by Maira Dawn
Jorah's tone was quick and harsh. "Hush! Never say that name! That will not be our son. And that was a different situation altogether."
“It was over love and humans. The two never mix without trouble."
Aleena sent her feelings to her husband, as Atlantian couples often did. Feeling her distress, Jorah's face fell, and he rushed to his wife, wrapping his arms around her and offering her comfort. "Maybe he will keep her here."
"She will be treated horribly here. Ian needs to take her back to where she belongs."
"He's waited so long for his love, and now this," Jorah muttered.
Jorah prayed it was not as bad as Aleena feared, but he could tell from his wife's pain, she held out no hope for their child. He took Aleena's hand. Their children's welfare had always been uppermost in her mind. She had worried herself sick. Tears came to Jorah's eyes as he imagined what Ian was going through.
Every time Ian left to travel through the ocean's kingdoms to find his Jata Ara, Jorah wished him well, as a good father does. More than that, though, he longed for his son to find his match almost as much as Ian did. Jorah knew a good match could complete a man, make him whole. Jorah's arms tightened around his wife. That is what had happened for him, the minute he and Aleena met.
Through Ian's many years of searching, when Ian had returned in despair and defeat, Jorah comforted him, assuring Ian that one day he would find his love. Jorah had been so sure all this waiting meant his son was going to find someone extraordinary.
But this? Jorah couldn't imagine how this could be anything but a troublesome match. He cringed at the thought that his family line would no longer be pure Atlantian. How would that affect Ian's prospects? Would his son be eligible to take over Jorah's seat on the council?
Jorah spoke softly to his wife. "I will speak with our son. But he is right, Aleena, a mate is one's own decision to make, not his family's. And if he insists on this, well, just remember we are human too."
Aleena recoiled. "We are Atlantian!"
Jorah's words came out sure even though they sounded wrong to his own ears. "Which are human."
"Which are better than human,” Aleena laid her head on her husband's shoulder.
"Yes, of course, my dear," Jorah smoothed a hand over her hair. "Of course, we are, but we are undeniably connected to them, and they to us. We are charged with helping them. And though we may not know the outcome of that particular situation yet, perhaps we can, somehow, do our part to help this human girl.”
Breathe
Chapter Twenty-three
Sonora woke to the smell of cooking food. She put her hands above her head and stretched, surprised, but happy she'd had a restful night in Ian's guest bedroom. Sniffing once, then twice, Sonora frowned. Nothing smelled familiar. She raised an eyebrow as she threw a glance out the window. Who knew what would be on the menu?
Sonora searched through her borrowed clothing and slid a dress over her head, arranging it the way she'd seen Cascadia wearing hers. After finger-combing her hair, Sonora looked at what she could only call a magic mirror. The wall appeared the same as the others until she pushed a button and a mirror seemed to pour down the wall. No matter how many times she made the mirror appear, Sonora still didn't understand how it worked.
Sonora walked to the door and stopped. Her family would have already missed her. Maybe they would think she stayed at a friend’s house last night, but when she didn’t show up again today? They were going to be so worried. Sonora tried to shrug off her worry, there was nothing she could do about that. Instead, she’d think about how she would handle Ian today. She wasn't happy with his decree that she stay, but she didn’t have much choice at the moment. Playing along seemed to be the best way of finding a way out of here. And, if she was stuck here, she planned to make the most of it. Never, in a million years, had she dreamed of anything like this, and she wanted to learn everything possible.
Sonora followed her nose to the kitchen and found Ian hard at work. And wearing more clothing than yesterday. He'd added a shirt to his shorts.
His face brightened as soon as she entered the room. "Good morning, breakfast will be done in a moment."
"Can I help?"
"There really isn't anything left to do." Ian studied Sonora. "You look beautiful."
Sonora stared at Ian for a moment. It meant more to her than she wanted to admit. He hadn’t tried to be sexy or romantic, just said it as if he’d said the sun was shining. It was perfect. Sonora pinked and turned her head away. "Thank you, but the dress is too long."
