Page 77 of Return of the Nine

She shrugged. “Many of the samples my parents want are night blooming. We are trying to grow planktons and lichen to light pathways and give passive evening light for larger buildings in the city.”

“You have an affinity for the sea?”

She smiled as she listened to the waves against the hull. “I suppose I do. I know the habits of the animals, the signs if they are going to flee or attack.”

“Have you been damaged?”

“Of course. One can’t go into a living ocean and not face danger every time. I have had my share of bites and scars, but I also have access to the very compounds that will mitigate the damage.”

They glided out into the centre of the bay, the large glow under the surface indication that they were in the right place. “Can you drop that rock?”

Rivvin followed her gesture and lifted the rock easily,dropping the makeshift anchor into the softly lapping waves.

Em took a deep breath and stripped out of her shoes, trousers and, finally, she untied the sash that held her shirt closed. She unpinned her hair and let it cascade down as a partial covering before tying her knife to her leg.

Rivvin was completely nude, and unless the Nine had a completely different physiology, he was interested in her lack of clothing. Hopefully, the cool water would chill his interest.

Before she could change her mind, she slipped the shirt from her shoulders and dove into the water. The light of the plankton attracted her, confirmed by whatever it was that showed her what she needed. Talent, instinct, intuition, whatever it was, she knew what she needed when she saw it.

She assessed her surroundings for a moment before turning toward the surface.

Rivvin stopped her from returning to the air, and instead, he pressed his lips to hers.

She clutched his shoulders for balance and felt his chest swell as he exhaled into her. Oxygen came to her through his mouth, and she quickly plugged her nose shut as he breathed into her.

Able to continue, she broke free of him and noted his smug smile. It may have been a sneaky way to get a kiss in, but it was effective.

He held her hand and pulled her down toward the base of the vegetation. She quickly worked and cut a dozen strands of the stuff, hauling it toward the surface.

Rivvin took it from her and moved swiftly through the water.

She kicked gently back to the surface, exhaling as she went.

Inches from the surface, Rivvin caught her again and breathed for her. This time, she relaxed into it and held tightly to him as he gave her the air she craved.

He held her with barely an inch between their bodies as they tumbled along with the current. When he began to swim themback toward the boat, she lifted her head, a stream of bubbles coming out of her mouth. She saw the predator a moment before Rivvin did.

Em went limp and immobile while Rivvin went on the offensive. He swam toward the beast, and to her astonishment, in the dim light of the plankton, she could see spikes emerge from his forearms.

He slashed at the predator, and the predator’s head flipped around, sending a tendril of blood through the water. Whatever was in Rivvin’s spikes, the predator slowed and fluttered slowly toward the sea floor.

Em went into action. She swam to Rivvin and grabbed his uninjured arm, swimming with him back to the boat. More predators were only a minute away and getting out of the water was the best idea for both of them.

She climbed the ladder into the boat and held her arm out for him. He waved her off and made his way out of the water just as the huge bulk of an even larger beast cruised below them.

Rivvin sat and looked at the wound on his arm. “It isn’t bad.”

Em was already looking through her very personal med kit. “It isn’t bad, but if you want to hit the water tomorrow, it needs to be tended to. Hold still and stop poking it.”

He prodded gently at it one more time. “I heal quickly.”

She took out a powder and sprinkled it on the wound. “This will speed the healing even more then.”

He wrinkled his nose. “It stinks.”

She laughed. “I am aware of that. The smell belongs to the protein, so when you can no longer smell it, it has fully absorbed.”

She set the powder aside and looked at the wound. “Do you mind if I wrap it?”

---