Chapter 338 Chapter 338
As Devin rowed them across the lake, Konner couldn’t help thinking back to eleven years ago when he’d found Olanna. He hadn’t been joking when he’d said it was better to not meet up with Terah the first time in the water. Olanna had tried to kill him, more than once when he’d found her. It had taken three days of him trying to get close enough to her, while out of the water so her could tell her he was there to help and not hurt her.
He leaned down and let his hand drag through the water. It was so clean and cool, he really wanted to go for a swim. He thought of Olanna now, a mother of two children and Auburn’s mate. Her daughter Nakisa would be ten soon, if he remembered right. Soon she’d go through her first shift. It was a special time with his small clan when that happened. It renewed hope and that was in short supply lately. Each birth and age of the change also brought other emotions into play. Would they be the mate to one of those living with them now or would they be without that special companionship for many long years?
Lifting his hand, he rubbed it over his face and closed his eyes, just letting the slight breeze move over him. Would Terah be a mate to one of those already found? There were only two adults, three if he included himself that were unmated. Reeves and Nolyn. With each change, everyone would take turns swimming with them to see if that fated connection was there. To outsiders, it would seem archaic to find your mate was only ten years old, but it was the only way to not give up completely. Knowing you had a mate was better than being left wondering for decades.
If one of the members of the group were her mate, it would mean they were not allowed, as in forbidden, to swim with her until she was of age and agreed, of course, that was always a factor since their clan joined the Alliance almost a century ago. The females always gave consent prior to mating.
Konner glanced back at Devin and wondered if his mating with the Princess had been a smooth one. He looked down at the water, not all were. He recalled Raelyn and Malachi. That had been anything but smooth. He knew shortly after Konner had found him, but she outright refused until she knew more of him. He grinned, and now with their second child on the way, they were inseparable.
His gut tightened and he was sure if it was because he knew his Auntie was going to insist he swim with Nakisa after her change, or if it was because the shore was getting closer. Probably a bit of both. His gaze locked on the small shelter, he decided he’d worry about Nakisa later, he just needed to get through this moment and meet Terah.
As if she knew he was anxious to see her, she came out of the shelter and dove into the water. He followed the ripple of the water, trying to decide which direction she’d gone. He hadn’t even really gotten to look at her, she moved so fast. The clean water here would do her good though, help to replenish her and heal her.
Devin turned the canoe to move away from the shelter, probably worried he’d hit her if she popped up in front of them. Konner wasn’t about to tell him that she could flip this canoe without much effort if she swam under it.
“Will she know we’re up here?”
He glanced back to see Devin looking at the water. “She will.” Konner watched the water beside them and saw a brief flash go by. She already knew, she was down there deciding if she wanted to be seen or not right now.
“I’m going to take us over to the post off to the left side.”
Konner nodded and dragged his gaze from the water so he could reach out for the post as they coasted closer to it. His stomach was doing flips like he was a giddy teen, anxious for something. It was completely ridiculous to be his age and feel this. His heart was pounding hard inside his chest. Grabbing the post, he pulled the canoe closer and used his strength to turn the back of it toward the shore. When the back hit the ground. He wrapped the rope around it and tied it off. Turning, he looked at Devin who sat there with one eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face.
“That’s one way to do it.” He put the paddle down and looked at the shelter. “Do I leave you here or make introductions?”
Before Konner could open his mouth to decide the water splashed right in front of him. He looked down to see just her face out of the water, she was watching him. The blue of the eyes from the picture was almost completely covered with silver right now. Her skin was shimmering as his kind did when in the water. Blinking, he realized he was sitting there with his mouth gaping open, he smiled down at her.
She went back under the water and then was gone from his sight.
As he leaned over to look into the water, there was a splash in front of the shelter, and then she launched herself from the water up onto the small dock out front of it. Her hands slapped against the old boards as she lifted the rest of her body out and sat there with her feet dangling into the water.
Konner sucked in a breath. She was completely naked, which wasn’t unusual for his kind, but she was not the frail woman in the photos now. Devin’s fish had gone to a restoring some flesh on her bones and judging by how well she looked now, he owed the prince a large shipment of fish.
