“Commander Ky’rn!”Ephi exclaimed, relief evident in her voice.“We’ve been searching for you! The destruction…it’s everywhere.”
Daixa, ever the stoic, got straight to the point.“You’re finally free. Let us escort you to Atlantis. Our people are waiting for your arrival.”
Their intentions were noble, and under any other circumstances, I would’ve accepted their aid, but Isla was out there, and she needed me.
“I appreciate your offer,”I replied, urgency lacing my voice.“But I cannot go to Atlantis now. There’s someone important I need to find, someone who’s in trouble because of me.”
Ephi and Daixa exchanged glances, sensing the urgency in my words.
Ephi’s brows furrowed in confusion.“Who do you need to find?”
But Daixa’s eyes narrowed, reading the desperation in mine.“You’re talking about the female human, aren’t you? The one you’ve bonded with.”
I nodded.“Yes. Her name is Isla,”I replied, worry bleeding into my voice.“I can feel her fear. Her anger. I can’t just abandon her, especially not now.”
Ephi hesitated for a moment then nodded resolutely.“We’ll help you find her.”
Daixa’s steely gaze met mine.“Then let us waste no more time. Lead the way, Commander.”
With newfound determination, the three of us set out into the vast ocean, racing against time to find the one person who meant more to me than anything.
The ocean stretched before us, but as we swam, the pull of the bond between Isla and me grew ever stronger. There was a tethered pull, an undeniable force guiding me toward her, drawing closer with each powerful stroke.
Suddenly, the taste of her blood—a unique flavor I’d never forget—permeated the water, a scent that made my primal hunter instincts flare to life. I could taste every drop of her essence mixed with the saltwater—a taste that made my heart ache and sent a bolt of panic through me.
I sped up, pushing my body to its limits, allowing instinct to guide me. Ephi and Daixa followed closely, their expressions grave. My energy began to wane, but the emotions coursing through me—concern, fear, determination—kept me moving at a relentless pace.
The sight that met me was one I’d never forget.
The shattered remnants of a vessel floated aimlessly, contrasting starkly against a massive ocean buoy. But amid the chaos, my eyes found her.
Isla, my cherished Isla, was there—floating just beneath the water’s surface, ethereal and serene. Her hand outstretched toward the sky, she seemed to be reaching for the stars, a silent plea to the Fates to save her.
Cradled by the gentle embrace of the sea, her frail form danced with the rhythm of the waves. She was adorned in a body-tight suit, the white fabric marred with crimson tales of her ordeal, whispering secrets into the water that called to the creatures lurking in the deep. Her body, a canvas of fresh bruises and gashes, spoke of her recent trials. Yet, it was the wound on her forehead, from which life’s essence freely flowed, painting a poignant picture of her struggle beneath the moonlit sky.
With a surge of adrenaline, I propelled myself through the churning water, gathering her fragile form into my arms. My muscular arms strained as I hauled her fragile figure to the surface, clutching her securely. As we broke the surface, her wet locks clung to her face while she coughed up salty seawater. The waves crashed against us, but I held her securely, sheltering her from the relentless ocean waves.
Tenderly, I combed back her hair, finding the mark I had given her and resting my fingers there to feel a weak, yet steady pulse—a frail thread to life.
“Isla,”I whispered, my voice hoarse with emotion.“I’ve got you. I’ll never let you go.”
Though weak, she managed a feeble smile, pressing closer into me. Her mental presence dimmed, but she was still very much alive, and I held onto that knowledge like a lifeline.
Scout Ephi swam closer, her eyes wide with concern.“Is she…?”
“She lives,”I confirmed, holding Isla tightly against me.“But she’s unconscious.”
Scout Daixa’s sharp warrior’s gaze studied the wreckage, assessing the situation.“There are three other bodies,”she noted with clinical detachment.“But it appears two died before the explosion.”
“And the third?”
Daixa approached a figure floating in the water, garbed in black and clinging desperately to a floating white ring. As she reached out and touched his shoulder, the male jerked awake, his eyes wide with panic and confusion.
Words spilled from him like a torrent, and his native language was a garbled mess to my ears. His gaze locked onto Isla cradled protectively in my arms, and a primal growl rumbled deep within me.
My fangs bared in warning. I instinctively turned Isla away to shield her from him, blocking her body from his reaching hands.
“What’s he saying?”I growled, my voice a low rumble of barely contained fury.
