“We sleep on different schedules to most of Overworld,” Xander said when Callie asked where all the civilians were. “Right now, it’s very early morning here. The guard shift just changed, which is why they’re moving about.”
By the time we exited Spectra—it was a mile or so long, filled with hundreds of pods—my body was thrumming with the need to go fast. Xander must have felt the same way, because he said, “I’ve called for my cousin and sister to help us get to the overlord village. We don’t have time to waste.”
“That’s the waters where Ava was born?” Maya asked.
“Yes,” he said immediately. “There’s a direct current there from the mountains of Darken, from the sacred legreto. If anything will reveal the map, it’s this location.”
With my advanced underwater eyesight, I saw Xander’s family coming from a long way away. There were three of them, and the moment they came into sight, his entire demeanor changed. Anger filled his expression; his fists clenched tightly. I jerked my hand back because he was pulling on my scar tissue. That movement seemed to remind him of where he was.Sorry, he mouthed to me, and I nodded, because it was fine. It hadn’t really hurt.
The first one to reach us was his sister. I guessed that based only on the fact that she was the only chick. She was beautiful, like her brother. Same blond hair, only hers was in a braid to her waist, the strands shimmering with rainbow hues. Her top half was lithe, clad in a tight white wrap around her breasts. Her bottom half was the tail, water bubbling around it, hiding most detail from view.
She greeted her brother with a defeated expression, bowing her head low. He reached out and captured her chin, and in the same instant she had a bubble around her head as well, connecting her to our group.
“You never bow to me,” Xander said quietly. There was a pause then. “Why is he here, Dawn?”
I flinched as he said her name, a mixture of love and pain coating each syllable. She shrugged, pulling her face from his hand. “You know I have no choice.”
Xander shook his head. “You’re wrong. You always have a choice, and I will support you making the right decision.”
It was that moment Dawn seemed to realize that we could all hear their private conversation, and she straightened, her movements so graceful in the water that it was easy to forget she was actually swimming. “My apologies, you must all be ready to return to dry land … my parents have our pod ready for you … the legreto has been removed. We can be there in no time. If you are agreeable, my mate, Donovan, and cousin, Burton, will help you move faster.”
She pointed to each of the men who were hovering a few feet away. Xander greeted Burton with a nod, but it was clear he was pointedly ignoring the heavily-muscled mate of his sister. Donovan had strong features and flashing eyes, the sort of eyes that could give a girl nightmares if they were directed at her. The eyes of a predator. His dark hair was cropped close to his skull, his arms decorated in tatted art, as well as two armbands around each impressive bicep. He looked strong … arrogant … very sure of himself. He watched Dawn like she was a possession.
I didn’t like it.
He looked at her the same way my old roommate had looked at me.
My skin crawled at the thought of him touching me, but I didn’t want to cause a fuss. Hopefully I was a fast enough swimmer to not need help.
Donovan flicked his tail, heading for Dawn, only to veer off at the last second toward me. His mouth opened and bubbles emerged—he was saying something. Xander had not connected him to our channels though, so I couldn’t hear anything.
My self-protective instincts roared to life as he got even closer, my hands lifting to a defensive position by the time he reached me. Xander cut him off with one arm thrust between us.
“No!” It was a snap of command from the overlord that had Donovan’s very dark eyes flashing.
He said something again, bubbles flying around the water, and Xander, who was wedging his way between us, driving Donovan back, said with a growl, “Avalon is mine. You’re not even supposed to be here. We don’t need your kind of help.”
Donovan’s calm expression faltered for a moment, the monster inside peeking out. I really wished we weren’t getting the one-sided conversation. I wanted to know what he was saying to rile Xander up so much. “You’re no hero to me,” Xander said shortly, before he turned his back. “My family owes you nothing more. You will do well to remember that.”
“Leave it,” Dawn cried, and when I turned to her, my jaw clenched. She looked … broken, like she just couldn’t give anything more. “We made the deal. Now we must honor it.”
Xander squeezed his eyes shut tightly for a moment. “I have been honoring it,” he said hoarsely. “I’ve done nothing but honor it, which is why he’s still alive. But … I have my hard limits, Dawn. You’re one of those. I won’t let him hurt you any longer.”
She crumbled, and I could hear her soft sobs. “If it stops the beast,” she whispered, head still down, “then I can endure it. For our people.”
Xander let out a roar so guttural that both fear and concern hit me simultaneously. Donovan crossed his arms, leaning back casually. Xander pointed a finger at him. “Leave now, or I will risk the beast. Don’t believe me … fucking try it.”
Donovan just smiled, like he already knew he’d won. But he was close enough to me that I could see his eyes, and they held a new emotion, buried under his cockiness. Xander scared him.
He turned, mouthing something over his shoulder before he disappeared into the waters around us. “We need to hurry,” Dawn said when he was gone. “He’s giving me an hour to get back to our pod, so let’s get your friends home.”
Xander’s fists were opening and closing, over and over, and my craving to comfort him was strong. But … I was not his mate. He did not want that role filled by me, and I would have to respect his wishes on that.
Lexen moved closer, one of his hands gliding through the water to land on his best friend’s shoulder. They had some kind of silent communication—I heard nothing, but their eyes were definitely talking—and Xander calmed slightly. He turned then, capturing my gaze. I tried the same silent conversation …Are you okay?
He gritted his teeth, shaking his head once. I hated that I couldn’t ask him more without everyone else knowing. I’d just have to try again later. He got back to business quickly.
“Okay, let’s group up. One Royale to two non-caramina. Avalon should be able to keep up on her own.”
