They were all wide-eyed, and Sawyer saw Fray reach for Tobin’s hand. “Unwanted visitor? Someone bad?” Fray asked. “Like, Lusca level of bad?”
“No, no,” Ciaran said quickly. “I didn’t get that impression at all. Just someone, could be a passing fishing boat for all we know. But the fact is, boats do come in,humanscome into the Cove, and that’s not a great place for the hatchlings. Not while they’re so vulnerable. Relocating them to the river by the hut is a logical move.”
There were a few nods, a few concerned looks, but Ciaran was right, and they knew it.
“How will they get there?” Dylan asked. “They’re far too small for open water.”
“Agreed,” Kellan said.
“Definitely,” Ciaran said. “I’ll suggest going by boat,” he added, looking to Tobin. “We can put the hatchlings in acontainer or something. That way we will get there quicker and with much less stress. On everyone.”
“I can be ready when you are,” Tobin said.
“I’ll go down and tell Aurin and Salem now,” Ciaran said. He came over and kissed the top of Sawyer’s head. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
Sawyer watched Ciaran leave, and he could feel Fray looking at him. When he met his gaze, Fray grinned. “How can you be all sweet one minute, saying, ‘Okay’ all cute and blushing. Then the next minute, you’re yelling at Cern like he couldn’t smite you where you stood.”
Sawyer laughed, but then he thought about what Fray said. “Wait. Smite?” He looked at Tobin. “Can he do that?”
Tobin chuckled. “Wanna see the hatchlings?”
“Yes,” Sawyer said quickly, pulling his chair closer to Tobin’s. “Please. What do you need me to do?”
“Can I answer that?” Fray asked.
“No,” Sawyer replied flatly.
Tobin smiled and slid his hand onto Sawyer’s arm. “Ready?”
“So ready.”
The vision he saw behind his eyes was dark, and it took a moment for him to switch mental gears. But then he saw Aurin first, then Salem, and then... little shapes with big eyes and tiny tentacles, and next, he heard the noise... the chirping.
Sawyer sucked back a breath. “Oh my god,” he whispered. “They’re adorable.”
Then Tobin pulled his hand away, and the vision was gone with it. It took a moment before Sawyer could find the words. “Thank you.”
He refused to be sad, even though he felt it. He just wished so much he could see them.
“What’s wrong?” Tobin asked quietly.
Sawyer shook it off and gave him a smile. “Nothing,” he lied.
“Wow,” Fray said, frowning. “You really suck at lying.”
“Yeah, honesty’s a curse,” Sawyer said. He was just about to add that so was being human when his phone rang. He saw the caller ID and groaned, stood up, and walked to the door as he answered. “Morning, Inspector Hadeom. What can I do for you?”
Chapter
Fifteen
SALEM
It made sense.Salem knew that. He, Aurin, and the four hatchlings would be safer away from the cove, away from passing traffic, away from unwanted visitors.
Especially given Hadeom had asked for Salem by name, wanting information. He’d been sought out for many, many years. But it wasn’t just Salem now. He had his family to think of, and he would do anything to protect them.
