Wet feet splashed against the damp sand as Zakariel ran up to me. I ground my teeth and turned my face down, avoiding his eyes. The last thing I wanted was for him to see me like this, lying pathetically on the ground because my body couldn't keep up with the tempestuous waters.
"Are you okay?" Zakariel asked. From my peripheral vision I saw him reach for me, then stop, as if he realized I wouldn't like it. "Can you get up?"
"I'm fine," I muttered, which was not entirely true. When I attempted to get on my feet, I stumbled and coughed.
Zakariel frowned. "You spent too long in freshwater. It made you sick."
"No," I argued. "I said I'm fine."
Despite the sneer on his face, Zakariel looked genuinely concerned. "I've seen it before so I know what it looks like. It's happened to my pops before. You don't have to lie."
As much as I wanted to insist I was all right, my head began to spin. I put my hand to my temple and groaned.
"Just... give me a second," I mumbled.
But then my body disobeyed me, lurching forward, and the last thing I saw before passing out was Zakariel's outstretched arms.
8
Zakariel
Stupid sexy Kamari.He just had to act like a big tough guy when he wasn't feeling well, didn't he?
Right before his lights went out, I managed to grab him so he didn't eat sand on the way down. He was a lot heavier than I thought. How much of this man's body was muscle?
I knew he probably didn't want me touching him, but my body acted on its own to catch him as he fell. Besides, what was I supposed to do? Just let him collapse face-first?
I eased him down away from the surf so it wouldn't make him worse. Thankfully the weather seemed less crazy here on the island. There was a clear spot above us, shining a ray of light down onto the beach and forest. If it weren't for the roaring waves and dark sky on the horizon, it might've felt like we were on vacation.
My eyes strayed towards Kamari's form before I stopped myself. As much as I wanted to check him out, it felt creepy when he was passed out. Instead I got up, shifted, and waded back into the water. Unlike him and other naturally aquatic shifter species, the flux in water quality didn't affect me. Water off a wolf's back, you could say.
I used this advantage to do some fishing since Kamari would be hungry when he woke up. Hopefully he felt well enough to eat. I'd be more worried if he didn't.
The fish, unfortunately, were also affected by the water fluctuating. They were bewildered, making it easier for me to catch them. I felt bad about it, but hey, we had to eat. I thanked them silently for their sacrifice while I carried them to shore in my jaws.
When I'd finished collecting my haul, I shook out my pelt and shifted back to human form. I raised my face to the clear spot in the sky.
Granddad, what the hell's going on? Where are you?
A soft groan made my heart leap. I instantly went to Kamari's side. He was rousing now.
"What happened?" Kamari mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"You were unconscious for half an hour," I told him.
Kamari's eyes flew open. He sat up halfway and shot me a nasty glare. "Is that right?"
"Whoa, boss, relax," I said, putting up my palms.
"You expect me to relax when I've been alone with an alpha for thirty minutes while passed out?"
Kamari bristled. He looked ready to kick my ass. My first instinct was to get mad. What the hell was he accusing me for? But then I tried to think about it from his perspective. On top of being sick, he was confused and disoriented. I also remembered my argument with Dad and the hurtful things I'd said. That tempered my anger pretty fast.
"I didn't do anything to you, Kamari," I said, slow and serious. "I'm not like that."
Kamari narrowed his eyes into dark slits, but his shoulders relaxed.
"And also," I said, pointing to the pile of fish behind him, "I was busy grabbing you something to eat."
