Rhal Part 5 Read Free Page B

had our mating tested like you two. To know you love him so much, even after he abandoned you, is a testament to your feelings for him and his feelings for you.”
    Cara released a rueful laugh. “His feelings for me? Nah, I wouldn’t put so much faith in that. He hurt me, and I came back. What I did was so much worse than that. And if I never see him again, at least I saved him. He’s alive.”
    “Kaag’s still breathing. He wouldn’t have lost his life,” Rina murmured.
    “But he would have been imprisoned. Can you imagine Rhal locked up?” Because Cara couldn’t.
    And Rina knew because she remained silent. The water teasing the shore were the only sounds reaching them. It was time. Time to shit or get off the pot. She couldn’t expect Faim and Sece to wait forever, and she was sure this was the last place Tave wanted to be.
    “All right, let’s do this.” Cara released her friend’s hand and pushed to her feet.
    “You sure?”
    No . “Yeah. Grab Faim for me?”
    There was no need to grab the male because he suddenly appeared on the porch, Sece on his heels and Tave right behind the duo.
    “Okay then. We’ve got a big crowd.” Because a peek through the window showed her a half dozen males also lingered near the back door.
    Without another word, she padded to the steps and then made her way down the stairs until her feet were settled on the beach’s sand. Rina caught up to her, sliding her hand in Cara’s, and she took comfort in the touch.
    The rest of the group followed, close but not intruding. When they got to the very edge of the water’s reach, Cara stopped and leaned toward her friend. “So, how do I do this?”
    Of course, Sece provided an answer. “Research shows that—”
    “Shh…” Faim shushed his daughter. Smart man. Cara was freaked enough. She didn’t need to hear about research.
    “Rina?”
    “I prefer a run and dive approach since my transition isn’t smooth like everyone else. The whole webbing thing is weird and takes getting used to. Doing it fast doesn’t let you really stop and think about the fishy parts.”
    “ Fishy parts. ” There was no missing the annoyance in Tave’s words.
    Rina pulled away and turned to her mate. “You gotta admit, you guys have a fish-esque thing going on. Tails, scales, and underwater breathing?”
    Cara wasn’t going to laugh. She wasn’t.
    “ Pyabi, if you do not silence yourself—”
    “You’ll give me a spanking? We’ve already discussed—” Rina’s voice was suddenly muffled as Tave placed his palm over her lips.
    “Heart-sister, a run and dive approach would be best. Niax and Thame will follow you and the rest will remain on the beach until you wish to return.”
    Cara took a deep, calming breath and released Rina’s hand. She gave Niax and Thame a small smile. Both males had become good friends over the last week, guarding her and spending time with her. They were friends—of a sort—with Rhal. Even if she couldn’t have her mate, it was nice to have his friends close.
    Rina yanked at Tave’s hand. “But what about Rh—”
    Tave tightened his grip. “We will be waiting.”
    Waiting. Right.
    One more breath and then she broke into a run, racing into the waves as fast as she could. Her legs tingled and burned, the ache annoying but not debilitating. It was the first time her whole body would be enveloped by her Ujal scales. She imagined it’d be a little painful at first. So, yeah, her legs stung and her skin prickled, and the moment she got deep enough, she launched her whole body into a rolling wave.
    And then it happened. Her body welcomed her Ujal half, allowed it to come forward and embrace her from head to toe. She remained beneath the surface, allowing her lungs to draw in water instead of air. She didn’t cough or struggle as she’d imagined. It wasn’t like drowning, simply breathing-ish.
    Unfortunately, the pain didn’t ebb, the aching did not transition or surround her hands and feet as Rina