Seaweed (25 page)

Tor sighed.
Because you are. Uncle Dex is your grandfather. You are the heir to the throne of the clan of Rai.

What??? Did I miss something here?

I turned to face him.

You’re not making sense
.
Are you saying Dex and…my Nana?

Yes.

Oh, man
.
That was why Dex was spying on Nana. He still had a thing for her
.

I thought you said you didn’t know who my mother’s biological father was?

I wasn’t sure at the time, but I had my suspicions and Uncle Dex confirmed it.

And you’re only just telling me this now?

I haven’t really had a good opportunity.

I wasn’t sure I agreed with that, but I let it go.

So, how does that make me a princess? Isn’t your dad the king?

Before Uncle Dex met your Nana, he was the king. When he thought he was going to live a divided life on land with your Nana, he abdicated the throne to his younger brother, my dad. He didn’t feel he could properly rule Rai while making a second life on land.

So this was why the king and queen had bowed to Dex.

Unfortunately for Uncle Dex, your Nana broke it off. She had her own choice to make, a normal life with her human family or one where her husband had another world and family under the sea that she could never be a part of.

Tor squeezed my hand and continued,
I don’t think either of them knew there was a child on the way when they said good-bye.

I could imagine the heartache they endured and for the first time, felt a little sympathy for my nana.

So now your dad has abdicated the throne back to Dex?

Yes. Father didn’t feel fit to deal with the current unrest between the clans and the threat of war. Uncle Dex is better suited for the role and the clan has grown stronger since he stepped back into the rule.

How does Kon feel about losing his inheritance?
Especially to me?

Obviously, he’s not crazy about it, but it’s out of his hands.
Uncle Dex is the right man for the job.

Uncle Dex. My grandfather.

Hey, if Dex is your uncle and my grandfather, what does that make us?

Tor’s mouth pulled up crookedly in a mischievous grin.
Cousins. Make that second cousins.

Then he kissed me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

So we were cousins, so what? It wasn’t like we were first cousins; we were
second
cousins. It wasn’t illegal to date a second cousin, under the sea or above it, it was just weird. It’d be different if Tor and I had grown up together like siblings. If he’d seen me in diapers or something. Come to think of it, Colby and I have seen each other in diapers. Wouldn’t it be weirder if I dated him?

Colby. I wondered how he was, if he’d even talk to me again when I got home, because that was exactly where I was headed.

Tor convinced me that Eastcove was the safest place for me right now, and actually, I believed him. I was in no hurry to meet up with Prince Mol again in this lifetime.

Or Ky Larson for that matter.

We were almost home, I could sense it. Tor had my hand and we were surrounded by a troop of Rai. No way the Lars could break through their ranks and snatch me.

Tor prepped me.
Tell them you skipped out of school to go dirt biking with Ky and that you got lost. When they ask what happened to Ky, tell them he dropped you off but was too embarrassed to stick around and take responsibility.

Let Ky take the fall?

Why not?

Good point. But, I was the one who took Luke’s bike. I’ll be grounded for sure.

And you skipped school.

Ugg. I see detentions in my future.

Tor laughed.
At least I’ll know where to find you.

Ha Ha.
But what about Luke’s bike. I’m assuming it’s still at the cabin. Luke’s going to kill me.

I’ll pick it up and take it to your house before you return home.

I sensed that we were nearing the cave. I still didn’t know what Tor was going to do next.

Will you stay with me?

I have to get the bike and get you settled.

I squeezed his hand
. No, will you stay with me, in Eastcove?

You mean, go back to school and deal with all your moody friends?

Uh, yeah?

Your parents won’t let you near another boy, you know. What chance do I have?

They’ll get over this eventually. It’s not like they can keep me from dating again in my lifetime

He squeezed my hand back.
Okay, you talked me into it.

We stayed fully submerged until we reached the cave.

I’ll go first
, Tor said. The thought of being left alone in the ocean, despite the myriad of Rai strangers, left me feeling fragile.

I won’t be long, and then I can help you
.

He pressed his lips against mine, salty warm kisses to give me strength. Then he hopped out of the water.

I glanced around at the Rai surrounding me. Some of them had their eyes set on me, others with their backs toward me, keeping an eye out for intruders. I’d never felt so protected before. I’d never needed protecting. It was a strange feeling.

My guts squeezed as I thought of the pain I was about to endure. This was the cost of life as a Rai. If I wanted to be part of both worlds, and if I wanted Tor, and I did, I had to accept this.

Tor called me and I stuck my head out of the water, drinking in the fresh air. He took my hand and pulled me onto the rock.

He wore the jeans and t-shirt he kept hidden in the rocks. In his free hand he held a blanket; he must’ve made a quick trip to the cave.

He lay down beside me on the hard rock, his legs against my tail and threw the blanket over us.

In moments I felt the tearing, pulling, squeezing pain as my tail transformed into legs. I held onto Tor, squeezing his shoulders tightly. I couldn’t help but cry out in pain, my mouth pressed to his chest. Tor stroked my hair and whispered in my ear.

“It’s almost over.”

Then as quickly as the pain started it ended. I let out a relieved breath. It was getting a bit easier each time.

