Rowan and Kaerius returned to the cliffs shortly after Kaerius filled Rowan in on what was said between him, Jaiker, and Laiken.

"Do you think the werewolves are up to something? They're meant to be the most peaceful supernatural creatures," Rowan said as they sat on the cliffs, trying to dry off, so he could get his legs back. Rowan was a little fed up of not being able to walk and feel the grass between his toes.

"They did lie and say that there was a way to end the bond. They did that to get my poison," Kaerius thought with his purple eyes on Rowan's tail.

"Unless they didn't lie and there is a way to end the bond." Their eyes connected. "I guess that doesn't matter anymore. We're not trying to break the bond."

Kaerius patted Rowan's tail with a webbed hand. "No," he said out loud. "Not ever."

Rowan smiled when a fuzz of warmth erupted in his chest like the air he breathed turned hot in his lungs. "I'm glad."

"Me too." Kaerius nudged him to hide a soppy smile. When Rowan's legs returned, Kaerius watched him stretch them and swing them as they dangled over the side of the cliff. His eyes trailed up Rowan's thighs and settled on something that made him chew the inside of his lip to keep down certain emotions.

Rowan felt Kaerius's eyes on him and was surprised by how he stared so boldly. Kaerius was getting a good look at Rowan's body without being shy about it. In a way, Kaerius's shameless eyes made Rowan feel alive and very confident.

Kaerius asked, "Do I make you uncomfortable when I look?" Rowan shook his head to say no, but Kaerius raised a brow. "Your cheeks say otherwise." The blood had rushed to Rowan's face.

"I'm just not used to being looked at like that." Rowan cleared his throat and hurried to the bench to slip his shorts and a t-shirt back on.

Kaerius put shorts on when he had legs too, and they didn't have to wait a minute longer until Rowan's dad sped down the dirt road.

"Get in," Michael said, and the boys climbed in the back. He drove at a fast speed until they were back on a busy road.

"What did mum say?" Rowan asked after helping Kaerius put on a seat belt.

"Well, I think she plans on house arresting you. I was staring at spears when I went in, so there's no way I'm letting you go back home. I said I might let your mother know if you turn up at mine, but that depends if you want to let her know. I wouldn't let her in if she brings hunters, and she knows that."

"I don't think I can sit and wait for her to get impatient, but I don't want to speak to her either," Rowan admitted, wanting to fidget with his shell bracelet, but he had already broken it. Instead, he traced the tan line it left behind.

When they were safely inside Michael's house, Kaerius asked about the werewolves. "Wolf bad?" he asked Michael.

"What?"

"Wolf... bad?" Kaerius looked at Rowan for help.

"He's asking if the werewolves are bad because they think some big fight is going to happen and tricked Kaerius into giving them his poison."

"They're not known for being devious or troubling. Maybe the werewolves wanted it for protection," Michael shrugged. "But why do they think a fight is coming? And between who?"

"The humans, I guess. They knew I was a Solar when we went to them for help. Maybe they assumed it was a trap and mum would come after them."

Michael said no more on the werewolves. He believed it wasn't their issue. "So, about your mother," he said when the boys flopped onto the couch. "Shall I tell her you're here?"

Rowan had started to frown, and Kaerius wanted to push his eyebrows back up. The worry didn't suit his face. "I don't think I'm ready to be rejected."

"I don't think anyone's ready for that," Michael crossed his arms and sighed with defeat. "I'll phone her in a few hours. You both should relax for a while."

As Michael turned to leave, Rowan asked, "Have you tried praying or whatever? Do you think the Goddess would listen to you if you begged to get the curse lifted?"

"Trust me, son, I've prayed every day since it happened. Nobody's listening up there."

"What Goddess like?" Kaerius asked, and Michael sat on the chair in the corner of the room.

"I never met her."

"Then how-" Rowan shot to his feet when his dad's front door opened and fast footsteps approached the living room.

Mandy burst in, almost knocking the wooden door from its hinges. She pointed a spear at Kaerius's head. "I knew it!" she yelled. "Michael god damn it! Why are you always lying to me?"

Rowan sat on Kaerius, squishing him against the couch to protect him from the spear.

"Move," Mandy growled. "Rowan, get out of the way."

"No!" Rowan yelled back. "Don't hurt him!"

Put the spear down!" Michael shouted and stepped closer. Mandy spun and pointed the weapon at him.

"Take another step, Michael, I dare you."

"And what if I do?" Michael asked. "What are you going to do? Shoot that thing at me with our son right there? Huh? Are you going to hurt me in front of our son? Is this who you are now Mandy?"

Mandy lowered the spear. She stared into Michael's light green eyes and just for a moment, he thought he saw a speck of clarity, but it was gone before it could grow.

"How dare you do this to me, Rowan," Mandy muttered.

