Floating Alone

by Zenina Masters

  Marina has a bizarre bloodline and a mission to save her mother’s people. Irdan wants his mate and is willing to get wet.

  Marina Wake has spent her life trying to heal manatees. Her small recovery centre works to patch up the beasts damaged by human machines. The problem is facilities need money.

  Irdan wants to meet the woman that the seers and her father have told him about. When he gets her agreement to the Crossroads, they rush into the balancing and have to deal with the aftermath.

  Marina trades herself for financing the rescue centre for a decade, and when she has been balanced with Irdan, her evolution into a partial fey takes a weird turn that neither of them expected.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Floating Alone

  Copyright © 2016 Zenina Masters

  ISBN: 978-1-4874-0803-9

  Cover art by Carmen Waters

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by eXtasy Books Inc or

  Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasy Books Inc

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  Floating Alone

  Shifting Crossroads Book 39

  By

  Zenina Masters

  Chapter One

  Marina watched the huge animals slowly rolling in the shade of the hospital tanks. “Morning, ladies. How are you doing today?”

  Her mind was assailed with the minor discomforts of pregnancy mixed with the confinement of the tank.

  She smiled and sent calming and loving emotion through the link. “We want you safe, and we are making a new zone that you can flourish in. We want it safe for you and your babies.”

  Marina crouched next to the tank and held out a handful of seagrasses. They were the large female’s favourite.

  The huge bulk of the largest manatee cruised toward her, and Marina fed her as she examined the scars from a propeller on her back and across her belly. They were healing well, but she still wanted to get a hold of that pilot and tear him in two.

  “Can you remember anything about the boat, dearest?” She continued to speak in low tones.

  An image suddenly came to her, brought by the proximity. Red speedboat, call numbers that Marina committed to memory and a laugh that she put in the same mental file.

  “Thank you, mother. I will make sure that he doesn’t hurt you or your little one again.” She ran her hand along the grey hide, and the mother lipped at her wrist.

  “Dr. Wake?”

  Marina turned her head and moved her hand out of the way before the huge creature could pull her in. Their whimsy sometimes lacked timing.

  “Yes, Toby. What can I do for you?”

  “The new investors are here, and you promised to take them for a tour.”

  She grimaced. “Is it that time already?”

  “Yes. I saw them coming in. Are you really pitching to some fey?”

  Marina smiled. “They have tons of money and are willing to put it into the upkeep of nature. Yeah, I am pitching to them.”

  “It doesn’t hurt that his parent is the local senator.”

  “That is also a factor. How do I look?” She brushed at her shorts and tank top.

  “Wet. They will be stunned. Go get ’em.”

  Marina snorted and headed for the education centre, the small building in the middle of the property.

  The sleek cars outside of the education centre were definitely a sign of things to come. Well, Marina hoped they were. She could use an infusion of cash to the rescue in the worst way.

  Wary of the dampness on her shirt, she fluffed it out so that the slouching folds of the jersey obscured the outline of her nipples. Just to be on the safe side, she let her hair out of its ponytail and let it relax over her shoulders and down her breasts.

  She took a deep breath, pasted a smile on her face and opened the door to the education centre, holding that smile in place by force when she saw that her father had made an appearance.

  “Ah, Herman. You are here.”

  He turned to her, and his peculiarly good looks struck her as they always did. “Marina, I was just telling these men about your good work here.”

  “So nice of you to be here for this today.” Marina walked up to him and kissed his cheek.

  She squeezed his hands hard, and he winced as he murmured, “I wouldn’t have missed it.”

  Marina turned toward her guests. “Hello, I am Dr. Wake. Please, call me Marina.”

  The two gentlemen smiled, and the brunette stepped forward with his hand extended. “I am Maweel Nafore; that is my cousin, Irdan.”

  She blinked when she saw his hand out, and she said, “I am sorry, I was just handling fish and weeds. I am afraid my hand isn’t in great shape.”

  He smiled. “I don’t mind.”

  She winced and extended her hand, gripping his skin as the wild spark ran up her arm, and she could see he was getting the same reaction.

  “Your—”

  “A researcher.”

  He let go and stepped back, and his companion came forward. He spoke in a low drawl. “Forgive my idiot cousin; he has not seen such a beautiful woman in a long time.”

  She winced when he took her hand and the shockwave was far stronger, but he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “The pink of your cheeks goes well with your silver eyes.”

  Her skin got hotter.

  She licked her lips, and his pupils dilated, showing a startling change to something that wasn’t human and wasn’t fey.

  Her pulse pounded in her veins, and she slowly withdrew her hand from his grasp. “Thank you?”

