by Maira Dawn
She pushed any worry about Devon away. One week and Atlantis would be her home. She would live there with Bay, make a life with him. The next day, Claire anxiously waited by the window, wanting to see the smile he always reserved for her.
He didn't come.
Claire fretted, picking at her nails, pacing the floor. The day passed without him.
So did the next, and the next.
Claire became frantic. She scoured the beach and the seas, going as far as she could, her father at her side. She cursed whatever held Blake here on land, begging him to take her to Atlantis for any news of her Intended. But her father insisted he would not go. He argued it would only endanger Claire and the rest of his family. With a bowed head, he told her there was only one reason an Intended didn't come for his love, but she wouldn't hear it.
Weeks later, a boy knocked at the door with a small note for Claire. It held two words, poorly written. "Not coming." A crudely drawn shark sat at the edge of the paper. It was smudged as if a teardrop struck it, but Claire understood it couldn't be.
There would be no tears from someone who would be so cruel.
Bay had built her love, let Claire pour her heart and soul into his, then turned his back on her. Now he had left her with no last words of consolation. If he had, she could have at least pretended something about their relationship was real.
Claire mourned the loss of him, her agony spanning weeks and months.
Then, just like her father, her love turned to hate.
An angry fire burned within her as she tried to reenter everyday life. It was all she had, but it kept her warm, made her feel like at least a part of her was alive.
At some point, Devon started coming around again. He offered her his paltry love. She had loved him once, still did if that is what one called this feeling, after knowing what it could be. When he asked her to marry him, she accepted. It was something at least.
The first time Devon showed her his secret lab and explained his experiments on Atlantians, the flame inside her stirred. Her new husband called them abominations. It sounded right to her. She imagined Bay somewhere romancing another girl as he had romanced her and clamped her teeth together.
When Devon said he needed Claire's help to find more of his abominations, she agreed. She would leave the experimenting to her husband. She would send him the subjects. Besides, it made her husband happy, something she rarely seemed to do well.
So, not breathing a word of who and what she really was, she fell in line beside Devon. She had a good eye for finding them, and with a call to Devon, they disappeared. But it never made her suffering any better.
Claire came back to the present, her hands turning to fists. She would not let Sunny become the broken woman she had turned into. Claire renewed her vow to find this Ian. They almost had him at the wedding. They wouldn't fail next time.
Eleven
Soon
Chapter Eleven
Sonora dropped her last friend at home, waving through the open car window as the young woman suggested another day out in the next couple of weeks. Sonora agreed, but as she drove away, a pain started in her chest. If she went with Ian, would she be here in two weeks? Would she see her friends again? She yearned to be with Ian, but it wouldn’t be easy.
She wouldn't think about that right now. There were things to do. Maybe if the Atlantians got their Artifact back, they would see humans, in general, more favorably. And her in particular, given her race and her heritage. If that happened, eventually, things between the two races may be more open.
The Artifact. It seemed to be the key. But why? Did it really matter? Humans had attachments to plenty of old things, museums were full of stuff. No reason Atlantians shouldn't as well. There was no doubt Ian felt the box of the highest importance, and she respected him enough to take his word for it.
At least, the museum snooping went easier than she thought. Sonora smirked. And fun. Regardless of what she'd told her grandfather and Ian, she'd been a little nervous. It wasn't like she ever scouted a heist before.
Her girlfriends were a great help even if ignorant of the fact Sonora moonlighted as a criminal with their help. She took several selfies with fish tanks and sea mammals that included doors, exits, and cameras in the background. A request for some back-area tours finished Ian's list of areas to photograph. Sonora promptly texted all the photos to her grandfather's cell phone.
No one suspected a thing, even if they got irritated by giggling girls and their clueless questions. It was hard to keep it together when the five of them went out. It wouldn't have surprised her if the staff offered a little prayer of thanks as her group walked out the door.
Unhappy with the day ending there, her friends suggested shopping and a late dinner at Sammy's, a local seafood place with an upscale bar. The young women lingered there, reluctant for the night to end.
Sonora pulled into her driveway at midnight. Her grandfather's kitchen light brightened his dark house. Sonora made her way to his back door and tapped on it.
"Hey!" Sonora smiled at her grandfather and Ian. She settled in a chair across from the incredibly handsome man she could barely believe was her boyfriend. A little thrill shot through her. She reached for one of his hands lying on the table between them and folded it between her own. His hands were so large, so manly. She rubbed her finger along his veined thumb.
When Ian didn't respond besides a slight squeeze of her hand, Sonora glanced up at him. He had that little line between his eyes. She shrugged it off. It was probably hard for him to lie low when he usually had an entire ocean to roam.
Blake moved to stand beside her. "Are you okay?"
Sonora frowned. "Sure, I'm fine, Grandpa."
"It's been hours," Ian said, pulling his hand from hers and crossing his arms.
Okay, he was upset. Sonora looked from one man to the other. "Hours? Since I sent the pictures, yes. Did you think I was coming right back here?"
"We worried something happened, Sunny," Blake said. "I texted you. I even called your aunt and uncle and asked if they'd seen you there."
