Page 78 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

Echo nodded. “We were almost out of oxygen, somy mateforced me to come up and now won’t let me go back down until we’ve rested.”

“More concerned aboutyouresting,” Mael murmured. “You’re doing a piss poor job of it, by the way.”

“At least one of you is taking care of you,” Diego said to Echo.

Echo narrowed his eyes. “You’re supposed to be onmyside.”

“He is. Your body’s side,” Mael said. “The part that needs air and food and periods of rest.”

“Whatever,”Echo griped. He laid his head on Mael’s shoulder, knowing his mate was only looking out for him, but he wanted to get back down. They were on the finish line and stuck on the track.

Diego narrowed his eyes. “Are you sunburnt? You look flushed.”

Mael kissed his forehead. “You are a bit warm.”

“Adrenaline,” Echo muttered. He noticed what looked like Havoc’s boat in the distance. “We’ve got company.”

Diego jumped up and turned in the direction Echo was staring. He immediately sat back down, his face strained. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at his feet.

As they finished up their lunches, Havoc pulled his boat up alongside the others. Mael helped him tie up and then Havoc jumped aboard. His gaze immediately flew to Diego—who avoided his stare.

“Are you sunburnt?”Echo asked Diego.“You look flushed.”

Diego kicked Echo in the shin.

“Oww,”Echo snapped, rubbing it.

“Glad you finally made it, Havoc,” Tempest said. “Now we can get Ravage down there with us to dig out this tunnel.”

“Tunnel?”Havoc asked, turning to look at his sister.

“Seems like we might’ve found an entrance,” Echo said, grinning so wide it hurt his cheeks.

“Then what are you all doing sitting on your asses up here?” Havoc asked.

“That’s what I said,” Echo said to Havoc. He turned to Mael. “Can we go back down now?”

Mael searched Echo’s face. “Maybe we shouldn’t push it. You look off.” He turned to Havoc. “Is red-faced or warm a symptom of any diving related illnesses?”

“I’m simply excited!”Echo barked.

“How long were you down?” Havoc asked before squatting in front of Echo.

“Two hours back-to-back,” Mael replied. “We’ve been topside for almost an hour.”

“If it was the bends or a gas embolism, he’d already be in distress.” Havoc pressed the back of his hand against Echo’s forehead for a few seconds. “No coughing or trouble breathing, so it’s not oxygen toxicity.” He focused on Echo. “Do you feel tipsy?”

Echo’s brows knitted together. “No.”

“Do you feel ill?”

“No.”

“What’s the date of the day?”

“Huh?”Echo asked.

“Humor me,” Havoc said.

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