The conversation was surreal. Sassaki had never expected his parents to actually give him the chance to defend himself. Alas, there were no words he could say that would wash their anger away. His reasons were treasonous, at least to the wyrms, as was his affection toward Yane, Owen, and the others.
“I assure you, I have a good reason. Mother, Father, don’t you think this war has gone on long enough? Eagles, dryads, nymphs, wyrms. Why should we fight? We can achieve peace, if only we try.”
Arssan’s eyes flashed briefly at his words. It was the only warning Sassaki had before his father lunged for him. But Arssan did not get the chance to reach him. A thick column of water hit him face-front, sending him flying into the ocean.
“Back off, wyrm,” Yane snarled as he joined Sassaki. The group had been silent while Sassaki talked to his parents, but it seemed all bets were off now.
Hash stepped forward as well, his wings emerging from his back threateningly. The dragon might not be able to shift fully with the enchantment in place, but unlike Sassaki, he controlled fire magic. Alcharr also came to stand by his side, and to Sassaki’s surprise, Kyllian. Owen and Kani also joined the line. Even without the human and the mer, Lota and Arssan were outnumbered.
Lota looked shocked. “What have you done, my child? What is this?”
To Sassaki’s surprise, it was Owen who answered her question. “I do not understand half the things you shouted at each other,” he said in English, “and I’m not even sure you can understand me. I can appreciate that you’re shocked at this situation. But I also think, and I see in your eyes, that you love Sassaki. And I want you to see that we do, too.”
As if to illustrate this message through actions too, Owen came to Sassaki’s side and pressed their lips together. Just like that, Sassaki’s doubts and fears evaporated. His wyrm settled, understanding that in spite of Owen’s bond to Yane, Owen remained his mate. The lingering traces of jealousy faded, replaced by pure desire. He wanted to see Yane and Owen together. He wanted to touch them both, to join their bond in body and soul.
What started like an innocent lip-lock evolved into a hot and heavy kiss. Sassaki couldn’t hold himself back. He licked across the seam of Owen’s lips, demanding entrance. When Owen let him in, their tongues tangled in a duel of passion. Owen tasted delicious, just like Sassaki knew he would. He wanted to kiss the human forever. He wanted to touch him and claim him right then and there.
The sound of a cleared throat was like a bucket of ice water on his fervor. He remembered his parents were there and he’d just been caught consorting with the enemy. Now was not the time for a make-out session.
Reluctantly, he broke away from Owen and looked toward his parents. During his kiss with Owen, his father had reemerged from the water. They both seemed to have realized the new realities of Sassaki’s life.
“So he is your mate,” Arssan said, “the human you saved from your brothers.”
Sassaki nodded. “This is Owen. I care for him deeply.”
“That’s understandable,” Lota replied. “But you don’t have to help the dryads to keep the human by your side. There are spells…things that can make your human breathe underwater. He could live with the mer. He’d be safe.”
Sassaki’s heart squeezed in pain. Even with the evidence of his betrayal, his mother was still attempting to bring him back. As much as he’d have liked to cling to that lifeline, he knew he could not go back. “This is no longer about just Owen and me. I care about Yane, about all these men. I care about making the plague lands a better place.” He loved his parents, but this was the right thing to do.
Arssan stared at him. “So you’ve made your choice then. You’re abandoning us for them.”
“I don’t want to do that,” Sassaki answered. “Things can still work out.”
His father shook his head. “I’m sorry, Sassaki, but no. Wyrms and dryads are enemies, and by choosing to side with them, you’ve become an enemy, too.”
Without another word, the other wyrm turned his back on Sassaki and headed back toward the water. After giving Sassaki a pained look, his mother did the same. It was the time his parents had showed most emotion, and when their forms vanished into the ocean, Sassaki knew he’d lost them.
Owen’s arms went around him, hugging him tightly. “I’m so sorry, Sassaki.”
Sassaki felt numb. In his heart, he’d always known this would happen eventually. The affection he had for these men could not be accepted by the wyrms. But in this particular moment, it didn’t really register. It didn’t seem real.
