Page 3 of Dark Shaman: Eternal Hope (The Children Of The Gods #100)

ELUHEED

E luheed's feet burned against the hot sand, making him quicken his pace toward the waterline, where the damp surface cooled his steps. With a sigh of relief, he turned back to study the cluster of showers and changing rooms.

Tamira emerged a few moments later, wearing a black and white striped swimsuit, and looking beautiful, excited, and carefree. After everything they'd been through, seeing her like this, relaxed and happy, felt like a miracle.

Perhaps it was the jubilation of survival.

They'd escaped the flood that had destroyed the harem, and then they'd lived through the rebellion that had nearly torn the island apart and ended Navuh's empire.

She caught him looking at her and smiled, but it was the careful smile reserved for public performance.

They both knew the rules.

A dozen guards surrounded their small group, rifles slung over their shoulders, their eyes scanning for threats but also scrutinizing the ladies and their companions.

"The water looks inviting," Tony said beside him, somehow having managed to put on a pair of red swim trunks without Eluheed noticing. Had he changed in the car?

"It does," Eluheed agreed. "It's warm."

"Could be fun to go for a swim," Tony said. "When was the last time you went swimming? And I mean other than the pool in the harem. That doesn't count."

Eluheed thought back to his homeland, where the sea was at the bottom of the rugged Elucian mountains, but no one had ever thought about voluntarily taking a swim because the water was freezing.

There had been that lake in Russia, over a century ago, and that water had been cold as well, but not nearly as bad as the Elucian sea.

After that, he had swum in the Mediterranean, which had been a treat.

But he hadn't allowed himself to indulge often.

His endless quest to recover the treasures buried beneath Mount Ararat hadn't left him much time for recreation.

"It has been a long time," he admitted. "Perhaps later." He sat down on the cool sand. "I just want to enjoy the view for a little while."

"Right." Tony chuckled but sat down next to him. "The view is magnificent." Neither of them was looking at the waves.

The ladies had claimed a spot near the water's edge, where the guards were spreading out towels. Evidently, the ladies didn't want to take advantage of the beach loungers and the umbrellas that provided shade. They wanted to be close to the water where the breeze cooled the air.

Areana sat gracefully on a white towel, her blue swimsuit contrasting with the paleness of her skin. Next to her sat Tamira and Beulah, while Sarah and Liliat headed for the water where the others were already splashing around.

"Come on!" Raviki called her friends. "The water's perfect!"

Tamira rose to her feet and glanced at Eluheed before joining them, and he had to force himself not to follow. He had to pretend that she was just another of Lord Navuh's ladies, and he was merely one of their escorts, a shaman who was entertaining enough to be included in their outing.

At night, they could enjoy their basement sanctuary where they could be together in every way, but here, under the blazing sun and watchful eyes, they had to keep their distance.

"Tula looks so happy," Tony murmured. "After everything we've been through, it's good to see her like this."

Tony hadn't been with them in the basement during the attack on Navuh's mansion, so he hadn't seen Tula helping the servants and keeping calm under pressure.

"She did great," Eluheed said. "Tula is made from strong stuff."

"I know." Tony grinned. "She's something else."

Tamira hadn't fared as well. As explosions had shaken the mansion above, she'd trembled against Eluheed, not because she'd been afraid of the ceiling collapsing on top of them but because she'd been terrified of the enhanced soldiers winning.

She'd even asked him to kill her rather than let her fall into their hands.

The knife she'd pressed into his hand still haunted his dreams.

"They've been waiting for a shore excursion for a long time." Eluheed watched Tamira wade into the water, her face lighting up as the waves lapped at her legs.

"I don't know why Navuh didn't allow it before." Tony leaned back on his forearms. "What could he possibly be afraid of? The ladies swimming away to freedom?"

Eluheed glanced at the nearest guard, but the man seemed uninterested in their conversation, or maybe he couldn't hear them over the noise of the waves crashing to shore. Nevertheless, it was dangerous to speak so freely about their captor.

"The lord has been generous," Eluheed said carefully, the words tasting like ash in his mouth. "We should be thankful."

Tony snorted, but he was wise enough to shut up and not continue in the same vein. They both knew that this outing was a reward that could be withdrawn at any moment.

All the ladies were in the water now, laughing as waves knocked them about. Tamira was splashing Raviki, who shrieked and retaliated, and for a moment, Eluheed allowed himself to imagine Tamira with him, free and away from this place.

What would she be like in a world where she could make her own choices?

"Want to swim?" Tony stood and brushed sand from his legs.

Eluheed rose as well, pulling off his shirt. The sun immediately attacked his pale skin, but he knew he wouldn't burn, and not just because of the copious amounts of sunscreen he'd slathered all over himself to hide the fact that he didn't burn in the sun.

His immortal body wouldn't allow that to happen.

