Tidal Whispers by Jocelyn Adams, Kelly Said, Claire Gillian, Julie Reece

but Mer’s are built as your men are. We are quite sensitive to direct contact. And when in the presence of our match, our scales part to release our—”
    “I see.” Miki’s face heated as if sunburned.
    She averted her eyes from his front bulge and brought her fingertips up from the water, reaching to touch his bruised cheek and trace the squiggle of a scar on his temple. Her smile widened when he closed his eyes and let her explore the contours of his face.
    So much like a man, she thought, tracing his nose, following the curve of his lips. Her discovery continued under his chin, skimming his throat, his gills quivering at her touch.
    “You saved me,” she whispered, thinking of the cloud of eel’s blood that had surrounded her.
    “No.” He opened his eyes and grinned. “You saved yourself. I only squeezed water from your body and pushed air into your lungs.”
    She licked her lips, tasting where his mouth had pressed to hers.
    “What is your name?” They both asked simultaneously, both chuckling.
    He went silent.
    “Miki.” She relaxed in the comfort of his arms.
    “I am Harmon.” He raised his forearm, showing off his military mark. “A soldier in His Majesty’s 7th Infantry.”
    Miki’s eyes widened. His Majesty? A soldier? 7th Infantry? He’s not the only merman? How many were there, she wondered, excited. Her thoughts traveled to her aching ankle, and her glare turned accusingly to Harmon.
    “Wait. Who are you at war with?” When he hesitated to answer, her blood quickened. Miki tried to push away, but Harmon held her close. She struggled against him, pounding his broad chest. “Have you and your fellow soldiers been drowning my friends, holding them under by their ankles? Is your infantry sinking our supply ships?”
    “No,” Harmon said. “This area in uncharted to our command pods. Your people have made no destructive impact on my kind. Our quarrel is with the far eastern ridge, with those dumping their poisonous refuse into the current and over fishing the territory, depleting our food supplies.”
    “Oh, Harmon, I’m sorry.” Miki’s anger dissipated. “Your people are starving, too?” Her stomach painfully reminded her of its emptiness.
    “We were.” Harmon unfurled her fingers and brought the tip of each one to his lips.
    We’re both fighting to save our own people, she thought.
    His tenderness sent little sparks through the veins in her arm, charging her heart. She licked her lips again, claiming another sample of him. Exhaling slowly, she tried to regulate her shortness of breath and settle the tremor in her fingers.
    Her empty palm brought up a memory. “I lost it,” she said, frowning.
    “This?” Harmon placed his mother’s pearl in Miki’s hand. He closed her fingers over it.
    “Yes.” Miki’s chest heaved with unexpected emotion. “What’s happening?” The gem throbbed in her hand with every beat of her heart. Faces and fin patterns pulsed in her mind, and she fought to catch her breath. “This is yours, isn’t it?” She searched for understanding in his eyes. “It’s special, somehow.”
    “It is special,” Harmon whispered.
    Her stomach growled, and Miki cringed.
    Harmon’s eyebrows furrowed. “Your trap,” he said. “It’s sitting on the bottom. Hold this for me.” He sealed the pearl in her grasp. “I’ll be back for you.” He froze. “For it.” His expressions didn’t settle well around that either and he grunted. “I’ll return shortly with your catch.”
    Miki nodded. When she tasted her lips again, a tingly warmth poured through her body. She grinned at the idea of him returning for it or her.
    • • •
    Harmon didn’t fight the smile spreading on his face. As he swam hard for the sea floor, his heart raced, with excitement, though, not exertion. He’d found the pearl, and his mother would be pleased and at ease.
    There’s something more, Harmon thought. I told Miki myself, our scales only part for our mate. So why did my