Chapter 15
Ariane had been right. Colin sensed another sea dragon nearby.
He and she were in the water, swimming toward the Rift. He was once again holding her against his underside with his tentacles embracing her. Her mouth was around the breathing bud, and it was all he could do to concentrate on swimming with her body pressed so tightly against his zrakon self.
The other creature must surely be Ariane's pet. As far as he knew, he and his brother Ross were the only sea dragons in this world, unless there were some in distant oceans.
The other sea dragon was swimming listlessly near the Barrier. Once again, Colin detected the scent of blood in the water. And something else, something sharp and rank. Infection? Fuck, the animal was not only injured, but his wounds must have suppurated.
"Yes!" Ariane's thought reverberated through his brain, and for the first time ever he resented it. She was overjoyed to find the fucking creature. Colin couldn't account for the ferocious fury that swept through him. He had never felt anything remotely similar in his human form. He couldn't think, couldn't form words in his head. He was plunged into a fever of aggression and rage.
He wanted to attack Rin. Rip him apart. The other zrakon had no fucking hold on her. Ariane belonged to him now.
Rin must have been confused and scared, because he was sluggish in sensing that they were nearby. And when at last he did, the sea dragon fled. His burst of speed was mighty and Colin shot forward after him.
"Oh no, he's frightened. It's because he senses you're stronger, and he'd be at a disadvantage in a fight. I'm having trouble linking with his mind. I think he's fevered. The only way we can do it is for me to go to him and bond with him. Then I can follow your lead."
She had told him in advance that this was what she was going to do, but he didn't have to like it. Plus, it seemed dangerous, especially if she was having trouble reaching Rin's mind. He didn't want to let her go, especially to the other sea dragon. Besides, it was deep here. The transfer would have to be made quickly, and then she and the other creature would have to surface slowly. If she could control him.
It's risky, he warned her.
"I can do it. I've been swimming with him for two years. I know about deep water and how to manage it. We'll be okay."
Maybe they'd be okay if the creature weren't injured. What if Rin couldn't give Ariane all the air she needed? What if he couldn't rise to the surface? Fuck. If that happened, he would grab her. Force her back to him. Carry her away if need be. He wasn't going to let her die because of her bond with this...this pet.
"Now," she cried as they came close enough. With great misgivings, Colin released the grasp of his pectoral tentacles so she could swim away from him. She moved like quicksilver. She could swim almost as well as a fish, he thought admiringly. She darted to Rin and the great creature shuddered. Colin panicked a little when he realized that the mental link between her and him had been severed. Even though she had told him that she could only manage a single link at a time, he felt desolate at her withdrawal.
When the other sea dragon seized her with a stronger movement than Colin would have thought possible, he felt once against that surge of hot jealous hatred. He had to fight to prevent himself from attacking the injured monster. It was irrational, he knew, but no one was allowed to touch Ariane except him. His entire brain seemed to have been pumped full of aggressive chemicals, and he couldn't stop envisioning how it would be to tear the other zrakon to pieces and spit out his entrails all over the ocean floor.
She was with him now. Her face pressed to his breast, his tentacles clutching her close. But nothing else happened. They weren't moving. Colin cursed, blowing out a vicious stream of water. Was Rin too injured to swim? Were they going to be able to surface? Could Ariane breathe? Rin couldn't have taken a breath himself for far too long. Was there any air left?
She had assured him that sea dragons had reserves of air, and he knew that he could sometimes go a lot farther on a single breath than he would have thought, but damn. He hadn't spent anywhere near enough time in this form. And he didn't know enough about his own sea dragon physiology. Ross would probably know, being a vet and all.
The creature dived, which seemed like madness to Colin, since the human body wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure of a deep dive. He arched his body and followed. The idiot was going to kill her. He couldn't permit that.
He was about to give up and grab Ariane back...humans did not have reserve bladders of air, that much he knew for sure, and it had been long enough, when he saw them slowly start to rise toward the surface. The movement seemed controlled, not frantic. But there was still blood in the water from Rin's wounds.
Ten minutes later, to Colin's immense relief, they were swimming near the surface and Rin was following slowly in Colin's wake. When he dived to seek the entrance to the underground channel that led to the cavern, Rin was slow to follow, and Collin, impatient, was tempted to say fuck this we're close enough and snatch his woman back.
But the other sea dragon did follow, finally. After what seemed like forever, they all emerged in the cavern pool. Colin shifted as soon as he saw Ariane surface. He swam to her and grabbed her much more roughly than he probably ought to have done. But to his relief, she was smiling,
"Thank you, thank you!" she cried, hugging him. Her body against his instantly sent him soaring into a high state of arousal, but she didn't seem to notice. "He's hurt, but I think, I hope, that with rest and care he will recover. But it was hard at first. I didn't think I would be able to reach him. He was so dispirited. He had resigned himself to dying alone in an unknown world." She clung to his neck, rubbing her head against him like a cat. "Thank you!"
"Um, sure. Glad to help," he said, feeling a little ashamed of himself for his bloody thoughts about killing Rin.