by Shea Balik
“No,” Yosi said, getting off the bed and trying to force the others from the room completely ignoring the proffered hand. “You do not get to hear, or talk, about our sex life.”
Tears streamed down Kylo’s face as he struggled to handle the agony that must have been consuming him. His face was twisted with the effort, yet he still managed to say, “What sex life?” Each word was panted out as if he were doing everything within his power to stop from screaming again.
“And you can go fuck yourself if you think that’s true,” Kylo spat out through gritted teeth just before passing out.
“Well, that went well,” the brash man Yosi had yet to meet said. “I’d place odds you’ll have a cock up your ass as soon as that boy wakes up. He might be in a world of hurt, but I’ve never met anyone as determined as Kylo.”
As much as he didn’t want to cause his mate more harm, Yosi secretly hoped Iniko was right.
CHAPTER 8
Shards of agony lanced through Kylo’s body. Not unusual, but the feeling of being jolted was. His eyes popped open, although he didn’t move. That was something he’d learned months ago to avoid unless he intended to cause more pain to course through him.
Yosi was staring at him anxiously with huge headphones over his ears. When he moved his mouth, Kylo would have sworn he was talking, but he didn’t hear much of anything. Just a loud whooshing noise, as if he were in some sort of wind tunnel.
Then Yosi reached over. Instead of touching the side of Kylo’s head, which was the direction his hand had been going, he did something that caused the sound of his voice to suddenly fill Kylo’s ears.
“Sorry about that,” Yosi said. “I forgot we turned your headphones off when we boarded.”
“Boarded?” Kylo glanced around not sure what he was seeing. There were two seats in front of him and beyond them were a bunch of instruments that he would swear should belong on a plane. But it didn’t seem possible that the confined space they were in could be a plane.
“We’re in my helicopter, heading to my island,” Yosi informed him. “Nole thought it best for you if your animal could swim in the ocean.”
Kylo’s seal barked and honked several times in excitement. Obviously, his animal would appreciate being in the water again. If only someone had bothered to ask him what he wanted.
“Does being my mate give you permission to kidnap me?” he demanded. “Miracle is my home. I never said I was willing to leave.”
Dramatic? Oh yeah. Kylo wasn’t entirely sure why he was arguing with his mate over a decision he would have made anyway. But that was the thing with constant pain. Rationality didn’t always factor in, especially when lately so much of his life had been decided by others.
Everything from medical to when to sleep, what to eat, and where he could go had been decided by others for months. It wasn’t until he demanded his own apartment exactly a month ago that he’d been allowed to make any of his own decisions. And even the choice of apartment had been taken from him, since it was deemed too unsafe for him to be in any other apartment than the first floor in case the electricity went out and the elevators didn’t work.
So, yeah, even though he would have agreed to move to Yosi’s island, as the man was his mate, that didn’t give Yosi the right to choose for him. Worse, he didn’t even give Kylo the chance to say good-bye to his friends.
Refusing to feel like shit when his mate’s face fell and it appeared as if Yosi was about to cry, Kylo didn’t apologize. He wanted to. Hell, his seal was practically ready to burst from his body just to get to his mate and make him feel better.
The only thing stopping him was that he wasn’t about to let another person, not even his mate, start deciding his life for him. It had taken him a long time to realize just how important it was to live life on his own terms instead of worrying about everyone else.
Since he’d first run from that pod of shark shifters as a teenager, it was as if Kylo had just allowed life to happen to him. If it hadn’t of been for nearly dying, or more importantly, the unrelenting pain since the fire, nothing had managed to affect the way Kylo lived before now.
Pain had a way of putting things in perspective. It was a constant reminder that life was fucking short, even if he was a shifter who lived much longer than humans. Why would he waste the time he had doing things he didn’t want to do?
Medically? There wasn’t much he could do about his situation, but he’d be damned if he was going to just follow his mate’s lead when Yosi hadn’t even bothered to ask him if he was okay with moving.
