Page 26 of Emerald Waves
“Eelgrass limpets,” I explained. “And the grass is eelgrass, it’s the only thing they eat. They’ve also lost their wild habitat, as has a close cousin of theirs. They have their own tank, over here, and both are thriving in the environment I’ve created for them.”
“This is utterly unmatched and absolutely amazing,” he said, spinning to face me with curiosity and concern making his features scrunch a bit. “Why didn’t you want to show me?”
Shrugging, I squirmed and felt my cheeks heat up as I rubbed the back of my neck.
“It’s not a traditional horde, and not even of my true element,” I admitted. “I guess I was just afraid that you’d be underwhelmed after you saw it.”
He shook his head at me, then fixed me with a soft smile. “Then we’ve got a lot to learn about one another.”
“I guess we do.”
When he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me, actually melting against me the way he hadn’t earlier in our bedroom, I felt the lump in my throat and the ache in my belly ease.
Despite my fears and misgivings, it seemed like my mate found the place as magical as I did.
Harrumph!
The sound of my dragon in my head was momentarily jarring.
Tried to tell you that, human.
I know.
Then maybe next time you’ll listen to me!
Chapter Eight
Emerson
This was like the best field trip ever, only I got to live in it. I loved aquariums. And zoos. But I’d always been drawn to sea life and animals and now understand why. Life prepared me for my fated mate, perfectly matching our desires.
Many things I’d obsessed over for years, never understanding why. My mind was mad with questions, nearly driving me past the brink of insanity, whereas now, it all clicked into place and the voices within me calmed.
Caro held the key to accomplishing that.
Envisioning myself in his horde, soon to be our horde, for hours on end, researching these wonderful mammals with my mate. These tanks the ideal backdrop as we toiled away. What more could I have asked for? Foolishly I’d questioned the fates when I should’ve known better.
“Which is your favorite?” Caro’s voice vibrated through me when his lips pressed to my head.
“The sea turtle. I can’t believe you made a flipper to replace his missing one.” Seriously, who does that? Someone with a heart the size of the world and that someone I am lucky enough to call my mate.
“He got caught up in a boat propeller. I was near enough I felt his pain and heard him cry out. I scooped him up and flew home with the utmost haste. I packed the injury with a mix of natural herbs then wrapped it in seaweed. Once it healed I tried out several variations of replacement flippers until I created one light enough that he could easily maneuver it.”
“Titanium?”
“Yes, my brilliant archivist. Titanium for the win. I may or may not have destroyed their fishing net and capsized their boat,” he smugly shrugged. “But fear not, I did see them resurface, so no humans were harmed in this rescue mission.”
“Will you ever set him free again?” While I wished for his freedom, the selfish side of me would miss watching him swim and enjoy the wonderful habitat Caro had carefully built for him.
“Likely not. Titanium is a highly valued metal and humans are greedy. I fear what they would do to him in their haste to strip him of it.” I felt Caro’s sorrow through our connection. His love for all animals whether land or water ran deep.
“Does he have a name?”
“Aye, Trooper.”
“Trooper, I love that.”
“He was a trooper through all my trials and tribulations seeking the best replacement flipper for him.”
