“Just give us a couple weeks first,” I added hastily, wrapping an arm around Nerion’s waist. “For...renovations.”
Linden laughed, a deep rumbling sound that seemed to vibrate the air around him. “Right. ‘Renovations.’ Got it.” Hestepped forward and pulled us both into a crushing hug that lifted us off our feet. “Be careful out there, you two. And Teddy—” his voice dropped lower, serious for once, “you take good care of him, you hear?”
“You know I will,” I said as he set us down. “And I’ll try to keep him out of trouble, but no promises.”
Linden smiled, seemingly satisfied. “That’s the best I can ask for.” He gave us one last hug. “Well, I better get going. The forest calls.” He patted his pockets, checking for his belongings. “See you guys after break.”
After he left, Nerion turned to me, his eyes searching my face. “Are you sure about this? About Greece? We could just stay here for break. It would be safer with your parents out there still.”
I shook my head firmly. “I want to go. I want to see your home and help you fix it up.” I pulled him closer, pressing a kiss to his temple. “Besides, I think we both need some time away from here. Somewhere we can just be us.”
Nerion smiled, that rare, genuine smile that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Okay. But we’re setting up proper wards this time. No taking chances.”
“Deal.” I sealed the promise with a kiss, which quickly deepened as Nerion’s hands slid under my shirt, his cool fingers tracing patterns on my skin.
“We should finish packing,” he murmured against my lips, making no move to stop what he was doing.
“Mmm,” I agreed, already working on the buttons of his shirt. “Definitely. Right after this.”
“Save it for Greece,” he replied, pulling my hands away. “I promise, it’ll be worth the wait.”
With a sigh, I let him go and he resumed packing, tossing clothes and essentials into his bag. We didn’t need much, but a toothbrush and maybe one pair of underwear was required I suppose. I watched Nerion carefully wrap his sketchbooks andart supplies, treating them with more care than anything else he owned.
“Do you think we’ll be able to restore it?” I asked, thinking about the abandoned house by the sea. When we’d made a quick visit before, I’d seen glimpses of its former beauty beneath years of neglect. There were handmade mosaic floors partially hidden under dust, faded frescoes on the walls, and a crumbling terrace with a view that took my breath away.
“With magic? Absolutely,” Nerion replied, not looking up from his packing. “My parents were sirens, so they had to rely on doing things by hand usually. But with your magic? It won’t take long.” He paused, a shadow crossing his face. “We’ll need to fix the roof first. And probably check for critters that have moved in.”
I nodded, trying to picture us there, making the place our own. It was strange how quickly my life had changed. A few months ago, I’d been drowning under my parents’ expectations, sleepwalking through a life they’d designed for me. Now I was free,trulyfree, with a future wide open before me.
And I was in love with a siren who loved me back.
The reality of our situation still caught me off guard sometimes. There was the knowledge that my love for Nerion wasn’t just emotional but literal life support. If I ever stopped loving him, even for a moment, he would dissolve into seafoam just like his parents had. It was a terrifying responsibility.
But looking at him now, his red hair falling across his forehead as he concentrated on folding a shirt just right, I couldn’t imagine ever not loving him. The curse seemed impossible when my heart felt so full.
“What are you staring at?” Nerion asked, catching me watching him.
“Just you,” I replied honestly. “Still can’t believe this is real sometimes.”
He set down the shirt and crossed to where I stood, taking my face in his hands. “It’s real,” he said softly.
I kissed him again, gentle this time, trying to pour all my love into the gesture. When we pulled apart, I grinned, lightening the mood. “We better get going. I’d like to be there in time to watch the sun rise.”
Nerion shouldered his bag and took my hand. “Let’s get out of here then.”
It was a short trip across campus to the standing stone circle. All the other students had already gone home and there was nobody waiting except the single guard that always stood watch at the school gates. I pulled Nerion into the circle and lifted our hands. With my fingers laced through his in front of us, I chanted the spell to teleport us to Greece. The stones began to glow, and the air hummed with magic, building to a crescendo until we were suddenly ripped from reality.
Less than a second later we found ourselves standing on the beach, the sun just beginning to peek over the eastern horizon. I took a deep breath of the salty Mediterranean air, letting it fill my lungs as the first golden rays of sunlight spilled across the water. The beach was completely deserted this early in the morning, especially in December when tourists were scarce. The water stretched before us, a canvas of pinks and oranges reflecting the sunrise.
“It’s perfect,” I whispered, squeezing Nerion’s hand.
He smiled, his blue eyes reflecting the dawn light. “I forgot how beautiful it is in winter. The tourists think summer is the only time to come, but they’re missing out.”
We stood there for a moment, just taking it all in. The gentle lapping of waves against the shore, the distant cry of seagulls, the cool morning breeze carrying the scent of salt and wild herbs from the cliffs above. It felt like we were the only two people in the world.
“Want to go for a swim?” Nerion asked, already pulling his shirt over his head.
“Now?” I laughed. “It’s December!”