Free Collecting by Viola Grace Page A

was wearing a short hip wrap, pale skin, dark blue hair and nothing else.
    “ Hello. ” Em walked over to her clothing and put her spear down.
    “ Greetings, miss. Am I near the research lab? ”
    She nodded and turned to see that he was within inches of her and she hadn ’ t heard him move. “ Oh. And here you are. Um, yes. It is right on top of that ridge over there. I am on my way back if you would like to come with me. ” She mentally kicked herself the moment that the invitation came out of her mouth.
    He extended his hand to her. “ Rivvin Sequelar, pleased to meet you. You work at the lab? ”
    Em took his hand and felt a peculiar slickness leave his palm and wrap around hers. “ Emharo Baker. My parents run the research lab. Is there something on your hand? ”
    He looked down and a hot lavender colour ran under his cheeks and across the muscular expanse of his chest. “ I apologize. My body is attempting to chemically analyze yours. ”
    “ You are a member of the Nine? ”
    He inclined his head. “ I am. I am of the Water Folk. ”
    She smiled at the obviousness and gradually eased her hand from his. The slickness absorbed into her skin without a trace. “ I gathered as much. Well, I suppose I should get dressed and escort you to the lab. ”
    “ If you insist. I have no problem with your current attire. Is it fish leather? ”
    She nodded. “ It seemed the most practical swimwear. It dries quickly and identifies me to other predators. ”
    She slipped on her shirt and shimmied into her trousers before sitting, dusting her feet off and tugging on her boots. “ Just a moment while I grab my line and my samples and we will be on our way. ”
    Em kept her gaze on Rivvin as she flipped her collection bag over her shoulder and hauled her line of fish in and flipped it over her other shoulder.
    Rivvin was watching her with surprise. “ You eat from the sea? ”
    She paused. “ Oh, are you vegetarian? ”
    He shook his head. “ No. We eat whatever swims past. I am simply surprised that you hunt in the sea. ”
    “ It ’ s a thing I do. My parents send me out with a list, and I bring it home. Doesn ’ t matter if it is fish or topical anaesthetic, I will bring it home. ” She chuckled. “ Shall we? ”
    He blinked, and she noticed the secondary membrane that flicked over his eyes. “ You are walking? ”
    She shrugged. “ Yes. I walk everywhere. You are welcome to swim up to the lab. There is a set of stone stairs that leads out of the water so you will know it when you see it. ”
    Rivvin looked down at her, and his hands flexed.
    She noted the webbing between his fingers and quickly looked up when she saw that his wrap was slightly distorted.
    Em cleared her throat. “ Well, I will get moving, and you can make up your mind. ”
    She turned and made her escape, shifting the thirty pounds of fish on her shoulder. The fish was taken from her as Rivvin came up on her left. He inclined his head, and she let him carry it. It was only fifteen minutes of walking anyway, so why did she feel like he had given her an armload of flowers with that small gesture of taking her burden?
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
     
    The lab was full of people, so Em walked straight in. Her parents were speaking with the representatives of the Nine, and it was too hard to resist. “Mom, it followed me home, can I keep it?”
    The shock on the faces of the representatives was hilarious, but Daphne ’ s bark of laughter broke the tension.
    “ Em, I don ’ t think they get the joke. ” Daphne came up and gave her a hug.
    “ That ’ s okay. They will get the hang of my sense of humour if they are here for more than a few hours. ” Em muttered it in Daphne ’ s ear.
    Rivvin spoke from behind her. “ Weelar, see what you can do with the lady ’ s catch. ”
    The other pale man rushed forward and took the fish with the reverence of someone taking a holy object. “ Where can I prepare them? ”
    Emaline Baker stepped