Rowan and Syryn were back on the surface, taking off their wet clothing on a ship whose captain had been beset with anxiety as the crew waited for their missing leader.

Rowan had a towel around his waist and was using another to briskly rub at his wet hair. Syryn though was content to sunbathe with only a pair of shorts on. He had been underwater for so long that the sun's kiss on his skin left him feeling warm and tingly. He pitied the mers who had never felt the sun on their skin and the wind in their hair. But that was going to change because Drevin was the proxy king that Syryn had chosen. Enkansh had been left with instructions and a crown in his hand. The mage wondered what the siren would do since he was no longer a sub citizen of Silisia.

"Sir, what should we do about the mermaid? She's creating a ruckus in there."

"What mermaid?" Syryn was first to reply.

The sailor looked at Rowan.

"We captured a mermaid for purposes of interrogation," Rowan replied as he handed the towel to the sailor. "She said some things that didn't sit well with me so I had her locked up."

"What were you intending to do to her?" Syryn curiously asked.

"Kill her. But it's no longer necessary." The anti mage spoke to the sailor who was still waiting for instructions. "Release her back into the water. Get the others and make sure you're all armed while tossing her overboard. And tell the navigator that we're heading to Coop as soon as possible."

Rowan then peaked at the almost naked Syryn. The young man was as pale as the moon since he hadn't properly seen the sun in two months.

"You know, it's considered rude to stare like that."

The anti mage's glance travelled up Syryn's body and met eyes with the mage who appeared bashful.

"I apologise for my rudeness," he took Syryn's hand and lifted it to his lips.

Aquamarine eyes were locked with violet. Syryn's heart fluttered and the butterflies in his stomach suddenly exploded. Was this love? What was love? The bubble of happiness that surrounded him was burst by a creeping thought that this wasn't real. Syryn didn't doubt Rowan but the reality was that he was a man without his memories. If there was any chance that this relationship was a lie then Syryn would be heartbroken when he remembered.

Even so, he was starting to like Rowan far too much to let go. The mage made up his mind that whatever happened, Rowan would be his. He would turn the lie into truth.

"What are you thinking about?" Rowan asked Syryn.

"You know I don't remember anything."

The anti maged hummed in response. Syryn's long wet hair was plastered back against his head. He was breathtaking and Rowan loved every inch of Syryn.

"Will you remember?"

"Yes," Syryn's gaze slowly lowered to Rowan's lips. There were a few sailors curiously watching them. He couldn't shamelessly kiss the blond right in front of them.

"How are you so sure?"

"It's a long story." The naysayer in Syryn told him to shut up and stop trusting so easily just because the man turned his stomach to jelly. "Some old sage passed on his inheritance to me and I can hear his voice in my head. He is the one that caused my memories to be locked away." The mage glanced at the blond's navel. Rowan had killer abs that tempted him to skim his hands over. "And he told me that my memories will return."

Rowan frowned. "And can you really trust this sage?"

"I don't have a choice. He has my memories hostage." Syryn thought about how awful it would be to never get back what was taken from him. "I want to remember what it was like meeting you for the first time, becoming rivals, and then this."

The blond felt a little guilty about not telling Syryn the true nature of the relationship they had when they'd first met. But if he told the mage the truth, Syryn would have probably trusted him less.

"Ask him how much longer till you remember?"

"He only speaks to me when he's in the mood for it. I'll ask him when he shows up."

The anti mage sighed and worriedly looked at his lover. Syryn just couldn't catch a break. It was one thing after the other. He did not doubt that Syryn would have gotten out of the Silisian mess even without his help. He had his quick wits, a sharp mind, and a Leviathan that could flatten the mer kingdom if Syryn told her to. It assuaged some of the insecurity and concerns he had for Syryn's safety. He wasn't Syryn's mother, Rowan reminded himself. No one was going to like being smothered by their lover. He did not want to restrict Syryn's freedom but it was hard for him to not feel like shutting his lover away from the world and its dangers.

"We're heading to Coop?" Syryn asked when Rowan remained silent.

"We are. It's a dangerous place-"

"You've told me. I feel safe with you though."

Rowan was immeasurably pleased to know that.

"Is there a way to send a message to the sirens?"

Rowan nodded. "I can arrange that."

"I need a quill and some papers."

"It's in your bag," Rowan replied, reaching for the satchel that was hanging on a hook while they dried off.

"What else is in my bag?" Syryn asked. It was a question to gauge how close they were. If Rowan knew a lot about what was in his satchel then it meant that the man was the real deal. Or something. Anyway, it was a fun game for Syryn to play.

"Hmmm, let me see. I seem to recall that you took an item of mine before leaving home." A spark of amusement lit up the blue eyes that were bluer than the clear skies above them. "A white silk shirt with pearl buttons."

"That was yours?" Syryn asked, surprised. If he was carrying around Rowan's shirt then it meant...

"Was?"

"I wore it and then lost it. I'm sorry, Rowan." It had been a beautiful thing too. Syryn was sorry to lose it.

"It's alright. I can always replace it. It's you that I can never replace, Ryn. Don't lose yourself," Rowan softly told him. "I'm waiting for you to remember us."