Just Breathe Part 16

He grinned through clenched teeth. "No. The wind's just a bit cold," he lied. He crossed his arms and stuffed fists under his armpits.

Heat sizzled a slow path through his blood vessels. These surging and retreating Fire shocks had increased with each pa.s.sing day. They started off as minor annoyances the morning after he swore the Fire Oath, but the intensity had reached levels of full-blown discomfort. Scarlet's Fire kept him awake at night, rattling his cage like a cruel zookeeper. Gave him constant sweats, and had even attracted attention of Fyres in the Dreaming.

Panic gnawed on the rapidly fraying ends of his control. Scarlet was keeping tabs on him through their Elemental connection. He had to a.s.sume she was privy to everything he saw and did. And what he felt for Zoe.

He struggled hourly to keep the Fire from consuming him. Odds of Whetu waking up were dwindling, and Wyldlings continued to suffer.

He'd have to make good on the Fire Oath sooner rather than later.

He glanced at Zoe's profile. If he'd hurt her by accidentally sleeping with Scarlet, intentionally doing it would kill her. Not to mention him.

So, why the f.u.c.k had he come here? Just being in Zoe's vicinity put her at risk.

You came because you need her. She's the lifeline you're gonna have to let go of. a.s.suming you and Scarlet don't cut it first.

He shuddered.

Zoe was the heart he couldn't live without.

How much longer could he put Scarlet off? How high would the death count rise before she forced his hand?

Stupid, selfish p.r.i.c.k. Do it now before anyone else gets hurt.

But he couldn't let go of his hopes of finding the Dreamweaver or Whetu waking up. If either of them came through, he might be able to salvage his relationship with Zoe.

One week until the equinox. And lots more death to be had by the Fyres, the annoying voice of reason warned.

"Show time." Zoe turned off the boat's engine and stood.

Splashes and voices reached Gavin's ears, but he didn't look for the source. Scarlet's Fire was anxious to see who had come to the meeting, and he had no intention of giving her any clues. "I'm gonna push the boat out of range to give you some privacy."

"I thought you'd want to stick around." Zoe tugged off her clothes. The dark wetsuit underneath contrasted sharply with her light hair.

He kept his gaze on her. Swallowing hard, he shook his head. "No, I think it's best I stay out of your way."

Disappointment rooted in her brow. "Okay. I hope it won't take long."

More splashes echoed off the water, and a whale song rose from the depths. Scarlet's Fire growled inside him. Yep, time to go. He took the driver's seat.

Diving mask propped on top of her head, Zoe turned to him. Their eyes met. Undiluted determination lit up her aura. His warrior muse.

If anyone could save the Dreaming, the Wyldlings, and the Waeters, it was Zoe Morgan.

A surge of pride overcame him, and despite the warnings not to, Gavin tumbled head over heels in love with her again.

No doubt, the fall would eventually kill him.

She skimmed his cheek with the side of her palm and softly touched her lips to his. "See you soon."

Out of nowhere, his Water swelled like a wave. Scarlet's Fire screeched when it crashed.

He nodded. "Be careful."

The moment Zoe dove off the boat, the umbilical cord from h.e.l.l tugged on his Fire, demanding his attention.

The burning returned, twice as strong as before. Gavin grasped the steering wheel with one hand and clutched his stomach with the other. Barely able to think, he blanked thoughts of the Waeters from his mind and got the h.e.l.l out of there.

Zoe swam to the glowing blue ring lighting up the ocean. Eerie as h.e.l.l, but splashing with life. There had to be at least twenty or thirty whales and fifty or more humans in the Elemental soup. Weirdest party she'd ever been to.

Zoe is here, Lily said.

The whales stilled, and Zoe squinted across the bubbling neon blue. Spotting Lily, she waved and smiled.

Some of the human Elementals faced her. "Who are you?" one said.

"Your interpreter. Zoe Morgan."

The crowd parted. A beautiful blond woman swam over and treaded water in front of her. Maybe treading water wasn't the right term. More like the ocean buoyed her on a throne of blue. "I'm Lana." She looked around. "Where's Gavin?"

"He left. It's just me."

Lana narrowed impossibly bright purple eyes on her and sc.r.a.ped her gaze down Zoe's face and shoulders. Ouch.

"Let's get started, shall we?" She dove away without waiting for an answer.

Okay. Jealous much?

The Elementals formed a huge circle around Lana and Lily. Zoe hung on the fringes.

I asked you to come because I wish to withdraw from Archelemental candidacy, Lily said.

Whales grumbled their displeasure.

Zoe translated.

Humans applauded, and Lana raised her chin. "Many would argue"-she gestured to the humpbacks-"that you are the better candidate for the job. State your reasons so there are no questions."

Zoe turned Lana's words into song for the whales.

Lily lifted her pectoral fin, and Araluen popped up for a breath. I have a son who needs special care. I will not deny him for the sake of the Waeters. I have already lost one calf. This one will survive.

Araluen turned his blind eye in Lana's direction. He said nothing.

"The devotion to your child is admirable, but there's nothing stopping you from doing both jobs. You don't wish to be a 'working mum?'" Lana's tone was a trifle condescending. Zoe tried to minimize its impact in her translation.

As I said, Araluen has special needs. He requires my full attention.

At that, the whales remained silent.

"The Waeters and the Wyldlings have needs as well. Cowering from a greater responsibility is self-serving," a deep, heavily accented male voice boomed from behind.