He looked out at the ocean where his parents had disappeared. It was his home, his home of so many years. But now, he would no longer have a place there.
“Where are we going to go?” Kani asked in echo of his own thoughts. “What will we do?”
To Sassaki’s surprise, Kyllian answered, “Worry not. You can stay with me. There’s plenty of space.” He met Sassaki’s eyes. “In fact, it would be best if you took Owen and your mer friend and remained there for the moment. Hash will come with you.”
Hash looked temporarily startled and gave the wizard a side glance. “A word with you in private?”
Privacy was hardly possible on the beach with no vegetation around, but Kyllian nodded nonetheless. The two of them burst into the air, disappearing above the clouds. Sassaki blinked in surprise. So the wizard knew how to fly. He supposed that could be useful.
He turned his attention toward Alcharr and Yane. “What about you? What are you supposed to do?”
“The rest of us will be needed for the…wedding,” Alcharr answered. He was gritting his teeth, obviously displeased with the situation.
Sassaki agreed with the man. “Why would you even want to do that? Why chance it?”
“It’s the only way we can find out who is out to get us,” Yane said.
Alcharr sighed. “I’m pretty sure it has to be my father. He’s the one who rushed the wedding in the first place. Why would he do it if he didn’t know about the crystal?”
Yane didn’t seem convinced. “And how do we face him then? How do we know no one else is involved? We have to go there, Charr.”
That was true, except Sassaki wished there could be another way which wouldn’t imply Yane risking his life. It was strange to realize how much he’d come to care about the other man in so little time.
Yane must have guessed his thoughts, because he offered Sassaki a small smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. We have too much to deal with to give up now.”
And for whatever reason, the promise in those words made Sassaki feel better.
Hash hovered above the clouds, glaring at the wizard in front of him. He understood Kyllian’s interest in the destruction of the crystal, but he didn’t really appreciate being stashed away in the man’s home as if he were useless.
“I’m coming with you,” he told Kyllian. “I can justify my presence there as an agent of the Imperium.”
Kyllian sighed. “Has’hendral, don’t be stubborn. I assure you I would not have said that without just cause.”
The arrogance of the man made Hash want to scream. “Why? Why do I have to go? Give me one good reason.”
Kyllian smirked at him. “I’ll give you two. The first I intended to talk to you about anyway. I need you to watch the crystal for me.” His silver eyes seemed to pierce Hash’s very soul as he spoke. “As one with magic affinity and a shape-shifter, you’ll be able to tell what modifications it goes through. The wedding was pushed up, so someone is panicking. If I’m right about this, this person, whoever it is, might attempt to strengthen the wards around the crystal. If that happens, you have to be there to stop it.”
Hash’s anger deflated. “Oh. That makes sense.”
Kyllian chuckled, but then his expression turned serious. “And the second reason is just as important. You have to take care of the others. Sassaki… He will be torn and distracted by the separation from his family. The mer and Owen might need protection, even in my realm. A
lso, if that happens, I’m worried about Fayre. He’s young still and not ready to face something like this.”
Hash felt humbled by the trust Kyllian placed in him. He silently agreed with the wizard. Fayre was young and very impetuous. He might very well go charging into battle if he didn’t have someone to temper him. And Sassaki might be able to deal with that, but the wyrm was not a creature of magic.
“All right,” he answered. “Agreed. As long as you take care of Yane and Alcharr.” And of yourself, he finished wordlessly. He frowned to himself, uncertain why he would even worry about the wizard. At most, they were unlikely allies in a war that had swept them both off their feet. Nothing more, nothing less.
Kyllian smiled, the irritating smirk that seemed to say he knew something Hash didn’t. He flew closer to Hash and whispered, “And don’t waste any more time. Your mate needs you.”
Hash gaped at the wizard. “Excuse me? Why do you even care?” Anger returned as he recalled Kyllian’s unreasonable request. “You want Owen for yourself.”
Kyllian laughed. “I might, but that doesn’t mean he’s the only one I want.” He winked. “Figure it out, will you? Poor Owen doesn’t know which way is up at this point.”
