Feels like it's been awhile even though I'm right on schedule! My toddler was sick this weekend so things probably just FELT like forever xD.

Enjoy the new update!

*

Mettle

Three days after the news that the Berylia had disappeared and we still had no sightings of the missing Corenths. George and Josh had made it to the McLaren home and word was that George was heavily concussed but on the mend. I hadn't seen either of them yet so far and wasn't sure if I wanted to. Dev and Thomas were with them just to keep an eye out, nobody was willing to fully trust them right now.

From what I understood, Mitch had only today been grudgingly allowed to accompany Dev. Not surprising to find out that Dev could get as protective over his boyfriend as Matt was over me. It was clearly a trait that ran in the family.

I was currently pacing back and forth across the patio at the side of the pool at my own home. Matt sprawled in a deck chair behind me, Noah in another one across from my boyfriend. Last but not least, Orly and Mariana shared a chair on the other side of the pool; affording them a little privacy so they could do that crazy-in-love-routine of theirs. Cuddling and whispering at each other.

When my pacing brought me close to Matt again, he hooked my leg with his foot so I came tumbling into his lap (luckily avoiding falling into the pool). "Eek!" Which had both Noah and Matt laughing at my expense. Then Matt settled me across his legs. "Calm down Dani Darling. If they make a move they make a move, if not, just try to enjoy the afternoon. It's summer, it's too hot to do all that pacing of yours."

Man had a point of course, didn't mean I knew what to do with myself. I felt far too hunted, too on edge, waiting for that damn other shoe to drop. "It's just, tonight's a full moon. We'll have to all gather at the Moonfell, what if they decide to try something then?" I said, voicing my biggest worry. It would be the first time we'd have to all gather in one place.

You'd think there would be safety in numbers but at the same time... None of us would want to risk the effects of the moon, but they might. If that happened, Noah and Thorne were the only ones able to take action but they couldn't follow them underwater.

"It's going to be alright," Matt said firmly, but I could see the same worries on his face. He still hadn't been able to get hold of any of his other navy buddies and Fletcher, the one he had been able to reach was still stuck in Melbourne.

I'd gotten to know Noah over the past three days as a level-headed, calm guy with a knack for calming everyone. Now he spoke in that pleasant voice of his the same reassurances Matt had just given me and instantly I felt calmer. "Thanks," Matt sighed, aware he'd used his ability to make me feel better.

When Matt's phone rang I jumped a little, watching Matt's face intently as he answered the call. I could hear a male voice on the other side but not what they were saying but Matt's normally tan face went almost completely white. My stomach tied itself into knots, worrying about who could be on the phone with him, what could have been said to cause that reaction.

As the call disconnected he turned his dark eyes on me with the bleakest expression I'd ever seen in them. "Matt," I said, "What is it?" His eyes slid to Noah who'd sat up straight and leaned our way, and then to his brother and Mariana who'd approached and stood arm in arm with grim expressions on their faces.

"That was Dave," he said, confirming what we'd all suspected. Though I felt tension ratchet up inside my body even more at the mention of the name. Matt's bleak expression turned back on me, and I fully expected him to say that the Corenths had his parents hostage or Dev and Mitch maybe.

"There's a bomb. They're going to set it off if we don't hand you over," he explained in a husky voice. My head reeled with possible locations but it was Orly who demanded, "Where?" His voice far calmer than should be possible right now. "On a commercial whale watching yacht, he said there's a dozen or so people aboard."

We let that information sink in for a brief second and then Noah got to his feet and pulled out his phone. "I'll call it in, get bomb squad on it." But Matt reached out and stopped his friend from making a call by grabbing his elbow. "They'll know and set it off the moment a boat tries to approach."

"We're not handing over Dani," Mariana exclaimed horrified and Matt shot her a look, "Never." With a sinking feeling I knew where this was headed and clearly so did Orly because he started shaking his head vehemently, "No Matt. You can't..."

