The soft sound of whooshing water and drips of melting ice filled the heavy silence. Until Cova opened his mouth again and said what weallknew.
“You need the ocean,” he declared, and that simpering girl immediately morphed into a raging shark withallthe teeth.
“What Ineedis for you to back off.” Her glare turned on me next. “Both of you.”
“No can do, babe.” I crossed my arms and widened my stance. “It's intervention time, and unfortunately for you—what Waterboy says goes.”
Cova didn’t let up. He glared down at her with his stern teachery expression until evenIfelt uncomfortable.
“You’re starving,” he emphasized. “Physicallyandspiritually. And if you don’t get into the water soon, you won’t last another day. Not like this.”
Rani physically jerked at the statement, and a low growl escaped me. Fucking bond impulses. Sheneededto hear this, but I couldn’t help being overprotective. Not when she sank into herself like that. Fighting the need to wrap my arms around her and soothe the hurt was enough to have me shaking where I stood.
There was fire still left in her gaze when she met Cova’s accusing stare. “I’ve been trying—”
“No, you’re not,” he countered. “New sirens are drawn to water in all its forms: lake, rain, pool, bathtub. Everything. But especially the ocean, She calls to us. And if you’re not answering—” Rani flinched again “—then you must have a will of steel.” His voice softened. “And you must be in excruciating pain.”
Ithurther? I stepped closer and looked over my bond with a more critical eye, from nose to toes, but saw nothing that gave away her being in pain. Nothing but the very obvious signs of her wasting away. She got out of breath walking up to her room each night, and she definitely had no energy for training, but not once had she complained.
Why didn’t she say something? Why didn’t she let me help her? Or Kai, or Eryn.Anyone.My plan to ease her into things flew out the window.
“Okay, well, we’re obviously going to fix this right the fuck now,” I said, waving a hand for Cova to do… something. “What’s the plan, then? We just chuck her in the ocean and all is well?”
“Hey!” Rani shouted. “I’m right here, asshole.”
“Fully aware, my pouty pufferfish, but you had your chance to fix things. It’s my turn now.”
“That’s not how—”
“Ah ah,” I interrupted, one finger to her lips. It might have seemed playful, but I was anything but joking. “I said, My. Turn.”
Of course, I wasn’t going to throw her in the ocean. I wasn’t a heartless dick—I had so much heart andso muchdick—but healing Rani was going to involve waking up a whole host of triggers, and pissing her off was the only way I knew to keep her from shutting down.
She turned her head and stomped up the two unfrozen steps, simultaneously knocking my finger from her lips and putting her slightly taller than me. It was cute, the attempt at intimidation, but it only served to make me hard. Bossy Rani was a huge turn-on.
“Good idea, babe. Why don't you keep going? All the way on up to your room. Take a little resty rest while we finish discussing the best way to help you.”
The gray in her eyes already stood out against her pale face, but now? Now her eyes were all I could see. They widened over flared nostrils. Her lips pursed, and what little health remained in her face gathered in her cheeks. She kinda looked like that pufferfish I just called her.
Fucking adorable. Before she could open her mouth and exhaust herself with more arguments, I moved in, resting a hand on the railing beside her hip.
“You already felt what it's like to have my hand on your ass,” I warned, voice low. “Fighting with me about your health andsafety is a one-way ticket back over my shoulder, but without the pleasure this time.”
Cova awkwardly cleared his throat behind me. “It really would be better for you to rest, Rani.”
The sincerity in his tone was enough to drain the fight out of her, at least a little. She still glared at me, though, before replying with a hard, “fine.” I expected more of a fight. This girl was like a pit bull when she wanted something; she locked her jaw and refused to let go. Even more of a sign that she needed what was about to happen.
With a heavy heart, I melted the rest of the staircase. Even with the resulting water rushing over her feet and giving her a rejuvenating boost, her body actuallycreakedas she forced it to exert enough energy to move her up one step at a time.
I watched her climb with slow, weak movements. Shit. We had to get her into some water, preferably saltwater, immediately. A joyful trip to the beach was out of the question.
She wasn’t just going to hold my hand and walk into the waves like the end of some Disney movie. No, I had to bring the beach to her; to somehow get the oceaninside. I had an idea; another crazy one Rani was going to hate, but it might just work without traumatizing her in the process.
“It’s time to bring the ocean to her,” I whispered to Cova. “Are you still in?”
“I fully reject any asinine scheme that’s about to come out of your mouth,” Rani snarled. She stopped halfway up the stairs, chest heaving and out of breath, with her feisty little fists on her hips. “You can’t just buddy up and suddenly decide what’s best for me.”
Did she even hear herself? She wasdying. I was one hundred percent in charge now. I glanced over at Cova, one brow lifted. He nodded his support, and Rani practically screeched. Turning back to face her, I fought hard to keep the shock from my face.Just that trip up one flight of stairs was enough to completely drain what minor energy she had left.
