azul, but it was Mr. Leech who laughed.

    ¡°Now, that does sound like young Mallory. Your friend has, shall we say, made quite a splash in business down below.¡±

    Yuu¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Already? I guess Mal never was one to waste time.¡±

    ¡°Certainly not,¡± Mr. Leech agreed. ¡°Well, it seems I need to leave you two to your plight. Best of luck to you, Yuu.¡±

    ¡°Have a lovely evening, Mr. Leech,¡± Yuu said in parting, before rounding on Azul. ¡°What on earth was that about? Actually, don¡¯t tell me yet. Do I look like a tomato? Mal put this dust on me, and a breeze took it up to my face. I bet I look like a berry sneezed on me.¡±

    Azul tutted. ¡°Such a visual.¡±

    And then, he actually looked at her.

    ¡°Oh my,¡± he said, examining her face.

    ¡°I¡¯ve probably ruined your handkerchief trying to get it off,¡± Yuu said apologetically.

    ¡°Keep it,¡± Azul said, hardly keeping the disgust from his tone. ¡°Why in the trenches did you touch the stuff in the first place? You don¡¯t actually believe what they¡¯ve been saying about this dust?¡±

    ¡°What have they been saying?¡± Yuu asked, frustrated. ¡°And, please, Azul, do you know how to get it off or not?¡±

    Azul scowled, glancing around them, and eventually snatched a cloth napkin off of a table. He poured someone¡¯s nearly empty champagne glass on it, and began dabbing at her face.

    ¡°Is it working?¡± Yuu asked quickly.

    ¡°Alcohol is supposed to remove it. Or make it worse¡­ I don¡¯t remember.¡±

    ¡°Wow. So helpful,¡± she grumbled under his fingertips, but let him work on her face all the same.

    ¡°That¡­ that is the best I can do.¡± he said at last. ¡°No one will notice, at least.¡±

    She sighed in relief, touching his hand. ¡°Thanks. Really. You are a fantastic date. So¡­ did you make any friends? Find anyone who needs a garbage patch removed?¡±

    ¡°Yes, actually,¡± Azul smoothed down the front of his shirt, looking pleased. ¡°I¡¯ve managed to find¡ªfind¡­¡±

    ¡°Find?¡± Yuu prompted, cocking her head.

    Azul¡¯s eyes had suddenly lost focus, and he was blinking rapidly, looking from her, down to her hand which had just brushed his. It wasn¡¯t until she followed his gaze that Yuu realized the hand she¡¯d touched was the one wrapped in his handkerchief, which had long fallen away. Her hand, still stained with red, had marked his skin as well.

    ¡°Azul? Hey, Azul, are you¡­ are you okay?¡±

    Azul was staring at his hands, clenching and unclenching them like he¡¯d never seen them before¡ªlike they weren¡¯t his own.

    His eyes traveled up to the room, visibly dialating as he searched the guests, the bride, the groom, his relatives, before finally landing on her. His dilated again, this time the other way, and they didn¡¯t look like his, anymore. The color was the same, to be sure, but his pupils had elongated, like they were pulling apart.

    ¡°Oh my¡­¡± he said in the same level timbre as before, but his throat was dryer, and he still hadn¡¯t lowered his hand from hers.

    He reached for her, fingertips just brushing her wrist where the powder had spilled, and though it had done nothing before, where his skin made contact with hers and the dust, it reacted. The dust flared with a sensation she¡¯d only ever experienced secondhand¡ªfrom the backlash of magical duels when she¡¯d gotten too close, from the contact of healing saves and potions. It was a magical residue of some kind, but she was unfamiliar with this flavor of it. This stuff wasn¡¯t hurting her, but all the same, it burned.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to talk to Mal,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll find out¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know what it is,¡± Azul said, in that same tone, without a trace of his usual sarcasm.

    ¡°You do?¡±

    She gasped, unbidden, when his fingers slipped higher over her wrist, wrapping around her hand as he leaned closer. His skin was cool, soothing the burning, and at the same time, making it worse. She made to move away from him, but a row of chairs blocked her from behind, and with Azul in front, she was boxed in. He, usually so gentlemanly, wasn¡¯t moving. Instead, he stared at her as though he hardly recognized her, intently, and searching, and as though there were several choice things he¡¯d like to say.

    ¡°Just¡ªjust tell me, then. Is it hurting you? Does it make you¡­ drunk, or something?¡± She cast a furtive glance at the pool. ¡°You sound like you need water.¡±

    ¡°You really didn¡¯t know,¡± he muttered.

    Then, he tore his gaze from her, slowly, and deliberately, as though it hurt him to do so.

    Now, she was truly frustrated.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t know what, Azul?¡±

    But he never had the chance to answer, because at that moment, they were interrupted by a new voice.

    ¡°Indeed, Azul. Know what?¡±

    The woman who approached their table had a deep and warm voice¡ªit was the kind of voice that should be on husky midnight specials, belonging to rich five-time widows, or fortune tellers with a mysterious past.

    Azul¡¯s snapped up quickly, as though by force of habit, and he drew himself back to his full height as he addressed the woman.

    ¡°Mother,¡± he greeted. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would attend after¡­¡± he trailed off at her sharp look.

    Mother? Yuu straightened her own spine as well.

    Madam Ashengrotto¡¯s dress was the blue of deep waters, skirts swirling about her ankles as though she was used to taking up far more space than she was. Her jewelry was tasteful, and practically dripped each syllable of the word ¡®expensive.¡¯ Now that she knew the relation, it was easy for Yuu to see that this was Azul¡¯s mother. They shared the same pale, violet skin, white hair, and dissecting gaze. She was a slightly heavier-set woman, commanding every inch of herself with pristine elegance.

    ¡°Azul, my baby! I am always in a position to show my support to my family,¡± she emphasized the last word, managing to sound at the same time both poignant and condescending. Her gaze drifted, ever so briefly, over Yuu, but in that brief glance, Yuu had the feeling the woman had seen more than she should. ¡°And I see you¡¯ve come following my instructions¡ªalbeit barely.¡±

    Yuu bristled. She was never one to be anything less than human, but it sounded an awful lot like, to this woman, that was a very bad thing.

    ¡°Allow me to introduce Yuu, of Ramshackle house,¡± Azul presented evenly, if a little stiffly. ¡°She is the personal guest of the bride, and her familial representative.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet the mother of my friend, Madam Ashengrotto,¡± Yuu voiced, cursing herself for her own stiffness. ¡°I would shake your hand, but Mal¡¯s gotten some of her makeup on my wrist, and I¡¯d stain your dress.¡±

    Yuu held up one hand apologetically, hoping the red powder would excuse some of the courtesy here, but instead, Madam Ashengrotto hissed at the sight of it¡ªnot the hiss of an elderly lady. It was an actual, guttural, animal hiss that would have put the evilest swan to shame.

    Yuu cringed at the sound, and expected Azul to as well, but his usual diplomatic suavete had evaporated with his voice. In one neat sidestep, Azul placed himself between herself and his mother, teeth bared, answering with a hiss of his own.

    It was a sound she¡¯d never heard from him.

    Evidently, neither had his mother, who immediately adopted the sort of shocked expression usually worn by fileted fish that ended their lives stuffed with lemon. That expression, however, was gone in an instant.

    ¡°I see,¡± she said, anger gone. If anything, it had been replaced with cold concern. ¡°I see. You need water. Now. And you¡ª¡± she addressed Yuu, ¡°¡ªif you are indeed his friend, then you will perform your duties to the bride as needed¡ªstaying as far away from my son the rest of the evening¡­perhaps longer.¡±

    And then, Madame Ashengrotto simply turned and left them, without a backward glance to her son, or herself.

    ¡°You snarled at your mum!¡± Yuu scolded, the moment Azul¡¯s glamorous mother had disappeared back into the seething mass of guests. ¡°What the hell is this stuff?¡±

    Once more, Azul refused to look at her. He seemed to be composing himself, and doing badly. Without the distraction of his mother, he¡¯d gone back to glaring at the guests.

    ¡°Right, right,¡± Yuu shook her head, feeling like a Grade-A Jerk. ¡°You need water. Now. Come on.¡±

    She took his hand, pulling him without looking at him toward the pool¡ªthe only source of water in the room, noticing on the way that she wasn¡¯t the only one, now, with red-stained skin. As they walked past the throng of chatting guests, tables, and at last, the few dancers who had chosen to keep their feet on the dry ground around the pool, she noticed several of the louder guests¡ªthe boastful kind¡ªand the flirtatious guests¡ªthe drunken kind¡ªtapping their fingers into tiny bowls of the red at the base of the bridal table. Little red dust fingerprints were spreading among the guests, some of which were pulling each other away from the main rabble.

    Transformed mermaids, and regular ones in the pool alike, flirted heavily with men who wore the red dust, tugging them away into secluded corners. Yuu grimaced.

    What was this stuff?

    As she dragged Azul toward the pool, she noticed Mal across the way, returned to her perch at the bridal table, now contently curled into her husband¡¯s side, and pretending not to watch her.

    Yuu didn¡¯t have time to worry about that, however. Before Azul could argue; before he could start complaining about his dry-clean-onlies, and before he could begin haranguing her about returning to whatever duties Mal might have in store for her, they reached the pool, and she pushed him in.

    Azul landed with a shocked splash next to several pairs of dancers¡ªsome human, and some merfolk, all treading water gracefully to the music. Azul¡¯s head went under as easily as if he¡¯d walked from one room to the next, staring up at her with his first breath of the cool water like he¡¯d breathed his first in ages.

    Intending to march straight up to Mal and demand what new drug she was using on her guests, Yuu was stopped by a firm hand on her shoulder. Whirling stiffly to get a better view, she was greeted by the sight of the groom¡¯s father, his stripey scales slashed over his jaws as he stood before her, half-transformed.

    ¡°Rude not to join your dance partner,¡± he said, smiling through pointed teeth. ¡°In you go!¡±

    Before she could argue, or complain about her dry-clean-onlies, Yuu was pushed right in after Azul, landing nearly on top of him in her imbalance.

    To her horror, his clothing had started to dissolve, along with his shoes and feet. Panicking, Yuu wasn¡¯t sure whether this magic pool differentiated between merfolk and humans, and wasn¡¯t about to risk her own dress dissolving. Unfortunately, panic is never the way to handle water. Before she could so much as turn around, her skirt had tangled tightly around her ankles, wet and weighted, and pulling downward.

    Before her head could go under, Azul grabbed her around the waist, and pulled her into himself, stabilizing them both.

    ¡°Calm,¡± he said in her ear. ¡°If you thrash like that, you really will drown¡ªas if this wedding didn¡¯t already have enough scandal surrounding it. It¡¯d be selfish to take the limelight like that.¡±

    She grabbed his shoulders through his soggy suit jacket as he turned her around, and posed them like any of the other couples, floating about their watery dancing in the pool. Yuu quickly decided that she liked traditional ballroom floors much better than this.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she breathed sincerely. ¡°Can you get me out of here before my skirt disappears, too?¡±

    Azul was breathing hard over her head.

    ¡°Too? Ah¡­¡±

    His voice was less hazy, and his vision less wandering, but his shoes had disappeared into the water, and even as he tried to move them to a more secluded area of the pool, his suit trousers were washing away as well¡ªbut so were his human legs.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Yuu couldn¡¯t stop watching.

    The muscles of his calves and thighs unfurled away into the water, replaced before her eyes like a heat-shimmer with reaching, curling black tentacles, three times his legs¡¯ original length. Eight limbs replaced two, and she could see why he¡¯d avoided the other couples. Azul¡¯s mer-form was easily the largest in the pool. He was flexible. He was flawlessly balanced in the water, but despite having every advantage on her weak swimming, he was huge.

    The hum of the music over the water dance floor waved itself back into her senses as the  transformation of his lower half completed, and at the same time, any of the couples around them who noticed what he was began to give them a wider berth. Aware of the eyes on them, and now less afraid of falling under the surface, she finally managed to look back at his face, only to find that it wasn¡¯t just his lower half that had changed.

    ¡°Oh my,¡± she found herself whispering the same words that he had before.

    A violet hue had crept through his coloring, everywhere but his eyes, which no longer had the pupils of a human. His pupils had flattened out, meeting her gaze unblinkingly. His hair had hardly suffered from the dunking. If anything, in her opinion, it looked better, weighted back along his neck¡­which was no longer bound in the color of a suit jacket and shirt.

    His upper clothing had dissolved as well, replaced by a sleek, black patterning that spanned from the cuffs of his wrists to his neck, where the only real clothing remained. His dark suit had been replaced with a high collar, letting the skin of his neck plunge almost to his navel. He was a vaudeville villain, in every right, and somehow, managed to make the look come across entirely serious.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Something large and lithe brushed her ankles, and she jumped hard.

    ¡°It¡¯s just me,¡± he said evenly, as though he was trying to soothe a wounded animal. ¡°I¡¯m untangling your dress so you can move. I¡­I did warn you, if you recall.¡±

    ¡°You did,¡± she said, her voice weaker than she liked.

    One of Azul¡¯s long black tentacles undid the knot she¡¯d gotten herself into, and drifted away with practiced efficiency. She cleared her throat as his tentacle finished its chore, and then retreated once more to Azul holding himself as far from her as he could without dropping her.

    ¡°You did,¡± she said again, stronger. ¡°And, do you mind not pushing me away? Even when it¡¯s untangled, I¡¯m not sure I can swim well in this.¡±

    He stared at her a moment, unbelieving.

    ¡°You were right, for the record,¡± she said tremulously. ¡°I¡¯m getting a swimsuit dress next time. For sure.¡±

    He barked a surprised laugh.

    ¡°Of course I was right. Do you see anyone else drowning on the dance floor?¡±

    Yuu had the good grace to blush.

    ¡°I¡¯m not drowning. You¡¯ve got me, right?¡± She curled her fingers a little more securely over his shoulders, and he didn¡¯t resist when she swam closer¡ªenough to at least look like they were dancing, although Azul still refused to move. He was also looking at her, again, like she was slightly off her rocker, and she couldn¡¯t for the life of her fathom why.

    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± she demanded bluntly, inches from his nose.

    ¡°Like what?¡± he asked, cool breath fanning over her face. He smelled like the seaside air¡ªnot the salty, fishy kind, but the kind you catch in the morning right before the tide changes. He smelled like newly washed-in sand, and ozone, and magic.

    ¡°You¡¯re a little close,¡± he said, looking profoundly uncomfortable.

    ¡°Oh!¡± She leaned back quickly, realizing too late for any proper sense of etiquette that she¡¯d closed what was left of the gap between them down to the last inch. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry, I just, um, I¡¯m not sure what that was. I was going to say, you were looking at me like I was insane, but, after doing that, I guess¡­I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯ve lost the high ground¡­..¡±

    He said nothing, gaze unwavering.

    ¡°This is a disaster, isn¡¯t it. Are there stairs out of here? Maybe you could just¡­ throw me overboard?¡± she suggested.

    He snorted, breaking the tension. ¡°I¡¯m fairly sure that¡¯s not how it works, and I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve done anything that warrants abandoning at sea.¡±

    She blanched. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that was an option.¡±

    That time, he truly laughed.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t. And, I¡¯m only looking at you the way anyone would look at someone trying to get close to a live cecaelian. Transformed. While in the water.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯m terrifying.¡±

    It was her turn to laugh. ¡°You really are. Any minute now, you¡¯re going to try and sell me a wageless shift at the lounge like it¡¯s the next golden grail.¡±

    He glared.

    ¡°You fold your socks and carry handkerchiefs, Azul. Forgive me if I¡¯m not trembling at the sight of you.¡±

    ¡°I am not that unfair,¡± he exclaimed indignantly, discomfort all but forgotten.

    ¡°Are you saying you wouldn¡¯t let people work there for free?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t expect anything for free,¡± he huffed.

    ¡°Right. And that stunt you pulled with the anemones, that was just plain generous.¡±

    He growled under his breath, sending the nearest mermaid skittering for the opposite edge. Yuu couldn¡¯t stifle her smirk.

    ¡°Do that again. You might scare a goldfish.¡±

    ¡°A goldfish?¡± he groaned, rolling his eyes, ¡°Really, Yuu?¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± she admitted with a shrug that nearly brushed his chest. ¡°She was bigger than a goldfish. By at least two inches.¡±

    ¡°If anyone overhears you, you¡¯re going to get us thrown out.¡±

    She winked. ¡°They¡¯d have to get close to you, first.¡±

    It was true, the circle around them in the pool was getting wider. So much so, that they were beginning to have their own corner to themselves.

    ¡°You look like you¡¯re feeling better,¡± she said, seriousness returning. ¡°Are you feeling alright, Azul?¡±

    He nodded stiffly. ¡°I am fine. It was a momentary lapse, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it. I was¡­worried,¡± she said sincerely.

    ¡°Many thanks, but you do know your friend. I don¡¯t believe she would serve anything that would do true harm.¡±

    ¡°You say that¡­¡± Yuu grumbled.

    They spent a moment in silence, drifting in the water. To Yuu¡¯s relief, the red on her hand had washed away somewhat. It was sticky stuff, but at least some good had come of getting pushed in here.

    ¡°So,¡± she said, after Azul¡¯s attention returned to her, ¡°why are people giving us so much space in here? I mean, you¡¯re massive, Azul, but we don¡¯t really need it.¡±

    He arched his high, pointed chin over her, at a level above the water she couldn¡¯t hope to reach with her water-weighted dress.

    ¡°Because each and every merman and maid in this pool believes that my kind is capable of eating them at the first sign of vulnerability.¡±

    She snorted. ¡°You don¡¯t even like sushi.¡±

    He sighed. ¡°Indeed, but the rumors revolving around my mother claim that she ate my father after his disappearance.¡±

    Yuu was laughing loudly before she realized that there was no levity in his expression.

    ¡°You¡¯re not joking. Well?¡± her voice lilted in genuine curiosity. ¡°Did she?¡±

    He spluttered in indignation. Tentacles agitating the water beneath them.

    ¡°Of course not! He ran off with a human. On land.¡±

    She ¡®hm¡¯ed¡¯ in quiet understanding.

    ¡°Those human relations. It seems like they don¡¯t cause much but trouble for the Atlantican world. Mallory did say that there might be some¡­trouble from the guests over her being human.¡±

    ¡°You hardly know the half of it,¡± he huffed. ¡°However, things are already so mixed, any prejudices are largely hypocritical. As for myself, I wouldn¡¯t mind staying out of the water the rest of my life.¡±

    Yuu was baffled. She truly couldn¡¯t understand why someone who could do what Azul did would ignore so much of what he was. Or why anyone would want to. The sea was dangerous, and overly political, but¡­where wasn¡¯t?

    ¡°Why?¡± she asked bluntly.

    ¡°Truly?¡± he swung her to the side, suddenly, when a particularly drunken couple¡ªtoo drunk to care if there was a giant octopus in the water¡ªhustled past them, giggling and bumping into surfaces that were hardly there, as they did.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to know,¡± Yuu insisted, from the protective ledge beneath his chin. When he responded, he didn¡¯t have to look at her to do so.

    ¡°I would give many things not to be¡­this,¡± he gestured down at himself, holding her waist close as though they were dancing, although he was really just keeping her from sinking.

    ¡°Why?¡± she repeated.

    ¡°Cecaelia are shunned by other merfolk. Reviled. We may be strong, but we are heavy, cumbersome, and slow. In the natural order, our source-species relies on ambush to catch its prey, but they themselves are often caught by humans who can power-walk across a tidepool. We are a strong species, but a vulnerable one in many ways. At least on land, there are more equalizers. More¡­ tools.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± she said, still pressed underneath them. They were closer, to be sure, but it felt safer, somehow, not to have her face read when they spoke. He must have felt the same, because he made not attempt to shift them.

    ¡°So if I power-walk across the lounge, I¡¯ll catch you?¡±

    ¡°Yuu.¡±

    ¡°What? You¡¯re certainly not doing badly on land. Your prey still comes to you in a sense, I suppose,¡± she laughed softly. ¡°I have to say though, it seems a waste not to prize your species more¡­¡±

    He snorted softly into her hair. ¡°You would be the first to think so.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not from this world¡­but as a magicless student in a magic-filled world, I don¡¯t often have to differentiate between danger levels. There simply is, and there isn¡¯t. But you are my friend. And as for species¡­ I can still recognize beauty when I see it. I¡¯d wager not many humans have seen anything like you.¡±

    Reaching up, she flicked his nose without looking, earning a tiny hiss from him, which promptly died in his throat.

    ¡°The dust,¡± he said stiffly. ¡°It¡¯s still on your hands.¡±

    She looked. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t it washed off?¡±

    ¡°The strings of fate don¡¯t simply wash off,¡± he said bluntly.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t string. It¡¯s dust. It should have been gone the moment I fell in.¡±

    ¡°You should know, I suppose¡­¡± he said, his voice constricting.

    ¡°Ah, yes.¡± She maneuvered her head enough to face him again, and it occurred to her once more, how close they were in the water. But he was no longer looking at her. In fact, he seemed to be struggling to look anywhere but. ¡°What is this dust? Why did Mal put out pots of the stuff?¡±

    ¡°The red string of fate is a sacred object,¡± Azul grit out, and this close to him, she could see the morphed points of his teeth. Interesting.

    ¡°Red string of fate. That exists?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°And the Banejaw family has discovered not only how to source it, but has apparently decided to refine it into dust for those who want to search for¡ªah¡­how to put this. The string of fate pulls us to enemies fated to cross our paths. Friends. Partners. They have not, as I take it, actually tested it as widely as it should have been for side-effects.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Yuu said flatly. ¡°No Food and Drug Administration in the ocean.¡±

    ¡°Precisely.¡±

    ¡°Suddenly, I can see why Mallory is marrying him,¡± she said. ¡°She puts the find-your-worst-enemy dust in the wedding party and sits back to watch the show. I love her, but¡­ well, that¡¯s exactly the sort of thing she¡¯d do.¡±

    ¡°Your friend may have put another agent in the dust. I cannot tell. I can only tell that it influences instinct.¡±

    ¡°Instinct?¡±

    ¡°Look around us,¡± Azul instructed.

    The lagoon around them was a bit raucous, but nothing Yuu hadn¡¯t seen at any party with alcohol. Groups of mermaids frolicked beneath the waters, pulling tails, and snatching human guests¡¯ shoes if they¡¯d been foolish enough to wear them in. There were plenty, however, as she¡¯d seen before, who had pulled off into quiet corners. Some conversed. Some borderline shouted at each other. Others¡­. Yuu quickly looked away.

    ¡°Mated pairs like Varun and Mallory happen so quickly because for mermen, bonds don¡¯t form over time. They simply are. Relationships come into being and begin making demands. It¡¯s because of this that many simply don¡¯t understand the idea of a human ¡®courting period,¡¯ or even ¡®long-term notice¡ª¡¯ although in my opinion, taking time to ¡®read the contract,¡¯ so to speak, is a point in human traditions¡¯ favor.¡±

    ¡°So the fact that so many pairs are around us means¡­¡±

    ¡°Several of these ¡®pairings¡¯ came into existence tonight. It¡¯s likely that they will owe the bride and groom favors for making the introduction so easy. Being from the Banejaw family, I doubt Varun will waste much time in collecting those favors. It¡¯s a pattern of efficiency.¡±

    ¡°To force pairs?¡±

    ¡°To help them recognize potential relations faster. Weddings like this are actually quite rare in the oceans. Fortunately, that¡¯s not at all how things work for my species, or I likely would have been tied to the depths somehow by my mother¡¯s machinations years ago.¡±

    ¡°I thought you said this helped you find enemies.¡±

    ¡°More than enemies,¡± he said, a wealth of insinuation in his tone.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure your employees are greatly relieved,¡± she deadpanned.

    ¡°I would appreciate, however, if you kept anything dusted of yours away from me once we¡¯re out of the water. It¡¯s already difficult to¡ª¡± with that, Azul quickly closed his mouth.

    ¡°Am I heavy?¡± She asked quickly, misunderstanding. ¡°I¡¯m soaked, so, probably. And you¡¯ve already kept us up for the whole song. More than one song? It¡¯s hard to tell with this selection.¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± he hummed noncommittally. ¡°As I said, I¡¯m fine, but you¡­ shouldn¡¯t you be checking on the bride?¡±

    She shook her head, groaning inwardly. Mal had probably loved watching this exchange, but that didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t still want answers.

    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Could you help me find the stairs¡­? How long is this wedding supposed to go?¡± she asked tiredly.

    ¡°Too long,¡± he practically hissed, but just then, as if summoned, the waiters surrounding the bridal table, and at each of the food stations ceased their service, and produced bells from suit pockets, filling the air with a tolling, ringing.

    ¡°Hear ye, hear ye! The sun has set!¡± the head butler announced, as everyone, the music, and the bell-ringers fell silent.

    ¡°Are those¡­ dolphins?¡± Yuu whispered, still tucked beneath Azul¡¯s chin.

    There was something comforting about the light fading over the lagoon. Azul seemed less self-conscious about the people surrounding them as his dark tentacles faded into the blackness of the water. She found herself pulling back underneath his chin as a a large magical wave arced from the surrounding sea and connected with the lagoon. The dorsal fins of what she very much hoped were dolphins rode the wave up to the base of the pool in front of the wedding table, and Mallory and Varun, without so much as bidding their guests goodbye, were already clambering on.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe those are dolphins,¡± Azul said quietly, his voice rumbling through her skull.

    ¡°So dramatic,¡± Yuu mumbled into his neck, still clinging to his shoulders, as the wave, which had hardly made contact with the lagoon, reversed its current, sweeping Mallory, Varun, and the two not-dolphins with it.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t even take luggage,¡± she said aloud.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be met with an entourage down below.¡±

    ¡°And she can breathe?¡±

    She felt Azul¡¯s soft laughter, and he reshifted his arms around her for ease of carrying.

    ¡°If she hasn¡¯t learned to breathe underwater in last year she¡¯s been living in Atlantica, then there¡¯s no helping her now.¡±

    ¡°Was your collar always this high?¡± Yuu said, tracing the line of the collar, the lone piece of clothing the pool had seen fit to let him keep. The back of it went all the way to the top of his neck, and the front tapered down so sharply at the front of his neck that all that was visible of his violet-tinged skin was a few inches of taught tendon in the middle.

    ¡°The magic loves its drama,¡± Azul said simply.

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    ¡°Yuu, would you like to get out?¡± Azul said stiffly.

    Yuu pulled her fingers back from his collar like she¡¯d been stung.

    What are you thinking, Yuu? Pull yourself together! she scolded herself. What was she doing? Azul didn¡¯t need this. He was there as her friend, and he¡¯d been downright helpful until she¡¯d put the enemy dust on his skin. Now, she was fingering his collar, and holding herself against him in the water like a drowning victim. If she had any shame, she should be mortified.

    Trying to summon up the correct amount of embarrassment¡ªthat didn¡¯t seem willing to come, at present¡ªshe nodded, leaning away as surreptitiously as she could manage.

    Then, she gasped, as Azul arced them both out of the water, setting her on the ground, standing¡ªand HE was standing, right next to her.

    ¡°You can walk on those?¡± she heard herself say before she could stop her mouth.

    ¡°I am one of the few species who can walk on land, Azul said, standing a little taller than his human legs usually let him.

    ¡°Amazing. That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s really incredible,¡± she blurted.

    He stared, silently before responding. ¡°That¡¯s going to take getting used to¡­ Didn¡¯t you come with a purse?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s by my seat. This way.¡± She walked back to the table, him wading on his many feet beside her. It was far easier this time to cut through the crowd. Again, no one seemed to want to get near the giant octopus.

    ¡°That is so convenient,¡± she muttered once they¡¯d collected her things.

    ¡°Call it what you want,¡± Azul said blandly.

    ¡°The rest are changing back,¡± she looked around at the rest of the partygoers stepping out of the pool. And they¡¯re dry? ¡°Why not you?¡±

    ¡°Because the rest brought changing potions, intending to dance in enchanted water. I hadn¡¯t exactly planned to get in.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± she realized. ¡°Oh, that was¡­ that was absolutely my fault. Sorry for that.¡±

    He merely shrugged. ¡°It was better than the alternative.¡±

    What the alternative was, she didn¡¯t ask. This, at least, was enough to bring up the requisite social embarrassment.

    ¡°I really am sorry. I didn¡¯t know what ti was, I promise. I still don¡¯t really, if I¡¯m being honest.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no matter,¡± he said stiffly. ¡°At this rate, the mirror will be swamped with outgoing guests for some time.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t wrong. Already, the throngs were heading for the mirror portal. If their entry had been accompanied by other guests incoming an hour early, then¡ª

    ¡°It¡¯s probably going to be an hour before we can leave. At least there are still places to wait. Are you going to dry out?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine for several hours out of water; however¡ª¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll sit by the pool,¡± she decided for them. ¡°I don¡¯t want to have to tell Jade and Floyd the reason they have to run the lounge themselves for the rest of their time at the academy is because I let you turn into an octopus raisin.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Azul murmured, for once, not arguing.

    He was no longer looking at her, either, and she could only assume that the dust, the wedding, and the transformation had all taken a toll on him.

    She offered a hand to help him back down from the upper table setting, though he hardly needed it. The man had a longer reach than she did, and she ended up relying on him on the dark steps. Together, they sat peaceably on the side of the darkening pool. He, sinking most of himself into the water immediately. She was already wet, and the breeze was starting to push a chill over the lagoon.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Azul asked suddenly, ans she gripped the sides of her skirt.

    ¡°The guests are mostly gone,¡± she reported matter-of-factly. ¡°And I¡¯m a better swimmer when I¡¯m not in heels and my clothing isn¡¯t trying to drown me.¡±

    As she talked, she pulled the fabric apart, ripping it up to her thighs, and knotting the skirt so that she could actually move. Azul watched in morbid fascination as she hopped into the water, laughing and pushing herself deeper in.

    ¡°You¡¯re the fish!¡± she laughed. ¡°Are you coming? I think we have time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s dark,¡± he pointed out unhelpfully. ¡°You¡¯re going to drown.¡±

    ¡°The stars are coming out. You¡¯re here. I¡¯m not going to drown.¡±

    ¡°I charge for life-guarding services,¡± he shot back, as though he couldn¡¯t stop himself. ¡°I¡ªthat is to say¡ª¡±

    She laughed hard, feeling carefree for the first time that night.

    ¡°And yet,¡± she said, swimming up to the curve of where his knees would have been. ¡°And yet, I don¡¯t think even you would charge for services rendered on a date. Come on, Azul. No more giggling mermaids. No more skittish goldfish. When was the last time you had an hour to just¡­be?¡±

    He sighed, letting her pull him into the water, and despite his size, made far less of a splash than she had.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a fish, Yuu,¡± he grumbled warily.

    ¡°I know. You¡¯re a workaholic octopus who really needs a break,¡± she said, tugging him farther out into the water.

    ¡°You are a terrible swimmer,¡± he grumbled as soon as she was out there. ¡°I¡¯m a bad swimmer, and you¡ª¡±

    ¡°You are NOT a bad swimmer,¡± she argued hotly. ¡°You grew up in the water. It¡¯s literally your air.¡±

    ¡°Air is my air, Yuu,¡± he said, and though he didn¡¯t swim any closer, he was close enough that one of his tentacles wrapped around her middle, and hoisted her a little higher in the water. ¡°And you¡¯re making me nervous.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think anything could make you nervous,¡± she said.

    ¡°I was quite nervous in coming here tonight, if you recall.¡±

    ¡°So nervous that you managed to talk to half the wedding guests, and strike deals with at least a few of them?¡±

    ¡°It helped¡­¡± he admitted at last, floating next to her in the warm water, and still holding her aloft. ¡°It helped that you put me on the high table. There was certainly no end of curiosity¡­¡±

    ¡°You were family to the groom and friend to the bride,¡± Yuu pointed out.

    ¡°Both positions are tenuous.¡±

    Yuu huffed a half-laugh, unable to believe her ears.

    ¡°Family is never tenuous. That¡¯s what makes it family. Like them or not. Hate them or not. They are yours.¡±

    Azul seemed taken aback.

    ¡°Does that matter?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, just as hotly, moving closer to him in the water. ¡°Yes, it does. Because even if you never see them, even if they are apart from you, none of us is completely disconnected.¡±

    ¡°What was your family like?¡± he asked suddenly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t remember them perfectly. The mirror between our worlds fuzzes some of those memories¡­¡± she said with a shrug, ¡°but what I do remember, I live with every day. As I¡¯m sure you do. Your mother seemed¡­ protective.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s certainly one word for it,¡± Azul said through gritted teeth.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me about it,¡± Yuu said quickly, sensing his discomfort. ¡°But, thanks for keeping me from getting cursed earlier.¡±

    ¡°It would be poor form to let my date get cursed,¡± he said, a little more gently.

    ¡°I suppose I owe you for that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that it¡¯s rude to charge for services rendered on a date.¡±

    She laughed, dispelling any leftover tension between them. She reached through the water for his shoulders again, although he seemed reluctant to let her out of his longer limbed grip.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to drown, Azul. Believe it or not, this is just how humans swim.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve still seen better,¡± Azul huffed.

    She reached up and tapped his cheek petulantly.

    ¡°I¡¯m flattered.¡±

    ¡°Yuu,¡± Azul hissed suddenly. ¡°Yuu, did you¡­ touch anything with dust?¡±

    Yuu¡¯s thoughts flew to her purse, which still contained Mallory¡¯s ¡®gift.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­not sure,¡± she said, wary of the heavy grit to his tone. ¡°Why, we¡¯re in water aren¡¯t we? Aren¡¯t you¡­¡±

    Azul took a deep breath, put his hands on her waist, and pushed her back from himself, as though it cost him a great effort to do so.

    ¡°I¡¯ll swim away, if you¡¯d rather¡ª¡± she started.

    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he hissed again. ¡°Don¡¯t, just¡­ just give me a moment.¡±

    Yuu recalled what he¡¯d said. Red Dust acted one way on merfolk, but on cecaelia? What did it do?

    ¡°You said it made you act on instinct?¡± she said quietly, leaning in to see his face. Her voice trembled as she asked: ¡°So it makes you want to¡­what? Fight me? Eat me?¡±

    ¡°Something¡ª¡± he breathed hard, letting his forehead fall onto hers. His white hair tangled with her damp, brown ones, and she got an up close view of his eyes, slitted and dilated, roving her face and searching. Breathing her in. ¡°¡ªSomething like that.¡±

    The dusted place on his cheek brushed hers, and her breath stuttered. The sensation was different than before. Heady, warm, and pulling her forward. Right into him.

 Chapter 8: Azul

    Ever since the dreaded Red Dust had been served throughout the wedding party, Azul knew that his business dealings would have to be cut short. All around him, merfolk and humans alike were losing themselves. He watched as a notoriously ruthless crab-kin formed a scandalous liaison with the daughter of a noble catfish family famous for their exports of krill. The crab-kin made an absolute fool of himself in front of several potential bounty-hunters, and hardly even minded when the giggling little duchess, or whoever she was, fell right into step with him.

    Across from the pool, a married couple of thirty years witnessed their son swear a duel-date with a rival meant to be his superior on an employer contract they¡¯d only just negotiated. Lower-class farmers cavorted with higher class kingpins. It was social chaos.

    Members of the Banejaw family themselves were the only ones who never touched the red dust, and Azul, sensing a means of self-preservation, did the same¡­until Yuu found him, and was still in control of herself to want to rid herself of the stuff.

    He should have run. He should have left in the next mirror. But, he hadn¡¯t, and he¡¯d helped her, believing foolishly that even if the rumors were true, that someone who touched the red dust would find fated persons, it wouldn¡¯t work on himself. And he had been right, it certainly hadn¡¯t worked as it had on the other merfolk. Instead, when Yuu touched him, he¡¯d felt¡­life.

    In the last hour, Azul had felt every bit of his natural senses come firing to the forefront of his tired person. The world was clearer. He had more perfect control of his limbs, his senses, his ability to simply see! For a few precious moments, he possessed a clarity, a wakefulness, that he hadn¡¯t felt in years.

    Then, as he searched the part, elated that none of them were somehow primordially destined to cross paths with him, he¡¯d reveled in the fact that his future would be entirely of his own making. That glorious sensation of freedom and control had taken him over so completely, that he realized the only thing he didn¡¯t control, was Yuu.

    Because when he¡¯d looked at Yuu, she was bright, too. In fact, she was the brightest thing, the brightest person at this event, and suddenly nothing looked, smelled, or felt better than that soft tingling he¡¯d felt along her skin. Before he realized what he was doing, he¡¯d tried to pull himself to her, and it was only when he¡¯d looked away that the feeling had lessened, and at last, when she¡¯d submerged him in water, there was more of him to spread the dust¡¯s effects out. He¡¯d been in control¡ªhe was always in control, until she touched him again.

    Damnable fool, you are, Azul, he scolded himself.

    Because he had behaved like a fool, and instead of pushing her away, as self-preservation demanded, he¡¯d brought her closer. Because Yuu had been the bright spot in his stress-filled haze for the last few days¡ªdays that had felt like weeks. She was here, making him feel wanted in a crowd full of people who avoided even looking at him. She was here, making him a curiosity instead of a spectacle. She was here, insisting that he belonged.

    It was a novel feeling for him, to be so wanted, and of course, he dismissed it outright until she¡¯d talked about his family¡ªthe girl who hardly remembered her own¡ªas though it was something valuable. She¡¯d shown concern, when in truth, she should be fleeing from himself, a dangerous creature that was losing his self-control.

    Wake up, Azul! Where are your manners? he practically screamed at himself as she tugged him closer in the waters of the peaceful lagoon, no longer surrounded by giggling, chattering, mumbling crowds.

    ¡°I¡¯ll swim away, if you¡¯d rather¡ª¡± she offered quietly.

    The cool evening air blew over his face, and it should have soothed him, but Azul only felt the tingling burn of where her dust-coated fingers touched his cheek, and the cheeky breeze that spread the sensation down his neck and exposed torso. It was agony.

    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± the dust hissed for him. If she swam away, he would pursue, and even on his cumbersome tentacles, he was faster than her skinny little human legs.  ¡°Don¡¯t, just¡­ just give me a moment.¡±

    He could get this under control. He¡¯d been controlling himself for so long¡­but that was the problem, wasn¡¯t it?

    So she didn¡¯t swim away, but she didn¡¯t stay put, either.

    ¡°You said it made you act on instinct?¡± she said quietly, leaning in to see his face. She peered up at him from just below his chin, the breeze carrying her scent to him on the soft evening air. It was lovely, floral and sweet. A comforting scent, not a riling one.

    ¡°So it makes you want to¡­what? Fight me? Eat me?¡± she asked.

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    He should have laughed. Fight her? But that last one sounded¡­somewhat closer to the truth.

    ¡°Something¡ª¡± he breathed hard, letting his forehead fall onto hers.

    Move away, a voice in his head, growing more distant, insisted. Oh, but it was so peaceful, so satisfying to be this close to another person.

    ¡°¡ªSomething like that,¡± he said, taking in every inch of her skin, glowing in the winking starlight.

    This was enough. He could be content with this, he lied to himself.

    Then, Yuu did something that utterly shocked him, that would later make him doubt if the dust had truly only been formulated to work on merfolk.

    She pulled herself up and into him, her mouth brushing his, infinitesimally briefly.

    ¡°Ah.¡±

    He said aloud, the surprise and longing jumping from his chest like a living thing.

    And suddenly, the peaceful nearness he¡¯d enjoyed a second ago was nowhere near enough. He didn¡¯t have to do more than lift his chin to connect their kiss again.

    The feeling that coursed through his mouth and into his limbs at the contact was¡­exquisite.

    Hands already around her waist, he secured her there in the water, kissing her slowly, every taste satisfying the heated burn that crept along his skin where she touched. At the same time, some distant voice in his head was screaming at him to stop, that something should, would go wrong, and yet every heartbeat of indulgence pushed him farther from remembering why.

    Then, he felt her kiss him back, and the last shreds of doubt he had so carefully manufactured over the years fled him like so many sardines before a beast of the hunt. She was responding to him¡ªhim! And oh, he wanted her to feel what he did. He wanted her to writhe; to want; to sing! He could hardly remember his own name, until she said it against his lips, setting his marine blood on fire¡ªand oh, how good it felt to finally burn for something tangible.

    Azul had spent years chasing prey that didn¡¯t exist. A higher profit margin. Grades. Respect¡ªephemeral, meaningless things that could never last. He could never touch them. He would never hold them. He would never keep them. This, however. This feeling was something that he could keep, and he dove into it to the beat of every bit of charged instinct in his person.

    He pulled her face along his own, pressing his mouth into every crevice she would let him reach, and with every touch, his merman senses returned to him in the rush of his blood. His scent sharpened, telling him everything about her that he couldn¡¯t see in the dim lighting. The soaps she used, the perfume she wore, and where. The pull of her breath, and at last, setting his teeth on edge, the evidence of her body¡¯s response to his.

    He felt his eyes change and sharpen, blurred not by the absence of his glasses, but by the absence of water. Even without it, however, he could see details in her skin, and hazy, half-shut eyes that he¡¯d never noticed before. The length of her lashes, the gray specks in her irises, the hot flush creeping down her neck.

    It occurred to him, distantly, that the Yuu he knew should be resisting this sort of bold advance. He very nearly pulled back to ask, but that burning, seeping feeling in his limbs angrily demanded the opposite.

    That feeling bloomed like a red cloud in his stomach, searing his insides.

    He was starving for her.

    With a groan, under the last of his willpower to stay gentle, he pulled her waist against his body, his lower tentacles curling their way down her legs, sending him sensations from areas across her thighs and behind her knees he¡¯d never dreamed of feeling so heavenly.

    Suddenly, he understood why his cousin had chosen the mate he had. Humans had novelties to offer that mermaids never could. This human was beating her way into his veins by the second, humming her way along his senses, and into the kiss that finally landed deep into her mouth.

    She made a sound into that kiss that sent bubbles fleeing through the last of the thoughts in his head.

    He pulled her in tighter, and she sighed.

    It was a beautiful sound. Better than undines. Better than sirens. Better than any singer in his fuzzy recollections. He repeated the motion, and her arms wrapped around his neck and her fingers singed their way through his hair. His limbs moved them both, without conscious command to where he could anchor them to the poolside wall, pressing their bodies tighter together¡ªand making it easier to keep her head above the water.

    She raked her fingers down his scalp, and he snarled, changing the kiss from something gentle, to something deep, hard, and faster-paced. The answering sound from Yuu¡¯s throat only encouraged him. His tentacles curled further up her legs, wrapping all the way to her thighs.

    Azul felt the want spike, in both of their veins, but he was not all gone. He wasn¡¯t all fool, either. Everything in him wanted this to last, and the rushing in his limbs agreed with his head that he would do anything to keep himself from losing this¡ªfrom losing Yuu. It was truly a miracle that he was still able to form words, much less pull away from her mouth long enough to say them. He trailed the kisses down her jaw as he said the words that had to be said.

    "What do you want from me? Jewels? Potions? Information? Ask me,¡± he demanded against her skin. Because if she didn¡¯t need anything from him, then this was a contract he could never make.

 Chapter 9: Yuu

    In a series of increasingly bold events that were both so like her¡ªin the way that they weren¡¯t entirely thought out¡ªand unlike her¡ªin the way that she kept invading Azul¡¯s space¡ªYuu let her curiosity pull her forward toward Azul. He didn¡¯t cringe away, neither did her stop her when she lifted herself toward his face. Instead, he stayed perfectly still, and let her come to him. Yuu had thought that¡­well, she didn¡¯t know what she¡¯d thought. Only that in the moment, that pulling feeling toward him had simply felt comfortable, warm, right.

    Head buzzing, and thoughtless of the moments that would come after, she kissed him, pulling herself back almost immediately.

    Azul didn¡¯t ask for this, she told herself. He¡¯s been nothing but helpful. He doesn¡¯t¡ª

    But she was wrong.

    Azul¡¯s hands, already around the fabric at her waist to steady her in the water, caught her again, and he bent his head down to kiss her again, more fully. Her hands curled tighter over his shoulders, and where his cheeks brushed hers, the dust between them fairly ignited in sensation, thrilling at the closeness as much as she did.

    Something hot and needy in her heart had come to life, hammering in her chest as though desperate to get out. It was a feeling that ached in the cold moments before she slept at night, and a feeling that pulled at the edges of her memory when the fleeting flimpses of the world she¡¯d used to call home paraded across her thoughts. However, this was not the feeling of missing someone. Azul was right here, under her fingertips, and the sounds in his throat echoed the ones aching in her.

    He pressed his mouth gently, all over her face, jaw, fingertips, and mouth relentless. There was nothing pushing about his advances. Instead, they felt pleading.

    Yuu had never felt so badly needed.

    She sighed into his mouth, letting the feeling take her .Azul was touching a hole in her heart that she¡¯d hardly known was there. He was soothing a pain she¡¯d ignored for so long, she didn¡¯t know how badly it hurt until he brushed it away. This was peace. This was bliss.

    Yuu couldn¡¯t say how long it lasted, or how many minutes he held her, carefully holding back, but she did know the moment she¡¯d had enough of ¡®gentle.¡¯

    Yuu reached up his dramatic collar, letting her fingers rake through his pretty hair, and he let her touch it. She¡¯d been curious for so long how it felt, and now she knew¡ªsoft even when wet¡ªmade of something different, and more functional in the water than her own. She pulled him a little closer, hoping only for something more connected, but when she ran her fingers down his scalp, he snarled at her, a rumbling foreign sound that got her more than what she¡¯d hoped for.

    The kiss deepened, and, against her better judgment, her response to it was mortifyingly frantic.Once more, however, he didn¡¯t let her fall. His lower limbs curled around her legs, through her toes, up her thighs. She almost didn¡¯t notice, when Azul anchored them to the far poolside wall, this new rhythm and depth of feeling not something she was ready for. SHe made a keening sound that she¡¯d never heard before from her own throat, and Azul, whether he sensed her growing heat, or not, chose that moment to pull away from her, tucking himself into the sensitive place at the side of her neck when he asked her a question that she was almost too dizzy to answer.

    "What do you want from me? Jewels? Potions? Information? Ask me,¡± he demanded against her skin.

    Yuu could feel it through his fingers, in his pulse. He didn''t just want her to ask. He needed it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to take from you,¡± she breathed into the softness of his hair. Because it was true. This wasn¡¯t something she¡¯d done hoping for gain. She hadn¡¯t even expected the response there had been.

    He made a dissatisfied sound near her ear, and she made a small noise when his teeth brushed lower down her neck.

    ¡°But I do want you,¡± she admitted quietly, surprising herself.

    She hadn¡¯t known it, and she certainly hadn¡¯t meant to say it out loud.

    ¡°Done,¡± he growled, and his teeth sank into the base of her neck.

    She screamed.

    The pain snapped Yuu out of the dusty haze she¡¯d been in, and she pulled herself out of his reach along the wall. He didn¡¯t fight her, or even try to stop her, instead, watching her with a hazy, confused look, that quickly turned to hurt.

    ¡°What¡ª¡± Yuu started to say, just before a deluge of magically summoned ice-water fell onto their heads, pelting them both with ice crystals that had formed in the summoning. His reach far longer than hers with his tentacles still around her, Azul shoved Yuu under himself to take the brunt of the blast, but there was enough that it still sent Yuu gasping.

    Releasing her just as quickly, Azul rounded on the source of the water, looking ready to attack the thing that had interrupted them. He¡¯d arced himself halfway out of the water, until, mid-growl, he¡¯d put himself back face to face with his mother.

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    The shock was enough to stop him attacking, at least.

    ¡°Mother?¡± he asked, the confusion returning to his face.

    ¡°You,¡± Madame Ashengrotto said, standing above them where they swam, ¡°You, Azul, have deliberately disobeyed instructions.¡±

    Azul looked as though he¡¯d been slapped.

    ¡°I beg your par¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, you should beg,¡± Madame Ashengrotto snarled. ¡°Because the mess you¡¯ve created here tonight will be nearly impossible to undo! Do you know what you¡¯ve done to this family? Do you know how many important families were still close enough to see this¡­this scandal?¡±

    Azul¡¯s teeth clenched, evidently at a loss for words.

    ¡°And you,¡± the madame rounded on Yuu, whose blood was beginning to drip into the water. The madame¡¯s nostrils flared when she saw the wound. ¡°You unfortunate little fool. Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done? What you¡¯ve gotten yourself into? My instructions are benevolent, as you know. Do you know, little human, that the only way out of the predicament you¡¯ve swum into has heretofore been death?¡±

    At that, Azul placed himself between the Madame and herself once more, but, quick as a whip, one of Madame¡¯s tentacles shot from beneath her skirt, batting him away like a dazed bird.

    ¡°Out of this, boy! Did you even stop to consider what you were doing? This little trout is lucky she did so many favors for the family this evening, or I¡¯d be forced to visit the consequence on her myself.¡±

    ¡°She is only human,¡± Azul said coldly, at last. ¡°Mother, she did not know. Yuu. Go back to the mirror. I¡¯ll be traveling back alone.¡±

    Know what? the curious part of Yuu wanted to ask, but for once, the self-preserving part of her won out. She pulled herself out of the pool, snatched up her bag, and made for the mirror.

    Fortunately, the Madame answered that question before she was out of earshot.

    ¡°You did not think it important that the poison in your bite will eat her alive if she doesn¡¯t get ink? If she doesn¡¯t consummate whatever this contract was with you, boy? Tell me, is that fair dealing? Is that how I raised you?¡±

    Yuu heard the sound of a hard slap behind her, and didn¡¯t look back, cold dread pooling in her stomach. However, she did not have time to think about what those words really meant. The mood had just changed so quickly, she could hardly understand it. One moment, she¡¯d felt whole and complete. The next, cold and icy reality. She couldn¡¯t even entirely fault Azul¡¯s mother for her anger. At the same time, she found that she couldn¡¯t entirely fault Azul. Yuu had felt for herself what the dust did to things like ¡®consequential thinking,¡¯ and Azul had been avoiding the stuff.

    Yuu, herself, was partially to blame, here, and as soon as Mallory was done with her little three-day honeymoon, she and her were going to have words.

    Yuu had no desire to hear the rest of Madame Ashengrotto¡¯s scoldings for her son, making her way straight toward the pearl arch, and the mirror platform.

    The once-lively lagoon had sunk into a hushed, eerie quiet. The water shimmered under the moon, rippling with the last echoes of laughter from guests disappearing into the mirrors, invitations still in hand, and taking them back to where they¡¯d transported in from. Yuu gripped her own invitation tightly. She had no desire at all to get transported somewhere underwater.

    Winding her way past the coral pillars and the marble and ice statues, deeper into the shadows where the lagoon met the open sea. There on the pearly platform, nestled between two jagged rock formations, the tallest magic mirror waited¡ªa massive pane of swirling silver.

    Yuu clung to the shadows until it was her turn, in no mood to address any late-going guests, or worse, answer any questions.

    She took a breath, then reached out.

    The mirror swallowed her whole in a single, soundless ripple, leaving nothing behind but the soft stir of water and the silent, watching night.

    When she stepped through, Azul and Jade were still in the lounge, lying on the divans that faced the open aquarium, and away from her.

    ¡°You two are back late!¡± Floyd remarked, glancing up. ¡°What, were the deals that¡ªholy KELP, shrimpy, what happened to YOU?¡±

    That got Jade¡¯s attention.

