“The tranquility pools are their habitat. They could ward the area completely, keep it to themselves, but instead they permit access to visitors for the sole purpose of being admired,” Cair explained, smoothing a hand over my lower back. “As long as you are respectful and do not act on any depraved thoughts—unless consent is given, of course—they bask in the attention. They are creatures of love, passion, and beauty. It pleases them to draw out fascination and lust in others, and their appreciation.”

I sighed with relief. “Well, thank Christ for that ’cause poor Gary seems to be even more bewitched than me.”

The dude had stumbled over his feet as soon as he ambled through the tree line, his jaw practically dragging on the floor—his tongue too, to be honest. Cee snapped her fingers in front of his face, breaking his concentration, which he clearly found offensive as he gestured toward the merfolk mouthing an enthusiastic “Are you seeing this?” before pretending to swoon against his companion.

He landed on the ground in a disgruntled heap when Cee took a deliberate sidestep.

I snorted before turning back to Cair. “Tranquility pools, you said? So there are more?”

“Yes, there are many. They are mostly hidden, protected, so that only those genuinely seeking their benefits can find them.”

“Merfolk live in all of them?”

He nodded. “There are caves far beneath the waters, an entire ecosystem. They only surface for the sunlight, and to socialize with land creatures.”

I had no way of knowing what the world beneath our feet looked like, but if it was anything similar to what was up above, then it had to be beautiful. The water itself was so blue and twinkly that it seemed photoshopped, and the grass was a shade of green you’d see in an advert for paradise. There were stacks of rocks along the bank, and a waterfall that flowed so gently it sounded like a rain shower. It was serene, and it only dawned on me then that I couldn’t even remember what stress felt like.

I had struggled a little on the way here, still on edge after the reaper attack. An incessant veil of tiredness had made every step feel like a chore, but just standing here, breathing the air in this quaint bubble of nature, I felt better. I could actually appreciate the near-silent rustle of the leaves above me and the cozy warmth of the sun beating down on my skin without it all being drowned out by the chaos in my head.

“This place is…” I paused, chewing over the right words. “I feel a sense of stillness like I’ve never known before. My head is quiet for the first time in God knows how long. I’m sleepy, but in a relaxed sort of way, instead of weariness. It’s… bizarre.”