Hash opened his mouth to retort, but his angry reply was cut off by Kyllian’s lips on his. He didn’t even get the chance to protest, because Kyllian’s tongue assaulted his own. Even knowing that he shouldn’t be kissing someone else, Hash couldn’t help but surrender. There was just something about Kyllian that made him feel light-headed, a silent strength and a knowledge Hash couldn’t hope to achieve.
Hash allowed the other man to take possession of his mouth, at the same time doing some exploration of his own. The wizard tasted like lightning would if it had a flavor, electrifying, airy, and with a hint of danger. Hash wanted him so badly it hurt. His beast roared inside him, demanding to be released, to fulfill the coupling of their bodies.
But unfortunately, they could not afford to prolong the stolen moment too much. Their kiss broke, and it was by miracle that Hash didn’t fall out of the sky. Kyllian gave him an unreadable look, panting slightly. “Remember that, all right? I’m on your side.”
Without further ado, the wizard started to descend. Disgruntled, Hash joined him. He knew better than to try to continue the conversation now. It was not the time or the place to try and decipher Kyllian’s enigmatic behavior, and his mind and body still buzzed after the kiss.
Even so, as they landed next to the other men again, Hash couldn’t help but remember Kyllian’s words. He looked at Owen, the wizard’s voice ringing out in his mind. Your mate needs you.
Kyllian was right. Owen looked confused, lost, and frightened. Unlike other times, they’d avoided speaking in English alone, mostly because of the awkwardness that appeared after seeing Owen together with Yane. But it seemed clear to Hash that Owen irradiated affection. He was a naturally caring person, and asking him to choose, now of all times, would be selfish.
Of course, Kyllian had a point. Relationship-wise, they were a mess. Alcharr was in love with Yane, and Yane with him. But Yane had slept with Owen and was due to marry Alcharr’s brother. And even if Alcharr might try to deny it, he and Hash had a great deal of chemistry going on. With Sassaki added to the mix, it was no wonder that none of them knew what to do. If Kyllian became involved too…well, suffice to say that Hash would give up on ever trying to understand the affairs of the heart.
Once more, he remembered his brother, and he wondered how Chek handled his own relationship. Probably better than Hash. Chek always knew what to do, unlike Hash. In that respect, Kyllian reminded Hash of Chek, a bit disturbing, given that they’d just shared a mind-melting kiss. But whatever the case, the fact remained that now, Hash needed to be by Owen’s side. Yes, his mate needed him.
Without allowing himself to hesitate further, Hash made his way to Owen’s side and wrapped his arms around the human. His resolve faltered when Owen tensed, but the dragon within told him that this was right, this was true. They were meant to be together.
“Hash?” Owen asked, his voice trembling. “What?”
“Shhh…It’s okay. We’ll protect you.”
“I don’t know,” Owen answered. “I’m just making a bigger mess of things. I should just leave you all alone.”
Silence fell, and Hash felt the eyes of the entire group on them. Perhaps the others had not even realized how much Owen could be hurt by this. Hash himself hadn’t even considered it. He berated himself for his mistake and vowed to never do such a thing again. As a shape-shifter, he should have sensed Owen’s apprehension. He should have realized that Owen truly did not mean any harm.
But in that moment, Hash also realized another thing. It wasn’t only him who needed to accept Owen. The human cared about them all, and Alcharr and Yane’s situation hurt him. Hash willed them to say something, anything, before they left and got separated from them for the gods knew how long.
Alas, Alcharr and Yane didn’t say anything. Instead, Yane nodded in the general direction of Tanarak. “We should go. We don’t have much time to prepare.”
Owen looked away from them, and Hash wanted to kick Yane in the face. Thankfully, Sassaki intervened. “Yeah, we should,” he said tightly. He took the mer’s hand, dragging him to Owen’s side. “How do we get to your place?”
“Hash knows the way to my realm,” Kyllian answered. “My brother will help you from there.”
“All right. Thank you.” With another glare at Alcharr and Yane, Sassaki turned his back on the sea. “Come on. It’s not safe here.”
Hash released Owen from his hold and took the human’s hand, gesturing to follow behind Sassaki. But just as they were about to leave, Alcharr’s voice stopped them.