Ian smiled at her reaction. "I can have something altered for you."
Sonora waved her hand at his suggestion. "No, it’s fine. I wasn't complaining." She glanced from his face to his shirt. "You look nice too."
When they sat for breakfast, Ian explained each dish. Sonora recognized nothing, except the strawberries, which were grown in an unusual garden that Ian promised to show her. Sonora enjoyed it all, rejecting only one slimy dish, which she shoved back at Ian. He eagerly downed it with the same exuberance he seemed to have for all food.
While they ate, Ian answered Sonora's questions, explaining how they harnessed the ocean's internal waves for power and the geothermal energy for heat from below the ocean floor.
Sonora nodded. "Waves certainly have immense power. That little wave had me swirling so fast I wasn’t able to see anything." She smirked. "You know, on the day I met you."
"You mean the day I save your life."
"You mean on the day you kidnapped me."
"Sunny… You do remember I save your life, don't you?"
Sonora sat back in her seat and crossed her arms as she stared at him.
Ian raised an eyebrow. "You do not remember me reaching out to you?"
She glanced at the tile floor. Oh, she remembered it. Sonora would never forget it. Nothing but dark water swirling around her. Tumbling like she was in the middle of a waterspout. She'd been terrified before she’d seen him.
Sonora unfolded her arms. "I do. And I thank you with all my heart. I just don't understand the rest of it."
Ian took her hand, folding it into his. "We'll talk about that soon."
"Soon?"
"Tonight, but for now, I have a surprise.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a little breather. "Would you like to learn to use this?"
Sonora almost bounced in her seat. "I would love too!"
Ian gave her a demonstration, explaining the need to pull the air as deeply into her lungs as possible. "You will be like a child at first, but over time, you will be able to hold your breath for longer periods."
Sonora ignored Ian's assumption she would be here that long. "Like you?"
Ian chuckled. "Probably never like me, but we shall see."
Determined to succeed, Sonora didn't give up even when the first try blasted her in the eye and the second did nothing but raise the side of her hair in a violent spin.
Ian was almost bent over the table in laughter. "You have to breathe the air in when you push the button," he choked out.
"Stop laughing at me!" Sonora yelled through her own giggles.
"You are worse than the little ones, Sunny."
Sonora slapped Ian on the arm. "Now you are just being rude."
"No. It is possible be much ruder."
Sonora tried to appear angry but lost when she exploded into another fit of laughter. "Oh my, this thing is impossible. There is so much pressure."
"Children can use it. So can you. Try again." Ian waved from the breather to Sonora.
"Ugh!" The next try went better at first, then she started violently coughing.
"You are fine. You are good. Just breathe.” Ian reached out to Sonora.
"Just to inform you, that is not me doing good," she gasped. "This is normal?"
"For beginners, yes. You are almost there."
Sonora rolled her eyes. She felt far from almost there, but she nodded. Sonora wanted so much to swim as free at the Atlantians did. So it was har
der than she thought, not many great things were easy. Sonora readied herself. The blast of air was intense, and her instinct was to refuse to inhale it.
But Ian was right, two more times and Sonora had it. She'd have to breathe a whole lot more than Ian did, but she could do it. Sonora rushed to change into her bathing suit while Ian loaded up on breathers.
Once dressed Sonora grabbed two breathers off the floor beside Ian and flashed him a smile before dropping down the portal into the ocean below.
Sonora stayed close to the narrow opening to Ian's house, swimming in circles. Ian sat on the edge of the portal, dangling his feet as he kept an eye on her. She used the breather three or four times flawlessly before moving further out. Ian jumped into the water and trailed her.
Sonora had expected the feeling of freedom, of exhilaration. What she had not expected was that swimming in the deep ocean without a mask or tank almost seemed like being naked in public. It seemed all wrong.