  He grinned. “So, you have a facility that you are interested in funding?”

  With that one phrase, he snapped her back to why he was there.

  “Of course. Welcome to the Wake Manatee Rescue. We are here to rehabilitate and release wounded, injured and maimed manatee back into the wild. Our goal isn’t to keep them in tanks; it is to get them back into open water.”

  She turned to the wall and activated the screen that showed the damage done by the propellers, jet skis and other human vehicles. “Human incursion into manatee waters needs to be mitigated, controlled, and when they break the law, there needs to be a consequence.”

  She paused, “But that is a matter for legislation. Now, we are simply seeking funding to support and expand our existing facility. Would you like to see the patients?”

  Maweel smiled, “We would love to see the animals.”

  She frowned. “This is not a zoo. They are not here for display. This tour is to expand understanding.”

  Irdan smiled. “We understand.”

  She looked at her father and then ignored him as she led their small group out of the education centre and out toward the pens.

  “You don’t have a dedicated
medical centre?” Irdan drawled.

  “No, we have to create med tents when we need them. That is one of the items that is on my wish list. To get a manatee out of the water takes some special lifts, and we don’t currently have them.”

  They walked down the gravelled path toward the recovery tanks.

  “We keep the patients in their normal water type until they are set for movement again. Over here are my favourite visitors. These are pregnant females who were struck by boats, and one of them is nearly ready to return to her original no-wake zone.”

  Irdan drawled, “How did she get injured?”

  Marina made a face. “Speedboat, as far as we are able to tell. Folks want to insist on their right to kill native and endangered species at will. That is why we are pushing for larger penalties.”

  She led them through the concrete paths and opened the gate that led into the deep, shadowed tanks.

  Maweel looked at the cages surrounding the tanks. “Are you afraid of the manatees getting out?”

  She smiled. “No. While in captivity, they are in even more danger than nature normally provides. Folks regularly come by and try to slaughter them for their bones, their hide, their use in magic, if you believe in that sort of thing.”

  Irdan looked solemn. “What do they think they will gain?”

  “Power and patience. The feeling of enjoying each moment as it comes. A few of those caught say it is the best drug they have experienced. Complete calm.”

  “What do they do with the hide?”

  “They turn it into belts. Apparently, it turns nervous business men into zen tycoons.” She grimaced.

  The shadows shifted, and a curious and wide-eyed face bobbed upward.

  Maweel knelt and extended his hand. “She looks friendly.”

  “Oh, she is. Is that suit washable?”

  He frowned, and when the snuffling upper lip gripped his hand and tugged, his eyes went wide with surprise.

  Marina grabbed his arm and tapped the frisky lady on the nose. “You are pregnant. Have some decorum.”

  Irdan crouched but didn’t reach out. “She was struck by a boat?”

  “You can see the blade strikes. Let me get some grass.”

  She walked to the edge of the pen where some grasses were still floating and gathered them up. The lady in question liked being hand fed, so this would get her attention.

  Marina returned to where the dominant lady was trying to lure the fey into the water, and she waggled the waterweeds in her face. The attention turned to food, and Marina pulled the food back so that the lady in question rolled to her side to show her distended belly with the riot of slash marks.

  Maweel made a soft sound, and Irdan crouched closer.

  Irdan murmured, “She’s pregnant.”

  “All three of the ladies here are. We have two gentlemen, but they weren’t bleeding for two.”

  “Don’t they pair bond?”

  “Not really. The males come and go as needed.”

  “What is her name?”

  Marina paused, “I don’t give them names. They are the ladies and the gentlemen. They don’t call each other by name in the wild, so why would I tag them with a name here?”

  “How do you keep track of them?” Irdan murmured it softly as the large head of the female moved toward them.

  “Photos that document the damage and blood samples taken when they arrive.”

  “How many have died in your care?” Maweel asked as he watched the other females come out of the shadows, letting their curiosity shine.

  Marina looked at him in surprise. “None. If they are alive when they arrive, they are alive when they leave.”

  Maweel blinked. “So, you are a successful facility.”

  “Yes, but I have had to turn away six manatee this month alone. I don’t have the space or the staff to take care of them. We are run off our feet to take care of the ones we do have, and these are not a species that normally ends up in such close quarters. They are solitary but social.”

  She sent a signal to the ladies, and they rolled in the water, looking scarred up but playful. She stood and watched the two fey stare at the huge beasts in the water as they managed to express joy while showing the marks of brutal ignorance.

  Marina urged the manatee to play and radiate happiness, but the sudden streak of pain brought that to a halt. “Gentlemen, please excuse me. I am afraid that one of the ladies has gone into labour. I am sorry to bring our meeting to a close.”

