Dolph dove beneath the boat to untangle the sabotaged propeller.
Orion’s heart twisted. Pride swelled. Fear knotted tighter.
His boys were growing up.
And he could see that both were going to be great, compassionate leaders one day.
Minutes earlier:
* * *
Dolph twisted when he felt a tug of awareness.
The sudden fog was so thick, he couldn’t see more than a few feet in any direction, and he knew the misty tendrils curling like ghostly fingers above the water were not natural—at least it hadn’t just rolled in on its own.
There was a signature pulse of presence—calm, commanding, and ancient.
And he knew.
Their Dad had discovered where they had gone.
Dolph groaned inwardly, half-embarrassed, half-relieved.
Of course he had come after them.
Of course he’d seen everything.
His dad had summoned the fog. A brilliant idea that Dolph wished he had thought of first.
He untangled the propeller and surfaced with a sigh, the water in the freed rope making it much easier to return it to where he’d found it than it had been to take it in the first place. He then headed toward the sea monster and his family. He couldn’t help wondering how much trouble they—especially he—were in.
A lot, probably.
He braced himself.
His father’s imposing figure emerged from the fog, his face etched with seriousness, causing Dolph to slow down, a knot forming in his stomach. A quirky, light-hearted remark was forming on his lips; he opened his mouth to speak, but a sudden constriction in his throat stopped him.
A shudder ran through him when powerful arms pulled him into a fierce, unrelenting hug.
“You are an absolute little sea monkey for this little adventure,” Orion muttered, voice hoarse with emotion.
Dolph blinked in shock. “You’re not… mad?”
“I’m furious,” Orion said, squeezing harder. “And proud. And terrified. Never do that again. The ancient portals aren’t very stable. You’re lucky you didn’t end up stuck in an eternal loop.”
Dolph sagged against him, breath catching. “We had to help her.”
“I know.” Orion let him go and ruffled his wet hair. “I saw.”
Chapter Sixteen
Zohar clung to Nessie’s back, studying the older man with long white-blonde hair as he pulled Dolph into a fierce embrace. He hadn’t been sure what to expect from the imposing man watching them when he first noticed him. Only Juno’s excited exclamation of joy and the fact the man looked so much like his two new friends eased his mind.
Orion’s eyes met his. Deep blue. Ancient. Knowing.
Zohar gave him a crooked, sheepish smile. “Hi. I’m Zohar. Dragon shifter. Alien—a good one. Sorry for the trouble.”
Orion stared at him for a long beat… then chuckled.
