Two of the university divers, who were going with Emily and Adam, moved closer to them. The dragon doctor spoke again. “Right, then let’s go. The weather should be good for now, but I don’t want to be out here longer than necessary.”
Dr. Richardson’s team went first, and once in the water, they clipped onto and followed the guideline to the left. Cooper and Zoe’s dragon forms escorted them.
Then, once Emily, Adam, and the two researchers were also in the water, they clipped on and headed down toward the right, with Cam and Dean’s dragons as escorts.
Emily touched the area where she’d concealed the rock from Mary and glanced over at Cam. Visibility was good, so she could make him out not too far away. It was hard to focus on anything but the giant dragons until she remembered that a lot of dragon-shifters were relying on her. She could swim with Cam later, and maybe even ask to ride his belly as he floated on his back. But for now, she zeroed in on her surroundings.
Soon they reached the first area, and Emily collected the kelp and seaweed she needed, noting that she would need to come back to merely take her time and enjoy the fish and other sea life. It was different from the Caribbean, but no less fascinating.
Just as she was collecting the last sample before heading back for their check-in with the other team, the water became murky and a bit rough. She turned around to see a human behind a dragon, holding something just behind its ear.
The dragon was Cam.
Emily pressed her distress signal and swam toward them. As Cam stilled, her heart froze.
Please let him be okay. Please.
Dean’s dragon form grabbed the human—one of the researchers—and hauled him upward. Cam tried to swim, but struggled to move and began sinking.
No, no, no.
She moved, unsure of what she could do but unable to watch him die.
After barely swimming a few feet, a red dragon darted past her and soon reached Cam.
It was Dr. Adam Keith, who’d shifted underwater.
Emily felt helpless as she watched the dragon doctor struggle to guide Cam to the surface. Soon Dean returned, and they all ascended together. Because of the murky water, they quickly vanished from her sight, and she couldn’t see anything.
Please let him be okay. Please.
Doing her best not to cry or panic, Emily kicked her feet and swam as quickly as she could to the surface, grateful they hadn’t gone too deep and she didn’t have to pace herself.
When her head finally broke above the water, she looked around, but Cam was still in his dragon form, his limp body being dragged to shore by Adam and Dean.
She hated how still Cam was.
But she pushed past the fear gripping her heart and took a few steadying breaths. He’d probably been given some sort of poison or sedative, which meant her dragonman might need her knowledge and skills. Emily’s tears and emotions would have to wait.
She swam toward the boat, and once she’d finally climbed aboard, she met Dr. Richardson’s eyes. Before she could utter a word, he held up his hands. “I had no idea, I promise. Geoff has been with us for years and has worked with Lochguard many times in the past without any problems.”
Before she could ask more questions, another boat pulled up alongside them. A human female she’d met on Stonefire briefly, Trina Lau, shouted, “Come on, Dr. Davies. I’ll take you to Cam.”
Shedding as much of her gear as she could, Emily took the woman’s offered hand and climbed onto the other boat. Once they were off, she blurted, “What do you know?”
Trina’s lips pressed into a line, which wasn’t a good sign. “We’re still looking into the human’s claim, although he said his boyfriend was kidnapped and if he didn’t do as they said, the hunters would kill him.”
Dread pooled in her belly. “The dragon hunters. They only did this because they were after me.”
“It’s too early to tell yet. But his orders were to take out your dragon mate for this dive.” Trina glanced at her for a second before focusing on the water again. “Have you mated Cam already?”
“No. Although, he means a lot to me. And if he dies…”
Her voice cracked before a sob escaped.
If Cam died because of her, she’d never survive it. Not just because of the guilt, but she cared for him. No, she loved him.
Yes, she loved him. She hadn’t stood a chance against his determination to win her over. And now, it might be too late…
