Humanoid (Dream Warriors Book 1)

Chapter 15

Blake's entrance into the miniature lecture theatre drew several gasps from those who knew him. Insipid complexion and sunken cheeks gave him the appearance of a fragile, angelic soul rather than his standard butch Aussie bloke persona.

Our man had returned following an intense week of questioning from the cops and maritime authorities investigating Hunter's horrific disappearance.

Excited by his return, I launched out of my chair and embraced him. He gripped my waist and the weight of his head collapsed upon my shoulder.

I choked back a sob. 'You're okay?'

'Not really,' he mumbled.

Possessive thoughts clawed at my skull, originating from the back row as Jalun's heightened emotions telepathically transferred into my brain. A cocktail of anger and jealousy, mixed with compassion and grief, hurled a hard punch. I understood what prompted his reaction, yet his response seemed unfounded. I had zero romantic interest in Blake.

I drew the battered man to a vacant seat beside Kiah and sat on the other side of him. Kiah clung to his arm, and he fell against her, immersing himself in her emotional support.

Misty, Grace, and Ryan pulled astounded faces. I shrugged, as confused as they were over Kiah and Blake's apparent emotional familiarity. Okay, this is new.

Once Blake composed himself, I dove in. 'How are the other lads holding up?'

'Hunter's death devastated Harry and the twins. They've been hiding away at home ever since. And Cooper... well, Coop's Coop. I haven't seen him for a while.'

An underlying tension resonated from his athlectic physique, though he neglected to elaborate. I bit my lower lip to prevent a plethora of questions pushing for release. Now wasn't the time or place to placate my demand for answers.

Before I could stop myself, the same question I reckoned burned on the end of everyone's tongue shot out from my mouth like a bullet discharged from the muzzle of a loaded gun.

'What went wrong?'

I mentally kicked myself for causing the unmistakable frown marring his brow. Relief pressed upon me once his expression softened. He dashed away a single tear rolling down the side of his cheek and squared his shoulders, removing himself from Kiah's embrace.

'I don't know. Crikey, that's a lie—I do know. Something grabbed him. Cooper says he saw a bull shark. But I'm not so sure ...' He released a panicked breath. Kiah squeezed his hand, a silent message passing between them. 'Look, I'm not sure what I saw, Rayne. It happened in a flash, like a transient hallucination. But I... ' he gulped. 'Everything about it seemed so wrong, like a controlled attack and they, they snatched him and he, and he was gone and ...'

'It's okay. You don't need to talk about it now.' Cheeks pressed together, arms entwined, Kiah shot me daggers of disgust, her pupils rearranging from natural human orbs into vertical slits. Shivers raced throughout my torso. 

My thought process archived the words 'they snatched him', inadvertently disclosed by Blake at the end of his tirade. Once again, I suspected Kiah withheld other important details from me. I'm sure she used mind control, preventing him from speaking freely about what actually happened that day. And since when did they become so emotionally attached and in such a brief space of time?

Bewildered by their new closeness, I realised I'd missed the memo on their flourishing relationship. Yes, I'd noticed the crush she had on him before Hunter's accident, but Blake hardly acknowledged she existed. Confused. Dot. Com.

Obstinate in my belief he'd one day come clean about the entire horrific story, I inclined my head in submission. Perhaps Kiah had a point, perhaps now wasn't the ideal opportunity to probe a grieving man.