"Please," Luke says urgently, his eyes wide as the sea itself as he grips Serene's sleeve. "I love him more than anything, but if I hear one more word about mermaids I will have to throw myself into the ocean and he would probably follow me because the damn mermaids are in there."

Serene pats his hand awkwardly, a very solemn look on her face as she sighs and offers her profound wisdom. "I know it can be tiresome, Luke, but you know it is vital to the sensitive nature of our paramours that we listen to them even about subjects we don't have much interest in ourselves."