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geothermal vents. The pearls contain traces of those minerals and the energy signature, so with a little analysis, we should be able to find the lost city. ”
    She withdrew a bottle of water. “ Give me one of the pearls. ”
    Rivvin had all four out, so all four were dumped into her hand, covered with blood. She wrinkled her nose and washed the pearls in clean water.
    With them held in her hand, she opened the charts that she kept on the vessel.
    A bit of concentration and a spot glowed green. She grabbed her marker and placed an X on the spot. “ There. That is your lost city. ”
    Rivvin looked over her shoulder. “ It was that easy? ”
    She arched her eyebrow and held out the pearls. “ Here. You try it. ”
    He chuckled. “ No thanks. I still have work to do. ”
    His hands were covered with blood up to the elbow, and he returned to the fish to complete his work.
    Whistling to herself, Emharo grabbed a bucket, tied it to a line and swung it overboard. As Weelar followed her gesture to the storage chest, she started washing blood off the deck.
    Rivvin finished his work, and she splashed the deck at his feet before she handed him a fresh bucket to wash his arms. He rinsed his knife and wiped it carefully on his wrap before returning it to the sheath on his leg.
    She put her hands on her suited hips. “ So, do you want to see your lost city today? ”
    “ Are we that close? ”
    “ In Nitka, we are only an hour away from most places in the open ocean. Do you want to see the city? ”
    Weelar nodded frantically, and Rivvin inclined his head. “ Please. I have a few beacons left, and it would be a coup to have found one of the ancient cities. ”
    She didn ’ t need to be told twice. She directed the ship, and soon, it was speeding over the waves.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    “Come with me.” Rivvin held her hands and whispered it in her ear.
    “ I can ’ t. It is too deep, and I can ’ t take the pressure. ” She patted his cheek regretfully. “ Go and find your city. I will remain here. ”
    Emharo watched as Rivvin and Weelar dove through the hole in the bottom of the ship and saw their gleaming pale skin disappear in the dimness of the water.
    She curled up against the wall and waited for an hour until, finally, they returned with goofy grins on their faces.
    “ We set the markers. I will ask our archaeological team to file for permission to examine the site. ” Rivvin had something in his hand, but he skilfully avoided bringing it into her viewing area.
    “ Good. Are we ready to return to the lab? ”
    Weelar was still grinning. “ Yes, but it was amazing, simply amazing. Thank you for taking us out here, I am sure that it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. ”
    Emharo sealed the entrance again, and they returned to the deck. She directed Nitka back home and peeled her dive suit down to her hips, leaving her dressed in the leather bodice that was her normal swimwear.
    The sunlight was still bright when they arrived at the dock.
    Rivvin and Weelar lifted the storage chest out of the holding slot and walked it down the ramp to the dock.
    Morro and Harold were waiting for them. With the audience, Em was glad she was back in her jumpsuit and boots.
    Her father smiled at the storage container. “ What do you have there? ”
    Em shrugged. “ Something that Rivvin found. It ’ s enough for a week, even for our large party. ”
    The Water Folk grabbed the container and brought it up to the lab.
    Em watched them go, her gaze fixed on Rivvin ’ s legs and butt far more than she was comfortable with. She shook her head and looked at the resigned expression on Morro ’ s face.
    He asked her outright. “ So, you have agreed to mate with him? ”
    Her father was shocked. “ What? ”
    “ I have agreed to let him court me. But yes, I think that he is probably the one male who won ’ t run screaming just because I have to find something at dawn or in the middle of the night. ” She