Fraser is not a typical nereid.

He’s bigger, thanks to his human father. Stronger too.

Nereids though are no weaklings. They might look slender and fluid compared to others, but …

They. Swim. All. Day.

From the personal journal of Ozora

Dean of Magics

The Bestiary

****

There on the cliffs, in the middle of the night, Fraser’s storm-dark eyes widened, this time with curiosity and, was that hope? What it meant, however, he didn’t say.

“Why?” Something in that simple word riveted me. His tone was still terse, but he no longer reeked of rage. He wrapped so much more meaning around that little question than just asking for a reason to believe Taenya. He was asking, why him? Why now? Why did it have to be the three of us? What more was there to bringing all of us with all this baggage and history back together?

“Because she convinced me, and when I first met her, I was still planning on killing you.”

His expression shuttered, and all those old suspicions once more filled his looks. “Is that so?”

“Oh for fucks sake!” She slapped her palm to her face. “I didn’t mean … dammit. Cassyrra!” She turned to her dragon. “I’m screwing this all up. I’m too tired to be diplomatic.” She hurried through her next words, as if she had to get them all out right now. “Just. Listen. That’s all. Then you can walk away, okay?”

He folded his arms but nodded.

“You have to help us or your hippocamps will die.” She repeated. “It’s that simple. You decide.”

Cassyrra huffed a gust of smoky wind over us. She dropped her head low, so it was next to the ground and her throat vibrated as she rattled off a sort of grumbling purr. This close, her voice was palpable. It danced across my skin, causing my hairs to rise in gooseflesh along my arms, but I heard her with more than my ears.

++You should all rest for the night. Let us meet here again tomorrow morning and speak of these important things when we’re refreshed. ++

The words rolled into my mind, gentle and loving, but vast with power. Compassionate but stern. I felt as well as heard them, and my heart did this odd flip, as if I was sorry I’d disappointed her but also inspired to do better.

Weird. Just being near her, within the aura of her draconic numin, her emotions affected me as if they were my own. The sensations intensified when she spoke into my mind.

“Excellent idea, Cassyrra.” Taenya’s relief came through loud and clear. “We can’t get her here until tomorrow anyway.” She said for the second time. “Dammit, I did it again. I’m telling you, this will all make sense tomorrow. I promise. Can we please just call a truce or something?”

“The alternative being we stand here staring at each other all night? I don’t suppose your pet is going to let me just walk away without agreeing to your little breakfast discussion?”

“Nope.” Taenya sounded like she’d reached her last nerve.

“Fine.” Fraser sighed. “Come back tomorrow.” He shrugged. “Or not. I’d rather not. I’d be happier if you didn’t. But I’ll be out here.” He waved his hand, indicating the field. “Waiting. Tomorrow.” There was that humorless, sharklike smile again. “I give you my word.”

Taenya glazed her response with a false sugary sweetness that said she didn’t trust his word for a second. “Great. Appreciate the offer of breakfast too. Doubt we’ll find anything to eat at my old home. I hear it stayed abandoned.” Her answering grin had about as much humor as his. Cassyrra shifted her weight from foot to foot, but didn’t speak.

Fraser grunted and turned his back on us, striding to the cliff. His men scurried after him and all disappeared down the stairs.

“Generous of him.” Taenya’s voice was dry with sarcasm. “Let’s go.” She gave Cassyrra an affectionate slap as the dragon extended her foreleg.

****

Taenya’s home sat on Hastrior’s north coast.

It was a quick hop from the keep’s field to the abandoned DeLange estate. Cassyrra’s wings boomed as she settled onto the overgrown lawns and gardens that ran atop the cliffs. Hastrior's flat tableland was situated atop tall granite cliffs that overlooked the shore. The wealthy kept their estates on the north side and DeLange house was one of many abandoned mansions.

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Families had fled as the city crumbled.

The house itself was dusty and in disarray, but we didn’t care. It was enough to have a dry place to rest. With Cassyrra outside, we had little to fear.

Although I got very little sleep, in truth.

I laid there, wide awake, the night’s events running through my thoughts on a seemingly endless loop.

Not how I thought my night would end when I went for my evening stroll along the beach. It didn’t seem possible it had all happened but a bare few hours ago.

From being captured by a deadly invading force to being rescued by a dragon, you’d think my night’s adventures would be enough for a lifetime.

It was the revelations about Fraser that truly kept me awake, along with the little detail about being the dragon’s apprentice. We hadn’t even talked about that yet.

My brain was too full.

Eventually, I drifted to sleep, and dreamt of Cassyrra lecturing Fraser and me as we sat at desks like schoolchildren.

****

FIVE YEARS AGO…

“Kiry was right.” I said to no one when my eyes opened. I’d been awake for a few minutes but had curled up under the soft cotton sheets, keeping my eyes closed and taking in the sounds of the morning. It was my first time back in Hastrior for over a year and last night had been fantastic.