    Yuu didn¡¯t really blame them. She must have been a sight, dripping wet, skirt torn, and by now, the water had mingled with the blood on her shoulder, making it look far worse than it was.

    ¡°Can I help you with anything, Yuu?¡± Jade was up first, crossing the room, and already looking for something to offer her.

    ¡°No, Jade, thanks,¡± Yuu smiled half-heartedly. ¡°It looks a lot worse than it is. I just¡­ really have to get home. Don¡¯t worry. Azul was right behind me.¡±

    Floyd¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he shared a ¡®look¡¯ with Jade.

    ¡°Is there any particular reason that he didn¡¯t accompany you in person?¡± Jade asked smoothly.

    ¡°Is there any reason that bastard let his DATE come back alone and bleeding,¡± Floyd corrected, outraged on her behalf.

    Yuu was oddly touched at their concern, but the fatigue seeping through her limbs prevented her from lingering.

    ¡°He¡¯s going to need a human potion when he gets back,¡± Yuu offered by way of explanation, adjusting her purse on her shoulder. ¡°And probably some tea¡­ he was also talking to his mother when I left.¡±

    Jade and Floyd shared another ¡®look.¡¯

    ¡°Think it¡¯s time we finally eat that squid?¡± Floyd grumbled, only half in jest.

    ¡°Best not to jump to any conclusions, yet¡­¡± Jade surmised, though he looked far from pleased. ¡°Can we help you home, Yuu?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± she yelped, ¡°Ah, no, no thank you,¡± she said more gracefully. ¡°I really am fine. Just tired. And I should probably go shower off the¡ªah¡ªsalt.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Floyd rolled his eyes. ¡°The salt. You know, shrimpy, we¡¯re not all like this. Some of us wouldn¡¯t even send you back alone. SOME of us wouldn¡¯t let you come back hurt, either.¡±

    Yuu did laugh at that, if a little tiredly.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t exactly his fault. I¡¯ll let Azul explain.¡±

    ¡°Of course he will,¡± Jade agreed simply. ¡°It is the least he can do. Well, Miss Yuu, we won¡¯t keep you any longer. You are sure you don¡¯t want help home?¡±

    ¡°I appreciate you, Jade, but believe me¡­Azul¡¯s probably gonna be in worse shape¡­¡± said Yuu, and at last ducked out the doors of Octavinelle.

    As soon as she was out of sight, she ran for home.

 Chapter 10: Yuu

    ¡°Human, what the hell happened to you?¡± Grim exclaimed the moment she walked through the door of Ramshackle.

    ¡°Wow, Grim. You sure know how to make a girl feel special,¡± said Yuu¡ªat least, that¡¯s what she wanted to say. What actually came out sounded more like she was gargling gravel.

    ¡°Well?¡± Grim prompted, hopping up on a chair to see her better. He peered up into her tired face with the closest thing he could probably come to concern.

    ¡°What, did you get in a fight without me?¡± he groaned. ¡°I knew it wasn¡¯t just gonna be speeches! You shoulda let me come! Anyway, did you lose or somethin¡¯? Your eyes are all puffy, and that cut¡­. Wherever it is¡­ looks like a gnarly one. Why¡¯re you so wet?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as it looks,¡± she lied, wanting to dissuade as many of Grim¡¯s questions as possible. She loved the little demon, but he wasn¡¯t exactly closed-lipped about secrets. ¡°Where are Ace and Deuce? Weren¡¯t they here playing games?¡±

    ¡°Nyah! Yeah! I beat ¡®em!¡± Grim announced, looking proud of himself. ¡°Looks like one of us won our battles tonight! They¡¯re passed out in the common room. Want me to go get ¡®em?¡±

    She tried to smile. She really did, but it got stuck somewhere between her mouth and her cheeks, coming out more like a grimace.

    ¡°No, Grim, thanks. I¡­ I really just wanna lay down, actually. Um. Pancakes tomorrow morning?¡±

    ¡°Now you¡¯re speakin¡¯ my language!¡± Grim leapt down from the chair and did a circle around her ankles, swishing his tail. Yuu could only hope that the thought of good food would be enough to make him forget what she¡¯d come in looking like, and she escaped to her own room as quickly as Grim stopped making himself a tripping hazard.

    As soon as she was in her room, she threw her purse down on a chair, and a little red puff escaped the zipper.

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± she cried to noone. ¡°That¡¯s it! You¡¯re going in storage! In a ZIplock! In a fire! Yeah, fire is better¡­.¡±

    But then, recalling the explosive nature of Mallory¡¯s experiments, she decided against it. What if it made things worse? For now, she threw a blanket over the whole chair, purse and all, determined to leave it be for as long as possible.

    Her dress was ruined, not that she¡¯d minded in the moment, but now that her clarity¡ªher REAL clarity¡ªwas returning to her, she regretted the loss of the lovely gown. She would probably never wear it again, now that the memories were attached, but still. It had done its job well¡­too well?

    ¡°Eurgh!¡± she said, stripping the wet fabric off of herself, and throwing it in the trash.

    Then, she put herself under the hottest shower that Ramshackle could manage. Her shoulder stung in the heat, but she didn¡¯t care. If a shower came with the bonus of cauterizing the jaw-shaped wound, then more the better.

    Now that the blood had washed off, she got a better look at the bite mark. It wasn¡¯t deep, but it did sting, and parts of it were leaking purple goo.

    ¡°Great. Exotic colors are always a good sign in the medical field,¡± she grumbled, pumping soap over herself, and hoping it would be enough. Eventually, she was satisfied that the wound was no longer bleeding, leaking, or looking like anything other than it was¡­an imprint of Azul¡¯s merman-transformed jaw on her shoulder¡ªtwo rows of pointy, serrated teeth etched into her skin.

    ¡°Really, Azul?¡± she huffed, staring at the marks. ¡°Really? What were you thinking?¡±

    But, she knew distantly, that he hadn¡¯t been thinking clearly, and neither had she¡ªand that had been partially her fault, and partially Mallory¡¯s, and Azul¡­ Azul had stayed with her, helped her, and even tried to protect her in that hazy stupor. She admired him for it. She shivered at the feelings it had evoked. But she was still angry and confused.

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    What had Madame Ashengrotto said? That the venom in this bite would eat her alive? If she didn¡¯t¡­consummate the contract?

    That had better not mean what she thought it did. But if she didn¡¯t do¡­whatever that meant, then she died?

    She¡¯d known Azul for years, but they weren¡¯t close.

    Lies! Chanted a voice in her head. Absolute lies. Didn¡¯t you just tell him that you were friends? Didn¡¯t you insist on getting close?

    Yes. Yes she had. Idiot.

    But there had been that moment when they had felt close. With the dastardly red dust removing her doubts and inhibitions, she¡¯d felt free to, well, feel.

    Was there anyone else on campus that she¡¯d felt so free with?

    Nope! the voice in her head gloated gleefully.

    After all, she¡¯d spent the last three days teasing Azul, and even relying on him, despite the wildly busy days he¡¯d lead.

    But he didn¡¯t choose this! she argued back to herself, viciously. He was literally drugged! Or magicked¡ªsomething. He was under the influence. Azul¡ªthe real Azul¡ªwould never choose this. The real Azul would never even choose to be in his merman form. He¡¯d said so himself. He would be content to live a life as a human forever. He hadn¡¯t wanted to transform¡ªthe magic had forced that on him, and despite him handling it with aplomb, she¡¯d made it worse, and worse, until she¡¯d kissed him, and overridden any of himself really left.

    That was the realization that brought the first sob to the surface.

    Yuu was not one to cry¡ªnot ever. However, in this, hot water beginning to run out as the tears spilled over.

    For one shining, perfect moment the malicious drug had convinced her that she¡¯d found something¡ªwell, something that felt dangerously close to ¡®home.¡¯ Azul¡¯s scent when he was transformed¡ªwhen he was him¡ªhad struck as familiar as a childhood song. Like the flavor of something she¡¯d known long ago, and almost, almost remembered.

    Maybe you just know someone in the other world like him, she told herself.

    As if there would be anyone else in any world like that, the voice in her head argued back, but she ignored it. Nothing it had said tonight had been of any help, and had apparently only gotten her into trouble.

    But, it was more than just familiarity, she knew. In those moments kissing Azul, every nerve in her body had lit up like a livewire, like they wanted to knot themselves in proportional places to the nerves in himself. She was certain that no amount of magic or time could make herself forget something like that.

    In any case, Yuu was having an impossible time rationalizing that Azul, her friend, the suave and canny businessman, was the same creature at all as the decisive, protective one she¡¯d kissed tonight. It was like he¡¯d been an entirely different person, for just a few moments, and just for her.

    It made you feel so very special, didn¡¯t it? she scolded herself.

    But, one could only wallow in self-loathing so long before the shower water of the old, creaky building that one lived in, went cold and ironically dusty. Yuu squeaked the water off, dressed, and taped a tissue over her now-slower-bleeding shoulder. It would have to do.

    Fatigued and bruised in so many ways, she dragged herself into bed, trying very hard not to think that the worst was still to come. She had a venomous bite in her shoulder that she didn¡¯t know how to heal. She had a profoundly awkward conversation coming soon with Azul about said venom, and the cause thereof, and worst of all, an heart that ached in a way that it had no business doing over a first kiss. She was beginning to wonder if the dust, and not the venom, were still affecting her, and if so¡­ for how long?

    Oh, she was going to wring Mallory¡¯s neck when she saw her next!

    And, focusing on that merry promise to herself, Yuu managed to distract herself from the fact that she had no idea what to do or say, when inevitably, she saw Azul Ashengrotto again.

 Chapter 11: Azul

    Azul stumbled through the mirror on wobbly tentacles, face bruised from his mother¡¯s slap, and his innards bruised by everything else. He nearly collapsed on the Octavinelle floor, unaware of what time it was. Unaware, even, that he was being watched, until the usual suspects sauntered up to his weakened form, dispensing the usual friendly derision.

    ¡°So, Boss,¡± Floyd smarmed, before leaning down on the boss, the picture of casual aloofness. ¡°So¡­have a fun date?¡±

    ¡°Where is your date, by the by, Azul?¡± Jade had joined in the gloating. ¡°Misplaced her?¡±

    For a moment, Azul¡¯s stomach dropped.

    ¡°Yuu didn¡¯t come through before me?¡± he groaned.

    If the mirror had misplaced her, she could be anywhere by now. The last thing he needed tonight was to traipse all over the mirror-network looking for one human, and the second-to-last thing he needed was to have to run into her again before he¡¯d pulled himself the hell together.

    ¡°You¡¯re sure you didn¡¯t miss her? If not, I¡¯ll have to go back¡ª¡±

    ¡°Calm your arms, Azul,¡± Floyd dismissed his rant with a wave, before Azul could force himself back up on his jelly-like arms. It took a lot to walk without legs out of water, and he¡¯d been doing it for at least an hour, amidst his mother¡¯s scorn.

    ¡°Yes, Miss Yuu did come through earlier,¡± Jade smiled, though there was a hard glint to it that Azul recognized immediately as anger. ¡°She did not look as she had before.¡±

    ¡°Torn dress. Dripping blood all over our floors. Wet? You wouldn¡¯t know anything about that, Azul?¡±

    ¡°Before you two go making assumptions, do you really believe that I would do any of that to her?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing, Boss,¡± Floyd said.

    ¡°We wouldn¡¯t,¡± Jade remarked.

    ¡°Except for the fact that there was a very octopus set of jaws set into her neck. SO unless you mother decided she was the tastiest human on the menu tonight¡ª¡± said FLoyd.

    ¡°We could only surmise that the bite belonged to you. We would have kept her here for safekeeping¡ª¡± said Jade.

    ¡°But MAN did she want outta here! Didn¡¯t ask for help with the venom she was dripping or anything!¡± finished Floyd.

    ¡°DAMN!¡± Azul roared, tumbling back to the ground. ¡°Oh, will one of you get me a potion already? Why didn¡¯t you lead with that!? VENOM?¡±

    ¡°Cecaelian venom,¡± said Jade, already producing hte necessary potion from his jacket pocket.

    ¡°You¡¯re worth your bloody weight in gold, Jade,¡± Azul grumbled as he downed it in one gulp.

    ¡°Hey, and what am I?¡± Floyd demanded.

    Regrowing bones, and dissolving eight limbs was never a comfortable experience, but knowing exactly how long the heated agony would lastwas something that helped control his reaction.

    Three, four, five¡­ he counted, until at last, his lower half reappeared. Unfortunately, it seemed his cousin¡¯s magic pool had eaten his suit. He¡¯d come back entirely naked. Suddenly, he was very, very glad that Yuu wasn¡¯t around to see this. He hadn¡¯t actually considered that risk until now, and that was a true testament to the stress of the evening.

    ¡°Floyd, you¡¯re worth your weight in mojito,¡± Azul groaned, as the pain subsided.

    ¡°And don¡¯t you forget it!¡± Floyd said happily. ¡°So! Date! Why¡¯s the dame poisoned?¡±

    ¡°As it turns out,¡± Azul said through gritted teeth, pushing himself to his feet, ¡°the rumors concerning the Banejaw¡¯s new Red Dust were all real¡ªand somewhat understated.¡±

    He stalked over to one of the lounge tables, ripped off a tablecloth, and wrapped himself in it. There were many things in this life that should never be attempted sans trou.

    ¡°Red Dust. The drink powder?¡± Floyd prompted.

    ¡°It seems that the new Banejaw bride has found a way to take the red string of fate, locally sourced from her fiance, and reduce it to a dust stable enough to be used in potion-making,¡± Jade said swiftly.

    ¡°Meaning?¡± Floyd rolled his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m getting old here.¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± said Jade. ¡°The Red Dust, when treated properly, can connect you to people supposedly fated to cross paths with you. Although, since the red string of fate is not real, and in fact, synthetically created by the Banejaws, what id truly does is closer to finding compatibilities or incompatibilities with yourself and other people, and then speeding up that relationship artificially. Enemies made in seconds. Compatible lovers flinging themselves at you. Friends pledging their loyalties overnight.¡±

    ¡°Sounds awesome!¡± Floyd gaped. ¡°Why don¡¯t we get some for our drink counter at the lounge? THat¡¯sd be a laugh. I wouldn¡¯t mind getting some myself.¡±

    ¡°The bride this evening thought the very same.¡± Azul gritted out.

    ¡°Oh dear¡­ I think I can see where this is going. Do continue.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, our very human bride forgot to consider the consequence that this was a mixed-species event. When used on humans, the results are both unpredictable, and untested¡ªwell, untested until tonight, apparently,¡± grated Azul.

    He folded his arms and glared at Jade.

    ¡°Care to take a gander at what happened?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you and shrimpy got a faceful?¡±

    Jade snorted, at the same time as Azul made a disgusted sound.

    ¡°Hey, I meant a faceful of the dust stuff! What are you two picturing?¡± Floyd complained.

    ¡°I am envisioning that things did not go¡­smoothly with Yuu?¡± Jade asked politely, but his wicked, creeping smile told Azul that he was picturing exactly what Floyd described.

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    ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Azul bit out, ¡°Floyd isn¡¯t entirely far from the truth.¡±

    ¡°NO WAY,¡± Floyd said. ¡°You tried to eat shrimpy?¡±

    ¡°That is not what I said!¡± Azul snapped.

    ¡°Only kidding boss! Continue!¡±

    ¡°When humans are forced to move up timelines, their reactions are¡­ unpredictable. There are REASONS the history books are full of heroes and heroines trying to defy fate,¡± said Azul.

    ¡°Meaning?¡± asked Floyd. ¡°Get to the good stuff.¡±

    ¡°Meaning that even if the red dust points out compatibility¡ªin the form of dulling one¡¯s inhibition, and heightening neutral instinct¡ªthat humans are perfectly capable of resisting those compatibilites.¡±

    ¡°If the timing is unnaturally pushed, then humans will resist no matter how compatible they are. Meaning that it works best on merfolk, and very specifically, smaller mermen and maids, and not cecaelia, who would react too strongly, and not humans, who would find the wrong timing wrong no matter what the dust pointed out to them, and therefore either resist, or simply¡­.leave,¡± finished Jade. ¡°Oh dear.¡±

    ¡°¡®Oh dear¡¯ is an understatement equivalent to calling the NRC clock tower a chintzy timepiece,¡± Azul groaned, sinking down into a nearby chair.

    ¡°How is it, then, that you are not¡­still under the influence?¡± Jade inquired politely.

    ¡°My mother,¡± Azul said, as though that explained everything.

    ¡°Yeah, shrimpy said she was there. What happened with the matriarch, then?¡± asked Floyd.

    ¡°She¡­ used her ink to remove the effects of the dust on me¡ªwhich only worked on me because I am her own blood. Then, she narrated in great detail what I had done while under its spell¡­ which was¡­ troublesome to say the least. She is also of the opinion that courting humans is tantamount to scandal, considering what happened with my father, and considering the side-eyes it put on the Banejaw family. Varrun only got away with it so cleanly because he is the heir, and still, tongues will wag. Bad for business.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s this got to do with Yuu? Sure she¡¯s human. But she¡¯s not close enough to you for your mum to go ballistic. You¡¯re not even dating,¡± said Floyd.

    ¡°You mate-marked Yuu,¡± Jade stated. It wasn¡¯t a question.

    They¡¯d seen the bite. They¡¯d seen the blood. They¡¯d seen the venom.

    Floyd whistled long and loud.

    ¡°You getting hitched, Boss?¡± he asked, amused. ¡°Skipping a few steps?¡±

    Azul¡¯s head shot up angrily.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke, Floyd. This was in NO WAY consensual.¡±

    ¡°Yes it was,¡± said Jade, surprising them both.

    ¡°And how in the TRENCHES do you figure that, Jade?¡± Azul snarled tiredly.

    ¡°She asked you for something, no? If she hadn¡¯t you wouldn¡¯t have been able to produce the venom in the first place. That¡¯s how the magic works. It¡¯s basic blood anatomy,¡± Floyd supplied.

    ¡°How do you both know that?¡±

    ¡°We pay attention to your monologues, Azul,¡± both Jade and Floyd said at the same time, their matching eyes flashing at him.

    ¡°Since when?¡± he demanded.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we wanted to,¡± Floyd grumped.

    ¡°Entertainment,¡± added Jade.

    ¡°Marvelous,¡± Azul groaned, his face falling into his hands.

    ¡°Well?¡± Jade said, far more calmly than he should. ¡°Where is the problem then? You made a contract with Yuu, at a time when, it seems, neither of you were feeling yourselves. SImply nullify the contract, and the venom will lose its sting, and Yuu¡¯s shoulder will heal with a potion or two. Gift the healing elixirs to her free of charge, and everything is as it was.¡±

    ¡°Oh, for it to be that simple.¡± Azul¡¯s head fell back into his hands. ¡°The contract wasn¡¯t a paper signature. It wasn¡¯t in ink. It was in her blood, and my venom. We can¡¯t just annul it without tearing up one of those, and that would mean¡ª¡±

    ¡°Dying a horrible death?¡± Floyd asked blithely.

    ¡°Yes, that,¡± said Azul. ¡°The venom would eat her alive, or I would have a blood curse on me that would wring the life from my limbs. A lovely way to go.¡±

    ¡°This is why mating marks aren¡¯t used in nuptial ceremonies anymore,¡± Jade sighed. ¡°Makes divorces very messy¡­¡±

    ¡°So, how would you fix it, then? You could just give her whatever she asked for, and then call the contract complete?¡± suggested Floyd.

    ¡°Unfortunately, considering what she asked for, that won¡¯t be possible, either¡­¡± said Azul, remembering with a small rush of blood to his face¡­and perhaps farther down. He shoved that thought away viciously. This was all so wretchedly complicated.

    ¡°What does the human want that you can¡¯t give?¡± Floyd asked immediately.

    ¡°I admit, I¡¯m curious as to that, myself,¡± admitted Jade, tapping his chin. ¡°Perhaps if you tell Floyd, he can win her over, and overwrite your mark. Or anyone who likes her already, really. The man in question would certainly owe you a favor¡­¡±

    ¡°Business-minded as usual, Floyd,¡± Azul dismissed. ¡°Unfortunately, that is not an option either.¡±

    He said it with such finality that Jade and FLoyd shared one of their signature brotherly ¡®looks,¡¯ but Azul didn¡¯t have time to worry about that now.

    ¡°There¡¯s only one person I know practicing high enough magic in my species who would know,¡± Azul groaned from in between his fingers.

    ¡°Madame Ashengrotto,¡± Jade supplied again, helpful as ever. ¡°Is there a reason you did not simply ask her at the wedding?¡±

    ¡°At the wedding, she was under the impression that I¡¯d lost my head enough to start eating a human not¡ªnot¡ª¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± said Jade. ¡°I can see why that would invoke her ire considering¡­.past rumors.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Considering she hadn¡¯t seen the nature of the mark, yet, I admit I wasn¡¯t in a clear enough headspace to be asking her questions. In fact, I attacked her¡ªoh, don¡¯t look at me like that. She bested me like I was still a guppy in a tidepool. I still have so much to learn here¡­ my dueling is clearly still in the range of ¡®utterly pathetic.¡¯¡±

    ¡°You duel with the upperclassmen two years ahead of us,¡± said Floyd. ¡°Is Madame still that scary?¡±

    ¡°Scarier,¡± Azul and Jade said at once.

    ¡°In any case,¡± Azul sighed, pushing himself very reluctantly to his feet. ¡°I will have to see my mother at the end of the week. Unfortunately, three days is the minimum I¡¯ll have to wait before she¡¯ll either see me, and before I can leave again.¡±

    ¡°Always three days,¡± Floyd rolled his eyes. ¡°C¡¯mon Boss, let¡¯s get you to bed. Unless you want one of the first years to see you standing around arguing naked in a sheet?¡±

    Azul blanched.

    ¡°No, thank you, I¡¯ve faced enough horrors for one night.¡±

    With that, he retired as quickly as he could on his new legs, determined to somehow shovel himself, and everyone involved out of this mess as quickly as possible.

    When he¡¯d reached the relief of his own bed, Azul couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the grand difference there was between now, and the last time he¡¯d laid in this very spot.

    Last night, he¡¯d been on his phone, messaging Yuu as freely as he would an old friend. It had been light, happy, easy. Now, tonight¡­tonight his head was full of sweet, intangible memories that shouldn¡¯t have been his in the first place. Sure, the Dust had shown them a potential bond, but that didn¡¯t mean it had been earned, nor did it mean that it was founded on anything. In fact, its only foundation was a few long days of feeling¡­

    Feeling what, Azul? Wanted? Needed for something other than favors? Welcome among your own for the first time in years?

    And the connecting link to it all was Yuu.

    Azul Prided himself in being a gentleman, and here he was, an utter cod. For the first time, he felt sympathy for the students who came to him, begging for contracts, begging for fixes and favors. There were few things he wouldn¡¯t pay to fix this, and, if he were being honest with himself¡ªwhich he swore, on this matter, he would never do, he would give a great deal to feel what he had in that lagoon pool again¡ªthe right way, this time. With Yuu in full possession of her faculties¡­and with himself not behaving like a complete sea-monster.

    He closed his eyes, and for a moment, let himself wander through the memories of their evening together. He let himself feel that unearned kiss on his lips again. It had been better than any sensation he¡¯d ever felt. Better than the sweeping currents. Better than his victories in the lounge. Better than the thrill of meeting an impossible goal, because Azul realized that that was exactly what Yuu was now¡ªan impossible goal.

 Chapter 12: Yuu

    Yuu heard from Azul only once after ¡®the wedding incident.¡¯ Ironically, it was the morning after, so bright and early that her brain had hardly restarted, when a nameless, faceless octavinelle student turned up on the doorstep of Ramshackle with a box for her. Then, in her tired haze of asking-no-questions, she nodded at the boy in question, who quickly booked it off the property. Yuu had no doubt that whatever reason the boy had for being there, Azul was probably letting him pay off a debt for running his errands. Still, it said something that the gift had arrived at the very first opportunity.

    Didn¡¯t it?

    Yuu placed the box on the table during breakfast. Then, on the kitchen counter for safekeeping while she baked enough sweets for the Ace-Deuce combo still asleep on the couches. True to form, they, and Grim likely wouldn¡¯t be up until lunch. She hummed as she swept the first floor, and cleaned around the box on the second. She dressed as normal, carrying the box with her, and even accidentally matched her shoes to the color of its purple ribbon.

    By the time noon rolled around, however, and she¡¯d spent a solid hour organizing, and reorganizing her scant belongings whilst the box watched her from her bed, Yuu had to admit that she was stalling.

    The mark on her shoulder was really beginning to sting, as if it could sense her ignoring it. So, after the first sounds of movement rumbled from boys waking up on the lower floor reached her through the floorboards, Yuu pounced on the box, pulling the ribbon aside, only to find the box empty aside from a tiny bottle of ink.

    ¡°Great,¡± she mumbled. ¡°A night of worrying and bleeding over the man, and he thinks my pen needs a new cartridge?¡±

    She let the bottle fall out onto the bed, and an equally tiny folded paper fell after it.

    ¡°Ah-hah!¡± she scooped it up victoriously. ¡°Now we¡¯re talking!¡±

    Unfolding it, she read:

    Yuu,

    The antidote in this bottle will stop the venom in the bite from spreading until I can find a permanent cure. Apply to the wound, and let set three minutes before cleaning.

    <ol>

    <li> A. </li>

    </ol>

    It was short. It mentioned nothing of the night before, except to tell her that he at least remembered as much of it as she did¡­probably. However, the handwriting wasn¡¯t his, and the box, though in his signature colors, looked professionally wrapped.

    ¡°Okay¡­ he sends a dictated note, and a dose of fancy octopus advil. That¡¯s¡­.sweet?¡±

    However, the more Yuu thought about it, the more agitated she became. Remembering the purple goo that had oozed out of the bite the day before, she¡¯d known there was something malicious in the bite, and Madame Ashengrotto had said that it would¡­eat her alive? However, the woman had just seemed so dramatic, and Yuu hadn¡¯t been in a state of mind to think about it, but now that she did, she couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d been so stupid. Did the dust take away he whole sense of self-preservation? She¡¯d been poisoned!¡ªer, Venomed!

    It was that panic rushing through her veins (which she tried desperately to slow down, as her veins had apparently been VENOMED,) that pushed her to shove on her shoes, run right by the Terrible Three munching pancakes in the downstairs kitchen, and straight to the healer.

    ¡°Hey, Human! Where ya going?¡± called Grim.

    ¡°Morning, Yuu! Why aren¡¯t you eating with us?¡± echoed Ace.

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    ¡°Yuu?¡± Deuce mumbled, apparently still waking up.

    ¡°Later!¡± she deflected, rushing straight out the door to the healer¡¯s office.

    *

    The healer was unhelpful.

    ¡°You attended a mermaid wedding?¡± he¡¯d asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°You were bitten by¡­  a part-fish hybrid. Any known venomous tendencies?¡±

    ¡°Well, the species itself isn¡¯t venomous, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°The wound seems clean.¡±

    ¡°Sure, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°And have you had any¡­.adverse side effects so far?¡±

    ¡°No, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°In that case, what we are looking at is a rather rare, but not unheard of case of an oral-vascular exchange of mana. It is certainly not deadly, but can create a localized mana influx in the skin, sometimes leading to discoloration, warmth, and residual emotional sensitivity. "

    Yuu''s face went a shade redder than the mark itself. "A... magical hickey?"

    ¡°In perhaps gutter-dweller¡¯s terms, yes.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have magic. What does that mean?¡¯

    ¡°If you do not have magic, then the science around the wound has limited research, but likely the energy from the magic would either burn you slightly, or simply take its course and fizzle out.¡±

    ¡°What does ¡®take its course,¡¯ mean?¡± she asked dubiously.

    ¡°Why, erm¡­¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know. Because there haven¡¯t been any documented cases. And how amount if this thing was from a cecaelian?¡±

    ¡°If that were the case, then there would be even less research from which to draw.¡±

    The healer knew nothing, she quickly gathered. And, if mermaid marks weren¡¯t usually poisonous and this one obviously was, then he wouldn¡¯t know anything about an antidote either.

    She swallowed hard. That only left¡­

    *

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Yuu, but I¡¯m afraid Azul isn¡¯t here at the moment,¡± said Jade, when she knocked on the door of the Octavinelle male dorms.

    ¡°Not here?¡± Yuu could feel her panic rising. ¡°I got a note from him this morning, but there¡¯s something I need to ask him.¡±

    ¡°I apologize, but I¡¯m not sure where Azul has gone.¡±

    It was frustrating news, but even she knew there was nothing Jade could do to control his Prefect¡¯s every move. To expect as much would be ridiculous, but¡­ well, maybe she was feeling a little ridiculous.

    ¡°Do you know when he¡¯ll be back?¡±

    ¡°I regret to say that¡ª¡±

    She held up a hand. There were only so many rejections could hear when desperation was doing a haughty jig on one¡¯s emotional doorstep.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright. He¡¯s probably not the right person for this, anyway.¡±

    That certainly got attention, but, being Jade, he wiped the surprise away from his features as quickly as it had appeared.

    ¡°Do you know of a way to send letters to residents of Atlantica?¡± she asked quickly.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Jade¡¯s placid smile returned. ¡°Do you have an address?¡±

    ¡°I suspect I won¡¯t need one to send a note to the heir of the Banejaw family.¡±

    Jade, to his credit, took that statement in stride.

    ¡°No, I imagine not. If you use the mirror system, I believe if you give it instructions as to the recipient, the mirror system should take it to the transportation mirror within their own home, although I doubt they read all incoming mail personally¡­¡±

    She shook her head, smiling.

    ¡°They¡¯ll read this one.¡±

 Chapter 13: Yuu

    Yuu paced in front of the front door of Ramshackle, glowering. It had been three days. Plenty of time for Mallory and Varrun to have completed their, erm, ritualistic first challenges of marriage. They would have returned to the Banejaw mansion by now¡ªat least, she assumed it was a mansion. Either that, or the Banejaws lived in a tower, or an underground laboratory, or something equally magical and ominous. Living situation aside, they should be back.

    Azul hadn¡¯t checked in on her, or contacted her, or so much as deigned to pass her in a hallway in three days, and, after the second day, Floyd and Jade had ¡®mysteriously¡¯ disappeared as well so she couldn¡¯t question them. What was worse, was, she¡¯d started feeling¡­.things in the mark on her shoulder.

    Yuu had been going about her usual coursework, monday, when during the middle of a Magical Creatures lecture (ironically titled: If it Bites, It¡¯s Probably not Friendly) her shoulder began to¡­.tingle?

    At first, she thought she was imagining pixie bites, but then it grew warm, and an odd sensation began to flood her system. She felt, almost as though the mark had a personhood of its own, first satisfaction, then annoyance, then determination, then panic. The odd part of all of it was, though she recognized the emotions, her own were completely calm. It was as though the feelings had put themselves on stage for her body to watch, and then rejected all of them.

    Very shortly after that, she caught the briefest glimpse of absolute and utter loneliness, longing, and¡­ and was that desire? Before there was a snappy, static spark at her shoulder, like a TV signal had short-fused and gone out, and all secondary sensations died.

    The night before, just before she¡¯d gone to sleep, she was unhealthily wrestling with memories of the wedding (and of Azul) when the connection snapped to life again, this time in technicolor. It was as though, for a few minutes, she relived the feelings she¡¯d had in the lagoon in real time¡ªbeing held, being wanted, feeling both riled and peaceful. She felt the sorts of things that make reasonable make unreasonable demands, and then bite people, until, with a similar blue snap! the feelings died again.

    Now, fortunately, there was no room in herself for emotions that weren¡¯t her own. In fact, she was having a hard enough time containing the frustration she had in her own body.

    Three days, and any connections she could have to people who could help her with this unhealing¡ªstill bleeding¡ªwound were no help at all! The healer insisted there was nothing malignant about the mark and that it would heal on its own¡ªit wasn¡¯t. Azul, the cowardly perpetrator was nowhere to be found, and no one in Octavinelle, nor anywhere on campus knew how to find him. Not even ROOK had been able to pin him down, earning her a very confused look from himself and Pomfiore when Rook failed, possibly for the first time in his life, to hunt down ¡®prey.¡¯

    Her last chance, her Ace-in-The-Hole, and the cause of this whole mess in the first place, was Mallory Banejaw, who should have read her letter by now. But if she had, then where was she?

    ¡°Hey, um, Yuu, are you expectin¡¯ someone?¡±

    It said worlds about Grim¡¯s concern that he¡¯d used her actual name.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuu growled, pacing in front of the door, yet again. It was not being knocked on, opened, or entered through, yet again, and she snarled at it¡ªas though the door were personally responsible for its lack of guests.

    ¡°...Are they comin¡¯?¡± Grim asked tremulously, from his perch on the comfiest chair in the entry¡ªthe shoebench.

    ¡°They¡¯d better be,¡± Yuu growled again.

    ¡°Listen, Human, you¡¯ve been actin¡¯... kinda strange the last couple of days. Maybe it¡¯s time for a break, ya know? Eat some tuna. Eat some more tuna. Let some things that don¡¯t matter go.¡±

    ¡°Three steps to absolute success, Grim,¡± Yuu praised as well as she could under the circumstances. It wasn¡¯t often that Grim was this caring, and she didn¡¯t want to squash his efforts, but unfortunately for her, this wasn¡¯t something to just let go. She had a ticking magical timebomb in her shoulder, and the smarmy octopus who had given it to her was nowhere to be found.

    ¡°So, that¡¯s a yes? We can go for tuna?¡± Grim flicked his tail hopefully.

    Yuu shook her head. ¡°You go ahead, Grim. I need to¡ª¡±

    It happened. There was a knock at the door.

    Yuu was already yanking it open before Grim could properly flee the entryway, nearly tripping over his tail as she went.

    There on the other side of the door, tan-faced and glowing was the happy couple from the wedding, Mallory and Varrun Banejaw. Varrun looked peaceably the same, standing cool and somewhat aloof beside his new wife, but Mallory, as glowy as she was, couldn¡¯t resist a giggling, tackling hug the moment she saw Yuu.

    ¡°Yuu! Yuu, it¡¯s so good to see you. When your letter said that it was ¡®dire¡¯ that I come to Ramshackle, I thought you¡¯d be dying in a gutter somewhere outside! Oh, the honeymoon was such a rush, I can¡¯t wait to tell you all the gorey details!¡±

    ¡°The shark hunt did not have that much gore,¡± Varrun added under hsi breath, stepping over the threshold behind Mallory. ¡°May I?¡±

    ¡°Mmph course,¡± Yuu beckoned him in behind them from under Mallory¡¯s shoulder. Varrun strode in, picked up the pitcher of juice she¡¯d laid out and offered a glass to Mal as a way of prying her off of Yuu¡ªfor which, for once, Yuu was grateful. As grounding as hugging was, right now she needed answers more.

    ¡°Mal, I¡¯ve really gotta talk to you about that dust.¡±

    ¡°The dust?¡± Mallory pulled back, still beaming. ¡°Yeah, it was really¡ªWhoa!¡±

    Yuu wasted no time pulling down the neckline of her shoulder where the mark sat, unbandaged, and still slowly trickling blood. She¡¯d soaked so many bandages and used so much tape that she¡¯d eventually given up and just opted to wear dark shirts.

    ¡°Whoa. Yuu.¡± Mallory stared dumbstruck at the set of teeth marks in her shoulder. ¡°Hah! It looks just like a¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a mating Mark,¡± said Varrun.

    Mallory spit out her juice, spraying it all over the entry table.

    Varrun merely tutted at his new bride, and swept his mage stone over the mess to clean it up.

    ¡°Apologies,¡± he said simply.

    ¡°You got a mating mark from AZUL? He¡¯s so careful. So controlled. He is NOT the type.¡±

    Hot, angry tears sprung to Yuu¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly the thing, Mallory. He¡¯s NOT the type! I¡¯M not the type. You dusted me without telling me what it would do, and when some got on him¡­ I just lost basic inhibitive social skills, and HE¡­he¡­. Sort of turned into an octopus.¡±

    Mallory shook her head.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I formulated this dust to only work on merfolk. I mean, it might have worked a tiny bit on humans, seeing as we¡¯re sort of related, but on you? On a cecaelian? They¡¯re typically made of more durable stuff. It shouldn¡¯t have affected you at all, and definitely not long term. It was supposed to wear off after a couple of hours!¡±

    ¡°What WAS it supposed to do?¡¯ Yuu glared.

    Mallory slammed her glass down on the table, glaring at Varrun when he picked it up and tried to get her to take it again.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t look at me like that! No one in the world would be enemies with you. I thought you¡¯d find someone who would flirt with you some more, or you could find some friends, you know, more reason to come and visit me in Atlantica¡ª¡±

    ¡°Liar. You know i¡¯d visit Atlantica anytime for you.¡±

    Mallory threw her hands in the air. ¡°FINE. I saw you and Azul dancing. And it looked. Well, I don¡¯t know. Compatible?¡±

    ¡°So why not let us just keep being compatible? I¡¯m HUMAN, Mal, remember? Timing is EVERYTHING. You can¡¯t just force a fatey-destiny-love potion on someone and expect it to go well long-term!¡±

    Mallory blinked. ¡°I mean¡­. It does for mermen?¡±

    Yuu glared harder.

    Mallory¡¯s face fell.

    ¡°Damn. Damn-damn-damn! You¡¯re right. I should have asked you. It was¡­ um¡­ oh man¡­.¡±

    ¡°Totally normal in Atlantica, but kinda rapey up here?¡± Yuu accused.

    Mallory let her hands fall into her face, nodding miserably.

    ¡°This,¡± Yuu said, a hard bite in her tone. ¡°This is why there¡¯s a food and drug administration aboveground!¡± Yuu raised a soldering finger. ¡°Because if you don¡¯t test it on a wide variety of WILLING and CONSENTING people, you don¡¯t know how much it¡¯s going to affect people or for how long!¡±

    Mallory was beginning to nod. ¡°You said it¡¯s still affecting you?¡±

    ¡°Can it be reversed.¡±

    ¡°Of course we can reverse the effects. We are not, how do you human¡¯s say¡ªDuck chemists?¡± asked Varrun.

    ¡°Quacks,¡± Yuu and Mallory said together.

    ¡°Is there a difference?¡±

    Yuu and Mallory shared the sort of look that they used to when living together, and Yuu felt a pang of loneliness from having missed her friend.

    ¡°Not really,¡± Yuu said generously. ¡°But the dust is still working. And it¡¯s caused some permanent damage.

    ¡°I see, I¡­ oh dear,¡± said Mallory.

    ¡°Oh dear indeed,¡± Yuu snarled back, back to her earlier anger. ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling the same stuff from during the wedding still in flashes. Just in flashes, but it¡¯s still there, and I¡¯d really like it out of my system before¡ªif¡ªI ever see him again, and if I do, I¡¯m going to wring his neck, too!¡±

    ¡°Too?¡± Mallory asked miserably.

    ¡°Could it be that you actually care for my cousin?¡± Varrun asked, in that same, infuriatingly calm tone.

    ¡°What?¡± Yuu snapped. ¡°I just said I was going to wring his neck!¡±

    Varrun shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s love.¡±

    Yuu¡¯s eyes bugged. ¡°It¡¯s not love. He was forced into something. So was I. It was too fast, and without the right timing, Varrun, that tends to make things for humans fall apart, not the opposite.¡±

    Varrun was examining her like she was a particularly interesting petri dish.

    ¡°Yes; I am¡­ learning there is much about your race I do not understand.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re learning exceptionally quickly,¡± Mallory soothed, patting his arm.

    Yuu brought the attention back to the matter at hand. ¡°Okay, okay. You know the situation now, and please, please don¡¯t let this get anywhere but the three of us. I haven¡¯t even told Grim.¡±

    ¡°I can hear you, Human!¡± Grim yowled from the other room.

    ¡°The four of us, then,¡± said Yuu exasperatedly. ¡°Anyway, Madame Ashengrotto said that it would eat me alive if I didn¡¯t fulfill some sort of¡­.deal.¡±

    ¡°You could simply fulfill the deal, and leave the mark be. It will heal on its own if the deal is fulfilled.¡±

    Mallory held up a hand.

    ¡°Yeah, but if the deal is fulfilled, then they¡¯ll be¡­um¡­¡±

    ¡°Mated?¡± Yuu asked.

    ¡°In word, yeah,¡± said Mallory. ¡°But you¡¯d stop any detrimental effects, at least. We could find him, and have him give you whatever it was, and buy more time?¡±

    ¡°No can do,¡± Yuu said tightly. ¡°I asked for something¡­ a bit um¡­¡±

    ¡°What, did you say you wanted him or something,¡± Mallory joked, picking up her glass again as the humor returned to the room.

    Yuu remained silent, staring.

    Mallory lowered her cup slowly. ¡°Holy CARP, that¡¯s exactly what you did, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°You see my problem,¡± Yuu said darkly. ¡°If I ever see that dust again, I¡¯m setting it on fire.¡±

    ¡°Apt. It IS explosive,¡± Mallory mused. ¡°Hang on. If the dust is still affecting you, then I can definitely reverse that. That¡¯s easy. But undoing a mating mark? That¡¯s above my skill level.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s what!?¡± Yuu growled angrily.

    Varrun made to stand, but Mallory pulled him back down.

    ¡°She¡¯s not a threat, and she¡¯s the victim here, Varrun,¡± Mallory scolded, before turning back to Yuu.

    ¡°Listen, no one even uses mating marks anymore. They¡¯re just¡­¡±

    ¡°Primeval? Messy?¡± Varrun supplied.

    Mallory snapped her fingers. ¡°That!¡±

    Yuu groaned. ¡°Wonderful. I¡¯ve got something ¡®Primeval¡¯ and ¡®Messy¡¯ carved into my body.¡±

    ¡°Primal is also apt. Man¡­ I really am sorry, Yuu, it¡¯s just that never in a million years would I have thought AZUL would have that sort of inclination.¡±

    Yuu shook her head. ¡°I understand. I do. It¡¯s just¡­ well, now I''m living with it, and I want to undo it, and no one at all has been helping me or even talking to me for DAYS, so¡­ I guess I¡¯m just glad now I have someone to help? But also, you¡¯re right. Even if you had tested it a bunch beforehand and determined it was safe¡­ It seems like going off of regular Azul, this isn¡¯t something he¡¯d ever do. Ever.¡±

    ¡°My cousin seems to have your respect?¡± Varrun asked unhelpfully.

    ¡°Usually,¡± Yuu grumbled.

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    ¡°Listen, Yuu, it¡¯s not my cup of tea, per se, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s impossible,¡± Mallory chugged along her thought process. ¡°What you¡¯re going to need is a cecaelian sea witch.¡±

    Yuu sighed. ¡°Azul hasn¡¯t talked to me since the event. He wouldn¡¯t even write a note by himself. And he¡¯s disappeared from campus.¡±

    For some uncodly reason, her eyes began to sting when she said that. Because it was true. Azul had not only abandoned her with no information, but he was ignoring her, avoiding her, and this at a time when she genuinely was in need of his help. The thought stung of something that tasted like betrayal, and worse, heartbreak.

    ¡°That¡¯s not who I meant,¡± Mallory shot back, not noticing Yuu¡¯s internal disarray. ¡°Also, you¡¯re going to want someone a little higher up the rungs. Not a student. I was going to suggest Madame Nerissa Ashengrotto.¡±

    Yuu stared at her, wondering if Mallory had lost part of her brain to this marriage agreement.

    ¡°Ashengrotto. Right. The woman who didn¡¯t want me anywhere near her son in the first place. The woman who said it would be easier for ¡®the family,¡¯ if I were dead. THAT Madame Ashengrotto.¡±

    Varrun shrugged. ¡°At least you will know she¡¯s invested in reversing the mating mark.¡±

    ¡°It can be healed, Yuu, and the venom can be purged. But if you want someone who can do it and leave you alive, that would be the Madame,¡± Mallory informed her quickly.

    ¡°Great. Just¡­ great. And what exactly does the Madame charge guests she hates? Am I going to lose an arm from this? A couple of fingers? My voice?¡±

    Mallory shot Varrun a grave look, ascertaining she had his nod before continuing: ¡°She won¡¯t be charging you anything. I feel really bad about this, Yuu. I¡¯ll take care of it. And¡­ and I¡¯ll come with you. I want to make sure she knows not to slip in anything extra.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Yuu grumbled. ¡°Go to the sea witch who wants me dead, hope she doesn¡¯t curse me, tell her that her son wants me in a way that hasn¡¯t been popular since the primal dark ages. Not awkward at all. But at least it¡¯s free of charge.¡±

    Mallory smiled sheepishly. ¡°We¡¯ll fix this, Yuu. And then¡­ maybe Varrun and I can make reparations with Azul as well.¡±

    Varrun snorted.

    ¡°He¡¯s been nothing but kind to me and Yuu the whole time we knew him. We¡¯re magicless females at a nearly all-male academy of mages. He could have written us off and dismissed us, but Azul Ashengrotto has always dealt with us like equals. He has my respect¡­.and he has Yuu¡¯s, erm¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you finish that statement, I will dump this juice on your head,¡± Yuu promised quickly.

    ¡°Right! Well, he likes Yuu,¡± Mallory covered lamely.

    ¡°When intoxicated,¡± Yuu added grumpily. ¡°Which is really doing wonders for my ego.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll work on healing your ego after your shoulder,¡± Mallory promised, petting Yuu¡¯s hair soothingly.

    ¡°I suppose,¡± Varrun mumbled, tiger-striped human arms crossing tightly over his polo. ¡°I suppose if he has the potential of his mother, then he may be worth dealing with¡­¡±

    ¡°He is better than his mother,¡± both girls snapped at once, sharing a surprised look.

    ¡°Yuu. I didn¡¯t know you cared,¡± Mallory said sardonically.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to. That¡¯s why we¡¯re doing this, remember?¡±

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no time to waste then! Not many people risk seeing Nerissa anymore, so she takes walk-ins. Says they¡¯re more desperate.¡±

    ¡°Even better,¡± said Yuu. ¡°So, when can we go?¡±

    Mallory took her by the arm, and Varrun stowed their glasses just as quickly.

    ¡°Right now.¡±

 Chapter 14: Azul

    ¡°No, no, NO!¡± Azul yelled as Floyd dove over the cauldron and pinned him to the ground, moments before the contents exploded.

    Yellow and purple goo splattered the ceiling, bottles, shelves, and any vials that weren¡¯t corked down hard were flung into the mess, shattering.

    All around them, a series of tiny pops and fizzles sounded as the vials¡¯ contents reacted with what was supposed to have been a cure for Yuu.

    ¡°It was almost stable!¡± Azul shouted from beneath Floyd¡¯s shoulder, still unwilling to accept reality¡ªhe had failed to make a magical purging solution for Yuu, again. His mixture had exploded, again, and if this was anything like the other times he¡¯d attempted this same solution, it would take hours to clean.

    ¡°Listen, Boss, the problem with trying to create something that doesn¡¯t exist is¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªit doesn¡¯t exist,¡± finished Jade, already beginning the tiresome process of cleaning.

    Azul shoved Floyd aside thanklessly and put his arms to work cleaning the lab. In an underwater lab, his limbs could do the work of five people if he was efficient, but the process was still tedious.

    ¡°Remind me why we¡¯re doing this, Boss?¡± Floyd whined, picking up a siphoning tool and beginning to pull semi-explosive goo from the ceiling.

    ¡°We are doing this to amend an error; to maintain the reputation of our business, and to¡ª¡±

    ¡°To keep you from getting hitched to a human?¡± Floyd smarmed.

    ¡°A human who elicits such instinctual need from you that you felt the need to matemark her, which has not been done by a cecaelian¡­..¡± Jade mused.

    ¡°In living memory,¡± said Floyd. ¡°Cause they¡¯re usually smart.¡±

    ¡°And careful,¡± added Jade.

    ¡°Will you two cease the jabs?¡± Azul growled, cleaning as fast as he could. The sooner he had this mess cleaned up, the sooner he could face Yuu again with something more than empty words.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± after all, sounded a loss less weak when it was accompanied by a ¡°I made you an impossible cure for the thing that I did that has heretofore not existed. Care to test it?¡±

    He slowed in his cleaning a moment.

    That was worse, actually, he decided.

    He was confident, however, that he could rearrange the words better once he actually had something offer. Azul Ashengrotto was never empty-handed in a business deal.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Is that what this is? A business deal? something in his head sighed, aggravated.

    ¡°Shut it, Jade,¡± Azul grumbled under his breath.

    ¡°I said nothing,¡± Jade responded, still polishing goo-covered vials. ¡°Or were you meaning to say that you¡¯ve finally discovered that this is impossible, and that there may well be an already-existing means to cure Yuu that don¡¯t involve¡­.¡±

    ¡°Piles of slime that would put the Savannaclaw latrine to shame?¡± Floyd suggested in a huff.

    ¡°Such a visual,¡± Azul snarled under his breath.

    Unfortunately, Floyd may have had a point. Azul had been working for days in this hole without rest to create a working magical blood purge that didn¡¯t react to anything but himself and his own magic. Even less fortunately, that very concept went against the laws of magical physics, and even if he succeeded, then there would exist a recipe that could cleanse anyone of his magic, meaning that if it ever got out, no one would ever be bound under one of his magical contracts again.

    A massive risk.

    Needs must, he told himself bitterly, carrying on with the cleaning.

    ¡°If you are done attempting what could very well be a painful magical suicide,¡± Jade continued as if he had never been interrupted, ¡°you might reconsider this ridiculous attempt to recreate something that may well already have an answer, and go and see your mother.¡±

    ¡°This coming from YOU, Jade? You SAW her trophy room. You know what she does to clients who displease her.¡±

    ¡°But you are not a client, you are family,¡± Jade pointed out, ever the voice of reason. ¡°And you have bags under your eyes that could carry this cauldron and a mountain of heavy shopping. This is not going to work, and you are running out of time. Have you even stopped to wonder what Yuu has been going through these past few days? Informationless? Bleeding?¡±

    Azul grit his teeth. ¡°Why do you think I am doing this?¡±

    ¡°Because you don¡¯t wanna see Nerissa,¡± groaned Floyd. ¡°Look, Azul, if there¡¯s a way to undo this, she¡¯s gonna know it, but you know what she¡¯s also gonna know?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m at the tips of my tentacles,¡± Azul deadpanned.

    ¡°She will know if it actually works without killing your human,¡± said Floyd peevishly.

    Azul froze midway through wiping down a bottle.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Listen Azul,¡± Jade said sternly, taking the bottle from him. ¡°This thing that you are trying to create. It will kill you if not used properly, and cannot be tested on anyone but Yuu herself. However, even if the potion is stable, it would still be just that¡ªa test. I find myself doubting that after days of misinformation, that she will consent to such a thing at all, and of course, if it fails¡­¡±

    ¡°Gotta love the human factor!¡± Floyd cheered from behind a shelf.

    Azul stared at the cauldron, hopeless. Jade was right, as usual. Jade was right. This path could well be on the track to killing himself and Yuu, and for what? Was it worse to risk death than to risk Yuu having an active mate mark? At worst, he could see her often enough to keep the mark tame and benign. At best¡­.

    At best, his mother would know how to reverse it.

    ¡°Jade! Floyd!¡± Azul snapped from his position in front of the cauldron. He removed his goggles and gloves¡ªnot that they¡¯d done him much good anyway.

