Page 79 of Return of the Nine

“That I would like to begin a courtship with a union with you as the goal, but I will need clues as to how to do it within your traditions.”

Em was stunned. “A mate? You want me as your mate?”

He smiled at her, a slow and wicked smile. “I believe that you will exhaust me, run me a merry chase, run out and do whatever you feel to be right at any given time, and still, my body is called to yours.”

Chapter Five

Emharo tied off the boat while Rivvin collected their harvest. “Have you not experimented on samples of this before?”

She was relieved to have another topic to discuss. “Of course, but we only take what we need for any round of work. Fresh plants have different properties to the dry ones, and so, I hack off only what my parents require.”

“You swim there alone, at night?”

She could feel his disapproval. “Of course I do. You already knew the answer to that.”

“Why?”

Em rubbed her forehead as they walked up to the lab. “It is in me to be busy. I crave occupation. It is more of a compulsion than anything else.”

Rivvin hefted the plants as they moved through the doors into the greenhouse area of the lab. Em opened the storage tank, and he dropped the plankton into the cool seawater.

She yawned but knew that she needed to get cleaned up before sleep would be possible. “Thank you for an intriguing evening, Rivvin.”

“I will escort you to the habitat.” He inclined his head and offered his arm.

Em paused. “I am not going to the habitat quite yet. I need to wash the salt off, and there is a place nearby that will serve that function.”

“I will escort you there, then, wait for you and return you home.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Fine. I hope you are comfortable in the wild.”

She stomped into her boots and pointed in the direction that her private grotto was located. They walked together in silence, she directed him with gentle nudges on his arm and they passed through the tumbled rocks of the landscape until they reached the imperceptible crack in the large rock. “This way.”

He frowned down at her with a sceptical look in his eyes. “How can you fit?”

“The narrow entrance is an illusion cast by shadow. Come with me.”

She took the lead, pulling him into the damp darkness that suddenly came alive with phosphorescent light.

“Rivvin, welcome to my private office.” She smiled and relaxed as she always did when she saw the wide pool with gentle ripples caused by the waterfall.

“This is amazing. It is like one of the ancient retreats in our histories.”

Emharo smiled and walked to the edge of the pool. She took down one of her towels and set it on the smooth stone worn by time.

She turned her back to Rivvin and quickly undressed, slipping into the water before she could lose her nerve. The water was cool and sweet, refreshing and calming her.

When a pale figure circled her under the water, her calm turned into embarrassed heat.

Rivvin emerged from the water with a smile. “This place is amazing. How did you find it?”

She gave him a sarcastic glance. “I found it because I was looking for it. I didn’t know you liked fresh water.”

He shrugged. “It is just water. That is the bonus to being one of the Nine and not an actual fish. My body is far more adaptable.”

She treaded water and then exhaled to let the water close in over her head. She rinsed her scalp and reappeared on thesurface, looking for traces of her visitor. When she didn’t see him, she began to slowly make her way over to the waterfall.

Her shoulders ached and the pounding of the water untied her muscles. When she felt clean and relaxed, she slipped back into the water and right into Rivvin’s arms.

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