“I’m sorry,” Yosi said. “I guess I just assumed…” Then he closed his eyes and shook his head. “You’re right. I should have asked. I didn’t even think. We don’t have to live there if you don’t want, but I’m hoping you’ll be willing to give it a chance. At least, allow your seal some time in the water.”
“Don’t be an ass, Kylo,” Teddy’s voice came from somewhere behind him. “We were just talking about wanting to get back to the ocean. It’s only your stupid pride that’s making this more difficult than it needs…”
Suddenly, Teddy’s voice disappeared. The glare Yosi was sending somewhere behind them probably meant it was Yosi who had somehow cut him off from being able to speak through the headset.
“Sorry about that,” Yosi said with a pleading look in his deep blue eyes. “But I do hope you’ll say yes to going to the island. Even if it’s just for a few days.”
Teddy had been right. And, if he admitted it, Kylo was being kind of an ass about the whole thing. Since he had gotten his point across, hopefully, about making arrangements without his knowledge, Kylo felt it was in his best interest to go ahead with the plans. “I’ll go,” Kylo told his mate. “But please don’t do it again.”
This wasn’t him being mean, since he tried to soften his voice when making the request. “I don’t want my life dictated to me any longer. I refuse to just go along as if I don’t really have a choice.”
Yosi head was bobbing up and down emphatically, which had his hair flying through the cabin. “I promise.”
Glancing out the window, Kylo thought they might be at some sort of hanger, for there was nothing but other helicopters and huge grey buildings all around them. “So, where exactly are we?”
Turned out, they were only refueling since the trip to the island was too long for anything but a full tank of gas.
***
Kylo’s breath caught in his throat as the tiny speck Yosi had pointed out a few minutes ago started to get bigger and bigger, until he could make out the white sandy beach, as well as a rocky shoreline a short distance away. Along the south side of the island was a cove that appeared deep, with several sailboats dotting its surface, protected from the rougher waves that broke along the outer shoreline.
On the west side was what appeared to be a cliff, but it was hard to tell how high it was from way up in the helicopter. Kylo’s seal barked happily at the chance to explore all the various shores. But the island wasn’t only about the surrounding water. It was also full of trees and paths that wound through the interior.
Several homes dotted the landscape, some overlooking water whether it be the ocean, the cove, or a couple of streams, as well as a decent sized pond. Others were in amongst the trees, as if they were part of the forest itself.
But it was a large white home that held his attention, because instinctively he knew that was Yosi’s home. It had sweeping decks that looked over the ocean, as well as one that opened up to the forest on its other side. It sat on a rise, that didn’t appear too steep, yet would keep it safe from rising tides, or large waves.
“Welcome to my island,” Yosi said as he leaned close and looked out the same window as Kylo. “I hope you’ll like here.”
Already the view was stunning. He could only imagine it would get better once they landed. That was especially true for his seal, who was practically bouncing up and down at the prospect. He was so damn excited; his animal had even forgotten just how painful shif
ting would be.
“Will we be able to go down to the water today?” Kylo sure hoped so.
Yosi kissed his cheek, causing their headphones to knock into each other as he did. “Anything for you, ba…I mean, Kylo.”
The anticipation of being able to swim had him doing something Kylo wouldn’t have thought possible with his newfound independence. “I still don’t like baby, but if you want, we can try babe.” He held out his hand when Yosi started to grin in an effort to thwart him getting too enthusiastic at his decision. “But I make no promises that I’ll like it, so be warned.”
With a solemn face, Yosi nodded. “I’ve been warned.” Then he grinned anyway. He leaned back in, this time kissing Kylo’s lips before saying, “Babe.”
Kylo wasn’t sure if he liked the fact that a shiver raced up and down his spine. But it was hard to stop when Yosi’s voice had dropped an octave and he looked at him as if Kylo were a buffet and Yosi a starving man.
Considering how much his mate loved being able to call him, ‘babe,’ it might be worth it to let him.
