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Well, now I know why Opal wanted an air bubble added to this necklace, and I send a silent thank you to my friends as I swim as fast as I can while holding a squirming little owl.
“Hold on, Amelia. We will be somewhere safe in a minute,” I tell her, and she squawks. “I don’t know what you’re saying, sweetheart.”
The words are hardly out of my mouth before she shifts back, and a small girl with big brown eyes, olive skin, and long brown hair is staring back at me, her eyes wide with fear.
She shivers and I try to hug her closer to me, hoping to keep her warm through the cold water, especially since shifting back has left her naked. She tries to push away from me out of fear.
“I know you don’t know who I am, but I promise you can trust me. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Not anymore.” With wide, fearful eyes, she nods at me.
Her shivers get more violent, and I curse, surfacing and searching for the nearest cabin thanking the gods when I spot one not far.
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go get you warm and call in the reinforcements,” I say, keeping my voice upbeat.
“O-kay,” she says, her teeth chattering so hard I worry that one is going to break off. Skarlyt was right when she said that shifters run hot. Amelia is too young to be shifting at all, and I imagine her body is too weak to heal itself as fast as it should.
The swim to the cabin seems to take forever as I rub my arms up and down Amelia’s back and arms, trying to warm her as she clings to me, trying to absorb some of my warmth.
Soon enough, my tail turns into legs, and I take off, running toward the house. There are no lights on, and no boat at the dock, making me believe that it’s empty. I am proven right when I force the door open.
“Sit here while I start a fire,” I say, setting her down, grabbing blankets off the back of the couch, and wrapping them around her before rushing over to the woodburning stove and quickly starting a fire. Once it’s lit, I turn around, taking in the terrified little girl.
“I know you’re scared,” I begin, stepping toward her. When she flinches back, I raise my hands to show her that I truly don’t mean her any harm. “I promise I will never hurt you,” I say, crouching down in front of her.
She searches my eyes for what feels like forever before she nods.
“My mommy hurts me.”
I pull her into my arms, hoping to all the gods that I’m not traumatizing her more.
“I know, sweetheart. I know. I promise I’m nothing like your mommy.”
“I want my daddy.” She sobs, and my heart breaks a little. I push her back so I can look into her eyes.
“I promise that I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you and your daddy are together again and away from that place.”
“Zachy too?”
“Zach too,” I tell her with conviction as I wrap my arms around this little girl who has already carved a place for herself inside my heart. “I’m going to call my friends so they can help us get your grand…”
“Ya-Ya,” she supplies.
“Your Ya-Ya to safety.” She nods, and I step back, rummaging through my backpack, grabbing the phone, and dialing Skarlyt.
“Pearl?”
“Hey,” I respond, hearing a bunch of voices in the background. “Who are you with?”
“Seb, Sarah, Dru, Rayne, and Andres.”
“Good. I’m going to send you a picture and I need you all to come.” I don't give her a chance to respond. I hang up the phone and snap a picture out of the front door. I rummage through my bag once more and find a pair of fluffy, warm pajamas that are definitely too small for me.
“Thank you, Opal,” I whisper, turning and handing them to Amelia. “My friend sent these for you. Why don’t you go get changed in the bedroom there while we wait for my friends.”
She looks from me to the clothes. Her hands rub over the soft fabric and tears swim in her eyes, but she gets up and walks to the bedroom, closing the door behind her. While she dresses, I take the opportunity to cover myself as well, pulling out some comfy yoga pants, a tank top, and a sweater.
I hear shuffling behind the door before she opens it, and I turn to find her with a genuine smile on her face as she rubs her hands over her legs.
“You look comfy.”
