“Yes. And he looks angry.”
Lo and I swim out to where the water turns from green to deep blue, his strokes becoming stronger with each second. With a last look at Cano bobbing in the distance, we grasp hands, our bodies shifting simultaneously and lengthening into sharp bone and finned sinew.
Just before I submerge, my eyes fall on the house, barely a speck on the shoreline, drawn there by something...movement, maybe, in one of the windows. Deep down, I know it’s her, watching me. The faint sensation of a glimmer curls around me like an echo of an echo. It’s so tender, so heartbreakingly familiar. It’s only at that moment that I realize that the glimmered voice I heard in the basement wasn’t my father’s.
She told me to fight.
And the pride was hers.
18
The Call of Land and Sea
We sink into the embrace of the deep like falling rock, far out of the reach of our pursuer. Watching Lo transform is like watching a movie reel of something fantastic, something so achingly beautiful that your mouth drops open and your breath feels full, like it’s going to burst out of your chest. And for a moment it’s as if your very heart stops—as if time itself stops—enough for you to savor this one moment forever.
My breath catches.
Even midtransformation, Lo is striking—all elongated curved muscles swathed in mesmerizing bands of gold and silver. Delicate forearms widen into muscular limbs, peach-fuzzed human skin shimmering across them into sand-colored scales. Lustrous navy fins rise like a reverse waterfall along his neck and spine as his bones push outward into something terrifying, yet spectacular.
It’s like I’m seeing him for the first time, and he is beautiful.
His face is creased with deeply gold ridges running down an elegant snout, and his jeweled eyes—so intensely melting—are staring right at me. If I’d had any doubt before that he’d know who I am, I don’t anymore. The same desperate longing I’m feeling is written all over his face. Self-conscious, I slide my greedy gaze away.
“You are beautiful,” he pulses to me in our language, a gentle sound that winds through the watery space between us, a caress in itself. I wasn’t even aware that I’d transformed, too, my body aligning with every twist, every contortion, every ripple of his. A delicious shiver runs through me.
“I was thinking the same about you,” I say.
Lo swims forward to wrap his neck around mine, and the feel of him is better than anything I’ve imagined...or remembered. Twisting against him, I fit myself into the curves of his new form until there’s nothing but our heartbeats between us. We stay like that for a long moment, weightless and unrestrained, our bodies glued as the will of the bond between us takes over and our glimmers merge into one.
I love you. Lo’s thoughts are as clear as a bell. I never forgot that.
I know, I say. It was touch-and-go for a while, with that biotoxin. Can you remember what it felt like?
Lo’s tail slides along mine, making my stomach do a weird little flip-flop. It was fuzzy. A part of me knew who you were, but I couldn’t remember. It was like looking through a cloud of fog. He shrugs, his muscular body rippling along the length of mine. I’m just glad you got the serum when you did. Some memories were eaten away by the toxin. Like I can’t remember our first date. The details are kind of fuzzy, too.
I think back to the fiasco of our first date and grin. Yeah, you can live without that one. Just imagine something incredibly romantic with both of us saying the most perfect things to each other.
So no hot and steamy?
A shiver. I’m not that kind of girl, but yeah, that came later.
Where are we, anyway? Lo nuzzles my neck, my pulse leaping madly beneath it. I could stay in his embrace—human or Aquarathi—forever.
Somewhere near the Coronado Islands if I had to guess.
With a sigh, I pull away from Lo. Now that I’ve gotten him back, I don’t want to let him go. I glance around, feeling the different temperature of the currents tugging at us on all sides, and my eyes widen. We’re surrounded by all kinds of marine wildlife, including some frolicking sea lions—they’ve been drawn to us, drawn by our combined energies.
“Are you seeing this?” I pulse to him wide-eyed as the sea lions gambol giddily around us, flipping, spinning and rubbing their soft bodies against our hides. “I’ve never seen so many of them. They’re like underwater puppies!”
