Chapter 10

Ten

Nerves churned in his belly as he swam her away from the grove. He had never thought this would be possible, let alone that he would bring Alys back to his family.

But no part of him regretted asking her. The only thing he had to be nervous about was whether or not they would let her stay.

He thought they would. Maybe. His people were suspicious of hers, considering the attack that had just happened and the fact that they were going to be faced with more attacks soon. But maybe, just maybe, she could win them over.

Imber tried to prepare himself for the inevitable. Someone would try to hit her or scratch her. They would want to take their pound of flesh for what her people had done to his. Though they were likely owed that, he didn't want to see her harmed. She wasn't the one who had burned his pod mate. She wasn't the one who had designed this new city of theirs.

Perhaps he should hope that his sister found them first. Virago would be a much larger shield for his Alys while Imber tried to calm everyone down.

Come to find out, he didn't need to worry in the slightest.

The first moment they could see his home, the swirling patterns of stones marking the way to their nests, they were spotted. The undines rose from their nests, all of them swimming toward him in a wall of colorful creatures that likely terrified her with their movements. They rose out of the ocean and came for her, long claws outstretched and their dark eyes wide.

He tried to see them as she did. They were rather monstrous compared to her, although they were his family and friends. They looked like him. Alys tightened her tails around him, holding onto his shoulders and squeezing a little harder as she tried to straighten up.

He wanted to tell her to be brave. He wouldn't leave her side, even if they tried to tear her from him.

But he didn't have to worry about any of it. The moment the first of his people reached for her, she went without question. She untangled her tails from her, brushing her hair back away from her face, and reaching out for the giant female as well.

Aluo was one of the largest females in his pod, if not the largest. He still remembered watching her grow as they were children and being ridiculously intimidated by her size. She had ended up nearly double his size, and her broad shoulders with stacks upon stacks of muscles made her a formidable opponent. He'd seen many males die as she mated with them.

But Alys didn't even flinch. She touched her fingertips to Aluo's, a smile on her face as she looked at how large in comparison the hand was to hers. And then, with a surprising movement, she pressed Aluo's fingers against her forehead.

How did she know?

How did she so easily fit into his people without question and make a movement that was clearly meant with respect? He watched Aluo's expression change from one of suspicion to softness, and then they were swarmed by the People of Water.

So many of them dove all around him, darting through the currents as they tried to touch her. Some of them ran their claws through her hair, others touched gentle fingers to the bottom of her feet. So many people, all trying to catch a glimpse of the strange creature he had brought to them.

She did what she could to endure their curiosity. Imber could see she was getting nervous, though. Most of that had to do with when one of his people got too close to the short cord holding them together. If they ripped out his tentacle, she was too deep underwater to reach the surface before she would drown.

Flicking his tail, he moved closer, gripping her hand in his so she wouldn't float too far from his side.

"I've got you," he murmured, dragging her a little closer as yet another of his people caught hold of her foot. "I won't let anything happen."

"I know," she whispered, squeezing his fingers.

But her eyes were still a little wider than he'd like to see. Even though she put on a brave face, he knew this was overwhelming.

Finally, the crowd parted and his sister swam through it. Virago looked particularly exhausted today. Or maybe that was just the little one attached to her hip that was wriggling and reaching out for him with grabbing hands.

Soon, he would hold his niece again. But right now, he wanted them all to see that she wasn't a threat.

"Brother," Virago said, her voice pitched loud so that everyone could hear her. "You have brought one of the achromos to our home."

"I did."

"The dangers they have caused in our waters are reason enough to not bring her here. So please, explain to us all why you hold on to her like a mate."

His sister already knew the answer, but the others didn't. This was her way of telling him to weave a tale that would make them all relax. A tale that would convince them to let her stay.

So they all sank down toward the sands and the spiraling stones. He kept her in his arms, wrapping his tail around her so she was as tangled with him as he was with her. It was a sign that she was his mate, but also that he wouldn't let anyone else touch her.

Then he told them their story.

Every word warmed him to the core. He had chosen correctly. Alys had proven herself to be good and wise with every turn. Her adventurous spirit was a captivating part of the story, as was her bravery when she first faced him down. He left out the parts where they had explored each other's bodies, namely because he didn't know what to say about it.

She hid a treasure trove between her twin tails, one that tasted as sweet as the oysters that he harvested for his pod to eat. He'd never look at one the same again.

Even though his grip had loosened around her as he spoke—as he was less concerned with someone taking her from his arms—she had taken to stroking his tail. He knew there were many who watched her do so. They were pleased with how easily she showed him affection, and even more pleased that she wasn't disgusted with the touch.

They didn't know, of course, that she could understand every word he said. At least until he told them about the device she'd created and affixed to his ear.

"She can understand us?" Virago asked, her voice loud and booming, even though she already knew this detail of the story.

"Just as I can understand her."

Alys glanced between the two of them, clearly sensing the tension in the water. But then again, she didn't need to be a shark to be able to smell that. "If I may?"

He saw a few of the others wince at the sound of her clipped voice. "Quietly, little one. Your voice is..."

"Grating?" she replied, trying not to laugh.

Imber nodded. He didn't want to insult her or her people any more than she would endure living here with him. But he supposed... Well, the truth had to come out at some point. "It is very high pitched."

