Page 102 of Oceansong
Angie forced a small smile. “His tail color is the same as yours.”
“Because I am expecting. I learned of it during low suntide.” Adrielle looked toward her still-flat abdomen.
“My sister is expecting, too.”
“Then this is joyous news.” Adrielle gave her a warm smile. “When will you be able to save Cyrus?”
“By tomorrow, I hope.”
“Then I will wait for you by the shore. Take care of her, Kaden.” She turned tail and swam in the opposite direction.
“Ready to go?” Kaden asked, clasping her hand.
Angie nodded, her free hand clutching the bottle. “Yes.”
Angie and Kaden burst from beneath the waves, and Kaden kissed herbefore Angie climbed out of the water, pulling herself ashore.
She stopped dead halfway standing up. Four pairs of booted feet greeted her, and Kaden sucked in a sharp breath at her back.
“Mer!”
It was Nick.
A sharp gunshot tore through the air, making her ears ring and pound, and Angie’s heart all but stopped. Air caught in her lungs.
When she spun back to face Kaden, he was gasping, holding a hand over his upper arm. He faced Nick and Bàba, the fingers on his free hand fanned across his breastbone in an expression of shock. His biceps were contracting, protection from the pain.
“Kaden!” She rushed to him and fell onto her knees, blocking Nick from getting another clear shot. “Oh, tian, are you okay? Can you still swim?”
“Yes,” he rasped.
“Then you have to run. Now.”
“No.” His chest heaved with labored breaths. The edges of his hand were covered with blood. “Not until I know you’re going to be okay.”
“Angela, get out of the way.” Nick warned.
She turned to see him raising his gun again, this time aiming it at Kaden’s head. “I need you to get out of here!” When Kaden still didn’t move, she shoved his shoulders, hard. The bottle with Serapha’s message inside flew out of her hand, landing in the sea behind him. “He’ll kill you!”
At that, something seemed to snap in him, and he fled back into the sea without another word.
“Nick!” Angie rose up to her full height, looking around for the bottle. It was nowhere to be found, and the currents must have carried it somewhere unknown.
She mentally cursed.
Bàba and Nick stood before her, flanked by two other workers. All four were armed.
The passing breeze was colder, and the fine hairs at the back of her neck stood at attention.
Nick’s eyes met with Angie’s, his expression stony. He lowered his gun.
“Angela,” Bàba said, stepping forward. His tone was eerily neutral and measured. “What is this?”
Forty-One
Next morning came and Bàbastill hadn’t said a word to her about what he and Nick saw yesterday. Dread clenched at her chest and gut. It was only a matter of time.
But for now, she had work to do.
