Page 26 of Nocturnal Desires

“Probably,” I admit. If we find out her family has been captured, we are going to need Rayne and her many knives.

I walk out of the house, needing the solace of the ocean. I leave Kristle to call her mom and explain. It’s clear Kristle is upset too, and part of me knows I am being too hard on her. Still, there is a furious rise in my gullet that I cannot ignore. How could Narissa let this happen?

These are her people—her pod—and she just rolled over and let humans split them up?

I rush toward the water like I’m ablaze. Is this the protective impulse Alaric is always describing?

This is not what I intended to do today. I wanted to get Narissa and her pod here safely before making my way back to Greece to find my mystery man. As I look out at the ocean, watching the waves crashing on the shore of our beautiful beach, I feel turmoil rather than the usual calmness the sight supplies.

I close my eyes, listening to the rhythmic ebb and flow of the waves, a calming melody that resonates deep within me. The gentle lapping of water against the beach whispers the secrets of the sea, and the distant calls of seagulls overhead add a touch of serenity to the symphony. The wind, with its soft sighs and occasional gusts, carries the scent of salt and adventure.

Normally, I relish the feeling, listening to the song of the ocean as if she’s a wise and ancient storyteller. Today, all I feel is a churning in my gut. There’s a light pulsing of urgency, pushing me to findhim. Now, the demands of my position hold me back.

I look back at our little village full of small beach cabins. Some are finished to perfection, sitting high up on stilts with steps leading directly into the water. Others are still under construction, as our community is still growing every day.

I turn back to the ocean, my eyes drawn to a place far past the horizon. If I swam straight in that direction, I would find my way back to Greece.

Not for the first time, I wish that I wasn’t the eldest woman in my pod. That our laws allowed our men to be leaders.

I let the last of my anger flow from me with a deep breath. I’m still appalled at the thought that Narissa has gone eight months without knowing where her mate is. If she had told me last night that they’d lost all contact, we could have started the search then. Almost an entire day has passed us by, and I know from experience that one day could mean the difference between life and death.

I heave out another heavy sigh, not wanting my anger to ramp up again until I can hear her reasoning and deal with the issue. There is nothing I can do about what has passed. I had hoped that Narissa could replace me as pod mother, but after this…

How can I trust her to watch overmyfamily?

I sit on the sand, dip my toes in the cold water, and wait for Skarlyt and Kristle to do what they need to. I trust they will come and find me when they have something.

“Pearl?” My eyes snap open, a familiar voice calling from behind me.

“Yes,” I respond without turning. I am not ready to face her just yet, but it doesn’t stop her approach. I hear her soft footfalls on the sand getting closer until she reaches my location.

“I know you think I was wrong—” Narissa begins.

“Because youwerewrong,” I snap, turning to see her nod at me before turning to face the ocean.

“Perhaps I was.” My mouth drops open in shock at the admission. “I was given an impossible choice between keeping my mate safe and sending help for my nephew.”

When she puts it like that, I can begin to understand what she did.

“Why did you wait eight months to go find them?”

She turns to me, tears shining in her eyes. “Because I didn’t know where to begin. I worried that if we left Australia, they would come home to find us missing.”

“Why not have him call you? Check in sometimes?”

“In hindsight, we should have arranged something like that. By the time the thought crossed my mind, he was gone, and I didn’t know where to find him.”

I nod my head, the rest of my anger fading when I see the pain on her face.

“I still don’t agree with your choice, but I do understand it.”

“I also have to tell you that you were right.”

I smile and point to myself. “Me? Right?”

She chuckles and waves me off.

“Yes. You were right about your friends. That witch Skarlyt was able to get their location. They’re all in the same area off the coast of Greece.”

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