Turning, she reached for a wrap sitting beside her and put her arms in it, covering herself up. “I did not know you would be here, or I would have put on that suit Rayne gave me.” She said in a rasping voice while looking at Devin.
“It’s fine, Terah.” He cleared his throat, “I brought someone for you to meet.”
“I’m trying to follow the rules.” She said as she stood up and hugged the robe to her body.
“You’re doing fine.”
Konner felt the canoe rock as the prince got out of it, but he was unable to move or speak. She was lovely. Long wavy black hair that hung down past her waist, her cheekbones were high and prominent, no longer bones surrounded by indents. Her long black eyelashes framed her eyes, making the blue of them stand out more.
When he realized both were standing there looking at him now, he stood up slowly and stepped out of the boat. As he moved over to the stand in front of her, he fought a part of himself that want to pick her up and hug her to him. Perhaps it was all the years that he’d searched without finding but the idea that this gorgeous creature in front of him was alive and well was causing a whirlwind of emotions inside him. “I’m sorry, I know I’m staring, but,” he lifted a hand and motioned to her, “you’ve recovered a great deal since the picture was taken when you arrived.”
“Pictures?” She turned to Devin.
“The photos.” He supplied.
“I see, yes.” She looked down, “I feel much better now.” She looked him over slowly, and then her gaze landed on his face again. “You are one of them. That freed me.”
Konner looked down at his cargo pants again and regretted not changing. “I work with them, yes, I wasn’t there when they found you.” He was afraid to step closer, “I have many questions though.”
Terah glanced at Devin, then back to him. “You are here to talk to me?”
Konner looked at the lake, trying to decide how to explain who he was and why he was here.
“Actually,” Devin spoke quietly, “Rayne wanted the doctor to check you over again, just to make sure everything is all right.”
“I feel good.” She offered him a proud smile, “I slept out of the water last night without pain.”
Konner straightened, he’d forgotten what it was like, the pains of being out of the water for short periods of time. He’d have to plan a route back that allowed for frequent stops so she could be in the water.
“Did you want to gather up your things?” Devin motioned to the shelter, “you can stay on the other side...”
“With the children?” She looked excited.
He nodded, “yes, they’ve been asking about boat rides.”
“I will get them.” She went back into the shelter.
Devin turned and looked at Konner, a questioning look on his face.
“How long is she comfortable out of the water?” He kept his voice quiet.
“Not long.” The prince gave him a look telling him he knew that was going to make the trip harder.
Konner nodded and rubbed his hand across his forehead. “It will take me some time to plan a route back, to my chopper...”
“You have a chopper?”
Nodding, Konner jammed his hands into his pockets. “Our location is hard to get to on land, not impossible, but flying in is much easier.”
“And you just leave it somewhere waiting?”
Konner grinned, he made it sound like he’d left the helicopter parked on a street corner. “I have a few secure locations around the province.”
“You fly it yourself?” The prince seemed genuinely interested.
“Yes, I got my license about five years ago, it’s much easier to just go and not arrange a pilot.”
“I need to do...”
Terah came out of the shelter; she was wearing a dark blue bikini. She smiled at Devin and handed him a small bundle of things wrapped in the robe she’d had on. “I will see you over there.” Without delay, she turned and dove into the water.
Both stood there and looked at the water where she’d disappeared.
“You know, I have to admit I was a bit surprised that your kind didn’t,” Devin motioned to his feet.
“Grow a huge fin and have our legs meld together magically?” Konner smirked at him.
“Yes.” Devin smiled at him.
“That’s mostly legend,” he waved his hand around, “the story is passed down from the elders.”
Devin nodded his head slowly, “so how do you swim so fast then without it?”
“Webbed hands and feet,” he lifted his arm, “fins along our arms and lower leg,” he shrugged, “and sheer strength.”
“Speaking of strength, we better get going or she’ll be there before we’re in the canoe again.” He moved around him to get back in it.
Konner looked at the water and wanted to swim over. He wanted to see her move in the water and just look at her. She was alive.