Chapter 29
Ishould have figured this out sooner. Of course, the i'xal would only work in water. It makes perfect sense. After splashing around for a bit, Phoenix and I got to talking about the i'xal again. That’s when he pulled it out of his pocket, and we realized the rune on the left was glowing.
“Madi, Hunter, get out here.” Phoenix waves the stone in the air, and it stops glowing. He drops it back in the water, and it immediately glows again. “It’s working.”
He keeps the stone underwater as we swim in the direction indicated, getting closer to shore as we do.
Madi and Hunter have finished packing up the picnic things and are following our progress from the beach.
We pass an outcropping of rocks, and the rune that’s glowing changes, so we circle back, getting closer and closer to the same plateau where I dried myself after Madi and I took our first swim together.
The water is higher today, covering the rock I sunned on before.
Other rocks still jut out of the sea, making something like a path all the way to the shore.
Madi and Hunter carefully navigate them toward us.
I don’t miss how he holds her hand, supporting her to make sure she doesn’t fall.
Phoenix and I circle the outcropping, watching which runes glow. It shifts and changes as we move, making it clear there’s an underwater city here—or at least the entrance to one—somewhere in these rocks.
The water isn’t super deep, but I dive below the surface to search, unsure exactly what I’m looking for. There’s nothing out of the ordinary. When I break the surface again, Madi is kneeling on the closest rock, leaning over to look at where Phoenix holds the i'xal just under the water.
“Incredible,” she whispers.
Hunter bends over her, one hand on her shoulder. “It’s pointing right this way.” He straightens, looking behind him. There’s a much taller rock there, with what looks like a flat top.
Madi tilts her head, looking at it. “Could there be something on top of that?”
“Only one way to find out.” Phoenix shoves the i'xal in his pocket, then lifts out of the water.
I do the same, flicking my tail against the rock, hoping it dries quickly.
Phoenix climbs to the top of the taller rock structure, muscles flexing, water dripping from his tan skin. Madi and Hunter watch him as closely as I do.
I never thought much about a pack, my future was always to be bonded solely to Princess Farrasea.
But now, I can’t help wondering what it would be like to have multiple partners, multiple people to help me care for and spoil Madi, to love and support each other.
There’s safety in numbers. Even if we don’t normally pack up in the sea, I know a pod is safer than a single fish.
I want Madi to be safe and happy. And I wouldn’t mind if these were the men to make that happen.
When Phoenix reaches the top, he lets out an excited whoop. “I think I found something.”
My tail finally splits. Wide-eyed, Hunter crouches down, brushing his fingertips along my scales just as they change to smooth skin, like he did yesterday, like he can’t help himself.
There’s nothing cold about the shiver that shakes through me at his touch.
Yes, I think I’d like this man to be part of Madi’s pack.
I put my hands on his shoulders, using him for support as I stand.
I always feel a little wobbly when first using my legs again.
As Hunter rises from his crouched position, I stumble on an uneven rock and fall into him.
His arms wrap around my back, holding me close, and I have the sudden urge to bury my nose in his throat and try to scent him, even though I know it’d be useless.
Madi told me all about the medicine humans take to hide their scent.
Ridiculous, if you ask me. Scents are like a language all their own.
My people celebrate them, read them, and listen to them. We don’t hide them.
I’m grateful my swim has washed off some of the spray Madi doused me in this morning.
Hunter’s arms flex. He sniffs, and his nose trails along the shell of my ear, then down to where my neck meets my shoulders, right over my scent gland.
“Fuck,” he groans, the sound so deep it rumbles from his chest to mine.
His lips graze my neck, followed by the wet glide of his tongue before he curses again.
I wish I still had my cock pocket to protect and hide my stiffening length, but in this form there’s no concealing the arousal I feel.
No wonder humans wear clothing. Having every moment of lust on display for everyone to see is far too embarrassing.
I bring one hand to my groin to try to cover myself.
Hunter steps back, leaving me cold.
“Forgive me,” he says, almost formal. But the heat in his gaze echoes the same burning I feel deep and low in my belly.
Madi hands me the shorts I left on the beach. I search her face as I step into them, but there’s only understanding there.
“You coming?” Phoenix hollers from the top of the rock face.
“Yep, be right there.” Madi spins toward the rock and begins to climb, and I step behind her in case she loses her footing. When she reaches the top, Phoenix takes hold of her wrist and helps her up.
“You next,” Hunter says, briefly touching the small of my back, and my stiff cock gives a little jerk. At least it’s covered now.
Climbing is a new sensation for me, and it takes a little effort before I reach the top. As Phoenix pulls me up, he pauses with his cheek next to mine. “Did Hunter like your scent, squishy?”
I nod, throat too dry to speak. Phoenix grins and brushes a kiss across my cheek before pulling me all the way over the edge.
Madi hunches over something directly in the middle of the rock. It’s a round hole, barely big enough for one large person. It’s smooth and symmetrical. Too perfect to have been made by nature. And it’s filled with water, all the way to the edge.
“Do you think it’s down there?” Madi asks as I reach her side.
“Let’s find out.” I dip my hand into the water, finding it warmer than the sea, but not as warm as the bath Phoenix put me in yesterday.
“Be careful,” Madi says, worrying her bottom lip. “Don’t get stuck or something.”
I give her a quick kiss, then take off the shorts I just put on and dive headfirst into the hole.