    ¡°Yes Boss!¡± the twins crowed together.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to the Atlantican reef.¡±

 Chapter 15: Yuu

    It wasn¡¯t the Octavinelle mirror that they used for transport this time. Instead, Mal and Varrun led Yuu to the main mirror hall in the heart of NRC, where the central portal stood, far wider, and more multi-use than the individual Dormitory ones.

    Grim, of course, yowled and put up a general fuss about being left behind on another possible tuna-munching  adventure, but after they¡¯d assured him that this trip *would* get his fur wet, he¡¯d relented, and stayed behind.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to want this,¡± Mallory said cheerily, pulling a vial of blue liquid from a pocket, and uncorking it.

    To Yuu, the bottle had more red flags than a bullfighter¡¯s laundry day.

    ¡°No thanks,¡± she said breezily.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to want it,¡± Mal insisted. ¡°Unless you¡¯ve learned to breathe underwater without it.¡±

    It still smelled fishier than a mermaid¡¯s laundry basket, but Yuu accepted, and followed Mal and Varrun through the mirror.

    The mirror¡¯s surface shimmered, not like glass but like water¡ªa depthless silver pool rippling with unseen currents. The moment Yuu stepped through, it wasn¡¯t like falling or walking; it was like being pulled. There was no sound, no resistance¡ªjust an abrupt shift in sensation, like plunging into deep water without the weight of drowning. For a moment, her vision swam with flickering light, the world stretching and warping around her, before¡ªthud¡ªher shoes met solid ground.

    Except it wasn¡¯t ground at all.

    She stood at the center of an opulent, otherworldly hall, its marble floors glistening with a pearlescent sheen. The walls curved, smooth and organic, as if carved from the inside of a massive shell, their surfaces alive with undulating patterns of bioluminescence. Ornate chandeliers of glowing jellyfish pulsed overhead, casting soft blue and violet hues across the room. Every surface¡ªevery inch¡ªwas crafted with an elegance that felt both regal and eerily aquatic, as though the entire place had been sculpted from the bones of the sea itself.

    ¡°Wow, Mal,¡± Yuu breathed¡ªand then choked as the first breath of water hit her lungs.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fight it,¡± Mallory warned as Yuu struggled to breather. ¡°It¡¯s best to just surrender. Your lungs aren¡¯t used to water yet, but they¡¯ll handle it as well as air in a few seconds.¡±

    Yuu swallowed hard, and then¡­ surrendered.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Mal encouraged. Varrun didn¡¯t deign to look at her, already transforming into his tiger-tailed self.

    For the first time, Yuu could tell why Mallory had fallen for him. Varrun was¡ªwell¡ªvery stripey. Almost seductively so. If stripes were what did it for you.

    ¡°This is neat, Mal. And is that¡ªis that a tower?¡±

    Mal nodded.

    ¡°I knew it. You married the right one. You belong in a tower.¡±

    ¡°Wow. You think I''m a damsel?¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s the perfect place for cackling over a cauldron.¡±

    Mal paused, thinking. ¡°I¡¯m never looking at that tower the same way again. It shall be mine.¡±

    Yuu would have giggled at that, but Varrun wasn¡¯t the waiting-in-the-foyer type. He carried on swimming, pulling Mallory and Yuu behind him.

    As Yuu soon found, the true challenge lay beyond the mansion¡¯s walls.

    Leaving the safety of the Banejaw estate meant venturing deeper¡ªtoward the shifting reefs where the sea witch resided.

    Yuu¡¯s borrowed breathing spell left her feeling light, her lungs no longer needing to fight for air, but the sensation of pressure was still there, a constant weight against her skin. The Banejaw estate had its own gardens, reefs, and shoals, apparently, all wide enough that they were away from the city¡ªbut that didn¡¯t mean they were anywhere close to Madame Ashengrotto¡¯s caves.

    After more than an hour of swimming, leaving the skyline (waterline?) of the city of Atlantica in the distance, they stood at the edge of a gargantuan reef, its skeletal spires curling like fingers toward the surface. At its heart lay a sprawling lair of twisting, organic structures¡ªpart cavern, part palace, pulsating with a dull, bluish glow. The entrance yawned like the open mouth of a great beast, tendrils of enchanted seaweed slithering lazily along the threshold.

    ¡°This is where Azul grew up?¡± Yuu couldn¡¯t help but think, as Varrun guided them to the entrance.

    It didn¡¯t occur to her to be nervous until she felt Mallory trembling next to her.

    ¡°Never been here before?¡± Yuu asked quietly.

    ¡°Never been desperate enough,¡± Mallory half-laughed, but the sound died in her throat as the jaw to the beast began to creak, falling open as they approached.

    ¡°Oh. The. Drama.¡± Yuu snorted. ¡°Yep. This is the place.¡±

    From the back of the gaping throat, voices echoed, growing closer.

    ¡°Oh, sure, sure, just swim on up without an invitation. Not like we have anything better to do than let you¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªin¡­¡± Both Jade and Floyd stopped just before the teeth, considerably surprised to see not only Yuu, but the new Banejaw heirs swimming before them.

    ¡°HOLY MACKEREL, YOU TWO ARE MASSIVE!¡± Yuu exclaimed loudly.

    ¡°Let the whole ocean know,¡± Mallory groaned.

    Varrun coughed uncomfortably next to her.

    Jade, and Floyd, however, howled with laughter.

    ¡°Way to make a guy feel welcome, Shrimpy!¡± Floyd sniggered.

    ¡°I would strongly recommend against saying that sort of thing in front of Azul,¡± Jade snickered next to him.

    The two leech brothers were eels. And she¡¯d known that. She just hadn¡¯t expected them to be the length of a functioning swimming pool. Curling and undulating above her head, each of them were big enough to serve as a serpent¡¯s tongue for the grotto¡¯s jaw. If their tails were any longer, they¡¯d have their own parliaments and national anthems.

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    ¡°Right¡­Um¡­¡± Yuu said, her brain not seeming to want to come to heel.

    ¡°The staring is flattering, but¡ª¡± Jade began politely.

    ¡°Aw, Jade! Let Shrimpy stare a while longer. Been ages since we¡¯ve gotten this much eye-service.¡±

    ¡°Hang on,¡± said Yuu, her words catching up with her a little, ¡°If you¡¯re both here, then where¡¯s Azul?¡±

    ¡°Ah, and the attention was so brief,¡± Floyd groaned. ¡°C¡¯mon Shrimpy. Things would be so much easier if you¡¯d just fall for me. I¡¯d rewrite that love bite in a few secon¡ª¡±

    ¡°Whoa there!¡± Mallory cut in forcefully, and it was fortunate that she did. Varrun looked as though he was either going to die of embarrassment, or start a fight to avoid that fate. ¡°We¡¯re here to see Madame Ashengrotto. Does this mean she¡¯s busy?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± said Jade peaceably. In fact, she¡¯s just gone out¡­ but she should be back momentarily. She has all new guests wait in the lounge. If you would¡ª¡±

    Yuu had an odd sensation that she was just visiting the Mostro lounge on any other day as Jade escorted them down the jowels of a long-dead creature, and into a stately, if not comfortable blue lounge area. Several hallways branched out from the room, but it boasted plush seating, and an array of private corners and hidey-holes¡ªperfect for skulking and general skullduggery.

    ¡°Love what she¡¯s done with the place,¡± Yuu remarked. ¡°I¡¯m getting surprising insights into Azul¡¯s psyche¡±

    ¡°Enlightening, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jade said smoothly, curling into the hallway ahead. ¡°Go ahead and wait here. She¡¯ll let you know when she¡¯s ready to see you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks!¡± Mallory said brightly. ¡°Who knew we¡¯d run into friends?¡±

    Varrun only grunted.

    However, several minutes passed, and while Mallory and Varrun sunk into the plush seating, Yuu was beginning to feel¡­.something pulling. She couldn¡¯t explain exactly why, but the longer she was down here, the more her blood thrummed, and the more the mark on her shoulder tingled. It was tugging at her, pleading at her, until an uncomfortable stinging began in her shoulder.

    It was more painful when she sat down, and less when she moved toward where Jade and Floyd had disappeared to.

    Mallory, tired from the long swim, had curled into Varrun¡¯s side, and was already dozing. Varrun sat arms tightly folded, staring at the adjacent wall.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be¡­right back,¡± Yuu mumbled, meeting no resistance as she followed the pull of the discomfort down the hall, all the way into a massive laboratory.

    The water grew colder as Yuu and Azul swam forward, the dim light making every shifting shadow look like something with teeth.

    The further she waded into the space, the more the architecture resembled a mad alchemist¡¯s fever dream¡ªglass globes full of swirling, volatile liquids floated weightlessly in the water, secured only by delicate strands of enchanted kelp. Shelves carved from ancient whale bones jutted from the walls, each one cluttered with grotesque oddities: shriveled tentacles suspended in brine, pearls the size of skulls with something moving inside, and a collection of barnacle-crusted tomes that looked like they might bite if handled incorrectly.

    A particularly large cauldron¡ªor what passed for one beneath the waves¡ªbubbled with a substance that shifted from emerald green to a violent crimson, spewing the occasional burst of fizzing, phosphorescent bubbles. Yuu watched one drift too close to a skittering crab, which promptly doubled in size and looked deeply unhappy about it.

    She shrunk away from that particular feature, edging her way around the room, until something caught her around the ankle.

    The mark sparked and fizzled, but for the first time, not painfully.

    The black tentacle around her ankle curled up and tightened, and as she rounded a set of shelves, Yuu found Azul, folded over a desk, and sound asleep.

    ¡°Don¡¯t wake him,¡± whispered a voice to her left.

    Yuu jolted, and spun, only to find Jade there, holding a finger to his mouth.

    ¡°That idiot hasn¡¯t slept in three days,¡± Floyd mumbled, lounging in the back of the lab space.

    Yuu shook her head mutely, as if to say, ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± and the eels retreated back to the shadows, obviously tired themselves.

    Yuu shook her head.

    What have you been doing, you crazy octopus? she thought with a twinge in her chest as she examined him. He had bags under his eyes, even asleep, and his white hair, usually so well trained, floated aimlessly in the current that swept through the lab.

    Yuu resisted the urge to brush some of it out of his face¡ªshe did still have some pride¡ªbut she removed her jacket, and draped it over his stooped shoulders.

    ¡°Whatever you¡¯ve been doing,¡± she whispered. ¡°I bet it was completely ridiculous. I¡¯d sign a contract on that wager.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t loud enough to have roused him, but Azul mumbled something in his sleep that she couldn''t hear, and then, two more of his tentacles reached out, floating lazily through the water, one curling around the rest of one of her legs, and the rest catching at her arm, pulling her closer.

    Azul kept mumbling, but his eyes didn¡¯t move. He was hard asleep.

    Yuu wriggled a little in his grip, which only triggered some instinct in his limbs to curl tighter. If she was the clownfish in this sleeping anemone, then she was making a lousy fish.

    She would have put up more of a fight if, just then, the mark hadn¡¯t snapped back to life, and suddenly, she realized, the feelings weren¡¯t just residual dust effects. They were Azul¡¯s emotions. Real time. And she was drifting through the heart of the dream he was having.

    She should have stopped. She should have swam right back to Mallory and waited for the Madame, but once more, curiosity got the better of her by far.

    It started out as a whisper of sensation, as though she was walking into the warm waves on a sandy shore, slowly immersing herself in Azul¡¯s reactions, only to quickly realize that this was not a peaceful dream.

    Azul was frustrated. He was searching for something with increasing desperation, but all the same, he was the same relentless, determined man she knew. He went through several cycles of frustration and disappointment, all while never losing hope. It was like he was studying, or hunting for¡­something.

    His tentacles curled righter around her then, and Azul sighed, the slightest shudder going through his body. His face was peaceful, but inside? Inside, she could feel the fatigue catching him, and his struggles to keep it at bay. Well, if by keep-it-at-bay, he could simply ignore it until it took him, which is what it did, but still he struggled.

    Then, as suddenly as the sensation started, she felt the fatigue replaced by something deeper. An aching, wrenching loneliness that he also struggled to push aside. This, however, was not met with fight, nor desperation. Insead, a long-habitual sufferance met it at its doors, and he accepted it.

    Fight it, she wanted to say. But, even she knew that what he was feeling was not really real. It was a dream. It was just¡ª

    A new sensation took her. It took him. It took them both. Swallowing the loneliness alive, a monstrous, craving heat began to burn in her core. It was warmth, heat, and fire, seeping outward into her limbs, and she had to catch herself on the desk when Azul¡¯s tentacles around her legs and waist suddenly tightened.

    This feeling, it was like when he¡¯d kissed her in the lagoon, but warmer, and creeping further down. It was a feeling that curled around her heart and begged her to let it take it. It was a feeling that seeped into her veins and slithered warmly down her arms and curled into the sensitive softness of her limbs, touching her skin, her blood, her soul.

    It was a feeling that went beyond kisses, far deeper into her desires¡ªones she hadn¡¯t known existed, and though the mark still glowed, she had cause to wonder if this feeling was entirely hers.

    Azul groaned in his sleep, muttering words, louder, in a language she didn¡¯t understand, and, beginning to breath heavily, his sleep became more restless, and his limbs curled tighter around Yuu.

    It was time to leave.

    ¡°Okay, crazy octopus,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°Wrap around the desk legs. I¡¯ll just be go¡ª¡±

    Yuu exhaled in a sigh of bubbles as Azul¡¯s tentacled dragged her back, and along hsi torso, close enough for his hair to dangle in his face.

    Azul groaned again, and his eyes flew open, gazing at her with exhausted dreamy eyes. Then, he stuttered forward, making a tired sound as his arms pinned her on either side to the desk.

    With one hand, he traced the outline of her face, eyes only half open, peering down at her.

    ¡°Will you leave me in my dreams, too?¡± he mumbled tiredly, and she knew from his voice that he was not yet awake.

    It wasn¡¯t fair. To either of them. She didn¡¯t know what this mark had done to him, but there was one thing she was sure of¡ªonce again, he wasn¡¯t in full control of his faculties.

    She put a hand on his chest and pushed him away, very gently, fingertips grazing his rougher, marine skin.

    ¡°I¡¯m really here, Azul. Just¡­just let me go and I¡¯ll be out of your hair.¡±

    His eyes widened.

    ¡°Yuu?¡±

 Chapter 16: Azul

    Azul was back in the school laboratory, monitoring three cauldrons full of his latest experimental cure¡ªall bubbling in various shades of purple. With some of his arms he stirred, with others, added ingredients from the cold, black shelves. Wary of the moon rising high outside, he marked the hours until this private space would be invaded by classes and students. He had a mistake to remedy. A reputation to maintain. Azul Ashengrotto had never failed a promise before.

    Except, as he reminded himself, he hadn¡¯t made any promise or deal except with himself. There were things he still wanted to say to Yuu, and, well, doing them with any amount of sincerity simply wasn¡¯t going to be possible with a set of his teeth marks in her skin.

    Human women, he¡¯d heard, tended to frown on things like that.

    He made to add a bowl of crushed butterfly wings to the largest cauldron, confident that this time, it would remain stable until the end of the procedure. However, as soon as the glossy powder touched the surface, the surface hissed and fizzled, and took on a life of its own.

    To his horror, several large black tentacles, mirrors of his own, shot from the cauldron, absorbing the goo and pulling him into the belly of the container¡ªbut it was no longer a cauldron. Azul was in the grips of a rushing current, his very human lungs and legs useless against the strength of the water around him. He struggled, anyway, fighting against the tentacles that bound him.

    One minute. Two.

    He had just passed the two minute mark, when Azul reached the gut-wrenching conclusion: he was going to drown. He, a merman, was going to drown, and he had no one really to blame but himself.

    Oh to have gotten himself into this mess! Helpless to get himself out.

    It was as mortifying as a ghost tripping over its own sheet. It was worse than a locksmith dying in his own vault. A merman drowning.

    Panicked and struggling for breath, his vision was beginning to fade when a voice met his ears. A lovely, honeyed sort of voice called to him through the bubbles that surrounded his head. He knew that voice.

    Then, a hand gripped his, wrenching him from the pull of the water, and tugging him toward the surface.

    His head broke the surface, gasping for air, and the voice, lovely and low, cajoled him into swimming for shore. It was several minutes before his salty eyes cleared enough to see Yuu¡¯s face, peering down at him with genuine concern. Azul¡¯s reaction was to cringe at the thought of what she¡¯d just done for him. How was he ever going to repay her?

    But¡­ but Yuu isn¡¯t like that, he had to remind himself. Again and again, she surprised him. This magicless human with a magic of her own, who never expected anything in return for her kindness. At first, he¡¯d thought her thoughtless. Naive. But she was neither of those things. Yuu was both clever and kind, and Azul always had a hard time organizing those two things in his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± he said, sitting with her on the sand.

    She still had his hand in hers, and was beginning to pull away from her, when he caught her, leading her closer to him, instead.

    ¡°It is you. Isn¡¯t it?¡±

    She said nothing, letting him pull her to sit on his legs¡ªhis very human legs.

    It felt like ages since he¡¯d seen her, the pang of desertion, and loneliness bleeding fresh in his heart as he saw her. It was enough to make him do things he wouldn¡¯t usually¡ªlike pull her knees to the sides of his hips so that their torso¡¯s could connect, and to hold her face closer, taking in every curve, and every angle, as hungrily as if they¡¯d been apart for months¡ªas if he might not see her again.

    She let him get closer. She didn¡¯t move away. She didn¡¯t say a word. His vision was soft at the edges, blurred like the surface of water rippling beneath moonlight. Azul wasn¡¯t entirely sure when the kisses had begun¡ªonly that he was already lost in them, searching her mouth with his own for a response¡ªhovering between control and something far more dangerous.

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    ¡°Where have you been?¡± she murmured against him¡ªinto him¡ªand a tremendous mix of guilt and satisfaction hummed through his chest.

    Something in Azul insisted that his mind was betraying him, but when she reached for him¡ªwhen her fingers brushed against his skin, featherlight and unapologetically bold¡ªhe found he did not care.

    She kissed him like she had always known him.

    It was not a thing of hesitation, nor something stolen in secret. It was certain, deliberate, like a promise written in salt and seafoam. The insistent sounds and motions she made against him brought warmth back into his extremities like he hadn¡¯t felt in days¡ªlong, anxious days spent in cold labs, and colder disappointment.

    More, her kisses seemed to demand, and his world tilted, and the careful walls he had built around himself¡ªwalls of ink, ambition, and fear¡ªbegan to crack.

    Her touch burned through him, leaving embers in its wake, and Azul could do nothing but chase the feeling, the taste of warmth where he had expected cold. He pulled her closer, as if he could anchor her there, as if holding her tighter could stop this from slipping through his fingers like all things eventually did. He hooked hands around her knees, pulling her strongly against him.

    An unbearable heat flooded them both when her hips sunk into his, sending her fingers raking up his spine.

    Are you sure? he wanted to ask. Are you sure it¡¯s me you want to be here with?

    However, as he pulled away, a flash of red dust sprung between them, choking them both. The red clouded his vision, dissolving into the darkness as his senses slowly returned to him. The pressure of her lips, the heat of her touch¡ªall of it vanished like a tide retreating from the shore. Azul awoke, still bent over his mother¡¯s desk, her stacks of useless notes beneath his hands, breathless and infuriated, the phantom feeling of the kiss still lingering on his soul.

    A dream. Of course, a dream, he realized, peeling his eyes open slowly. Though, for a dream, it was maddeningly potent. The heat of it still clung to him, curling like phantom fingers along his skin, refusing to let go. It was infuriating, how the mere thought of her could unravel him like this. How something as simple as a glance, a touch¡ªa whisper¡ªcould sink so deep beneath his carefully laid defenses, into places even he had not dared explore.

    It was raw, demanding, utterly unacceptable.

    He clenched his fists, on the desk, forcing himself to focus.

    You will never be her final choice, he told himself. And even if you have a shot at being a temporary choice, I am a bloody, sodding gentleman, and I will do it on my own terms¡ªterms which would be mutually beneficial.

    That¡¯s what his contracts are, are they not? And why would he not extend the same courtesy to Yuu?

    And yet, in the quiet of his room, with the echo of her laughter still threading through his mind, he didn¡¯t dare close his eyes again, because though his human legs were gone, replaced by the damnable tentacles, and the bubbling splotchy sounds from his mother¡¯s cauldron still rung in his ears, here between his hands, on the desk beneath where he¡¯d set his head down for a few minutes¡¯ rest, laid Yuu, staring up at him as breathlessly as if she¡¯d really been there, wandering through the dream with him.

    What in the name of the trenches¡­ He stared, blinking. Jade and Floyd were right, he decided. He had worked too hard, and now was hallucinating.

    This could, of course, be another dream. Another chance for her to incense him, and again slip through his fingers.

    ¡°Will you leave me in my dreams, too?¡± he mumbled tiredly, bending down over her face, her breath the only warmth for him in this frigid laboratory.

    Something slid off his shoulders with the movement.

    A jacket? Yuu¡¯s Jacket?

    She put a hand on his chest and pushed him away, very gently, fingertips grazing his bared stomach. They were warm, truly so, unlike anything in the last dream¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m really here, Azul. Just¡­just let me go and I¡¯ll be out of your hair.¡±

    His eyes widened.

    ¡°Yuu?¡±

    He couldn¡¯t fathom how it had happened, and his tired mind raced to keep up. Yuu was really here, at the bottom of the ocean, in his mother¡¯s family home.

    Probably trying to solve the problem that you couldn¡¯t, he scolded himself.

    But before he could ask her any questions: like how she got here, or how she got in, or how she managed to end up underneath him while he slept, they were interrupted by the very thing he¡¯d been waiting for¡ªthe very thing that, before he¡¯d fallen asleep, couldn¡¯t happen fast enough. Now, it all happened far too quickly as a booming voice from the recesses of Azul¡¯s childhood filled the room.

    ¡°Am I¡­.interrupting something? Madame Nerissa Ashengrotto swanned into the room in a dramatic unfurling of long, black tentacles. ¡°In my own laboratory?¡±

 Chapter 17: Yuu

    Yuu thought she would combust from embarrassment. As for Azul, his tentacles released her, quick as a whip, and shot off to do things like looking completely innocent under the desk, which might have worked, if Yuu hadn¡¯t been still half pinned to that desk by Azul¡¯s hovering torso.

    I¡¯ve been framed! she wanted to scream, but for all the good it would do, she bit her tongue.

    ¡°Hiya, Nerissa!¡± Floyd, seemingly lacking all sense of self-preservation, waved from where he¡¯d strung himself like a hammock on her grotto¡¯s ceiling.

    ¡°You certainly are looking lovely today, Madame Ashengrotto,¡± Jade smoothed over quickly, earning himself a raised brow from the madame. ¡°Have you fashioned a new radiant skin potion, or is it simply the Ashengrotto gene?¡±

    ¡°Flatterers¡­¡± Madame Ashengrotto hissed. ¡°I should keep your tongues on display in the lounge.¡±

    ¡°Not the best place,¡± Floyd said, cringing. ¡°I always imagined my tongue getting a place of higher honor. Someplace more fun, if you know what I mean, like¡ª¡±

    ¡°Such as my office in the lounge?¡± Azul hissed back at him.

    Like mother like son. Yuu might have laughed, had she not been so entirely convinced they were both serious.

    ¡°Nah, I was thinking¡ª¡± Floyd started, casting a mischievous glance at Yuu.

    ¡°You have a perfectly good Jaw right at the entrance. Why not there?¡± Jade said with a tight smile, cutting him off.

    ¡°Get out,¡± the madam snapped. ¡°Unless you really did come to barter your tongues in a deal.¡±

    ¡°Not todayyy!¡± Floyd sing-songed, blowing the madam a kiss as he drifted out of the laboratory. ¡°You¡¯re on your own, Zulie!¡±

    Azul glared at them both as they swam out of the lab.

    ¡°No self-preservation at all,¡± Yuu found herself mumbling.

    ¡°Hm,¡± Azul grunted in assent, above her.

    ¡°I presume anyone left present is a paying customer?¡± Madame Ashengrotto cleared her throat meaningfully. Her gaze drifted right over Mallory and Varrun (whom she had probably escorted in herself before all of this) and landed on Yuu, still perched precariously with her back on the desk under Azul. Her eyes narrowed in that way that only mothers seemed to be capable of.

    ¡°If you are not¡ª¡±

    Yuu didn¡¯t wait for Nerissa Ashengrotto to make any more likely-disfiguring threats.

    ¡°We are!¡± she blurted quickly. ¡°At least, Mallory, Varrun and I are. Erm¡­ Azul, would you mind?¡±

    Azul seemed momentarily confused by her question, until, looking down at her, and then back at his mother, he shot back with a look of absolute¡ªsomething. She couldn¡¯t read exactly what it was in his face. Disgust? Horror? Betrayal? A heated cocktail of all three?

    He mumbled something that sounded like an apology as he backed away from the desk, and Yuu slipped over to Mallory as quickly as she could. Already dreading the comments that would inevitably dog her later, Yuu avoided making eye contact with anyone but Madame Ashengrotto.

    ¡°Excuse me, Madame Ashengrotto,¡± Yuu cleared her throat, smiling as politely up at the elderly woman as the situation permitted. ¡°But I¡¯ve been informed by multiple sources that you¡¯re the only person on land or in the sea who might know how to remove this¡­¡±

    Yuu tugged back the neckline of her shirt. Mallory gritted her teeth and looked away. Madame Ashengrotto¡¯s eyes flashed, and Yuu very, very deliberately kept herself from looking at Azul, although she heard the thunk of wood at the desk as he pushed himself up from his seat.

    The mark had changed somewhat since that morning¡­before she¡¯d seen Azul.

    The bite mark had refused to close, but the actual wounds were very small, only bleeding when she moved, and unnoticeably unless touched, but it seemed that without¡­whatever countermeasures there were meant to be, the mark had darkened, dark iridescent lines spreading from the original holes, like delicate cracks in porcelain, across her pale skin.

    From Azul¡¯s direction, she heard a low hiss, which the bite reacted to, sparking the blue of Azul¡¯s magic for everyone to see. Azul immediately stopped, likely as stunned as Yuu was. Already the mark was prickling uncomfortably, an insistent, almost electric sensation beneath her skin, responding to his nearness, his agitation.

    It ached, though not painfully, as it had the first day, but it was impossible to ignore.

    ¡°I see your predicament, child,¡± the madam said smoothly, once her own emotions had been smoothed away. Yuu knew that reaction very well from watching Azul. The madam would have plenty to say about this matter, but before anything else, she was a business woman. Polished and professional.

    ¡°I appreciate the look-over,¡± Yuu said, just as smoothly, as she let her neckline return to its place. ¡°Is there a way to¡­deal with it?¡±

    ¡°Why, child. Of course there is,¡± said the madam, a slow smile creeping over her mouth. Her white hair billowed behind her as she tapped her chin, tilting her head to examine Yuu better. ¡°Although if you recall, Ii did warn you at the wedding. How can I be sure you¡¯ll accept my advice, when it was already willingly ignored?¡±

    Yuu swallowed. ¡°You did warn me,¡± she admitted quickly. ¡°I confess, I wasn¡¯t exactly in my right mind at the time. Nor, I believe, was Azul.¡±

    ¡°Indeed¡­.¡± hissed the madam, her attention sliding over to Mallory, whom Varrun quickly tucked behind one arm. ¡°I saw for myself that the rumors of your bride¡¯s alchemical skill are not to be underestimated, little heir. However, this particular placement has caused all sorts of troubles¡ªnot that I¡¯m complaining, my dear. You wouldn¡¯t believe the business I''ve gotten from that one incident. So many desperate souls. It would seem that your little experiment has lost your family a significant degree of trust.¡±

    ¡°We will of course take full responsibility,¡± said Varrun quickly, but Mallory cut him off.

    ¡°I¡¯m understood that I need to consider things from a further perspective since then. I can promise, it won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    ¡°No, little bride,¡± Madame hissed again, this time, true venom dripping from her teeth. ¡°No, you won¡¯t. Because where I could have overlooked this slight¡ªin fact, I would have welcomed it, had it not affected my own blood.¡±

    Mallory had the grace to hang her head.

    ¡°But, this deal is not with you.¡± Madame Ashengrotto returned her attention to Yuu. ¡°My dear, if this were a mating mark from any other species, I could have it off you and healed in a few heartbeats! Unfortunately for your dear little soul, my source¡ª¡± there, she glanced at Azul, ¡°¡ªtells me that this is a cecaelian mark, and therefore not so easily undone.¡±

    Yuu swallowed. ¡°But it is¡­possible?¡±

    ¡°Oh, possible, of course.¡± The madam nodded. ¡°But after three days have passed¡ªand they have, my dear¡ªWell¡­ the ocean does not take kindly to unfinished business.¡±

    Madame ashengrotto then swam over to her bubbling cauldron, produced a stone from somewhere in her bodice, and magicked it away, clearing the contents.

    ¡°You see, at this point, the best thing to do is either fulfill the deal you made when it was put there¡ªand there was a deal made¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not possible,¡± Azul and Yuu said in unison.

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    Yuu¡¯s heart twinged a bit. Even if she agreed with Azul, she still didn¡¯t know how angry he was about the whole arrangement. For the first time, she glanced over at him, in time to see him soar over the desk, and wade through the lab to take a place more directly across from herself. His expression was smooth and businesslike as always, but he wasn¡¯t looking at her, avoiding her gaze as pointedly as she¡¯d just done, herself.

    ¡°Well, if it¡¯s not possible, then it¡¯s not possible.¡± The madam shrugged dramatically, smiling a little wider.

    That was what she wanted to hear, Yuu recognized immediately.

    ¡°And if it¡¯s not possible, then the one who can remove it safely is the one who put it there in the first place.¡±

    Now, Yuu and Azul did share a look. His, wary. Hers, a question.

    Why not start with that in the first place? she wondered. Why drag me to the bottom of the ocean, and ignore me for days, if you could just do it yourself?

    ¡°I am¡­ not aware of how to do that, mother,¡± Azul said firmly, answering her questions. ¡°In fact, I was not aware that this¡­this mark, could bond a human at all.¡±

    ¡°Clearly not, careless boy,¡± Nerissa huffed, baring her teeth a little more than necessary. ¡°At this point, you¡¯ll need to find a venom cleanse. Either a truth artifact, or an eel stomach, and seeing as one of those items is illegal, due to very narrow-minded lawmaking¡ª¡± there, she glared at Varrun, ¡°¡ªyou will have to do with the former.¡±

    ¡°Doable,¡± Azul nodded.

    ¡°And you will have to do it in the next three days if you do not want her dead or mad,¡± the madam said firmly.

    Yuu and Mallory let out matching squeaks of shock.

    ¡°Dead or insane? Those were my two options if no one contacted me about this?¡±

    Yuu leveled a glare, first at Mallory, and then at Azul, who both had the good grace to look apologetic.

    ¡°I was trying to make a cure,¡± he promised quickly.

    ¡°Why make what already exists?¡± she shot back.

    ¡°A lover¡¯s quarrel already? How quaint.¡± Madame Ashengrotto rolled her eyes, looking bored. ¡°I will teach you how to get the venom out, boy.¡±

    ¡°How does that even work in the wild?¡± Yuu added, exasperated.

    ¡°It works, because no cecaelian woman will ever let a mate near her unless she is absolutely certain she can handle him properly.¡± Nerissa glared.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Yuu muttered, cringing as another wave of red crossed her face. If she just stayed flushed red throughout this whole conversation, maybe the madame would just assume it was her normal coloring. There were plenty of tomato-red fish in the sea, right?

    ¡°Of course,¡± parroted the madam. ¡°Which brings us to the matter of payment!¡±

    ¡°Is this not something a mother should teach her son, anyway?¡± Azul proposed in his business voice.

    ¡°Not when the son is this careless,¡± Nerissa huffed at her son. ¡°Influenced bu some substance or not, I demand a certain degree of personal responsibility from my blood. It is my hope that retrieving my price from both of you¡ªbecause it will be from both of you¡ªit will help that lesson stick.¡±

    Her tone brooked no argument, and both Azul and Yuu waited for her demands.

    ¡°From you, my dear, I understand that your bill is being footed by¡­another party?¡± she addressed Yuu.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Varrun quickly, knowing when his input was required.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask for the ban on cecaelian practices and all pertaining tariffs within the city to be lifted,¡± said the madam.

    Mallory gasped.

    ¡°Done,¡± said Varrun.

    ¡°Not done!¡± said Mallory. ¡°If you do that, then there will be competing sea witches flooding the city. You¡¯ll dissolve the family monopoly. There¡¯s got to be something else.¡±

    ¡°This is not a bazaar. I do not ¡®haggle.¡¯ that is my price,¡± Nerissa spat.

    ¡°Needs must. The bans were antiquated anyway,¡± agreed Varrun. ¡°It was my intention to remove them myself.¡±

    ¡°How noble of you,¡± Nerissa smirked. ¡°From you, Azul¡­, I want you to return here every week¡¯s end for the rest of the year. I have chores that need doing.¡±

    ¡°Yes, mother,¡± Azul agreed readily.

    ¡°That¡¯s going to bite into your business, Azul,¡± Yuu found herself saying.

    Azul only shrugged. ¡°Dead or insane?¡± he offered, by way of the alternative, and she closed her mouth. ¡°How long will this take, mother?¡±

    ¡°Three days,¡± Madame Ashengrotto and Yuu said at the same time.

    Nerissa arched a brow at Yuu.

    ¡°Presumptuous human.¡±

    ¡°I do pay attention.¡±

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    ¡°Wait, Madame Ashengrotto,¡± Mallory interjected, a last attempt at being noble shining in her eyes. ¡°I hardly know the rules of this world, let alone the customs of all the races. I promise I am changing that, but there are years of life here that I simply don¡¯t have as an advantage. Please let us take the tab for both Azul and Yuu in this instance. It¡¯s the least we can do¡­¡±

    ¡°I will decide what to do with my own son, young bride,¡± Nerissa snapped, tentacles whirling as she took her in once more, and then her eyes lit up¡ªthe light of a woman who could smell a second deal. ¡°Did you say¡­another world?¡±

    ¡°The other side of the mirrors,¡± Mallory supplied.

    Where are you going with this Mal? Yuu blinked in confusion.

    ¡°The other side of the mirrors.¡± Madame Ashengrotto¡¯s smile was too wide, her teeth too pointy. ¡°Do you both want to return?¡±

    Yuu¡¯s mouth dropped open. No one had truly believed ehr, not really, when she¡¯d claimed her other world. Her memories were so faded, even the headmaster who had spoken with the dark mirror somewhat believed they were just wildly coordinated amnesiacs. This was the first chance¡­

    She and Mallory shared the same desperate, hopeful, cautious look.

    ¡°Yes,¡± they said together, with matching fervency.

    Nerissa cackled, rubbing her hands together.

    ¡°Whyever didn¡¯t you come to me sooner? Oh, I could send you back, yes¡­.And would you be willing to go, and not be able to get back to this world?¡±

    She eyed them both, a contract practically writing itself in her eyes.

    Yuu took Mallory¡¯s hand, hope blooming in her chest. Azul¡¯s expression was still unreadable, but Varrun looked stricken.

    ¡°No¡­¡± Mallory said slowly. Releasing Yuu¡¯s hand, she returned her fingers to Varrun¡¯s, who took them a little too quickly. ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t.¡±

    But Yuu¡­ Yuu wasn¡¯t sure. She had friends here, and ultimately, who wouldn¡¯t go back to a magicless world and not eventually try to return?

    But, she had no family here. And Azul, heart-rending as the debacle at the wedding had been, had taught her something¡ªYuu did want family. She wanted the kind of belonging that only bound ties could give her. She loved Mallory, and considered her as something of a sister¡­ but now she was married, and would be seeing a lot less of her.

    Her own family¡­ that was something different. It was the people she could have as part of every day¡ªsomething different entirely.

    Yuu longed for wholeness, peace, love, and the kind of devotion that a blood bond could give. She''d been wholeheartedly happy for Mallory when she¡¯d found just that, and Azul¡ªAzul had shown her a glimpse of what it could be. But, no matter what she¡¯d felt, Azul was nowhere close to becoming that for her, and it hadn¡¯t been his choice to do so in the first place. If she already had blood ties back in the other world, and if they could feel as whole as Azul had made her feel, then surely that was worth the trade of a little magic in her world.

    Wasn¡¯t it?

    Madame Ashengrotto chuckled, the sound unnaturally filling the laboratory.

    ¡°Return or not, the choice is of course yours to make, but the process would be desirable to you both, I believe. In order to take the mirror back to your world, your memories of it must be intact, and that¡­ that is something I can do. Restore them, you see. Restore the choice, as well, should you ever desire it. It¡¯s just a simple potion¡­..well?¡±

    Mallory cast a silent, questioning sort of glance to Varrun, who nodded.

    ¡°I think I speak for both of us, when I say that we very much would¡­.and the price?¡±

    ¡°From you, young bride, I want the green pearl desk from the tower lobby.

    ¡°Just¡­ a desk?¡± Varrun asked.

    ¡°You truly have no idea of the value of the things under your inheritance, do you, little heir?¡± Nerissa sighed.

    Varrun bristled.

    ¡°Is that alright, Varrun?¡± Mallory questioned shyly. ¡°You¡¯re already doing a lot¡­¡±

    Varrun only shrugged again. ¡°Needs must.¡±

    ¡°And from you, little human,¡± Madame Ashengrotto addressed Yuu. ¡°I want¡ª¡±

    ¡°I will be covering the potion cost, mother,¡± Azul interjected quickly.

    Nerissa¡¯s eyebrows couldn¡¯t have raised higher. ¡°Oh?¡±

    Azul crossed his tentacles over one another in a show of nonchalance.

    ¡°Needs must.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± said Nerissa, intrigued for the first time. She spread her tentacles wide, and selected several bottles of expensive-looking body parts and viscous liquids from the stony shelves. ¡°I will have to come up with a suitable favor later¡­¡±

    Azul didn¡¯t look as concerned as he should for owing his mother an unnamed favor, but he didn¡¯t argue, either.

    Yuu¡¯s stomach sank. Did he want her gone so badly that he would write a blank check to a woman like Nerissa Ashengrotto?

    ¡°Needs must,¡± he repeated again more firmly, not looking at Yuu¡ªthough she could have sworn a rush of purple blood tinged his ears. It was impossible to tell in this light.

    ¡°Well then¡­¡± Madame Nerissa Ashengrotto lit the underwater flames beneath her cauldron. ¡°Shall we get brewing?¡±

 Chapter 18: Azul

    ¡°Yuu, could I have a word?¡± Azul said quietly, as his mother began the brewing process.

    Madame Ashengrotto had promised a delivery of the memory potion to Mallory and Varrun as soon as it was done, but the actual brewing was going to take several hours. When given the option, Mallory had shot Yuu one of her ¡®looks,¡¯ and then left suspiciously quickly.

    She mouthed something to Yuu as they swam out of the cavern that looked an awful lot like: ¡°stay close to him,¡± but if it was, then Yuu owed Mallory more than a few words later.

    That was how Yuu ended up swimming off with Azul to speak with him privately in his childhood bedroom, dragging behind his superior speed with her sluggish human limbs, and trying very hard to banish the crimson discomfort from her face.

    Unlike the grand halls where his mother funneled her clients through to the laboratory, Azul¡¯s room was simple, and not designed to intimidate, for which she was grateful. The room itself was carved into the smooth stone of the ocean floor, with walls of warm-colored rock and softly glowing bioluminescent coral. A soft current ran through the room, keeping it oxygenated and smelling of the fresh ocean waters outside, instead of the cauldron fumes of the rooms above them.

    His bed, one of the only furnishings in the room, wasn¡¯t a pot, or a shell like she¡¯d imagined, but it wasn¡¯t far off. The bed was a broad, concave basin lined with weighted kelp-fiber blankets, nestled between two towering shelves of books. Some were bound in waterproof enchantments, thick with knowledge of business, potion-making, and history, while others were well-worn and dog-eared and obviously well-worn.

    At the foot of his bed, a small tide pool glowed softly, filled with enchanted stones that warmed the water when the currents turned cold. The room was, above all, quiet.

    ¡°Have a seat,¡± he gestured carelessly to the back of the room, already making for the small desk¡ªthe last of the furniture in the room¡ªto read a small scroll that rested on its otherwise-empty surface.

    Awkwardly, she perched herself on the edge of the basin that was his old sleeping arrangement, kicking her feet in the current that meandered across the floor.

    ¡°You read fiction?¡± she asked, peering up at the shelves.

    ¡°Hm?¡± he asked, glancing up briefly from the scroll. ¡°Ah, erm¡­ not in quite some time.¡±

    Right, she supposed. It wasn¡¯t as if dust could collect in a room like this to tell her how long it had been since he¡¯d touched some of these things.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± he muttered, sounding frustrated. ¡°All that time, and the trade was so simple.¡±

    There was a hard bite of anger in his tone as he read further.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± she asked softly.

    He looked up at her from the scroll, regarding her as though she had the mental stability of a sardine on a unicycle¡ªon fire.

    ¡°Am I alright?¡± he scoffed. ¡°Am I alright? Do I have a venomous bite in my shoulder that¡¯s going to render me dead or insane in three days?¡±

    She rolled her eyes at him, not really having the energy to be angry again. She¡¯d had days of that, already.

    ¡°What, is that all this is? Here, I thought it was something serious.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t joke, Yuu. My mother might be alright with blood on her gills, but I never have been.¡±

    She sobered.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would,¡± she met his steely gaze with one of her own. ¡°But. For what it¡¯s worth. I truly don¡¯t blame you.¡±

    He spluttered hard enough to be choking on his own tongue.

    ¡°You what?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re here. You¡¯re trying to fix things. You didn¡¯t put the equivalent of arsenic and absinthe in my drink at the wedding. You tried very hard to stay away, and even harder to keep me from drowning. So¡­ pretty please get this stuff out of my blood, and we¡¯ll call it square.¡±

    ¡°Pretty¡ª¡± he was rendered speechless.

    ¡°And if you ask nicely, I¡¯ll help at the lounge on the days that you¡¯re gone. I was never trying to become this much of¡­ an obstacle.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to give the credit to the venom going to your head that you¡¯re not more level-headed about this. You should want to rip my heart out. Any cecaelian woman certainly would.¡±

    ¡°Ah, but fortunately for you, I¡¯m eight tentacles short of wanting to ¡®rip out your heart,¡¯¡± she laughed incredulously.

    Azul put two, long fingers gracefully to his temple.

    ¡°Always the jokes,¡± he groaned. ¡°Returning to what¡¯s important,¡± he tapped the scroll on the desk, ¡°I now know how to free you from the venom. Fortunately, the process is simple, and should be painless for you.¡±

    ¡°Should be?¡± she questioned.

    ¡°Should be,¡± he vowed. ¡°Had I known before¡­ well, let¡¯s just say that a lot of pain could have been avoided on both of our parts.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± she said flatly, crossing and uncrossing her legs at the edge of the ¡®bed,¡¯ ¡°That three day stint of no-sleep for you, and three days of being unable to find anyone with real answers for me.¡±

    ¡°I had hoped that by the time we spoke again, I would have answers¡­. I was mistaken.¡±

    It was as close to an apology as he had given, and she understood why, now.

    He didn¡¯t apologize, because he didn¡¯t want to be forgiven.

    She let her gaze wander again around the room, wondering how much time he¡¯d spent in here as a young boy, or if he¡¯d really spent much time in here at all. Apart from the books, nothing really felt well-worn.

    He was always somewhat of a mystery, she thought, attention drifting back to him. He seemed to be waiting for an answer, but she wasn¡¯t really sure what to say. When her attention drifted to his lower half, however, his discomfort at her seeing him like this, again, rose quickly to the surface.

    ¡°I came here to learn how to undo the bite, and now that I know, we should really get you a better potion for being down here,¡± he said quickly, shying away from her gaze as though moving to a different part of the room would somehow undo her fascination with him.

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Because, in his natural form, Azul was truly beautiful¡ªdistractingly so. He was all contrasting dark tentacles and patterning, and pale, violet-tinged skin. And in all of that lack of color, his eyes were shockingly blue. There was no part of him that was easy to look away from, and yet, he cringed away from just that.

    ¡°Yuu?¡± he said, calling her attention again.

    ¡°What sort of potion?¡± she asked, playing along.

    He only shook his head at her. ¡°Oh, dear.¡±

    ¡°Hey. If you¡¯re wondering whether I¡¯m addled from the bite, believe me, you would know if it was doing anything. It¡¯s not exactly subtle¡ª¡±

    He flinched.

    ¡°¡ªAnd I can promise you that right now, I am entirely myself. Mal gave me an antidote for the dust, and you¡¯re big enough that it should be entirely metabolized by now. So, we¡¯re both fine. Just¡­ tired. I confess I haven¡¯t been sleeping well, either. Anyway! Potion. What do you mean?¡±

    He sighed, not ¡®satisfied,¡¯ but willing to stay focused. ¡°I mean we need to get you some fins. I have an extra somewhere on this shelf¡­¡±

    Sailing past her, he began to reach through the knick nacks on a back shelf, and looking at his size, it was now possible to see that this bed, large as it was, would definitely no longer fit him.

    ¡°Do I get to pick what kind of tail I get?¡± she asked in a rush.

    ¡°Not really. Why?¡± he muttered, searching.

    ¡°Fine, just¡­ anything but crab, okay?¡±

    ¡°And why not crab?¡±

    She heaved a dramatic sigh. ¡°Well for one, I hear they¡¯re terrible gossips.¡±

    He snorted, despite himself, and then promptly knocked his head on a shelf.

    ¡°You are a menace,¡± he said, producing a little vial of blue and pink liquid. ¡°Drink up.¡±

    ¡°More body-altering chemicals? Yay,¡± Yuu said, uncorking the thing. Then she noted his look of disapproval. ¡°Oh, fine. When in Rome¡­¡±

    She tipped her head back, and swallowed.

    The effect was instantaneous.

    At first, it was just a tingling in her legs, a weightlessness that sent a shiver up her spine. Then, the world tilted. The water no longer felt like an outside force pressing against her¡ªit welcomed her, folding around her skin like a second home. A strange pull twisted in her core, something ancient, something not quite hers but quickly becoming so.

    Then came the real shift.

    She yelped as the magic dissolved her uniform pants. Not too soon, Her legs locked together, and the fire started. She grit her teeth against the pain, the change coming too quick for it to fully register anyway¡ªat the same time, she refused to scream in front of Azul.

    Her knees fused, her bones melting together and morphing from solid bone into a long, cartilaginous extension of her spine. Her feet elongated, skin cooling as it smoothed over into scales that glistened like freshly polished pearls. The color spread outward from the transformation¡¯s core¡ªdeep blues and shimmering silvers, iridescent in the dim light, flowing over her like ink dispersing in water.

    Her tail formed before her eyes¡ªlong, translucent, with an opalescent shimmer and a near-gossamer fin. Yuu gave it a test flick, sending a ripple through the water. It wasn¡¯t awkward or foreign. No, that was the worst part. It felt natural. As if this had always been waiting beneath her skin, just hidden beneath the surface.

    Her breath hitched as she shuddered into her new form¡ªor it should have, but her lungs no longer seemed to care. Instead, she felt the cool water rush through new, unseen slits along her ribs¡ªgills, beneath her shirt, flexing for the first time.

    Breath coming easier, now, the pain faded neatly away, as though bowing itself off a stage.

    ¡°Most scream during the first transformation,¡± Azul remarked, as calmly as though he were making an observation on the currents.

    ¡°You could have warned me,¡± she breathed, giving her attention reluctantly back to him, and wondering if he had watched her so intently throughout the whole transformation. She blushed again, remembering the part where her pants had dissolved.

    ¡°Is it like this for you every time?¡± she asked, quickly changing the subject.

    He only gave her a disinterested flick of his wrist. ¡°It¡¯s possible, although as every person turns into something different, it is difficult to say.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve never tried getting a tail?¡±

    He made a face. ¡°Of course I have. But I always seem to be stuck with¡­these things,¡± he flicked a tentacle for good measure.

    ¡°They seem useful. And you can use them on land. Want to trade?¡±

    He rolled his eyes, something that was becoming more of a habit, it seemed.

    ¡°I know how to remove the venom, Yuu. I also happen to know that the crab-kin whom I ran into at the wedding is in possession of a truth relic necessary to start the process. Are you ready to leave?¡±

    ¡°What, now?¡±

    ¡°Insanity or death, remember? I¡¯d rather not put this off,¡± he said blandly.

    She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Like you¡¯ve been putting off sleep? You know, we could spare a couple of hours.¡±

    ¡°I am already plenty well rested¡­¡± he argued, before an idea flashed across his features. ¡°¡ªAnd I deeply dread what will happen to me if I fall asleep again. Do you mind telling me how you ended up underneath me in that lab?¡±

    She held up her hands in the universal gesture of whoa-there-octopus-boy. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, I was an innocent bystander in that.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    ¡°Your useful appendages grabbed me when I walked up to give you my jacket. I don¡¯t know how you fell asleep in the first place. It was freezing in there.¡±

    ¡°A¡ªah¡­¡± he stammered, looking away. ¡°In that case, I apologize.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not blaming you¡­completely,¡± she admitted. ¡°I mean, it looks like this mark has been doing things to both of us.¡±

    He arched a silvery brow at her. ¡°Things?¡±

    It was her turn to look away. ¡°So! If you¡¯re awake enough for a swim¡ªdoes this happen to be the same crab-kin who fell for the krill merchant at the wedding?¡±

    ¡°The very same,¡± Azul said suspiciously. ¡°You noticed?¡±

    ¡°They were right in front of me. And loud. And that crab was a very good kisser, apparently. Um, I mean, enthusiastic. I mean¡ªwell, it was noticeable. They probably could have picked somewhere more private? Not that I¡¯m critiquing their locale¡ªI¡ªso you know where they live?¡ªAH!¡±

    An awkward flip of her new tail sent her bouncing back onto his bedspread, and even underwater, it was hard to get out of the thing. It was essentially a giant bowl.

    ¡°How did you sleep here? And then get out again!¡± She wriggled, struggling. ¡°It¡¯s like it sucks you in and doesn¡¯t let go!¡±

    Azul was silent, letting her dig her social grave right in front of him.

    ¡°It¡¯s more comfortable when you have something to pool underneath you,¡± he explained breezily. ¡°But, if you¡¯re quite done critiquing my choice of bed, and our target¡¯s romantic methods, then we can be off. Fortunately for us, Mr. Kalx lives in the middle of the city. He is highly desired by merchants and wardens.¡±

    ¡°Wardens? As in prison wardens?¡± Yuu gasped. ¡°What kind of crab is this guy?¡±

    ¡°A bounty hunter; and I would recommend against calling him a crab to his face, mer-folk are somewhat sensitive about our origin species. It would be akin to calling you, simply, ¡®primate.¡¯¡±

    She nodded. ¡°I promise to read Mer-folk Courtesy 101 when we get back.¡±

    ¡°Marvelous,¡± he said, with another of those more-frequent eyerolls.

    There was a small ¡®pop¡¯ on the desk, and both of them turned to see another little crystal vial, the contents as shimmery as Yuu¡¯s tail.