“Wait,” the eagle said. “This is all wrong.”
Hash could practically feel Owen’s hope emanate from him. They turned, looking back to the men they’d left on the beach. “What do you mean?” Owen asked in a small voice.
Alcharr and Yane walked to their side. Alcharr sighed. “Look, we don’t have time for clarifying things now, but I want you to know I don’t begrudge you for what happened between you and Yane. I admit I’m a bit…confused. I’ve never felt like this.” He took Owen’s hand and kissed it. “I’ve only ever loved Yane,” he whispered. “But I think that, in time, I can grow to love others as well.”
There was no question as to what “others” Alcharr referred to. Relief coursed through Hash. He felt a gaze on them and looked beyond Alcharr’s shoulder to meet Kyllian’s gaze. He nodded, silently acknowledging Kyllian’s assistance. He remembered their kiss and somehow knew Kyllian would be very important for them in the future.
Yane and Alcharr took their turns hugging Owen. Hash didn’t know what else to expect and was surprised when the two offered embraces to him and Sassaki as well. It was odd, unexpected, and somewhat unsatisfying, but it would have to do for now.
When at last they said their goodbyes, Hash felt a bit better about the whole thing. He held Owen’s hand as he directed his companions to the harbor. There, they’d grab a boat and leave to Almareya. To his knowledge, Kyllian hadn’t contacted Fayre yet, but he undoubtedly would by the time Hash reached their destination.
By noon, Hash, Sassaki, Kani, and Owen left the plague lands behind. They didn’t see the other men again, but Hash forced himself to be optimistic. For the moment, there was nothing he could do but hope and guard his charges.
Chapter Seven
The dryad capital of Anethone was nothing like Tanarak and its surrounding waters. Yane had almost forgotten how beautiful it looked, with the many years he’d spent focusing on their outer defenses. But finally, he’d been called home—or where his home was supposed to be.
Green surrounded him from every direction, trees growing proudly toward the clear sky, supporting buildings created to be in perfect harmony with nature. The main road was clear of people, but to their right, the intricate bazaar stood, offering all the goods possible
. Even if the dryads kept to themselves, there were certain merchants who brought outside goods, and their commercial life was prosperous.
Yane never thought he’d one day return to the palace with Alcharr by his side, let alone in these circumstances. The wizard left once they’d reached the outskirts of Anethone, with a promise to contact them as soon as possible. Inexplicably, he’d also demanded a lock of hair from both of them. Yane and Alcharr complied, even if they knew that in the hands of a magic user, such a thing could be very dangerous.
But now, Yane had something else to worry about. He needed to face the dryad royal family. Suffice to say Yane wasn’t looking forward to it.
“Are you all right?” Alcharr asked, reaching for Yane’s hand. The carriage they rode in gave them a measure of privacy, even if it was uncomfortable and quite small.
Yane squeezed his lover’s palm, grateful for the support. “I just haven’t seen them in a while. I don’t know what to expect.” It certainly didn’t help that one or more of them could be plotting his demise.
Alcharr nodded. “I understand. Just remember I’m here for you.”
And Yane knew that Alcharr did, indeed, understand. He felt relieved the eagle no longer seemed upset about Owen. Perhaps the moment of their separation from the human really brought about a realization, the fact that they were no longer the only ones who mattered for each other. It was difficult to acknowledge for Yane, especially since it meant grasping the connection he sensed between him and his former enemy, Sassaki. He imagined it to be just as hard for Alcharr.
He wished he could forget about all this business with the crystal and run, retreat to the wizard realm with the others. But that would be cowardly and dangerous. Their enemy needed to be dealt with, for the sake of his people, and for his loves as well.
Yane found strength in that knowledge and in Alcharr’s presence. By the time the carriage rolled in the courtyard of their palace, he’d already gathered enough courage to face his family. At last, the vehicle stopped, and taking a deep breath, Yane opened the door. He exited the carriage and almost instantly found himself facing his parents.
Hyacinth, Scarlet - Craving Owen [Tides of Love 2] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) Page 11