Fathom (Mermaids of Montana #3) - Elsa Jade Page 0,10

the weeds and drifted upward toward where his finger imprinted a meniscus on the water.

To his enchantment, it somewhat resembled a miniaturized boundary beast, with fewer tentacles and teeth. “Little distant cousin,” he whispered. “Are you sweet?”

It drifted higher, stretching its arched neck so that the snout hovered just below his finger. He held his breath.

It touched him, with no stings or toxins. And he let out a soft breath. “Yes, sweet.”

When he submerged his whole hand, it wrapped its tail around his finger, clinging tight in the gently circulating water.

He stood awhile, the gravity of this place somehow less aching with the touch of the tiny alien creature against his skin.

But then his stomach gurgled, and with a soft ping, he sent the creature back next to the weeds. “A hie kharea-lan, little distant cousin.” In case it understood only the local Earther language, he prompted his universal translator to add, “Wishing you a sweet night tide.”

After extinguishing the regulated fire contained in the rock archway—he’d watched how Lana controlled the device—he followed his olfactory organs to an interior chamber of the dwelling. Compared to the easy foraging of a deep-sea vent or the tidal shallows, this room was difficult to hunt. Everything was wrapped and tucked away, not to mention unfamiliarly scented. Since it was unlikely anything on this planet could kill him, he filled his belly with whatever smelled most edible.

When his energy needs were replete, he turned to go. But a domed container at the end of one counter caught his attention. It carried the same scent as the little female’s breath so he went to investigate.

Underneath was a dark, earth-colored substance striated into puffy layers with even darker, more earth-colored layers between. He pinged the substance suspiciously. Perhaps it had some sort of explosive characteristics if it was the last thing Lana had eaten before blowing him off the ledge.

But the substance seemed inert, and she had eaten it, so…

He tucked the domed container under his arm and let himself out of the house, carefully resetting the alarms. He stepped into the fountain centered in front of the dwelling, and sank beneath the surface.

From here, he could wait while he decided how he would take her back where she belonged.

***

When the star of this little world lit up the sky the next morning, he hefted himself out of the pool and padded to the front door. He knocked and waited patiently.

He didn’t mind being patient for a little while when a probing ping told him that he could shatter the bolt with a proper wavelength whenever he wanted.

When an Earther male opened the portal, he even managed one of the gentle teeth-baring expressions that signaled no lethal intent among the Earthers.

Which didn’t seem to reassure the guardsman on the receiving end. He kept one arm braced across the entrance and lifted one eyebrow. “Mister Sting, I presume.”

Sting waited a little longer. He could still be patient. Because he could shatter the male as well.

The Earther sighed. “Miss Lana is awaiting you in the library.” He finally took a step back.

But as Sting stepped toward the doorway, the guardsman didn’t release his hold on the latch. Instead he lifted a serious gaze, despite his insignificant height. “Miss Lana came here to heal,” he said. “You are not to interfere with that.”

Sting considered. “The only place her symptoms will be lessened is Tritona.”

“I’m not talking about healing from the Wavercrest syndrome.” The male finally cleared the doorway.

Sting eased past him with a more cautious respect for the smaller male. Small didn’t mean defenseless, as he’d been reminded last night.

On his way past the Earther, he handed over the domed container, licked clean.

While he didn’t quite know what a library was, following Lana’s scent was simple enough.

She was standing in front of the cistern where he’d been last night, sprinkling some flaky substance over the surface of the water. There was a step built into the cabinetry, but she still had to stretch to reach, and the swirling hem of her skirt lifted high, revealing thick-soled bright blue footwear stamped with a word. His translator informed him the footwear was named like one of Earth’s predatory saltwater reptiles. Though he never wore shoes, he liked the name and the bright color; maybe he would find a pair of these Crocodiles for himself before he left Earth with Lana.

Because he would take her.

He could take her right now, while she was distracted. Lifting his attention from the shoes he