Lo chuckles and does a somersault that makes the sea lions go nuts, chasing him around with enthusiastic barking and chirping.
“They like you,” I say, grinning at Lo, who is now in a spiraling dive with six sea lion pups trailing behind him. I watch them for a few minutes before reality sets in, and if the changing tides are any indication, we’ve been out here long enough. “We should probably get back before Speio sends out the ASS,” I click to Lo.
“The what?”
“The Aquarathi Secret Service.”
“That’s just wrong.”
I bare my teeth in a grin. “I know, but I love sticking it to Speio.”
Leaving the sea lions behind, we swim up the coast toward La Jolla together. The temptation to dive down and swim to Waterfell is compelling, but I’m not sure how either of us will be received there. I’m still the queen, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have my share of enemies waiting for me to make one bad move, which technically I’ve already done by getting myself bonded to a hybrid. So as much as I feel the appeal of my home, I have to ignore it. For now.
Reaching the break near the Scripps pier, we change back into human form and skirt around the breakers to avoid the long line of surfers. “Over here,” I tell Lo, directing him over the Marine Center pier. I dive down to the base of one of the wooden pillars holding the pier up. A plastic bag weighted down with a flat rock sits at the bottom. Tugging on it, I remove two pairs of board shorts and a swimsuit top.
“Your shorts aren’t going to fit me,” Lo says.
“Would you rather walk up the beach naked?” I ask, glad that the deep water partially hides the hot blush rising up my neck at the thought. I don’t know why the thought of him naked in our natural Aquarathi form—though sexy—isn’t quite the same as seeing him without clothes in human form. Maybe it’s because of their social conditioning—people don’t tend to wander around nude.
“I may as well be naked,” Lo mutters, taking the shorts.
“Relax, they’re Speio’s.”
“Why didn’t you just say so?”
“Wanted to see you squirm,” I tease, and dart away out of his reach, sticking my tongue out at him. “Plus, aren’t you always talking about getting into my shorts?”
“I’m going to toss both these shorts in a second if you keep doing that,” Lo growls.
Despite his joking threat, we manage to slide on the clothes underwater without losing either of the shorts, and casually swim our way to shallower water before bodysurfing into shore. Lo is taller than Speio and more muscular, so the shorts are riding up his legs with each step on the beach. I can’t help noticing the sleek, sculpted bulge of muscle of his thighs and the curve of his butt through the clingy wet material.
“Want to take a photo?” Lo says over his shoulder. “It’ll last longer.”
“You wish,” I say, blushing, and twist my hair up into a ponytail.
“Relax. The Lo Show is here to stay.”
I smother a giggle. “And this is where I wish you were the other Lo. All J.Crew and proper. He was the perfect gentleman.”
Lo whirls around to grab me around the waist, and my breath whooshes out of me in surprise. His voice is low and husky, causing me to tremble. “Did the old Lo do this?”
I don’t have time to inhale before his mouth descends onto mine in an insanely hot human kiss that leaves my entire body feeling boneless. His tongue delves int
o my mouth as if it belongs there, sliding between the crease of my lips and out again, until I can only drag him closer to me, lost. By the time Lo releases my mouth, I am senseless. I can’t even speak. The stormy look in his eyes says that he is just as shaken by the kiss as I am. I blink, slightly bemused. With kisses like that, he can put on the Lo Show all he wants.
“I can’t wait to get you alone,” he says against my hair, nearly making my knees buckle. My hands slip across the flat planes of his chest, down the bunched muscles of his stomach. His skin is warm to the touch, flexing responsively beneath my fingers. I slip them around his rear and drag his hips in closer.
“Hey!” a voice up the beach shouts. It’s my boss, Kevin, from the Marine Center. Oh my God. Did he just see us making out on the beach? Blushing madly at Lo’s knowing grin, I put some space between our overheated bodies, folding my arms across my chest.
“Hey, Kevin.”
“When did you guys get here? I texted you, like, an hour ago.”
“Sorry,” I say. “Lost my phone. What’s up?”
