Chapter 665 Chapter 665
Konner held Terah’s hand as they ascended down toward the sea bottom. He was so proud that he thought his chest might explode. The way she’d handled herself today shocked him. He glanced at her and decided he shouldn’t be surprised by anything she did anymore.
When she slowed, he looked back toward the bottom. Where he’d expected to see clean-picked bones was a beautiful underwater garden. He released her hand and went closer. They had been buried in the way of his clan. He looked around to see it was the same all along the area.
She swam past him and went right to the bottom. With a slow, graceful movement, she ran her hand over the mound of sea plants like she was caressing it. When she looked back at him, he could see the confusion on her face.
Konner paused and listened. Who could have done this? There were no more of their clans in the salt water. At least there wasn’t supposed to be. The records were very detailed, and nowhere did it say that some clan had remained behind. He moved further away from the island so the sound of the water rocking against it didn’t inhibit his hearing. Inhaling slowly, he let the feel of everything around him move over his skin. He wasn’t familiar enough with the salted waters to know what was close by and what wasn’t. Sound didn’t move the same in it as it did in the freshwater.
Turning around, his body seized with horror. A shark was swimming at his mate. He called out a warning, hoping his vocals in this water traveled as far as they did in fresh water. Terah turned and saw the creature. Instead of swimming to avoid it, she squared up and was preparing to take it on. Konner swam as fast as he could but knew he wasn’t going to reach her in time.
From the murky dark area where the island touched the sea floor, a man sprung out and collided with the large creature. The shark jerked around and was face-to-face with him. The man tilted his head to the side, and the shark turned and went in the opposite direction.
Konner reached Terah and grabbed her around the waist so she wouldn’t try to attack the man. He was a water clan male. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. From the expression on the man’s face, he was just as shocked to see them.
Konner looked around them. Was there more? Before he could communicate with him, Terah started to sing, and the look of surprise was evident on the other water clan’s face. Konner pointed to the surface, and the man nodded, and with another quick look at Terah, he began to swim up.
As he broke the surface, he released Terah. “Go back on the island and see if they need help with the children.”
She looked at him for a moment and then nodded. “Yes. I go help the children.”
He watched her climb back onto the shore and then walk into the trees. Turning, he saw the man behind him.
“I don’t know you.” He said.
“I was about to say the same.”
“My mate and I looked after the dead. They were not our kind but deserved to be at peace.”
“Thank you.” Konner went closer to the shore and then turned. “How are you here? There are no more clans in the salt water.”
“There is not supposed to be.” His silver eyes studied Konner. “Are you here to save the people from this island?”
“Yeah. We’re part of the Shifter Alliance.” The silver of his eyes stunned Konner. None of his clan’s were entirely silver.
“Good. My mate,” he shook his head, “I’ve had to stop her many times from doing something about it.”
Konner could relate to that completely. “Are there more of you? In this water?”
“Not as many as there were. There are only twenty of us left now from four clans. We live in underwater caverns from here to the cold North.” He glanced at the island. “Too many together attract attention.”
“Do you go on land?” The records needed to be corrected.
“Rarely. We have inland shelters but prefer the water. It’s safer.” He motioned around them, “especially in this area. They transport many from shifter clans in this area.”
Konner glanced to the island again, hoping that Terah was dealing with everything okay. “We’re shutting them down.” He looked back at him. “Any information would be helpful.”
He turned and looked at the small island further out. “I can collect my mate and meet you there later. I want to hear more of what is happening.”
Konner nodded. “We just have to see these people to safety, and Terah will need to rinse in clear water for a bit.”
“She sings like the elders.” He stared.
“She does. She was raised in captivity but comes from a strong line.”
He nodded. “My mate will want to meet her. She misses the elders’ songs.” He looked toward the small island again. “I am Malik. My mate is Gali.”
“Konner and my mate is Terah.”
Malik smiled. “She is named for land.”
Konner shrugged his head. “Names don’t mean what they used to.”
“This is true.” He started swimming backward. “Can you come as the sun goes down? I will need to collect my mate.”
Konner nodded. “We’ll be there.”
“I must go.” Malik didn’t wait for a response, just disappearing beneath the surface, and Konner knew he was faster than he was and wouldn’t see a sign of him again.
Turning, he climbed back on the shore, reached into the pouch, and pulled out his earbud. Putting it in, he took out his phone and hit the pause button.
“There is a water clan in the salt water.” He said into it, needing to tell someone.
“Really?” Shaelan answered. “Are they coming?”
He started walking back to the others. “No. They live in the salt water, not on land.”
“I thought they were all gone?” Devin asked.
“So did I.” He reached the buildings quickly to see Terah sitting beside a little girl, talking to her. “Terah and I will hang back and talk to them at dusk. They know where the ports are that transport our kind.”
“Perfect. We can come back with more numbers and take them all out.” Kenzo said. “This is turning out to be like Christmas.”
Konner grinned.
“Christmas.” There was no mistaking Rayne’s voice at all. “Griffin. Does Aiden still do that big Christmas party?”
Konner froze and looked to see Calum and Shaelan stopped moving as well.
“He does. Invites all the big names in the closest states. The entire second floor of his building is a wall-to-wall with the elite and the richest of the rich.” Griffin answered.
“Christmas is in a month.” Deva looked at Calum as she spoke into the comms.
“We’re taking him down then,” Devin stated in a firm voice.
“Merry Christmas, dirtbag. Have I got a present for you,” Amari sounded happy.
Konner heard several laughs into the comms. He looked to see Calum was not smiling at all. In fact, if he were Aiden Tomas, he’d throw himself off the building to avoid meeting Calum Dante.