I’d traveled here with the caravan leader before and trusted him. Kiry was an old friend, and he’d recommended Hastrior. “Prince Bart is unmourned and they’re calling Fraser Connell the Privateer Prince now.” He’d said as we rolled through the Solar Gate yesterday, Hastrior’s eastern access to the rest of the world. Although Hastrior’s principality extended into the rolling hills, the city proper was walled off, and the King’s Road from Alurenth ended at Hastrior’s eastern battlements.

From the streets below came the sounds of the city waking up. Vendors were just opening their businesses and birds called from the tall palm trees that lined the boulevard. The hotel was older, “vintage” their signage said, but clean and comfortable. Kiry dropped me off here yesterday.

“I’ll pick you up when I’m back through, beginning of fall likely.” His smile was warmer than the late afternoon sun, and just as lazy and satisfied.

We found each other’s company enjoyable, in more ways than just the obvious. Journey mages sometimes must wander far to make their livelihood, so making friends with the caravan folk just made sense. Kiry’s rugged, bearded face rose in my thoughts and warmed my heart. I figured I’d be ready to move on by then. Hastrior had been profitable my last time here, and I expected the same this time.

I took these few moments before getting up and inhaled. Deep, slow breaths, grounding and centering myself, ensuring that my heart and mind were calm.

Today’s gonna be a great day. Most of the time, my inner pep talks even worked. Today, it helped that warm bright sunlight filled the little room, adding sparkle to a fresh new day.

I sat up in bed and leaned on the open window to gaze out over Hastrior. There was a café across the street that, if I remembered right, served the best breakfasts. My stomach rumbled and soon I was going down the hotel’s steps and off the curb to eat and start my day.

****

Shoppers spilled from the walkways into the streets of the packed bazaar. I grinned at the sheer volume of customers streaming through the aisles and knew this would be a very profitable trip.

In the Dayseller’s section, where non-residents like me rented spaces for the day, I secured a sweet spot under a lovely shady tree for tomorrow. My stock of pre-loaded spells, talismans, amulets, potions, powders that I’d made while traveling was full, ready for tomorrow. I’d sell out in no time with this many customers.

Now, I had the rest of the afternoon to wander around and take in the city.

This is going to be a great day. I was following my nose toward the scent of roasted meats when, without warning, a male staggered into me, thrusting me off balance. I lost my footing, sure I was going to fall.

A pair of powerful hands scooped me up before I hit the flagstones, pressing me against a male’s broad chest. I’d instinctively brought my hands up to break my fall and now they splayed across pecs harder than stone. Through his thin cotton shirt, they were like warm granite.

“Lovely to meet you, too.” His deep baritone voice rumbled under my fingertips and my hands flattened like they’d melt into him. I looked up to meet a pair of pale blue eyes, the sort of vivid color that you only see in tropical waters.

“Oh my” turned to “what the fuck” when his hands slid down to cup my ass and hitch me closer, fingers digging in as his thick, corded arms flexed and pressed me deeper.

“Get your hands off me, you perv!” I barked. Summoning my numin, I shifted my grip from his chest to his wrists and loosed a pair of lightning bolts from my fingers.

Which had the desired effect.

He released me and jumped back, shaking his arms as if to shake off the numbing effects of the blasts. “Great Gahan!” He cursed. “What did you do that for?”

I smirked when he stumbled and almost tripped over the stacked boxes of a nearby vendor.

“Decent people offer to help when someone falls, not take the opportunity for a free feel.” I said, weaving my numin into a teleportal spell. Seconds later, I was stepping sideways through my magically crafted doorway to a point I was already heading toward the next street over in front of my hotel.

I flipped him a universal signal, telling him he was number one seconds before I cut off my numin and slammed the portal closed in his shocked face.

****

So imagine my surprise when I saw the same ass sitting at my favorite table in my favorite breakfast café three days later.

His back was to me, but that long curly mop of teal, turquoise, and deep ocean blues had been the second most noticeable thing about the male that groped me a few days ago. The morning breeze off the bay tousled the loose, messy curls, making them dance.

There weren’t many reasons he’d be sitting there, and none of them interested me.

“You don’t have to apologize in person for groping me. Staying away would’ve been enough.” My approach was anything but subtle. The cart that held all my wares and supplies had squeaky wheels.

He stood and turned, giving me a wide, sure grin that I’m positive had already melted female hearts. I had to look up and up some more. I’m scarcely over five feet and he towered more than a foot above that. I was already irritated. We were off to a great start.

“How could I?” He asked. “When you are so exactly what I need.” His voice was deep and seemed to pulsate right through me while his heated eyes trailed up and down my curves.

I snorted, amused at his boldness, and folded my arms to give him my best direct stare. The one that invited him to keep messing around and find out what else a pissed-off mage would do to dissuade him from stalking her.

The flutter in my belly responded to his heated gaze despite my attempts to quash it.

“Is that so?” I asked. “What sort of need do you think I can satisfy?”

Two can play at that game.

“A mage.” Was his simple answer, innuendo melting away. “I need a mage and none here have anything like your ability.”

Flattery does get a male almost anywhere.