Zek took point, Cyrus and Aaron brought up the rear with Xav and Cori in the middle.
While they ascended toward the surface, Zek heard Des’ cry at the same time he noticed the motorboat hovering in the water above them. He smiled and angled their rise to cross to it. He turned to grin at his brother and Cori, knowing they could all see the motorboat. It’s Des.
Cori smiled. All five of them broke water at the same time, but Des faced the other side of the boat. They swam toward her and she swung around gasping when she saw them. “Oh, my God! Is everyone all right? What the hell happened? Cori? What the fuck…?”
Zek reached the side of the boat first but instead of using the ladder hanging off the back, he used the water like a springboard. He propelled himself right onto the deck beside her.
She yelped and took a step back.
Cori and Xav did the same thing.
“We’ll meet you guys at the house,” Aaron yelled, as he and Cyrus swam back to shore.
“Des!” Cori yelled and rushed forward to embrace her friend.
Des held up both hands to hold her off. Looking back and forth between them all, her mouth opened and closed but no words came forth. Finally, her eyes rolled up into her head and she crumpled onto the deck.
Des woke up alone in bed, but when she touched the sheet, she found it still warm. She sat up but she couldn’t hear Zek in the bathroom, something pulled her out of bed. The breeze from the open doorway leading outside brushed past her. Zek had closed it when they’d first come in. Perhaps he’d gone out there. She went into the bathroom and put on the sundress she’d left on the floor, then returned to the bedroom. Going over to the open doorway, she pushed the screen aside.
A blanket of stars covered the darkened sky but she saw a faint orange glow barely brushing the horizon. Dawn lay moments away. Maybe that’s why she noticed the three moving silhouettes. One already swam in the water, the other two racing for it. She recognized them. “What the hell!”
She hurried after the men though she could no longer see Zek’s dark hair; he must have gone under and had yet to surface. She watched Aaron and Cyrus swimming farther out. Oh, my God, Zek! The man thought himself some kind of merman descended from Poseidon. Crazy or not, she couldn’t let anything happen to him. She might not understand the intense attraction between them, but it went beyond mere lust. Her heart contracted in pain at the thought of losing him. She raced over the sand and out to the water after the men. They were so far out. She tried to mark where they were going as best she could. Praying and hoping they’d get to Zek in time to save him.
Suddenly, when both men dove and didn’t come back up, she panicked. The water seemed calm moments ago, but now rocked like it would during a storm. Except no storm swirled overhead. Glancing up the beach, she saw nothing and no one who could help. She looked to the other side where the housekeepers resided but it would take too long to get there and then back. Making a split decision, she sprinted for the dock. There were three boats moored there. She couldn’t sail the larger crafts by herself, but the relatively smaller motorboat she could manage. Plus, it had speed.
She released the rope and pushed it away from the dock. As it moved off, she hopped aboard and headed for the controls. It seemed simple enough as she pushed the starter on. It might be larger than anything she’d ever driven before but she had no choice. She kept her eye on the spot where she thought the men had gone down and raced for it. Praying and hoping they’d resurface, so she’d know she headed to the right area.
Des kept going until she thought she reached the spot and searched around. Looking back at the shoreline, she doubted herself and what she’d seen. It all seemed so incredible. Why? Why would Zek come all the way out here? They’d just found each other. They were supposed to be together. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she immediately brushed them away and shook her head. No! He couldn’t be dead. She wouldn’t accept that and screamed his name.
A sound had her spinning around and moving to the other side of the boat. She saw not the three men she expected but Zek, a stranger who seemed familiar and looked remarkably like Zek and—Cori…swimming toward the boat.
Before she could say anything, Zek paused and appeared to just shoot right out of the water, landing on the boat deck in front of her. A naked Zek. “What the fuck?”
She took a step back and then both Cori and the stranger did the same thing, Landing smack on the deck. Her mouth dropped open at the sight of her friend and at last, she recognized the man with her, Xavior. She looked at Zek and Xav, recognizing the resemblance. For the first time in her life, darkness invaded her waking mind and her body crumpled. Muscular arms enfolded her and then nothing.
Voices. The sound of people talking had her mind returning to her. Her head rested on something hard and a hand caressed her hair. She inhaled. Zek. She rested on Zek. Already, she knew the feel of him, his scent. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
Cori held her hand and sat on the floor near her.
Des’ gaze moved behind Cori to glance at Xav who sat in the chair across from them.
“Good, you’re awake,” Cori exclaimed, giving her hand a squeeze. “You okay?”
She pushed away from Zek and sat up but he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she nestled at his side. Pleased to see he had some clothes on. “Yes. I think so. What—what happened? How—how did you get here?” She let go of Cori’s hand.
Cori sighed and glanced up at Zek. “Zek told us he tried to explain about the Children of the Waves to you.”
This time, she pulled out of Zek’s embrace and moved slightly away from him, so they no longer touched. She could see now that they’d returned to the house and sat in the main room.
Zek kept his arm along the back of the couch. Still within easy touching range.
Slowly, she shook her head. “He told me some fanciful story about being the son of a mythical sea god. But what does that have to do with anything?”
