Chapter Eight #2
With the loudest screech Silas had ever issued from his tiny lungs, he dive-bombed Cameron.
He extended his talons and sliced across the cop’s face.
Silas felt the air swirl around his wing, telling him the douche had swung at him, and he pivoted and flapped.
Silas attacked again, forcing Cameron to stumble backward and flail, the gun flying from his grip.
Satisfaction flooded Silas that he’d managed to disarm Cameron, but it was short-lived. The asshole’s hand wrapped around his furry body, probably by accident. A second later, Cameron reeled and tilted sideways as he fell into the pool.
Silas screeched in surprise and fear as water enveloped his body. Only his human brain reminded him to hold his breath. He waved his wings and kicked his claws, but considering he’d never even learned to swim as a human, Silas didn’t get anywhere.
Fear coursed through Silas as his lungs began to burn. The realization that he was about to drown spurred him to flail even more. His desire to inhale grew, and he knew fighting it was a losing battle as dark spots began to creep over his vision.
Just as Silas felt his mind begin to drift, a soft lowing bellow danced across his senses. Slightly bumpy skin rubbed against his underside. Silas felt himself begin to rise up...and up...and up.
Silas’s head broke water, and his bat sucked in a deep breath of fresh air. He lay there, gasping, for a moment, getting his bearings. When Silas lifted his head and looked around, he realized he was riding a whale...his whale. His minke whale, Craeg, had saved him.
With a simple thought, Silas began to shift. He returned to his human form, sprawling on his stomach over Craeg’s whale’s back. Silas settled his rear against the whale’s dorsal fin, while breathing deeply and stroking along his whale’s sides.
“Are you okay, Craeg?” Silas whispered, looking over every inch of gray flesh that he could see. There was a lot of it. Still, he did spot a bit of red blooming in the water off to the right side. “You were shot.”
Craeg lowed softly, his gray eye soft as he turned a little and peered back at him.
Silas guessed that Craeg was trying to reassure him.
With a sigh, Silas murmured, “Are you sure?”
Offering another reassuring bellow, Craeg moved toward the side of the pool.
Silas hesitated, unwilling to draw away from Craeg just yet. His instinct told him to stay close to his man until the danger was clear. Hearing a shout, Silas spotted Cameron hollering for help as he tried to dodge the large tiger shark that had been in the show.
A laugh escaped Silas. He knew the shark was the shifter, Tort. Tort was toying with the asshole human, dodging to and fro, keeping Cameron from moving toward the side of the huge pool. If the guy wasn’t such an asshole, Silas would’ve felt a little bad for him.
But he is, and so I don’t.
“You’re like me. Tilda, look! They’re both like me!”
The quietly spoken words drew Silas’s attention, and he found his gaze meeting Katie’s. The young girl’s blue eyes were wide, and she stared at him with awe. She was even trying to creep closer to the pool, even as Tilda tried to hold her back.
“Yeah,” Silas confirmed, offering her a smile as he recalled thinking those exact same words not too long ago. “Yeah, I am.” He kept one hand over his groin for modesty’s sake as he waved his other hand to indicate the others. “So are all these guys. They just want to help.”
Just like they wanted to help me, too.
Silas smiled at Katie, offering, “I want to help, too.” Then he focused on Tilda. “If you’ll let us.”
A tear streaked down Tilda’s left cheek as she glanced around at everyone. Slowly, she nodded, a tremulous smile creasing her lips. “W-We’d like that.”
With a smile, Silas told her, “Head off with William there.” He indicated the big, smiling beta, who had his arm around his human, John. “We’ll be with you in a few.” Fighting back a blush, Silas mumbled, “After we find some clothes.”
Tilda blushed and looked away, even as she placed a palm over Katie’s eyes.
The young girl giggled. Gerard snorted, and the weedy sea dragon shifter who announced the tiger shark show hurried over with.
..a couple of pairs of shorts, perhaps. Tort swam over and took them into his mouth before heading Silas and Craeg’s way.
Silas had noticed that Eban had already dragged Cameron out of the pool, and the head enforcer had led the guy away with Dare and Price accompanying him. Grisham had joined them.
As Silas took the offered shorts from the tiger shark—wow, who would’ve thought that would ever happen—he smiled around at the group.
“We’ll, uh, we’ll be with you shortly,” Silas told them all.
William nodded, seeming to understand his request.
Silas needed a little time with his mate after that harrowing excitement.
“Craeg and Silas, join us in our offices shortly,” William stated, smiling at them.
Craeg’s whale lowed in response, obviously confirming, since William began guiding everyone out of the stadium.
As Silas watched the doors close, something hit him.
Finally, after so many years, I’m no longer alone.
I have a family.
Deciding they could take five minutes to themselves, Silas clung to Craeg as he went for a swim with his whale.