Sonora expelled all her air and prepared to take another breath. She maneuvered awkwardly and missed most of the oxygen. This was harder than she thought, it was time to go in. Sonora turned to Ian and pointed back to his house, then kicked away from him.
Ian grabbed her foot and held it. She looked at him over her shoulder with raised eyebrows. He imitated using the breather.
"No," Sonora mouthed as she shook her head.
Ian tugged on her foot again, bringing her close to him. He encouraged Sonora to try again.
He was right. She'd been excited to try this, and here she was giving up already. But if she didn't inhale properly this time, it would be a race for the door. Sonora turned and grasped Ian's arm. He brought a palm to his chest, letting her know he was there for her. He put a hand around Sonora's waist.
Sonora nodded. She needed to try this sometime. But she scoffed at herself, just yesterday she'd been more afraid of Ian than the ocean, and now it was the other way around. She found herself seeking his comfort.
She raised the breather and tried again, successfully filling her lungs with air. Eyes sparkling and filled with confidence, Sonora clapped her hands and moved away from Ian.
Two dolphins swam to them, bringing a bit of seaweed to play catch. Sonora enjoyed her new playmates, swirling in the water when they did, and appreciating her freedom from cumbersome breathing equipment. The dolphins carefully played around her as if they sensed her lack of skills in the water. Occasionally, they pushed her upward as if they were trying to send her home. Sonora grimaced. Even they knew she didn't belong here. Ian clicked and whistled at them, and they bounced along to another activity.
Sonora brought a breather to her mouth, but when she pushed the button, nothing came out. She handed it to Ian and tried another. It was empty too.
Getting Ian’s attention again, Sonora pointed at the breather and shook it. Ian searched through the breathers he carried in a small bag as Sonora shot a nervous glance to Ian's house. It seemed so far away. She hadn't realized their play had taken them so far out.
Ian pulled the last breather out and smiled. "Last one."
His voice rumbled around and through Sonora like a thousand speakers on full blast. She startled and huffed out what little air she had. Sonora's eyes widened as she fought the desire to pull in a breath. Trembling, she grabbed the last cylinder out of Ian's hand.
Sonora tried to calm herself as she yanked the breather to her mouth. It worked until a dolphin bumped her from behind.
She jolted. The cylinder tumbled from her hands. She gasped and reached for it, her flailing hands unable to keep up as it spun in the swirling water.
Ian uttered a hard whistle, and the dolphins instantly stilled. He moved toward the quickly falling breather, then glanced at Sonora. Her hands were on her neck.
The water pushed its way down her throat, and Sonora's instinct was to cough it out. It was taking every bit of control not to do so. She could only stifle the cough so long.
Ian glanced from her to his house. He grabbed Sonora, holding her tight. Determination covered his face as he set his sights on his home.
Sonora wrapped her arms around his chest, barely able to clasp her hands together. She shook as she resisting the internal scream for more air and praying they would make it.
It was a battle of will versus flesh now.
Ian put a hand to her head, pushing it against his neck. His take-off was so fast the force of the water squeezed her body to his.
He swam as the dolphins did, the undulating motion giving him more speed than she imagined possible. The dolphins flanked Ian, helping to lessen the water’s drag and further increasing his speed.
Sonora banged on Ian's back with one of her fists, urging him on. She was almost at the breaking point. She'd done best she could, her need for oxygen was winning.
Sonora's body bucked in Ian's arms as it demanded air. Determined to fill with something, her body disobeyed her commands and took in the only thing available—water.
Once her lungs started, they would not stop. They continued until Sonora's lungs were filled to the top. Sonora screamed her death knoll as her drowning body bounced against Ian's with such force he struggled to hold her.
She glanced up and saw Ian's agonized face looking back at her. A single air bubble rose between them. Ian shook his head, denying what was before his eyes.
Sonora's body went limp as the light seemed to fade around her. Ian's hands tightened on her slim body, and he continued his onslaught home.
