Page 51 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

“Fuuuuck,he’s got it bad,” Tempest said. She looked up at Havoc. “I’ve never seen him this sappy in my life.”

“No one has,” Havoc said, glaring down.

Echo fought a smile, noting Mael fought his own.

Mael lifted his gaze. There was hunger swirling in the depths.

Echo shivered against him.

“Later tonight,” Mael whispered.

An excited thrill swept through Echo’s body.

Once Mael appeared happy with the gear and Echo had tested his waterproof earpiece, they slipped under the surface. Mael grabbed his hand, and they shot like an arrow, speeding for the ocean floor. In that form, Echo was over twice as fast as the fastest human swimmers, getting close to twelve miles an hour. In dolphin form, he could swim over twenty. Orca could swim thirty-five miles per hour. Even half-shifted, it felt as if Mael and Tempest were traveling close to full speed.

He turned his head, shocked by the sight of Mael’s lower orca body. Mael looked like a merman, half orca, half man. Tempest the same. Maybe they were the source of the mermaid myth. Had sailors glimpsed an orca shifter in that shape? All Echo did know for sure was he was jealous of their ability. What he wouldn’t give to be able to use his tail on occasion and have the use of human hands at the same time.

They reached the seabed quickly and set up flags for the corners of the grid. With Diego’s help, they searched the grid, making sweep after sweep. An hour in, they had to come up and switch out their tanks before going back down. A little while after that, Echo thought he saw a small air pocket, but after sending out a few more clicks, he couldn’t confirm what he’d seen. Finally, just before they were almost done, Echo noticed an empty pocket underground. When he found a corner, he knew he might be on to something. Right angles suggested something man or shifter made, not a natural formation. He stopped Mael and Tempest and pointed it out, planting a flag over what he assumed was an underground chamber.

They scouted the ground around where Echo indicated. They found no entrance, tunnel, or other way into the cavern. While his echolocation wasn’t as good in the ground as it was in the water, he should’ve been able to seesomething.If it was the cave his grandfather noted, a way in should’ve been there.

Frustrated and almost out of air, they had to call it a day. They rose and quickly removed their gear.

“What was the flag for?” Mael asked, pulling on his swim trunks.

“I saw an open pocket,” Echo said. “There was a corner to one side of it. I don’t think it’s natural.”

“But your grandfather mentioned it was a cave, right?” Mael asked, sitting beside Echo. “Would that have right angles?”

“Maybe not,” Echo murmured, questioning himself.

Mael leaned close, smiling. “We can try again next weekend.”

“Are you sure that’s safe? I don’t want to get into trouble with your mother.”

“I said I can handle her,” Mael said.

Echo shook off his worry. He’d have to trust that Mael could handle things, even if he got the senseno onehandled the matriarch. “I wish one of you had seen the open space to confirm what I did. What if my echolocation was off and it’s nothing?”

“Don’t do that. Don’t doubt yourself,” Mael said. “We’ve got a spot on the map, and we’ll bring more tanks and more gear next weekend. Rav does marine salvage on occasion, so he might have some goodies we can use, too. If there’s a cave down there, we’re going to find it.”

Echo smiled at Mael. “I really appreciate all you’re doing to help me on this fool’s errand.”

Mael smiled caressing Echo’s cheek. “Even if we don’t find it, we’re spending time together, hmm? No fool’s errand in that.”

Echo smiled. He lifted his lips when Mael leaned closer for a kiss.

“Get a room,”Tempest chided over her shoulder, free of gear and dragging her shorts back on. She gave them a wink and then spun to help Havoc stow their gear.

“Mind if I ride back with you two?” Mael asked.

Echo frowned. “I’d love that… but it might not be safe. There’s usually a lot of people around the docks, especially on a weekend.”

Mael nodded, looking disappointed. “You’re probably right.”

“Could you… sneak me onto the island?” Echo had long wondered what Maki Island looked like. Knowing it was Maelstrom’s home only made him want to see it more.

Mael chuckled.“Sneak?There are way too many nosy, prying eyes on the island for anyone to sneak without being caught.” He paused a moment. “I’m not quite ready for that fight yet, so it might be best to wait for you to visit.”

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