Cori smiled and glanced back at Xavior before turning to her again. “Yes, he is. So is Xavior. It’s all true.”
Des moved her head from side to side. “Cori, hon, what happened to you?” She glared across the room at Xavior who hadn’t said a word, just stared at her, then she glared at Zek but her words were directed at Cori, “Did they do something to you, hon? Drug you, give you anything?”
Her friend smiled. “Nope. It’s all true.”
Des stood up and backed away from all of them. “I don’t know what the hell is going on here but whatever it is—Cori, come with me. Let’s get out of here.” She’d taken a hold of Cori’s hand and tried to tug her along.
“She’s not going anywhere.” At last, Xavior spoke. It seemed like one minute he sat in the chair, the next he’d gotten up and yanked Cori out of her grasp.
“Des, sweetie, everything is going to be fine. Xavior has asked me to marry him and I’ve said yes.”
“I know and I think it’s insane.”
Cori turned and gazed at the man as though in a trance or on something.
This is all wrong. Des took a deep breath and kept backing toward the French doors. She glanced over her shoulder. The boat must still be at the dock. Maybe if she were quick enough, she could get to it and get the hell outta there. Go and get help. No, she’d never out run them. Think…she needed time. Something was seriously off with these people. They even had Cori on some kind of drugs. What had these men done to them? She’d begun to—no. Thoughts of Ezekiel and the feelings developing for him had no place here. She couldn’t let herself dwell on her emotions, when she feared he’d drown.
Zek got off the couch and approached her. “Come agapetos, sit down let me explain. Let Cori tell you everything.”
She didn’t want Zek touching her or trying to convince her of any of this bullshit. She couldn’t trust herself with him. But she had to play it smart. “Please, I—I need a minute. Let me just—let me just get a little air.”
Cori stared at her. “I prom
ise it will all be all right.”
She nodded. “Okay. I’ll be right back.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Cori asked, concern laced her tone.
Des almost said hell yes, but thought she’d have a better chance of getting away from this crazy island, if she were on her own. She’d come back with the authorities. She shook her head, then spun on her heels and headed outside. She tried not to sprint across the sand. Instead, she took her time in case anyone paid attention to her. Holding her arms around her waist, she walked with her head down. Trying to appear deep in thought, she headed in the direction of the boat she saw returned to the dock. Once she got far enough from the house so no one could stop her, she raced for it.
Acting quickly, she untied the boat and had it out on the water, away from shore, before she glanced back. Her heart raced when she spied the three of them, standing near the water watching her. She didn’t care. Breathing a sigh of relief, confident they’d not be able to easily catch her in the fastest boat there. Turning away from them, she gunned the engine and headed away from the tiny island. Only then, did she realize the moisture on her face didn’t come from the sea. Tears fell from her eyes the farther she took the boat away from Zek, and the harder she cried.
A thump behind her had her swinging around and she screamed.
Chapter Ten
“Well, aren’t you going to do something?” Cori asked her mate.
Xav merely stared at Zek.
He grinned at them both.
Cori waved her hand in the direction of the beach. “You can’t let her go into the water. Who the hell knows if any of those…things are still around. What the hell are they?”
This time, the smile left both his and his brother’s faces. “I don’t know. Xav, your trident had no dominion over them,” Zek prompted.
“No, they didn’t respond to my powers. Which tells me this is the white witch’s doing. She’s conjured true demons this time from the belly of Hades.”
“So, you said, are you sure?” Zek asked.
“It’s the only explanation.”
“Fuck. I’ll be right back. And then we need to talk.” Zek didn’t wait for his brother’s reply; he merely raced for the water and jumped in. Swimming full out to his heart, even though she tried to evade him. He would not let her get away from him. No running from their destiny. No turning back. Des belonged to him. By now, the sun fully crested the horizon and he could see the figure piloting the boat quite well. Gods, he loved her. And he was not letting her go. He’d just have to prove to her once and for all the truth behind everything he’d told her. All of it, including the fact they truly belonged together. Lightning crackled overhead mimicking the power of his emotions.
He easily caught up to the boat and jumped on it. When Des turned around and screamed, he realized he’d truly scared her.
She still did not believe. “How—how did you do that?”
“I told you. I am a son of Poseidon. Water is to me as the earth is to you.”
She turned around to fully face him but her hands behind her still gripped the wheel. “That’s impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible for a Child of the Waves. Come. Let me prove this to you once and for all.” Before she could protest, he took a couple of strides forward and shut the motor down on the boat. Then grabbing her around the waist, he carried them both over the side and into the depths. At first, she fought him but then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Be calm, beloved. You are safe with me. No danger lurked in the water at the moment. The dolphins nearby were calm. If more of those demon creatures appeared, they would give warning cries and he kept them near the boat. He sent his thoughts to her telepathically. They’d made love, which bound them, mated them. Whether she knew it or not, him spilling his seed in her made her his bride. Under the laws of his people, they were mated. Perhaps not under her own traditions and he understood now, why his brother wanted to go through with a human wedding. Zek watched her, so he knew when she heard him, because her eyes had been closed before but popped open wide to stare at him. He pulled away from her lips, and relaxed his hold on her a little.