“I don’t have any clothes.”

Tor scooped me up into his arms, just like last time, and carried me up the rocks. Leaves had started to fall and the wind blew them across our path. I shivered.

We ducked into the cave and Tor carefully set me down on the cot. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Just wait here, okay?”

“Okay.”

Tor left and I wrapped the blanket tightly around my damp body. My eyes took in the empty cave. Besides the time I went searching for Ky, the last time I’d been here with Tor was the night of the storm. The night I’d known I loved him. The night before he broke my heart.

But, things had changed dramatically since then. I felt a happy gurgle in my stomach and a corny smile pull up on my face. Tor hadn’t gone back to Shava. He’d come back for me.

I scouted the cave for food, suddenly famished. I found a box of soda crackers and a bottle of water and dug in.

I had no idea what time it was. I was even blurry on what day it was, and also how long Tor had been gone. I felt kind of groggy, so I stretched out on the cot and slept.

“Hey.”

A tender shaking. Tor’s beautiful face gradually coming into focus.

“Sorry to wake you Dori, but it’s time to go.”

I sat up suddenly conscious of my ropy hair and soda cracker breath. “Did you get the bike?”

“Yes, and I brought you some of your clothes.” He handed me a bag.

“You broke into my house?”

Tor smiled sheepishly. “It’s not like the door was locked, and you have enough to explain without having to account for nakedness.”

“True enough.” I recognized the jeans, shirt and jacket. He’d also brought me underwear. I squirmed a bit when I pictured Tor scoping out my messy room and searching through my drawers. “Thanks.”

After I changed, Tor walked me home.

Just before we got to my house I said, “You should go now.”

“You’re probably right. It wouldn’t look good for you to have ridden off with one guy and be brought home by another.”

I punched him playfully in the arm. “Are you going back to the cave?”

“I have things to check out for Uncle Dex.”

“Will I see you in school tomorrow?”

Tor kissed me on the forehead. “I’ll be there.”

Of course my parents freaked out when I walked in the door. They went on a rant about how they didn’t know me anymore, and why did I suddenly decide to get so rebellious. I gave them the story, trying to shift most of the blame onto Ky.

They finally calmed down after I reassured them I was all right, that Luke’s bike was all right and that it was just an accident. We didn’t mean to get lost. I was grounded for a month, only allowed out of the house for school and to walk Sidney. It was a punishment I readily accepted.

The first thing I did was wash my hair in the sink (thankfully, wet hair didn’t turn me), and spray in tons of leave-in conditioner.

Then I texted Samara and Becca, telling them I was okay, got lost, etc, and would explain everything to them at school the next day.

Crosby ignored me, but Sidney sat on my rug panting expectantly.

“Mom,” I said, easing down the steps, “I’m taking Sidney for a walk to the park.”

Mom was peeling potatoes in the sink. I knew she was still peeved at me because she didn’t turn around. “Come back right away, and I mean it.”

“I will. I promise.”

I jogged with Sidney; we both needed a good leg stretching. The park had more people in it than usual. A spot of sunshine drew them outdoors, opting to get what rays they could before winter set in.

A couple vacated a bench and I grabbed it. It felt weird not to have Ky here breathing down my neck. Weird in a good way.

I scrubbed Sidney’s ears as he panted on my knee. I was about to head back when I saw a familiar form.

Colby strutted over, his fists in his pockets, his shoulders hunched.

“I thought I might find you here.” He sat on the bench beside me.

“How did you know I was back?”

“Tor. He came by with my bike an hour ago.”

Tor had been busy.

“He said that you were in trouble with Ky; that’s why he needed my bike. Was it true?.”

I groaned. “Yes. I feel so stupid now. Ky is bad news. I was an idiot to skip class with him.”

“Well, you know I never liked the guy.”

“I should’ve trusted your instincts.”

Colby tapped his foot nervously. “So, you and Tor?”

Might as well rip off the bandage. “Yeah, we’re back together.”

“I thought so. I’m fine with it, just so you know.”

“Really?”

“I mean I don’t like it, but well, when you took off again this time, it just hit me. You’re not the same girl you use to be. You’re not the right girl for me.”

I knew it wasn’t fair for me to feel this way, but for some reason that hurt.

He continued, “I’m leaving in a couple years for university somewhere, hopefully on a scholarship…”

“Oh, I have no doubt, Colby.”

“And, well, we’d be apart anyway. If we can’t figure out how to do ‘us’ when we live in the same town, how could we ever do it long distance?”

I hung my head. Colby was a terrific guy. We would’ve been a great team.

“I wish things could’ve been different between us, I really do. But, I’m glad you’re moving on. It’s the right thing.”

Colby’s shoulders relaxed as he let out a long sigh. I reached over with my hand and he leaned over. I rubbed his brush cut knowing that this was the last time I’d ever do it.

“You’ve been a good friend, Colby.”

He stood up. “I should go.”

I felt a lump in my throat. “Okay. See you tomorrow.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

I found Samara and Becca at Becca’s locker. Before I could even say ‘hi’ Samara bore her dark eyes at me. “ ‘Fess up, girl.”

“I did something stupid.”

Becca huffed, “No kidding.”