  Irdan scowled. “I thought they could birth alone.”

  “They can, but if they have too much scar tissue, the skin won’t flex. I need to stay here with her to make sure that the baby can make it out.”

  She kicked off her shoes and jumped into the pool, swimming to examine the dominant lady in labour. She didn’t care what the elves would do; there was time to secure more funding later.

  Chapter Two

  Marina focused on the labouring mother and the movement under her skin. There wasn’t a splash, but Irdan soon joined her, and he held his hands to the manatee’s belly as blood entered the water.

  She held her breath naturally, and he did the same. She saw the flare of reptilian eyes and was a little shocked to be facing someone who had another form. Her father was the only shifter she knew, and he would never have considered messing up a designer suit while helping a manatee cow give birth.

  Irdan stroked his hands along the belly, and a soft, pink glow emanated from him. He stroked downward, and the rigid skin flexed.

  They could feel the body working, and their patient rolled with them, letting them surface. Marina sucked in a deep breath before they continued the roll. Based on the memory, the mommy-to-be had been in labour for hours.

  Marina sighed, letting out a stream of bubbles. The manatee rolled again, and she grabbed another breath.

  The amniotic sac was out. A pearly bubble against the grey skin. Irdan helped with whatever magic he could, and the delivery took thirty minutes. A rush of blood and the flick of a bright mind later and there was a new occupant to the tank.

  Irdan wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to the surface. He placed one hand under her butt and boosted her up and out of the water with ease. He planted his hands on the concrete and was sitting next to her in one smooth move.

  “Well, you can count on my support. Give me a number, and you can have it.” Irdan grinned as another one of the pregnant ladies came over to visit him, snuffling at his legs as if disappointed that he wasn’t one of her kind.

  Maweel sighed. “If my cousin is in, I am in. Consider yourself funded for operations and expansion for the next decade.”

  Irdan smiled slightly. “On one condition.”

  Marina stared. “Whatever it is, the answer is yes.”

  The moment that the words were out of her mouth, there was a flash of light and she was sitting on the floor of a wooden structure, wet and wearing her tank top and shorts.

  Irdan got to his feet, and his suit fluffed and slid into perfect lines once again. He pulled her to her feet, and she felt the tingle of fey magic crawling over her skin. She was dry and presentable in moments. Her clothing was altered into a light sundress.

  “Where are we?” She frowned at him.

  “Well, you said anything, so I have decided you will be my wife, and then, all I have is yours, and all you have is mine.”

  She blinked. “You can’t be serious. We just met.”

  “We have met five times at charity fundraisers. This is merely the first time we have touched. Now that I know what you are, I wish to take you as my mate.”

  Marina scowled. “What do you think I am?”

  “A shifter.”

  Marina looked at the couple that was watching them in bemusement.

  The woman with white hair stepped forward. “She isn’t quite a shifter.”

  Marina looked at her. “You know?”

  “I can see it. You m
ight want to explain it to him before he binds himself to you. This is not the place for it, please sign in and we will register you for the Isthmus. You will have privacy and a place to exchange your particulars.”

  Marina shook her head. “No. I am needed at work.”

  Irdan scowled. “I thought we could just bond and then return to the human world.”

  Marina shook her head. “I would not advise it. I am not what you think I am.”

  Irdan smiled. “Whatever you are, I am willing to give you half of me. Will you accept it?”

  Marina stared into his eyes and saw nothing but calm certainty. “Why?”

  “Because few things are certain in life, and the fey know it better than most. From the moment I first saw you, I knew that we were meant for each other. Destiny is not a fickle thing; she calls out only when she knows that there is a possibility and a future. She has called, and I am listening.”

  Marina had no reply for that.

  The woman cocked her head. “If you are sure, I will bring the balancer.”

  Marina nodded slowly. “I think that it can’t be any weirder than my normal situation.”

  Irdan smiled. “I love that you set the bar so low.”

  Marina cocked her head. “Does destiny call you often?”

  “This is the first and only time. It seemed prudent to listen.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Are you sure that you don’t want to know what I am before you link your fate to mine forever?”

  “I am willing to roll the dice.”

  Marina remembered his careful hands on the birthing manatee. “I love how you set the bar so low.”

  He squeezed her hands as he grinned.

  The creature that returned with the white-haired woman was human, but a human that Marina had rarely seen outside of a sci-fi convention.

  Curly-toed shoes with bells on the tips, a patched pair of jeans, cartoon-spattered shirt and brightly patterned kimono top marked the garb of the creature that faced them.