“I had three calls from the school looking for you and Cara Andrews. They said you were on some extra-credit project here, but I didn’t have anything down in the log.”
“What’d you tell them?”
He grins. “That I was aiding and abetting high-school ditchers?” He gestures to himself. “I may be old, but I’m not that old. Next time, give me a heads-up, okay? If Andrews is around, you two need to head back to school, stat.”
“Thanks, Kev. I owe you.”
He tosses me a set of keys. “Take the boat. You may want to get back in uniform.” He grins. “And try to keep it PG, all right?”
I don’t have to look in a mirror to know that I’ve just gone fifteen shades of red at Kevin’s teasing, but Lo’s soft response makes my flush go supernova. “Not if I can help it,” he murmurs.
We take the boat to my house and tie it to the dock before we run hand in hand up to the house. I’m hoping to avoid Soren, but of course that is next to impossible. I swear I must have an ankle bracelet that goes off every time I try to sneak in somewhere. Sure enough, she’s waiting poolside, her face expressionless.
“Is she angry?” Lo whispers to me as we walk toward her, her back ramrod straight.
“More than you can imagine,” I tell him.
“Soren,” I say brightly. “We’re back from the Marine Cen—” She cuts me off with an eviscerating look that needs no words. “Sorry,” I mutter, staring at the ground. My fingers are still caught tightly in Lo’s. Remembering my mother’s words, I lift my chin. I have nothing to feel bad about. Other than the tiny deception of sneaking off without telling anyone, that is.
We don’t exchange any words, but Soren must have seen the brief glint of courage in my eye. “We called the school. You’ve been dismissed for the day. They’re waiting for you inside,” she says with the slightest incline of her neck. I bite back a smile. Impropriety doesn’t come easily to Soren, but she must want to prove a point.
Standing in front of her, I bare my neck, meeting her shocked eyes before placing a soft kiss on her cheek. It’s the highest display of respect—and apology—that I can offer her. “Thank you, Soren.”
Lo and I walk, fingers threaded together, into the living room, where we are greeted with smiles, frowns and combinations of both. I glance around at the familiar faces and equally familiar expressions—impassive Echlios, trepidatious Speio, grinning Sawyer, triumphant Jenna, expressionless royal guard...and bewildered Cara. Well, she’s certainly new to the equation.
The silence in the room grows heavy until I realize that they are waiting for me to speak. I clear my throat and release Lo’s hand. “As you can see, Lo—” I don’t use his Aquarathi title of regent for Cara’s benefit “—is alive and well.” I nod imperceptibly at Soren, who steps forward to graciously offer a tour of the house to Sawyer and Cara.
After they leave, the stoic expressions of my guard melt into varying stages of irritation and frustration. Nova and Nell eye Jenna with unveiled distaste, but she’s handled more than her fair share of angry Aquarathi, and holds her own. I almost grin when she asks Nova and Nell whether they’ve had the house tour. The sour look on their faces intensifies something fierce.
“The prince regent is safe for the moment,” I say in an imperious tone, drawing attention back to me. “But this battle is far from over. We discovered that Cano is still experimenting with human and Aquarathi DNA.” I pause. “On himself.”
“What?” Echlios says.
“He had scales,” I say. “Lo and I both saw it. And he’s strong. Unbelievably strong.”
“How is that even possible?” Speio breathes. Echlios silences him with a look. There’s a charged energy between him and Echlios, and I’m sure it’s my fault.
I meet Echlios’s gaze with a fierce one of my own. “You should know that I commanded Speio to obey me. He tried to dissuade me and I refused.” Speio shoots me a grateful look, which I acknowledge with a wink before continuing. “It is possible because Cano is injecting himself with Lo’s DNA, and because we are bonded, it is more powerful than ever.”
“How did you find the cure?” Nova asks.
“I fought my mother for it.”
“Is she dead?”
The coldness of the question hits me like a slap, but Neriah is a traitor and branded an exile. “No.”