Zoe cringed. Three guesses who that was. She turned around. Yep, one of the Tongans.

After Zoe shared his words, the sea cradling Lily bubbled, and rain fell in earnest.

Humans shook their heads and backed away.

I've made my decision. Unless someone else comes forward, Lana will be the Archelemental. There is nothing more to discuss.

When no one volunteered for the job, Lily said, I wish you well, Lana, and I thank you for your service to the Waeters. She lifted her flukes and dove away, Araluen right beside her.

Claps and laughter rose from Lana's camp, while the whales and a few of the human Elementals watched after Lily, disappointment lodged deep under their features.

"We have seven days until the spring equinox when Aqua will demand her Water t.i.the," Lana shouted over the growing storm.

Lightning sparked. Thunder rumbled.

"Regardless of whom you supported, I will be the new Archelemental, responsible for delivering Water to our G.o.ddess on time. The Fyres have threatened us, beaten us down. They conjure Fire in the sleeping Wyldlings and steal too much. We have a hard battle ahead, but Water shadows Fire. If you see Fyres, do what you must to bring us back to power. Though the Sentinels aren't represented here tonight, I'm sure they would agree our country has been out of Balance for too long. I suggest you start collecting now."

Lana's speech earned another round of applause, but Zoe couldn't help thinking this pep talk was too little, too late.

Chapter Twenty.

Grateful for the rising storm in the face of the raging Fire sinking its teeth into his gut, Gavin followed Zoe to her house just before midnight. She parked the Land Rover, dodged a few puddles, and ducked into his car. Raindrops coursed down her face like tears, and her skin glistened where the streetlight hit it.

"Thanks for letting me use Mike's boat. It would have taken forever to get out there and back in the Zodiac."

"No worries."

She looked to the house. "I'd better go. If anyone wakes up, they might wonder where I went."

Scarlet's Fire seemed to smile at that.

f.u.c.k you.

"You gonna work tomorrow?" He gestured to the heavy drops blurring the window. Just like the night they'd had s.e.x in this car.

"Doesn't look like it." She turned her attention to the hands wringing in her lap.

"You could come to my house tonight." He half-shrugged. Please.

Zoe covered a smile with the backs of her fingers. "Yeah. I could."

He gnawed on the metal loop in his bottom lip. "I've got a frozen pizza."

Her laughter cut the tension between them. G.o.d, he missed that sound.

"Does your fancy phone have access to the maritime weather report? If the seas are over a meter, the research team won't go out," she said.

Gavin opened the web browser, did a little searching, and leaned over to show her the results. Their shoulders touched, and he caught a trace of her flowery scent.

Scarlet hissed.

Zoe nodded. Her pale, faded blue aura betrayed the regret hiding beneath a soft smile. "I'd really love to stay with you tonight, but it's not practical. We can't even sleep beside each other..."

Yeah, dream deprivation was a b.i.t.c.h. So was harboring your worst enemy's Fire inside you.

Every time they leaped over one hurdle, they encountered two more. It was a never-ending fight to be together. When he wasn't killing her or making deals to wh.o.r.e himself out to his ex.

Tired of the bulls.h.i.t, he scrubbed his face. He didn't want to think about any of it. "Frozen pizza. Can't we just sit down together and share a s.h.i.tty frozen pizza?"

Her aura muted. She slid her hand under his and wiggled her fingers. "On one condition. We have to pick up ice cream and hot fudge. For sundaes."

He laughed for the first time in days. It felt good. "Okay. For you. I don't like chocolate."

"No? I'll bet I can change your mind." She fisted her wet hair and pushed it off her face. The tiny droplets on her neck sparkled like stars, begging to be licked.

"There aren't many places open this late."

"Find me hot fudge, or you go home alone tonight."

"Okay, okay." He slammed the car in gear and shot like a bullet down the street.

An hour later, after a shopping excursion at a late night Seven Eleven, Gavin unloaded a tub of vanilla ice cream with a questionable freshness date and a pot of microwave chocolate fondue sauce on his kitchen counter. He'd tried to explain that hot fudge wasn't very big in Australia, but Zoe wouldn't be satisfied until she had something resembling her favorite treat.

G.o.d d.a.m.n it, he could get used to shopping with her. And maybe even hot fudge.

Zoe bent to switch on the oven. She was still soaked from the rain and her swim with the Elementals earlier, but she didn't seem to mind. Her a.r.s.e under the wetsuit...

A flash of Scarlet's pleased, evil grin as she ground against his c.o.c.k stole into his head. Gavin's stomach clenched at the unwelcome punch of the heated memory. Not now. Please.

Zoe leaned against the counter and rested her hands on the edge. The corners of that s.e.xy mouth turned up a tad. He could kiss her. Take her right there in the kitchen...

Searing pain cut loose inside him as Scarlet's Fire attempted to exert its dominance again. It thrashed like a wild, rabid beast-claws out, teeth bared. He covered his surprise by wrenching open the freezer and shuffling around for the pizza. Alarm wound up the muscles in his back, weaving a tapestry of terror. Jesus Christ.

"I'll be right back," he said, and scurried down the hall to his room, his chest on the verge of a meltdown.

What should he do? He was losing his s.h.i.t, and once again, Zoe was the innocent victim who'd bear the brunt of it if the Fire took control. Worry scuttled up and down his spinal column, interspersed with sharp blasts of white-hot hatred.