She yanked her phone out of her purse. Grandpa's name was on five of the notifications. Sonora raised a hand to her face. "I didn't realize… I should have texted again. I didn't mean to worry you. The girls and I shopped and then went to Sammy's. It was loud."
Ian sat up and frowned. "That is a bar."
"And a restaurant. A nice one," Sonora said, laughing. "Even good girls drink alcohol."
"Someone should have escorted you there," Ian said. "It is not safe up here."
Blake cleared his throat. "Well, Ian, she is my granddaughter, and I feel the same way, but it is the way they do things here."
Ian said, "It's irresponsible and dangerous. When Atlantians visit, women and children always have an escort. Even men travel together."
"You don't," Sonora shot at him.
"I am one of the exceptions. Warriors are free to travel on their own." Ian's gaze moved over Sonora. His eyes softened, but his attitude didn't. "You are small and defenseless. What could you do to protect yourself? You should have someone accompany you."
"The girls were with me."
Ian raised an eyebrow.
She rolled her eyes. "You are not my father."
Ian opened his mouth, then closed it. Until Sunny, he'd had little reason to understand much of the relationship between human men and women. He'd been taught to be polite and had studied one chapter on human relations in school that he barely paid attention to. That was the extent of his knowledge on the subject, and it was usually enough.
Ian glanced at Sunny's set mouth. She was angry. When she saw how little crime Atlantis had, she would realize how dangerous it was up here. Atlantian women had no problems with escorts on land, even though they roamed at will at home.
Earlier, as they waited for Sunny to finish her assignment, Blake had tried to explain human women to Ian. Apparently, the gulf between human men and women was wider than their own people. The w
eaker bond often caused women to take offense at their men's natural tendency to protect them. Instead of seeing it as a caring gesture, they found it controlling. On the other hand, Atlantian women could enjoy their mate's loving attention and gently push back when a man overstepped. Human women’s offense, in turn, caused their men to become angry. It didn't sound good.
Blake had heartily encouraged Ian to be the one to make the first move toward a reconciliation when a disagreement arose with Sunny. Ian glanced at Sunny stiff posture. He tensed and held out his hand. "I worry for you. Do not be angry because I care."
Sunny sighed, her eyes losing their glittery edge as her gaze softened. "I know. I suspect we'll have a lot of differences we'll have to hammer out."
Ian smiled. There would be another time to discuss her dangerous ways. "I enjoyed your pictures." He gave Sunny an intense stare. "The one in front of the dolphin enclosure was my favorite."
Sunny pinked and giggled.
Blake sighed. "Yes, he mooned over that one for a while." He cleared his throat and changed the subject to the task at hand—retrieving the Artifact.
Sunny sat patiently listening for a while, then asked, "And what will I do? Where will I be?"
"As far away from this as possible," Ian said. "You have done your part."
"I want to help, Ian."
Blake stepped to his granddaughter and put an arm around her. Sonora refused to look at him as if she knew what he planned to say would not be to her liking.
"Granddaughter, what you did today helped us more than we deserve. You did your part so well that all we have to do is go in and pick the thing up. It'll only take a couple of minutes, and that is all thanks to you. You are an amazing scout with wonderful photography skills—"
Ian smiled when Sunny relaxed and laughed. "Grandpa, you're laying it on really thick."
"I know, honey, but it's true." Blake kissed the top of her head. "And if Ian and I get caught, they have one crazy old man and an out of towner with an easy escape. If you get caught—well, you wouldn't get out of it so easily."
Sonora blew out a heavy sigh. "Okay. I guess."
Ian examined the exchange. Blake appeared a master at manipulating human women. He would be sure to listen to his advice concerning them. The relationship between himself and Sonora would have its waves, and Ian wanted to do everything he could to smooth them.
When Blake excused himself for a moment, Sunny sent Ian a blazing smile. He drank it in, letting it fill him. Tracing a finger on the back of her hand, Ian wished to wrap her in his arms. He wanted the feel of her against him so badly. His fingers twitched with need, and her eyes went to their entwined hands. Sunny knew what he wanted. He could sense it.
Ian moved his hand toward her. The movement was small, so small if she hadn't been looking at his hand, she would have never noticed it. But she did, and she saw it for what it was, a plea.
His heart thundered as he waited. Sunny's breathing quickened. One. Two.
She battled herself as she always did when it came to their relationship. It was not him now. It was what being with him would mean. Leaving her family, leaving her friends, the life she had built here, that she continued to build.
Three.
She blinked and let go of his hand, standing. After walking to him, she held out her hand and slowly slid her fingers over his. His flesh tingled, burned a trail where she touched.
Ian had been free with his gestures of affection from the beginning, a hand pulling her along, a protective arm around her waist, a loving finger running along her long, beautiful hair. She hadn't objected to his taking, but she rarely gave. He treasured each second of it now.
He let his gaze roam over her, from her long, tanned legs up to her bold, captivating blue eyes. Sunny leaned into him, running her free hand over his jaw, laying her thumb at the corner of his mouth. She stared at his lips until close enough to explore them. Ian groaned as they met. Soft, delicious, and a little hesitant, he took what she gave. Then needed more.
