“The rest will come later? What a kelp.”
I stare up at the love of my life, who I’ve just told about my conversation with Kenton, wondering what I’m missing. “Kelp?”
“Yeah—you know, kelp. The sea creatures that procreate at a astronomical rate and annoy mermaids to death.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Hold on. Kelp are ‘creatures’ in Farnethia?”
“Well, sure! Not very intelligent creatures, mind you—more like parasites, really. What are they on Earth?”
“They’re…” I’m not even sure I know what kelp are. “Algae, I think? Certainly not beings of conscious thought. I think they’re actually supposed to be pretty good for the… ocean.”
His expression darkens ever so slightly. “An appropriate analogy for our situation, I suppose. What I consider a parasite, you consider ‘helpful.’”
I groan, lyin
