My body flipped multiple times, each one stirring my stomach. I was a creature of the ocean, air was not my element. Even so, the sharp slap of water on my back did nothing in the split second before the water took effect.

I eased into the water, my eye flying open to see dozens of bodies under the water. I had never seen so many Spirits before.

Dark-skinned women with long braids hovered just above the cavern floor, armor and weapons of bronze reflecting in the aquatic light. A man was almost completely engulfed in fish as the small creatures swarmed him. A few mermaids and mermen circled a squid as Kraken lounged on its head.

My heart picked up as I noticed the large swarm of seemingly normal figures. A few stragglers were pulling themselves through the tunnels and I studied each face, hope growing with every second.

None of the people were Jax, though many did wave when they saw my questioning gaze.

I breathed out, bubbles escaping with my excitement.

Just at the moment, I was going to give up hope of seeing Jax today and greet Kraken and the others, I felt a warm hand circle my waist and pull me deeper. My body tumbled as someone spun me like a toy top.

I kicked away from the person, a smile growing as I righted myself and looked at the long-missed face.

Tanned skin and dark eyes greeted me as Jax's hair floated in a messy cloud around his head. I hadn't seen him or his teasing grin in weeks and it was a welcome sight. I had missed my closest friend.

I threw open my arms and engulfed him, making sure to squeeze every bit of air out of his lungs. He followed suit and we rested for a moment before pushing away and breaking the surface.

"You're back early," I mused, studying him for any injury. His arm still dragged beside him, but he looked healthy and in good spirits. "I thought you'd gone for another few days."

"Traveling was faster and I wanted to get back to see your charming face," he winked and swam backward as I sent a wave of water at him. "It is good to see you though. I missed you."

"And I as well. How have you been? Safe, I hope."

"I am. As you've seen many of our friends have agreed to help. It was nice to travel and see the others again."

I froze, not wanting the conversation to include other people, but we had work to do. I would have time to catch up with Jax when the lives of other Spirits weren't on the line.

"Can you introduce me to them?" I began swimming to shore, keeping one eye on the man. "I have news and some of them may be able to help."

"New? Has something happened?" I could see the man change. His eyes darkened and his jaw tightened.

"Nothing bad," I quickly reassured him. "Some good news. I have a general idea of where the Missing might be. I'm organizing a group to travel into the high mountains to scout. I didn't know if you'd be back in time, now I know we can leave tonight at the latest."

Jax stopped swimming, giving me an uneasy look. "I'm not sure I want to leave just yet. Not all of these Spirits speak a common dialect. If I leave," he didn't finish the thought, but I knew what he was thinking.

"Could we then ask the Spirits themselves? I'm sure they would understand." I grabbed his arm. "We don't know how much time they have. It will only be a few days."

"Then I'll ask them tonight," he grinned. "After all, I have to greet everyone. I'm sure they missed me."

"Make sure that includes Liu Ming and Siren. I hate to admit it, but he missed you. Most of us did."

"That would be due to my charm."

"I'm not sure there is much charm, but perhaps any Seductor could win the hearts of the naive." I pushed him, pulling myself out of the water. "Unfortunately for you, it does not work on me."

I grinned, squeezing my eyes until Jax became a blur. It was nice to relax my composure, just be me. I either had to be a sister or a warrior. Now I could just be a friend.

"You deny it, but no matter. One day you'll realize the truth."

"And what would that be?"

"That you are utterly and hopelessly in love with me," Jax laughed. He wrapped his arm over my shoulders. "Your sister would have the satisfaction of being right though. How is she by the way? Healthy?"

"Very healthy as is her baby. She sends me regular letters and Helena and Alexander should be returning soon with her. In the next few days." I nudged his side. "She was worried that you wouldn't return. Visit her after we get back from the scouting mission."

"I will. After all, she would scold me if I didn't. I don't need two de'Laure sisters worried about me."

"Worried might be the wrong word," I argued. "I feared the Spirits you traveled with would kill you before the Hunters had a chance to."

He lay his hand on his chest, tutting. "You wound me."

We approached the plaza, the meal for our guests laid out on a long table. The humans were camped along the left side where their apartments were. The Spirits took the other side. Some brave people from each side mixed in the middle, but for the most part, they were divided.

"I never expected so many Hunters to join us," Jax gaped in awe.

"Neither did I. I underestimated how much parents wanted their children to be safe. That's why many are here, to protect their loved ones."

I scanned the seats, looking for familiar faces. I was the one who usually picked up the humans, but some needed more delicate handling. The children mostly. They circled Perkha like moths to a flame, wanting attention and comfort, the kind their lineage couldn't provide.

"Over there," I adjusted Jax's arm, pointing to a young man and woman who sat close together, talking to a Spirit with feathers braided in his hair. "That's Manuel and his sister Estella. They have been here since the beginning. Their parents were killed and they didn't want to be caught in the same life that took their parents. The women with the toddler and little boy? Ellanoire, just arrived last night by my hand."

"How did you come by the Missing's location? Did they tell you?" The next word came out slow, testing the waters for any reaction from me. "Freely?"

The question did stir up the same unease I had when Atoya questioned me, but I held my gaze. "We haven't used any powers on them. The Hunters told me willingly. What's more, there seems to be a strong chance they're alive as Liu Ming suspected."

Jax tensed slightly. "That isn't necessarily true. Part of that is a lie."

He chose to ignore the part about the Missing being alive. The small group that had run from the estate had always held the arbitrary belief that they were alive, much to the disproval of the rest of Intutum. It seemed no one was willing to give in to the hope that their companions could be alive.

"We did not use our powers on the Hunters. You know that to be the truth. Yet that's all I care to share. Who told us is not as important as what we know."

"I won't argue the matter, but I hope you will be honest with me." I nodded, but he used his resting hand to turn me. "Tell me later, when we no longer have an audience."

"Maybe," I nodded, "but it has to be when we cannot be overheard."

"Then I'm going to introduce myself to some of the Hunters, can you show the newer Spirits around?"

I shook my head. "For now I need to speak with Anaula, Liu Ming, and any of your Spirits that are Shifters or Seductors. We need stealth on this mission."

"Can I suggest letting them settle and using Yoki instead? She is quite capable if you would give her gift a chance."

"That could be for the best." I turned to find the rest of the Spirits trickling behind us. Their eyes were trailed on Jax. "They are looking to you for guidance. Do they speak a language I know?"

"Most speak a native language or some chipping of English or Spanish. Come," he loosened his arm and pushed through the crowd, yelling greetings to familiar faces and new ones alike.

I tried my best to make eye contact with the new Spirits, but most of them huddled in groups talking low and throwing glances about.

He spent the next hour introducing me to the new arrivals. Most required translation, but some could speak in a broken language I understood. We worked to divert them to their council elder and help them find other's who could translate.

It still amazed me that Intutum could be home to so many different people and languages, but I had no doubt the speech barrier would fade with time.