This had the result of, in the beginning, making Aramus cheerful, and his men, attuned greatly to him, noticed it.

However, more recently, with many a night spent together, this had the result of making Aramus noticeably frustrated, and this Aramus made noticeable by being increasingly irritable.

In the resultant confusion (for Aramus was good-humored with me and our tent rang with his laughter in the evenings), I had taken a chance and shared with Xi and Bond what was occurring (or not, as this case was). Further, I shared what was their king’s wish to do about it. And lastly, how I wanted to rectify this as soon as possible when we resumed our journey.

Including forward planning.

The men were all in hearty accord.

Thus, the rider Xi had sent to scope a spot where my husband and I could consummate our marriage (finally) and do it in a manner that would make him happy.

Though I had plans, that evening, to do what I could to ease the tension, as it were.

Who knew how long it would take to find something that Aramus approved of for our “splendor?”

Something had to be done.

For him.

For his men.

And for me.

When I made the edge of the waves, I flicked out the toweling in order to set it on the sand, thinking I probably should stop cuddling my husband with intent when we were abed in the evenings. Kissing his neck. His chest. Pressing to him. Making him groan and roll into me so my hands could roam him as his roamed me. Offering my mouth to his enjoyable plunder.

But I couldn’t help myself.

My king was just that delicious.

I settled my rear on the toweling, my knees to my chest, arms around them, and gazed at the sea, the breeze ruffling my curls and wafting the thin material of my dress about my thighs.

I did this smiling at my thoughts.

This smile faded as I realized the sea would be behind us tomorrow.

No more night swims.

But it was more.

I had not yet told my husband I was mermaid.

He knew I had Mer blood, but he did not know the fullness of that.

When he was with his men, doing captain things and kingly things, outside of thinking how handsome he was, how much I was coming to like his lieutenants, how much I enjoyed my husband’s company and how it seemed I would very much enjoy the “splendor” we would share, I thought about that.

About how beautifully Aramus had reacted to learning of my magic.

But he did not know the half of it.

He would ask questions of my father, my auntie, my village, the things I did in Nautilus when he was at sea, and he would listen to my answers with the utmost attention, as if learning every morsel of my life was as delicious as his kisses.