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“What?” I hissed. “You have got to be kidding me!”
“And when this mission is over, you are off my fucking team, I don’t care what Palmer says. You can go and be someone else’s liability.”
I stared up at him in shock as he released me and stepped back. A second later, a solid wall of muscle shoved between us.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, boss, but shut the fuck up right now,” Theo barked.
Alastor’s ruby gaze moved from me to Theo.
“She nearly got herself fucking killed!”
"Enough!" Theo turned to me, his eyes softening, the amber of them catching the torchlight. “She’s been through enough. And she’s safe now.”
He stepped forward, and with more gentleness than Alastor, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to his chest. Emotional turmoil still raged within me, but in Theo’s arms, I felt it begin to calm, and for a moment, I closed my eyes andsank into the embrace, relaxing against the warm strength of his body. He buried his face into my wet hair and took a deep, shuddering breath.
“When you were dragged back under that water, moon above, Sariel, I couldn’t fucking breathe. I thought you were dead for sure.”
“I'm sorry,” I murmured, although I wasn't entirely sure what I was sorry for. His embrace tightened and I felt the warmth of his lips pressing against my hair.
“Don’t fucking do that to me again, ok? My heart can’t take it.”
I didn't move, my heart leaping in my chest at his words, as confusion marred my thoughts. Tears came to my eyes, and I blinked them away quickly. What was happening to me?
“I'll try not to,” I said. “But no promises. I’m a badass angel babe, remember?”
My attempt at humour had him huffing into my hair, the warmth of his breath sending a shiver down my spine.
“You might be, but I’m just a wolf, and I can’t… I can’t lose you Sariel. I just can’t.”
I closed my eyes and leaned against him. I didn’t know what to say so I just stood there in the arms of a wolf, praying Gabriel never found out about this forbidden touch, but unwilling to give it up just yet.
Chapter Sixteen
THEO
After the excruciating wade back to the first cave, it became clear that Alastor was no longer in any fit state to lead the group. He was silent, as always, but his stiff moments, and the look on his eyes told me the agony the salt water was now inflicting on his already stripped skin. His wetsuit had been torn to shreds during his shift, and neither mine nor Sariel’s would come close to fitting him. My heart ached for him at the thought of what he’d have to endure just to get back up to the surface, and we still had a long way to go.
As Sariel strapped her own equipment back on, I helped Alastor with his, gritting my teeth at his heavy breathing as I slidthe straps of his BCD over his raw shoulders and lifted on his tanks.
“Hey boss, I can handle the trip back up topside if you're good with that?” I murmured as I leaned in to check his mask. At least his face would be protected this time. Alastor's eyes flickered with gratitude as I finished securing his gear. Despite the pain etched on his face, he nodded, a silent understanding passing between us.
“Yeah, take over Theo. Get us back up to dry land.”
I nodded and turned to put on my own equipment.
Sariel moved over to where we were and reached out, gently laying her hand on Alastor’s arm.
“I can heal you-”
“No.” He pulled his arm away, turning around to pick up his weight belt.
She tried again. “Alastor, please. Let me-”
“No,” he broke in. “I know enough about healing to know it requires energy. We aren’t back yet, and you’ve been through enough. I won't have you wasting what you have left on me. All we need is to be dragging your dead weight up with us because you haven’t got enough in you to swim.”
She stepped back, her face falling, and my anger rose. I had a pretty good idea why he was being so harsh with her, but that didn't mean I agreed with it.
I was about to intervene when Alastor spoke again, his tone softening slightly. “I want you back on dry land, safe and healing yourself before you need to worry about me. I heal fast, and Carlisle can give me something for the pain.” He ran his finger down the arm of her wetsuit, where a jagged edge revealed a deep slash underneath.
