The ocean dwellers slowly spread out, still shocked but following their empress's orders. Rick's partners came up slowly, not sure what had just happened.
"Did you just fucking grab the Ocean Empress by the face and yell at her?" Zara asked, her voice full of awe and disbelief.
Rick said, "Apparently," and then let go of Nerissa, wishing he hadn't lost contact right away.
Carmilla appeared to be undecided between scolding him and feeling proud. "That was either the bravest or dumbest thing you've ever done in the entire journey."
Natasha said in a clinical way, "Adequate shock therapy."
"It's not normal, but it works."
Liora's divine energy was warm and pulsing. "Love sometimes requires confronting the truth directly."
"Good job as always, Rick."
Myrissa swam up next to them, her face showing a lot of different emotions as she looked back and forth between Rick and her mom. "I've never seen anyone act that way toward her."