The shock, perhaps, stopped her from fighting him. Or maybe his kiss. “What!”
She didn’t speak with her mouth yet he heard her clearly and he smiled. This is how the Children communicate in the water. We can’t obviously open our mouths to talk.
Are you reading my mind? How can I know your thoughts?
He smiled. You can’t read my private thoughts, nor can I read yours. Only sense your surface emotions. And I hear what you want me to. It’s like talking when you speak to someone in a crowded room. You focus your attention on them. When we are in the water, we focus our thoughts toward a particular person or persons, so they can hear us ‘speak’ if you will.
But this is all crazy. Impossible.
And yet. Here we are.
But I’m not—not like you. How can I speak with my thoughts like this? How is it I’m even down here so long and I don’t even feel the need for air? What have you done to me?
I’ve made you mine. Our joining is how we can communicate. It established a bond between us. As long as you’re touching me or we’re in touching distance of each other, you can remain underwater for as long as I do.
You know this is crazy right? Did you all give me the same funny juice you gave Cori?
He shook his head. No. No funny juice. I promise.
She glanced around at their surroundings. They were only about fifteen feet from the surface and not much to see. The creatures had scared any fish in the area away. They were slow returning but the dolphins kept patrolling the area and would warn them in time if any more appeared.
Nonetheless, Zek didn’t want to stay out longer than necessary.
When we took that dive earlier, I held your hand. Did you do something then? I know you did, I was able to stay down longer than I normally would have been able to.
Yes. I did.
Can we do that again some time?
We can do that anytime you wish. So, does this mean you believe me now?
Des looked around, then up at the surface and back at him.
When she grimaced, he couldn’t help but smile at her.
Do I really have a choice? She crossed her arms around his neck.
He drew her flush against him. Placing his mouth on hers, he flexed his powerful legs and took them to the top. They weren’t far from the boat. They swam to it and drove it back to the dock.
Des waved at Cori who waited there for them, holding Xav’s hand. “Your brother he’s a merm—a son of Poseidon, too?”
“Yes. He’s also king of our people.”
She swung around to stare at him in shock. “King!” She turned back to gape at her friend. “Does Cori know this?”
“Yes, she knows.”
“And she still agreed to marry him?”
“She loves him and he her.”
Des stopped asking questions since they’d arrived at the dock and he maneuvered the boat into its space. She tossed Xav the rope and he tied it off. Zek helped her onto the dock and jumped on after her.
Cori launched herself at Des and wrapped her arms around Des’ neck. “Silly girl. What did you think you were doing?”
She returned her hug. “I don’t know—I’m fine.” She glanced back at Zek. “Zek explained everything.”
“So, you believe us now?”
“After being kept underwater for the last, I don’t know—twenty minutes, and having a conversation where no words were actually spoken, ah yeah…I’d say, I believe.”
Xav laughed and patted him on the back. “Knew you could pull this off. Congratulations.”
“What do you mean congratulations? Shouldn’t he be congratulating us?” Cori asked.
“Yes,” Xav said, “but he and Des are also to be congratulated.”
“What are you talking about?” Des asked.
Xav glanced back and forth
between his brother and Des, then looked at his mate. “They’re mated. She’s his bride.”
“What!” both Cori and Des screeched at the same time.
“We’re not married,” Des cried.
Cori wrapped her arm around Des’ waist. “Come on, let’s get back to the house and change. Then, we’ll all sit down and have a little chat.” She glanced back over her shoulder and frowned at Zek, who only shrugged his shoulders at her.
Des didn’t protest though when Cori led her to the pathway, taking them right to the front room.
“We have plenty of time to sort this all out,” Cori stated.
“Oh, my God,” Des exclaimed. “I can’t believe you’re getting married though. How did this happen?”
Before Cori could respond, Aaron stood on the other side of the door and pushed it open, so they could go in. “I see you’re back with us safe and sound,” he said and moved out of the way.
“Yes. I’m fine. Ah—are you—is he…?” Des hesitated.
“Yep,” Zek said, coming up behind her and placing his hand possessively on her shoulder. “He is.”
Cyrus just then, came out of a hallway to the right of them.
“So’s he, half anyway,” Zek said.
“Oh, ah—okay. Ah, I’d like to wash up and change.”
Zek really looked at her and realized she only wore her sundress and no bra. Her nipples and breasts were clearly outlined against the wet material. He moved his hand to grasp her arm and escorted her out of the room. “We’ll be back in a bit.”
Chapter Eleven
Zek took her to her room but before he could enter, she turned to him and placed her palms on his chest. A very solid, very warm hard chest. His heat seeped into her palms, the vibration of his heart as it beat against his chest, drummed with her own. “I need a minute, please. This—you, it’s all a lot. I’ll take a quick shower and change, then meet you back where we left the others.”
He gazed into her eyes and took her hand in his. Zek kissed her fingers, then with his free hand, he caressed the side of her face.
Sea Storm: Children of the Waves Page 7
