Page 37 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

Echo stared at the note, smiling to himself. War waged within him. He still had doubts, but everything in him told him Mael wasn’t the monster they’d made him out to be. He’d been a kind, considerate lover—when it had counted most. He’d accepted Echo’s uniqueness and even exposed his own. He made Echo feel alive, truly alive, for the first time in his life.

Maybe he was still looking through those rose-colored glasses, but he wanted to believe that there was good in his mate. That there might be a chance for them.

He fished his cell out of his backpack and entered the number—and then shot off a quick text.

Echo

Do you do windows, too? See you tomorrow!

11

Mael drove onto the tiny island ferry and pulled the bike into first position. No one else was onboard, which wasn’t unusual. The island was only populated by orca shifters, most of whom rarely left the island. When they did, it was more often in shifted form than with a vehicle. Outsiders were rare. He parked the bike and climbed off, stretching.

The low-lying fog was still fairly thick even though it was inching toward noon. He’d left Echo’s just before ten, but had taken the long way to the ferry, enjoying a few of the back roads where he could really open up the bike and let off some steam. He’d considered returning to Echo’s place after, but he needed to get back and prep for the following day, as promised.

He pulled off his gloves and helmet as he walked into the small indoor seating space that was little more than a clear, plastic tent with a cold cast iron stove, two old church pews and an ancient, threadbare oriental carpet underneath. Once he’d sat on one of the pews and stretched his legs out, he pulled out his phone to call his brothers. The first thing he noticed was a text from an unknown number, as well as several missed calls from his siblings.

Reading the text, he smiled. He saved Echo’s number and then typed a reply.

Mael

Depends on the form of payment. If it’s this the answer is always yes.

Mael dialed his brother, Havoc, unable to stop grinning.

“Wherethe fuckhave you been?” Havoc asked without preamble.

“Well, hello to you, too, little brother,” Mael said.

“Mom said you went out hunting for those great whites again. When it looked like you hadn’t come back, I went searching. I found a ton of fish feeding on a white’s carcass… but there were no signs of you or the other shark. I’ve been going out of my mind, man, thinking the two of you had it out and you were somewhere hurt.”

Mael chuckled as the ferry’s piercing horn blared. “I’m sorry you were worried, but I’d already returned from the hunt and went back out.”

“Are you on the ferry?”

“Yep.”

“That means you were on the mainland. No wonder I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

“I’m on my way back,” Mael murmured.

“What were you doing there?”

Mael frowned. His brother wasn’t usually the nosy type. Either way, he sure as fuck wasn’t going to tell Havoc about Echo over the phone. “What’s with the third degree?”

“You don’t make a habit of jumping ship and not telling anyone,” Havoc barked.

Mael sighed. “The next time I go to the mainland, I promise I’ll tell you.”

“Good,”Havoc snapped.

“I need to gather some scuba gear. I’m diving tomorrow afternoon with a friend. Do you have enough equipment that I can take two with backup oxygen tanks?”

“You haven’t dove in years,” Havoc said. “What’re you planning? Who’s the friend?”

“I need to call Storm and Rav. Hopefully one of them will let me borrow their boat,” Mael said, ignoring his brother’s questions.

“Or you could just ask me,” Havoc said.

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