5. CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 5
There was no reason for every hair on Nessim’s body to stand on end, yet they were. It was as if he were being electrified, although everything electrical had been knocked out for more than a hundred miles. So, what the hell was wrong with him?
Why did he feel as if it were imperative to get where they were going as quickly as possible? He paced the ship's deck relentlessly as they positioned far enough away not to be seen, yet close enough for the smaller boats to make their way to shore under the cover of darkness. Unfortunately, that was another five hours away.
Nessim once again checked his watch. Three minutes later than the last time he looked. This day would never end. He was certain of it.
“Cool it,” Saber growled softly, but with enough menace in his tone, Nessim had zero doubt their leader would make him pay for not obeying. The only thing he couldn’t figure out was why was his pacing a problem.
Chadwick chuckled lowly, so as to barely make a sound. “It wasn’t the pacing,” their leader’s mate informed him. “You started growling a little too loudly the past couple of minutes. Sound carries on water and we don’t want to risk alerting the enemy we’re here.”
Oops.
He felt heat infusing his cheeks as several big grins were sent his way, as if they were all in on some sort of joke. He didn’t think his growling was all that funny. Not that it mattered. The only thing he could think about at that moment was that something was on that island he needed to get to.
“I don’t get it,” he spat out, tossing his hands in frustration. “I don’t get agitated. I’m usually the calm and cool one. What the hell is wrong with me?”
Chadwick was laughing hard silently as he faux slapped his hand on his thigh before standing up and grinning at Nessim. “Do you smell anything that’s different?”
Nessim frowned at the question. “What difference does that make?”
Chadwick rolled his eyes even as he continued to toss his knives in the air and catch them without ever cutting himself. It was jaw-dropping to watch, especially since when Chadwick juggled them. It was as if he honestly didn’t care if he got cut wide open or not. A few times, Chadwick seemed to pull them out of the air at the last second.
The only explanation for the mountain lion shifter to play with knives was because he was… well, he wasn’t supposed to say this as a psychologist, but the man was crazy. Then again, he supposed one would have to have been a bit touched in the head to mate Saber, their—at times—scary as fuck leader. It would take a very strong person to go toe-to-toe with Saber, yet Chadwick never seemed to have a problem doing it.
Like he said, ‘crazy’.
It was also why he knew there was no point in not answering. Chadwick was a relentless interrogator. Once he had a bone to gnaw on, there was no getting rid of it until Chadwick had all the answers he required.
“Yes, there has been something I’m smelling that makes no sense out here in the ocean.” He inhaled deeply, the scent helping to calm his agitated nerves. “Like the heather that grows in my homeland entwined with a light aroma of lemon and mint.”
There was that mischievous grin Chadwick wore more often than not. “I take it you like the fragrance.”
It wasn’t exactly a question, but Nessim answered it anyway. “Yes. It is encouraging me to shift and swim to shore.”
A powerful hand landed on his forearm as if to stop him from that stupid notion of putting himself and—by association—everyone else in jeopardy of being attacked. “Let’s mark that as plan Z and see if we can’t come up with a better and safer way to get your mate freed.”
Nessim froze when Chadwick’s words finally registered. The asshole laughed maniacally and called over his shoulder without actually looking at Nessim. “Yes, Nessie, you heard me right. Your mate is one of those we’re about to save, so I suggest you get your head out of your ass and work with us on a plan instead of creating a scene for the enemy to see, which will, in turn, alert them we’re here.”
Nessim didn’t think, he just dropped into a crouch in hopes of no one on land seeing him.
That had Chadwick laughing even harder, although he kept it relatively silent. However, the charades portion of his little act clarified that if he could, Chadwick would be anything but quiet. It was a good thing he was forced to be silent.
Even though he was tempted to punch Chadwick—another thing about him Nessim never thought he’d feel—he followed him inside the command center. If his mate was on that island, Nessim planned on doing whatever it took to free him.
Not that he would have any clue how to go about doing that. He was a psychologist, for goodness’ sake. He wasn’t exactly knowledgeable about battle strategy. Who was he kidding? Except when he and a group of others were taken, he’d never fought a day in his life.
It would put him at a great disadvantage, but he damn well knew he would do whatever it took to keep his mate safe. If that meant using a weapon and possibly killing someone, that’s what he’d do.
“As the sun sets, we’re switching out those underwater. Team one will come back and board while we send out team two to cover us from the water and help those who get into the water back to the boat where we can keep them safe,” Saber informed them.
“Just remember,” Edrick, Alpha of the town Miracle on the mainland, addressed each and every one of them. “If they don’t want to come with us and would rather try to get away themselves, we are not to make them get on our boats.”
It was one of their primary rules. No one was to be forced to do anything they didn’t wish to do. Obviously, they weren’t allowed to commit crimes like stealing, bullying, or murder, but it meant that if they wanted to try to make it out in the world on their own, they could go. The Council would always be there to back them up, but since Salvation Island was in the North Pacific and Miracle was in the western half of the U.S., it would take time for the Council to arrive and help.
The fact was, they’d gotten lucky there had been a witness willing to follow the enemy who had kidnapped so many shifters. Except… If they hadn’t, he wouldn’t have the chance he had now to meet the man who had been born for Nessim.
Then again, he would rather live the rest of his life not knowing his mate if it meant him getting the chance to live. It would seriously suck not to meet someone meant to be his one and only to lose that person before he had a chance to really get to know them.
“Are you certain you want to do this?” Chadwick murmured in his ear so no one else could hear. Hopefully.
The problem with shifters was their hearing picked up any sound. It made having a private conversation nearly impossible.
“I’m fine,” he said in a warning to not only stop Chadwick from saying anything more but to caution anyone else from bringing it up.
He would save his mate, no matter what anyone had to say about it.