    ¡°That would be my mother,¡± Azul explained, scooping up the vial and handing it to her. ¡°I¡¯d recommend against taking it until you¡¯re ready to sleep. Anything that affects the mind is always¡­.well, I suppose you¡¯ll just have to see.¡±

    ¡°Was that what we were waiting for?¡± questioned Yuu.

    ¡°That, and the transformation, yes,¡± Azul confirmed. ¡°Shall we then?¡±

    He surprised her, and offered her a hand to pull her out of his bed, which both excited and disappointed her¡ªNOT something you¡¯re going to think about, Yuu! That¡¯s what you get when love venom starts eating your brain!

    She took his hand, cursing her heart-rate that tingled through her fingertips when she touched his skin again, and let him pull her up, and back into the winding halls.

    ¡°As long as you promise not to fall asleep on me, let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Believe me,¡± he said. ¡°I would rather juggle rabid weasels than sleep on you again.¡±

 Chapter 19: Azul

    Azul had eight feet that he was quite proud of in terms of usefulness. Each had fine motor control. Each could write. Each could even use rudimentary single-digit sign language. Yes, despite all of the impressive feats that one could perform with so many limbs, Azul certainly seemed to end up with his foot in his mouth more often than the regular person.

    The only explanation was that he¡¯d grown so tired, his brain was giving out on him.

    So far, in the same conversation, he¡¯d managed to ignore Yuu, neglected to warn her of very obvious and painful side effects of a substance which he provided, and had even managed to tell her that he would rather juggle rabid weasels than sleep next to her¡ªwhich wasn¡¯t just untrue, it was¡­poorly worded.

    Now, this wasn¡¯t exactly far from the truth, but it was far enough that somehow the translation was lost. Azul was dying for sleep. He was dying to¡ªthough he really would rather juggle rabid weasels than admit it¡ªenjoy the comfort that sleeping beside Yuu had put into his dreams.

    However, it was true that he would rather be overrun with any number of diseased rodents than unconsciously put Yuu in a ¡®situation¡¯ that she didn¡¯t ask for¡ªagain.

    But why he¡¯d said it like that¡ªAGH! He knew it was for the best. That his misspeak would likely help her keep her distance until there wasn¡¯t something in her addling her and pushing her to like him unfairly. However, the mortification which he felt while leading Yuu out of the grotto and toward the city was enough to make his tentacles seethe.

    Who even uses rodent metaphors anyway? Perhaps he really was spending too much time on land¡­

    Yuu swam easily next to him as he guided her through the open blue water toward the city, insisting on clinging to his hand, still, although with her lovely new tail, she should have been the better swimmer.

    But she¡¯s only had it a handful of hours¡­

    The idea was dubious, but possible.

    It was only after Yuu squeezed his hand and repeated herself several times, that Azul realized she¡¯d been trying to ask him a question.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    She sighed, repeating the question for what was likely more than the second time.

    ¡°I asked what all of those guards are doing outside the crab-kin¡¯s house,¡± she said clearly. ¡°That is the one we¡¯re heading to, right?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­.oh dear.¡±

    Azul¡¯s stomach sank as he saw precisely what Yuu was talking about. The Crab-Kin¡¯s House was less of a house and more of a fortress carved straight from the coral shelf, a jagged, towering construct. The outer walls were a chaotic patchwork of barnacles, shells, and scavenged ship metal, as if the entire place had been armored for war¡ªwhich, given its owner¡¯s paranoia, wasn¡¯t far from the truth.

    The entrance was a narrow crevice, guarded by two enormous crustacean claws impaled into the seabed, and half a dozen guards on patrol.

    ¡°I see the key,¡± hissed Yuu, as one of the patrols of heavily-dressed lionfish swam by.

    ¡°Yes, but how do we get it?¡±

    ¡°How do you get it?¡±

    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just the distraction, Azul. You¡¯re the one with the long, sneaky arms.

    ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s do this! Good luck!¡±

    ¡°I¡ªno¡ªYuu!¡±

    Yuu really was faster than Azul. She¡¯d darted right up to the lionfish¡¯s face grinning and flipping over her distractingly pearly tail before him. The lionfish was less than amused.

    ¡°Get out of the way, pearly! Or you¡¯ll find yourself on today¡¯s lunch menu!¡±

    The guards to either side of him chortled in their gravelly voiced.

    ¡°Ah-heh-heh, Grit. Lunch menu. That¡¯s a good one.¡±

    ¡°Yuu, don¡¯t wander off like that, you¡¯re going to get yourself hurt!¡± Azul darted in before the lionfish could get any more ideas.

    ¡°This guy thinks I¡¯m helpless!¡± Yuu said dramatically, flopping sideways onto Azul¡¯s shoulder like a woebegone damsel.

    ¡°That is not what I said, Yuu,¡± he gritted out. ¡°Excuse me, gentlemen, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hey, the lady was speaking!¡± Grit said, suddenly on Yuu¡¯s side. Yuu kept a straight face, but Azul could feel a flicker of a laugh in her ribcage as she turned back to the fish.

    ¡°We¡¯re here to speak to Mr. Kalx.¡±

    ¡°Kalx is undergoing a crisis of significant importance at this time. He is taking no guests or contracts.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Azul jutted in quickly, ¡°But we are party to this crisis of his. In fact, we¡¯ve brought a means to help him.¡±

    The lionfish looked him up and down.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see any helpful ¡®thing,¡¯¡± said Grit. ¡°No guests! No entry! That¡¯s orders!¡±

    Yuu was nudging Azul, and gave a pointed look at the kay before pulling away from him and swimming another distracting flip.

    ¡°Azul, you don¡¯t have the¡ªthe thing? That¡¯s everything we needed to bring to Mr. Kalx. And he¡¯s just GOT to have the thing to get through this!¡±

    Azul got her meaning, and began reaching around the backs of the guards, hoping that his tentacle could nip the key before the next set of guards came looking, but unfortunately, the guards weren¡¯t the only thing Yuu was distracting.

    ¡°Right, well, if you could better manage your, eh, forgetful partner, Miss¡ª¡± Grit said, trying again to shoo them off.

    Yuu chose that moment to lean flirtatiously on his shoulder, face alarmingly close to his.

    ¡°You know, if you weren¡¯t such a menace, I might actually find you charming,¡± she said in his ear.

    Azul, focuisn all of his efforts on the key, and now keeping them both balanced, nudged her away.

    ¡°If I weren¡¯t a menace, you would have drowned by now.¡±

    ¡°So you do think I¡¯m helpless?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Azul! You flirt with me just to insult me?¡± she said loudly, fake scandalized.

    All of the guards turned to look at her sympathetically, which really shouldn¡¯t have been possible. Azul saw the opening, and snatched the key, earning him a naughty smile from Yuu.

    ¡°Fine, fine!¡± she said dramatically. ¡°We¡¯ll be back, Mr. Grit. Sorry for wasting your time.¡±

    Grit, and the other guards, muttered nasty things at Azul¡¯s back as they swam ¡®away,¡¯ concealing themselves around the corner of the house at the last moment.

    Azul gritted his teeth, whispering once they were out of sight.

    ¡°You¡¯re playing a dangerous game, Yuu.¡±

    All smiled, Yuu swept him a curtsey. ¡°I think I make a great accomplice.¡±

    Azul, feeling rattled, deadpanned, ¡°You are a public menace. Seeing my mother alone. Waltzing right up to the guards and dancing for them. Are you trying to redefine insanity, or did you just wake up this morning and decide to take stupidity for a joyride?"

    She snorted, faux-outraged. ¡°Joyride, obviously. You think I could do this on accident?¡±

    ¡°I had certainly hoped.¡±

    ¡°I live to disappoint,¡± she said breezily. ¡°The door¡¯s right over there, but I heard voices.¡±

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t have mentioned that earlier?¡± Azul hissed, right as the familiar voice of grit called out:

    ¡°There! Trespassers!¡±

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Come one!¡± Azul grabbed her arm, dragging her into the eclectic garden, staying low to the ground.

    ¡°In here!¡± Yuu tugged back on him, tugging him toward a large, open clam.

    ¡°Yuu, no, that¡¯s¡ª!¡±

    Just as she¡¯d tucked them behind the upper shell, the guards swam right by, shouting and causing a general kerfuffle as they stirred up sand feet from where they hid.

    ¡°See?¡± Yuu shrugged under his arm. ¡°Not so bad. Come¡ª¡±

    SNAP!!!

    Before Azul could so much as open his mouth to argue, the clam slammed shut over them, trapping them in a soft, fleshy, but otherwise inescapable shell.

    ¡°This, Yuu,¡± said Azul, remarkably calmly, considering the situation, ¡°is the worst plan you¡¯ve ever had.¡±

    Yuu squirmed on top of him, and a sound escaped his mouth before he could stop it, which fortunately, she interpreted as a sign of discomfort, and stopped moving.

    He kept talking, if only to keep himself distracted. This situation required calm¡ªCALM, unless they wanted to stay in here forever.

    ¡°The clam is an ancient Atlantican relic! It reacts to its inhabitants¡¯ emotions, so if you would just¡ª¡±

    She wriggled on him again, trying to see his face. His heartrate spiked, and the clam tightened again, shoving them tighter together.

    ¡°Mm!¡± Yuu uttered, as the clammy flesh squished her lungs. ¡°So if I annoy you enough, it¡¯ll crush us? Maybe I should start humming off-key.¡±

    ¡°Please, you already do when you swim.¡±

    ¡°Azul. Why is it still squeezing us?¡±

    ¡°The clam reacts to heart rate. Perhaps it recognizes¡­ unresolved emotions,¡± he said, recalling what his mother had taught him about these creatures. What his mother had taught him, however, also included that even cecaelia were not stupid or slow enough to ever get caught in one, so he¡¯d never paid the most attention.

    He felt Yuu¡¯s cheek lift against his. ¡°Are you saying the clam ships us?¡±

    ¡°I am saying if we do not calm down, we may both perish inside a mollusk. Which is not how I intend to die.¡±

    ¡°Right, because you plan to die surrounded by riches in a massive business empire.¡±

    He rolled his eyes. ¡°You do understand me.¡±

    The clam loosened slightly, as if approving. Yuu laughed, and Azul, flustered, refused to meet her gaze, which was already too close to his own for focus anyway.

    ¡°So,¡± she said, after they both took a few calming breaths. ¡°How does one ¡®resolve emotions?¡¯¡±

    He shook his head slightly. ¡°It¡¯s not just emotions, it¡¯s also¡­ truths.¡±

    The clam tightened slightly.

    ¡°Truths that we don¡¯t already know?¡± Yuu asked helpfully. The clam loosened, just a hair.

    ¡°I see,¡± Azul nearly groaned. ¡°The clam wants entertainment.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I would too, if I was a clam. If we need to tell each other some secrets, well, we could trade?¡±

    He nodded stiffly. ¡°That would be amenable.¡±

    She huffed against his neck, making him stiffen. ¡°Well, I know how you feel about this sort of thing. I¡¯ll go first, shall I? I often worry that i¡¯ll never belong in this world. No matter how much magic I¡¯m around, it¡¯s not mine. I¡¯m just¡­ visiting."

    The clam tightened.

    ¡°What, boring?¡± she asked, to no response. ¡°Fine. Azul, I love your dramatic monologues. They¡¯re absurd, but honestly, a little impressive.¡±

    The clam loosened.

    ¡°Gotcha,¡± Yuu smiled again.

    ¡°I do NOT monologue,¡± Azul spluttered, though no one was listening but the clam. ¡°I provide pertinent and useful information, if anyone would care to listen.¡±

    The clam tightened again.

    Azul groaned as Yuu was pressed back into him.

    ¡°Alright, alright! The truth is, clam, I hate the open ocean. You are missing NOTHING. The irony isn¡¯t lost on me, I assure you. I just prefer walls. Structure. Places where I can control the currents."

    ¡°Way to persuade it to let us go. It''s gonna think you love it in here,¡± Yuu mumbled. ¡°My turn. My dad used to give me and my siblings terrible nicknames back home. The worst.¡±

    The clam didn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°Not enough? Alright. SOME of mine were things like: Bertiathus, Mergatroid, Ignacius, and Gertrude, to name a FEW, and my siblings were worse. Once, he called my brother nothing but a list of burger condiments, and¡ªAzul, stop laughing¡ªand the worst part of it all was, well, no matter what he decided to pull out of the hat, and there were five of us, we ALWAYS knew exactly who he was talking to because the flavor of ridiculous changed for each kid.¡±

    The clam loosened a little.

    ¡°Yay,¡± Yuu said blandly, hiding her now very warm face in his neck. ¡°Your turn, mastermind.¡±

    ¡°I¡­.erm,¡± Azul floundered casting around for something suitable. The clam shuddered threateningly. ¡°I once lost a bet and had to perform a love song live in the lounge. Written, and performed by Floyd. The best of the rhymes paired ¡®enchanting eyes¡¯ with ¡®side of fries,¡¯ and compared the target''s arms to ''warm yams.'' It was a disaster. Floyd brings it up weekly.¡±

    ¡°Can you do another?¡± Yuu asked from the crook of his neck. ¡°I¡¯m having a hard time remembering¡ªah¡ªtopping that one.¡±

    ¡°I once¡ªah¡ªin middle school, a mermaid once confessed to me on a dare.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not that bad,¡± Yuu argued.

    ¡°I blew a massive cloud of ink at her and swam away. She had my residue in her hair for a solid week.¡±

    ¡°Ooooh, that is good,¡± she mumbled, tapping on a lock of his trapped hair thoughtfully. ¡°Your hair is always perfect.¡±

    ¡°You think my hair is perfect?¡± he stuttered.

    He got the feeling she was glad her face was hidden, but he felt her heat up all the same.

    ¡°It¡¯s also white. Have you ever had to get ink out?¡±

    ¡°Toothpaste,¡± he said by way of explanation. ¡°Which, I unfortunately did not have the guts to tell the mermaid.¡±

    ¡°A pity. She could have been minty fresh,¡± she snickered.

    ¡°It¡¯s your turn, I believe,¡± he said grittingly.

    ¡°This is¡­ well, buckle up, clam,¡± she groaned, pulling him a little tighter, like she needed comfort to release this particular secret. Azul would be lying if it didn¡¯t make him curious. ¡°When I first came to Ramshackle, Grim and I hadn¡¯t been able to negotiate for a food allowance yet, and, well¡­ one night we just didn¡¯t have anything, so Grim convinced me to seduce someone for free food.¡±

    Azul went completely still, not even daring to breathe. He dreaded what he was about to hear, and was beginning to feel somewhat murderous toward the headmaster.

    ¡°So! I went to a seafood place that Grim had been eying, and the plan was to bat my lashes, sweet talk the waiter, and¡­ well, midway through the dinner, he¡¯d already bought us some sushi, and I thought I was winning until the waiter said I reminded him of his little sister. Utter defeat. Worst flirting day ever. Grim still calls me ¡®sis,¡¯ sometimes just to rub it in.¡±

    There was absolute silence. She thought the clam shifted upward slightly, only to reveal enough light to show Azul¡¯s smirking, which he hardly tried to hide.

    ¡°My, my. Were you truly so desperate dear Yuu? Tell me, do I also remind you of a brother? I wonder if your execution has improved since then.¡±

    ¡°If I had the room to hit you, Azul, I would,¡± she mouthed in his ear, sending a shudder down his spine.

    ¡°Promises, promises,¡± he goaded. It worked. The clam shifted open, just a little more.

    At this distance¡ªor lack thereof, he could feel Yuu¡¯s heartbeat through his own chest. Yuu actually did better with teasing than she did with remembering the unsavory past. How convenient. They had that in common.

    ¡°You are insufferable.¡±

    The clam snapped closed, much tighter than before. Yuu yelped, and Azul only just managed to take a breath before it did.

    ¡°Don¡¯t lie¡­.in the clam¡­¡± he gasped beside her.

    ¡°We are going to die in this clam,¡± Yuu said miserably, showing the first signs of fear, and he realized that she hadn¡¯t been misunderstanding their situation, she¡¯d actually held out hope¡­ until now. ¡°Azul, you shouldn¡¯t even be here,¡± she gasped next to him.

    But even though she clearly believed what she was saying, he knew that it wasn¡¯t true.

    ¡°We¡¯re in this together, Yuu.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to be,¡± she responded miserably.

    He let out a short, gasping breath. ¡°What kind of person do you think I am? Those are my teeth in your shoulder, if you recall.¡±

    ¡°That¡ª¡± she wheezed, ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Yes it does,¡± he insisted, wondering if it was only his imagination when the clam let him have just an inch¡ªjust enough for a real breath. ¡°You made your choices, Yuu. And I made mine. I choose to fix this, because I share the blame.¡±

    ¡°You did nothing but try to keep me from doing anything idiotic at Mal¡¯s wedding,¡± Yuu argued, apparently with a little more breath in her, herself.

    Encouraged, Azul continued.

    ¡°Yes, but, I knew what might happen if I touched that dust. You did not. I did have some control, at least at the beginning, and, I suppose, a very, very little at the end.¡±

    ¡°I hate, though, that so much of this wasn¡¯t your choice¡ªthat you¡¯ve been killing yourself over it since.¡±

    He scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ve lost more sleep over exams than I have with this predicament. My species also needs far less of it than yours, so put that out of your head. Tell me really, does it sting? Is it keeping you awake at night?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not always painful. Actually, it does the opposite sometimes,¡± she admitted, and he very much wanted to ask what THAT meant, but he let her finish when she said: ¡°But it certainly did keep me awake. It lets me feel what you do¡­when you¡¯re not being careful. When you¡¯re asleep, I think.¡±

    He paused, thinking. That made sense, even if it opened a new slew of questions he might never get to ask, and obviously, as they weren¡¯t being crushed to death, it was the stone cold truth.

    ¡°It was also not your choice. It¡¯s not like I warned you what it was, or what was about to happen.¡±

    She gave a bitter laugh against his neck. ¡°Don¡¯t. Don¡¯t, Azul. In a technical sense, you did exactly what I asked. I was just too¡­ uninhibited to act the way you deserved.¡±

    ¡°Funny, I feel the same way.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t all, erm, what¡¯s the word for it?¡± she asked, a little shy.

    ¡°Overdone? The worst of timing? Coerced?¡±

    ¡°Those all work,¡± she said, still a bit breathless. ¡°You know, I¡¯d really rather not die in a clam¡­ I¡¯d rather have a chance to try¡­ something normal, maybe, if we can keep this mark from killing me¡ªand by normal!¡± she squeaked, catching herself, ¡°I mean of course that I¡¯m sure you want to move on with studies and forget this happened. I¡¯ve probably set you back so far. I¡¯ve¡ª¡±

    Azul shoved a hand through the fleshy part of the clam, reaching for her, until his fingertips found her face, pressed sideways close to his own.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see what you say when the venom isn¡¯t prodding your thoughts, hm?¡±

    He said it, as though there would be a chance to do so, as if he didn¡¯t already know they would eventually suffocate right here.

    ¡°Not everything was coerced, if you remember,¡± she responded, far more calmly than she should.

    She angled her head up, cushioned on the warm pillowed surface above and below them. If this was his end, Azul supposed, then perhaps he could allow her this. Perhaps now, it might not be entirely selfish¡­

    He pulled his head down toward hers, closing his eyes into the scent of her breath¡ªnow, familiar and warm. His upper lip might have brushed something on her face, when with another clunking, spitting SNAP!!! the clam spilled them both, tumbling and rolling back onto the sand.

 Chapter 20: Yuu

    "Not. A. Word." Azul hissed, brushing himself off as quickly as possible the moment they were free.

    "Oh, but I have many,¡± she promised, fighting a small grin.

    "I¡ªthis conversation never happened,¡± Azul turned his back, making for the walls of the crab-kins house as quickly as his tentacles would move him.

    "Azul, you¡¯re literally swimming away."

    ¡°Yes. And?"

    ¡°And you forgot the ink-cloud. I¡¯m starting to feel left out,¡± she teased.

    You come back here and face your feelings, you cowardly cuttlefish! she would have yelled, but at that moment, the guards¡¯ voices were making their rounds again, and she was loathe to have a repeat of their delay.

    ¡°Good clam,¡± she said, with a little pat on its shell, before she swam after him. She could have sworn it shuddered in laughter as she left.

    The venom really is messing with my head, she thought before she caught Azul, who by some miracle had retained his grip of the stolen key. Said key clicked in the side door¡¯s lock, just before the guards rounded the corner, and they slipped in.

    Inside, the floor was uneven, littered with mounds of gold and old harpoons, alongside a scattering of strange trinkets¡ªbottles filled with glowing liquid, chunks of driftwood with ominous carvings, and at least three mismatched boots (none of which seemed to belong to the same person).

    The walls were lined with chitinous plates, some of them molted shells, others souvenirs from creatures unfortunate enough to cross the Crab-Kin. Knotted seaweed curtains blocked off smaller chambers, and in the center of the main room sat a great stone basin, filled with bubbling saltwater and bioluminescent jellyfish¡ªhis version of a sitting pool, though it looked more like a place where someone might drown a guest who annoyed him.

    And yet, despite its foreboding atmosphere, there was something almost¡­ comical about the sheer absurdity of it. Like walking into the lair of a hermit crab with a god complex.

    ¡°I can¡¯t put my finger on it, but this place reminds me of someone¡­¡±

    ¡°I would never decorate so gaudily, Yuu.¡±

    ¡°And I would never break into someone¡¯s home and then insult the decor,¡± grumbled a voice from the end of the room.

    At the other end of the sitting room, a knobbled shell shifted, and churned the sand in agitation, but nothing jumped out at them, and nothing stopped them when they approached.

    ¡°Did that shell just talk?¡± asked Yuu, wide-eyed.

    Azul, massaging his temples, shook his head without deigning to look at her.

    ¡°Mr. Kalx is a crab-kin, not a crab. It¡¯s a self-defense mechanism. When overwhelmed, they retreat inside their shells.¡±

    Yuu tilted her head at the enormous shell. ¡°Sounds like a coward¡¯s way out.¡±

    ¡°I heard that!¡± cried Kalx, muffled inside his shell.

    Azul sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°We apologize for the intrusion, Mr. Kalx. My name is Azul Ashengrotto. Our family has admired and partnered with your services for years. We¡¯ve come with urgent business to discuss.¡±

    Kalx grumbled, voice echoing inside the shell. ¡°Can¡¯t. Busy. Hiding from my emotions.¡±

    Yuu swam up to the shell, knocking on it like a door. ¡°You do realize you¡¯re the kingpin of a huge bounty-hunting service, right? How exactly do you run an empire from in here?¡±

    ¡°¡­Delegation.¡±

    ¡°I swear, if I had a gold coin for every emotionally repressed sea creature I¡¯ve met¡­¡± she side-eyed Azul.

    ¡°Do not finish that sentence,¡± Azul said with a glare.

    ¡°C¡¯mon, Mr. Kalx! Why are you hiding? Didn¡¯t you just find true love? Isn¡¯t that supposed to be¡­ well, wonderful? Exciting?¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand!¡± Kalx sobbed from inside the shell. ¡°Keelie is perfect! Too perfect! She¡¯s refined, elegant, poised¡ªshe probably doesn¡¯t even molt in public! And what am I? A lumbering brute with a chitin problem!¡±

    Yuu covered her mouth, fighting a smile. ¡°Why on earth do you think she¡¯s going to reject you? I saw the way she looked at you at the wedding.¡±

    ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t say that,¡± Kalx blubbered.

    Azul shifted uncomfortably, looking¡ªwell¡ªvery uncomfortable. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to. That much was obvious.

    ¡°Oh, forgive me, oh great Azul Ashengrotto, for not exuding your level of charm and undeniable romantic prowess.¡±

    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s got you there.¡±

    ¡°You think I have romantic prowess?¡±

    She blushed under his scowl, feeling caught.

    ¡°Well, my hair IS ink-free.¡±

    ¡°Marvelous,¡± he said, rolling his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll expect you to sing my praises about that once you¡¯ve finished removing the mark.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the crab at hand. Mr. Kalx, we have a bit of a problem from the wedding, too.¡±

    ¡°Quite so. We need your Shell of Truth, and will of course compensate you handsomely for it,¡± said Azul, once more, all business.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Kalx moaned from inside his shell. ¡°What do I care about some old relic? I have bigger problems! What if she expects me to dance at the wedding? Do you know what happens when I dance? CHAOS. Someone loses a limb! Last time, a table exploded!¡±

    ¡°Mm, understandable. I¡¯m actually quite similar,¡± Yuu soothed, patting his shell gently, and earning herself a bewildered look from Azul.

    Kalx stopped snivelling. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re what?

    Yuu sighed. ¡°Yeah. I am. But it¡¯s not the worst thing in the world. You¡¯ll have a partner with you, and you only have to dance once, right? Maybe she doesn¡¯t like it either?¡±

    She nudged Azul.

    ¡°Dancing is an acquired skill, not a character flaw. She can hardly hold it against you. Now, we really do need this relic. You see, it is of vital importance that we remove this mark.¡±

    Any amount of listening Kalx was willing to do immediately dissolved into more wailing.

    ¡°SEE! SEE!? You found the same thing! You found a mate of destiny, and what are you doing? Trying to break it off as soon as possible!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not exactly¡­¡± Yuu tried her best to explain. ¡°You found a mate of destiny with a mermaid, Mr. Kalx. Same world. Same city, and everything. Humans are just¡­.different. I¡¯m just¡­ human. And besides, you know the Ashengrottos. Azul wants to make a big political marriage. You know. Someone who can build up a business empire. With tracking abilities, probably. Who¡­ um¡­. Isn¡¯t as young as me? We¡¯re still in the Academy.¡±

    Azul coughed, and though he appeared slightly insulted, didn¡¯t contradict her.

    ¡°Most alliances are made down here between the ages of 17 and 24, Yuu,¡± he corrected quietly, instead.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she said quietly, then, louder: ¡°In that case, Mr. Crab-kin, you¡¯re the perfect age to be doing this, too!¡±

    Kalx sniffled. ¡°I¡¯m 31. Still living under my parents¡¯ shell, practically. They¡¯re here almost every day¡­.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­haha, in this economy? Makes sense,¡± Yuu soothed.

    ¡°No, I can afford it¡­ it¡¯s just so lonely.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t take a chance, nothing will change,¡± Azul said firmly, glaring at the shell.

    ¡°Hang on. Have you spoken with Keelie since the wedding?¡± Yuu asked suddenly.

    ¡°I, well, no¡­.¡± Kalx mumbled miserably.

    Yuu stopped petting the shell and slammed a fist down on it several times.

    ¡°ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? You¡¯ve just been hiding in this shell WALLOWING? Mr. Kalx, she is a WOMAN¡ªerm¡ªMERMAID! She¡¯s probably out of her fins thinking that you don¡¯t care, or that it was a one-off kiss because you haven¡¯t let her know it was REAL. Three days is a long time to just sit around wondering. That poor girl! She¡¯s probably half-convinced herself by now that you don¡¯t feel the same! Or that you were USING HER. Or that¡­ that you¡¯re really a GHOST or something!¡±

    Kalx head, looking much the same as he had at the wedding, beady eyes, and catfish whiskers decorating the sides of his mouth, popped out of his shell at last.

    ¡°But that¡¯s.. .That¡¯s ridiculous!¡± he exclaimed.

    Next to her, Azul had gone very still, his only movement the flick of an occasional tentacle to keep himself upright.

    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that women are prone to the ridiculous and drastic when left alone too long, Mr. Kalx.¡±

    Yuu didn¡¯t hold back when she punched his arm.

    ¡°Or, when nothing is being done about a perceived problem, they take matters into their own hands. The last thing you want is her swimming off trying to get over you when, hey, she¡¯s your mate of destiny! You have a real chance if you give it a shot.¡±

    ¡°Does he really?¡± Azul mused, looking over them both, and Yuu entirely missed that he might not just be talking about the crab.

    She punched him again.

    ¡°Yes!¡± she snarled. ¡°He does. But not for much longer. It¡¯s been three days. THREE DAYS.¡±

    ¡°Who knows?¡± Azul sighed dramatically. ¡°She might run off to the most dangerous sea witch in the ocean for a solution.¡±

    ¡°If she thinks she needs to,¡± Yuu shot back.

    ¡°I¡¯m rubbish at dates,¡± Kalx said miserably, drawing their attention back to him.

    ¡°Standard dates are lame anyway,¡± Yuu snapped. Azul arched a brow at her. She ignored him. ¡°What would you want to do if she was here?¡± she pressed.

    ¡°Well¡­ I make great kelp cakes. Maybe¡­ do some baking?¡±

    Yuu threw up her hands.

    ¡°Brilliant. Do that.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ you think so?¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Azul mused, ¡°and while you''re at it, you may want to give her a reason as to why you took so long to reach out to her. Perhaps the selection of a gift?¡±

    ¡°Not all affection can be bought, Azul, but I see where you¡¯re going with it.¡± Yuu nodded.

    ¡°It was technically what I meant to do with you¡­ however, my potions failed. Spectacularly.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to give me a brand new potion,¡± Yuu huffed. ¡°I would have settled for a letter!¡±

    ¡°Give her¡­ a gift?¡± Kalx interjected again, before they could squabble too much.

    ¡°And a letter,¡± Yuu said quickly. ¡°As soon as possible. But nothing too expensive, or it could make her uncomfortable. Best if it¡¯s meaningful, instead.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never been good at gifts,¡± Karlx moaned.

    Yuu found that incredibly hard to believe, seeing as his home seemed to be strewn with knick-knacks, and actual piles of treasure.

    ¡°How about a monogrammed bread pan?¡± Azul deadpanned. ¡°You see on the surface, the gift of bread is the sharing of warmth, and the initials you place on the dish could represent either the present or the future.¡±

    Yuu almost laughed, but didn¡¯t when she caught the look on Azul¡¯s face.

    ¡°But what if I don¡¯t know what she wants?¡± Kalx moaned again.

    ¡°Then let her decide the initials, and then serve kelp cakes on it,¡± Azul suggested.

    ¡°Choice is always nice,¡± Yuu said, before instantly regretting her words.

    ¡°The relic,¡± Azul reminded smoothly. Too smoothly. ¡°Can we have the shell, Mr. Kalx? In exchange, we will of course provide you with a suitable bread pan from the surface by the end of the day?¡±

    ¡°So soon?¡± Kalx asked, befuddled. ¡°I thought I¡¯d take a while to make sure¡ª¡±

    ¡°NO!¡± Azul and Yuu exclaimed at the same time, hands held up in panic.

    ¡°It¡¯s just so fast¡­¡± he moped.

    ¡°This guy could give Idia a run for his money, Azul grumbled under his breath.

    Yuu elbowed him in the gills.

    ¡°This is Atlantica, Mr. Kalx,¡± she said gently. ¡°A lot can happen in three days. Reach out to her. I happen to know she¡­erm¡­enthusiastically likes you. It¡¯ll be okay.¡±

    Kalx sighed, and to their surprise, produced a small, fist-sized shell from his pocket, and handed it to Azul.

    ¡°I was hoping it would tell me about her, but it only tells you if what you actually say is the truth. Useless. I already know that.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Yuu said, eyes widening. It was hardly the first day into following Madame Ashengrotto¡¯s instructions, and they already had the relic they needed. She stared at it, wondering how it was going to help her out of this mess.

    Azul didn¡¯t say much more, pulling her out of the house as quickly as he could, muttering things about efficiency, and not wanting anything else to happen.

    ¡°So much trouble over one measly shell¡­¡± she wondered aloud, when, without any further ado, he¡¯d dragged her back over the city limits.

    ¡°Mhm. I think we¡¯ve had enough of truth magic for one day,¡± he said, and crushed the thing to powder in his tentacles.

 Chapter 21: Azul

    The moment they were outside the city limits, Azul spat ink onto the pulverized handful of shell-dust before the currents could sweep it away from them. Then he mashed the stuff into a paste and pulled Yuu close enough that he could work it into the bite mark beneath the collar of her blouse. Even surrounded by water, it was messy work. If Yuu had wanted to use this shirt for school later, then¡­well, he knew from experience that his ink was difficult to get out of human materials.

    ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a new one,¡± he muttered, being careful to work the paste into every indentation on her shoulder, and being equally careful to avoid looking at her face. He could practically feel her watching him as his fingers dipped beneath the fabric.

    It felt personal¡ªintimate, even.

    Even though this is just a medical procedure! He told himself, gritting his teeth. In the words of his insufferable cousin, needs must.

    ¡°If you would just stop wiggling¡ª¡± he muttered, trying to focus. ¡°I have to get this all the way in, if it¡¯s going to work.¡±

    ¡°Quite the choice of words,¡± Yuu said smartly, wincing when he touched a red mark close to her neck.

    ¡°Eugh; it¡¯s sticky¡­¡± he sighed, glaring at the paste. It needed to stay in the wound if this was going to work, and so far¡ª

    Yuu was smirking, and he didn¡¯t realize until she spoke, what that had sounded like.

    ¡°Happens to the best of us,¡± she said smartly.

    ¡°Yuu, stop moving,¡± he said when she winced again. ¡°This¡­this would just go faster if you weren¡¯t so tense.¡±

    She huffed, not stilling. ¡°Azul, do you even hear yourself?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t move, then I can do this without hurting,¡± he said, manfully ignoring the undercurrent of awkwardness that seemed to be hovering just below this conversation. Yuu, unfortunately, did not ignore it.

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying you need to be gentle?¡±

    Azul gave her a suspicious look. ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    The cheeky girl winked at him. ¡°Never knew you had it in you.¡±

    His mouth fell open. ¡°JUST WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?¡±

    Still smirking, she shrugged with her good shoulder.

    ¡°Nothing, nothing. Keep going, doctor.¡±

    He scowled. ¡°If you call me that again, you can wait until we get back to the cavern for this.¡±

    ¡°Not my fault you¡¯re so uncomfortable with proximity,¡± she breathed, leaning away.

    Unbidden, and entirely unwelcome, he felt a blush creeping up his neck.

    ¡°I am not¡ª¡±

    She leaned back into him.

    ¡°Then why do you flinch every time I breathe?¡±

    He hated that his voice cracked when he responded,

    ¡°BECAUSE YOU ARE BREATHING INTO MY EAR.¡±

    ¡°So sensitive,¡± she teased.

    He groaned, trying to finish up more quickly. At least the paste was sticking in the deeper wounds. Yuu flinched hard.

    "Ow! Careful, Azul, you¡¯re so deep in there¡ª"

    He yanked his hands out from under her shirt. ¡°No. NO. You can wait for the cavern if this is how it¡¯s¡ª¡±

    "What? You have to finish!"

    He pushed a finger into his temple, which had begun to throb.

    "WHY DOES THIS SOUND LIKE THAT?"

    Untempered, Yuu smirked again.

    "Like what, Azul?"

    "Yuu. I am begging you. Pick different words."

    Yuu, grinning: "If I must."

    "Wait, what does that¡ª"

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    She bend into him, whispering in his ear. "You¡¯re so good with your hands, Azul."

    The blush was now creeping all the way up his face. Turning away from her as far as he could while gripping her shoulders, he did his best to¡ªbadly¡ªhide it.

    "I walked into this, didn¡¯t I?" he groaned.

    "Oh, Azul. You swam into it at full speed,¡± Yuu said sweetly.

    Azul took a deep breath, reminding himself that having to start this quest over if they lost the shell powder was not something he thought his nerves could take. Pulling her within reach one more time, he gave it another chance. Unfortunately, his tired brain must have been trying to shut down on him again, because what came out of his mouth was:

    ¡°Yuu, if you keep wriggling on me, then this is going to be a lot harder to put in.¡±

    Only inches from his face, Yuu gave him an incredulous look.

    ¡°Azul, you¡¯re killing me,¡± she said through a laugh that she apparently couldn¡¯t keep in.

    Azul¡¯s words caught up with him a few moments later, and he felt heat rush all the way down the tips of his tentacles as he stammered, ¡°Forget¡ªforget I spoke. In fact, forget I exist.¡±

    Azul put the rest of his limited sanity into setting Yuu¡¯s (still bleeding) wound with the black shell paste, and he could tell that they were both relieved when he miraculously finished the job.

    ¡°Finally,¡± he grunted, when everything was set.

    ¡°Now it¡¯s done? Venom gone? That¡¯s it?¡±

    Azul¡¯s insides twinged a bit at the hope in her voice.

    ¡°Regretfully, no,¡± he explained, still not meeting her eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll need to to back to the cavern for the rest of the instructions. Mother said the rest was more¡­ magical in nature. This just means that we can even attempt the removal outside of the three-day parameter.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± she accepted quickly. ¡°And the memory potion?¡±

    He pulled the potion from the pouch around his waist, and offered it to her.

    Of course she¡¯s eager to remember, he told himself. He probably should have given it to her before they¡¯d left, but he¡¯d wanted her to be focused on one goal at a time.

    And of course she¡¯s eager to leave. To get back home, a more bitter voice within him added.

    Azul attributed both those voices to the delirium of fatigue and watched as Yuu uncorked the vial¡­.and hesitated.

    ¡°Are you¡­afraid?¡± he asked confusedly.

    Yuu shrugged, and though she was as nonchalant as usual, a more serious tone crept over the levity of her earlier teasing.

    ¡°Well, if this goes wrong, I might forget my time here in exchange, right? I might forget you exists¡­¡±

    A snarl escaped him, unbidden.

    ¡°Don¡¯t joke about that, Yuu.¡±

    She smiled, just a little, though he couldn¡¯t imagine why.

    ¡°That matters to you, does it?¡±

    He refused to answer that question.

    ¡°My mother¡¯s brewing is¡­questionable in terms of ingredients, to be sure, but effectively speaking it¡¯s the best in the sea or on land. It won¡¯t misfire.¡±

    Probably, he amended to himself. After all, even his mother insisted on saying that nothing was perfect.

    Not now! He scolded himself. Now was not the time for guesswork.

    ¡°Azul, are you holding my hand?¡±

    His hand had¡ªapparently with a mind of its own¡ªreached out and taken Yuu¡¯s. Bewildered, he withdrew it, and himself, to a more appropriate distance.

    There was a flicker of emotion across her face, but she was back to herself shortly.

    ¡°Alright. I trust you.¡±

    Azul faltered in the water.

    ¡°You¡­do?¡± he asked.

    Yuu tilted her head at him. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t,¡± he said quickly, mentally kicking himself immediately after the words had escaped. Truly, he must be tired.

    She shook her ehad at him, pearly fins flipping agitatedly beneath her.

    ¡°Why do you always assume the worst?¡± she asked plainly.

    ¡°Because that way, it hurts less,¡± he answered, quickly, and honestly.

    The first thing he was going to do when they returned was sleep for a week if this was how his mouth was going to behave on him, because now, Yuu was reaching for him, wearing an expression that he simply didn¡¯t have the energy to decode. He pulled away, even farther, relieved when she hesitated.

    ¡°Just drink it,¡± he said, ready to have this next debacle over with.

    Softer this time, Yuu said, ¡°You¡¯re not as bad as you think you are, Azul.¡±

    Then, she tipped the vial back, and swallowed the silvery contents.

    Azul watched her for one long, quiet minute.

    ¡°....anything?¡± he asked at last.

    Her mouth twisted ponderously as she searched herself and shook her head.

    He lifted one brow.

    ¡°Nothing at all?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡± she hummed. ¡°Nope. Not a¡ª¡±

    Yuu¡¯s eyes rolled back in her head, and she arched back in the water as her fins lost their balance.

    Azul caught her on instinct, and outwardly groaned.

    ¡°Now¡¯s not the best time for a nap, Yuu¡­.¡±

    But of course, she didn¡¯t answer.

    She was lucky he had so many limbs. It was going to be a long swim back to the Ashengrotto cavern.

 Chapter 22: Azul

    ¡°You know you really should have brought me to her first, Azul. This could have been so much easier than it is now. So much less pain.¡±

    Nerissa Ashengrotto had descended on her son the moment he returned, panting and exhausted from the distance swim, Yuu still in his arms. He had refused, however, to provide his mother with any verbal responses until he¡¯d tucked Yuu away in his room¡ªthe only quite one in the cavern¡ªto sleep off the after effects of the memory potion. He didn¡¯t know what effects, exactly, it would have on her, but whatever it managed to unlock, she would need time to process it, and he knew from acute, painful experience, that some things were more dignified to face alone.

    ¡°Well, boy?¡± Nerissa bombarded him, white hair floating behind her like a threat as she bore down on her son. He only just managed to close the door before she added: ¡°Why did you not bring her here? This whole problem could have been over and done in a trice.¡±

    ¡°Oh? And what possible reason could I have had for staying away?¡± Azul snarled, folding his arms as he barred the way between his mother and the door to where Yuu now slept.

    Nerissa huffed a shocked sort of laugh.

    ¡°Sarcasm? With your mother? Here, I thought that life on land would have softened you. Seems it¡¯s finally given you some bite.¡±

    He cringed. Was that pride in her voice?

    ¡°Unfortunately, it seems you¡¯ve also learned how to stoke a grudge. Best be careful, my son. That trait will bite you if you don¡¯t watch it.¡±

    ¡°Like it did you?¡±

    She folded her arms, glaring at him in the way that never failed to make him feel like a petulant child.

    ¡°You know, I don¡¯t have to help you, Azul¡­. I could let you climb out of this mess for the sake of lesson.¡±

    A feeling of panic had just started to pool in his stomach before she added¡ª

    ¡°No, no, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m sorry, that was too far,¡± she sighed.

    If anything, that was what disarmed him. He was right?

    When the silence between them turned uncomfortable, Azul decided to allow his mother that victory. After all, it was a victory they would share, and he liked this feeling between them. It wasn¡¯t entirely rare, but he would never take praise from his mother lightly.

    ¡°So, how long do you think it will take?¡± he asked quietly.

    He didn¡¯t have to explain. A quick glance at the door, and his mother knew exactly who, and about what, he was asking.

    ¡°Hard to say,¡± she answered. ¡°Memory is a fickle thing, particularly where land magic is involved. Depends on how much has been lost. Depends on her with a spell like this.¡±

    ¡°On her?¡±

    ¡°Mental fortitude, boy,¡± Nerissa dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, you¡¯ve nothing to worry about it. Has she flown into a panic on you, yet? Has she failed to grasp anything she should?¡±

    He shook his head, unable to recall a single moment when Yuu had failed in anything¡ªexcept perhaps decorum.

    ¡°Two more days to remove the venom,¡± he huffed. ¡°I can¡¯t get started until she wakes.¡±

    His mother only rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve known how to pull on your own magic since you were seven. You don¡¯t need her help. Is it not kinder to do it while she¡¯s unconscious?¡±

    ¡°It would not be kinder to descend on her while she sleeps. I¡¯ll give her as much of a choice as I can, considering the circumstances.¡±

    Azul was beginning to wish his mother would move further down the hall. Their voices, though quiet, were right outside Yuu¡¯s door, and there was no telling when she could wake. Still, something in him was unwilling to leave her door unprotected.

    ¡°Now he¡¯s a gentleman?¡± His mother rolled her eyes. ¡°She had a choice, boy, or the venom would not have stuck in the first place.¡±

    He only grunted.

    ¡°Why is it, I can¡¯t help but wonder¡­¡± Nerissa eyed him, tapping a finger to her painted lips. ¡°What deal did you make with her that you could not simply keep? If she asked for something you could not afford, then surely that would have been an easier ask than¡­ well, than all of this trouble you seem to be willing to go to.¡±

    Azul winced, cursing the fact that his reactions seemed to be on such easy display.

    ¡°I could not,¡± he said simply. ¡°What she asked for would have been¡­ counter to my aims.¡±

    ¡°The aims of your profit margins, you mean?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he said simply. ¡°My more¡­ long-term aims.¡±

    ¡°My, my¡­¡± Nerissa sighed, a slow smile creeping up her mouth. ¡°She asked for something almost selfless, didn¡¯t she¡­.¡±

    Azul remained silent.

    ¡°Curious,¡± Nerissa carried on. ¡°You know, Azul, all this time I¡¯ve told you to settle down, and the first time you get serious, it¡¯s with¡­this?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hardly serious,¡± he retorted, doing his best to keep the offense from his tone, and failing. As per annoyingly usual, his mother seemed to see right through him. She positioned herself on the wall across from him, still smiling, but no longer amused. If anything she seemed¡­ concerned.

    ¡°Boy, when I say this relationship is cursed, I¡¯m not being metaphorical.¡±

    ¡°I am aware of your feelings towards humans, mother,¡± he responded, keeping his voice bland.

    ¡°Bah! You think it¡¯s just my opinion on humans? Although I do have a point, boy. I¡¯m not sure anyone from decent or indecent society underwater would have the audacity to scold a bounty-hunter crab-kin.¡±

    Azul drew in a sharp breath. ¡°Scold a¡ªHave you been spying on me again?¡±

    Nerissa only shrugged. ¡°Oh, a mother looks in. All good mothers do. And if I hadn¡¯t, I never would have known you as the sort to get caught by an unmoving, practically dormant clam.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the help¡­¡± Azul grumbled. ¡°So, we really were safe the whole time. Mummy looking in on us.¡±

    She crossed her tentacles in front of her, ignoring the current that picked up between them in the hall for a routine cleaning.

    ¡°I know you disagree with my methods, but the tides are turning, and I want you to be prepared.¡±

    Azul nearly yelled, his anger piqued so sharply, but for the sake of the sleeping mermaid at his back, managed to keep his tone even.

    ¡°You should be able to see this whole thing is your fault, mother¡­¡± he said, his usual businesslike smile plastering itself onto his mouth as a form of self-defence.

    Nerissa put a hand to her chest in faux-shock.

    ¡°My fault? What do you mean my fault?¡±

    ¡°Asking the Banejaw heir to let cecaelian sea witches back into Atlantica? What were you thinking, mother? It will dissolve the Banejaw monopoly, yes, but what about all the competition? Direct competition to you, I might add?¡±

    ¡°And you, boy, should you ever choose to claim your place here.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± he promised quickly.

    ¡°Then you¡¯ll never know the thrill of this particular hunt. Yes, there will be other sea witches, but do you really think that anyone can actually¡­ compete?¡±

    ¡°As you said yourself,¡± he retorted. ¡°The tides are changing.¡±

    His mother hissed through her teeth, but she didn¡¯t argue. Instead, she switched tactics.

    ¡°You might not want me around, boy, but you need a woman in your life. And I have tried. Oh, I have tried. What exactly was wrong with Salicia?¡±

    ¡°She thinks that summoning sailors to their deaths is decent entertainment.¡±

    ¡°And? What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± his mother importuned.

    He glared.

    ¡°Oh, fine. Humans. What about Capricia?¡±

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡°Tried to enter a contract with me on the first date. I refuse to marry someone who tries to scam me, and can¡¯t even do a decent job.¡±

    Nerissa shrugged. ¡°Fair enough. Lecia?¡±

    ¡°Had more tentacles than I do, and she is not even cecaelian.¡±

    ¡°Meaning?¡±

    ¡°No sense of personal space. I refuse to be handled like a plush toy.¡±

    His mother pouted. ¡°Mecita?¡±

    ¡°Is part shark, mother,¡± he groaned. ¡°She tried to eat parts of me.¡±

    His mother rolled her eyes once more. ¡°No relationship is perfect, dear.¡±

    He snorted.

    ¡°Look at yourself, Azul! Pickiness will be the death of you and your business! Look at you! Look at your reputation!¡±

    ¡°I am doing fine¡ª¡±

    ¡°You absolutely are not! Your reach is diminishing, boy. You¡¯re practically a thug. Try as you might to create deals, all over, whispers of shady contracts and scams will dog your steps like leeches in a pond.¡±

    ¡°My profit margins continue to be¡ª¡±

    ¡°What, boy? Stagnant?¡±

    Nerissa smirked as Azul floundered for an answer. His mouth opened and closed with no words for her¡ªbecause she was right. However, it would only be temporary. After all, he was a student, and had other things to do. He¡¯d once tried to renovate Ramshackle a second location, but that was not to be. All he needed was time, however. Time, and real estate¡­.

    ¡°I cannot tell you how much it vexes me, boy. Of all the trash you could have brought to me¡­.she is everything you need.¡±

    His jaw dropped. ¡°I beg your pardon? Yuu is what?¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t misunderstand me,¡± Nerissa waved a hand again. ¡°You need a lasting partner, and here comes someone able to talk to people, who makes connections with everyone she meets. You walk into a room, boy, and mistrust follows, but a sweet little someone like Yuu? One who speaks languages, and comes with such natural openness, well¡­.¡±

    ¡°You see an asset in a magicless human?¡± Azul couldn¡¯t help but scoff in disbelief.

    He knew that Yuu was an asset, but his mother seeing it¡­ that was a new concept entirely.

    ¡°We are an aging art, boy. We evolve or we die. I¡¯m too old to change but you have a chance. And what''s more, you found one who seems to be able to put up with you. And, despite your inane pickiness¡­. You seem to like her as well. Here I thought that was impossible.¡±

    Azul could only stare.

    ¡°Unfortunately, as with all things, you are short-sighted. This can''t work and it won¡¯t work, my son¡­but perhaps you can find a woman like her.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± he asked, dumbly disbelieving.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t belong here, Azul,¡± Nerissa hissed. ¡°I¡¯ll give her memories back. She will return to where she belongs. You will stay where you belong, and now that you¡¯ve proven you CAN catch the attention of someone, find a way past this bungling ball of potential that you are, and become the man you ought to be. It¡¯s all a mother wants, after all.¡±

    ¡°You want me to find a reason to return to the ocean more often.¡±

    ¡°Accusing me of being sentimental?¡±

    ¡°Never,¡± Azul struck down, quickly.

    Nerissa sighed, uncrossing her tentacles, and stirring the current beneath them.

    ¡°This girl¡­.she would be perfect for you. Ah, the tragedy. She doesn¡¯t belong with you.¡±

    Azul grit his teeth. He would die before he found something to drag him back under the sea more permanently¡ªand if he didn''t, whatever reason he found would likely kill him anyway.

    ¡°It was never that serious anyways, mother. She¡¯ll leave me like all the rest,¡± he said blandly.

    He could hardly process what his mother had said. Every bone and muscle in his body longed, and had longed for several hours now for nothing but sleep.

    ¡°She¡¯ll certainly have the choice to, now won¡¯t she?¡± his mother reiterated, mocking his earlier choice of words.

    A minute of tense silence passed between them, and Azul was nearly at the brink of abandoning this spot in the hopes of finding another empty bench, or even a bit of floor to rest on, when he heard a stirring in the room at his back.

    ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± his mother said, smile widening. ¡°It seems you may have to face this sooner than anticipated.¡±

    ¡°The sooner the better, Mother,¡± he growled back, at the same time, dread pooling in his stomach.

    What had she heard? What had she remembered already?

    Time was moving so quickly around him. There was hardly time to think, and at the same time, he needed more information.

    It seemed that his guard¡¯s position in front of Yuu¡¯s door was for naught. His mother¡¯s reach was slightly longer than his own, and in his exhausted delirium, he hardly noticed that she¡¯d turned the knob until the door to Yuu¡¯s room was swinging open behind him.

    ¡°Welcome back to the land of the living,¡± Nerissa greeted Yuu, who was doing her best to pry herself upright in Azul¡¯s childhood bed. It was clear that she hadn¡¯t entirely gotten used to living with her tail, as all of the bedding was pushed to one side, and she flopped a lot harder than she needed to to escape, before finally just tumbling to the ground.

