Chapter 349 Chapter 349
Konner put the Biotrien back into the waterproof pouch. He only had twenty left. Hopefully, that was enough to do them until they got back to the Sanctuary. Setting the bag back with the others, he undid his shirt. He needed Terah at full strength throughout the night, just in case, they had to move in a hurry.
He paused as he was undoing the vest and listened. She was talking quietly. It was more under her breath, than out loud. Cocking his head to the side, he focused to hear only her and not the sounds around the lake as dusk settled before the night began. It sounded like a list of names she was reciting.
Shaking his head, he decided he’d let her continue, despite the fact she should be silent right now. If it was a comfort thing, he didn’t want to take that away from her. Pulling the vest off his body, he walked over to where she was leaning back against the dried-out log. “I want you to put this on.” He squatted down and held up the absorbent vest. “It will stay wet throughout the night.”
She sat up, her gaze moving over it. She held out her hand.
Konner pointed to her jacket. “It needs to be right against your skin.”
“Oh.” She got to her knees unzipped the jacket and stripped it off. When her hands went to the bottom of the shirt she had underneath, Konner lowered his eyes to the ground.
She may be used to being on display, but that didn’t mean it was going to be that way once they got home. There she’d have the option of doing whatever made her feel comfortable.
“Turn around, I’ll adjust it so it’s tighter.” He didn’t look up until he heard the movement and knew her back was to him. Lifting his chin, he froze. Frowning, he reached out, almost in slow motion. There was a jagged scar that ran from the back of her neck down across the one side of her rib cage. He touched it lightly. “How did you get this?” None of his kind had scars. If there was freshwater nearby, anything could be healed. The fact that it marred her body, heated his blood with anger.
“At first, I refused to change and have their eyes on me.” Her voice was emotionless. “They hit me with this long stick.”
They’d caned her. Konner’s hand shook as he held out the vest for her to put her arms through it. “Does it bother you?” She put her arms through it, “when you’re in the water?” He leaned around and looped the velcro through the loops so it would overlap and close together.
“It feels different there.” She said softly, “the water doesn’t move over it the way it does the rest of me.”
Konner clenched his jaw. That part of her would not be able to change in the water. Not only had they marred her body, but they had also prevented her from having full protection when in her true form. He pulled the strap along the back so the material would be snug against her skin. He would have to ask his Auntie if that could be corrected. If it wasn’t too deep, they could remove the scar tissue and let it heal in the way of his people, under the surface of freshwater. “We may be able to,” he cleared his throat that warbled with emotion, “remove this scaring...”
Terah turned and looked at him. “No. I want to keep it.” Her deep blue eyes stood out in the dim light of dusk. “To remember, always that I am no longer there.” She nodded. Sucking in a deep breath, she looked down at the vest when as she ran her hands down over it. “What is this? It feels like my body when I’m swimming.” She looked back up at him.
Konner leaned back on his heels, so he wouldn’t pull her into his arms and vow to her that no one would ever harm her again. “It took a long time for the scientist to create it, so it felt natural.” He blew out a breath, trying to move past the scar that was now going to haunt his dreams. “After many failed attempts that chaffed my skin or gave me a rash.” He grinned.
“It feels wonderful.” She smirked at him, “no wonder you seem to never tire.”
“It will help you rest tonight.” He stood up, “we’ll have to wet it again in the morning.”
Terah picked up her jacket and put her arms into it. She balled up the shirt and held onto it. “Thank you, Konner,” she sucked in a sharp breath, “for keeping me safe.”
He stood there, his heart pounding in his chest as he looked down to see those beautiful eyes drowning in unshed tears. “I always will.” He whispered. “Try to get some rest, I’m going to keep watch.”
Konner sat a few feet from the water and listened. The sounds of night echoed across the serene surface. He didn’t have to strain to watch and hear if there was any movement in the bush. The creatures in their natural environment would alert him to anyone moving around that didn’t belong.
Terah had drifted off to sleep finally. She’d recited those names again until there were long pauses between them as her body slowly relaxed. He’d wanted to ask her about them, but also wanted her to rest, so he’d held his tongue and just listened. It sounded like random names, but his gut told him she just wouldn’t be saying meaningless names. They repeated over and over. Were they captives she’d met in her years of confinement? Perhaps those that had come to mean something to her? He wasn’t sure, but he planned on asking her tomorrow.
In the low light of the waning moon, he ran his finger over the map and followed it along the path he planned to take tomorrow. To make good time, they’d have to avoid too many stops, so the two rivers that intersected along the way were going to have to do for water sources. If he had more Biotrien, they could take their time, but he needed to reach somewhere by tomorrow night, or the following day would be difficult for Terah. He looked up to where she slept, she looked comfortable enough. Her back was covered, but just knowing about the scar on her back made him snarl into the darkness. Nothing was going to interfere with her health—or freedom again.
Tucking the map into his swim pack, he pulled out the phone and checked it again for messages. He had the ringer off, so it wouldn’t sound into the night and alert anyone to their being here. There were no messages. Rubbing his forehead briskly, he brought up Reeves’s number. He didn’t need his aunt sounding the alarm when they weren’t there by morning. Opening the message screen, he quickly typed, Slight delay in our travels. We’ll be there sometime in the next two days.
He didn’t expect a reply and blinked when the screen opened to one. Got it. Thanks for letting me know, Alvie has been looking over my shoulder half the day waiting for word.
Konner stared at the phone for a moment before typing again. He should have thought of all of this sooner and had it done already, but he’d been so gobsmacked when he found out Terah lived, his thought process had faltered. Have Olanna clear out the room beside the in-ground pool bed and move the boys to the other end of the house. He paused, he didn’t need Lucus and Paxton in her face all the time. Terah has a long road of recovery ahead. He frowned at the phone; he hadn’t even thought of clothes either. She’s around Raelyn’s normal size, he smirked, right now being very pregnant, Rae said she was a beluga whale, see if we can round up some clothes and things for her as well. He curbed the inclination of mentioning getting in touch with a surgeon about her scar because she wanted to keep it. It was an awful way to remind herself of her freedom, but he’d respect it and later attempt to talk her out of it.
On it. This will keep everyone out of my hair. Lillee and Kisa have already made her about twenty welcome cards.
Konner smirked, picturing the girl’s excitement over meeting a new member. He frowned at the phone and blew out a breath. No one will be able to swim with her for a while. She is very aggressive and unsure of what outside life is. Did that explain it? Partially, it did. It was true as well. If she’d never swam with any of her own in all these years, her instinct to protect would override anything else and the younger ones would be in danger until she understood what having a clan was about. He looked out over the water. He also didn’t want any mating rushed if she were one of the others. Her body needed time to heal, on the inside. Sure, she was strong in spurts right now, but from years of neglect, she couldn’t go a full day without water yet, so there would be no rushing a mating and children.
Okay. Look forward to meeting her. Reeves added three happy face emojis to that.
Guilt filled Konner, he remembered what it was like being that age, wanting nothing more than to find the one that would know him better than any other would. He hoped someday Reeves found that. Konner knew better than anyone what it was like to go decades through life alone.
Closing the screen, he put the phone back into the bag and closed it up. The entire clan was going to be watchful, waiting to see if her heartbeat was in time with one of the unmated males. In an absent gesture, he rubbed his hand over his own heart, wondering briefly what that felt like. Two hearts changing rhythm to sync up with one another. Blowing out a breath, he pulled the swim pack over his head and stared over to where she lay sleeping. Something inside him told him that things were going to be rocky for a while until she settled into her new life. Standing up, he moved soundlessly toward the trees, rest was not going to find him tonight, that he knew without a doubt.