“Aramus,” I pressed into his chest with my hands, “we have no idea what the future will bring. If it is needed that I call upon my magics, they should not be surprised by them. If you trust them, then I trust them and tonight, they will learn about me.”

His face gentled and he bent to give me another swift kiss.

“If you’re ready, we shall,” he said when he pulled away. “If the night comes and you find you are not, then we shan’t. It is your magic, your gift, your choice, Ha-Lah.”

“Thank you, husband.”

He shook his head again. “It is naught for you to express gratitude for, my queen. It’s yours to give and it is you who must feel comfortable in the giving.”

Somewhere along this journey, I had earned the love of my husband. He had not told me this, but I knew.

And it must be said, he was earning mine in return.

Very swiftly.

Especially when he said things like that.

I pressed to him and it was me this time who touched my lips to his.

When I slid away, I answered his earlier question.

“And no. It does not debilitate me to use my magic when I’m not close to water. Though, it is not as strong when I’m not close. And like any witch, the more I use it, the less of it I have. It has to regenerate, and it does, but if I’m not close to water, not very swiftly. This happens faster when I am near lake, pond, river, or stream. And even faster, when I’m close to the sea. Indeed, it’s almost immediate and the magic is nearly indefatigable when I’m in the sea. It would take great works and onerous feats for it to dim when I am in the sea.”

Something passed over his face as I said this, making it appear as if he was not looking at me even when he was.

“Aramus,” I called.

“That is very Mer.”

By Medusa.

How did he know that?

“Pardon?” I whispered.

“The merfolk. Their magic comes from the sea, so when they’re in it, it’s nearly inexhaustible.”

“How d-do you…” I cleared my throat, “know that? The merfolk have been gone for centuries.”

Something shifted in his eyes I could not read before he gave me a squeeze, straightened me in his arms and said, “I am King of Mar-el. King of the Sea. My father passed on to me many things others do not know, as his father shared these with him, and his with him, and so on for millennia.”

I did not think that was it.

Or not all of it.

“My king—”

I said no more for something else changed about him and his head jerked to the side.

It was then I felt it.

And heard it.