    Nerissa chuckled as Azul, who evidently still had the presence of mind for chivalry, helped Yuu upright.

    Azul noted that she was shaking.

    ¡°What exactly was in that memory potion, mother?¡± he asked evenly, so as not to let Yuu know that something was wrong.

    ¡°Oh, just a minor paralytic. Nothing that can¡¯t be slept off. You never know how the mind is going to react.¡± Nerissa shrugged, as though those were the most normal words in the world.

    It explained why Yuu had collapsed on the way back, and while Azul agreed with the application, he certainly would have appreciated a warning. He swallowed his annoyance in favor of examining Yuu.

    Azul had prepared himself for this. He had calculated for this. The memory potion would take effect, Yuu would wake up, and she would remember. There would be confusion, certainly. Maybe fear. Maybe¡ªif he was unlucky¡ªa few misplaced accusations. What he had not accounted for was the way her breathing hitched, sharp and panicked, as if she were drowning in air.

    She was drowning in something. He could see it¡ªsee it in the way her fingers curled against the sheets, see it in the way her chest rose too fast, in the way her eyes, wild and unfocused, flitted past him like he wasn¡¯t even there.

    Azul knew drowning. He had lived it. And this¡ªthis was worse.

    His fingers tightened around her wrist before he could think better of it. "Yuu."

    No response. He swallowed. Forced his voice into something even, something reassuring. "You''re safe. The breathing potion is still working. You can breathe."

    That, at least, seemed to reach her. She turned her head toward him, slow and hesitant, her lips parting like she wanted to speak but couldn''t find the words.

    And then¡ªshe looked at him.

    Not the way she usually did, with sharp-eyed amusement or irritation or that infuriating defiance he had grown so accustomed to. No, this was different. Unfamiliar. There was something raw behind her gaze, something fragile, something that made his pulse stutter in a way he did not care to analyze.

    "I¡ª" Her voice cracked. "I remember... I think."

    Then, a few more breaths, and she did what he had seen her do a hundred times¡ªseen, and never recognized it for what it was. She took the panic of the moment, and tucked it away for later, sinking it beneath an facade of composure and a smile. He knew it because it was the same thing that he did, himself.

    And just like that, she was herself again, no matter what turmoil she¡¯d been through. Yuu was simply Yuu. Steadfast and optimistic, even when it was entirely inappropriate to have made herself so.

    ¡°Memories coming back then, love?¡± Nerissa said, cooly, and Azul realized from the coldness in his mother¡¯s tone, that he¡¯d lingered too long on Yuu¡¯s arms, and detached himself quickly.

    Yuu nodded, folding her hands neatly in front of her. ¡°Yes, thank you, Madame Ashengrotto. Although, not all of them, I think¡­¡±

    Nerissa merely dismissed Yuu¡¯s doubt with a wave.

    ¡°In time, my dear. Give it a few days, a few dreams¡­ my magic will return them quite quickly, you¡¯ll find. Now¡ª¡±

    Nerissa clasped her hands, leering down at Yuu with a greedy smile. Yuu¡¯s tail caught the light as she squirmed under that gaze, forcing Azul to look away. His eyes were overly sensitive light on a good day, but underwater, with the sleep-deprivation making his ears ring, staring at Yuu was beyond him.

    ¡°¡ªSince your time in this world is now limited, you have only so much time to take advantage of skills like mine, my dear,¡± his mother was saying. ¡°How do you feel about your figure? Your voice? Perhaps you¡¯d like to be a little shorter? You seem rather tall to be living on land among so many male ruffians¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, mother,¡± Azul dismissed quickly. ¡°I¡¯m footing the bill for this. Yuu don¡¯t agree to anything.¡±

    His mother only laughed.

    ¡°Hah! It seems my competition is beginning already. Life is already more exciting¡­. Well then, if there¡¯s nothing else you require, I suppose you two are safe to send back to the surface. You have two days to finish removing the poison. Now that the shell of truth has been applied to your wound, my dear¡ª¡±

    She gestured to Yuu.

    ¡°¡ªBy all means, now the removal should work.¡±

    ¡°Should?¡± Yuu gasped.

    Azul nearly rolled his eyes.

    ¡°SHOULD! Yes, ¡®should¡¯ is a wonderful word,¡± Nerissa cackled. ¡°Azul, you have things under control here, I trust?¡±

    Then, in a billow of tentacles and whirling currents, Nerissa swept out of the room without a goodbye. Although, to him, she hardly needed to. Nerissa Ashengrotto had made her point quite clearly.

    It took a nudge from Yuu¡¯s elbow to bring him back to the room.

    ¡°Must you elbow me in the gills, Yuu?¡± he grumbled tiredly.

    Yuu glanced from him, to the doorway where Nerissa had just disappeared.

    ¡°I can see where you get it from,¡± she deadpanned.

    Azul sighed¡ªa deep, bone-weary sigh that he felt all the way through his gills.

    ¡°You¡¯ve never said anything more insulting to me in our three years of acquaintance.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I wasn¡¯t that serious,¡± Yuu said flippantly. ¡°So¡­ are we swimming back?¡±

    ¡°You heard us, then,¡± he said aloud. It wasn¡¯t a question.

    ¡°Or is there a mirror we can take into Octavinelle?¡± she continued, ignoring him. ¡°Personally, I¡¯ve done about as much swimming as I can take.¡±

    ¡°If my mother says she will send us back, then she will manage it,¡± said Azul, privately hoping that he was right. He¡¯d dragged Yuu and himself across to the city and back, and while he could feel, distantly, that something in this conversation had gone Wrong, he couldn¡¯t find in himself the energy to care about anything except that the venom could now be removed.

    He only had to survive the next two days and this entire disaster would be over.

    With another small ¡®pop¡¯ of bubbles, his mother¡¯s final scroll appeared on his desk. Azul gratefully took the chance to turn away from Yuu, and read it, only to be perked right back into alertness again by what it said:

    Venom removal necessary every 3 hours for the next 30 hours.

    His eyes bugged. He had to pull the venom, from Yuu, and then re-pull it?

    Every three hours?

    This was going to be the death of him.

 Chapter 23: Yuu/Azul

    Head reeling from what she¡¯d seen in Nerissa¡¯s note, Yuu had never been more content to return to Ramshackle through the Ashengrotto Cavern mirror. She had also never been more remiss to receive instructions.

    ¡°You have to bite me again¡­ and pull the venom out¡­ with your mouth. Every three hours?¡± she clarified, for what felt like the third time.

    ¡°There¡¯s more to the medical process than that. It involves using my magic to pull the destructive substances out of your bloodstream several times before it is completely gone.¡±

    ¡°But you have to bite me?¡±

    Azul sighed deeply. ¡°Yes, that is correct.¡±

    ¡°Every three hours?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Yuu.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what got us into this in the first place?¡±

    Azul presented her with the instruction list from the sea witch so that she could read, again, for herself. There was no getting around this¡­.there was no getting around Grim¡¯s noise, either.

    ¡°Human, you¡¯re BACK! I thought you¡¯d never come back, and I¡¯m SO hungry, and¡ªwaitaminute, why is he still here?¡¯

    Grim came galloping into the entryway, lured by the sound of voices

    ¡°Grim¡­.¡± Yuu groaned. ¡°You might have to stay with Heartslabyul a few more days.¡±

    ¡°I what? But they only eat cake! NEVER tuna!¡± he whined.

    ¡°Then you¡¯re going to have to be quiet for a while,¡± Yuu groaned. She was dead on her feet, and Azul¡­ Azul was looking far past worse for wear.

    ¡°Azul¡­ how about you sleep on one of the empty beds here? At least for the first few hours, so you can have SOME energy to deal with Jade and Floyd?¡±

    It said worlds for Azul¡¯s fatigue that he didn¡¯t even argue, or make a fuss about not wanting to owe anyone anything. He left her and grim in the foyer, and picked a random room to disappear into. She would have to wake him in three hours to start with the removal, but for now¡ª

    ¡°Henchhuman, I demand an explanation!¡± Grim pouted, crossing his arms over his fuzzy chest, and glaring at her from one and a half foot high. ¡°You come back hurt, then you leave without explaining, and then you¡¯re gone for two days! Mrah! Can I even count on you for classes anymore?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Monday, isn¡¯t it?¡± Yuu mumbled, trying her best to kick off her shoes at the entry.

    ¡°It is WEDNESDAY, human!¡±

    ¡°Mmph,¡± she moaned. ¡°Well, at least my attendance won¡¯t matter much longer¡­¡±

    ¡°NYAGH! Neither of us will if we get kicked out!¡±

    Grim gawked, following close on her heels as she made her way upstairs toward her own bed.

    ¡°You won¡¯t get kicked out, Grim.¡± She shot him a half-hearted smile. ¡°Well, you might not. Did you take notes in classes yesterday?¡±

    ¡°Course I did!¡± the little devil announced proudly. ¡°I¡¯m gonna make top ten on exams.¡±

    ¡°Mmhm. And you didn¡¯t fall asleep in any of the classes?¡±

    ¡°The Great Grim would never¡ª¡±

    She snorted as his rant began, and held up a hand. ¡°I believe you, I believe you. Listen, Grim, I¡¯ve got a top priority security mission for you.¡±

    ¡°You tryna give me orders?¡± he said suspiciously?

    ¡°I need you to bite, maim, or kill anything that tries to wake me up in the next three hours, kay? Especially the ghosts. Do it, and I¡¯ll make fresh tuna for dinner, kay?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Guess you do need my protection every once and a while.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Grim. You are truly great,¡± Yuu bent down and scratched him behind his ears¡ªsomething he only ever let her do when no one was watching. ¡°And thanks for worrying about me while I was gone¡­.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well, next time don¡¯t just go disappearing on me¡­¡± he grumbled.

    Yuu would have to manage telling him about her chance to return home another time. For now, the process to change from legs to tail had been a little tiring, true, but using that tail to swim across a city and back, and then transform and travel again¡ªit was more than enough to take it out of a human. She stripped her damp clothing and traded it for a fresh t-shirt. Yuu was asleep before her head really reached her pillow.

    *

    Once more, it was as though dreams took backstage to memories, one by one clamoring to be seen.

    A brother. Her brother. Playing the piano because he could see her playing as a girl. She¡¯d hated it, but him? He¡¯d wanted to be like her so badly, and when she¡¯d surpassed her skill, she¡¯d been happy to give him the limelight.

    A mother who was always there, always trying¡ªsometimes too hard. She¡¯d schooled them, taken them on trips, and made life a better adventure, learning which things to give her emotion and time, and which things not to. She could see her face again, and tears sprung up on her from out of nowhere.

    A father. A father who was funny and had done so much more than give them stupid nicknames. He taught her how to write, how to negotiate, how to talk to people, how to do her hair¡ªwhich, as she tearfully recalled, had been the worst of all sources for it. Still, he¡¯d tried. They¡¯d all tried. It wasn¡¯t perfect, and they were happier for it.

    Then, there was her sister¡­. A sister so similar to Mallory, it hurt. She was a careful thinker about so many things that she often missed what was right in front of her. She liked stuffed ducks and penguins, and forgave Yuu when she¡¯d accidentally let the dryer eat one of them.

    Moments flashed by with each of them. Eating the worst burned pancakes she could ever recall tasting. Laughing so hard her sides could bust when her brother started drawing bean-themed cartoons. Late-night panic over calculus homework. What had she been doing in calculus, anyway?

    She was deliriously happy to see each of their faces. So why did she feel like something¡­ dark was lurking at the edge of these memories. Why did she feel so close to desperation?

    Someone was shaking her shoulder.

    Yuu surfaced from the depths of unconsciousness like a diver breaking through turbulent waters¡ªgasping, disoriented, and with the strange, suffocating feeling that she had forgotten how to breathe. Her body felt wrong, like she had been folded too small and stuffed inside herself, and for a long moment, she lay there, blinking up at a ceiling that blurred in and out of focus.

    Something cold curled around her wrist. A familiar weight.

    Azul.

    The scent of him hit her first. A clean scent, like cologne and sea spray. Before she¡¯d even opened her eyes, she knew him. She knew the shape of his hand.

    Her fingers twitched against Azul¡¯s grip. He tensed¡ªjust barely¡ªbut didn¡¯t pull away.

    "Yuu?" His voice, calm on the surface but coiled tight beneath, barely cut through the ringing in her ears.

    She turned her head toward him, lips parting, searching for words that refused to form. The pressure in her chest climbed higher, suffocating, until¡ª

    "Hm? I thought I remembered¡­¡±

    In that space between waking and sleeping, for the first time since taking the potion, the real terror set in. Something dark lurked on the edge of her mind, threatening to take her, and her time in the world as she knew it¡ªhere, in twisted wonderland¡ªcould now come to a close any day.

    Azul tugged at her wrist, his cool fingers pulling her from the terror, not asking anything of her, waiting for her to wake, even though he was clearly hardly awake himself.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Have you remembered that three hours are past?¡± he prompted, sitting uncomfortably on her bed.

    ¡°Oh!¡± she sluggish propped herself next to him. ¡°Oh, right. Sorry I didn¡¯t come to wake you. I was going to let you lie down as long as possible¡­¡±

    Yuu tugged the t-shirt down over her shoulder, and pushed herself to sit close to Azul.

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re good at this¡­¡± she said sleepily. She longed for rest, but was almost glad not to be wading through her memories, so many happy memories¡­. Toward that dark thing.

    Azul only rolled his eyes. He might be tired, but he was certainly looking more refreshed than she.

    Non-human advantages¡­ she thought jealousy.

    ¡°I am good at this. What exactly do you take me for?¡±

    The smile was back on Yuu¡¯s face before she¡¯d even given it permission to be there.

    ¡°Should I really answer that?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    She ignored him.

    ¡°I think you¡¯re someone who has a lot of¡­.fun biting people.¡± She winked.

    Despite himself, that purple blush that she¡¯d grown so fond of seeing was starting to bloom across his cheeks and ears.

    ¡°I¡ª! It is a medical process, don¡¯t make it weird!¡± he choked, flustered.

    Yuu bit her lip, leaning closer to him, shoulder already bared.

    ¡°Should we have a contract for this?¡±

    ¡°This is punishment for every sin I have ever committed,¡± Azul muttered under his breath, taking her proximity as permission. ¡°Tell me if there¡¯s anything¡­ troublesome.¡±

    Taking hold of her shoulders to steady her, he put his teeth to her shoulder, and lightly sank them in.

    It hurt, but there was something beyond just hurting. Something deep inside her blood was being rooted out. She could feel the tug of his magic on the flow of her vitals, and though she knew he wouldn¡¯t do her any real harm, something in her didn¡¯t want to let¡­ whatever he was taking, leave.

    She grit her teeth through the discomfort, and then, after only a minute, it was over, and Azul was pulling away, leaving a light wet imprint on her skin.

    ¡°The bathroom is over there,¡± she directed quickly. ¡°If you want to spit¡ª¡±

    She said it right as he swallowed.

    She watched in morbid fascination as he pulled a face, then straightened his clothing, and turned away.

    ¡°Um¡­ mouthwash?¡± she offered awkwardly.

    ¡°No¡­¡± he sighed, still not looking at her. ¡°No, I.. I need to retrain my system as well. This is part of the process. Although I admit it¡¯s not comfortable.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªAzul, I¡ª¡± she reached for him, not knowing why, but he was already standing before she could touch him.

    ¡°I¡¯m going back to the lounge. I¡¯ve neglected business there long enough. Meet me in the courtyard after classes.¡±

    ¡°Class¡­ yes, class¡­.¡± Yuu was close to turning right back and burying herself in her pillow.

    What was the point of class now, anyway?

    ¡°Sure,¡± she agreed instead. ¡°I¡¯ll be in the courtyard in three hours, and¡­ hang on. How did you get in here?¡±

    He blinked. ¡°I beg your pardon? The door wasn¡¯t locked.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡ªGrim!¡± she caught sight of his guilty tail slinking past the doorway just in time. ¡°Grim! What part of ¡®maim or kill¡¯ wasn¡¯t clear to you?¡±

    ¡°Maim or kill, Yuu? Really?¡± Azul grumbled as Grim¡¯s tail disappeared from view.

    ¡°I know you can hear me, Grim!¡± Yuu shot to her feet in annoyance.

    ¡°It would appear your security system can be bribed with tuna,¡± Azul said cooly. ¡°If its any consolation, he was prowling the corridors quite dutifully when I woke up.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare pay him,¡± Yuu growled. ¡°He doesn¡¯t deserve it.¡±

    ¡°Come now, Yuu, I¡¯m a man of my word,¡± Azul said, straightening.

    ¡°And, how much tuna am I worth to him, dare I ask?¡±

    ¡°Thirty cans. Of the premium type.¡±

    ¡°Judas,¡± she swore. ¡°Only thirty?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what that means,¡± he said, moving to the door, himself. ¡°But I do have things that I need to do. This whole affair has kept me away from my schedule for quite some time, as you know¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± she waved him off tiredly. ¡°You go. I¡¯ll see you then¡ªand please don¡¯t call it an affair.¡±

    She managed to squeeze a small smile out of him before he left.

    *

    Azul

    Azul¡¯s perfect attendance was ruined, he knew it; however, for once in his life, he was beginning to question if that sort of thing really mattered. He had connections who would provide him with notes. He would still place top in the school. What concerned him more was how Jade and Floyd had managed the lounge¡ªalone¡ªfor the day and a half he¡¯d been gone.

    He entered the Mostro Lounge, midday, to find Floyd mixing drinks in the middle of the lounge on a large, open counter that he¡¯d set up in the middle of the floor. Jade was in the back, cooking¡ªsomething he¡¯d been strictly banned from doing ever since he¡¯d nearly killed Malleus¡ªMALLEUS¡ªwith a toxic mushroom risotto, and there was a crowd dancing in the middle of the room, to¡­. Seven-help-him, was that a pirate shanty blasting through the speakers.

    ¡°Floyd. Jade,¡± Azul dropped his voice into the guttural sonic used by marine life underwater.

    Under the sea, the language sounded pretty. Above water, it was sonic enough to cut through the blaring speakers and shouting party guests, and reach right to where they stood, smiles frozen on their faces, when Azul entered the main lounge.

    Unfortunately, Azul had forgotten that he was¡­.far from looking his best.

    Azul felt a scowl forming on his face as he recalled that his suit jacket had long since been discarded, along with his hat and scarf. His shirt was probably only partially buttoned, as well, and here in front of all these witnesses, as the volume in the room dropped to nothing.

    ¡°SCATTER!¡± Floyd yelled over the guests heads. ¡°TABS LATER! WE¡¯LL MAIL ¡®EM!¡±

    Like minnows before a shark, the crowd dissolved, rushing past Azul and out the doors, and dissolving before his eyes like an overpriced bath bomb.

    ¡°Floyd, if that¡¯s alcohol in the lounge. Served to minors. In the middle of the day¡ª¡± Azul snarled.

    ¡°Boss!¡± Floyd jumped the counter, sauntering over to Azul. ¡°We thought you¡¯d be gone at least another twelve hours. What, solved little shrimpy¡¯s problem already? Or¡­. has she solved yours?¡±

    Floyd¡¯s smile was a bit too wide as he sauntered up to Azul, his yellow eyes lingering uncomfortably long on Azul¡¯s wrinkled clothes, and missing buttons.

    ¡°Had fun, Boss?¡±

    ¡°So nice to see you again, Azul,¡± Jade greeted, his cooking project having mysteriously vanished behind him as he made his way to the lounge floor. ¡°Only gone a day, and so many interesting developments.¡±

    ¡°I can see that,¡± Azul spat. He was going to have a shower. He was going to take a rejuvenation potion, and then he was going to take these eels and hand them by their¡ª

    ¡°Not yet, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Jade sighed dramatically. ¡°This little show was actually Floyd¡¯s attempt at distracting the student body from the more¡­ dramatic developments.¡±

    Azul froze in his villainous internal ramblijng.

    ¡°What developments?¡±

    ¡°The Ramshackle prefect has¡­ friends,¡± Jade said smoothly.

    ¡°She has a prince with a soft head, and a bunch of Pomfiore puffs, and an actual dragon busting down our door asking where she was,¡± Floyd added indecorously.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Jade nodded. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that you and the prefect didn¡¯t just vanish for two days¡ªshe disappeared after already being injured. That means her friends have had 48 full hours to spiral into full-blown panic mode.

    ¡°Where the hell have you been?! She got bit by something and THEN you disappeared? Is it a curse? Did someone take her? Did she join a cult? Blink twice if she needs help,¡± Floyd provided in an imitative voice.

    ¡°Could you not just say you didn¡¯t know?¡± Azul groaned.

    ¡°We considered it,¡± Floyd admitted. ¡°Didn¡¯t work. We could have said you took her away to heal in private.¡±

    ¡°Too dramatic,¡± said Jade.

    ¡°Or that they ran off together for a romantic getaway!¡± Floyd proposed. ¡°I wanted to use that one.¡±

    ¡°We did not,¡± Jade calmed Azul before he could start yelling again.

    ¡°They left together, and she¡¯s safe but didn¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± Floyd suggested, as though he found the idea distasteful.

    ¡°Far too vague,¡± said Jade, and Azul happened to agree.

    ¡°So we decided to distract ¡®em, instead!¡± Floyd said cheerily.

    ¡°And that is the only thing right now keeping you from a good wringing,¡± groaned Azul. ¡°Fortunately, we found a solution, and all will be well and back to normal within a few hours.¡±

    ¡°Will it?¡± Floyd smiled suggestively. ¡°Jade, I don¡¯t think he knows¡­.¡±

    ¡°Knows what?¡± Azul snapped, impatience getting the better of him.

    ¡°It appears his mother did not inform him¡­In that case, there¡¯s something on your desk you really should see, Azul,¡± added Jade.

    If this was one more addition to her ridiculous instructions, Azul was going to have an aneurysm, however, when he stormed up to his office desk, what he found had nothing to do with Yuu.

    ¡°This is impossible.¡± He gaped at the stack of papers on his desk, sure that he was hallucinating.

    ¡°Oh, we thought so, too¡­¡± said Floyd, picking up one of the golden papers, and waving it in front of the light. ¡°But no.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re all real, Azul,¡± said Jade.

    ¡°These were gone. They were destroyed. Leone destroyed them, himself.¡±

    ¡°Well, then, he missed a few¡­.hundred.¡± Floyd shrugged.

    There on his desk, though it wasn¡¯t all of them, was a stack of contracts. HIS contracts. Not all of them, to be sure, but at least half of the ones he¡¯d thought destroyed before he overblotted. Years of power returned to him in a few seconds. Years of collecting, magic, blackmail, leverage, and all here, and intact, and his. It meant he had control over people who hadn¡¯t dealt with him in years. It meant that half of the student body would owe him service long after graduation. He could start an empire with contracts like these¡ªhe had planned to, before¡­

    There was a note waiting for him on the top of the stack.

    These came at quite a cost, but I suspect you¡¯ll find them useful in the days to come. Once your human leaves this world, we have a world of work to do before the others arrive, and a partnership¡ªit appears the Banejaws are willing to sign a deal with us after all.

    <ol>

    <li> R. Ashengrotto</li>

    </ol>

    ¡°This is¡ªthis is¡ª¡±

    ¡°Insane,¡± Floyd supplied.

    ¡°She is your mother,¡± said Jade smoothly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t insult me,¡± Azul groaned.

 Chapter 24: Yuu

    Yuu was early enough to the courtyard to witness Azul¡¯s arrival, and where she was still a mess from magically-induced memory sleep, he was¡­ quite the opposite.

    Yuu had seen Azul at his worst. She¡¯d seen him exhausted, his usually pristine uniform rumpled, his glasses slipping down his nose, his hair in such disarray that Floyd had actually called him ¡°fluffy.¡± She had seen him with ink smudged on his fingers, seawater clinging to his collar, and venom-weary shadows under his eyes. She had seen him come undone.

    But now¡ªnow she was seeing him put back together.

    Freshly cleaned and composed, Azul entered the courtyard like a man who had reclaimed himself. His uniform was immaculate once more, tailored lines emphasizing the sharpness of his frame. His uniform tie was perfectly folded, pinned in place by a silver clip that glinted in the afternoon sun. His gloves were crisp and unblemished, each motion of his hands deliberate, elegant. And his hair¡ªseven hells, his hair¡ªwas back to its usual pristine styling, not a strand out of place, the light catching just enough on the silvery sheen to make him look unfairly divine.

    It was infuriating. It was devastating.

    And then he adjusted his glasses.

    He knew.

    Yuu caught the flicker of amusement in his gaze as he took his time, adjusting the frames with slow, meticulous precision. His fingers, gloved and deliberate, skimmed along the rim before he tilted his chin ever so slightly, peering at her through those ice-blue eyes.

    Oh, dear. She¡¯d been tormenting this man for the past two days¡­.

    ¡°You¡¯re staring, human,¡± Grim muttered, wacking her with his paw.

    Yuu swallowed, hard, right before Azul caught up to them.

    ¡°You¡ªYou cleaned up.¡±

    ¡°Of course. You didn¡¯t think I¡¯d stay disheveled forever, did you?¡± His smirk was criminal. The smooth confidence in his voice a far cry from the Azul she¡¯d been tormenting the past two days.

    Pull yourself together, Yuu! You¡¯re tired. You¡¯re venomed. He¡¯s not that serious, remember?

    She wanted to be mad about it. She wanted to roll her eyes, to make a joke, something to cut through the heat curling in her stomach. But all she could think about was how unfairly, obnoxiously attractive he looked when he wasn¡¯t on the verge of passing out.

    Readjusting the bag at his side, he produced a silver flask, and offered it to her.

    ¡°For you,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°Thought you might need it.¡±

    ¡°Are you trying to make my human owe you something?" Grim pawed at one of Azul¡¯s shoes suspiciously.

    Azul rolled his eyes. "Would it kill you to assume I have some basic decency?"

    ¡°Hmmm¡­..¡± Grim growled.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be rude, Grim,¡± Yuu said, embarrassed, but not entirely trusting, herself. She accepted the flask and opened it, and smelled something minty, and a little floral. ¡°Thank you, Azul. What is this?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a refresher tea, with some rejuvenation potion. Don¡¯t worry, Jade did not prepare it. It was me.¡±

    Yuu couldn¡¯t help laughing. She took a quick swig from the flask. ¡°Well, if it wasn¡¯t Jade, then I¡¯m satisfied.¡±

    The effects were immediate, energy and a feeling of restedness shooting down to her toes. She could practically feel the bags under her eyes packing up and leaving.

    ¡°Wow, Azul¡­ that¡¯s¡­. That¡¯s fantastic.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m considering adding it to the lounge¡¯s menu,¡± he said with a quick, sleek sort of smile.

    ¡°I would come more often if it were¡­Um. The three hours is almost up. Should we¡­?¡±

    It was certainly awkward, now that she was more awake, and fully processing Azul¡¯s proximity as he sat her down on the stony courtyard bench. A clear, waking breeze blustered through the courtyard, blowing her hair into her face, and hardly touching Azul¡¯s. Unfair.

    Grim watched in horror, and distrust as Yuu undid her top button to give Azul access to the mark, but he at least had the decency to cover his eyes with a paw when Azul started the, ahem, medical process.

    Yuu was infinitely grateful that this whole thing forced Azul into a position where he couldn¡¯t see her face. This time was different from the others. She barely felt him over the clamoring heat of her own traitorous face.

    It was of course, at the most crucial point of the withdrawal, when his magic was reaching through her actual veins, that everything went terribly wrong.

    Ace and Deuce chose that moment to come barreling into the courtyard like they were ready to make a citizen¡¯s arrest.

    "YUU?! What the hell¡ª?!" Ace skidded to a stop, eyes darting from her, to Azul, to Azul¡¯s arms around her, to his mouth glued to her shoulder. "Okay. Okay. Let¡¯s start with the obvious¡ªWHY ARE YOU WITH AZUL?"

    She winced as Azul twitched, doubtlessly focusing all his attention on finishing this quickly.

    Deuce, panting from the sprint, looked even more alarmed. "You disappeared for TWO DAYS! We thought you got kidnapped! And now you¡¯re alone with him?" His voice cracked at the last word. ¡°Doing¡­. Um¡­.¡±

    ¡°You guys have the timing of a sneeze during a sword-swallowing act,¡± she growled at them as they approached. ¡°Wait a minute, would you?¡±

    ¡°Hey, human, I sorta wanna know the answer to these questions, too,¡± Grim chimed in unhelpfully.

    Twenty of the most awkward, painful seconds of Yuu¡¯s life passed while Ace and Dauce got closer, and Grim decided to come out from behind his paw and leer with the other two. She wasn¡¯t the only one who had gone stiff. Azul, once a warm barrier against the chill blowing over campus, was now as stony as one of the rooftop gargoyles as his magic reached through her¡ªfaster, and much less comfortably¡ªto finish what he¡¯d started.

    Then, once he was done, he slyly slipped one of his handkerchiefs onto the wound so that the blood wouldn¡¯t be visible, and turned to face their audience.

    Azul, ever the picture of patience, gave a pleasant, businesslike smile and adjusted his glasses.

    "Gentlemen, please. Must everyone always assume the worst of me?"

    Ace¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Yes. Yes, we must." He pointed an accusing finger. "And don¡¯t try to talk your way out of this, Octopus! Yuu disappears under mysterious circumstances, and when she finally resurfaces, she¡¯s alone with you¡ªwith your hands all over her like you own her!"

    Yuu groaned. "It¡¯s not like that¡ª"

    She stopped mid-tracks.

    Technically, it was exactly like that, but Azul was trying to fix it¡­.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Ace, ignoring her completely, kept pointing dramatically. "Admit it, Azul! You kidnapped her, didn''t you?! Or¡ªOR WORSE¡ª" He gasped, face twisting in exaggerated horror. "Did you propose?!"

    Azul made an undignified choking noise. "Excuse me?"

    "Yeah, Azul! What did you do to her?!" Deuce demanded, crossing his arms.

    Azul straightened his coat, clearly trying to regain his composure. "If you must know, Yuu and I were simply¡ª"

    "I was poisoned," Yuu cut in flatly, hoping to salvage what little sanity remained in the conversation.

    Deuce''s face paled. "Poisoned?! Wait, WHAT?!"

    Ace threw his hands in the air. "And YOU were the one treating her?!" He turned to Yuu. "Yuu, blink twice if you need help!"

    Yuu scowled. "Oh, for the love of¡ªNo! It¡¯s¡ªIt¡¯s a long story! But the crucial part of it is is that he is TREATING me, Ace. As in HELPING!"

    Ace¡¯s eyes widened. "It¡¯s TRUE! You are being held hostage!" He grabbed Deuce¡¯s arm. "Quick! You grab her, I¡¯ll grab him, and we¡¯ll be outta here before¡ª¡±

    ¡°You go ahead and go, Azul,¡± Yuu muttered to Azul. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t complain,¡± Azul said smoothly, already withdrawing.

    ¡°Thanks for the tea,¡± she mumbled, as he collected himself and headed for the hallways, Ace and Deuce now arguing so heatedly, the delusional duo didn¡¯t notice his withdrawal until Azul was already halfway out of the courtyard.

    ¡°Hey! Stop right there!¡± Ace shouted after him. He didn¡¯t slow.

    Deuce, however, was staring at Yuu¡¯s shoulder¡ªthe spot where the venom had been pulled from. His expression darkened. "Ace¡­ I think she¡¯s telling the truth."

    Ace followed his gaze, and his face contorted in even deeper horror. "OH SEVEN. He BIT you?! Azul, what the HELL?!"

    Yuu pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling slowly. "He did not bite me. If you¡¯d allow me to explain¡ª"

    Ace ignored him. "I KNEW IT. I KNEW he was shady, but I didn¡¯t think he was feral!"

    It was all Yuu could do to talk them down and get them to the next class, although persuading Ace not to go spreading wild rumors about her and Azul¡­ she might not be planning on staying in this world for much longer, but she still wouldn¡¯t with the kind of stories Ace could come up with on anyone¡ªespecially since Azul was heling her, thank-you-very-much.

    Unfortunately, their next few meetings throughout the day didn¡¯t get much better.

    Yuu messaged Azul suggesting that they should meet on the sports field, behind the bleachers next, for more privacy.

    Covered in sweat from class, Yuu met Azul before his own class began.

    ¡°Are you sure¡­we should keep meeting on campus?¡± she panted.

    ¡°It is your schedule that is difficult, not mine,¡± Azul retorted, looking as ruffled as she had from Vargas¡¯ demands.

    Once more, just as they began, the PE class decided to take a sudden lap around the bleachers. Most were too focused on the competition to see them, but Jack howl saw them and immediately stopped mid-run.

    ¡°...Should I be concerned, Yuu?¡± he said, leveling a growl at Azul.

    ¡°No!¡± Yuu exclaimed trying frantically to wave him off before anyone else saw him.

    ¡°Leave,¡± Azul snarled back, from around her shoulder.

    Jack, of course, did not leave, peppering them with MORE questions before Vargas had to come and pull him back, himself.

    Having learned from bad experience, they met next in an empty classroom. Just as Azul started extraction, the door opened, and a gaggle of students also looking for an empty study room froze in the doorway.

    ¡°Oh, Seven! My bad!¡± the student exclaimed, slamming the door on them.

    ¡°At least this time they only think we were making out,¡± Yuu said insensitively.

    ¡°I¡¯m already resigned to the rumors this is going to start,¡± Azul grumbled, straightening his tie.

    ¡°And you have a plan to mitigate them?¡± she checked.

    ¡°Obviously.¡±

    The last time, and arguably the worst, happened during Azul¡¯s evening lab.

    Azul dragged Yuu into the alchemy lab because it had the tools to monitor how much venom was left in her bloodstream, and carried the added perk of him having reserved it for the evening. Unfortunately, he¡¯d forgotten that Professor Crewel liked to monitor the building after hours.

    The professor walked in with Azul hovering dangerously close to Yuu, her shirt unbuttoned, and immediately adopted the scariest face Yuu had ever seen on a teacher. It was part scowl, part threatening grin, and she was certain that if she¡¯d been showing any signs of real distress, Azul might have ended up as a greasy smear on the floor.

    ¡°If you¡¯re going to seduce my favorite mutt, Ashengrotto, at least have the decency to finish your other¡­.assignments first.¡±

    He said it as though ¡®other assignments¡¯ were going to start including untested potion consumption, and tutoring first-years free of charge.

    ¡°This is NOT what it looks like,¡± Azul shouted over the cauldron, looking highly offended.

    ¡°Then perhaps there is incompetence present in TWO forms¡­ really, I expected better.¡±

    Crewel then swept out of the room, leaving them both stunned.

    ¡°Years of cultivation of a reputation with my professors¡­¡± Azul groaned at the closed door.

    ¡°And now he thinks you¡¯re a bad kisser,¡± Yuu blurted.

    ¡°That is the least of my problems, Yuu,¡± Azul hissed, looking truly upset for the first time since they¡¯d begun this venture together.

    Yuu reached up, to do what, she wasn¡¯t sure. Comfort him? Pat his hair? Kiss him to prove Crewel¡¯s suspicions were unfounded?

    She paused midway, unsure.

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think it would help if I chased after him to set the record straight,¡± she offered. ¡°But for what its worth, I do think that the amount of distrust you¡¯ve been getting is¡­ insulting.¡±

    ¡°I keep telling myself that it¡¯s better than the alternative¡­¡± Azul groaned.

    ¡°The alternative?¡±

    As if on cue, Floyd and Jade slithered into the room, grins wide, and eyes twinkling.

    ¡°Oh, no¡­.¡±

    "Oh my. Azul, I didn¡¯t realize you were keeping her all to yourself now.¡± Jade was beaming.

    "Daaang, Boss, are you sure this is about venom? You seem awfully close~" Floyd preened, already pacing around the cauldron to grin down at Yuu.

    ¡°"Ooooh, look at you, Boss, all fidgety for your little guppy~?"

    Azul maintained his composure, albeit barely.

    "I am not fidgeting. This is a professional arrangement¡ª"

    Jade ignored him. "You know, Azul, you''ve never let anyone get this close before."

    Yuu cringed into azul as Jade leaned too close.

    "Whoaaaa, Boss! Look at you, all up in each other¡¯s space~! You know, we¡¯ve been hearing all sortsa tasty rumors today. Didn¡¯t think they were true.¡±

    Azul pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing his glasses back into place.

    ¡°Floyd, I swear on the Seven, I am going to use you as ingredients in this very cauldron if you don¡¯t desist."

    ¡°Oooh, violence!¡± Floyd preened. ¡°You know, Yuu, he doesn¡¯t bust out the violence for just anyone. Feeling special?¡±

    ¡°You would be the ¡®just anyone,¡¯ in this situation, Floyd,¡± Azul growled.

    Floyd shrugged. ¡°And I am special.¡±

    Jade, watched Yuu¡¯s reactions to all of this, wearing the face of a poultry inspector.

    "You know, Miss Yuu, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen Azul voluntarily lose his composure like this before. Fascinating, isn¡¯t it?"

    "WHY ARE YOU ENCOURAGING THEM, JADE?! And FLOYD! How did you two even get in here?¡±

    ¡°Lockpicking, Azul!¡± Floyd crowed. ¡°It¡¯s a calling.¡±

    ¡°OUT!¡± Azul ordered.

    The twins only cackled.

    ¡°So, Yuu! You staying at Octavinelle tonight, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course she is, Jade,¡± Floyd smarmed. ¡°Azul¡¯s not going to be traipsing around campus in the dead of night.¡±

    ¡°Scandalous,¡± Jade added.

    ¡°How the rumors would change¡­¡±

    ¡°Perhaps he should, then¡­¡±

    Any composure Azul had left dissolved. Well, almost all of it. He calmly picked up a stack of papers, and threw them at the twins¡¯ heads.

    ¡°Both of you, LEAVE. NOW,¡± he demanded.

    ¡°Come, Floyd!¡± Jade agreed, brushing papers from his shoulders. ¡°We have things to prepare.¡±

    ¡°Extra rooms to destroy?¡± Floyd suggested.

    ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t going to SAY it,¡± Jade snickered, as the tweels slithered out the way they¡¯d come.

    Azul was actively refusing to look at her.

    ¡°So¡­¡± Yuu sighed awkwardly. ¡°Octavinelle tonight?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­. unfortunately,¡± Azul groaned.

 Chapter 25: Azul

    Azul returned from the disastrous venom removal session, anxious for this all to be over tomorrow, only to find an even larger disaster waiting for him in the entry to the closed Mostro Lounge.

    "Jade. What. Is. This."

    "Oh my, Azul, I merely thought I¡¯d make the atmosphere more¡­ conducive to a pleasant interaction. A little warmth. A little privacy. A little¡ª"

    "Jade, I swear, if you say ¡®romance¡¯ I will drown you in the aquarium myself."

    Jade smiled as he adjusted a candle on a table.

    "I would never.¡±

    "Undo all of it. Immediately."

    "Ah, but wouldn¡¯t it be a shame if Yuu didn¡¯t see all the effort I put into this first? And it would be so very convenient, if I let her know all of the lovely things you haven¡¯t told her yet."

    ¡°You¡¯re reading into this, Jade.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps¡­ but does she know how long you stare after her each time she leaves¡­ for years?¡ªnot that I blame you, of course. She is quite something to watch, what with those pretty human legs.¡±

    Azul went rigid as realization dawned. Yuu WAS due any moment. And Floyd and Jade were being incredibly loose-lipped.

    "You wouldn¡¯t."

    "Wouldn¡¯t I?"

    ¡°Dare I ask what in the sevens has gotten into you and Floy¡ª¡±

    Before Azul could properly finish that sentence, or even finish fully forming the threats that came to his mind when it came to Jade¡¯s behavior at the moment. Before he could even strangle him properly, he heard a small, feminine ¡®ahem,¡¯ from the doorway, and knew that his time was up.

    Azul could practically hear the gears turning in Yuu¡¯s head as she took in the same room that he had, and somehow with her here, it all looked even more incriminating.

    Jade had outdone himself.

    The entry tables of the Mostro Lounge were arranged with the precision of a man who knew exactly how to create an atmosphere. The usual pristine table settings had been altered¡ªjust subtly enough to suggest something intentional.

    Soft, bioluminescent lanterns cast a low, shimmering glow over the tabletops, making the polished surfaces gleam with an almost underwater illusion. The tablecloths, usually deep navy, had been swapped for a richer, midnight blue, embroidered with delicate silver threads that mimicked the swirling currents of the sea. At the very center of each table sat an elegant, hand-blown glass bowl, inside which drifted clusters of glowing sea flora. Not too bright, not too dim¡ªjust enough to catch the eye and bathe the surrounding area in a cool, ethereal glow. Small, delicate shells had been arranged along the edges, their pearlescent hues gleaming faintly under the light.

    Of course, that was where any ¡®subtlety¡¯ ended.

    Yuu''s menu, unlike any of the others, had been personalized. The Mostro Lounge¡¯s usual scripted elegance remained, but the dish names had been tweaked¡ªeach one a playful nod to something very specific about her.

    A cocktail labeled "Land-dweller¡¯s Dilemma" promised a drink so strong it could almost make someone forget their existential crises. "Grim¡¯s Favorite (But You Deserve Better)" offered a high-end seafood dish¡ªpointedly not tuna.

    The lights were dimmed. Candles were everywhere. Violin music played through the speakers in the back.

    Jade, ever the picture of mischief in a butler¡¯s suit, stood off to the side, watching Yuu¡¯s reaction with a knowing smirk.

    "Oh?" he mused, feigning innocence as she eyed the table settings with suspicion. "Did something catch your eye?"

    Azul clocked Yuu¡¯s discomfort rising as the details registered.

    ¡°Wow, Azul. When you said dinner¡­. I suppose you never do anything halfway.¡±

    Azul, internally stamping down the roil of emotion in his own frame, bit out the first words that came to him.

    "I. Had. Nothing. To. Do. With. This."

    Jade swanned between them, already laying plates onto the nearest table, suddenly the picture of angelic innocence.

    "Our dear Azul was simply hoping to make you feel comfortable."

    "I see¡­.¡± said Yuu, her eyes narrowing on Jade¡ªthank the sevens, the woman had a modicum of intelligence. ¡°You had nothing to do with this either, I suppose, Jade?¡±

    Jade actually managed to respond with a straight face under her scrutiny.

    "Why, I am but a humble employee."

    That, however, was where Azul¡¯s relief ended. Yuu turned her attention back on him, smirking.

    "So, Azul. Candles? Music? Me staying the night¡­ is this where you tell me we¡¯re sharing a room?¡±

    Azul nearly choked. "Absolutely not¡ª"

    The kitchen door slammed open, and Floyd swanned out, bearing covered platters.

    "WHOOO¡¯S READY FOR LOVE~?" he sing-songed.

    Then, to Azul¡¯s cumulative horror, Floyd began a sort of rhythmic server¡¯s dance as he laid out the platters, loudly belting a song he had evidently composed himself:

    Romance is in the air, Zulie¡¯s finally got a lady fair!

    Yuu who was smitten, the day she was bitten!

    Take a good look, she¡¯s starting to fall.

    Well, if not, she can run but she won¡¯t get far,

    So if you don¡¯t manage to ruin it all,

    Maybe you won¡¯t die alone!

    Hey she¡¯s got options, but what about you?

    Calm down your face, have you got the flu?

    Congratulations, you¡¯re not going to end up with 47 cats after all.

    Make your move, she¡¯s starting to fall.

    Bring your sweet cheeks down where it¡¯s wetter,

    Honestly, do you think you can do better?

    At that moment, Yuu had evidently reached her threshold of tolerance for this sort of situation, and burst into laughter. Marvelous.

    ¡°That was¡ªthat was really stirring stuff, Floyd,¡± she gasped out, actual tears forming in her eyes. Then, she stage whispered to himself: ¡°Azul, is this the twins¡¯ idea of a joke?"

    Azul¡¯s smile was tight,a mixture of resignation and begrudging amusement.

    "Oh, it¡¯s certainly a joke.¡±

    ¡°So mean! Don¡¯t listen to him, Yuu. This is romance at its finest!¡± crowed Floyd, giving them a small bow.

    Yuu snorted. ¡°Very romantic. Top marks.¡±

    Azul felt his expression flicker.

    "No, no, this is simply... a business dinner. Nothing more, nothing less."

    Yuu¡¯s eyebrow quirked, but before she could retort, Jade uncovered the tray of appetizers in front of them.

    Azul''s eyes flicked nervously to the side. "This is, of course, just a reminder of how well Jade knows his clientele. Nothing more." He reached for a bite, trying to maintain his composure, but his hand froze just before his mouth.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing¡­ in these, is there, boys?¡±

    ¡°Straight and honest peppers,¡± Jade said with an unconvincingly innocent smile.

    ¡°Mushroom-free,¡± clarified Floyd.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    Azul¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°For once, that¡¯s not what I was worried about.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine,¡± Jade attuned, snickering from the corner.

    "...I am going to have a stroke,¡± Azul groaned from between his fingers.

    Floyd was delighted. "That¡¯s the spirit, Boss!"

    ¡°Come now, Floyd!¡± Jade announced dramatically. ¡°It¡¯s time to leave these two ALONE.¡±

    "Awww, but I wanna see how the date goes~¡± Floyd whined, but not persuasively enough to prevent Jade from physically dragging him from the room.

    The door slammed behind them, leaving Azul and Yuu in room with suspicious food, the remnants of music still playing, and at least a hundred lit candles.

    Azul could feel Yuu¡¯s eyes on him, in her seat next to his at the table, and wondered, not for the last time, if things could possible get worse.

    ¡°Keep glaring at the table. If you do it long enough, it might start paying you rent.¡±

    Azul huffed an anxious cough.

    ¡°Breathe, Azul, it could have been worse,¡± Yuu soothed.

    ¡°Could it? I shudder to wonder¡ª¡±

    Apparently, Yuu was far more calm than he.

    ¡°Instead of Floyd and Jade, it could have been Ace, Deuce, and Grim. Have you ever heard them sing? It¡¯s enough to want to remove your eardrums with a blunt stick.¡±

    ¡°I believe I¡¯ve already experienced that tonight, so¡­. I ask again. Are you sure?¡±

    He chanced a look at her, and found her smiling thoughtfully, but not anxiously.

    Unexpected.

    ¡°You could always come for dinner at my place, and we¡¯ll test it out,¡± she offered.

    Ah, so the horrors could continue.

    ¡°No, no¡­ I think I¡¯ll pass on that invitation,¡± he declined quickly.

    Completely unoffended, Yuu merely shrugged.

    ¡°It¡¯s just as well. They can¡¯t cook either¡ªunless you count canned tuna.¡±

    ¡°I do not.¡±

    She snickered. ¡°Neither do I. They¡¯ve come up with some truly inedible substances with the ingredients I¡¯ve bought them. Biggest waste of money. They put a whole new meaning on ¡®burn an allowance.¡¯¡±

    ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is that Floyd and Jade¡­ come out on top. Despite all of this.¡± He gestured to the general everything.

    She nodded. ¡°They¡¯re winning if we count the food alone¡ªwhoa¡ª¡±

    She uncovered the dish with their plates. It wasn¡¯t anything that the lounge didn¡¯t usually serve. Salmon filets with lemon. Kale salad with buttered greens. A miniscule side of limoncello sauce.

    ¡°Is¡ªis something wrong?¡± Azul asked, suddenly nervous for an entirely different reason.

    ¡°Tell me something, Azul,¡± Yuu shot him a playful grin.

    Unexpected.

    ¡°Mm?¡±

    ¡°I¡­wouldn¡¯t happen to be footing the bill for this venture? Because if I am, it¡¯s definitely an excellent choice of bait.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you approve of the selection,¡± Azul said tightly. ¡°But contrary to rumors, I do actually have the ability to treat guests well. And you are my guest.¡±

    Her face fell.

    ¡°I was only teasing. Sorry. After today¡­ my goodness, I¡¯ve never seen so many people be so¡­ so rude.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing new,¡± he brushed off. ¡°I do work in food service.¡±

    ¡°Eurgh. Yes, you do. That would give anyone thicker skin. Or a mental breakdown.¡±

    ¡°Both. You have met the twins?¡±

    ¡°Now the song makes sense,¡± she snorted.

    ¡°Quite.¡±

    They ate in companionable¡ªif not stiff¡ªsilence for the most part, although his own stomach was churning from the presentation, Yuu was entirely unfazed. She was always unfazed.

    ¡°Yuu¡­¡± he found himself saying. ¡°Does nothing ever upset you?¡±

    She blinked up at him from a nearly-finished plate.

    ¡°You¡¯ve seen me upset plenty.¡±

    ¡°Have I?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t remember?¡±

    But the truth was, he didn¡¯t. Overblots, catastrophes, potential insanity and death, and Yuu faced them all with the same unbreakable optimism with which she¡¯d dealt with the twins.

    ¡°No¡­¡± he said at last. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°And these last three days don¡¯t count?¡± she asked, still staring.

    ¡°Were you upset?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ it did help that you were with me. But before I knew what was going on, yes. I was fairly angry.¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± he said, searching her face. He had the feeling that she¡¯d just admitted something deeply personal, and yet, something that he already should have known.

    ¡°I¡¯m almost afraid to ask,¡± Yuu ventured after a pause that lasted too long, ¡°but where exactly am I staying tonight? I have a feeling Floyd¡¯s going to try to drag me somewhere.¡±

    ¡°He won¡¯t,¡± Azul said, too quickly. ¡°That is to say¡ªyou¡¯ll have one of the empty dorm rooms. I keep track of all of our lodging here, and there are plenty of open beds.¡±

    Yuu was visibly relieved.

    ¡°Thank you. I have a feeling that if I wasn¡¯t put somewhere by you, I¡¯d end up as a chew toy for Floyd some time in the night.¡±

    ¡°Not while I¡¯m housewarden,¡± Azul promised.

    He only just kept himself from jumping when she reached out and squeezed his fingers.

    ¡°I believe it.¡±

    It was with that that dinner ended¡ªthat small display of trust. Had Yuu been anyone else, Azul would have delegated her lodging situation to almost anyone else in the dorm. As things stood, Yuu had been right¡ªJade and Floyd would most certainly have tried to influence her sleeping situation. So, he walked her to an empty room personally, and made sure everything was there¡ªand nothing was cursed, enchanted, or worse¡ªpheromoned.

    Satisfied, he renewed the venom extraction uninterrupted¡ªfor once¡ªand left for the safety of his own office, which was his final mistake of the day.

    The moment he was content in his chair, ready to finish the final papers of the day, Jade and Floyd pounced.

    ¡°So¡­..¡± Jade smarmed, sailing into the room as though this were his office, and not Azul¡¯s.

    ¡°Sooooo,¡± echoed Floyd.

    ¡°No,¡± Azul said curtly.

    ¡°You do realize that everything tonight was a test, yes?" said Jade.

    Azul looked up warily. "...A test."

    Floyd plopped himself on the leather sofa across from the desk.

    "Yup! And you FAILED~"

    "I¡ª what?!"

    Jade draped himself dramatically across the settee across from Floyd, looking wounded.

    "We made the setting perfectly romantic, and what did you do? Flail. Panic. Nearly combust."

    "You could¡¯ve used all that ambiance to make a move! But nooo, you just turned into a sad little squid and suffered~."

    "I was sabotaged, if you recall¡ª"

    "Mmm. Were you? Or did you simply prove how terribly in love you are?"