They waded into the water, and Eluheed had to suppress a groan of pleasure as the cool ocean embraced him.

For a moment, he could forget his failures, his centuries of fruitless searching, the oaths that bound him to an impossible mission, and his predicament of being captive on this island and needing to find a way out for himself and Tamira, and possibly the other ladies and Tony as well, because Tamira wouldn't agree to leave without them.

"Race you to that rock." Tony pointed to an outcropping about fifty meters out.

"You're on."

They dove forward, but Eluheed held back. His body was stronger and faster than that of a human, and definitely more capable than Tony's. He matched the other man's pace, letting Tony pull slightly ahead as they neared the rock.

"I win!" Tony slapped the stone triumphantly.

"Well done." Eluheed treaded water easily while Tony panted from the exertion.

"You let me win," Tony accused, but he was grinning.

"I paced myself because I'm careful, but you are a stronger swimmer."

From the shore, they heard the sound of clapping. The ladies had been watching, and Tula waved at Tony with a big, proud smile on her face. Tamira was clapping too, her eyes finding Eluheed's across the water, and in that look was everything they couldn't say aloud—pride, love, and understanding.

He and Tony swam back leisurely, reaching the shallows just as servants appeared as if by magic and started setting up refreshments under one of the large umbrellas.

"Lord Navuh thinks of everything," Areana said as they gathered under the shade.

It had been more likely the head butler's initiative, but Eluheed kept that to himself. If she wanted to believe that her mate was that considerate, who was he to shatter that illusion?

He took a cold bottle of water and drank deeply while watching Tamira dry her hair with a towel.

Water droplets still clung to her skin, catching the sunlight like tiny diamonds.

He wanted to trace each one with his fingers, to taste the salt on her lips, to hold her against him and feel her heartbeat match his own, but those were dangerous thoughts to have while wearing swim trunks.

He sat on the sand at what would be considered a respectful distance but was meant to give him a moment to get a grip.

"Here." Tony handed him a wrapped sandwich. "These are really good." He sat down beside him.

"Thank you." Eluheed unwrapped the offering and bit into it, not really tasting anything.

"This is wonderful." Liliat stretched out on her towel. "I'd forgotten what it felt like to simply be in the sun."

"We should do this more often," Sarah said. "I don't know why we had to wait so long to enjoy the beach when we live on a tropical island. It makes no sense."

In Eluheed's experience, searching for sense in the world was as futile an endeavor as searching for fairness, and that was true not only for Earth. His home had been no different.

"I intend to speak with Lord Navuh about this," Areana said. "Perhaps we could have regular beach visits even after we return to the harem."

"Do you think he'd allow it?" Raviki asked hopefully.

"I don't know," Areana admitted. "But perhaps now that he has seen that the sky didn't fall because we were allowed into his house, traveled daily between the harem grounds and the mansion, and have even been shopping, he might be more amenable to the request."

"I can't think about being locked up in the harem again," Liliat said. "I mean, I don't mind living there. I actually like it, but it would be nice to be allowed out now and again. It would be wonderful if we could have beach excursions once or twice a week."

Tula laughed. "Are you out of your mind? It took Lady Areana weeks to arrange this one beach visit for us. Do you really think the lord would allow us to come here twice a week?"

"Not when the tourists are back," Areana said. "That's for sure. And frankly, I don't want to be out here when they are on the island."

Everyone went quiet after that.

"Maybe there are other beaches?" Sarah suggested hopefully. "It doesn't have to be a nice one like this, but if there is a piece of sand somewhere secluded, maybe we could have it to ourselves."

"I'll ask," Areana said, but she didn't sound hopeful.

The mention of a secluded beach evoked in Eluheed's mind the image of Navuh's secret submarine pen. Somewhere between the mansion and the harem was a hidden tunnel leading to an escape route, and he was determined to find it.

Navuh's secret had been revealed in a vision, but Eluheed had no reason to doubt its existence. It was true that visions could sometimes speak in hints and allegories and could not always be taken literally, but he knew the difference, and the submarine was real.

Perhaps the universe would take mercy on him and reveal more details in subsequent visions, such as the location of the tunnel's entrance and the means to access it without being discovered.

"We should swim again before we have to leave." Tula rose to her feet and walked over to Tony, offering him a hand up. "Who knows when we'll have another opportunity?"

As the others rushed into the water, Eluheed remained seated, and he wasn't alone. Areana and Tamira didn't join the others either.

"The rebellion was traumatic for everyone," Areana said quietly.

"Surviving it has given us all a new appreciation for life's simple pleasures.

" She rose gracefully, brushing sand from her cover-up.

"I'm going to join the others. You should, too, Tamira.

The water is wonderful, and we don't know when we will get to enjoy it again. "

Eluheed stood, walked over to Tamira, and offered her a hand up. "Lady Areana is right. We should take advantage of every moment we are allowed out here."