“You dare let a traitor live?” he says under his breath. Echlios steps forward, but I stall him with a raised palm.
Be formidable.
I turn burning eyes upon Nova, letting the crown of bones tear from my forehead. “You dare question my judgment?” The fires of a glimmer pool at my center like an explosive ball of flame, until it consumes me in its entirety. Raw power and fury whistle through me like twin dragons. Nova’s eyes widen to round black orbs before he kneels before me, his neck outstretched. “I will forgive you this once because you are young, as am I, but do not believe I will forget this transgression. Mind your words.”
“Yes, my queen.”
“Now out,” I command. “Take Nell with you.” He scurries from the room with his sister in tow. I nod curtly to the rest of the guards, dismissing them, as well. By the time the room has cleared, only Echlios, Speio and Jenna remain. She, for her part, is watching me in astonished glee.
Speio brings his hands together in a long, slow clap, and leans back on the couch. “That was impressive. Remind me never to get on your bad side. Oh, wait, I’ve felt the force of the dark side myself.”
I spare a glance at Jenna, who is now staring at me with unabashed pride. “You go, girl. That was badass.” She eyes me up and down, shaking her head. “And in a bikini, no less.”
“Thanks,” I say.
Standing beside me, Lo doesn’t say a word, but his shoulders brush against mine, leaving me in little doubt of what he’s thinking...that he still can’t wait to get me alone. Boys. So utterly single-minded. Then again, I wouldn’t mind being alone with him, either. I suppress an instant shiver and focus my thoughts.
“So, what now?” I ask Echlios.
“Cano will be coming.”
“With an army of hybrids at his back,” I say. “I smelled them in the house. He has many. He wants to take down Waterfell and wage a war against the humans. If I had to guess, I’d say he has allies...like Ehmora.”
“What about the Lady Neriah?” Echlios asks. I’m startled by the fact that he still calls her “lady,” but I don’t say anything.
“I don’t think she’s on his side,” I say carefully. At his look, I explain in a few short sentences what had transpired in the basement room. I shake my head. “It was as if she wanted me to take it from her. She goaded me to fight.” I frown, recalling the events in my mind, all the questions, and her song and dance. “She fought back, but I know she
’s far stronger than that. She let me beat her.”
“Or maybe you just think that,” Speio says softly.
“What do you mean?”
He stares at me. “I mean that you’re strong, Riss. You have so much power rippling through you even now. Can’t you feel it?”
Speio’s right. My waters are brimming inside me like the sea at high tide. I glance at Echlios. “Is that normal?”
“Only a few Aquarathi have ever been able to pull power from the sea or the sky or from the water around them. It appears that you, too, can summon it at will.” A vague memory flits across my brain—one of me commanding the skies and punishing myself with lightning bolts, when Echlios himself ended up saving me. He knew even then what I would become.
“And Lo?” I say.
“You can take power from him, too,” Echlios says. “Aquarathi and hybrid.”
“Hybrid?” I gasp.
“Yes. You are bonded. It appears that as with the traditional Aquarathi bond, his strengths—and weaknesses—are both yours, should you will it.”
I frown, repeating the words slowly. “Strengths and weaknesses.”
“You could survive inland, should you so choose. Dominion over both earth and sea,” Echlios says, trailing off. I signal for him to continue. “However, this bond also includes human weaknesses like emotional frailty and self-doubt.” His gaze is solemn. “That is what some of the Aquarathi are most afraid of—that your judgment will become skewed and not in their interests, because of—”
“My bond with Lo,” I finish.
“Yes.”
Lo moves to stand beside me, his hand tracing slow circles on the small of my back. I accept his touch gratefully. He’s grown stronger, too, I realize. His energy is more palpable...unless I’ve never noticed that before. Or maybe we’re feeding off each other. Either way, I’m thankful for his presence, especially after Echlios’s last words on why my people may rise against me.
“You mean like Nova and Nell?” I ask bitterly.
“And others,” Echlios says.
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