    Azul glared, stilling in his seat.

    Floyd grinned, snapping his fingers in the air. "He¡¯s got it baaaaaaad~¡±

    Jade nodded sagely. "Desperately."

    "Tragically~"

    "Unrecoverably."

    "Soooo, Azul~. When are you gonna admit you''re totally in love with Yuu? And it¡¯s been coming on for¡­ man, it¡¯s been a while, Jadie!"

    "I know this is a vain wish, especially considering how tonight went, but I¡¯d appreciate it if the both of you wouldn¡¯t be so ridiculous,¡± Azul said stiffly.

    "Oh, I don''t believe we are, Azul,¡± said Jade.

    "You¡¯ve been all grumpy and mopey every time she leaves. You like having her around~"

    "I am merely... accustomed to the schedule.¡± Azul winced. Even he could hear the lie. Yuu had been nothing but a catastrophe to ¡®the schedule¡¯ from day one.

    "Mmm. And yet, you seemed quite disappointed when she left just now."

    "You even leaned forward a little, like you wanted her to stay¡­"

    "I¡ª" Azul paused, suddenly realizing he did do that, but not for the reasons they were saying¡­right?

    "Face it, Azul. You¡¯ve already lost,¡± Jade sighed.

    "Yup! Now you just gotta reel her in!" Floyd sang gratingly.

    "You can pretend all you like, but even you know you¡¯ll regret it if you let her leave for good."

    "I... I need to think.¡±

    "Better think fast, Boss! Before someone else snatches her up,¡± Floyd gestured downward in a motion that meant to say ¡®like me, for example.¡¯

    ¡°If you both recall, she is in a tricky position right now, but, come morning, that little situation will have been rectified, and she will be free to go her merry way,¡± said Azul.

    ¡°So just message her later, Boss. What¡¯s the big deal?¡±

    Azul sighed, his face falling into his hands. He hated to say this aloud, but not saying it didn¡¯t make it any less true.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean, Floyd. My mother has provided Yuu with a way to go back to her world. We all know she shouldn¡¯t have been able to come here in the first place, and once she goes, she won¡¯t be able to return. Then, I¡ªthat is to say, none of us will ever see her again, and don¡¯t you dare try to stop her. This is her choice. Her world. Her family.¡±

    Jade and Floyd stared at him in stunned silence.

    ¡°Have you told her that you want her to stay?¡± Jade asked quietly, just when it seemed like the silence was going to be enough to crush the three of them with its pressure.

    Azul groaned. ¡°I¡¯m not that selfish, Jade. She needs to go.¡±

    ¡°What if she wants to stay? It¡¯s not like she can¡¯t just say no! But this isn''t¡¯ fair, Azul. She doesn¡¯t have all the information,¡± Floyd whined.

    ¡°Which would accomplish what, Floyd? Make it harder for her to go? She doesn¡¯t belong here any more than fish belong out of water!¡±

    Floyd huffed dismissively. ¡°We are fish out of water, and we¡¯re doing fine.¡±

    Azul stood, too agitated to stay in his seat.

    ¡°Perhaps that was a flawed analogy¡­.the point remains that she is a magicless human. She does not, and will never belong.¡±

    Jade hummed, tapping a cheek with his free hand. ¡°That¡¯s not what the rest of campus is saying. Do you think you¡¯ll be the only one sad to see her go?¡±

    Azul spluttered. ¡°I¡ªthat¡¯s not¡ªthat shouldn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s her choice, FLoyd. Jade. Please don¡¯t make this any harder for her than I¡¯m sure it will be.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be a salmon up a damn¡­¡± Jade whistled. ¡°You do care.¡±

    ¡°Of course I care!¡± Azul snapped irritably, slamming his gloves onto the desk in front of him. ¡°But I also have other things to care about, Jade. For example, why is there an invoice on my desk for an order of 5,000 thaumarks in mushroom harvesting equipment. And Floyd. We don¡¯t serve alcohol in the lounge. Why do I see seven crates of tequila in the order slips!?¡±

    Both twins¡¯ faces immediately went blank.

    ¡°Slip of the hand?¡±

    ¡°Clerical error?¡±

    ¡°Who can say?¡± they said in unison.

    Azul groaned, waving the papers for good measure. ¡°I¡¯m going to bed, and if either of you wakes me before the next three hours are up, I will take these invoices, and burn them.

    He moved with his usual efficiency, but not quickly enough to avoid hearing the twins¡¯ voices drifting after him down the hallway.

    "Well. I do believe we¡¯ve done a good deed today, Floyd."

    "Yeah! We totally helped him fall in love!"

    ¡°Hm¡­ he really is, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    Azul was absolutely going to burn those invoices.

 Chapter 26: Yuu

    The hours in which Yuu found sleep felt like days, time compressing and seething as a lifetime fought to restore itself in her head. Her breathing was slow, steady, but beneath her closed eyelids, the flicker of memories played like lanternfish gliding through deep waters¡ªbrief glimmers of light, then gone again. Then another. And another.

    The past did not return all at once, but rather in waves, lapping gently at the edges of her consciousness before surging forward, swallowing her whole.

    A child''s laughter, hers, ringing through the corridors of a place long forgotten. The warmth of a hand clutching hers, the weight of a promise made under starlight. A name whispered in the hush of the wind, spoken by a voice she had missed without ever knowing why. Faces¡ªso many of them that she¡¯d known and loved, making her both happy and desperately sad. Even if she did return, she knew, those faces would no longer be the same.

    She shifted in her sleep, lips parting as if to respond to some distant call, fingers twitching as if reaching for something¡ªsomeone¡ªwho had been just out of reach.

    A lifetime unraveled in the space between heartbeats.

    However, beyond those sweet times, she could feel whatever it was¡ªsomething dark, tremulous, and altering, growing nearer with every blip of information that Nerissa¡¯s magic brought back to her.

    What was it, from her past life, that she was so afraid to see? What had the dark mirror hidden from her?

    Once more, however, Yuu did not have to face that thing, because she was being shaken awake.

    Yuu groggily opened her eyes to find Azul standing over her bed, looking¡­different than she¡¯d imagined him sleeping in Octavinelle, but, she sleepily admitted to herself, not even businessmen slept in suits.

    Azul¡¯s sleepwear was the kind of luxury that whispered rather than shouted. A deep navy silk robe, embroidered subtly with curling ocean waves along the hem, draped over his shoulders, cinched just enough at the waist to hint at the shape beneath without being indecent.

    Pity.

    Beneath it, a light, sleeveless tunic and pants clung a little too well to his frame, the fabric soft and well-worn in contrast to the sharp tailoring of his usual attire. Without his glasses, his expression softened, less guarded, less calculating. His silver hair, usually so meticulously styled, had relaxed into soft waves, one errant lock slipping down over his forehead in a way that was unfairly charming. And yet, even in his sleepiness, there was something composed about him, like he was ready to bargain with the night itself if opportunity presented.

    ¡°This will be easier if you sit,¡± he said tiredly¡ªgrumpily.

    She opened her mouth to say something clever, but what came out was a groggy, "Why¡¯s it still dark outside?"

    He helped pull her to sit.

    "Because it''s two in the morning, and I¡¯m the only thing keeping you from a slow, agonizing death. Hold still."

    Yuu slumped over him, both leaning on each other in the sleepy haze. The feeling of his magic seeping into her was still uncomfortable, but not nearly as bad as it had been the first time. She could even see signs of the bite mark starting to heal normally.

    "You¡¯re looking a little rough, Ashengrotto,¡± she mumbled into his hair.

    Hypocrite, she chided herself.

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    "You, my dear, are a parasite,¡± he said, once he¡¯d finished.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one sucking my blood¡­?¡± she mumbled, still slumped over him. He didn¡¯t seem like he had the energy to argue, much less pull away.

    ¡°Mhm,¡± was the only sleepy answer she got from him.

    They were going to have to do this again in three hours. She sighed, leaning farther into his silk-clad arms. He didn¡¯t fight her when she leaned¡ªmore like flopped¡ªboth of them back down.

    ¡°Have to go,¡± he mumbled into her neck.

    ¡°Three hours,¡± she grumbled back. It was the only argument they both needed. He could do this again, and then leave later.

    His sleepy brain could have understood this, or perhaps he was just too tired, because second later, the heavy rumble of his slow breaths were lulling her back to sleep.

    This time, falling asleep was more urgent, the magic pulling her harder through the memories she had left like memory whiplash.

    She saw the most recent memories before she¡¯d left her world. The memories weren¡¯t just dumping knowledge into her brain; they were presenting her a different view of herself.  She already knew that she wasn¡¯t the same person as the one she now remembered. So, would she even fit back in her old life?

    The answer struck her, just as that dark cloud looming on the edge of the sea of memories reached her at last.

    There had been an accident¡ªbut not for her. Her father loved travel. He had to travel for business. He¡¯d learned to fly his own planes¡ªnot just to save cost, but because he loved the feeling of soaring through the air. One night, he, and her brother had gone, and simply never come back.

    There were police at the door, explaining to her mother. Bodies ripped apart. No saving them. Gone on impact. And so many plastic bags of belongings returned to them, drenched in dried blood and fluids.

    Her mother had gone to pieces¡ªof course she had. Yuu herself had fought to get scholarships and into the college of her dreams¡ªbecause she had to. She had a future to rebuild. Her mother had remarried. Her sister had charted her own course. They had to. They had to.

    And even though it had been long enough that her heart no longer bled, the memory of that moment came back to her, pain as fresh as the week after it had happened, when she¡¯d finally let herself feel the sting of reality.

    Yuu woke to the pain of sharp tears and ragged breath. Mortified. Azul was still there.

    Azul shifted beside her, drawn from the edges of sleep by the trembling at his side. His voice was thick with exhaustion, his usual precision dulled into something softer.

    ¡°¡­Yuu?¡±

    She froze. It was one thing to cry alone¡ªit was another to be caught like this, tangled in the sheets, curled too close. She couldn¡¯t have felt more exposed if she¡¯d woken up naked. Mortification burned through her, but the betrayal of her own body was worse. Her shoulders shook with the effort to keep quiet.

    ¡°Just a dream,¡± she whispered, but her voice wavered, the lie crumbling before it could even take shape.

    Azul exhaled, long and slow. His fingers twitched where they had barely, instinctively, reached toward her in his half-conscious state. He was clearly still lost somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, but even so, he sighed, shifting toward her, and curling her into the lapels of his robe without opening his eyes.

    ¡°¡­Terrible liar,¡± he mumbled, more asleep than not, his voice low, rumbling. ¡°Memories can be¡­.¡±

    But he never finished his sentence. His hand, heavy with drowsiness, brushed against hers before he stilled completely, his breath evening out once more. Yuu swallowed hard, the lump in her throat thick and unbearable, letting him curl around her, laying halfway on top of her as he fell asleep once more.

    She should move. She should leave. But in the heavy quiet of the room, the warmth of him steady beside her, the weight of the past pressing on her chest¡ªshe stayed. Azul¡¯s calm steadiness kept her, pulling her back into a sleep that was¡ªfor once¡ªunmolested by the hard, artificial pull of foreign magic.

    Instead¡­instead she could have sworn she felt his magic¡ªtraces of it under her skin, defending her temporarily from anything that could bother her. It pushed away her fear. It shoved at Nerissa¡¯s magic, telling it to leave her be¡ªat least for now.

    So, warm next to Azul, Yuu slept, feeling more calm, more whole, more safe, than she had in any other time since the night her family was torn in half.

 Chapter 27: Yuu

    The first thing Yuu became aware of was warmth¡ªtoo much warmth. Not the kind of warmth that came from blankets or the morning sun creeping through the curtains. No, this was solid warmth, something firm pressed against her back, something exhaling softly near the shell of her ear.

    Then the second thing hit her.

    That something was Azul.

    Her mind caught up in sluggish horror, piecing together last night. The exhaustion. The venom removals. The memories. The crying.

    Oh, no.

    Embarrassment seized her as she tried to shift, but that only made things worse. Azul¡¯s grip instinctively tightened around her waist, his fingers flexing on her hip. A very quiet, very content hum rumbled against her back. The soft, slow vibration sent a warm, tingling sensation through her, letting her know exactly where they¡¯d ended up in the night.

    Azul¡¯s legs had ended up tangled with hers, locking her in place. His calf rested over hers, a quiet, natural possessiveness that he had probably not even realized in sleep. One of her feet was tucked over one of his, curved into his arch like the smaller of a matching set. Her hips were tucked neatly into his, pressed into the sheets by the weight of his own. One arm laid around her torso, and his hand had somehow found its way beneath the fabric, which she hadn¡¯t realized until his fingers had pulled into the line of her waist, keeping her there.

    Heart picking up a little faster than was comfortable when waking up, she tried again, more forcefully this time, to shift away¡ªonly for Azul to stir at last. His grip loosened for a second before his fingers curled into the inner fabric of her shirt, anchoring himself before¡ª

    Oh no.

    A slow, delicious breath ghosted against her nape as Azul shifted¡ªnot away, but closer. His nose brushed against her hair, his lips grazing just shy of the sensitive skin where her neck met her shoulder. A sigh left him, slow, indulgent, as if her presence was something he could simply breathe in.

    Yuu was about to launch herself into the next dimension when Azul tensed, pinning her much harder to the bed for half a breath before¡ª

    There was a sharp inhale, a second of silence, and then¡ª

    "¡­Oh no."

    The shift in Azul¡¯s posture was immediate¡ªhis muscles stiffened, his arm flew away from her as if she had caught fire, and in his panic, he rolled back too fast.

    Which would¡¯ve been fine, if they weren¡¯t both at the edge of the bed, and if the sheets hadn¡¯t managed to knot them both solidly together.

    With a loud thud, Azul hit the floor. Unfortunately, she was pulled right after him, the sheets somehow tightening around them like a noose as they fell.

    His hair was an absolute mess, one sock had slipped halfway off, and she¡­ well, she probably looked worse.

    For a moment that seemed like it would never end, neither of them spoke.

    And then¡ª

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    "Good morning," Yuu said weakly, tugging at the sheets like they might somehow protect her from the mortification. They neither protected her, nor loosened. In fact, she had succeeded in making things immeasurably worse.

    Yuu had already landed flush against Azul, her hands splayed over his chest, the solid warmth of him burning through the thin fabric of his nightshirt¡ªalso silk, because, of course it was. He always seemed to show up to these situations nicely dressed, and she¡ªshe was in a hand-me-down t-shirt big enough to be a nightgown. Her legs were tangled with his, her knees bracketing his hips. His hands¡ªshe wasn¡¯t sure if he meant to do it, if it was just reflex, but they settled firm on her waist, fingers digging in for balance.

    Azul¡¯s mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. A deep breath¡ªhis usual composure snapped back into place like a second skin, but his ears were pink, his glasses askew as he cleared his throat.

    The air between them felt thick, too hot for comfort.

    Azul sucked in a breath through his teeth. The way his chest rose and fell against hers was not helping. At all.

    "¡­Well." His voice was lower than usual, rough around the edges. "This is a development."

    ¡°Is there¡ªis there an etiquette book somewhere for situations like this?¡± Yuu croaked, her voice not yet awake.

    Inevitably, her face got the memo and began to heat. Unfortunately, so did the rest of her, especially the places touching Azul.

    Etiquette book? Of course not! No one in their right mind is going to write ¡®How to Be Polite When You¡¯re on Top of Someone,¡¯ Yuu! And even if someone did, who would read it? Everyone with a brain just¡­just knows, right? How do they learn? Did¡­did Azul know?

    If such a thing existed, he probably did.

    Floundering and sleep-addled, Yuu knew she should move. Any second now, she should push herself up, roll off of him, anything to put some safe, respectable distance between them.

    And yet.

    Yet.

    The moment stretched, unbearably charged, because Azul was watching her. His silver-blue eyes were wide, just slightly dilated, flitting from her face to her parted lips like some part of him had forgotten how to think.

    His fingers flexed on her waist.

    A shiver ran up her spine, and suddenly, though Yuu didn¡¯t know what should be done, she very much knew that she wanted to feel that again. She stopped fighting the pull of the sheets, and clumsily, her arms fell, letting her in closer to his sleepy expression, the softness of his scent.

    That snapped him out of it.

    Azul swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as he forcibly dragged his hands away from her waist, pressing them flat against the floor instead. A retreat.

    "If you don¡¯t get off of me in the next five seconds," he warned, his voice tight, "I am going to do something incredibly stupid."

    The admission knocked the air from her lungs.

    For half a second, she almost tested him.

    Then¡ª

    A loud, obnoxious banging on the door shattered the moment like stage glass.

    "OI, BOSS! YOU AWAKE YET?!"

    Floyd¡¯s voice shattered the moment, and Azul¡¯s expression twisted in a way that was almost pained.

    Yuu made a choked noise, shoving herself off him as quickly as possible, definitely not thinking about the way his chest had felt under her hands, and tumbling clumsily away from him as he assisted her in unknotting the sheet¡ªhow had it even ended up like that, anyway?

    ¡°How does he know you¡¯re here?¡± she whispered, tugging her nightshirt down as far as it would go.

    ¡°They both scent-track,¡± Azul muttered, keeping his voice low.

    ¡°Both¡­¡± she hushed, voice tight, just as Jade burst into the room.

 Chapter 28: Azul

    Once more, Azul was in hell.

    Yuu had the excuse of the bathroom to disappear into, but Azul would escape the matching leers of the Leech twins on the day that he was dead, and not a moment sooner.

    The door had barely clicked shut behind Yuu before Floyd and Jade struck.

    Azul pulled himself back up to sit on the bed, and Floyd was suddenly draped over his shoulders like a particularly annoying scarf.

    "Sooo," Floyd sing-songed, draping himself over Azul¡¯s shoulders with all the grace of an eel who had just spotted his favorite new chew toy. "How¡¯s my little cuddlefish feeling this fine morning?"

    Jade, ever more refined but no less insufferable, clasped his hands behind his back. "Yes, Azul. How are you?" His smirk was sharp. "Not well-rested, I dearly hope?"

    Azul pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is neither the time nor place for whatever nonsense you two are planning."

    "No? Care to explain why you looked sooo comfy all tangled up with Shrimpy?" Floyd drawled, grinning ear to ear.

    Azul stiffened, gripping his knee hard enough to turn his knuckles white. "I don¡¯t owe either of you an explanation."

    Jade hummed, ever the picture of composed amusement. "Oh, but you do. You see, dear Azul, a situation like this requires proper interpretation. And since you are notoriously bad at articulating your true feelings¡ª"

    "¡ªWe¡¯ve taken it upon ourselves to help with that!" Floyd finished, clapping a hand on Azul¡¯s back hard enough to make him lurch forward. ¡°Aw, Jadie, I told ya last night was gonna work!¡±

    ¡°You did, Floyd, but I doubt either of us thought it would have been so¡­.successful.¡±

    Azul gritted his teeth. "Nothing happened¡ªthanks to you two, I might add, so you can both add ¡®self-sabotaging¡¯ to your resumes of undesirable traits."

    Floyd snorted. "Something sure happened. You should¡¯ve seen your face when she left. All ''Oh no, my only love is walking away, and now I¡¯m left in the cold abyss of my own despair¡ª''"

    "It is too early for this, Floyd."

    "You did," Jade confirmed, eyes twinkling. "Azul, really, there¡¯s no need to deny it. We all saw the way you looked at her during dinner last night. And before. And, well, just now."

    Floyd flopped onto the bed with a groan. "Ugggh, he¡¯s still fighting it. This is painful to watch." Then he perked up, shooting Azul a sharp grin. "Hey, y''know, if you don¡¯t want her, I could take her off your hands¡ª"

    The sheer force of Azul¡¯s glare could have shattered his glasses, had he been wearing them.

    Floyd burst out laughing. "There it is! The Azul Special¡ªSeething Jealousy, served piping hot! Ooo, it¡¯s been forever since I¡¯ve seen you this bad!"

    Azul groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I despise you both."

    Jade merely chuckled. "Perhaps. But we are right."

    ¡°Do I need to remind you both again that she hasn¡¯t chosen any of us, or this? She is still leaving!¡±

    Floyd grinned, stretching out like a lazy cat. "C¡¯mon, Boss. Count the victories. You did good. Real good from the looks of things.¡±

    ¡°We are moderately proud¡­ and a modicum richer. Floyd?¡± Jade held out a hand, and Floyd slapped ten thaumarks into it before Azul could even blink.

    Azul gaped. ¡°You two¡ªbet¡ªon whether I would¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hey, did we mention that your mother wrote? She¡¯s visiting today,¡± Floyd yawned, stretching over Azul¡¯s head.

    ¡°My moth¡ª¡± This was far too much for one morning. ¡°Again!? You couldn¡¯t have LED with that, Floyd!?¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡±

    Azul threw his hands in the air. ¡°Fine. Fine. This is a disaster as it is. I¡¯m leaving to get dressed. If shrim¡ª, I mean, Yuu, comes out, tell her I¡¯m gone for the day.¡±

    He left the room to the sounds of cackling and snickering, respectively.

    *

    The moment he was out of earshot of Jade and Floyd, his mind began catching him up on the ¡®notes¡¯ of that morning with the relentless irritation of a meeting that could have been an email.

    -Firstly, the relief of having the venom extraction successfully performed and complete washed over him. It was done. DONE! That debacle was permanently behind him.

    If he were a gentleman, he would bring Yuu a healing potion to undo any potential scarring now that she could heal properly. Perhaps he could delegate this step, all things considering¡­

    -Secondly, he had catching up to do in his work, and now a very distinct time-frame in which to do it¡ªnamely, before his mother arrived with her latest scheme.

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    -And thirdly¡­.thirdly, was something of equivalent importance, he was sure, but once more his focus was slipping away from him as he realized that now, without the cloying distraction of Jade and Floyd¡¯s voices, other notes were reaching his senses.

    Notes of Yuu¡¯s scent from the night before, familiar, and utterly her  still clung to the fabric of his sleepwear¡ªa mix of passion fruit shampoo and something softer, something that curled around his senses like a lingering whisper of last night.

    And then those memories came flooding back in a rush of heat and phantom sensations along his skin where he¡¯d touched her.

    His entire body locked up.

    His face burned hot enough to steam the water in Mostro Lounge¡¯s finest teapot.

    And then, with the grace of a man fleeing for his life, he bolted for his personal bathroom.

    Clothes were yanked off with frantic necessity, tossed aside in his desperation to erase the evidence. He turned the shower on to its hottest setting, stepping in without hesitation with the intention of scalding the remnants of those memories from his person.

    The water hit him like a slap. Azul exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to his face.

    This was ridiculous.

    And yet¡­ he could still smell traces of her on his skin, in his hair. It sent his thoughts down roads they had no business wandering.

    He scrubbed harder.

    ¡°She is leaving you, Azul. Focus!¡± he chided himself through gritted teeth.

    He just needed clarity. Rinse. Reset. Ignore the way his heart had nearly leapt out of his chest when he''d realized how close they¡¯d been, how natural it had felt to wake up beside her¡ª

    Azul let his forehead rest against the cool tile with a groan.

    Your dealings with her are done, man! What is the situation staring you in the face? What needs to be done now?

    Letting the water run over his head and eyes, Azul steepled his hands together, glaring at the faucet as though the fixture somehow had the answer to what his mother was planning. First her demands to lessen the tariffs on cecaelia. Then the invitation to join her efforts¡­ in what? She had restored his contracts restored to him. Then¡­

    No, all his attention should be consumed by a far more pressing concern¡ªhis mother was coming to the lounge.

    Not just writing. Not just summoning him home with a clipped demand. She was physically coming. Stepping into his domain. Taking an interest where she previously had none.

    And that was suspicious.

    Madam Ashengrotto had never been one to meddle unnecessarily. She was precise, calculating¡ªshe only moved when there was something to be gained. And yet, in the span of a single week, she had tangled herself in his affairs more than she had in the last several years combined.

    What had changed?

    Azul tapped his fingers against his lips.

    It wasn''t difficult to guess. Yuu.

    A shiver of unease traced down his spine.

    He had been very careful. He had ensured that any... lingering effects of the wedding fiasco were being handled. That no one could twist their situation into something improper, something binding, something that would invite¡ª

    He exhaled sharply. Yuu was leaving. Everything for that was already in motion.

    And yet¡­

    Azul ran his finger through his hair, dissatisfied.

    If his mother was coming, it wasn¡¯t just to observe. No, she was a woman who saw the ocean in chess moves, who maneuvered even the most stubborn of pieces into the places she wanted them.

    And right now?

    She was looking directly at him.

    But WHY!? To ensure there was no real threat? To make sure Yuu left, as she¡¯d said she might?

    ¡°As if Yuu would, or even could threaten Nerissa Ashengrotto,¡± he almost laughed. But, even as he heard it, he knew¡­. That was a lie.

    Yuu had made connections in circles where Nerissa only could have dreamed of moving, and then, as usual, she¡¯d seen Azul¡¯s own affections before he¡¯d even realized them himself¡ªshe¡¯d seen parts of her potential worth as well, because, despite the years of his inattention to her, Yuu¡­ knew him.

    She had never seen him as just a polished businessman, or just a dealmaker¡ªnot the image he¡¯d spent years refining before her arrival at NRC. She¡¯d seen him sulk when he¡¯d taken losses at boardgames, the him that overthinks his own jokes, and even the echoes of that small, insecure boy who wanted to make the world fear him, because fear was better than mockery. And yet, despite all of that, she seemed to genuinely like what she saw in him.

    She wasn¡¯t scared of him. She wasn¡¯t afraid to leave¡ªand that was the real kicker, wasn¡¯t it?

    Yuu didn¡¯t need him. She wouldn¡¯t cling to him, or fall for sweet words on a glossy contract. She would go where the tide took her, whether or not he chose to follow.

    Though he wanted very much to lie to himself, that was a lie that he could at least briefly recognize¡ªfor a man who had spent his life ensuring he had the upper hand, the thought of losing her should be easy to accept.

    It wasn¡¯t.

    ¡°DAMN it!¡±

    He pounded a fist on the steamed wall in front of him.

    None of that changed the fact that, sooner or later, Yuu would bow out of his world, in more ways than one. Already, his excuses to see her had waned and vanished. He would be incredibly foolish to start something up again, especially when it would only make things harder for them both.

    However, even he knew that he couldn¡¯t just send her off with nothing.

    A burst of ice-cold water slammed against his back. He gasped, muscles locking as the realization hit him with all the force of a rogue tidal wave.

    Oh.

    Oh, no.

    His hands braced against the tiled wall, nails scraping as his breath came too fast, too unsteady. His mind reeled, trying to deny the words forming so clearly, so inescapably.

    I am in love with Yuu.

    It wasn¡¯t admiration. It wasn¡¯t mere fascination. It wasn¡¯t some fleeting infatuation he could lock away, neatly categorized and tucked behind ironclad walls. It was her. Her laughter. Her sharp wit. The way she challenged him, stood beside him, chose to stay when she could have walked away. It was the way he ached to be near her, even when it was a terrible idea. The way her absence left his chest hollow, and her presence filled it again, like air rushing into lungs after nearly drowning.

    Azul exhaled, forehead pressing against the cool tile.

    The water dripped down his face, mixing with the ocean salt on his lips. He was going to be monstrously busy the next few days entertaining and distracting his mother¡ªfiguring out what exactly she wanted from him. But still, he had no idea when either Yuu or Nerissa would leave, and he DID know that he had new priorities.

    ¡°Well then¡­¡± he said to himself, quietly. ¡°I really can¡¯t send her off with nothing¡­¡±

 Chapter 29: Yuu

    As Yuu stepped out of the dormitory and toward the outer street through the lounge, the air and her clothing both still clung to the scent of something faintly reminiscent of Azul¡ªtea leaves, ink, and salt. Her heart was already heavy, the weight of her memories pressing down with every step. But she stopped short when her eyes landed on a desk just by the door.

    Azul¡¯s bag from the day before, discarded on the spot where he would have seen Jade¡¯s ¡®masterpiece,¡¯ and right next to it, spilling out, a pile of shining golden papers. Old, curling at the edges, but unmistakable in their cruel precision.

    Azul¡¯s¡­. Original contracts.

    But no, those had been destroyed before his overblot. Unable to resist her curiosity, she stepped closer, flicking through the top dozen or so.

    Her breath caught in her throat. The terms on these were nothing like the ones that he¡¯d written in the past year. Azul had promised that those days¡ªthose deals spun in desperation, those cruel bargains that left others powerless¡ªwere behind him. She had believed in that.

    And yet here they were. Not just one, not just a forgotten scrap, but a whole stack of them, carefully preserved, neatly kept. Like they still mattered.

    Like he still used them.

    The warmth that had been bubbling inside her since the night before¡ªthe tentative, aching realization that she had fallen for him¡ªcurdled into something cold.

    ¡°Oh, it is too early for more turmoil,¡± she grumbled under her breath, but it was already too late for that.

    How stupid.

    Her fingers hovered over the stack before she pulled them back. She had already learned the hard way what it meant to get too close to something she didn¡¯t fully understand.

    Her grip on the doorknob tightened.

    She needed to go.

    She needed to think.

    And, most of all, she needed to figure out if the man she had fallen for was truly who she thought he was¡ªor if she had only seen what he wanted her to see. Because she had fallen, in a way that made her feel as though she were still falling, and might never stop.

    She paused in the doorway, inches from leaving.

    ¡°Clearly he thought they were really gone, or he would never have overblotted, right?¡±

    There was more than met the eye going on. There were always plots within plots when it came to Octavinelle, but for now, Yuu¡¯s dealing with Azul were done. The venom was gone, and she had her memories back. She was free.

    At the same time, only Azul himself knew how badly she had set back his work and his schedule. He had been undeniably patient with her. Good to her. And that counted for something, right?

    Right now, however, all it could count for was her trust that Azul knew what he was doing as she walked out the door, and back to Ramshackle to reclaim her life.

    *

    Coming back to Ramshackle today was like coming back to it the first time, and at the same time, the thousandth, it was so achingly familiar. The moment Yuu stepped through the creaking front door, the scent of dust, aged wood, and something vaguely burnt greeted her like an old, exasperated friend. The entryway was dim, the morning light struggling through warped windows, casting golden slants over the scratched floorboards. The chandelier above swayed slightly, even though there was no breeze¡ªbecause, of course, the house and its supernatural denizens had opinions about her absence.

    The moment she crossed the threshold, a floorboard gave an ominous groan beneath her foot, and somewhere upstairs, a door slammed shut on its own.

    "Okay, okay, I get it," she muttered. "I was gone for two days, not forever."

    A wisp of cold air slithered past her ear in what she could only assume was a passive-aggressive greeting from the ghosts. A picture frame tilted itself even more askew on the wall.

    "Don¡¯t start with me," she warned the house, dropping her bag with a heavy thud onto the crooked entry table. The table wobbled, as if considering whether or not to collapse out of sheer spite.

    Something scuttled across the ceiling.

    Yuu chose to believe it was just a trick of the light.

    The fireplace was cold, the couch still littered with a half-knitted scarf she swore she¡¯d finish someday, and Grim¡¯s tiny paw prints smudged the dusty coffee table. Everything was exactly as she left it¡ªmessy, haunted, and somehow still home¡­.home.

    And yet, standing there, the memories freshly returned to her mind, Yuu couldn¡¯t shake the weight pressing against her chest.

    She was different now. The world beyond this house was different now. And she wasn¡¯t sure if she still fit in this drafty, cobweb-laced puzzle of a life.

    A loud thump from the kitchen shattered the moment.

    "GRIM!" she called, already moving. "If you¡¯ve knocked over the spice rack again¡ª"

    There was a small scuffle in the kitchen as she made her way past the entry tables and into the other room, where the lit stove displayed the sort of mess usually only featured in after-cooking-show bloopers.

    Covered in flour and other substances, Grim shot out from between the tight counterspaces, and right into her chest.

    Laughing for once, she wrapped her arms around the little furry guy, and hugged him tight.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± she asked, pleasantly surprised.

    ¡°Listen, don¡¯t get screechy on me, but I tried to make pancakes, and, well, our pan might need replacing.¡±

    ¡°Might?¡±

    ¡°It has a hole in it,¡± he said miserably. ¡°It just looked so easy when you did it¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you how, sometime,¡± Yuu snorted, realizing with a jolt that it would have to be ¡®sometime¡¯ very soon.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    She squeezed him a little tighter. He squirmed at first, grumbling half-heartedly, but he didn¡¯t pull away.

    ¡°Geez, henchhuman, you¡¯re actin¡¯ weird.¡±

    Yuu laughed, but it was thin, barely holding itself together. ¡°I missed you, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Grim puffed out his chest. ¡°¡¯Course you did! I¡¯m the Great Grim, after all. The lounge food wasn¡¯t that good, was it?¡±

    Yuu sighed. ¡°It was. But it wasn¡¯t home.¡±

    ¡°Hey Grimm, come and sit with me a minute.¡± Instead of waiting for an answer, she carried him into the other room, squirming slightly, and plopped them both down on the couch.

    The room fell quiet for a moment. Grim¡¯s ears flicked, and his tail swished against the couch. ¡°...You¡¯re mad about the pan, aren¡¯t ya?¡± he asked eventually.

    ¡°Um¡­ no. No, the pan¡¯s replaceable,¡± she said softly. ¡°Just wondering how to say this. Grimm, I never asked. Do you remember your family? WHere are you actually¡­from?¡±

    Grim twitched in her lap. ¡°I guess I¡¯m from around here, what¡¯s it to you?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t like your siblings? Did you¡­have siblings?¡±

    Grim refused to look at her, usually a guilty sign, but this time, she could tell that he was actually doing some deep thinking.

    ¡°I mostly grew up on the streets eating scraps. I don¡¯t really remember much of devils that looked like me. Pretty hard to believe looking at me now, isn¡¯t it?¡± he tried to laugh it off.

    ¡°Pretty hard to believe,¡¯ she said good-naturedly. ¡°So¡­ how did you make it, then? You must have been pretty young.¡±

    He shrugged, agitated now. ¡°First thing I remember is waking up in the snow. I must have thought someone would come for me, because I was sitting there for ages. Just waiting. I don¡¯t remember any siblings or nothing like that. And apparently my parents, if I had any, didn¡¯t care, ¡®cause no one ever came¡­.

    ¡°...I always figured if I got famous enough, maybe someone would recognize a picture. Maybe they just lost me, you know? If I get famous enough, that¡¯s better than a street-side help add.¡±

    So many things were making sense about Grimm, now.

    ¡°I bet that would do it,¡± she said, not wanting to take away from his dreams. This was Twisted Wonderland, after all. The impossible happened every day.

    ¡°If you could get your memories of them back, maybe it would help. Is that something you¡¯d want?¡±

    Grimm scratched himself, opting to lay down on her thighs.

    ¡°Maybe¡­ at this point, I don¡¯t even know if I want ¡®em.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± She was mystified. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I got something else going for me, ya know?¡± he said, and Yuu read between the lines. There was somewhere he belonged, now. Grim had found himself a place, even though he kept risking it with his laziness.

    Perhaps¡­.perhaps that was even his way of letting go of the old dream.

    Yuu¡¯s stomach twisted. She pulled back, looking at him¡ªher first friend in this strange world, the only thing that had been constant from the moment she arrived. She had to tell him, and she couldn¡¯t mince words.

    ¡°Grim¡­ I got my memories back.¡±

    His little paws curled into the fabric of her sleeve, batting at the hem.

    ¡°Okay?¡±

    ¡°The memories were the thing keeping the transport memories from being able to take me home.¡± She swallowed. ¡°I can go home now.¡±

    Silence.

    Grim¡¯s eyes widened, and then, his tail bristled. ¡°What?!¡± He scrambled out of her lap, turning to face her with a snarl. ¡°And you¡¯re just telling me this now?! Like it¡¯s some little thing, like¡ªlike you lost a sock or somethin¡¯?!¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Are you stupid?!¡± He jumped onto the armrest, tail lashing, voice growing shrill. ¡°What¡¯re ya gonna do, huh? Go back to some boring world where nobody¡¯s got magic? Where there¡¯s no me? Where¡ªwhere you don¡¯t even know if anyone¡¯s waitin¡¯ for ya?¡±

    Yuu flinched, guilt crashing over her like a wave.

    Grim¡¯s breathing was fast, ragged, but his voice was quieter when he spoke again. ¡°Why would you leave?¡±

    Yuu rubbed at her eyes, exhausted, heart aching in ways she hadn¡¯t prepared for.

    ¡°Because it¡¯s my world, Grim.¡±

    ¡°But¡ªbut you got a thing goin¡¯! WE got a thing goin¡¯!¡± he snapped. His ears flattened, and his voice cracked just a little. ¡°You¡¯re just gonna toss it away? Or am I totally overreactin¡¯? Is this like a weekend thing?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she shook her head. ¡°If I go back, well¡­ I wasn¡¯t supposed to be able to come here in the first place, and you said you don¡¯t remember how I got here either, right?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re talking about leaving Twisted¡­.FOREVER?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m saying, I could. I have¡­ well, I guess I have a mom who¡¯s trying to make her own new life, now, but that doesn¡¯t mean she hasn¡¯t been worried. Out of her mind worried. And I still have a sister, and who knows what kind of choices she¡¯s making without me around.¡±

    ¡°So can¡¯t you just send them something? Tell ¡®em you¡¯re fine, explain the situation, maybe send a little proof¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea for now,¡± she admitted. ¡°Until I¡¯m ready to go. Gotta say goodbyes¡­¡±

    ¡°Right, right. Goodbyes,¡± he huffed.

    She didn¡¯t know what to say. To her surprise, Grim was the one who spoke first.

    "I don¡¯t want you to go," he admitted, his tail wrapping around her wrist like a tiny, desperate chain. "I like things the way they are. Who¡¯s gonna clean up the house? Who¡¯s gonna stop me from setting the kitchen on fire? Who¡¯s gonna¡ªwho¡¯s gonna scratch behind my ears exactly the right way¡ª"

    Yuu let out a watery laugh. "That¡¯s your biggest concern?"

    Grim huffed, shoving his face into her shoulder. "It''s an important one!" His voice trembled slightly. "I don¡¯t wanna find a new human!"

    "You wouldn¡¯t have to. You¡¯re the Great Grim, remember?"

    He turned around, gripping and unwrapping his paws.

    "Yes, I would! And they''d be awful! And boring! And they wouldn¡¯t even know how I like my tuna cut!"

    Yuu sniffed and wrapped her arms around him tight. "I don¡¯t want to lose you either, Grim."

    His ears perked slightly. "Then don¡¯t go."

    "I¡­don¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do yet," she admitted. "I thought getting my memories back would make everything simple, but¡­ it just made things harder."

    Grim finally pulled back, peering up at her with watery blue eyes. "Then stay."

    "Grim¡­"

    "Stay until you know what you really want," he pressed, his paws trembling as he gripped her hands. "Don¡¯t just go because you can."

    Yuu stared at him, the warmth of his fur grounding her, anchoring her in place.

    His gaze darted away. ¡°And what about that octo-jerk? You were stayin¡¯ with him, weren¡¯t ya? If I¡¯m not enough to keep you here, you¡­.like him.¡± He was absolutely disgusted, but even though he averted his little blue cat eyes, Yuu could see them turning a little misty.

    Yuu hesitated. ¡°Apparently, he¡¯s harder to know than I thought.¡­and I don¡¯t know what I mean to him.¡±

    Grim snorted. ¡°Feh! I do.¡±

    She looked up sharply, but he wouldn¡¯t meet her eyes.

    A painful silence stretched between them, broken only when Grim flopped dramatically onto the couch, tail curling around himself. ¡°Whatever,¡± he muttered. ¡°Do what you want.¡±

    Yuu reached out hesitantly, brushing her fingers through his fur. He didn¡¯t pull away.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I want yet, remember?¡± she admitted. ¡°But I do want to try and reach out to them¡ªmy family. I can¡¯t help but feel that if they knew everything was okay, after all this time, well¡­ I¡¯m not sure I would have believed anything anyone said about Twisted Wonderland before I came here, but maybe you¡¯re right. I could find some sort of proof. Maybe then, I wouldn¡¯t feel so desperate¡­¡±

    ¡°Must be nice,¡± Grim grumbled.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°People worrying,¡± he said, looking away again. ¡°About you.¡±

    ¡°If I leave, I¡¯d have to worry about you forever, Grim,¡± she said firmly.

    ¡°Sure,¡± he said with another shrug. ¡°But I¡¯m not your mom. Or your sister.¡±

    She swallowed past the lump in her throat.

    ¡°You¡¯re your own demon entirely, Grim¡± she consoled, petting his fur.

    This had only gotten harder¡­.

 Chapter 30: Yuu

    The next few days, Yuu¡¯s pending decision followed her like a leaky ceiling, dripping on all of her interactions at the worst of times. The first thing she had done was to write letters to her mother and sister. She included details from her time here. She emphasized that she was alright, and alive, and was working on finding a way home. Then, just like the Leech twins had shown her with the first note she¡¯d sent to Mallory, she deposited them through mirrors all around campus, including the Dark Mirror itself, though it still refused to speak to her as she did.

    Every morning, she woke up in Ramshackle, half-expecting it to feel foreign now that she remembered home¡ªbut it didn¡¯t. The ghosts still chattered in her ears, Grim still snored at her side, and the old floorboards still creaked in all the places she had learned by heart. It was a house that had never belonged to her, yet somehow, it had become hers.

    The weight of leaving sat heavy on Yuu¡¯s shoulders, but only one person knew the truth.

    Grim.

    From the moment she told him, he had been in absolute denial.

    At first, he had scoffed. "Yeah, right. You¡¯re always makin¡¯ a big deal over nothin¡¯. You¡¯ll be here tomorrow, just like always."

    Then, as the days passed and she didn¡¯t laugh it off, Grim got clingy. Really clingy. If she so much as stood up, he was on her heels. If she went to sleep, he curled up on her instead of at her side. He stole her coat and stuffed it under the bed. He kept nudging her wrist with his head, demanding not to be ignored.

    "You can¡¯t just leave me here! Who¡¯s gonna scratch my ears when I have a rough day? Who¡¯s gonna cook for me when the cafeteria food¡¯s awful?!"

    "Grim, I don¡¯t cook lunch for you¡ª"

    "EXACTLY! And if you leave, no one ever will!"

    She should have been exasperated. Instead, it just made her hurt.

    She didn¡¯t tell anyone else at first, but it wasn¡¯t as if she could gather proof of the magic of this world for her messages alone.

    She spent an afternoon with Trey, gathering flowers that couldn¡¯t possibly exist in her world. Some glowed under the shade of their own petals, others hummed when touched. She plucked a single blossom¡ªa silver-and-indigo bloom that curled and unfurled with the rise and fall of her breath¡ªand pressed it into an envelope. A piece of magic, something her mother and sister would never believe unless they held it in their hands.

    She¡¯d told him, first. Trey, who always knew what to say, who always had a sage piece of advice for her, had said absolutely nothing.

    Later, however, he had evidently found the words to tell Riddle about what she was considering.

    Riddle found her in the library and delivered a scorching rant about her inexcusable habit of throwing herself into danger without a plan. She let him scold, let him fume, let him adjust her tie for the hundredth time before she interrupted with a quiet, ¡°I¡¯m going to miss this.¡±

    Riddle went stiff. He didn¡¯t ask what she meant. He just straightened her collar perfectly and muttered, ¡°...You¡¯d better.¡±

    Unfortunately, Riddle¡¯s rant wasn¡¯t exactly quiet. The rest of Heartslabyul knew in the time it would take a wildfire to spread across a dry field. Of kerosene-barley.

    Ace and Deuce were terrible at pretending they didn¡¯t know something.

    Which is why Ace took one look at her during the next Magical History class, leaned back in his chair, and loudly whispered to Deuce, ¡°Hey, did you hear something? Kinda sounds like the footsteps of a girl who¡¯s totally not hiding some big, dramatic secret.¡±

    Deuce, bless him, tried harder. He frowned and said, ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous, Ace. We don¡¯t know anything about Yuu mysteriously vanishing for two days and then reappearing looking all weirdly sentimental and guilty. Or like she¡¯s hiding anything. That would be nosy.¡±

    Ace nodded dramatically. ¡°Right, right. And we¡¯re not nosy.¡±

    They both nodded, looking like highwaymen who considered robbery the highest form of ¡®restraint.¡¯

    Yuu sighed and dropped her head on her desk. "You two are about as subtle as a screaming cauldron."

    Ace smirked. ¡°Well, we do try. Sooooo, totally unrelated, but if you were off somewhere doing something crazy¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªLike getting involved with a certain four-eyed businessman¡ª¡± Deuce added helpfully.

    ¡°And then finding a so-called way out of Twisted Wonderland that could leave you trapped or dead in a mirror because it¡¯s never been tested¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªAnd we wouldn¡¯t have a way of knowing you¡¯d gotten there safely, either¡ª¡±

    Ace grimaced. ¡°¡ªThen we definitely wouldn¡¯t pry, because we are polite gentlemen who would never make this situation any harder for you.¡±

    Deuce, looking like he had just remembered something very important, gasped. ¡°Oh! And we definitely wouldn¡¯t be, like, extremely worried about our friend or anything.¡±

    Ace clutched his chest. ¡°Perish the thought! Because she would definitely tell us if she was about to make a very stupid, emotionally reckless decision, right?¡±

    Yuu groaned, shoving both of their faces away. ¡°Is there more of this?¡±

    Ace shrugged, grinning. ¡°We¡¯ll stop when you tell us what we already know.¡±

    ¡°Consider yourselves officially informed,¡± she said stiffly.

    They went politely quiet as the Pomfiore students trickled into the classroom, but somehow, that was worse.

    Pomfiore was painfully elegant about pretending they didn¡¯t know. Unlike Ace and Deuce, who contained themselves about as well as lit powder kegs, Vil, Rook, and Epel managed to make the interaction with Yuu feel both completely normal and deeply scrutinized at the same time.

    Vil, for instance, greeted her with his usual poise but just happened to critique the puffiness under her eyes¡ª

    "Sleep deprivation is simply unforgivable, trickster. What could be keeping you so distracted?"

    ¡ªas he adjusted an imaginary wrinkle in her sleeve. He never once said anything, but the way he said everything carried the weight of knowledge he wasn¡¯t acknowledging.

    Rook was worse. If Ace and Deuce were cats playing with their food, Rook was a falcon that had already marked its prey. He hovered, greeting her with the most innocent, knowing smile.

    "Ah, mon cher myst¨¨re, the eyes of a hunter see all, but worry not¡ªI shan''t disturb your private musings! The thrill of the chase, n''est-ce pas?"

    Epel, the least subtle, wavered between being too embarrassed to say anything and wanting to blurt out all his thoughts at once. He fidgeted. A lot. And whenever he opened his mouth, his words would start off normal¡ª

    "Hey, Yuu, you look¡ªuh¡ªtired?"

    ¡ªonly for his voice to crack into something high-pitched and guilty-sounding. When she squinted at him, he''d wave a hand dismissively. ¡°N-Nothin¡¯! Just sayin¡¯ you should¡ªuh¡ªtake care of yourself! That¡¯s all! Nothin¡¯ weird!¡±

    It was deeply weird.

    Pomfiore was, in essence, an entire theatrical performance of "we absolutely know but would never deign to say it"¡ªexcept, in their own ways, they said it constantly, through furtive looks so deeply concerned that Yuu couldn¡¯t wait to escape the classroom.

    She made the mistake of taking refuge at Savannaclaw. She¡¯d intended to study. Hey, she always had the option of dipping out of this world before exams, but Grim would absolutely fail before next week if she didn¡¯t take care of notes for them both¡ªat least for now.

    But the moment she passed by Leona¡¯s napping room, he cracked open an eye and sighed.

    ¡°Tch. You¡¯re brooding.¡±

    Yuu stopped, staring from the doorway at the pile of cushions he¡¯d perched himself on.

    ¡°I¡¯m not brooding.¡±

    Leona gave her a look. ¡°Yeah? You sure? ¡®Cause you¡¯ve got that ¡®I¡¯m about to do somethin¡¯ dumb and emotional¡¯ face.¡±

    Yuu scowled. ¡°I don¡¯t have a face like that.¡±

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    He smirked, stretching his arms over his head. ¡°You do. I see it on freshmen right before they confess to their crushes and then trip over their own feet.¡±

    She wanted to snap at him, but something about the way he said it¡ªso casual, so not prying¡ªmade her hesitate. He wasn¡¯t asking. He wasn¡¯t pushing. He was just¡­ acknowledging.

    She walked away before he could get another smug comment in, but his lazy voice drifted after her:

    ¡°Whatever dumb choice you make, own it.¡±

    Ruggie, on the other hand, was not as detached.

    Unlike Leona, who acted like Yuu¡¯s crisis was just one more thing he had to deal with in life, Ruggie definitely wanted to say something. But saying something meant getting involved, and getting involved meant extra work, and extra work was not on Ruggie¡¯s agenda.

    So instead, he just¡­ watched.

    Which was worse.

    ¡°Hey, Yuu,¡± he greeted her one morning, voice too casual. ¡°You eaten today?¡±

    Yuu narrowed her eyes. ¡°Yeah?¡±

    Ruggie hummed, as if considering something. Then he threw an arm around her shoulders and grinned.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good! ¡®Cause if you hadn¡¯t, I¡¯d have to wonder what¡¯s got you too distracted to remember to eat?¡± His voice was light, but the grip on her shoulder was firm.

    She knew what he was doing. She wasn¡¯t playing along.

    ¡°Gee, Ruggie, what could possibly be distracting me?¡± she deadpanned.

    ¡°Ohhh, I dunno!¡± he sing-songed. ¡°Just makin¡¯ sure my favorite magicless human isn¡¯t running off and leaving me with all these irresponsible jerks.¡± His grin widened. ¡°I mean, that¡¯d be kinda cruel, don¡¯tcha think?¡±

    Yuu squirmed out of his grip. ¡°I¡¯m not¡ª¡±

    But Ruggie just winked.

    ¡°Good talk,¡± he said, voice chipper. Then, before she could protest, he shoved a plate of snacks into her arms, snatched a pastry from her plate and bolted, waving over his shoulder. ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t worry! Whatever ya choose, I won¡¯t hold it against ya! ¡­Much!¡±

    Yuu groaned, head in hands.

    Great. So Leona gave her cryptic life advice, and Ruggie resorted to guilt-tripping with snacks.

    So, she went back home to Ramshackle, and began to write again. She hadn¡¯t even made a decision yet, and everyone here was acting like she was dying, but at the same time, if she couldn¡¯t get some sort of proof that her family had gotten her messages, then she would have to go back in person. It would be cruel not to.

    Her family had lost so much¡­so she could give them something back. Technically, she could have already¡­.and now, she was only hesitating to make sure that she¡¯d done right by the people who had taken care of her for so long. That was all.

    The first time she had left a world hadn¡¯t been her choice, as far as she knew. This time would be. This time she wouldn¡¯t just vanish without a trace. She had the luxury this time of preparing the people she cared about before it happened.

    So, in lieu of her delay, she wrote home again. She included everything¡ªher handwriting shaky, the ink smudged in places. She wrote about the impossible school, the ridiculous people, the magic that made her laugh, the dangers that had nearly stolen her life, and the friendships that had saved it.

