Just Breathe (37 page)

The tension was orgasmic.

“Scarlet—” He raised a hand.

She wiggled her shoulders and dug in. “He took me to a hotel to fuck me. It was just like old times, except now he truly belongs to me. He loves me so much, he swore an oath to Incendius that binds our Fires. We’ll be together forever. Couldn’t you just die?” An evil laugh escaped her. The pain ruining Zoe’s already-ugly face was priceless.

The bitch bit her lip and wrenched away from him.

“Zoe, it’s not how it looks.” Gavin hurled a hate-filled scowl grenade at Scarlet.

“So, Scarlet’s lying? You didn’t bind your Fire to hers?” Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes.

What a pity. Scarlet giggled inwardly, then pressed her fingers to her sternum. If she’d had on a set of pearls, she’d have clutched them. “I can’t
believe
he didn’t tell you. I’d have invited you to our wedding if I’d known you wanted to come.”

“You fucking bitch.” Venom boiled in Gavin’s eyes. Ooh, Scarlet liked that Fire. He was such a tease.

She grinned coyly. “Yeah, I’m the bitch you love to fuck.”

Lips smashed together, Zoe looked away and wiped the tear streaking her cheek. The viscous Water rolling off her gagged Scarlet.

Gavin reached for Zoe, but she shrugged him off.

Make his life hell on earth for spurning your affections. Take the necklace while he’s distracted. Without it, the Sentinels will be defenseless against us.

Satisfied she’d destroyed Zoe’s trust in Gavin, Scarlet channeled Fire into her limbs, lashed out with all the fury she had, and snatched the necklace from his throat. One quick snap, and it was hers.

Scarlet ran.

Footsteps thundered behind her. The wild, heart-pounding fear of being pursued pushed her legs faster. The second she was out of view from the crowds, she thumbed the flint on the lighter she always carried in her pocket. Flame shot up. She thrust a finger into it and dissolved, leaving a steamy sulfur trail in her wake for Gavin to choke on.

* * * *

Zoe sat on the boardwalk, still in shock.

There was a traitor in their midst, and if Gavin’s guilty look when Scarlet spilled the beans was any indication, it was him.

So, Scarlet the liar had told the truth. Zoe had been sleeping with the enemy all this time.

The over-the-top reactions, the twitchiness, the avoidance of Scarlet in conversations should have clued her in to Gavin’s deception. Zoe had tossed these little inconsistencies aside because she wanted so desperately to believe him. To
forgive
him after what happened in Sydney. What a fool she’d been.

Such
a fool.

Hurried footfalls approached, and Gavin stumbled his way toward her, empty-handed. “I can explain, Zed.”

She shot her gaze to his. “I can’t talk to you right now.”

“But—”

She stood and got in his face. “You lied to me, Gavin. You fucking lied. I gave you my heart, my soul, and worst of all, my trust. I can’t even begin to…” She shook her head as an undercurrent of stunned sorrow yanked the balance out from her. Tears flowed freely. She didn’t bother wiping them away.

“I’m sorry.” His shoulders drooped. Guilt mixed with devastation and poisoned his features into a mocking reflection of the man she loved.

“Sorry’s not good enough.”

A streak of red-tinged light shot across the sky over the harbor, and Zoe shivered. She couldn’t deal with this. Especially not now with the equinox so close. Refusing to look at him, she grabbed her dry bag and trudged toward the harbor.

“Zed, please—” Gavin called from behind her.

Snapping her hand behind her like a fly swatter squelching a bug, she tossed over her shoulder, “Don’t call me that.”

When she got to the Zodiac’s slip, she reeled from the double whammies of Lana’s death and Gavin’s deception. She steadied herself against the nearby storage shed. Shaken, disappointed, numb. So many tragic emotions swirled within her, she couldn’t process any of them.

God, she was so freaking gullible.

She stared across the harbor to the ocean. Responsibility bore down on her and dulled the pain with a couple of sobering reminders. Wyldlings were still dying in the Dreaming and Realis. They needed protection from the Fyres that could only come from Water. The Wæter Elementals had lost their leader and required a translator to help them put another in place.

Get off your sorry ass and take care of business. Deal with your feelings after the equinox.