He pulled her to him, where he sat, tightening his arms until all he felt was her. Sunny's hair spilled like silk over his arm. Her skin smooth and hot under his. Her perfect lips molded to his will.
And Ian was lost. Lost in the moment, lost in her and blissfully happy. The connection flashed through him, bright white like lightning. He thrilled with it.
Sunny jerked back, eyes wide, her hands trembled as they gripped his biceps. "What was that?"
Ian pulled her back, eager to continue, but she resisted. "Ian! What was that—light or whatever? I don't even know what to call it."
"You didn't feel that last time?"
"No."
That was disappointing. But he must remember it took her longer. At least she had now. "Edinara, next time you sense it, fall into it. We will be as close as possible, experience each other's emotions on the greatest level."
Sunny flushed and wiggled closer to him, putting her arms around his neck. Just as Ian returned his lips to hers, they heard Blake making his way toward the kitchen.
Sunny gave him a regretful look. "Until later," she breathed in his ear before jumping off his lap.
Ian felt abandoned as she rushed to the other side of the table and dropped into the chair. Her pink face and plumped lips would give them away if nothing else did. They were hiding nothing.
Sunny's gaze darted to the archway of the kitchen as she cleared her throat. "When do you get the Artifact?"
It took a moment for him to register her words.
"Tonight. The sooner, the better, as you humans like to say."
"Tonight, really?"
Blake came into the room. One look at Sunny and he threw Ian a stern, uncomfortable glance. Ian shrugged. The situation was awkward, but the least of their problems. And he had every right to hold his Jata Ara. He wished he held her now.
"Do you have everything you need?" Sunny asked.
Both men nodded. They had checked and doublechecked. All supplies were packed in Ian's car, and they wore the mandatory dark-colored clothing.
"Why does it seem like I should be making you sandwiches or something?"
Blake smiled. "We aren't going on a field trip."
Sonora put a hand to her stomach. "I'm well aware of that."
Ian frowned and asked, "What is a field trip?"
"I'll explain in the car," Blake answered as he hugged Sunny and walked out the door.
It took two steps before Ian stood beside Sunny, and that had seemed too much. He put his hands on her arms and brought her closer. Staring into her eyes, he winced at what he needed to tell her. “I will be taking the Artifact back to Atlantis as soon as we get it."
"Tonight?" She looked shaken.
Ian rubbed her arm, trying to smooth the surprise and panic. "Yes, my love. The council needs it, and I want to tell your grandfather's story as soon as possible. As soon as I have a decision, I will be back."
Sonora glanced down. "Do you know when?"
"Not exactly, but I will not leave you for long."
She nodded and gave him a half-hearted smile. "It needs done."
She was sad, and he wasn't any better. Ian wanted to drag her back into his embrace and feel her in that way only Atlantians can. Lay her beside him both physically and emotionally. But now was not the time.
He pulled himself together and crushed her against him. Sunny laid her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around him so tight they felt like a band around his waist. It was comforting, reassuring after everything he'd been through to have her.
She uttered a sob.
"Oh, Sunny."
"Ignore me. I'm being silly."
"Not silly. Never that." The ache inside him grew. It would be harder to leave than he had expected. He sighed and laid his head on hers.
Sonora pulled back and gazed at him with tear-filled eyes, laying a hand on his cheek. "Please, be careful."
Ian nodded. "You need not worry. I am more than capable of taking care of myself."
<
br /> She gave him a watery smile. "Still."
"I will."
He allowed himself one last look at her beautiful face. It was time to leave, he couldn't let this continue forever. He dragged his gaze from her, gently kissed her forehead, and closed his eyes. Ian let all his emotions pour to her. "You hold my heart, Jata Ara. I love you."
Sunny's sobbing intensified. She jumped up into his arms, laying her head on his neck. Hot tears dropped on his skin. She tried to talk, tried to choke out the words, but her emotions overwhelmed her. Maybe it was not just hers, but her newfound ability to feel his too.
"Sunny, are you okay?"
She shook her head as it laid against him. "I—I lo—"
Ian pulled away, sitting her on the table when she couldn't complete her sentence. Trying to tame his own aching heart, he did everything he possible to pull his emotions back to himself. She wasn't ready yet.
He used his thumbs to mop her face as she started to settle. "Feel better?"
"A little."
"I will be back soon, my heart. This is a small separation, and when I return, it will never need to happen again." He ran a hand over her hair before he turned and headed for the door. Ian glanced at Sunny as he locked the door and took in her brave face. He steeled himself to leave her, something he would have never dreamt he'd willingly do. It was only for a little while. He'd be back in a day or two at the most.
Twelve
The Heist
Chapter Twelve
Blake and Ian sat in their “borrowed” car, staring at the Marine Center. Ian's hands twisted on the steering wheel, and Blake's knee bounced like a teenager.
Ian chuckled. "All I want to do is jump out of this car, run across the street, and get this done."
Blake grunted his agreement.