The Mer Way

The Ocean, Present Time

The water was cold, and Lyric lost air in the shock of her entry. Niarthen kept a hold of her through his shift to Mer, and though the salt water blinded her eyes, she felt the changes pass over him, the unfurl of fin, the rise of scale and the slip of lissom tail against her flailing legs. Contrary to every instinct she possessed, he propelled them down at a frightening speed from the rush of the water past her and the pressure that built in her ears and jaw.

Everything happened so quickly that every thought was washed out of Lyric’s head with the water, and panic set in as her body recognised the threat. She fought for freedom from Niarthen’s grip, wanting up and not down, her lungs starved for air, but he would not release her, instead turned her within his hold and closed his mouth over hers, forcing her lips to part.

Air escaped past them; the bubbles felt against her cheeks as they rose. And then he breathed out, and her desperate suck for air inhaled his