Page 8 of A Fool For Her Mates

I don’t even want to think about what will happen if Fancy refuses to come or if we miss our opening in the spacegate. The thought of leaving our bond forever incomplete fills me with a cold kind of dread that I can’t bear to entertain. I want my mates too much—I need them too much—to forever be denied the true fulfillment of a sealed bond.

There’s no time to think about that now, though. I feel a disturbance in the water and hear the subtle splash of a predator approaching. It happens so fast that all I can do is react. My first thought is for Fancy, of course. In less than a second, I have her off my back and sailing towards what I hope is a soft landing on the shore of the creek. I can feel the first brush of sharp teeth closing around me and say a prayer of thanks that I could save her.

Chapter 8: Fancy

To say I’m surprised when H’Row lifts and flings me from his back onto a tangled bunch of reeds doesn’t begin to express how I feel. I’m shocked and indignant. My shoulder and wrist hurt where I braced my landing and I’m pretty sure legs are scraped up from branches that broke my fall. Why would he do that? Then I hear the wild splashes and jaws snapping in the dark water of the creek and my stomach falls to my toes.

A gator. It has to be, right? Damn! I hate that I was right about that. H’Row is battling a killer. I spring to my feet and run back towards all the commotion, but in the dark it’s nearly impossible to see anything. My heart is thumping so hard I feel like it might jump out of my chest, but nothing will ease me until I find him safe.

I stand for a moment at the shore, my chest heaving, and consider my options. I can hop in and try to save him. I can call for help. Fuck, neither of these are good ideas, but I’ve got to do something. I realize I have my phone with me in my pocket and I reach with shaking hands to pull it out. At the very least, I can use the flashlight function to see what’s happening and plan my next step. What I see when I shine the light on them stuns me.

H’Row is holding the alligator in some kind of headlock and its large body and tail are thrashing as it struggles for breath. The vibrant blue of H’Row’s skin ripples over his flexing muscles as he tightens his hold. It’s breathtaking. Unbelievable. And definitely inhuman.

“H’Row!” I call. He turns around and smiles at me like he’s enjoying himself enormously, not like he’s locked in a life-or-death struggle. “Uhhh, if you think it’s safe, you can probably let it go. We’re invading his territory so….” I trail off as I watch H’Row lean down and whispers something to the alligator, which proceeds to stop flailing. H’Row loosens his hold, pats it on the head, and watches as the reptilian giant glides back into the murky depth. He turns to look at me and his smile falters.

“You are hurt!” He bounds out of the water to crouch at my feet and examine the blood dripping down my leg.

“What? Oh, it’s a scratch. Nothing serious.” I had forgotten about my minor injuries with all the gator wrestling.

“Regardless, we must clean your wounds and get you to safety. I apologize for getting distracted.” His expression is dead serious, like he’s committed a grave error and is waiting for absolution.

“No worries, you were, uh, busy.” I wave at the water.

“It will not happen again, Fancy. We should go now.” Before I can answer, he sweeps me up in a bridal carry and starts running through the forest again.

The new position gives me the chance to get a better look at his face and neck. I can see the pulse beating at the base of his throat under skin that almost looks almost phosphorescent. Like he glows, but just a little. I look down at my body. I’ve got no paint on me. I rub my thumb on his arm and look. Still no paint. Then, behind his ears, under his hair, I spot a flap that looks like nothing I’ve ever seen on a human. Or even a mammal. It’s gills. This man has gills. He has blue skin, talks to alligators, and has gills.

I feel my vision going dark around the edges, and my heart speeds up like I’m about to start panicking again. But H’Row seems to sense it and looks down at me and smiles. Like I’m something precious to him. He gives me a little squeeze and keeps running.

“It’s going to be okay, Fancy. I promise.” He squeezes again and picks up his pace. I lean my head against his chest and take a deep breath. Even with all the creek water, his scent and the sound of his heartbeat soothes me.

It’s probably about twenty minutes later when I feel H’Row begin to slow his steps. He pulls out his phone, looks at some coordinates, and nods.

“Can you stand for a moment? I need to find us a place to hide while we wait for V’Lin.”

I nod, and he gently places me down on my feet. It takes me a second to feel steady and I hold on to his arm while I get my footing. He’s like a solid boulder under my grip. Even though I feel fine, I don’t want to let go, even if he’s not strictly human.

“I’m going to carry you up there.” He points to a tree limb above us. “Then I’ll get some medical supplies to tend to your leg. Is that okay, Fancy?” He’s looking down at me with that same serious expression as before. He’s going to put me in a tree? At this point I don’t even argue. A little more weirdness won’t change anything.

“Sure, that’s fine.” I say. But I’m not sure…the reality of the last few hours is starting to settle on my shoulders.

“Excellent. Can you get on my back again?” He kneels in front of me, and I hesitate. Should I really be doing this? I’m sure if I head back to the SuperMart now, I can resume my life as normal with little effort. The worst I’ll have to face are some questions from the black suits and maybe a reprimand from Rick. I can keep doing my job, get drunk with Miranda and carry on as usual. On the other hand, if I get on H’Row’s back, I will literally be going up a tree with no way down. Each additional step I take with him and V’Lin will make it harder to go back. But what do I really have to go back to?

My parents are on a permanent vacation and art school seems more and more unlikely as the days progress. My days are unfulfilling, and my future is murky. I care about Miranda, but is that worth staying for? What happens if I follow this thing with H’Row and V’Lin to its conclusion? What could the conclusion be? Who are they? What are they?

“Is everything okay, Fancy? Are you too hurt to hold on to me?” H’Row cranes his head back, the concern clear on his moonlit face. I don’t know what to say. I’m scared. I’m surprised. My shoulder hurts, and more than anything I want to feel him and V’Lin touch me again. I feel like my whole reality has shifted, but one thing becomes clear as I pat his shoulder. I’m not ready to say goodbye.

“Everything is okay, H’Row,” I say and keep touching his shoulder. He grins, simple joy written across his face.

“I’m so glad. Grab onto me. I’ll get you up there fast.”

I climb aboard, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and my legs around his waist. He’s so warm, so solid, I immediately feel safer. I rest my head between his shoulder blades and inhale deeply. Now I feel more relaxed. Everything about him, about both of them, fills me with comfort, which is incredible because they’re the wildest risk I’ve ever taken. I guess it’s true that the biggest fool is a fool in love.

Chapter 9: V’Lin

I’m running steadily towards H’Row and Fancy’s location when I get an alert that the transportation unit’s been opened. Damn! That means either H’Row ignored my orders, or we’ve got an intruder. I feel my heartbeat faster as anxiety spikes in my blood. Either way, something has gone wrong. I’ve got to find them fast, before the humans pick up our vehicle’s signal. I’m carrying the battery and a few additional bags, so I can’t move as quickly as I’d like, but I still arrive before the hour ends.

I slow in a clearing where my comm shows H’Row but see no sign of them. Then a familiar whistle sounds from the above and I look up. Sure enough, H’Row and Fancy are huddled in the branches of a broad swamp tree.

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