I find Gerrick and Kaeva easily using my new tracking powers. I could barely feel them with my tail so they probably can't feel me sneak up and hide behind some seaweed. Gerrick is sitting on a rock with his head in his hands with Kaeva swimming around him barking at him, obviously cross.
"What the hell was that, Gerrick? You almost kissed the Queen! In front of Lord Mike!"
"I didn't know he was that important, Kaeva."
"Okay forget Lord Mike. How about you almost kissing the Queen? What got into you?"
"I don't know okay?" Gerrick gets up from the rock and turns his back to her. "I don't know why I did that. There's just something about her..."
"Of course there is. She is Queen of the Merpeople; you're bound to feel a connection to her, to serve her. I do."
"I know but from the moment she looked at me, I felt something in her eyes unlock something. Like all I wanted to do was...please her. Do you know what I mean? Don't make me spell it out."
"That's called lust."
"No! It radiated from her like a pulse, only much stronger than any I've ever felt. And the closer I got the more I felt. And it looked like she was feeling the same thing."
At the mention of the pulse, Kaeva starts to think. "We know that the Queen can sense and affect the feelings and emotions of merpeople around her. Maybe she did this to you unintentionally. She is still learning how to use her powers. And she's pregnant."
"Exactly. But what am I supposed to do now?"
"I guess just fight off the pulses until we get to the palace, which should take a month and a half. You're going to have to manage." This trip is taking a month and a half? How am I supposed to keep myself off him for that long? Or him off me? Damn you pregnancy brain and mermaid-Queen-empathy!
To stop delaying the inevitable, I swim out from behind the seaweed. "Hey guys, I'm here. Sorry it took so long." I try to avoid any eye contact with this man's perfect blue... get it together! Gerrick almost chokes in surprise. "Greetings, your Majesty. Was Lord Mike taken safely back to shore then?"
"Yeah. But hey you two can just call me Victoria or Tori for short. This seems like it'll be a long journey. You guys don't need to be so formal."
"Are you sure? We do not wish to disrespect."
"No problem."
Gerrick swims up to me and bows. "As you wish, Victoria." I can see he is trying to be formal but why did he get so close.
Trying avoid whatever pulse fiasco happened before I blurt put "So what we're you guys talking about? Is everything okay?"
Kaeva swims between us and gently pushes him away. "Ma... Victoria, forgive Gerrick's behavior. It took Gerrick and myself almost a week to travel here from the capitol at our top speed. We are quite spent. We were discussing whether it would be a good idea to stop and rest for the night in a small village we passed on the way here. It's only a few hours swim no rush. What do you think?"
"Sounds like a good idea. Shall we go?"
"Of course, Victoria. Gerrick, why don't you take lead first? I'll stay with her."
Gerrick nods and swims farther into the open sea. I can still feel his energy, but it's easier to focus on whats directly around me now. "Alright, here we go" I whisper to myself and we start swimming.
Kaeva and I don't talk much at first but the inevitable connection between females takes over and soon we're talking away. The topic of Lord Mike comes up. "I can't believe I almost kissed Gerrick in front of him. I don't know what got over me."
Kaeva tries to bite her tongue. "Well Gerrick is quite an attractive young merman."
"Yes but Mike was right there. Stupid pregnancy hormones."
Kaeva looks at me, confused. "Excuse me, but what are hormones? Mermaids traditionally aren't told the specifics of childrearing until after they've mated." I try my best to explain to her what my OB/GYN told me. The mermaid seems to understand and her eyes light up wide. "That explains so much!" But then she remembers that conversation was supposed to be in secret and tries to recover. But I cut off her stammering. "Kaeva, it's okay. I heard you and Gerrick talking earlier."
"You did? But we couldn't sense you." She pauses. "I guess if the Queen doesn't want to be found, she won't be. But please don't take it out on Gerrick. He couldn't help it; your pulse just overpowered him. That's why I sent him to take point first, so he could clear his head. Don't be mad for us not talking to you first."
"It's okay, Kaeva. Take a deep breath. I think distance is the best thing for now. We both can clear our heads before you two switch out. How much longer before then?"
"The halfway point is about an hour away."
"Good. By then, I will clear of any strange pulses and we can focus on getting to that town. Now..." I point to a small striped fish that darted behind a rock. "...Can I talk to fish?"
Kaeva laughs and she teaches how.