"Ah." She brought her words down to barely a whisper and then slowed them down even further. "I am the only one who can understand you. Please tell them that the devices I created were only so we could speak with each other. They were only a one time creation. The droid that made them, Beta, it's with my father. I don't think I could make them again, and my people certainly cannot."

He repeated the words to his sister, making sure that he said everything that she wanted his sister to know. And when he was finished, Virago gravely nodded.

He saw the expression on her face. It was one of sadness, and he already knew he wouldn't like what she was about to say.

"I think it would be best if we keep it that way." She even looked Alys in the eyes as she said it. "I am sorry that we will not be able to converse easily, new sister. But your people cannot have a way to know our language, and I refuse to put anyone else in danger because of it. The risk is too great."

Alys nodded before looking up at him. "I agree with her."

"Are you sure?" It broke his heart to think she would never truly be part of his people. She would be able to understand them fully, but, like a pet, they would never be able to understand her.

"It's technology I don't think my people should ever get their hands on," she confirmed. "Your sister is right."

So he repeated the words and then answered any questions his people might have.

How did they meet?

Where did she come from?

What were the small flippers on her tails? Why did they have notches in them?

They reached for her hands again, touching the long funnels between her fingers where there should be a membrane. And she let them. His little Alys answered every question without fail, even when she yawned and yanked the air out of him so quickly with the movement that he had to pound on his chest.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. This was the first time he'd had her in his world, and they were both exhausted. His people would have more time to ask them questions, but for now, "We're both tired," he interrupted the newest person asking her questions. "I think I should get her to bed."

"To bed?" his sister asked. "In your nest?"

He hadn't thought that far ahead. His nest was one of the many that didn't have any cover. It would be a miracle if either of them got any sleep with so many people staring at her. He wouldn't put it past the more curious younglings to sneak a touch while she was resting.

Rolling her eyes, Virago gestured behind her. "Take mine for the night, brother. Perhaps then you will have some semblance of rest."

"I couldn't. Your daughter—"

"Will be fine with me in your nest tonight." She grinned, sharp teeth flashing in the dim light. "Take your achromos to my nest, brother. Make sure she has good dreams there, yes?"

Alys would understand the words, although he wasn't sure she knew what his sister meant. Good dreams were only for those who had earned them. His sister had essentially told him to work hard to give her a restful night, which meant... his sister couldn't possibly be suggesting what he thought she was suggesting.

Embarrassment heated his cheeks, and he gathered Alys up in his arms before she could ask what his sister meant. He would not explain in front of everyone that his sister was highly inappropriate.

Drifting through the water, away from his people, to where they were finally going to be alone again, it eased something in his chest. Though he adored his people, he hadn't realized just how much he wanted to be alone with her.

They had always had their own time together. That kelp grove had been their haven, far away from anyone else that might look in on them. And he didn't want to lose that.

He'd liked it being just the two of them. Without that, what did they have? Just a lot of responsibility and weight on their shoulders. Too much stood between them, and being here reminded him of that.

"Imber?" Alys asked, her hands braced on his chest as he swam them toward the covered nest. He stopped in front of it, hesitating.

The inside smelled like his sister and his niece. There were little toys hanging from the covering above them and it was so... his sister. He couldn't sleep with her here. It wasn't right. It wasn't them.

"I think I know a better place," he said, bumping her forehead with his. "You trust me?"

"As long as a shark doesn't try to eat me in the middle of the night."

"There aren't that many sharks in the ocean."

"Says you." She leaned back in his arms as he swam them in the opposite direction. "Have you seen all the sharks in the ocean?"

He snorted. Somehow this woman made him laugh even when he was exhausted. "No."

"Then you don't know that there aren't that many. Maybe they're all waiting in the shadows for you to drop your guard." She crossed her arms over her chest, letting him carry her weight with so much trust it humbled him. "I think you have a lot to learn, Imber."

"About my own home?"

"About everything." A warm spark in her eye nearly set him on fire. "About me."

Ah, and there it was. The warm scent of her in the water that turned his entire body into pure muscle and anticipation. He wanted her. He could still taste her, even though he'd tried very hard to ignore that fact.

Now, as he swam them toward a coral grove with a winding labyrinth to get to the center, he had all the time in the world to explore her. "You aren't too tired?" he asked, making sure that he was taking care of her at the least. "We can still rest."

"I've been trying very hard to be polite to your family, but I haven't stopped thinking about you since the moment you touched me in the kelp forest." She looped her arms around his neck, drawing him down to press a lingering kiss to his gills. And oh, he fluttered.

He fluttered so hard that he could see the sand moving from how hard he shifted the water around them. He was creating a current all of his own because of how badly he wanted her.

But first, he really should tell her how they were different. Or at least, he assumed there were differences. After all, she looked nothing like the females of his species. She didn't have a single tail. There wasn't a small slot in the front like there would be for his females. And he didn't have to wrap his tail around her to hold her in place.

She'd stayed right where he wanted her. Almost as though the weight of him was welcome as he'd feasted upon her flesh. The experience with her had been entirely about pleasure and without an ounce of pain.

"I am..." He cleared his throat. "Not like your kind."

"I know," she replied with a gleam in her eyes. "And I'm looking forward to seeing how different you are, Imber."