Even If
Chapter Twenty-four
Ian flew out of the water and overshot his landing. After almost hitting the ceiling of his living room, he came down hard, slamming his heels against the living room floor. His internal chant moved to his lips. "No, Sunny! Do not leave me, my heart!" His raspy voice broke.
Sunny’s head lolled to one side, and one limp arm draped over his. Dropping to his knees, Ian gently laid Sonora on the floor. In a panic, he tapped the communicator implanted in his jaw since childhood. "Father! Mother! I need you!"
Ian tipped Sunny’s head and listened for any sign of breathing. His own unusually quick gasps were all he heard. Ian slowed his breaths. If he was going to help her, he needed to get himself under control.
Ian brought his mouth to Sunny’s, pulling the water from her lungs. He spit what he gathered onto the floor. She was still limp and lifeless. He tried again.
Ian looked up as his family raced into the house, their faces paled at the sight of an unconscious Sunny and their son's pleading eyes.
"Father, Mother, help me, please." Ian ran a hand over his forehead and through his hair.
"I can't lose her! I can't--" Ian shuddered as glanced from them to Sonora. He put his hand to Sunny’s hair, stroking it as his voice fell to a whisper. "I've just found her." He winced. Everything hurt, his throat burned, and his heart slowly ripped into two.
Aleena brought a hand to her mouth as she sobbed over her son's distress.
Jorah lowered himself to the floor beside Ian. He clasped his son's shoulder. "Try again, Ian. Sometimes humans are stronger and more resilient than we believe."
Ian's hands shook as he gathered Sunny into his arms. His pained soul praying this time she would wake. He put his own cool lips to his beloved's cold ones and pulled more water from her.
Ian stared at Sunny, willing her to open her eyes. When she didn't, he lowered his head to hers and rocked, clasping Sunny to himself.
Cascadia and Talise shot a look at their parents before exchanging wide-eyed glances. Cascadia crouched beside her brother. "When I was in Rome last summer, I saw a human pulled from the sea. They did things differently than us. They banged on her chest, and when she coughed, they turned her over."
Talise agreed. "I've seen the same thing."
Ian looked from his powerful fists to his delicate Jata Ara. "I would kill her for sure. Cascadia, I beg you to do what you have seen." Ian laid Sonora flat on the ground.
His sisters settled on the floor, one on
each side. Cascadia carefully pressed on Sunny’s chest as Talise patted the girl's face. Ian hovered above them.
When nothing happened, Ian ordered. "Push harder!"
"I'll break her!"
Ian turned away, his shoulders shaking. He'd give anything for her to live. Anything. Even if… even if she wanted to go home and never see him again. Just to know she was alive would be enough.
Jorah patted his daughter. "She's already gone. You can do no more damage. It will work, or it will not."
Cascadia strengthened her efforts. After two compressions, Talise leaned down and listened. "Something is happening."
Ian rushed to Sunny’s side.
An anxious sigh escaped Aleena. "Try drawing the water from her now, son."
Ian's mouth was on Sunny’s when she stirred. He moved away, monitoring every slight action. Only when she erupted into a coughing fit and hauled in more air, did Ian allow himself to believe she would be all right.
His heart soared as he turned Sunny on her side, his arms holding her upper body up off the floor. Sonora wrapped both her arms around his, clenching him, as she continued spitting water. How could so much water be coming from such puny lungs? It frightened him, and Ian could tell it scared her.
He did his best to soothe Sunny, pulling her long, wet hair away from her face and stroking the length of her back. Twice he bent and gave her a light kiss on the back of her head, unable to stop himself. Maybe she wouldn't notice. Eventually, she lay exhausted in his arms.
Intense joy filled every part of Ian. When Sunny stirred and frowned, he smiled. She knew of his emotion on some level even if she was unsure of what it was.
Jorah and Aleena knelt beside the two of them soaking in the glow of their son's happiness. Jorah turned to his wife. "It is too late for him, my wife. This bond is truly sealed."
Ian sighed as he stared at Sunny. "It has been too late for a long time now, Father."