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“What do you mean?” She tilts her head.

“Think of it like a path. The more often it’s traveled, the easier it is to traverse. It’s how I can speak so easily to Hyva, Altis, and Vynia. I don’t even have to try anymore, and they’ve given me full access to come and go as needed with the understanding that I won’t cross any boundaries.”

She catches her bottom lip between her teeth and silently considers it for a moment. “Okay.” She looks up at me. “I trust you.”

My chest warms.

Thank you, your trust means everything to me.I smile down at her as I speak the words into her mind.

You’re welcome.“Did you hear that?” she asks.

“I did.”

I push my pants past my hips, and she quickly averts her eyes. Her skin is flushed and warm when I reach behind her neck and press the top of the disc, engaging the mask. The rapid increase of her heart rate has me reaching down and gripping my hand in hers.

It’s okay. Get ready to jump.

She nods and grips my hand tighter.

Three.

Two.

One.

We both jump off the side of the landing and into the cool darkness of the sea. Kodia swims under us, and I slide down onto his back. I tuck Neev in front of me, locking my thighs around her.

Grab hold of his spines.I demonstrate, my chest flush against her back as I lean forward and grab two of the spines that run down his neck.He moves fast through the water so hold on and lean as close to his body as you can.

Okay. This is so weird, being able to breathe underwater.

Good weird?I smile against her shoulder, fighting the desire to run my lips over the delicate curve of her neck.

Definitely good weird.

As soon as he feels us secured, Kodia takes off, leaving the grotto and jetting into the sea. He dives deep, cutting through the kelp forest and around the huge boulders dotting the sea floor. A dark shadow cuts through the distance as he carries us out into the open ocean.

What’s coming toward us?Her question is laced with uneasiness.

That’s just his mate. She’s harmless.To us.

She comes alongside us, her dark eyes catching on Neev with a keen interest. Then she’s spiraling through the water, her barrel rolls creating a spinning vortex behind her. I barely have time to lock my body around Neev’s and instruct her to hold on tight before Kodia begins doing the same thing.

Her silky hair flows over my shoulder as she relaxes her body between Kodia’s and mine. I can feel his joy through the bond I share with him as clearly as I can feel hers. Never in all my life have I felt this level of happiness.

If I could keep us down here forever, I would.

Once they begin to slow down to normal speed, I recognize the reef they’re taking us to. It’s beautiful and full of creatures that Neev’s likely never seen before. Unless of course she saw them in one of the books she’s spent every free second reading.

Are you okay?I loosen my grip on Kodia but keep Neev tucked against me.

Yes, that was incredible. Where are they taking us?

To a reef they like to hunt near. They’ll likely let us off to explore while they go find something for dinner.

Is it safe to be without them?

You’re always safe with me. There’s very little that can hurt me underwater.And there’s not a chance in hell I’d let anything dangerous near her.