Trusting the water.
And then, my trust paid off.
Out of nowhere, a powerful force grabbed me. My head breached the surface a second later. I gasped and sucked fresh air into my sore lungs until I could breathe normally again.
“Muzo.”
The deep, gravelly voice sounded like a plea.
Cobalt’s arms wrapped around my small canine body, pressing me against his wide, muscular chest. He held me with such gentle vehemence. It seemed like he’d never let me go.
“I’ve got you,” Cobalt said, soft yet firm. A promise meant only for my ears. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. I think so,” I said breathily.
Cobalt let out a long, relieved exhale through his nose. “Good.”
Still carrying me in his arms, he trudged towards the shore. For such a big man, his strides met little resistance. He cut through the water like a knife in butter.
When Cobalt reached the sand, Poppy rushed towards us. He’d reverted to human form and was wrapped up in a towel like the rest of the contestants. Gaius must’ve cut the challenge short when I nearly drowned and summoned the other omegas back to the beach.
“Muzo!” Poppy cried. “Oh, gods, I’m sorry, I should’ve stayed with you. I just looked back and suddenly you disappeared, and...” He put his hand over his mouth as he got choked up.
My heart squeezed in sympathy. I hated knowing I’d upset Poppy, even by accident.
“Hey, Poppy, it’s okay,” I said. “Look, I’m fine! Cobalt saved me.”
Poppy sniffled, gazing up at Cobalt with liquid brown eyes. “Thank you so much. I-I don’t know what would’ve happened if you didn’t intervene...”
“I will always protect Muzo,” Cobalt promised. Since I was pressed to his chest, I felt the thick vibration of his voice as he spoke.
I noticed the adrenaline had already dissipated from my system. Now I only felt calm and safe. I could’ve cuddled into Cobalt’s chest forever.
“Come,” Cobalt said. “I’ll take you to the medic.”
“No, no, I’m fine, I swear,” I protested. Then I shifted into human form and said, “Look, I’ve got all ten fingers and ten toes.”
In the middle of all the hectic events, I’d forgotten that shifting made me naked.
Gaius sighed as he jogged closer to us. “Gonna have to censor that in post-production... Here, Muzo, take a towel.” He grabbed one from a nearby crew member and tossed it at me.
Before I could catch it, Cobalt snatched it in mid-air, then draped it over my body like a baby blanket. A tiny smile formed in the corner of his mouth.
That sly dragon. Did helikethat I was naked in his arms for the second day in a row?
Gaius resumed his hosting role. “Wow, talk about eventful! Rest assured that Muzo is safe after that incident.”
I gave the closest cameraman a thumbs up.
“Well, Cobalt?” Gaius asked, facing him. “Should we try the challenge again tomorrow, or—”
“No,” Cobalt stated. “I’ve already chosen a winner.”
His fingers curled tighter into my body in a subtly possessive gesture. It sent electric jolts skittering across my skin.
As the silence lingered, my heart beat wildly in anxious anticipation. I’d missed half of the challenge and ended up half-drowned. There was no way Cobalt would announcemeas the winner, would he?
Cobalt took a deep breath. I rose and fell with the great movement of his chest.
