10. CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 10
Unable to handle the tension of waiting for word, Glyn threw himself into helping those who needed it. He helped make the kids peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as well as handed out juice boxes. The captain assured everyone there was food waiting for them at their destination before they boarded a plane and headed to either Miracle or Salvation.
As a water shifter, he was hoping for the island but he’d have to talk to his mate about where he lived. All he knew for certain was he wasn’t about to go back to his colony. Not after being attacked and imprisoned. No. He wanted to be somewhere safe.
Once all the children were taken care of, he started working on making more sandwiches for the adults. He had only gotten about four of those made when arms encircled him from behind and the scent of brine, salt and sand sank deep into his lungs.
“Do you need help, my mate?” Cayman murmured in his ear, making Glyn shiver with the need of finally being in his mate’s arms.
He set the knife down and turned in those strong, sure arms. “As much as I would love to say that I think we’ve done enough and should go find somewhere quiet where we can be alone, we were basically, slowly, being starved to death.”
To prove his words, his stomach made a loud growl. Cayman flashed him a smile and damn if his heart didn’t melt at the sight. “Then I guess we should feed you and the others.” He reached around Glyn and picked up one of the sandwiches. “Since you’re the one in here, standing on your feet to help others, eat one now. I wouldn’t want my mate to faint.”
Then he grabbed another knife and another loaf of bread and started slathering peanut butter and jelly on the slices. Deciding Cayman had a point, he wolfed down one of the sandwiches and got back to work.
“Saber said they had a hot meal waiting for us at the airfield before we take off,” his mate told him. “Nothing too heavy since I had already warned him when I saw you working in the yard yesterday, they were clearly starving all of you.”
“Smart.” The last thing they needed was to gorge themselves and make themselves sick. “I was told we are being taken to either Miracle or Salvation. Do you live in one of those places?”
That earned him another smile as those mahogany eyes turned their complete attention to Glyn. It was…well knee weakening to have his mate’s focus on only him for a moment.
“Salvation. I live in a two-bedroom home overlooking the cove, which is where I spend most of my time swimming.” His grin got even bigger as he described it. “It’s a beautiful island with a beach, cliffs, a stream and even gorgeous woods with a couple of walking paths. We are surrounded by the Northern Pacific Ocean, so the cold waters should be nice for your penguin, although it’s not nearly as cold as what you’re used to. But it truly is a gem.”
“The natives are starting to get restless,” Wizard said as he came into the galley. “Can I start handing out the sandwiches you have done?”
The reminder of what they were doing heated his cheeks, which caused his mate to chuckle softly. “Sorry, Wizard,” Cayman said. “I was too enamored with my mate to remember what I was doing.”
Touched that his mate admitted that, Glyn gave him a smile, but got back to working making more sandwiches. “How long will it be until we’re in South Korea?”
“About an hour.” Cayman waved a hand at the simple sandwiches. “Which makes the perfect snack before we get there.”
Damn. If his mate was going to be that sweet all the time, Glyn would be head over heels in love with him before they got to Salvation. He might already be halfway there.
“Do you go out on these kinds of missions often?” Even though Glyn understood what he did was important, the thought of him going away a lot bothered him. Then again, they hadn’t sealed their bond yet either, making him far more sensitive about it.
Cayman shrugged but that time he didn’t stop what he was doing. “In the past couple of years, more often than I’d like. We’re still not certain why humans and unscrupulous shifters are attacking shifter groups. I mean, obviously we’re tougher than humans for the hard labor.”
“Or being around uranium,” Glyn added. Not that it didn’t affect them at all, but it took a lot longer and the effects weren’t as severe unless they were put through long-term exposure.
“Exactly,” Cayman agreed. “We’ve found some of the higher ups recently, but still not who’s pulling the strings. Until we find that asshole, I can’t in good conscience leave innocent shifters in their hands.”
Oh. When he put it that way, Glyn felt like a jerk for resenting even the thought of his mate being sent on missions.
A large hand reached over and touched his arm, caressing his skin as if he just couldn’t help himself. “Hey, know that now I’m mated, you come first. Yes, I will still have to go out into the field, but I won’t take as many assignments as I had been.”
Damn, if Glyn didn’t feel both warmed by his words and guilty. He didn’t want their relationship to be about Glyn forcing him to stay home with him.
“Thank you for saying that, but you’re right. Those people need you. I needed you and not just because you are my mate.” He turned and reached up to cup Cayman’s cheek. “You saved me. There was no doubt I would have died in that place if it weren’t for people like you. I just don’t want you to always be gone.”
Cayman leaned over and gave him a peck on the lips. “That, my mate, I promise you will never happen.”
He hoped so. But if he was right and more and more shifters were being captured and forced to work with little to no food or water, was it fair to not do something to save them?
He already knew the answer. He could only pray they managed to find a balance because the last thing he wanted was for either of them to end up resenting the other one.