Swimming Without a Net (16 page)

Much later, she and Artur went back to the URV to
check on Tennian, who was drinking her third Coke and chattering to Thomas.

“Ho, my prince! Fredrika!”

“Your twin’s up there kicking ass and taking names.”

“Yes, I have been following the events.”

Right. That darned telepathy…In full-blooded Folk, it worked wherever they were, not just in the water. Dammit. She’d never felt more like just a half in her entire life.

“And see! Thomas has healed me.”

“Not quite,” he cautioned. “I think you should take it easy for at least a day. I know Fred heals quickly, but I’ve never treated a non-hybrid before.”

“Well, super,” Fred muttered.

“I am grateful you were here,” Tennian said.

“Oh, it was my pleasure. Really.”

Fred watched the two of them stare into each other’s eyes.

Dammit! That fucking Florence Nightingale syndrome! He’d fallen in love with Fred after patching her up, then left for a year. Now here he was, slobbering all over Tennian and making a damned fool of his damned self, dammit!

Well, she didn’t care. She absolutely did not. In fact, it made things an awful lot easier. Yes, it did.

She turned to Artur and abruptly said, “I’ve decided. I’ll come home with you. I might even marry you. But one thing at a time. First, a visit.”

Artur yelped with delight and swept her up in a rib-cracking hug. “Oh, Rika! You have made me very, very happy. I have so many things to show you!”

Fred submitted to the embrace, and couldn’t help but notice that Thomas didn’t look up. Not once.

Oh, well.

That was that, then.

Dammit.

“You guys, you guys!” Jonas was yowling and Fred,
Artur, Thomas, and Tennian ran the last few steps to the bar.

Dr. Barb darted out of the main lodge and frantically beckoned. “Hurry, Dr. Bimm! Prince Artur! You’re on again!”

They had the television above the bar tuned to CNN, where the stream informed them of stock prices, and the talking head was saying, “—actual mermaids!”

“Undersea Folk,” Tennian corrected.

“You knew and you didn’t tell me,” Dr. Barb was saying reproachfully to Thomas. “I think as your supervisor I had a right to know.” She raised an eyebrow at Fred. “And as
your
supervisor I definitely had a right to know.”

“Tough nuts.”

“Yes,” the talking head was saying, “actual mermaids.”

“Undersea Folk!” Tennian almost shouted.

“See, if you’re already yelling at the TV, you’re halfway to fitting into our world.”

“No, it’s not a new movie, and no, we’re not pulling your ‘tail.’”

The group groaned in unison.

“It seems several tourists in the Cayman Islands spotted these mermaids—and mermen!—and although the sightings have yet to be confirmed, too many statements sound alike to be easily dismissed. Whether it’s true or not, one thing remains certain: it’ll be a whale of a sea tale. I’m Margaret Bergman, CNN.”

“That’s it?” Fred practically screamed. “Tennian gets shot by pirates and you guys storm the beach like the kids took Normandy, and all CNN coughs up is that it’s an unconfirmed sighting?”

“Hey, one thing at a time. I’m amazed they broadcast as much as they did. And one of you guys will stand still long enough for a confirmed sighting, I’ve got no doubt about that. But never mind all that junk.” Jonas pointed a bony finger at her. “What’s this crap I hear? You’re taking off? You’re not coming back?”

“Not right away. Dr. Barb can find someone else to feed the fish.”

“Not someone with your unique qualifications,” Dr. Barb protested.

But Fred recognized the look in her eye, in any researcher’s eye, and figured it was just as well she wasn’t headed straight back to the NEA. “And my mom vastly prefers your company to mine, anyway, Jonas. I’m just heading down to the Black Sea with Artur to find out a little more about my heritage.”

“For how long?”

She shrugged.

“But—” Jonas glanced at Thomas, who was hand-feeding Tennian shrimp. “Oh. Never mind.”

“It’ll be fine.”

Her friend gave her an odd look. “Will it?”

“Sure.”

But deep down, she had no idea, and was as afraid to see Artur’s home as she was anxious.

Because everything was different now, and she had to take responsibility for that. For these people. If that meant being the queen, then that’s what it meant.

As for Thomas—

She’d never really liked him anyway.

“But what am I supposed to do in Boston with you gone?” Jonas was whining.

“Have sex with my boss? Whoops. Former boss.”

Dr. Barb moaned. “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. You work for me for
years
, you finally tell me about your heritage, and then you quit, all in the same day.”

“I’m sorry that my being a mermaid is making things stressful. For
you
,” Fred added pointedly.

“But you’ll visit, right? You’ll have to visit,” Jonas pleaded. “You’re my best man. So to speak.”

“Sure, I’ll visit.” Fred was thinking of Ellie’s file, snugly tucked into her desk drawer back in her Boston apartment. Sure, she’d visit. At least once. She needed to have a nice, long chat with Ellie’s father.

“Let us tell my father the good news,” Artur said, and she smiled—she didn’t have to force it, for a change—took his hand, and fell into step beside him as they hurried toward his father.

The king was shaking salt water out of his hair, and beamed at them when he saw them.

This is my life now,
Fred thought.
These are my people. Who’s better equipped to help them with the transition than me?

After what happened to Tennian, I couldn’t just turn my back on them and go back to my boring, lonely life.

I’ve got to help them. I will help them. Even—

“—but that is wonderful!”

—
even if it kills me.