She clearly thought I’d been holding out on her.
I put my free arm around her and gave a squeeze. I was apparently neglecting everyone since they were all trying to book in some talk time. Things had just been so crazy busy lately.
“I’m not sure I’m okay with you two discussing girl things, or whatever you women do,” Samuel said, looking uncomfortable.
I snickered. “I’m not sure I care what you’re okay with. And, trust me, I have zero interest in Lucy discussing your weather, its size, shape or ability to rain, storm or hail.”
Lucy cracked up laughing then, doubling over as she almost fell down. It only took a few seconds for me to follow. We had to hold each other up as we laughed. Eventually, we composed ourselves. Although, every time I saw Samuel’s face and his current shade of red, I wanted to laugh again. Brace’s lips were curved into the smallest of smiles, but he didn’t comment. Instead he reached out to re-capture my hand. Lucy’s eyes followed the movement, but for once she didn’t make a suggestive comment. Instead she turned to Samuel.
“Sorry, baby, you’re just an easy target. You should relax a little.” She moved closer into his side.
“I assure you, Lucy. I’m a thunderstorm where you’re concerned. Huge ...” His eyes twinkled. “And I can bring any weather you’ll ever need, want and desire.”
She patted his arm. “Oh, I know, Sammy. I more than know.”
I shook my head a few times trying to dislodge the mental images our metaphors were bringing.
“It’s a real shame that there’re some things you just cannot un-hear,” I said with a frown.
“Yes, I wouldn’t mind some brain bleach.” Brace squeezed my hand.
“Here you all are.” Talina walked into view, followed closely by Lucas.
And as the blond Emperor-to-be smiled at me, I was hit again by the connection between us. If Brace was my destined mate, then what the hell was this tie between me and Lucas? It seemed to intensify the more we were around each other and, although he kept his distance, he continued to stare in a way that told me he was just biding his time.
The moment Lucas walked closer, Brace’s smile faltered and his relaxed features hardened. He already had my hand, but he continued to tug me closer. I was sure that was his way of establishing ownership. But I was not a piece of property. I freed my hand before gathering a small portion of self-respect and moving out between the two of them. I wasn’t going to be the rope in their tug-of-war.
“I have arranged some cucreamer for you to eat before we journey to Silver City. Mother has agreed to let us have our own pontoon,” Talina said, looking relaxed and more confident.
“I’ll bet she was glad to get rid of us for a few days,” I said, returning some of her enthusiasm.
She smiled and nodded. “Yes, most definitely. But I do feel we are the winners in this escaping situation.”
I was suddenly unable to contain my excitement at seeing a city under the ocean. Like what the hell? When would anyone expect that to happen in their life? And if I didn’t think about how much water would be above us, my claustrophobia would stay uninvited, something to worry about only if a crack suddenly appeared above our heads.
Chapter 6
After breakfast, Talina and Raror ferried us through the cool water to a smaller flat-bottomed pontoon. I tried not to think of the possible monsters lurking below. Thankfully it didn’t take long to reach the side. Behind us the rest of the Earon convoy continued without pause, forming a long line of tethered boats sailing off toward the horizon.
Using a rope ladder, I climbed up onto the top deck of the two-level vessel. Almost immediately the heavy water exited from my white mesh wraps, leaving them light and damp.
“We will be at the tube entrance to Silver City in about four hours. I found a few extra seahorses to ferry us,” Raror said.
He had just launched himself up out of the water and onto the top decking, without any need of a rope ladder.
I leaned over the side to examine the seahorses. There were four out in front, just visible beneath the crystal-clear water. They looked a little like a mix of dolphin and octopus, large gray creatures with at least eight legs. Their back four tentacles were attached to small ropes on the front underside of the pontoon. I continued to watch as we started to move.
“They are strong and amazingly smart. Cacaol is one of my oldest friends.” Talina was next to me; she pointed to the smallest one out on the left.
“Can you talk to them?” I asked, fascinated by their graceful play through the water.
She shook her head. “No, they have no vocal cords to speak, but that doesn’t mean we can’t communicate. They have a form of sign-language that is pretty easy to understand. And they comprehend most of our words.”