Page 95 of Waves
And then, though his nostrils flared, and his hands clenched and unclenched as if he wanted to break more furniture, Felipe said, “I’ll watch him. We’ll see.”
Mateo bent forward and put his lips to my hair, planting a soft kiss there before murmuring, “If you want to keep him, Avia…we’ll make it work.”
Tears built in my eyes, and I buried my face in Mateo’s neck for a moment, overcome. “What did I ever do to deserve you?” I asked.
“You don’t,” Keelan quipped. “But you know what would help? Some statues. I’m thinking this pose—” He’d hardly lifted his arms to flex when another piece of furniture flew through the room, though this time it was only a chair cushion.
The red pillow whacked him on the cheek and as he turned to glare at Felipe, Keelan and I burst into chuckles. Though laughing hurt because my chest was still wound too tight from crying, the relief was so intense that it radiated through me. I felt as light and wispy as a jellyfish. As ethereal as a cloud.
That stupid pillow attack told me that no matter what came, no matter what I asked of them, no matter how impossible it was or how angry it made them—these men would stay by my side.
When we finally all trudged back to bed, I snatched up that pillow and slept with it clutched to my chest.
It was the moment I knew everything would be alright.
And I knew…Raj could feel it too.
Chapter 41
Raj
Iemerged from the dank-smelling dungeon into the rippling blue sea, not even a strand of seaweed floating overhead casting a shadow as the sun's rays poured down around me and I grinned. It was a perfect morning.
As soon as I was past the steps, a mer figure who'd been leaning against the rock wall of the prison straightened and swam toward me with a glower on his face. "Someone's a little rain cloud," I taunted as Felipe approached.
His vicious scowl might have intimidated another man, but his anger practically made me float two more inches off the ocean floor. It set my smoking lower half tingling because his fury meant that I was right about Avia’s decision last night. That those soft, tender feelings humming inside of my chest as I drifted off to sleep were her contentment.
She’d decided to keep me.
His eye daggers merely confirmed it.
“Absolutely beautiful bluefish day, isn’t it?” I taunted, smiling brighter. "Perfect for good deeds."
His nostrils flared for a second before the water swirled and then the soldier was in my face. I saw every pore as he leaned in close, teeth bared. “I could kill you?—”
“You couldn’t. But also, you won’t,” I retorted calmly. I hadn’t woken up in the mood for violent games today, but if he wanted to play…
Quick as a flash, I windmill chopped his hand with my arm, breaking his hold. Centuries of military training took hold then, and I grabbed the back of his neck, solidifying my twist of smoke into legs the second before I released him, but momentum kept him falling until his nose smashed into my kneecap. He gave a satisfying grunt of pain but didn't go limp as he should have. Instead, he used his massive tail to whack me in the side of the ribs.
We went tumbling through the water, rolling over one another, grappling and punching until my back slammed into a rock and he shoved his arm against my neck. Pinned to the wall of the prison and panting, ribs smarting, I kept my arms at the ready but didn't attack. I waited for his next move.
"You're evil incarnate," he hissed through his teeth.
"Yes. And you've got a sloppy left hook," I replied. "Are we simply stating the obvious here, or do you have a point?"
"You don't deserve her."
"No. I don't."
He swallowed several times as he tried to calm the surge of anger frothing up inside his eyes. "Then give her up."
I let him draw in several deep breaths so his heart rate slowed before I answered, "No."
The press of his forearm against my neck merely made me grin. "You hate me and this situation. And that's completely understandable. We're never going to get along, you and me. But we don't have to."
"She doesn't need you!" he insisted, ramming that arm harder against my Adam's apple and choking off my water supply, making it hard to breathe. The bubbles erupting from my lips grew smaller and thinner as I stared at the furious manacross from me and my heart gave a soft thump of concern. A sleepy, stretching, just waking and recalling something important feeling that spread through me and told me that my Avia was waking up.
My arrogance fled as did my irritation as her curiosity and concern sparked and the tiny treasure in my chest started beating more quickly...almost as if she was up and moving.