    She tucked proof inside: The enchanted flower from the garden, its petals shifting between colors that didn¡¯t exist in nature. A golden dorm pin from NRC, engraved with its crest, something that couldn¡¯t possibly belong in their world. A single playing card from Ace and Deuce¡¯s last game, signed on the back: "Miss us too much and we''ll haunt you."

    Then, she left to send that one with the most powerful guarantee she could find.Not through the school. Not through Crowley. But through Malleus Draconia.

    Malleus met her in the dark mirror chamber¡ªa place she had never been allowed to enter alone as a student, but no one ever said ¡®no,¡¯ to Malleus.

    Together, they approached the mirror, the eerie quiet of the room only punctuated by the hum of magic. The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with arcane tomes and curiosities that didn¡¯t bear thinking about. Malleus stood next to her, his large frame casting an imposing shadow in the dim light. The Dark Mirror loomed before them, a glassy surface of swirling black and violet hues that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it.

    "Here we are," Malleus said softly, his voice steady yet laced with a hint of caution. "If the others haven¡¯t worked, I believe this is the only way that will allow your letter to reach your world."

    Yuu took a deep breath, eyes locking onto the mirror¡¯s dark surface.

    "Mirror," she said, her voice wavering slightly but gaining strength. "I need to send something home. A letter. It has to reach them.

    The mirror shifted slightly, as if the surface rippled, just the faintest suggestion of reluctance. It wasn¡¯t used to being bargained with. It had its own laws. Its own rules. Once more, it refused to respond to her.

    Malleus stepped forward, his hand outstretched, the hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

    "Mirror, you have heard her plea," he spoke with a subtle command, his tone carrying the weight of someone who knew how to handle this. "Her world deserves proof of her existence here¡ªproof that she lives."

    The mirror hesitated, its surface darkening as if considering the words. Yuu swallowed hard.

    "I don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to work, Malleus," Yuu said softly, almost to herself. "It doesn¡¯t want me to send anything."

    She felt a weight in her chest, the doubt creeping back in. What if this was the final barrier between her and leaving? What if the mirror decided she wasn¡¯t worth the effort?

    Malleus looked at her, his eyes softening for a moment. "It is not the mirror that you need to convince, Yuu," he said with a knowing look. "It is its sense of purpose. I will aid you. Let me speak with it."

    Yuu stepped back, surprised. She watched as Malleus turned to the mirror, his posture shifting as he stood taller, commanding the full attention of the dark glass. His voice became a low murmur, but the power behind it was undeniable.

    "Mirror of the Void, hear my request. You have seen her heart¡¯s turmoil, her desire to return, yet also the weight of her family¡¯s love. You will grant this request¡ªfor the sake of her journey and the path that awaits."

    The mirror rippled again, a wave of blackness moving through it like water over stone. It seemed to be pondering, considering the request with quiet resistance. Yuu held her breath, her hands tightly gripping the edges of her jacket. Then, finally, the voice came. Not from Malleus, not from anyone she could see¡ªbut from the mirror itself, a low, unsettling voice that spoke directly into her mind.

    "You seek to escape."

    Yuu shuddered. Her mind scrambled for the right words. ¡°I¡¯m not escaping. I have a way to return home, Mirror. The memories you hid from me are back. But I will stay, a little longer, if you can send this letter to my home¡ªmy original home.¡±

    There was a brief silence. The darkness in the mirror pulsed, like a slow, beating heart.

    "I will not do this for nothing," it replied.

    Yuu glanced up at Malleus, who was still standing with a quiet, almost regal composure. "It wants something in return," she muttered, frustration creeping in.

    Malleus tilted his head. "Perhaps you can offer the mirror something it desires¡ªa promise of return, a pledge of your own heart¡¯s allegiance."

    But, Yuu was tired of the mirror and its shoddy replies.

    "You¡¯re right. You don¡¯t have to do this for nothing," she said firmly, glaring at the face that simmered beneath the mirror¡¯s surface. "But if you help me, if you send my letter¡­ I¡¯ll stay. I¡¯ll stay at least a few more days. You¡¯ll guarantee that I¡¯ll stay until I finish what I came here to do." She paused, feeling the weight of her own words. "You will do this, not for nothing, but for everything I have already done. You have stolen from me, mirror. I have been present for every one of your students¡¯ overblots. I have scars and damage and marks from helping them to heal. I demand this very small favor in exchange. And if you want me to stay for longer, I demand proof that it arrived, and proof that my family no longer suffers.¡±

    The mirror was silent for a moment, and then its voice spoke again, slower this time, as if deliberating on her request.

    Malleus was regarding her with his usual mix of amusement and questioning her sanity. She thought that he would continue his argument, but he did not. In fact, ever since his overblot, Malleus had before more calm around every kind of change. He was allowing this, far better than the others had.

    "I will allow it."

    Yuu¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

    "But," the mirror continued with a slightly chilling undertone, "only if you fulfill your end of the bargain."

    Yuu nodded, her heart racing. ¡°A few more days, mirror. That is all I promise.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­.¡± the mirror seemed to deliberate again, as if unsure. As if wondering if it should bargain for more, but they both knew that for now, with the limited ¡®gifts¡¯ it had provided for, it did not yet have that leverage.

    The darkness in the mirror shifted once again, and Yuu could feel something¡ªa pull, a connection between her world and this one, a slight shift in the air.

    The letter in her hand floated from her fingers, pulled through the shimmering glass of the mirror. Malleus placed a hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°It is done,¡± he said softly, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Now you have both the assurance of your return... and the mirror¡¯s assurance the letter will arrive."

    Yuu felt a strange mixture of relief and trepidation.

    ¡°Thank you, Malleus. I don¡¯t know if that would have happened without you.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, perhaps not¡­. I take it you would like some time? Although, if I may, I doubt that proof of your letter¡¯s arrival will come today. You may have to wait days¡­weeks?¡±

    It was the first time Malleus had tried to persuade her to stay¡ªif only for a little longer.

    ¡°I won¡¯t wait weeks,¡± Yuu promised him, a little sadly. ¡°If I don¡¯t see proof of the letter having arrived, then I¡¯ll be leaving in a few days at most. After all, we did have a deal¡­¡±

    She glared at the mirror, now black and unresponsive once more.

    Malleus smiled sadly. ¡°You are a woman of your word, Yuu. That I trust.¡±

    Then, nodding to her fondly, he left her in the mirror chamber, understanding that she wasn¡¯t quite ready to give up watching.

    She had people on the other side of that mirror. Had they survived without her? And if they had, three years had passed in her world¡ªthree years where they had learned to wake up, eat, sleep, and carry on without her. What would it be like to step back into that life? Time had changed her. Twisted Wonderland had changed her. When she walked through that door at last, would she be a stranger to them¡ªa ghost wearing her own skin?

    Before her memories had returned, she had always imagined home as a static thing, waiting for her return. But it wouldn¡¯t be the same, and neither would she.

    She had no diploma, no job, no place in the world she left behind. She would have to rebuild her life from the ground up¡ªfind work, make friends again, figure out where she fit.

    And if she stayed here? She would still be rebuilding¡ªstill carving out a future of her own just as Mallory had done. No matter what world she chose, there was no going back to what once was.

    The realization settled in her chest like an anchor. She had always thought of this as a choice between leaving and staying. But it wasn¡¯t that simple. She wasn¡¯t choosing between two lives¡ªshe was choosing which one to begin again. Knowing this, and knowing the family that waited for her on the other side, she stared into the black depths of the unresponsive mirror. She¡¯d learned long ago that she couldn¡¯t trust it. That it didn¡¯t have her best interest at heart. Every day could be a way for it to find out how to hide her memories from her again.

    Entirely alone in the mirror room, now with nothing stopping her from going back, she took a twitchy step forward.

 Chapter 31: Azul

    Azul sat at his desk, fingers tracing the smooth curve of delicate shell pendant in his hands. It was small¡ªa spiral of pale blue and pearlescent silver, something unassuming, something beautiful. He had chosen it carefully, combing through his collection for the perfect one. He¡¯d wanted something that could withstand time, that could endure.

    His hands worked with practiced precision, though his chest felt tight, every movement pulling at something deep and raw within him. He wove the enchantment carefully, threading healing magic through the shell¡¯s natural shape, reinforcing its structure with quiet, steadfast protection. No matter where she went, no matter how far her world was from his, this would remain. If she needed it, if she was hurt, the magic would take hold, easing pain, mending wounds, and protecting her from things that upset her in the night¡­.

    He himself was no stranger to what it was like being vulnerable in your own head. There wasn¡¯t much he could do for himself but drown himself in the progress of his own dreams¡ªwhich, to be fair, was highly effective. But for Yuu?

    ¡°All this time, and this is all I can give you, Yuu,¡± he murmured to the pendant.

    His fingers curled around the finished necklace, the weight of it impossibly heavy in his palm. The cord was soft, smooth, comfortable. He exhaled, closing his eyes.

    There was nothing else to be done. He couldn¡¯t ask her to stay. It would be ungentlemanly to place the weight of his feelings upon her shoulders. She had a home beyond this one, a family beyond him; however, he could ensure she left with something of himself.

    Even if he would never know if she used it.

    Even if it meant she would never need him again.

    Fingers trembling slightly as he wove the final bit of magic through the necklace, Azul¡¯s hands, typically so steady, now felt strangely full and heavy handling the little thing. He let out a breath, feeling a small, fleeting sense of satisfaction.

    But before he could finish his moment of contemplation, the door to his office swung open with alarming force.

    "Azul!" his mother¡¯s voice echoed through the room like a sharp, biting wind. "If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d say you¡¯ve been¡­ avoiding me.¡±

    Azul¡¯s heart gave a startled jolt, and his reflexes kicked in. Instantly, he tucked the necklace under his hands and slipped it up one of his sleeves. Then, he straightened, wearing his usual practiced mask of calm.

    "Fortunately, Mother, you do know better, is that not so?" he said, trying to mask the slight panic in his voice. ¡°I was expecting you in an hour. You¡¯re early.¡±

    "Early?¡± His mother, a formidable figure in both size and presence, swept into the room with an air of barely-contained excitement. Her long, white hair swirled around her shoulders, and her sharp, calculating eyes scanned the room before settling on him. She clapped her hands together with a grin that was equal parts smug and authoritative.

    ¡°By an hour,¡± he repeated smoothly, tucking his hands beneath the desk to give himself a chance to better secure his gift.

    "Perhaps I am, then,¡± she admitted, surprising Azul, not for the first time in the days since she¡¯d come to stay with Octavinelle.

    Typically, Crowley would have banned a parent from staying in the dormitories. In Azul¡¯s case, however, it had been one of Nerissa¡¯s first tests to see if Azul could arrange things to the contrary. He had obviously passed that test, but had found occasions to regret it nearly every day since.

    Nerissa Ashengrotto was¡­.helpful, for want of a better term. She of course had found little fault in the way he managed things¡ªshe herself had taught him those skills. However, she¡¯d been embarrassingly loose-lipped with the purpose of her visit. She had come recruiting¡ªand not just for him. In just a few days since her arrival, it seemed like half of Octavinelle had signed employment contracts with her for after-graduation¡ª¡±for us,¡± as she¡¯d told him behind the scenes.

    Azul, however, had no intention of returning to the sea, a point which he had made quite clear. Every interaction with her, in fact, had irked him more. He of course could solicit his own employees when the time came. Moreover, she was using the trust that his dorm had against him. The Ashengrott name¡ªhis name¡ªwas one that Octavinelle had come to respect.

    Despite her ample strength and potioneering genius, Nerissa was poaching. There was no other word for her behavior.

    ¡°I admit, I¡¯m early,¡± she confessed. ¡°I just thought you might like some time to prepare, my dear.¡±

    He narrowed his eyes at her.

    ¡°Prepare, Mother?¡± He sighed. ¡°I presume you¡¯ve come to tell me ¡®for what?¡¯¡±

    Like a cat with a new plaything, Nerissa¡¯s smile widened.

    ¡°I¡¯ve arranged a meeting in your lounge with the Banejaw Council¡ªyes, they¡¯re coming to see you personally. They¡¯re curious about your little venture, darling. You¡¯ve impressed them."

    Azul blinked in shock. ¡°The Banejaw Council? Here?¡±

    Just weeks ago, he¡¯d have leapt at the chance. He¡¯d have done a jig on the desk and ordered a mountain of fried chicken in celebration. But this was Nerissa, and this was not on his terms.

    Before he could question her further, she continued, her excitement mounting.

    "They are bringing with them a panel of investors, all eager to meet with you after your graduation. They want to know everything about your future plans, Azul. Everything. They want the intimate details¡ªyour vision, your goals. Not a single one of them isn¡¯t interested in what you plan to do next." She paused, eyeing him with a challenging glint in her eye. "Now, tell me, what are your plans, exactly?"

    Azul felt the tension in his shoulders tighten.

    ¡°Mother,¡± he hissed, shock aching through his limbs. ¡°A meeting like this takes months to prepare for, not minutes! And as I¡¯ve told you repeatedly, my ventures won¡¯t stay under the sea. They will be almost exclusively on land. There isn¡¯t a single unclaimed territory left underwater, but up here¡ª¡±

    Taking a deep breath, Azul leaned back in his chair, trying to maintain an air of professionalism despite the prickly sensation running up his collar.

    ¡°Mother, my plans remain the same. I¡¯ll be continuing my work running restaurants, of course. But I also plan to diversify. I¡¯ve been working on a concept for a private apothecary¡ªspecialized in rare and enchanted ingredients for healing. It¡¯ll be part of a new kind of specialty bar, one that combines the finest cuisine with potions with effects tailored to whatever the guest requires. A niche market. Unique.¡±

    His mother¡¯s eyes glittered with interest. "You see? You are ready. No lengthy presentation would persuade them, but a promising venture such as that¡­is all you will have to say.¡±

    ¡°If I take that to a board of investors with no projections, no concrete promise, no PLAN, mother, then the idea will have drowned before it even grows fins!¡±

    Azul was genuinely annoyed.

    ¡°Mother, I appreciate what you¡¯re trying to do¡ªI do¡ªbut timing in business is crucial¡ª¡±

    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that, boy? Who taught you that principle?¡± Nerissa snapped. ¡°What I am trying to get through your soft little skull is that the timing IS now. It seems your cousin made good on his promise early. The tariffs are down. COmpetition is already flooding Atlantica. These next few weeks could cement the Ashengrotto name, or they could bury it, and that largely rests¡ªboy¡ªON YOU.¡±

    He closed his mouth. Stunned. This was not his plan. It was not his timetable.

    ¡°What today will mean is connections, Azul,¡± his mother carried on, placing her hands on the other side of his desk as she leaned over him. ¡°You know how important it is to have the right connections when you¡¯re dealing with such delicate matters, Azul."

    Azul bristled inwardly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, it¡¯s not just about what you offer¡ªit¡¯s about how you present it. You¡¯re going to need the right image, the right staff, the right reputation."

    He nodded, already mentally working through the logistics. He would need a team of reliable individuals¡ªpeople who could handle the intricacies of both the restaurant and the apothecary without revealing too much for now. For today, they needed to pretend like they knew more than they did¡ªfortunately, that was Jade and Floyd¡¯s specialty.

    "Of course, Mother," he said evenly. "I¡¯ll be sure to keep that in mind."

    He fidgeted with his sleeve. Opportunities often tended to happen so fast that the moments threatened to pass him by. The past¡ªYuu¡ªwas slipping through his fingers. The future¡ªa successful livelihood¡ªwas beckoning. His mother¡¯s abrupt entrance had completely derailed his plans. He had wanted to give the necklace to Yuu before everything got too complicated, but now... everything was in disarray.

    Azul¡¯s mother, satisfied with his response, smiled sweetly¡ªtoo sweetly, only managing to make her look lethal.

    Was this how people on campus saw him? He shuddered.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    "Good. You¡¯re finally thinking ahead. The world is watching." She paused, her expression sharpening. "But remember, your future doesn¡¯t belong to just you anymore. You¡¯ve got¡­.people¡­.to look out for. Be ready in an hour¡ªoh, and Azul?"

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°Do change out of your student uniform before they arrive.¡±

    Azul''s stomach churned at this change in plans, but he managed to keep his face impassive. His future belonged to him. At least, that¡¯s what he kept telling himself. Even though some ventures were already no longer an option for him, he felt pulled in two directions, so relentlessly he was sure he would snap.

    His mother, heedless of his inner storms, swept out of the room back the way she¡¯d come, likely off to waste more of his personal cosmetic potions.

    ¡°Eurgh!¡± he groaned, face falling into his hands.

    He could do this. Azul could negotiate in his sleep. He¡¯d been practicing for something like this for years. It was going to be fine¡ªAH!¡ªbut if it truly would all be ¡®fine,¡¯ then why was this awful sense of foreboding threatening to eat him alive?

    Fortunately, the denizens of fate did not suffer him a long wait, because just as he¡¯d risen from his chair, the door slammed open once again, and in slithered his favorite pair of confidantes wearing matching expressions of¡­ well, he wasn¡¯t sure what they were expressing, but the Leech twins were grinning ear-to-ear, as if they had a shared malicious secret.

    ¡°Well?¡± he questioned when they were before him.

    ¡°Well?¡± Floyd snickered. ¡°Well, he says. A world of suave greetings and potential comedic twin-related gold, and the man goes with ¡®well.¡¯ Things aren¡¯t looking too good for that meeting already, Jadie¡­..speaking of which! ¡°Aaaazul~! Did we hear the word investors just now?¡± Floyd draped himself over the settee, all but hanging upside down. ¡°That¡¯s such a grown-up word. Look at you, all fancy and serious.¡±

    Jade smoothed his sleeves as he sat beside his brother. ¡°Indeed. It seems Madame Ashengrotto has been hard at work securing your future.¡± His tone remained light, but there was something in his eyes¡ªsharp, assessing. ¡°Or at least, a future.¡±

    Azul raised an eyebrow. The twins could see the suspicion in the situation, too, then.

    Good.

    ¡°Must you two always appear unannounced?¡±

    ¡°If we announced it, it wouldn¡¯t be as fun,¡± Floyd said, grinning. ¡°Unless you got us an announcer. That might be fun.¡±

    ¡°I am not hiring someone to stand at my door and yell out names, Floyd,¡± said Azul. ¡°That would be a phenomenal waste of money and my eardrums.¡±

    ¡°So, Azul, as the tides of our future seem to be changing, we couldn¡¯t let such an important discussion happen without our valuable input.¡±

    ¡°And since we¡¯re such devoted friends, you wouldn¡¯t keep any secrets from us, would ya, Azul?¡± Though I¡¯m sure Azul wouldn¡¯t dare keep any secrets from us, would he?¡±

    Azul stiffened. That was a pointed comment. He cleared his throat.

    ¡°Of course not. My mother has JUST informed me, meaning as of two minutes ago, that the Banejaw council and a panel of investors is coming to see us¡­.it¡¯s the sort of opportunity most merfolk could only dream of, and yet, I¡­¡±

    ¡°And yet, you seem awfully preoccupied. Is something¡­ amiss?¡± Jade said knowingly.

    Floyd feigned an exaggerated frown. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be distracted right now, would ya, Azul?¡±

    Azul narrows his eyes. They were digging. And worse, they were right¡ªhe was distracted. The past few days had been a whirlwind of meetings, preparations, and his mother¡¯s endless meddling. But through it all, one thought has gnawed at him like a persistent little eel¡ªYuu.

    He knew something was off. He¡¯s felt it in the way she looked at the people she passed on campus¡ªnever really seeing them, and at the same time, taking in each face, as though she might never see them again. He heard the way her laughter carries a touch of melancholy, the way she lingered just a bit too long in places she never used to. And of course he had to notice. How wretched of him.

    Jade and Floyd exchanged a glance moving like a perfectly timed routine.

    ¡°You think she¡ªyour mother¡ªhas ulterior motives?¡± Jade prodded.

    ¡°I KNOW she has ulterior motives,¡± Azul groaned.

    ¡°We might know¡­.¡± Floyd sing-songed. ¡°But you have to guess first.

    Azul pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°I¡¯d rather not.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought, Sulie!¡± Floyd announced, spine moving like a liquid as he fell further into the chair. Very responsible. Very professional. Very¡ª¡± squints at Azul ¡°¡ªpale.¡±

    Jade hid a fake gasp behind a glove.

    ¡°Oh dear, Floyd, you don¡¯t think he¡¯s been stressing, do you?¡±

    ¡°Dunno. Maybe he¡¯s wilting under all that responsibility. Wouldn¡¯t be the first time.¡±

    Azul slapped both hands on his desk and glares at them. ¡°I am not wilting.¡±

    ¡°Oh, good. I was worried we¡¯d have to start watering you,¡± Jade said pleasantly.

    ¡°Yeah, or repot ya in a smaller tank,¡± Floyd added with a cheery expression.

    Floyd managed to slide to his feet then, and flopped dramatically over Azul¡¯s desk, hanging upside down once again.

    ¡°Are you going to tell me your suspicions, or is this just to delay my getting ready?¡± Azul hedged.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re pretty sure mumsie just wants your assets to make herself more competitive.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d deduced that much myself.¡±

    ¡°And she wants to force her sweet baby boy to come home more often.¡±

    ¡°That was a given.¡±

    ¡°And she wants to distract you from something else important going on right now.¡±

    ¡°Which would be¡­?¡± Azul groaned.

    ¡°We¡¯ll get to that,¡± Jade said calmly.

    ¡°Soooo, boss, what¡¯s your plan? I mean, aside from ruling the restaurant world?¡±

    Azul shoved Floyd off his desk. ¡°As I was just explaining to mother¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªOof¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªI have been considering a specialty bar, incorporating a high-end apothecary to create an exclusive, refined experience.¡±

    Jade nodded approvingly. ¡°An intriguing venture.¡±

    ¡°And obviously something I plan to include you in. Solitary fish rarely survive, as they say.¡±

    Still on the floor, Floyd groaned. ¡°Booooring. Medicinal bar? You¡¯re not gonna make all your drinks glow? What¡¯s the point, then?¡±

    Jade feigned deep thought¡ªsomething that he excelled at. ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s waiting for a particular inspiration?¡±

    Azul narrows his eyes.

    ¡°And what, exactly, do you think that is?¡± Azul queried flatly.

    Floyd suddenly popped up, once more far too close to Azul¡¯s face, as he excelled at doing. ¡°Oh, y¡¯know. The thing that¡¯s got you distracted.¡±

    ¡°The thing that¡¯s making you so¡­ unusually thoughtful,¡± Jade added. ¡°We just want to ensure that it¡¯s properly important.

    Azul found himself fidgeting with the sleeve where he¡¯d hidden Yuu¡¯s necklace. He could feel his face heating up.

    Azul lied through clenched teeth. ¡°Absolutely not.¡±

    Floyd wore an unnaturally long cheshire gin. Quick as an heel, he reaced out, and slipped the necklace out from Azul¡¯s sleeve.

    ¡°Reeeally? Then what¡¯s this?¡±

    Jade smiled. ¡°Ah. That answers that. How excellent; we were getting worried¡­¡±

    ¡°It answers nothing,¡± Azul shot back, voice tight.

    Floyd hummed loudly. ¡°Y¡¯know, for someone who runs a business on deals, you¡¯re real bad at bluffing.¡±

    ¡°Which in this case its a good thing,¡± Jade mused. ¡°Because what we have to tell you might throw a wrench in that rather illustrious future your mother has planned¡­¡±

    Azul shot up from his chair, losing patience. ¡°Do you two ever say anything useful?!¡±

    Floyd stretched lazily on the floor. ¡°Nah. Soooo, boss, you got anything important on your schedule today?¡±

    Grabbing his scarf and coat from the rack, Azul squinted suspiciously.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Oh, we just thought you might want to¡­ stretch your legs,¡± Jade added pleasantly.

    ¡°I fail to see how that¡¯s any of your business.¡±

    ¡°Awww, but you wouldn¡¯t keep us around if we didn¡¯t like making things our business.¡±

    Azul crossed his arms, unimpressed. ¡°What are you two getting at?¡±

    Jade and Floyd exchange a look, and then¡ªjust as Azul knew they would¡ªthey waited. Let the silence drag. Let it sink in. Let him squirm. And then, finally, Floyd dropped the bomb.

    ¡°Oh, noooothin¡¯ much, just that Little Shrimp¡¯s about to walk through the mirror and disappear forever.¡±

    Azul¡¯s stomach dropped like a lead sinker in a petri dish.

    ¡°What?¡±

    Jade added, ever-so-helpful, ¡°Ah, yes. She¡¯s in the mirror room. Right now, in fact.¡±

    He had spent so much time preparing what to do. What to say. Convinced he still had days left to steel himself for the inevitable. But now? Right now!?

    Azul¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°YOU COULDN¡¯T HAVE LED WITH THAT!?¡±

    ¡°Better hurry, Boss!¡± Floyd sang.

    Azul was no runner. In fact, he despised how difficult it was to move on land with an infernal, measly two legs. But, dropping everything in his hands, Azul ran for the mirror room, begging the seven to make sure he was not too late.

 Chapter 32: Yuu

    Yuu approached the towering mirror, fingers curled at her sides, her pulse thrashing in her ears.

    This was it¡­At least, it could be.

    The moment she¡¯d been hurtling toward ever since she remembered who she was, and Yuu was so tired of having choices taken from her. This. This would be her choice, and hers alone. She could do it.

    All she had to do now¡­ was step through.

    She took a breath, lifted a hand to the mirror¡¯s surface, raised a foot¡ª

    And the doors to the mirror chamber slammed open.

    Yuu jerked her head around just in time to see Azul storming inside. He was disheveled, breathless, hair slightly out of place, glasses askew. Had he actually run here? She didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry, so she just stood there.

    But the most important thing?

    He didn¡¯t look at the mirror.

    He looked straight at her.

    Yuu stiffened, bracing herself for¡­something. Why was he here? Final demands? Pleas? To persuade her to stay? If any of those were the case, she absolutely wouldn¡¯t. She wouldn¡¯t bend to the demands of Wonderland anymore, even if they did come from Azul, but Yuu had forgotten the obvious¡ª Azul Ashengrotto was, above all else, a businessman.

    And he did not plead.

    Instead, he slowed to a composed stroll, glancing around the room like he was sizing up a conference hall. He brushed imaginary dust from his wind-swept coat, and¡ªsmiled.

    ¡°Leaving so soon, Prefect?¡±

    Her throat tightened. She didn¡¯t know what to say. She didn¡¯t even know if she could say anything. Azul, being himself, didn¡¯t wait for her to figure it out. He clasped his hands behind his back, every inch the collected entrepreneur.

    This was the Azul of her memories. He watched her, never looking quite directly at the mirror, though he gave careful attention to everything else. The distance between them, an between herself and the door. Her position on the dais. His gaze flicked to her feet like he was measuring how close she was to stepping through.

    And he was already moving, slow as a creeping tide, not toward her, no¡ªjust past her. Just far enough to make her instinctively turn a little, step back a fraction¡ª

    A fraction farther from the mirror.

    Azul, the slippery bastard, smiled.

    He tapped a finger to the side of his face, looking contemplative, but on anyone else that gesture would have been mocking. ¡°Now, Prefect, I must say, for someone who¡¯s made quite a name for herself as an intelligent individual, you do make the most reckless choices.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI beg your pardon?¡± she spluttered.

    He gestured vaguely to the room, hand landing on the mirror in front of her.

    She folded her arms tightly. ¡°I think leaving behind a world where people regularly try to kill me is the opposite of reckless. Present company included, actually.¡±

    Azul clicks his tongue, unperturbed. ¡°A fair point. And yet, you stand at the precipice of a one-way trip to a world you haven¡¯t set foot in for over a year without so much as a test run.¡±

    Yuu frowns.

    ¡°I mean, really, what kind of business model is that? You wouldn¡¯t buy a product without testing it first, would you?¡±

    ¡°Are you comparing my entire reality to a scam product?¡± Yuu deadpanned.

    He lifted a hand, eyes glinting behind his glasses.¡°Am I wrong? Tell me, what will you do if you do make it home and realize you¡¯re a poor fit for either world? Will you come crawling back, begging the great and mighty Dark Mirror for a refund?¡±

    Yuu glared. ¡°I am not crawling anywhere.¡±

    Azul wore a displeasingly smug smirk.

    ¡°Oh, I quite agree. And you shouldn¡¯t. While I would pay to see you grovel, you¡¯d be atrocious at it.¡±

    She was just about to fire back when¡ª

    Azul cleared his throat casually, taking another step forward. She took another back, away from the mirror, driven by his sudden cold earnestness.

    ¡°What I meant was: How¡¯s your exit strategy?¡±

    Yuu blinked.

    ¡°¡­ I step through. I leave.¡±

    Azul¡¯s smirk widened.

    ¡°No, no. I mean rour exit strategy. You know¡ªcontingency plans, financial considerations, housing arrangements.¡±

    He gestured vaguely with one hand.

    ¡°For example, when you get back, your family has already made other arrangements, or so I surmise. Where are you going to live?¡±

    Yuu opened her mouth. And stopped.

    ¡­ Oh.

    Azul leaned in. ¡°Ah. You don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll figure it out. I always do. I suspect I¡¯ll have to do¡­more rebuilding than that. It¡¯s hardly my largest concern.¡±

    ¡°Mm, yes. A bold plan. Very strategic.¡±

    She scowled, stepping toward him now, and as quickly and smoothly as when he¡¯d entered, he angled himself away so that when she marched up to him¡ªWait. Wait¡ªhe made her step away from the mirror.

    Azul saw the moment she realized, and his grin was wicked.

    ¡°Oh, no, don¡¯t let me keep you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll land on your feet¡ªassuming you do land at all and not in, say, the middle of the ocean?¡±

    She hesitated, suspicious. ¡°What makes you say that.¡±

    Azul shrugged. ¡°Who¡¯s to say? Have you ever seen the mirror work in reverse? No? Neither have I. What fascinating odds. It¡¯s meant to bring people in from all sorts of locations, but without a destination mirror¡ªwithout a portal¡ªyou could go back to your world as arranged, but did you ever specify an address? Is that even possible, all things considering?¡±

    ¡°Do you genuinely believe I could land in the middle of the Atlantic, or is this a last attempt to sell me breathing potions?¡±

    Azul only smiled, letting her come to him, a little farther away from the mirror, and a little closer to considering what inane scheme he was after.

    ¡°It would be quite ironic, wouldn¡¯t it? Finally leaving Twisted Wonderland, only to die at sea.¡±

    Yuu groaned, rubbing her temples.

    Azul was, by all visual signs, entirely unaffected by her distress. ¡°I find that a little healthy fear is the best deterrent.¡±

    ¡°And then there are the people,¡± he sighed dramatically.

    ¡°The ¡®people¡¯ already know this might happen,¡± Yuu argued.

    Azul¡¯s face lit up, ever so briefly, when she said ¡®might,¡¯ but that change in expression was so brief, she could easily have imagined it¡­which begged the question, had she wanted to imagine it?

    ¡°Tell me, Prefect, do you really intend to leave without a proper farewell?¡±

    Yuu narrowed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve said my goodbyes.¡±

    It was a lie, and she knew it. No ¡®goodbye would ever be satisfactory to Ace and Deuce, and though she¡¯d told Grim that she was going¡ªin silent ways, over and over again, she still hadn¡¯t convinced him, and she certainly hadn¡¯t given him a formal goodbye. Of all the people in Twisted Wonderland, he deserved that from her the most before she did anything like this.

    A pang of guilt shot through her ribs. But that was none of Azul¡¯s business. Azul, who wasn¡¯t serious about her, and had never been. Azul who¡­.who was the first thing she thought of when she recalled the many, many things she would miss about this place¡ªbut only because he was the one she¡¯d spent the most time with recently¡­yes.

    Azul tilted his head, as though he could read her dissatisfaction. She winced.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Oh? And that was sufficient?¡± he asked as though he already knew the answer.

    Yuu crosses her arms, weight shifting as she glared at him. ¡°Was there something in those that you found insufficient?¡±

    Azul exhaled dramatically, feigning disappointment. ¡°How very practical of you. So efficient. So¡­ boring.¡±

    She bristled.  ¡°Boring?!¡±

    He tsked. ¡°Where is your grandeur, Prefect? Your sense of ceremony? Would you abandon a world that has shaped you without a final night to revel in its madness?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Are you trying to guilt-trip me into staying for a farewell party?¡±

    Azul gasps, pressing a hand to his chest in mock offense. ¡°I would never!¡±

    ¡°You absolutely would,¡± she said flatly.

    Azul hummed, unbothered.

    Then he moved in a little closer.

    Just enough that she had to tilt her head to meet his gaze.

    ¡°No, no, my dear Prefect¡­ I¡¯m suggesting something far more exclusive,¡± he said smoothly.

    She blinked, her so-called ¡®practical,¡¯ ¡®effective¡¯ thoughts fleeing from her head like rabid weasels from a brush fire.

    Azul smiled, slow and smug.

    ¡°One last night. Just you. And me.¡±

    She stared at him, trying her best to catch a few of the mental weasels before she lost absolutely all reason.

    ¡°Are you¡­ asking me on a date? Now?¡± she got out after a long, painful minute.

    Azul placed a hand over his heart. ¡°Perish the thought. Of course not!¡±

    She frowned as he tangled his head down toward hers. He spoke in a low voice, as if worried the mirror might overhear.

    ¡°I am persuading you to accept a deal. ¡±

    She shivered, and he was briefly delighted.

    ¡°Come now, Prefect. Have I ever given you a bad deal?¡±

    Yuu opened her mouth. Then closed it again. On sheer technicality, any deal he¡¯d given anyone was technically, functionally, in principle¡­good.

    Azul grinned, one of the longer strands of his hair brushing hers. ¡°See? You hesitated.¡±

    She grumbled. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean¡ª¡±

    ¡°One night, Yuu. Not even a night. An evening. And I promise I¡¯ll show you something no human has ever seen before. In fact¡­ not many merfolk have seen it either.¡±

    Yuu looked up at him, skeptical.

    ¡°Oh, come, Yuu. It¡¯s a singular evening with me. You¡¯ve survived them before, and this time, you get to see one of Twisted Wonderland¡¯s greatest treasures. You¡¯ve been gone a long time, I know, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still leaving, Azul. I still have to go.¡±

    Azul just smiled, ever unflappable when he was rested.

    ¡°Of course. But after an evening with me, I can have you outfitted for any event when you arrive. A sample of the breathing potions, hydration potions, a portable signal flare¡­ you have the general picture.¡±

    Her arms were still folded across her ribcage, and she was beginning to feel hot, but wasn¡¯t ready to unravel herself just yet.

    ¡°And that would take you¡­another few days?¡±

    ¡°Naturally,¡± he said brightly. ¡®But I do already have the components. I can promise you wouldn¡¯t be waiting long.¡±

    A smile tugged at the corner of her own mouth.

    ¡°Well when you put it that way, I really shouldn¡¯t refuse should I?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know of any intelligent individual who would,¡± he said breezily.

    She met his eyes head on, and he hovered infinitesimally closer, his forehead a heartbeat away from her skin.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you tonight at sunset, then. The pier off the north dock. Try your best not to be late.¡±

    Then just like the space between them was back, filling with cold empty air as Azul escorted her from the room. It didn¡¯t escape her how he didn¡¯t let her out of his sight until she was safely out of the mirror room, and down the hall.

    *

    When Yuu stepped into Ramshackle Dorm, she was already bracing herself for whatever weird magical anomaly, forgotten chore, or Grim-related disaster awaited her. At this point, she wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if the ghosts had restarted their not-so-silent protests as well.

    What she wasn¡¯t expecting was a package, wrapped with impeccable precision in the Octavinelle colors, sitting neatly on the old coffee table in the lounge.

    Grim, lounging on the couch, didn¡¯t even look up when she came in. ¡°Oh good, you¡¯re back. Now you can open that creepy box that mysteriously appeared instead of leavin¡¯ me to deal with it.¡±

    Yuu arched an eyebrow. ¡°You didn¡¯t try to open it?¡±

    Grim huffed. ¡°Tried. It zapped me.¡±

    She snorted. ¡°Jade probably wrapped it, then. And he probably knew you¡¯d try to¡ªto¡ª¡±

    As she spoke, she undid the ribbon and lifted the lid, only to find¡ª

    A dress? No, it was a swimsuit. A very, very formal swimsuit. Yuu choked back a laugh.

    It was a formal, high-class oceanic ensemble, the kind of thing someone would wear to a dignified undersea event. Elegant, sleek, ridiculously expensive-looking¡ªand suspiciously similar to what she should have worn to the wedding she attended but hadn¡¯t, because no one had told her formal swimwear was a thing.

    A neatly folded note sat atop the fabric.

    "For next time. ¡ªA"

    Yuu blinked at it, then burst out laughing.

    Grim peered over, ears twitching. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±

    Still giggling, Yuu held up the swimsuit. ¡°Azul sent me this.¡±

    Grim squinted. ¡°What is it?¡±

    She put a hand on her hip. ¡°It¡¯s a swimsuit, Grim.¡±

    That¡¯s a swimsuit? Looks like somethin¡¯ for one of those snooty noble guys.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Yuu grinned. ¡°This is what I was supposed to wear at the wedding.¡±

    Grim¡¯s tail flicked. ¡°Pffft. Thinks he¡¯s so clever.¡±

    Yuu sighed, still smiling as she folded the suit neatly back into the box. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t exactly say he¡¯s wrong.¡±

    Grim watched her carefully, then, with deliberate casualness, said, ¡°So. You¡¯re gonna be gone again tonight?¡±

    Yuu hesitated. "Yeah¡­ I promised Azul."

    Grim groaned loudly, flopping back against the couch. ¡°Unbelievable! Leavin¡¯ yer best pal to go schmooze with that fish again!¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be dramatic,¡± Yuu teased, ruffling his ears. ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you.¡±

    ¡°You better,¡± Grim grumbled. ¡°And don¡¯t come cryin¡¯ to me if he gets all sappy and weird again. You¡¯re on your own with that one.¡±

    Yuu just laughed again, rolling her eyes. But even as Grim whined, she could see his tail swishing, his ears still turned toward her. He was mad, sure. But mostly? She knew he was anxious about her leaving.

    Another pang of guilt caught at her. She needed to talk to Grim¡­.and she needed to do it when he wasn¡¯t so grumpy. Yuu flopped onto the couch next to him, stretching her arms with a sigh.

    ¡°Alright, Grim. What do you want for dinner?¡±

    Grim rolle dover dramatically on his cushion, scoffing. ¡°Oh, so now you remember I need to eat?¡±

    Yuu rolled her eyes. ¡°I fed you breakfast.¡±

    ¡°That was days ago!¡±

    ¡°It was literally this morning.¡±

    Grim ignored that, waving a paw dismissively. ¡°Doesn¡¯t count. I demand a feast worthy of a great mage such as myself!¡±

    Yuu arched an eyebrow. ¡°We have instant noodles.¡±

    Grim sat up, scandalized. ¡°Instant noodles?! That¡¯s peasant food!¡±

    ¡°You ate three cups of it yesterday.¡±

    ¡°That was survival. Desperation! Tragedy! This is dinner.¡±

    Yuu sighed, tapping her chin.

    ¡°Oh. The. Drama. Okay, we¡¯ve got¡­ some bread, half a jar of peanut butter, and one¡ªno, half¡ªa potato.¡±

    Grim made a face. ¡°Ugh, how are you still alive?¡±

    ¡°By making smarter food choices than you.¡±

    Grim huffed. ¡°Well, do you at least have tuna?¡±

    Yuu peered into the pantry. ¡°¡­I have something that might¡¯ve once been tuna.¡±

    Grim sniffed. ¡°Hmmm¡­..¡±

    ¡°No, Grim. It¡¯s going. In the trash.¡± ¡°There¡¯s this¡­¡±

    Yuu held up a tiny, sad piece of jerky. ¡°This is all that¡¯s left.¡±

    Grim couldn¡¯t have looked more betrayed if she¡¯d just suggested they live peddling themselves on a street corner. ¡°That¡¯s it?! That wouldn¡¯t even last me a snack!¡±

    ¡°Well, I could go to the cafeteria and bring something back¡­¡±

    Grim¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Yes! Yes! Do that!¡±

    ¡°¡­or you could come with me.¡±

    ¡°NO.¡± Grim shuddered violently. ¡°And be seen in PUBLIC?! With my fur looking like this? Pfft. No thanks. I have dignity.¡±

    Yuu shrugged. ¡°Alright. Guess it¡¯s instant noodles.¡±

    Grim groaned, flopping dramatically onto the couch. ¡°This is inhumane! This is cruelty! This is¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll put an egg in it.¡±

    Grim immediately sat up. ¡°An egg?¡±

    ¡°Yep.¡±

    ¡°¡­A soft-boiled egg?¡±

    Yuu narrowed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡±

    Grim stroked his chin, deep in thought. ¡°¡­And you won¡¯t skimp on the seasoning?¡±

    Yuu smirked. ¡°Chef¡¯s honor.¡±

    Yuu got to boiling the kettle.

    ¡°Malleus put something in the mailbox, by the way.¡±

    She paused in her ¡®cooking,¡¯ processes. ¡°Malleus?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, told me to tell you to look in there soon. That guy is scary, Yuu. Why is he allowed to wander around the grounds again?¡±

    ¡°Because he¡¯s nice, and probably the most personable guest we have,¡± she said, annoyed.

    Grim snorted. ¡°The bar¡¯s real high¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­¡±

    Yuu set the water next to the bone-dry noodles and eggs and wandered out to the letterbox, thrown back to the breezy morning when the invitation to Mallory¡¯s wedding had arrived with its lack of warning labels, and overpriced calligraphy. Her fingers brushed the box, wondering at how much had happened since then, and if she had the chance? Would she go back?

    No, came the resounding answer. At long last, she had answers to questions she¡¯d been asking for years. It was no one¡¯s fault that she¡¯d gotten a few more answers than she¡¯d bargained for, and she wouldn¡¯t trade those for anything either.

    Curious, she opened the letterbox and pulled out the letter inside¡ªa letter made of paper not produced in Twisted Wonderland. It was her mother¡¯s handwriting on the back.

    Hands shaking, Yuu opened it and read, hungry for every word. Then, she brushed the tears away and read it again. And again.

    ¡°Heeeey, human! Water¡¯s doing that whistling thing!¡± Grim called from inside.

    That snapped her out of her reverie.

    She came inside, holding the paper in her hand like a lifeline.

    ¡°Noodles, human! We are minutes away from¡ª¡±

    ¡°Grim¡­¡± she said, stumbling back through the doorway. ¡°Grim, I have a few things to talk to you about.¡±

 Chapter 33: Yuu

    The pier was bathed in the soft, fading light of the setting sun, casting long shadows over the weathered planks as the gentle waves lapped against the edges.

    Beautiful.

    Yuu thought she was on time, but she was the first to arrive. No messages yet on her phone. Noone around. Fortunately, the approaching evening was warm, or she¡¯d have trouble standing here in her formal swimdress.

    Yuu stood there alone, the silence wrapped around her like a cozy blanket, her breath catching in the change of the evening air. Her heart fluttered, a strange mix of excitement and anticipation swelling in her chest, a sensation that felt like a firework just waiting to burst. The atmosphere was charged, as if the very air around her was alive with possibility.

    ¡°Whoa, fluttery¡­what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± she muttered under her breath to the double-crossing organ in her chest.

    Yuu took a deep breath, the coolness of the evening filling her lungs, and as she exhaled¡ªthe flutter in her chest didn¡¯t quiet down, because of course it didn¡¯t. If anything, it only grew stronger, the sensation of being on the edge of something new, like a storm just about to break.

    In contrast, the world around her felt as though it were holding its breath, waiting for the next step, for something to shift. She felt that pull, that tingling excitement in the air, as if the night itself was alive.

    ¡°Just another night in Twisted Wonderland,¡± she said aloud to herself in the evening air¡ªunconvincing, even to herself.

    ¡°Of course it is,¡± said a voice behind her, his voice smooth as silk. "I hope I didn¡¯t keep you waiting too long. You know how business sometimes gets in the way of¡ªwell, today business tried to get in the way of being alive. I am quite fortunate to have Jade and Floyd as my mitigation¡ªsometimes.¡±

    She turned to see Azul walking toward her with that confident stride of his, his elegant coat trailing behind him like something out of a high-end fashion magazine. He smiled, a bit smug but undeniably charming, and stopped beside her, leaning against the pier with all the practiced grace of someone who''d spent his life perfecting the art of nonchalance.

    "Should I tell them you said that?" Yuu offered with a mischievous grin.

    He mock-shuddered. ¡°If you do, I¡¯ll deny it. They wouldn¡¯t believe you, anyway.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not¡­I¡¯m not taking you away from anything important, am I?¡± she asked, suddenly self-conscious. ¡°Because if I am, you can go. I won¡¯t be offended¡ª¡±

    Azul laughed¡ªa real, open, ringing sort of laugh that shook his shoulders, and rumpled his coat.

    ¡°Yuu¡ª¡± he took a breath to calm himself. ¡°Yuu, the sort of chaos that has taken over my lounge tonight is the kind of thing I would pay real money to avoid. I¡¯m going to have Jade to pay once I get back for disappearing. Call this a rescue.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s your turn to be the damsel? That does change things around.¡±

    He snorted. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far¡ªhey!¡± He yelped when Yuu elbowed him.

    ¡°Let me have my white knight moment. You got all of them last week¡ªexcept with the clam, and I¡¯m still not really sure how we got out of that one.¡±

    He straightened his jacket on his shoulders, then seemed to think better of himself and took it off entirely.

    ¡°Touche,¡± he admitted.

    ¡°So¡­¡± she said, rubbing at her arms. ¡°I hate to pester, but is this going to be the sort of not-date-but-deal where we eat food? Grim flambeed dinner tonight. And I don¡¯t even know HOW. It was supposed to be soup! How do you burn soup?¡±

    ¡°He is an exceptionally flammable creature,¡± said Azul, though even he looked impressed. ¡°I almost hired him to work in my kitchen last year...¡±

    Her eyes bugged. Her hand flew up to his chest without permission.

    ¡°Please, please never do that. I¡¯ll never be able to afford the damages he¡¯d saddle me with. And you won¡¯t be able to afford the trauma.¡±

    ¡°Should I tell him that you said that?¡± he asked, eyes twinkling.

    She smirked. ¡°If you do, I¡¯ll deny it,¡± she parroted. ¡°Azul, we¡¯re almost out of light¡­ should we go?¡±

    He draped his coat over the pier, looking for all the world like he intended on going nowhere soon.

    ¡°Oh, we¡¯ll go. And to answer your question, there will be food¡ªbut we¡¯re not going anywhere on the pier. Beyond that, I¡¯m not saying anything else. You¡¯ll have to wait.¡±

    Yuu rolled her eyes. ¡°I am going to come back alive from this, right? I mean, after all the effort you put into keeping me that way, it would really be a waste if I didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Trust me,¡± Azul said, stepping forward to gently guide her toward the edge of the dock. ¡°You¡¯ll be perfectly safe... probably.¡± He winked.

    ¡°Probably?¡± Yuu asked, giving him a pointed look.

    Azul¡¯s expression turned mysteriously serious for a brief moment, before he added with a chuckle, ¡°Well, what¡¯s an adventure without a bit of danger?¡±

    Yuu¡¯s sigh was exaggerated. ¡°Should I have stayed in Ramshackle, and spent tonight battling whatever probably-sentient dinner monstrosity Grim made?¡±

    But Azul just gave her a knowing smile, his voice smooth.

    ¡°You know you¡¯re curious, Yuu. Besides, where¡¯s the fun in playing it safe when there¡¯s magic and mayhem waiting just around the corner?¡±

    Yuu¡¯s lips twitched. That was certainly one of Twisted Wonderland¡¯s biggest perks¡ªshe never knew what was waiting for her in the next moment.

    ¡°Alright, alright. Lead the way to magic and mayhem!¡±

    Azul gave a satisfied smile, clearly pleased with the exchange. ¡°With pleasure,¡±

    And, with a little too much pleasure, he shoved her into the water.

    Yuu yelped as the icy water plunged over her head, and she could have sworn she heard Azul laughing as he jumped over her, and dove in much more gracefully, like the sodding fish he was.

    Azul¡¯s transformation into his true form apparently went much more smoothly when he had control over it. With a flick of his pen, his clothing dissolved into a curtain of bubbles, which hardly had time to ascend before eight black tentacles came billowing through the waves around him.

    ¡°Show off,¡± she coughed, when her lungs found air again.

    Azul ghosted over to her, keeping her head above water, like he had the first time, letting her rest on one of his long black limbs.

    ¡°Turnabout is fair play,¡± he said, shrugging. ¡°Sorry for the¡­.erm¡­tentacles. I know that humans¡ªand mer-folk¡ªfind them disconcerting. But this is the only way we¡¯re going to get where we¡¯re going.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not disconcerting,¡± she contradicted. ¡°They¡¯re flashy, sure. And dramatic. And very pretty¡ª¡±

    ¡°You think I¡¯m pretty?¡±

    Just when she didn¡¯t think he could GET more smug.

    ¡°I think you¡¯re flashy and dramatic. Did I not say dramatic?¡± she covered quickly.

    ¡°You look lovely in that dress as well,¡± he added, pulling her closer in the water. He let her grip his forearms so that she, instead of just him, had control over how much air she was getting.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± she returned, welcoming the gesture. ¡°Its very, ah, tasteful. I can¡¯t imagine how you got it so quickly.¡±

    ¡°Well, I like to think so.¡± He cradled her arms in his hands, letting her come to him.

    ¡°How¡­did you know my sizing? I was curious.¡±

    ¡°Rook,¡± he said with a tiny, exasperated noise.

    ¡°You made a deal with Rook? You got him to sit down long enough?¡±

    He rolled his eyes. ¡°I never said anything about getting him to sit down.¡±

    She coughed again. ¡°Thank you. That would have been¡­.trouble.¡±

    He was unamused, scrutinizing her struggle. ¡°Drink this,¡± he said, one tentacle producing and offering her a shimmery sort of vial out of nowhere.

    She didn¡¯t take it. ¡°Is this going to give me a tail again? Because if it¡¯s all the same, I¡¯d really rather not dissolve my bones¡ª¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t,¡± he promised quickly. ¡°This will let you breathe both underwater and above air for three hours.¡±

    ¡°That long?¡± Taking the vial from his arm¡ªfoot?¡ªshe gave the contents of the vial a suspicious sniff, but after all they¡¯d been through, Yuu had begun to sincerely trust Azul.

    She tipped it back, and, though it tasted like fermented seaweed, at least her bones stayed intact. Instead, if felt as though her lungs had expanded in their capacity, and she felt the place where she¡¯d once had gills thin, and start to take in water again. The cold vanished as well. The stars were brighter, and she could see much farther across the water¡ªand beneath it as well.

    ¡°This is¡ª¡± she breathed deep, taking in what was around her. ¡°Azul, this is really impressive.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, genuinely flattered. ¡°I¡¯ve been developing this one for a few years now. It¡¯s¡­.more convenient.¡±

    ¡°I can only imagine.¡±

    ¡°The sun is nearly down. Shall we?¡±

    He was already holding onto her, but she nodded assent, taking a tighter hold of his arms, and letting him tug her away from the dock, away from the city lights, and away from firm land.

    Once they were far enough, he signaled to her that they were going to go deeper, and she let him pull her beneath the surface, where her lungs took their first shuddering gulp of cold saltwater.

