“Sawyer and I will go up and speak to Cern,” Ciaran said. “He may be able to shed some light on what we can expect.”
“Aurin will be okay, though, right?” Dylan asked.
The worry in his eyes, the way he wrung his hands, turned Kellan’s gut sour. Hendrix pulled Dylan closer and murmured something in his ear before he kissed Dylan’s head, and Kellan was so grateful for him.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Kellan said gently. “They have us, and Cern, if needed. If Aurin needs anything, he’ll help, I’m sure of it.”
But then Tobin turned toward the door, eyes narrowed. “Shit,” he said. Then Kellan could hear it too.
A boat.
Tobin had always had an ear for hearing approaching boats, so it was no surprise, and Kellan rarely gave passing fishermen a second thought.
But it was different now.
“I’ll see what they want,” Fray said, giving Tobin’s thigh a quick pat. “Go, babe. Go do your thing.”
Tobin shot up and out the door, racing across to the water before the boat had any chance of seeing him, and he dived into the water.
Everyone was standing now, facing the sound of the approaching boat. “It’s probably just a refuel or a quick mechanical fix,” Fray said, walking with a casual pace across to the pier.
“What’s Tobin doing?” Hudson asked. “Is he doing his shield thing?”
“Yeah,” Ciaran replied. “Let’s just hope Salem doesn’t mind.”
TOBIN
Diving into the cove to protect Aurin and Salem had been an instinctual reaction, and his best intentions wouldn’t count for anything if he couldn’t find them. Kellan had said they were hiding down near the sea floor, and seeing Aurin’s golden shimmer should have been easy.
Had they moved?
Tobin skimmed along the bottom of the wall.Aurin! Salem! Where are you?
Just in front of him, a craggy part of the rock fell away and before Tobin could blink, it spun around and then a small black shark snapped at him, the sharp teeth missing him by a whisker.
Holy fuck!Tobin pulled back, his protective shield ballooning instantly—what little good it would have done against the shark’s teeth—but then Tobin recognised the yellow eyes at the same time that he saw a flicker of gold behind the shark.
Salem, it’s me, Tobin said.Christ, you scared the life out of me.
The shark rippled back into Salem’s cephamorph form.Sorry, I...
It’s fine,Tobin said.Aurin, how you holding up?
His timid eyes peered out from behind Salem.I’m okay, he said, but then golden arms wound around Salem, pulling him closer.
We have a boat incoming,Tobin explained.
Yes, we can hear it, Salem murmured.
It’s probably nothing. Fray will get rid of them as fast as he can. Stay where you are,Tobin instructed.I came down to shield you.Then Tobin thought about it...Though, Salem, you can blend in with the wall pretty damn well. And the shark was impressive. My hearts are still racing.
But Tobin positioned himself in front of them anyway and put his shield up as the boat pulled into the jetty.
It’s one of the trawlers from Strahan, Tobin said with relief.Should be a quick stop.
And if it’s not?Salem asked.
Then I’ll stay here until they leave. No big deal.