True. With Lana gone, she had more pressing matters to attend to than a broken heart.

Zoe pulled herself together with a deep breath and turned her desperate thoughts to Lily, past the breakers.

Lily, you have to ascend to Archelemental. You’re the only one strong enough to do it.

Araluen is struggling. His breaths are shallow. I fear the infection from the orca bite is spreading.
Lily’s ‘voice’ faltered off-kilter. The tremulous vibrato in her song frightened Zoe.

I know an Erthe Elemental who can help. Her name is Jet. She’s the one who brought me back to life after my…accident.

Wæters don’t mix with Erthes. They eclipse us. She could do more harm than good.

But Araluen isn’t an Elemental, is he?

No, not yet. But his Water is already very strong. Even as young as he is, he could turn at any time, should the currents take him that direction.

I could get some antibiotics,
Zoe said.
I could treat him this afternoon. He’s young and will heal quickly.

I would appreciate that, Zoe. But I cannot leave my calf. And even if I were to ascend at this moment, the Water Lana collected for the tithe is gone. I’d never be able to get it back before the equinox tomorrow.
A lilt of hopelessness tainted her words.

Zoe wouldn’t have any of that. There
had
to be a way to get the Water back.
Then we get more. We find some Wyldlings who can help. Go to the Dreaming like the Fyres did…

How would the Wæters get in?
Lily said softly.

Good point. Zoe closed her eyes, searching for an alternative. Everything led to Lily. She was the only answer. The Dreaming had told Zoe so by calling her in the first place.
Please, Lily. We have to try.

I’m sorry, Zoe.
Lily blew, and Araluen’s weak exhalation rose beside her. The mother and her baby fluked up and headed for open ocean.

Pressing her lips together so tightly they hurt, Zoe clasped her hands to her hips and watched after the whales. Several more blows steamed the air. Lightning slit open the sky. Water against Fire. And the Fire was winning.

No. Not if she had anything to say about it. She’d been brought into this mess to help the Wæters, and by God, that’s what she would do.

Zoe climbed aboard the Zodiac. She called Adriene, who was waiting in the parking lot, and told her she’d catch a ride home later. Then she turned her phone to vibrate. Gavin didn’t need to know where she was going or what she was about to do. It killed her not to be able to trust him after all they’d been through, but this wasn’t about them. It was about saving the world.

She started the engine, signaled the harbormaster on the radio, and left Urangan Harbour alone.

On the way to the bay, she sent out S.O.S. calls to the whales.
I need help,
she sang.
I’m looking for a surrogate mother to feed a sick calf. Meet me at Moon Point. Even if you can’t nurse a baby, there’s something else you can do. I’m desperate, and time is running out. I have until this evening to make an action plan.

More tears filled her eyes. She didn’t try to stop them. She needed all the Water she could get, and tears seemed like a pretty good source. The droplets flew off her cheeks into the passing winds.

Poor Lily. Poor Araluen.

She felt so helpless.

I can help
, a whale called from far away.

Me, too!

We’re coming.

The voices merged and swelled like the sea around her into a mighty stew of sound. Chills climbed Zoe’s back. Goose bumps prickled her skin.

A dark-haired human head popped up beside her, and Zoe nearly choked on her own spit. Instinct shot her hand to the throttle and dropped it into neutral. The boat slowed, its momentum pitching her forward. She heaved in a few breaths.

Two more heads surfaced.

The Tongans.

And here she was, in the middle of nowhere with no Sentinel to protect her should they get cranky.

Screw it. She had nothing to lose. If the Tongans wanted to kill her, let them try. She leaned over the side bumper. “Uh, any chance you could give me some help?”

The trio of big boys circled the boat like sharks, their brilliant blue eyes eerie against the dark backdrops of sky and skin.

“I guess you heard about Lana?” she said.

They stopped in unison, triangulated around the Zodiac, and stared. None of them appeared to be treading water, yet they bobbed with the currents as if floating.

Though the seas were calm, the Water welling inside her raged. A swell of emotion rushed through her veins—most of it deep, sad pain. The death of Lana, who’d been an innocent in this bloody war. Lily’s refusal to take the job she was destined for. The possibility of losing people she cared about, like the father she’d reconnected with after thirty years apart. And Gavin, the man she’d fallen stupid-crazy in love with, who’d betrayed her.