Her cold eyes felt like they froze Kaerius's heart. He had never seen so much hatred. Surely, her loathing wasn't the work of a Goddess who was supposed to love all sea creatures. Surely, the Goddess wouldn't give her daughter a human soulmate if she was going to get punished for it.

"Do what?" Rowan asked, not daring to move. He sat on Kaerius's lap with his arms out either side. He felt Kaerius's hands on his waist and his chest against his back. Kaerius's heart thumped fast against him.

"Embarrass me in front of all my hunters, pretend you're the soulmate of some Thalassic Freak and run around like you're friends with the species. It's sickening."

Rowan looked at his dad. He wanted to defend himself, but he didn't want to say that he was gay and Kaerius was his soulmate and her life was a lie, and she had been cursed, and born a Thalassic Mortal, and was the princess of the sea. Rowan now understood why his father kept the curse a secret for so long. Where would Rowan even begin to explain?

"Mum, you need to put the spear down," Rowan said in a voice much calmer than he felt.

"Why would I disarm myself with that in the room?" Mandy pointed the spear at Kaerius again, which also pointed at her son.

Michael decided that enough was enough. He stormed to her and snatched the spear from her grip. He twisted it and hit the back of her knees. Mandy fell to the floor, and Michael rested the tip of the spear on her throat. "You point this thing at my son; it gets personal."

"Dad," Rowan said quietly, and Michael stepped away, and he mouthed, "you should tell her about the curse."

Michael tightly shook his head as Mandy stood up. Her eyes were still on Kaerius.

"Rowan, I'm tired of these games. Just admit that you're trying to make me mad. The sea creature can go back to the sea where he belongs, and you'll never see him again because humans and Thalassic Mortals can't be friends. Then you and I can sort out whatever is going on with you."

"His name is Kaerius," Rowan barked. "And there's nothing to sort out because..." Rowan stalled when the nerves nipped at his tongue. He glanced at his dad, who could only give him a smile of encouragement. Kaerius softly squeezed his waist, and Rowan suddenly realised that he had lost his mother years ago. "Because he's my soulmate."

Mandy scoffed. "He's not a Royal. They told me his tail was turquoise. There's nothing grand about that."

"Stupid land mortal!" Kaerius growled. "I pretty tail."

Mandy had the nerve to laugh at him. "He knows English too. What's next? He'll want to live on land and call himself a human?"

"Enough!" Rowan raged. The anger burst out of him. Rowan could no longer be scared of what she thought. He no longer cared. "I'm the Royal. You're the Royal. How would you know that Kaerius's tail is not a Royal one judging by the colour? How do you know all of these things about Thalassic Mortals? Or is this the curse faulting and you remember little bits. Huh? Do you?"

"Rowan," Michael warned, but his son pressed on.

"You were a Thalassic Mortal, an important one. You had a bond with dad, didn't you? You loved him. You loved a human. Why can't I just love a Thalassic Mortal? Why don't you want me to be happy? Why does this curse have to be so cruel? Why can't you remember who you were and have to drag everyone down to your level? It's not fair. Just remember mum, please, just think about who you were and your life in the ocean!"

Everyone stared at Mandy when Rowan had no more words. Her mouth opened and closed like she had things to say but couldn't speak them out loud. For once, her eyes were not angry and cold; they were blank and confused and looking around Rowan's face like he was unfamiliar.

"M-Mum-" Mandy stuttered, "She didn't do this." Her face barely moved. "She didn't." Mandy then stumbled back like she had been pushed. She fell into the wall, frowning. When her eyes reconnected with Rowan's, the storm returned among the blue.

"If it wasn't your mum, then who cursed you?" Rowan asked. His dad had paled so much, he thought his skin would turn transparent.

"What are you talking about?" Mandy asked, smoothing down her jacket and glaring at Kaerius.

Rowan stared at his dad. They shared the same shock and the same sadness, and the same tiny grain of hope. "Kaerius is my soulmate," Rowan said again, derailing her train of thought.

"He can't be," Mandy grunted, seeming to forget that Rowan was yelling about a past she couldn't remember. "He's a male, you're a male. You're just doing this to annoy me."

Rowan visibly deflated. He sat on the couch next to Kaerius. His spine relaxed when Kaerius's hand wrapped around his wrist. "Has it not once crossed your mind that I'm gay?"

"No, because you're not."

"I am."

"You're not."

"Why is it so hard to believe?"

"Because you never told me."

"Can you blame me?" Rowan asked, and Kaerius's hand slipped down into his. "You hate everything I do. You're so defensive and strict, and you hate anything different."

"So, you didn't tell me because you thought I wouldn't accept it?"

Rowan nodded.

"You were right to think that. I don't accept it." Mandy spat on Michael's carpet and left without another word.