"I have to go," he said firmly, eyeing me with a pleading look. I was still perched in his lap and he curled both his arms tightly around my middle while at the same time I grabbed hold of his shirt and started shaking my head no.

"Yes, I know it's a trap," Matt said, "They're trying to lure me away. We don't even know if this bomb is real... But I have to go, we can't risk a dozen people and I trust you guys..." His eyes met mine, "The lot of you need to get in the car and head for the McLaren home, consolidate our forces. You'll be safe in numbers."

I shook my head, "Matt, you could get hurt! What if they set off that bomb the moment you reach the boat?" I got that he was the one with the experience to disable such a thing, he'd told me enough stories of his time in the navy that I knew he had the training for it. "Can Thorne go?" that was obviously extremely selfish of me to ask, but Thorne was as trained as Matt and the only other person qualified.

But Matt and Noah nixed that idea immediately by shaking their heads, "No, it's as Matt said," Noah said gently. "They'd blow up the boat at the first sign of someone approaching. Thorne is a good diver but Matt's likely the only one who can approach unseen."

Couldn't Thorne dive as well? Sure he'd need to strap on an oxygen tank but he was a strong swimmer, he was trained for this wasn't he? But Matt said, "I'll need Thorne to watch my back, this is a two man job. We'll head out the first bit by boat, then I'll approach and Thorne will coordinate. The bomb will be below the water."

"How long do we have to decide?" I asked, mouth dry. "They gave us coordinates to drop you off at, we have an hour," Matt explained, a growl to his voice. Eyeing the others I asked for a moment and with a nod from Noah and a sympathetic smile from Mariana the three of them headed to the other side of the pool to give us some privacy.

When I turned my eyes on Matt he reached up and cupped my face, "I have to go darling. I know the risks, I know they're trying to separate us but it's the right thing to do." I could tell he thought I'd protest, I wanted to even, but instead I nodded. "I know Matt. We can't let other people come to harm if we can stop it. I just wish it wasn't you who had to do this..."

But I knew what kind of guy he was. He was a flirt and a tease, he acted like he was an immature idiot from time to time but underneath all that he was the most caring and responsible person I knew. He would always look after other people, always did the right thing when it came down to the big things. Things like this.

And he had faith in his friends and family too, faith in me. That we'd be able to repel an attempt by Dave and his sons when they made a move, even if Matt wasn't there.

He pressed his lips to mine and for a moment I let myself sink into the kiss, let the world fall away as he made love to my mouth. "Just promise me you'll come back to me," I told him when we pulled apart after long seconds. Leaning his forehead against mine he whispered, "I always will Dani darling. Don't you know I love you?"

My eyes filled with tears a the words, aware he'd said them because just like me, he did worry he might not get a chance later. "I love you too Matt," I replied, fighting the sudden wave of tears clawing at my eyes and only just managing to keep them back. I didn't want him to see me cry right now, I wanted to be strong. Wanted him to feel confident when he left to do this dangerous job.

When we stood up the others joined us and when Matt said goodbye Mariana hurried to pull me into her arms. I hated how Matt was quick to get the tools he needed from his truck while he called with Thorne to coordinate things. Loved at the same time how efficient he was, how competent and in the moment. He didn't look stressed or scared or worried now, just coolly efficient.

And then with a last kiss and a see you later he jogged down the path to the cove so he could get into the water. A tightly closed canvas bag on his back with a pair of swimming trunks and his tools, diving knife strapped to his bicep. His gun he'd left with Orly.

I watched with the others from the edge of the patio as he strode into the surf. Raising his hand one last time at us to wave before he dove into the sea.

*

Cliffhanger or what? Don't hate me guys. The next few updates are gonna be super tense! We're getting to the final confrontation!

Also, I found a treasure trove of free ebooks that I'm allowed to share. (It's to help you all discover cool new authors! Yay!) There's romance, scifi, adventure and anything that might overlap so there's probably something in there for all of you to like ;-)

You can find the books on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RobinOConnorBooks

Or on my twitter if that's more your thing: https://twitter.com/RobinOConnorInk

Much love,

Robin