Zoe pushed the emotions aside as best she could, but the thickness of the intense feelings congealed her blood. She put on her game face and prayed her words would have the desired effect. “I don’t know where your allegiance lies, but I pegged you as Lily’s followers. If you want to see her take her rightful place as the head of the Wæters, you’ll do as I ask.”

“We support Lily,” one said, his voice as melodious as a lullaby.

Relieved, but unwilling to let down her guard, Zoe straightened and laid her hands on her hips. “She’s not interested in ascending, but I’m working on her. In the meantime, I need you to gather every Wæter you can find in Australia. Tell them to Waterwalk—or whatever it is you Elementals do—here. The Fyres will attack tomorrow, and I need an army to defend the Dreaming. You and the Sentinels will have to work together. You’re the only hope for the Dreaming. If Wyldlings die, you won’t be able to feed.”

“The Dreaming is closed to Elementals.” Number Two’s voice was a carbon copy of the first guy’s.

She squared her shoulders and adjusted her cap. “Not for long.”

The trio looked at each other, back and forth. Some kind of triplet communication, maybe?

The third Tongan’s dark, intimidating gaze lightened by half a shade.
Hooked
. “We will bring you Elementals.”

Yes! She stuffed her trembling hands into her shorts pockets. “Several others will meet on this side of the Veil tomorrow near Platypus Bay. When the door opens, you can lay waste to every blasted Fyre in the place.”

“You’ll take care of Lily.” No question in the first guy’s voice. Only command.

She nodded. “I will.” God, she hoped she would. “But the Water Lana had collected is gone, so you Elementals will have to work overtime to restock.”

The Tongans faced her and offered a collective, brutal smile. Those knowing grins on such hard, menacing faces raced chills up and down her arms.

“You know something I don’t?” It was hard to sound tough, surrounded by guys who could capsize her boat with the flick of a finger.

“We found Lana—”

“Shortly after her attack—”

“Before she died.”

A subtle blue glow shimmered off their bodies, rippling the water between them. It grew brighter, merged. A surge of bubbles surfaced and winked like sparkling eyes.

Zoe gasped. “She gave you the Water she’d collected?”

“For safe keeping—”

“Until Lily ascends—”

“Our secret.” The Tongans touched index fingers to their lips, and the glowing ceased as suddenly as it had started.

A grin eased across her mouth and morphed into laughter. That would explain why Lana’s body hadn’t disintegrated like the Fyres she’d seen killed before. If the Tongans siphoned all of her Water before she expired, maybe Lana’s body had reverted to its pure human form.

“As my crazy Aunt Renee used to say, I’ll be dipped in shit.”

“Do not celebrate yet.”

“There is still not enough Water—”

“—between us to ensure the Balance.”

“But it’s a lot more than the Fyres will expect. The humans are prepared to help. Make your tithes to Lily tomorrow, and the Wæters can channel Water from the Wyldlings to fuel your defense in the Dreaming. It might not be enough, but at least we’ll have a fighting chance.”

“We will quench the Fyres.”

“Or die trying.”

“Until tomorrow, Translator.”

With the grace of sea lions, the Tongans dove into the depths. Three straight lines of bubbles formed a white triangle on the blue surface, the fleeting, solitary sign of anyone having been there.

Well, that was one huge item marked off Zoe’s list. Now all she had to do was locate a lactating mother whale, drum up some antibiotics, convince Lily to ascend, and find a way to let the Wæters into the Dreaming.

Drawing a deep breath, Zoe fixed her gaze on the vast ocean ahead. A lone captain in a sea of hopelessness, she sang to anyone who would listen.

Chapter Thirty-eight

Why are so many Elementals after us, Mum?
Araluen asked as Lily led him to the depths of the bay where Fyres were least likely to venture. He probably wouldn’t be able to hold his breath more than a few minutes. He was weaker today than yesterday.

Lily’s gaze fell on his useless blue eye. Its beauty masked his disability well.
They want me to do something I can’t.

Like what?

She caressed his back.
They want me to give you up, Araluen. I could never do that.
Especially not after losing her last calf.