    Even in the fading orange and pink sunset around them, the ocean below stretched endless, empty, and dark. Azul moved through the water like it was second nature¡ªbecause it was¡ªand she, well¡­ she moved like someone who had only ever been thrown into it. She kicked her legs haphazardly, trying to match his effortless grace, and was rewarded with a very familiar, very smug chuckle.

    "Aren¡¯t you enjoying this too much?¡± she muttered.

    Azul slowed down just enough to let her think she was keeping up before smoothly pulling ahead again. Her voice was distorted by the water, but his was somehow clearer.

    ¡°No, Yuu, I¡¯m enjoying it exactly the right amount.¡±

    "If I drown, I promise I will haunt you."

    He turned back just enough to grin at her. ¡°If you drown while I¡¯m carrying you, you¡¯ll have far bigger problems than haunting me.¡±

    Before she could protest, he adjusted his hold, one arm bracing securely behind her back. A single flick of his tentacles sent them gliding effortlessly through the water, and she had to admit¡ªit was far better than fighting against the current like she was trying to climb a mountain in very large slippers.

    ¡°You know,¡± she mused, settling against him, ¡°It¡¯s very impressive how quickly you move with all of these arms.¡±

    Azul was instantly suspicious¡ªwhich might have been insulting if he weren¡¯t absolutely correct about how impish she was feeling.

    ¡°I that¡­a compliment, or a setup?¡±

    She singsonged against his chest, trying her best to sound like Floyd. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to know?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°No? You just seemed really good with them earlier¡ª¡±

    ¡°Earlier when¡ª? You know what, Yuu? New rule. No teasing the transport.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s an insufferable rule.¡±

    ¡°Given what the clam had to say about things, I think we both know how insufferable you really think I am.¡±

    She shut her mouth hard.

    Azul hummed, entirely unrepentant¡ªthe unrepentant hum of a merman who knew he¡¯d won.

    A few minutes of silence passed, and the water before them was still empty, until they pulled up to a spot that¡­was still empty.

    ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Azul announced proudly.

    ¡°It¡¯s lovely,¡± she said eagerly. ¡°Best patch of empty water I¡¯ve ever seen. Sensational, really. They don¡¯t have any empty water like this at home.¡±

    Azul rolled his eyes. ¡°I should bite you.¡±

    She snickered. ¡°You already did¡­many times, actually. Does that mean I have a few more that I¡¯m allowed?¡±

    He groaned. His chin brushing the top of her head in his agitation.

    ¡°Too soon. Just¡ªjust wait.¡±

    He held out his pen, and lifted it up to the very empty water, leaning forward, until it met with some invisible object with a tiny, ringing ¡®clink!¡¯

    She opened her mouth to quip back¡ªonly to fall silent as the ocean around them seemed to shift. Then, a great shudder rippled through the waters around them, and what looked like a glass wall fell down into the ocean floor in segments.

    Just as the last of the cherry-red glow of the sun died on the horizon, the waterwall finished it¡¯s revealing fall, opening her view to an enormous bioluminescent garden winking to life as the moon rose above.

    It was a sprawling maze of plants, larger than the biosphere back at NRC. Filled to the brim with life she¡¯d never seen before, and if Azul was to be believed, almost no one had seen anything like this.

    The water pulsed with soft light, trailing over their skin like the lingering touch of a spell. Strange, otherworldly plants stretched and curled in slow motion, their bioluminescence glowing in shades that had no name. Delicate floating orbs drifted like captive stars, swirling in their containers with lazy, dreamlike motion. And then there were the vines¡ªthick, curling things laced with potion-rich flowers, their petals shifting colors like an indecisive chameleon.

    From every coral shrub, winding vine, and coiling, curling root, shining fruits glowed, dripping with lush color. Large, lantern fruits hung along a winding path through the garden, the whole thing swaying in the current like it was one living, breathing thing.

    He laughed, rich and unhurried, before turning to take in the garden around them. ¡°Well? What do you think?¡±

    Yuu let herself drift, absorbing the strange, beautiful space in silence before finally turning back to him.

    ¡°¡­I think this is the part of the tour where you hit me with the real pitch. And I would listen. ¡±

    Azul smirked, tilting his head slightly. ¡°My dear, if you think I¡¯d offer any of this for sale, then I must be losing my touch.¡±

    She grinned. ¡°So you do have a soft spot.¡±

    Azul leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°Let¡¯s keep that between us, shall we?¡±

    She exhaled, turning her gaze back to the glowing plants, the drifting lights, the peaceful stillness of it all. It felt like something out of a dream¡ªsomething Azul had kept entirely to himself until now.

    ¡°¡­This place is yours,¡± she said, quieter now, realization sinking in.

    Azul watched her for a moment before nodding. ¡°It is.¡±

    A small smile pulled at her lips. ¡°And you¡¯re just¡­ showing me.¡±

    Azul smirked, but there was something softer beneath it. ¡°Consider it an exclusive tour. For a limited-time only¡ªluxury transport, expert guidance, and exceptional company.¡±

    Yuu tilted her head. ¡°No hidden fees?¡±

    ¡°Yuu, if I told you that, they wouldn¡¯t be hidden, now would they?¡±

    For the first time since the nightmares began¡ªsince she¡¯d had to leave the safety of Octavinelle several days prior, Yuu laughed¡ªa real, effortless laugh that left her breathless.

    ¡°That sounds like a risk.¡±

    ¡°And yet,¡± he murmured, voice dropping to something softer, something undeniably pleased, ¡°here you are.¡±

    She smiled. ¡°These are incredible. Will you show me?¡±

    He swam them past a patch of stalk-ish plants waving in the current, each topped with a little glowing eye that bobbled and winked at them.

    ¡°Do those do anything?¡±

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°So far, they¡¯ve been nothing but silently judgmental,¡± he sighed. ¡°And completely inert in potions. More inert than water.¡±

    ¡°No personality. Got it. And these?¡± She pointed to a patch of hot pink skeletal cages growing around what looked like raspberries.

    ¡°For the first few hours after consuming those, you will be consumed with the color pink. Rosy view of life. Appalling fashion sense. Very prone to blushing.¡±

    ¡°And after that?¡±

    ¡°You will have some serious explaining to do to anyone who witnessed the early effects,¡± he mumbled.

    She snorted. ¡°I¡¯d love to hear that story.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°No?¡±

    He shot her a ¡®look.¡¯ I promised a tour, not an epic tale. ¡°Anything else catch your interest?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± she glanced around. There was so much. ¡°Those?¡± she eventually asked, settling on the chameleon-colored berries.

    Azul gestured toward them, his voice velvety smooth. ¡°Siren fruit. One bite enhances your voice beyond measure.¡±

    Yuu narrowed her eyes. ¡°And the catch?¡±

    Azul feigned offense. ¡°Must you always assume there is a catch?¡±

    Oops.

    ¡°My apologies,¡± she said quickly.

    He chuckled. ¡°The catch is that if the fruit dislikes you, it may render your voice somewhat¡­ intolerable.¡±

    She pinched his arm. ¡°Define intolerable.¡±

    Azul flinched, but his eyes gleamed with mischief. ¡°Some say it resembles the sound of a particularly distressed seagull.¡±

    Yuu clamped her mouth shut, expression caught between horror and barely contained laughter.

    Azul leaned in, voice smooth as silk. ¡°Would you care to test your luck?¡±

    She laughed. ¡°No, but I wouldn¡¯t mind a demonstration.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, not tonight,¡± he declined.

    ¡°Why, does it not like you?¡± she teased.

    He arched a brow at her. ¡°Because the results would be¡­disastrous to our evening no matter how it decided to feel about me.¡±

    She blinked. Then, she understood. ¡°A¡ªah. Good call, I suppose.¡± She searched around for another object of interest for a subject. ¡°How about those?¡±

    She pointed to a semi-circle of decorative corals, surrounding a patch of what looked like electric blue watermelons.

    ¡°Ah! I¡¯m so glad you asked! Those¡ª¡± he gestured proudly to the melons, ¡°¡ªare our dinner!¡±

    Yuu let go of Azul, and swam to hover over the melon patch. They didn¡¯t react to her, or watch her like some of the plants in here did, but they were still¡­.electric blue.

    ¡°Are you going to tell me what they do?¡±

    ¡°After you try them, of course!¡± he said with a grin. His tentacles were already making short work of the attached vines, and pulling two of the melons from their garden bed.

    ¡°At least they didn¡¯t shriek or anything when you did that,¡± Yuu noted.

    ¡°Oh, come, Yuu. They¡¯re just fruit,¡± Azul said, rolling his eyes. ¡°This way.¡±

    He led her further down the path, where a set of steps were carved into a rock plymouth rising from the edge of the garden.

    She shot him a questioning look, but followed him upward, to where the surface broke.

    In a rare calm spot on the outer sea, a large bowl had been carved from the rock where it met the water, meaning that Azul could sit in its middle and still have his gills submerged, and they could both keep themselves in the open air quite clearly.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡ªwow, Azul,¡± she gasped, letting him pull her into the obsidian perch.

    Above them, the stars sprawled out more clearly than they ever could on land, and below, the glowing garden winked merrily away in all of its lively color. Azul had been right. There was no place else like this in Wonderland, or her own world¡ªor anywhere.

    ¡°Comfortable?¡± he asked, once they were both situated.

    ¡°Um¡­almost. Would this be alright?¡±

    The downside of sitting in a bowl when she didn¡¯t have tentacles was that Yuu couldn¡¯t actually perch herself anywhere steady. Instead of sitting next to Azul and tipping sideways, she opted to face him, and swing her legs over his¡ªwhat would have been¡ªhis lap. As always, Azul was surprised when she was bold enough to touch the black rubbery skin on his lower half, but he at least seemed to see the necessity of it, and didn¡¯t push her away.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he affirmed simply, turning his attention back to the fruit they¡¯d brought with him.

    Pulling a tiny paring knife from the invisible pouch he kept at his side, he removed part of the outer blue rind from the melons, and handed her one of them, though it didn¡¯t escape her how careful he was being not to touch the flesh of the fruit.

    ¡°So¡­do I get any hints as to what this might do?¡± Yuu pressed again, accepting the fruit he offered to her.

    ¡°Maybe next time,¡± he said ambiguously.

    Hoping that this wasn¡¯t all going to go horribly wrong, she held his gaze as she took the first bite.

    ¡°Well?¡± he asked, sounding eager.

    She looked down. She wasn¡¯t turning blue, nor was anything else happening to her.

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± she pondered. ¡°Cherry limeade? And mint?¡±

    ¡°Interesting combination¡­¡± he murmured, biting into his own.

    ¡°Interesting, why?¡±

    He offered her the other side of the one he¡¯d bitten. His fruit¡¯s flavor was smooth and complex, with sweet notes of citrus, and something deep and savory.

    ¡°Is that citrus fried chicken?¡± she said around her mouthful.

    He nodded proudly. ¡°The fruit adapts its taste to the one who bites it first.¡±

    ¡°It changes, it doesn¡¯t change you. Nice. Does it change according to mood? Preference? Does it change if your taste for it changes in the middle of eating?¡±

    ¡°It is fruit, Yuu,¡± he grinned at her. ¡°It¡¯s not that smart.¡±

    She nudged his tentacles with her ankle. ¡°But you had the same questions when you discovered it, though, right?¡±

    He choked a little on his next bite. ¡°Yes, I did.¡±

    They chewed together in companionable silence for a while, watching the flickering lights above and below.

    ¡°Yuu¡­¡± he ventured, once they were about halfway through. ¡°If you aren¡¯t¡­comfortable sitting like this with me, I won¡¯t be offended if you want to go somewhere else. There are other places in the garden where we can sit.¡±

    She regarded him, genuinely curious.

    ¡°It didn¡¯t seem to worry you at Mal¡¯s wedding that you were in your true form. Is there a reason that it''s bothering you, now? I promise you Azul, I don¡¯t find you at all off-putting. In any form.¡±

    Yuu was grateful for the dark. For some reason, admitting that last bit out loud, even as flatly as she¡¯d said it, felt strange, given the situation.

    ¡°How odd,¡± was all he said.

    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be,¡± she shot back.

    He sighed, leaning back on the opposite edge of their stony seat.

    ¡°The world is rarely concerned with what ¡®should,¡¯ be.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say to that, but then, I don¡¯t speak for anyone else¡ªexcept maybe Grim. Someone should speak for him sometimes¡­¡±

    Azul snorted, his earlier concern palpably dissipating.

    ¡°So, the fruit. I have to ask, for research reasons. When I began experimenting with land-cantaloupe, I had trouble getting the flavors on this right. Do you think it was accurate?¡±

    ¡°It was perfect¡ªand¡ªhang on, you designed these? Did you design all of them?¡±

    She gaped.

    ¡°Well, not all of them, but most. It¡¯s more of an experimental hobby than anything¡ª¡±

    ¡°You have HOBBIES?¡±

    He tsked, shifting his lower half en masse to better face her. ¡°I¡¯m a three-dimensional being, Yuu.¡±

    She matched his angling. ¡°What? And here I thought you were 2-d.¡±

    He bristled. ¡°Is this going to be a critique on my waistline?¡±

    She rolled her eyes at him, hearing in his voice that he was about to tease her.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t. But it certainly could be. You look like a quill with a superiority complex. Are you a man or just an exceptionally irritable coat rack?¡±

    ¡°Rude,¡± he remarked, but he looked equal parts impressed at the audacity, and surprised at her critique.

    As though to prove a point, she reached across the space between them and slid her arms down sides, but instead of space found all the hardness of a swimmer¡¯s form.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± she said. ¡°I guess I just expected your shirt to be hollow.¡±

    ¡°Glares down at her without any ire, appearing more surprised at her proximity.

    ¡°Not that skinny. Just an excellent tailor¡­.and this isn¡¯t actually a shirt, Yuu. It¡¯s just my natural coloring.¡±

    ¡°My compliments to your tailor.¡± She pried herself off quickly, blushing. With all the contact they¡¯d had in the past, ahem, she did know that, but putting one¡¯s foot in one¡¯s mouth rarely happens intentionally. ¡°You must think that humans getting a tan is so boring.¡±

    He huffed a surprised laugh. ¡°That¡¯s all? No concern whatsoever?¡±

    ¡°Hey, your pattern is pretty enough that I thought it was intentional. Twisted Wonderland is full of things like that.¡±

    And, it was pretty, if a bit dramatic. The back of his neck was still darkly colored, like a vaudeville collar with none of the cheap texturing, and the pale skin that ran down from his jaw to his lower waist was a perfect, slicing V, that, now she really looked, cut right across natural muscle and skin. Right. It was just him. She¡¯d even seen his jacket dissolve.

    Feeling foolish, Yuu looked away, suddenly aware she was staring.

    He shook his head at her. ¡°What this world must be like to you¡­¡±

    She took a deep breath, desperate to pull back from the line she¡¯d crossed.

    ¡°Okay. Three-dimensional person. You have time for hobbies, housewarden duties, and homework. All very impressive. Hey, you even come with three hearts, and probably an extra kidney, too.¡±

    Azul¡¯s smirk was returning.

    ¡°Was your belief in my skinniness the only thing keeping my kidneys off the black market?¡±

    She crossed her legs across her lap. ¡°You¡¯ll never know.¡±

    ¡°...At least you¡¯re not threatening to eat them.¡±

    Her attention snapped back to him in shock. ¡°WHY would I EAT you??¡±

    He crossed his arms over his chest, watching her through a hooded gaze.

    ¡°It¡¯s actually tradition to eat a mate you were dissatisfied with.¡±

    Her mouth fell open, forgetting for a moment that she¡¯d amply signed herself up for this.

    ¡°Azul, you were an excellent mate. I mean, wait, no, that¡¯s not what I¡ªwe were terrible mates.¡± Her hands flew up to her mouth as the arch in his brow got higher. ¡°But not terrible! We weren¡¯t supposed to be¡ªOh, man¡­ I¡¯ve dug myself this hole, Azul. Just bury me in it already. If you¡¯ll excuse me, I¡¯m going to sit here in silence for a moment so that I don¡¯t find more ways to make this sound¡­um¡­worse. But if it helps¡­ I¡¯m pretty sure I told you I have a policy against eating friends.¡±

    ¡°And are we still that?¡± He nearly whispered it in the dark, and despite being surrounded by lights, she couldn¡¯t decipher the expression on his face.

    She opened her mouth, and closed it again. What could she possibly say to that that wouldn¡¯t hurt them both.

    Sensing her discomfort, he switched angles.

    ¡°May I inquire where this policy originated? Asking for a friend.¡±

    She sighed, rolling her eyes at him. It was her turn to fall back on the rocky stone for support.

    ¡°It originated from my inner dread,¡± she deadpanned.

    ¡°Interesting. Is that a human organ I¡¯m not yet aware of?¡±

    She snorted. ¡°It should be.¡±

    ¡°Yuu, I¡­¡± for a moment, he looked very much like he wanted to say something, and then decided against it. ¡°Satisfied?¡± he asked instead, holding out a hand.

    ¡°N¡ªoh! Yes, I¡¯ve eaten enough,¡± she said, handing over the rest of her fruit.

    He dissolved it with his pen, and let the remnants flow into the water. Then, to her great surprise, he pulled out a roll of golden contracts¡ªthe ones she¡¯d seen on the way out of Octavinelle. With a wave, and no acknowledgement of her having seen them, he dissolved them as well, letting the golden dust flow over the garden.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t those important to you?¡± she asked softly.

    He shook his head. ¡°Once upon a time. But I find that they no longer align with certain principles, and the plants out here need magic to survive, so¡­¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± she murmured, unsure for once of what to say. Only¡­she¡¯d been wrong. She¡¯d made assumptions on who Azul was, and, well, it was simply an enormous cliche! Everything her feeling had been telling her about where this was had been right, and her head, her head for once, had been wrong, and was happily willing to admit it. She was so relieved, and dumbfounded at the odd surge of emotion that she almost didn¡¯t notice Azul going through his own plight.

    ¡°Before anything else happens, Yuu,¡± his voice cut through her haze. ¡°I was hoping¡­well, you did say your goodbyes, I suppose. However, I was hoping you¡¯d let me send something with you.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t pack you in my suitcase,¡± she said lightly, if a little sadly. ¡°You¡¯d die without the transformation potions in my world¡­or you¡¯d be trapped. I would never¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± he said with a small smile. As though he¡¯d considered¡ªas though he¡¯d thought of that already.

    ¡°But perhaps you can take a piece of this world with you.¡±

    Azul was nearly always collected, unless the circumstances were quite extreme, as she¡¯d learned, and though his voice was even, his movements steady, she could have sworn she saw his fingers tremble as he pulled a tiny blue spiral pendant from his side, and held it out to her.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know what sort of thing you¡¯d like. I¡¯ve never seen you wear jewelry,¡± he was already apologizing.

    ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous, Azul. Of course I¡¯d wear it. But you didn¡¯t have to do that. I¡¯ve caused you so much trouble.¡±

    He looked up, and she couldn¡¯t help but notice that it was the same blue as his eyes. Under the sea, they might look the same as everything else, but above water, they were shocking, earnest, and familiar.

    ¡°Not enough,¡± he swore.

    The silence between them was hard and brittle enough to shatter. Yuu hardly knew what to say, or do, so for once, she took the coward¡¯s approach, and turned away from him.

    ¡°Well¡­will you put it on me, then?¡±

    The pause from Azul was just long enough to make her wonder if she¡¯d committed some unforgivable faux pas, until he said:

    ¡°Come a little closer so I can reach.¡±

    To get closer, she had to move farther up his legs, to where he was sprawled at the edge of the rocky bowl.

    Sitting with her back close enough to feel the heat radiating from his torso, she sat as still as a ghost as he fastened the surprisingly comfortable chain around her neck, hesitantly, as though he were trying to touch her as little as possible.

    He said nothing when he¡¯d finished, probably waiting for her to scurry off of him, but for Yuu¡­for Yuu, suddenly, it felt as though every second were being counted with a sledgehammer. Before she¡¯d had a way to return home, she¡¯d thrown herself into this life with everything she¡¯d had, not knowing if it would ever end, and somehow, along the way, she¡¯d begun to want it that way.

    There would never be any substitute for her family. However, the dawning truth was slipping through her soul¡ªthat there would never be any substitute for the family she''d built here¡ªeven if it did come in the form of a whiny cat demon, and the most damage-prone friends in the city. Nor, would there be a substitute for the rising bond she¡¯d forged with Azul¡­even if he didn¡¯t feel the same.

    After all, this had come from a friendship, to be sure. Anything beyond that had been Mallory¡¯s blasted dust¡­.hadn¡¯t it?

    This didn¡¯t feel like any other friendship she had, though. This felt like trust, and perhaps something else. Something that was worth following. And perhaps worth¡­a risk?

    It was a small movement, but to Yuu, it felt like a monumental leap as she gave up part of that draining fight she hadn¡¯t known she was waging, and let her torso fall back the last few inches of space between herself and Azul¡¯s chest.

    She heard his breath hitch behind her, and then, his arms were around her middle, wrapping and pulling her the rest of the way, as he buried his face in her neck, covering the faded healing mark of the bite that started all of this.

    Whether intentionally or not, his mouth brushed the fading scar, and though there shouldn¡¯t have been any magic left in the mark¡ªat least not the kind meant to bind¡ªit lit up with sensation anyway. The pendant around her neck answered with an echoing call, both saying the same thing: they were there to protect. To save. To keep.

    ¡°It feels like you,¡± Yuu gasped, touching the pendant.

    Azul twitched. ¡°The pendant, or¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she affirmed.

    A pensive humming vibrated through the lower parts of his ribs. ¡°It¡­it shouldn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°But it does have your magic?¡±

    He nodded hesitantly into her shoulder. ¡°It does. You can feel that?¡±

    She shrugged, his hair tickling her neck. ¡°I can¡¯t feel anyone else¡¯s like that. Only yours. Maybe it will make me miss you less¡ª¡±

    She cut herself off. This was not the time. It wasn¡¯t¡ª

    Somewhere on her midsection, Azul¡¯s fingers laced through hers. He didn¡¯t respond with words, or pressure, or worse, pleas, but, as gently as though he thought he would break this moment before it could take form, he carried her hand up to her shoulder and pressed it to his mouth¡ªso softly that she wondered if he was there at all.

    She pulled away just enough to see part of his face, eyes nearly closed, and trained on her still.

    She turned into him, placing one knee on his hip so that she could see his face. If his arms hadn¡¯t still been around her, she might have fallen over¡ªher world felt as though it was tilting. She had to angle herself up quite sharply to see him, and he let her, leaning his forehead down to rest on her own.

    ¡°I thought¡­I always thought it was the dust,¡± she whispered.

    One of Azul¡¯s tentacles caught her waist, steadying her enough that his hand could trace her jaw. Her face. Her slow-drying hair.

    Eyes nearly closed, he placed another of those intensely soft kisses on her lower jaw, making her tremble.

    She was the one who often charged into situations without thinking¡ªwho jumped without checking the waters below.

    Azul never was.

    So, if he wasn¡¯t being influenced by anything right now, that meant he had amply thought this through¡ªthat he had decided¡ª

    ¡°It was never just the dust, Yuu,¡± he said, kissing her again, higher this time. Then again, so close to the corner of her mouth, her thoughts fuzzed. His mouth was smooth and cool, and soothing against her face, which had spontaneously decided that it wanted to be on fire.

    ¡°Hm?¡± was all she could manage.

    ¡°Neither of us are dusted anymore.¡±

    He said it, so close to her mouth that his lips brushed hers as he spoke, kissing her softly with every syllable. Yuu¡¯s throat had gone so dry it hurt. There was a wild, beating thing in her ribs demanding to be released. Every inch of her that wasn¡¯t touching him was beginning to ache.

    With reaching fingers and tremulous breath, Yuu reached for Azul, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and neck, and grabbing for his hair, his skin, him, and she closed the polite, courteous space that he was giving her.

    It was a long, aching, questioning heartbeat before he answered¡ªlike he wasn¡¯t expecting this in the first place. For a moment, Azul didn¡¯t move. Then, as if some dam had broken, his hands came up, grasping her waist, holding her as though she might disappear if he didn¡¯t anchor her there. He kissed her back, and oh, he was good at it. Years of smooth talk and charm distilled into something devastatingly real. He was careful. He was controlled. He was civilized.

    Awful.

    The reality that Azul, and all of his possibilities and potential together with hers could be slipping through her fingers in a matter of days, or hours¡ªor worse¡ªthe idea that he expected this gesture of affection to be a farewell, gave her the the sort of desperate, seeking desire that undid any tact she should have approached this moment bearing.

    Her knees gripped his waist, straddling him as close as he would allow, and she poured herself into trying to tell him at an urgent, gasping pace, the depth to which she¡¯d fallen.

    ¡°Azul,¡± she managed to breathe, but before she could confess anything truly, at the sound of his name, Azul¡¯s grip tightened, pulling her closer. His hands found her waist, pulling her in with a suddenness that stole her breath this time. He kissed her back, and oh, he was thorough about it, like he was trying to make up for every second he¡¯d spent resisting, for every moment he¡¯d let pass without doing this sooner.

    But it still felt like goodbye, or at least, like he was delaying one.

    ¡°Azu¡ª¡±

    He made a strangled noise, and kissed her harder, this time, flipping them about suddenly, so that her back was pressed against the rock, and he, with his massive reach, fastened them to it. No longer bound, her ankles wrapped around his waist, and fastened her there clinging¡ªshe no longer knew whether for balance, or for¡­for something.

    Yuu¡¯s lips parted, and Azul followed, his tongue meeting hers with slow, deliberate strokes, tasting her. The world around them seemed to quiet, every sound fading into the background until there was only the sound of their shared breaths and the soft rush of water nearby. Her movements were gentle at first, tentative, like she was savoring every second of this stolen moment, but then her hand slid from his hair to the back of his neck, fingers pressing lightly into the tendons, pulling him deeper into the kiss, and he met her arching with his own, pulling a sound from her throat that she¡¯d never heard before.

    Curling around her carefully, two of his tentacles wrapped around her legs, fastening her more securely¡ªthough to her great dissatisfaction, he didn¡¯t bring her any closer. Still, the contact was warm and tender¡ªand far more than she would have had with a human¡ªmore than she would have had with anyone, something within her whispered.

    But even with all the movement, the closeness, the soft sighs that escaped between them, it still felt like something fragile. A moment caught in time, too precious to break, and yet too necessary to hold back. Azul¡¯s breath hitched as he pulled away just a fraction, their lips still brushing with every exhale.

    She reached out to stop him, clinging to him, as much as the moment.

    ¡°Wait,¡± she pleaded, because she was not above pleas.

 Chapter 34: Azul

    Azul hardly needed a second ask. The pleading in Yuu¡¯s voice echoed the same voice in his head.

    ¡®Wait,¡¯ it begged. ¡®More time. Another moment. More.¡¯ Because if there was always more, then this might never end.

    The world seemed to pause as he looked down at her, wanting to say so many things¡ªthings he didn¡¯t have the courage for¡ªthat felt like they should be written on a letter instead of spoken out loud. His thumb traced the edge of her jaw, a silent apology and an invitation all at once. He leaned in again, slowly, giving her the chance to pull away if she wanted, but she didn¡¯t. Instead, she pressed herself into him, urging him to continue.

    Are you sure, he nearly asked. Her response, however, left him in no doubt. For now, at least, she wasn¡¯t trying to bid him farewell¡ªor, so some hopeful part of him thought.

    Azul¡¯s hands found her waist again, this time with a firmer grip. The act of touching her was grounding him. His fingers pressed into the delicate fabric of her swimdress, feeling the pulse of her heartbeat beneath the soft material. He pulled her just a little closer, the heat from her body seeping into him. His chest brushed hers as he tilted his head, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was both tentative and desperate all at once. It was a kiss of quiet want, a secret promise written in the press of his mouth against hers.

    Yuu''s response was immediate, her fingers slipping into the mess of his hair, tugging him just that bit closer. He could feel her warmth, her breath mingling with his as she drew him in. The kiss deepened, slowly, and Azul allowed himself to fall, to drown in it. He moved his hands, one curling gently around the small of her back, the other finding its way to her face, fingers lightly grazing her cheek, memorizing the feel of her skin for every dream he would ever have without her beside him. She fit perfectly against him, like a ship under stars, like promises in the dark, the other half the infernal dust the infernal dust had promised him she was when it had touched his skin.

    His heart thundered in his chest as his hands slid down her back. Feeling the subtle curve of her spine, he wondered if she would let him be closer. If she would let him try¡ªhe pulled. Subtly. Gently at first.

    She sighed, arcing her body flush against his.

    He couldn¡¯t help himself. His tentacles moved of their own accord, knotting her tightly against him. He wrapped her in himself, almost expecting her to push him away. Instead, she made a satisfied sound into his mouth, extraordinarily giving voice to the same feeling coursing through his limbs¡ªonly closer. Only now. More.

    His lips moved against hers with more urgency now, the pace quickening, though still laced with that same overwhelming need to savor her, to make it last.

    Sensing the hesitance, she let out a small sound of complaint. Her fingers slid into his hair, tugging him down, pulling him deeper into the kiss, and Azul¡¯s breath hitched in response. The pace of the kiss quickened, but still, he was careful, savoring each brush of her lips, each shift of her body. He moved his lips over hers with purpose, his hand now resting on her back, pressing her gently into him. He could feel the slight tremble of her hands, the subtle hitch of her breath against his lips, and it sent a shiver down his spine.

    Azul¡¯s breath caught as he held her closer, his hands steady on her waist, she, responding to him with an intensity he hadn¡¯t expected. His hand moved to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair, and he could feel the heat of her body pressing against his, her every breath mingling with his own. Yuu¡¯s hands raked through his hair, the sensation making any thoughts of delicacy flee beyond reach.

    So focused on how she felt in his hands, and the hot feeling of her mouth, and tongue moving with his, he¡¯d nearly forgotten that he had her arms and legs both tangled around him. As the pace intensified, her legs shifted in the grip of tentacles, sending warm, curling signals up through his limbs, and dancing up his spine.

    Her limbs pulling on his, she angled her hips against the base of his torso and ground into him.

    Just once.

    The feeling that coursed through him wrenched a sound from him that would have scared small fish. He couldn¡¯t find it in himself to be mortified, at the brief, involuntary gasp.

    ¡°Yuu,¡± he growled into her mouth. ¡°I am going¡­¡± he gasped between kisses, ¡°¡­ to go mad¡­If I lose you.¡±

    It was said out loud, and could never be taken back.

    ¡°I¡¯ll never forgive you if you do,¡± she hissed back.

    It was his turn to respond with absolute confidence, determined to show her a taste of what she would miss if she ever left him. He ran his tentacles down her legs, careful to brush in places that he remembered had sent her over the edge the night of the Banejaw wedding. The high, keening mewling that she rewarded him with was a song in his blood.

    Just kissing was pushing him to the brink, and he was suddenly, excruciatingly jealous of his frivolous, tepid, coddled, happily married cousin.

    It was perhaps for the best, and to his desperate frustration, when Yuu pulled back.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d never say anything.¡± She was breathing as hard as he was.

    ¡°I won¡¯t ask you to stay,¡± he said, hating himself with every word. And he wouldn¡¯t. It would be selfish. It would be irrevocable. It would bring them both unnecessary regrets that he would never foist on her.

    But it didn¡¯t mean that he didn¡¯t want to.

    ¡°But if you did stay,¡± he heard himself saying, immediately diverting any remaining self-control to his words, and praying it would be enough. ¡°If you wanted to stay¡­¡±

    He swallowed hard. How could he say this, without ruining himself? Without going back on his own deal with his better sense of reason?

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    ¡°If I stayed?¡± she prompted. She angled her face up so that her forehead rested on his, waiting.

    He let the starlight above filter into his retina, let the cool evening breeze blow across the tendons of his back, bringing him back into himself enough for this chance to say what he¡¯d been wanting to for so long.

    "Yuu," he began, his voice emptier than he intended, a careful calm hiding the restlessness underneath. "You¡¯ve been here long enough to see the... complexities of this world. It¡¯s easy to believe that the future is a safe, neatly packaged thing... but I don¡¯t think you¡¯d be the same if you did. I think, perhaps, something would be missing¡ªbecause the things that make life matter, are the things that often demand the most from us."

    He paused, searching her expression for some sign of what she might be thinking. He wasn¡¯t sure if he was searching for permission to say more or if he was simply waiting for a sign that they were both standing at the edge of something far deeper than just another fleeting connection.

    "There¡¯s... there''s a certain unpredictability in staying here, Yuu. The unpredictability, the messiness of it all... but there¡¯s also something that comes with it. Something you won¡¯t find anywhere else."

    The words hung in the air, an invitation, but not a demand. Azul stood there, his posture as composed as ever, but his eyes betrayed a certain longing, a hope that this might be the moment she would understand.

    "Yuu," he began, the air between them thick with an unspoken tension. "If I may, you¡¯re not exactly the type to settle for what is ordinary, or what is easy, are you?"

    His eyes never wavered from hers, and once more, she let him near, just listening to him. He paused, however, still wondering if he overstepped.

    "I promise you¡ªif you stay, even just for a little longer¡ªyou¡¯ll realize that there¡¯s more here than you could ever imagine. More than I could offer in a lifetime, although I would try, if you¡¯d let me," Azul straightened a little, not breaking the contact they had, but no longer pinning her so tightly, either. His voice had a vulnerable edge to it that he hadn¡¯t planned.

    He allowed his words to hang in the air, offering her space to decide what to make of them. When the silence lingered painfully long, however, he realized how his words could have been taken¡ªnot that he didn¡¯t mean them, but perhaps was not the time¡ª

    No, he told himself, steeling his heart for whatever came next. This was the time. This might be the only time.

    ¡°If you stayed, I would even promise I won¡¯t be as infuriating as usual. Maybe."

    She smiled, and then inhaled like she was still trying to catch her breath.

    ¡°I got a letter today, through the mirror,¡± she said breathlessly.

    Immediate confusion set in. He was pouring his heart out to her, and she¡­was telling him about her day? Not that he wouldn¡¯t listen. Was it too much? Was this her way of telling him he¡¯d gone too far?

    ¡°It was from home. I have a way to communicate. I have a way to rebuild the connections I lost¡­¡±

    The idea shot through his head.

    What was she¡ª

    ¡°I¡¯ve already promised Grim I¡¯m not leaving. At least until graduation.¡±

    For Azul, it was as though time itself had briefly decided to pause. His breath catching in his chest, and not for the first time in his time with Yuu, or even this evening, his practiced composure cracked. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. His fingers, so accustomed to the precision of control, curled slightly as though they were searching for something solid to grasp. He settled on her, pulling her up the inch to meet his eyes fully.

    ¡°You¡­ what?¡± he managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

    Her fingers traced distracting circles in the hair at the nape of his neck, and he became aware that he¡¯d forgotten to close his mouth.

    ¡°I¡¯m staying. For now. Does that¡­does that change anything?¡±

    He pushed the boundaries of permission once more to press one kiss¡ªjust one, achingly tender and soft against her lips. Then, he pulled away. There was more he needed to hear.

    ¡°So¡­ So, I have until then to convince you to stay longer?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a lifetime,¡± she said softly. He had pulled back, but she had not.

    ¡°No,¡± he breathed a surprised laugh. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t. But I wouldn¡¯t be fit to do business with pond algae if I didn¡¯t recognize an opportunity.¡±

    She smiled, reaching up to tap his ear.

    ¡°Business does follow you everywhere. Especially when you¡¯re¡­dodging. What is it you actually wanted to say, Azul?¡±

    He gave a nervous laugh, but the elation of the moment seemed to be taking over his senses, because he found himself confessing something to Yuu that he never would have permitted himself to voice before this night.

    ¡°I¡¯ve found myself¡­somewhat envious of Varrun of late¡ªwhich, believe me, is a surprise. Growing up, I never thought I¡¯d want to do any more than stand in the same room as that squeamish guppy¡ªah¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ah, sibling love,¡± she teased.

    He scoffed. ¡°Hardly.¡±

    Laughing, she tucked her head under his chin. It was for the better. That movement spared him the embarrassment of her watching him lose his thread of thought¡ªagain¡ªand at the same time reassured him that she wasn¡¯t put off by his poor expression of what he had meant to say, which was that¡ª

    ¡°You¡¯re jealous that a bigger fish than you caught a human? If you want Mallory, you might have to wait a few years before she¡¯s even a little distractible¡­.and even then, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll tear her away from him. They¡¯re¡­ they do have something real.¡±

    Azul snorted, partially in indignation, and partially in distaste.

    ¡°Varrun can keep his explosive human, thanks,¡± he retorted impishly. ¡°I meant to say that his catch was so timely. And that he managed it at all.¡±

    ¡°You have such faith in him,¡± she murmured into his neck, warming him enough that he curled his arms around her again, the embrace both contenting and pleasant.

    ¡°I have exactly the faith that he deserves,¡± he scoffed gently, pressing his face into her hair, now nearly dry. ¡°But he did manage something great, and for that¡­.I¡¯d say he has my respect, but really he has my envy.¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± she murmured.

    Then, turning her face into his neck, she bit him¡ªnot hard enough to break skin, but hard enough to make him stiffen in surprise. She kissed the stinging mark her teeth had likely left in the skin, and he moaned, tilting his head to give her better access.

    She obliged him, marking the rest of the way up to his jaw, where she stopped just below his ear.

    She gave him enough time to bring his eyes back into focus before she murmured in his ear.

    ¡°What exactly are you asking, Azul?¡±

    He scrambled to sweep together the thoughts that he had only just gotten recollected.

    ¡°I¡­ erm, I hadn¡¯t exactly had time to put it into words yet¡ª¡± he gasped.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ asking to date me? Quite seriously, if I¡¯m interpreting the reference to your cousin correctly¡­¡±

    He swallowed, heart doubtlessly hammering through her fingertips in his nervousness.

    ¡°I believe I am. Your answer?¡±

    The weight of the moment bore down on his breath like the pressure shift before a storm. For a brief, gut-wrenching second, he marveled at just how much of his life had been gambled on this moment. Her silence was maddening, the anticipation almost unbearable. Every part of him told him to brace for the worst, to guard his heart against disappointment, but for once he was grateful¡ªto even have the chance to take this risk.

    Just as his nerves were threatening to fray, she smiled¡ªjust a little, but enough to melt the cold tension.

    ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡±

 Chapter 35: Yuu

    ¡°You¡¯ve been studying for twelve hours, Azul. Twelve. I¡¯m not even sure if your eyes are in straight anymore,¡± Yuu announced from her perch on Azul¡¯s office floor, stuffing the study guides within reach back into her bag with relish.

    Azul made no such moves to, well, move at all.

    ¡°These are my final exams, Yuu. I¡¯m not doing them halfway.¡±

    Floyd, whose face was already down in the carpet, mumbled through his own pile of papers¡ªwhich he had given up on at least an hour ago. ¡°The woman¡¯s right, Boss. This is chop-suey. Keeping on with this is like giving mouth-to-mouth to a week-old kipper. Or debating potionology with a moldy turnip.¡±

    ¡°Enlightening imagery, Floyd,¡± Azul muttered, annoyed.

    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m trying to arm-wrestle an octopus,¡± added Jade, who sat on the recliner, jacket and tie more askew than it may have ever been during his time at NRC.

    ¡°Not funny,¡± Azul grumbled.

    Yuu, in a similar state to Jade, rolled over from her spot among the study guides on the floor, and peered up at Azul.

    ¡°It¡¯s a little funny.¡±

    ¡°Yuu. Not you, too. We have mere days before exams¡ª¡±

    With a groan, Yuu pushed herself to her feet, and made her way to Azul¡¯s chair.

    ¡°Azul, if you don¡¯t get proper exercise and sleep, nothing you¡¯ve studied will actually stick. And this¡­¡± She picked through one of the papers he¡¯d amassed on his desk. ¡°Isn¡¯t this from last year¡¯s arithmancy?¡± She held up another. ¡°And this form. It¡¯s from this year¡¯s Biomancy quiz. None of this is going to be covered.¡±

    ¡°You never know what they¡¯re going to pull from. Anything over our entire time here is free game,¡± he said stubbornly.

    ¡°You do know those already, Azul¡­¡± Jade drawled, letting his head loll back on the sofa¡¯s arm.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with a review. I won¡¯t know what I¡¯ve forgotten unless¡ª¡± Azul proceeded to lecture the room¡ªmostly himself¡ªabout the importance of minor quizzes and obscure professorial references. He did this while raking his hair into a mess reminiscent of a mad scientist. His descent into insanity was practically tangible. On his behalf, Yuu decided he¡¯d had enough.

    ¡°You¡¯re done for today,¡± she said, reaching for his hands and pulling him from the chair. ¡°Jade,¡± she complained, having to pull harder than she¡¯d expected, ¡°did you starch his suit, or all of him? Come on, Azul. You¡¯re stiffer than a Victorian wig. At this rate, we might need to start marketing you as furniture.¡±

    ¡°I can get up myself, Yuu,¡± argued Azul, who absolutely could not get up by himself.

    Letting him try, she pulled back far enough for him to make the attempt¡ªonly for him to make it exactly as far as they¡¯d expected.

    ¡°Why are you watching me?¡± he grumbled, pushing hard off of the desk.

    Yuu¡¯s smirk matched the twins¡¯. ¡°I like watching you struggle.¡±

    Azul¡¯s scowl was immediate.

    ¡°Charming.¡±

    Chin in her hands on the desk, she kept a straight face as he pushed himself to his feet¡ªslowly.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s cute how you glare.¡±

    Azul crossed his arms, finally having made it to his feet. ¡°I think it¡¯s terrible how you flirt.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡ªum¡ªtouche¡­.¡±

    ¡°You do flirt rather blatantly,¡± Jade sighed, not looking at them. ¡°Really, Azul, is putting the Ashengrotto sigil around her neck any less subtle than a mating mark?¡±

    Clearly the prolonged studying had made Jade less tactful. And less subtle. And grumpy.

    ¡°Well, she is wearing it, isn¡¯t she?¡± Azul replied smoothly, for the first time, entirely unflustered. In fact, though weary, he seemed entirely too pleased. ¡°And, it did get rid of mother quite nicely.¡±

    ¡°You mean the part where she left the dorm cackling maniacally?¡± Yuu deadpanned.

    ¡°And burning contracts, and collecting wagers?¡± Floyd added unhelpfully.

    ¡°It certainly reminded me of someone,¡± muttered Jade.

    Azul blanched. ¡°Is that how people see me?¡±

    ¡°YES,¡± Jade, Floyd, and Yuu exclaimed at once.

    Azul groaned, letting his face fall into his hands. ¡°Eurgh¡­. So much work to do¡­.Is my reputation really so flimsy?¡±

    Yuu perched on his desk, reaching up to stroke a few stray pieces of his silvery hair back into place. ¡°Give it time. Your own dorm obviously likes you¡ªSo do I.¡±

    She placed a quick kiss on his cheek, and he rewarded her with a bright salmon-colored blush.

    ¡°Eurgh, you two make me wanna jump in a lake,¡± Floyd groaned, throwing his arms over his face.

    ¡°No one said you needed to study in here, Floyd,¡± Azul

    ¡°You did,¡± Jade and Floyd said simultaneously.

    ¡°...Did I really?¡±

    ¡°¡ªI think that¡¯s a great idea, Floyd,¡± Yuu interjected, before Azul could go losing himself again. ¡°Sun¡¯s almost set, so we don¡¯t have to worry about sunscreen. Let¡¯s just go swim for a bit. Actually, I saw dolphins go by earlier. We could catch them!¡±

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Glasses askew, Azul looked at her as though she¡¯d just proposed they all try balancing weasels on their heads. ¡°Yuu, if you think I can keep up with a pod of dolphins, you would be mistaken.¡±

    ¡°We could, though, Shrimpy!¡± Floyd cried, shooting upright as though she¡¯d just reinflated him. ¡°Jade and I could catch a few of those for you!¡±

    Yuu laughed nervously. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t mean to eat them. Just¡­ for looking?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we chased anything¡­¡± Jade said thoughtfully, a smile spreading on his face.

    ¡°Right, well¡­¡± Yuu could feel something dissolving in the room around her as Azul¡¯s glare refocused squarely on the twins. ¡°How about you guys go and get some suits? Only so much daylight left.¡±

    ¡°Yuu¡­¡± Azul said warningly, as the twins peeled themselves off of their respective surfaces and wandered out of the room. ¡°Yuu, I have to say, this is a risky idea if you were planning on staying un-drowned this evening.¡±

    She shot him a wink over one shoulder. ¡°What I¡¯ve done is bought us a ten-minute head start to get somewhere they can¡¯t track us. Are you a mage, or aren¡¯t you?¡±

    A slow smile twisted up the corners of Azul¡¯s mouth. ¡°And they say I¡¯m the devious one.¡±

    ¡°Tell a soul and they¡¯ll never believe you,¡± she said mischievously.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been catfished,¡± he sighed dramatically.

    ¡°You knew EXACTLY what you were getting,¡± she said, flicking his ear hard.

    He batted her away, collecting his coat. ¡°Yes, yes. But who else did?¡±

    ¡°Did anyone else matter?¡±

    He blinked. ¡°Perhaps I really have been studying too long¡­So, Yuu. Where did you want to go?¡±

    She smiled, taking the arm he offered to her. ¡°Somewhere quick. Nine minutes left.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, a devious twinkle returning to his dulled eyes. ¡°Alright, I have a few ideas you might enjoy, but we¡¯ll have to run.¡±

    ¡°You would run for me?¡± she snickered.

    He rolled his eyes. ¡°I do. With absurd frequency.¡±

    Touching her free hand to her heart, she found herself feeling oddly, and deeply cared for¡ªnot for the first time since she¡¯d begun spending her days with Azul.

    ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± she said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to say to that.¡±

    ¡°Hah!¡± That tiny edge of madness was seeping back into his smile as he led her from the office. ¡°The possibilities! You could say¡± I am hopelessly charmed by your refined intellect, undeniable charm, Azul,¡¯ or, ¡®If I had to choose between a mountain of treasure and having tea with Azul Ashengrotto, well¡­ I¡¯d at least consider the tea,¡¯ or perhaps, ¡®Wow, Azul, I¡¯m so smitten, I believe I¡¯ll wear this pendant forever,¡¯ or¡ª¡±

    She was laughing hard now, as he pulled her down the main staircase behind him.

    ¡°Wait, wait. Is that last one really on par with the others?¡±

    At the base of the staircase, Azul paused in their flight long enough to press one of those aureately soft kisses on her mouth that never failed to stick her to the floor.

    ¡°No,¡± he murmured fervently. ¡°It¡¯s far more significant.¡±

    Then, he smirked, and before she could even somewhat come to grips with his question, and what Jade had compared the pendant to earlier, Azul was tugging her along again, with a reminder: ¡°Seven minutes.¡±

    Running behind him, reeling, laughing despite herself, she followed him out the lounge side door and out toward the docks. Yuu never hesitated anymore when jumping into the sea behind Azul. There was a moment of freefall, but she knew he would be there, right beneath the surface to catch her.

    *

    The next morning, with Grimm¡­

    ¡°You gonna tell me why you¡¯re sleeping in so late, human?¡± Grim pawed at her face, nudging her into awakeness. ¡°And why you¡¯re on the floor? And why you reek of salt?¡±

    ¡°Exams are coming up, Grim. And we are not getting held back another year. I studied ten hours yesterday. Straight. TEN!¡±

    Grim flopped onto his back and kicked his paws in the air at the mention of exams. ¡°So you did a lot of studying. So did I!¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh. How long did you study with Ace and Deuce before you cracked?¡±

    He flicked his tail indignantly. ¡°Five hours, I¡¯ll have you know.¡±

    ¡°The Great Grim is truly dedicated,¡± she said sarcastically. ¡°And how much of that was snacking?¡±

    He scowled at her. ¡°I don¡¯t see why we gotta study like this. Don¡¯t you have the best mage in the school as a boyfriend? What is even the point if we¡¯re not dining on tuna every night, and getting study guides for free? ISN¡¯T THIS LOVE!?¡±

    She glared, then shrugged tiredly. ¡°He tried. I banned him from it.¡±

    Grim hopped to his feet, howling. ¡°WHAT!? Free study guides and you said NO!? I thought you cared! I thought this was gonna be the best thing that ever happened to us! Where¡¯s my TUNA?¡±

    Yuu sighed. ¡°Grim, this is gonna mean a lot more to you if you earn it yourself. Plus you need to actually go through exams knowing things. And then, y¡¯know, go through life knowing things. You want to be a great mage, remember? Not just look like one.¡±

    ¡°I mean, I wanna look like one, too,¡± Grim grumbled, but he didn¡¯t argue further. ¡°Mmph. There¡¯s more letters from your mom and sister, by the way. The Dark Mirror even says it might let them visit.¡±

    Yuu wrinkled her nose. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I trust that, but if it¡¯s willing to make that kind of deal, I don¡¯t know what else I¡¯d ever go back for¡­.That really would be a dream. It really does listen to you better, you know.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well¡­¡± Grim shuffled his feet away from her, oddly bashful when it came to the mirror. Expectedly, he changed the subject. ¡°Hey, you ever respond to Mallory¡¯s invitation?¡±

    Yuu groaned. ¡°I¡¯ve been too busy. What¡¯s it for again?¡±

    ¡°I dunno. Something called a baby shower. That¡¯s not what it sounds like it is, is it?¡± Grim eyed her suspiciously. ¡°You humans have the weirdest traditions, but that one¡¯s just scary¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hang the heck on a minute, Grimm,¡± Yuu spluttered, realizing what Grimm had said. ¡°Did you say BABY SHOWER? ALREADY!?¡±

    Grim¡¯s fur stood on end at the volume of her voice. Yuu was fully awake now.

    ¡°I mean I figured you¡¯d heard of it, but if you don¡¯t know what it is either¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ve heard of it, I just¡­ wow, Mal,¡± she exhaled. ¡°Maybe I shouldn¡¯t be too surprised. Oh man, this is gonna keep her out of trouble for a while at least.¡±

    Grim was giving her a look like she¡¯d just suggested Mallory was planning on teaching fish to play the harpsichord, rather than the idea that a baby was going to keep her old roommate busy enough to delay making explosives¡ªat least for a little while.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Grimm,¡± Yuu said, giving him a scratch behind the ears. ¡°I¡¯ll explain it later¡ªbut, if he doesn¡¯t already know, I¡¯d appreciate it if you¡¯d keep this one from Azul¡­at least until we graduate next year. I¡¯ll be a lot more ready for that reaction, then.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh. Sure. I don¡¯t know if I have room in my noggin for much else,¡± Grim said, tucking his head beneath her makeshift jacket-turned-pillow. ¡°Eech! You really do smell like salt! And fish! And, is that¡­cherry limeade?¡±

    Yuu snickered. ¡°It is. Specialty food at the lounge.¡±

    ¡°Why does your face look like that when you say that?¡± Grim asked suspiciously.

    Yuu sat up, stretching. ¡°No idea what you¡¯re talking about, Grimm. Breakfast?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­.¡± Grim eyed her through narrowed pupils, but true to form, he could never resist a meal. ¡°Can we do pancakes?¡±

    She nodded, straightening Azul¡¯s pendant around her neck. ¡±Sure. Anytime. We have all the time in the world.¡±