Chapter 20

Reluctantly, Anthony held Kathy close, but the damp chill of the basement clung to them both. Kathy spotted the blood-soaked apron on the table, its crimson stark against the grey stone, and saw Anthony's feverish flush.

"You're burning up!" she exclaimed, "Let's get you in a cool bath to bring your temperature down."

"Yes, the silver is draining my strength, and I can feel my body fighting to get rid itself of it. Could you lend a hand getting me upstairs? The stairs are a bit steep.”

“Of course,”

Kathy helped Anthony to his feet, supporting some of his weight as they carefully walked towards the stairs; the gentle creak of the old wooden steps echoed as they slowly climbed, reaching the door, which Kathy opened. Spotting them in the hallway, Miles ran to assist Kathy with Anthony's weight. Seeing Kathy out of the hospital shocked Miles; he couldn't understand how she'd escaped with two guards on duty. Upon entering Anthony's bedroom, Kathy quickly prepared a cool bath for him.

"Um... Miles, I can take it from here," she said tentatively.

"Are you sure?"

“Yes, ask the cook if they can whip us up something delightful,”

“I will do so,”

Miles closed the door behind him, leaving the room in complete silence as Kathy guided Anthony to the bathroom. She had never seen him completely naked before, and the sight made her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"If you feel uncomfortable, I can do it myself; please just turn around."

“That a great idea,”

Kathy turned around as Anthony shed his clothes, the sound of fabric rustling softly, and then she heard a gentle splash as he entered the water; turning back, she saw him reclining in the tub, eyes closed. Wanting to cool him down, Kathy grabbed a hand towel and gently placed it on his body, unable to think about anything other than his well-being. Knowing she couldn't get wet and reveal her mermaid tail to Anthony, she was about to rise from the bath when he seized her wrist.

"To where are you headed?"

"Um... I thought you wanted to be left alone," Kathy whispered apologetically.

"No, stay here," he insisted, his hand gripping hers tightly. I want you to meet someone special.”

"Could you please clarify who you are talking about?" Kathy glanced around the room.

Anthony closed his eyes, opened them again, and saw they were golden as before. Sitting up, he moved closer to her.

“Hello mate?”

"Could you please tell me your name?"

“I gather my human didn't share the news about me.”

“I am known as Anthony Wolf, but my real name is Max.”

Max's voice, unlike Anthony's, was deeper and raspy. Kathy wanted to join him in the water, but the fear of him discovering her secret held her back. His hand outstretched, a gesture of comfort or perhaps of control, but she stepped back, a clear refusal in her eyes. She worried that revealing her tail to Max and Anthony would make them think she was a freak. With no other option, she slowly removed her hospital gown, the chill of the air raising goosebumps on her skin as she carefully stepped into the icy bathwater. As she felt her legs transform into a shimmering mermaid tail, a blush crept onto her cheeks, and she hid her face, anticipating Max or Anthony's reaction, only to be pulled close by a pair of arms.

Max looked at Kathy's mermaid tail, the scales shimmering, and thought, "So she's not human." He felt her fear as the water revealed her tail, then gently rested his chin on her shoulder, kissing it softly.

"You have nothing to fear, I assure you that you are safe with me." You've been hiding this from me," he accused.

"Yes, I was afraid that you might think I am a freak and don't want me anymore," she confessed.

Max touched her tail; it felt surprisingly real. Kathy turned, her blush deepening as his golden eyes met hers, just as he leaned in, Miles reappeared in the bedroom.

The chill in the air lingered, sharp against the warmth of the bathwater. Kathy’s heart thudded with anxious urgency—she needed to dry herself, to conceal the secret glimmer of scales before Anthony could see her this vulnerable. With calm assurance, he stood, water cascading from his form, and wrapped a towel around his waist. The gentle rustle of terrycloth was oddly comforting. Then, moving with a tenderness she had never expected, he leaned over and, with careful strength, lifted her from the tub.

The cold tiles sent a shiver up her spine, but the world held its breath as Anthony draped another towel around her shoulders. He knelt at her side, his hands steady, and began to blot the shimmering mermaid tail with soft, deliberate strokes. The towel absorbed the glistening droplets; the scales gradually dulled to a muted sheen as her transformation began to reverse beneath his touch. Kathy watched, cheeks aflame, but there was only gentle concentration in Anthony’s eyes—no judgment, only acceptance.

“You don’t have to hide,” he murmured, voice low and soothing, as he continued to dry her tail, making the impossible seem almost ordinary in the hush of the bathroom.

As soon as her tail vanished and her legs reappeared, before she could even stand, Anthony scooped her up from the cold floor and carried her to the bedroom, where Miles was setting the table. Seeing Kathy was only wearing a towel, Miles immediately stopped what he was doing, left the room, and closed the door. Anthony retrieved a shirt from his drawer and helped her put it on while he donned sweatpants. Going out in sweatpants without boxers underneath is a bad idea; he's in for a long night.

Seeing the food on the table made her hungrier, as she'd skipped lunch and would be eating late. Anthony picked her up again, seated her in the chair, and sat beside her, fixing her plate.

“I can serve myself.”

"I know, but you only have one hand free right now; the other is still in a cast, remember?"

Kathy knew he was right, but she'd left her belongings at the hospital; the nurse was probably frantic that she went missing. The cast on her wrist itched terribly, making her want to scratch it with a fork or something sharp. Seeing Anthony making his own plate, she checked his forehead; he wasn't feverish, which was good. The pretense of their marriage hanging in the balance, Kathy pictured a lasting relationship with Anthony.