“I have to catch my breath but I think I’m okay.A few bumps and bruises no doubt.”She closed her eyes and laid her head on his rock-solid chest, overwhelmed now the task was over.“I got two eggs.We’ll have to check and make sure they aren’t broken.”She could still hear the birds calling and bugling challenges behind them.“Good thing the flock didn’t attack us.”
“One or two did while you were disoriented from your fall but I flicked them away with my tail,” he said calmly.“It’s a powerful weapon.”
“I’m sure.I can walk now, I think.”Much as she enjoyed being in his arms, it was an awkward situation.They weren’t a couple, they weren’t even dating and the intimacy of Hagan carrying her as if she was the breakable object was embarrassing.
“Let me get you to the comfort of the car.”
True to his word, he activated the groundcar passenger side door and set her on the edge of the seat.
Immediately Amellia checked the two eggs, relieved to find them in pristine condition.“We should make a container for them, rather than keep them in my pocket, since we have two more errands to go.”
He rummaged in the cargo carrier while she sat and worked on regulating her breathing and her racing pulse.Eventually he brought her a small box and hovered close by while she transferred the eggs and the makeshift packing materials to the container.
“I’ll put it in the back,” he said, taking the box from her after she closed the lid.“I have to tell you looking at plain birds’ eggs and reflecting they’re supposed to help us break a curse isn’t exactly confidence inducing.I blame myself for allowing you to risk your life getting them.”
She waited to respond while he walked around the groundcar and slid into his own seat, initiating the drive mechanism.“Remember we’re both supposed to die at dawn, according to the curse, so taking a risk here and there is the only thing we can do.And Cheline explained the symbolic nature of the egg and the other things we’re to bring her.Didn’t what she said all make sense?”
“In her chamber of sorcery, surrounded by the incense and the glowing gems and in her presence?”He raised one eyebrow and grinned.“Yes.Indubitably.Out here in the forest in the night, with a box of ordinary eggs, not so much.”
Amellia wanted to rest her head on the cushions and fall asleep but there was too much to do.At least her stomach had settled down in the cold night air.She fished out her handheld.“I’m going to research the pearl.Drive generally south for now.I think we might be going to one of the large lagoons.And the mawkhen is no ordinary bird, you know.They’re a creature in many folktales on this planet.”
“For good or for evil?”he asked with every evidence of genuine interest.
“Kind of neutral, I think.The birds can serve both sides but there are a few legends where people rode giant mawkhens into battle.”
“Good thing we didn’t face any such creatures tonight.Did you find the lagoon?”
“Yes.I think our best bet would be the Carlbidian Lagoon—it’s the largest and according to this reference site, is known to have a sizable population of the satin sea clams.”
The groundcar accelerated as Hagan programmed in the definite destination.
“We’ll have to swim out to the sand bar,” she said.
“I.Iwill swim.Youare not swimming.”His tone was flat and final.“You’ve risked enough.It’s my turn and swimming and diving are strong skills for my people.”Leaning back from the console now the autopilot was engaged, he said, “Show me a holo of these clams?”
Amellia triggered the proper link and a large whorled shell floated in the air between them.“Says here the bivalve muscle is incredibly strong and hard to open while the creature is alive.Wow, the muscle material can stretch to 200 times its normal length and remain five times stronger than a major human tendon.The shells cling to their rocky homes with a web of filaments which also filter the water for nutrients.”
Hagan held out one hand and dramatically unsheathed his claws with an audible snap.“I will place my faith in these.My people were born to be efficient and lethal.”
“I can see that.”Amellia blinked.
“Is there more information to be gleaned?We’re nearly there.”
“Nothing good.Apparently the pearls are pretty rare, occurring in only about one in a hundred clams.”
Frowning, Hagan flexed his hands and took control of the groundcar again.“I have no desire to kill needlessly, not even sea creatures.Is there a way to tell which ones might contain a pearl?”
Amellia checked the site again and shook her head.“No.”
“We’ll see.”He sounded confident.“It may be my senses, being different from yours, can detect a difference, no matter how tiny.A creature gestating a pearl has to be distinct from its peers.”
“When you explain the logic the idea makes sense.”
ChapterFour
Standing on the beach a few minutes later, holding her coat against the stiff breeze off the water, doubts assailed her again.This had better be worth it,she thought savagely in Aunt Cheline’s direction.Hagan strode out from behind the groundcar, completely naked except for a tiny pair of black briefs.She ought to politely avert her eyes but he was a riveting sight, well over six feet of sculpted muscle, scales gleaming in the moonlight, tail curled in the air over his head.His sharply defined hipbones drew her eyes to the bulge behind the inadequate trunks and there was an answering pulse of heat at her core.
He cleared his throat and she raised her eyes to his face.Gesturing at his unclothed body, he said, “I need to be unencumbered in the water.”