CHAPTER 9
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Yosi asked for the third time. He’d tried really hard to stop repeating himself, but it was difficult when he damn well knew shifting would cause Kylo tremendous agony. “I know you want to prove to the world you can, but it’s just us here. If you’re not ready…”
A finger was placed over his lips as grey eyes looked into his. “I would never lie to you, Yosi. You’re my mate and deserve to know exactly what I’m feeling. Am I scared? Yes. I admit that. The last time my seal was screaming with the anguish we endured during both shifts. Am I ready?”
Kylo held out his hand palm facing the ground and tilted it from side to side. “I’m not sure. Am I going to do it?” Kylo didn’t even hesitate and Yosi felt his chest puffing out in pride at his mate’s courage. “Yes. Not for the world, but for me. Not only does my seal need to feel the water rushing along its body, but I need to know that I can do this.”
Yosi prayed his mate would be able to shift.
“I know this is going to be difficult. But so is walking and I refuse to be carried or use a wheelchair.” Taking a deep breath, Kylo slowly let it out as he glanced over at the cove. “This is my life and I need to know what I can or can’t do. But I’m sure as hell not going to allow fear to control either of those options.”
Yosi didn’t hesitate to kiss those lips he was addicted to. “You are the bravest, most amazing person I’ve ever met and I’m proud that you are my mate.” Then he stepped back to give Kylo the room he needed to shift.
He was already naked, a fact that was wreaking all kinds of havoc to Yosi’s body. Trying to be supportive when his dick was hard as a rock as it thumped against the front of his pants to get to his mate wasn’t easy, but Yosi forced himself to do it anyway.
It helped that he was terrified for Kylo. That fear made it impossible to think about sex – mostly. Okay, so not at all, but it did help to decrease some of his libido.
“I’m not brave,” Kylo whispered hoarsely as his voice was tinged with dread. “But I also can’t live like I was. Either I do what must be done, or I might as well have died in that fire.”
Yosi’s chest squeezed tightly hearing those words. Reaching out, he stepped close once more as he cupped his mate’s face and pressed their foreheads together. “I’m so damn glad that didn’t happen, babe.” He couldn’t help but to grin a little at being allowed to use the endearment.
Kylo narrowed his eyes at him. “Stop that, or I’m going to ban the word.”
“I can’t help it, my mate.” It was the truth, too. He loved that Kylo was all his. He may not be able to claim him yet, if ever, but he would be the only one to call him, ‘babe.’ “You make me so happy.” Then he pressed a kiss to those lush lips, wishing they could stay like that all day.
But Yosi refused to be the one who stopped his mate from doing what he felt he needed to do. So, he stepped back, smiling with encouragement at Kylo. “Any time you’re ready.”
They were standing on a section of the cove that had smooth rocks along its shoreline. It had taken some effort to traverse the uneven ground, but they both felt the rocks would be better than the sand, since many of his wounds, even in seal form, were open.
To Yosi’s mind, he was sure the saltwater would be bad enough, but to add minuscule bits of sand into the mix? Yeah, that would be an added hell Kylo didn’t need. The rocks, while hard and unyielding, were fairly large and smooth, which they were hoping would aid Kylo’s seal into the water.
As it was, he was standing ankle deep in the cove’s crystal clear water. Since they weren’t sure how bad the salt would affect his wounds, it had been decided a few inches were best to start. If it wasn’t bad, Kylo would be able to scoot further in until he was submerged. At the same time, in case it was the kind of torment Yosi assumed it would be, he wouldn’t be stuck in too deep water with no way out.
At the far end of the cove were several of the island’s water shifter residents swimming to ensure no predators came close. With Kylo’s seal being as injured as he was, he would be easy pickings. Out further was Teddy’s Orca, but the big guy was just too large to easily traverse the cove, so he stayed out in the ocean.
As he watched his fearless mate shift, Yosi curled his hands into fists at the agony that appeared first on Kylo’s face, then the pitiful screams coming from his seal as his body morphed from human to animal. Unable to stay away, Yosi rushed to his mate’s side, heartbroken to see the beautiful seal so disfigured with raw wounds and scars.
Gently, Yosi placed a hand on Kylo’s soft grey head. Something inside of him changed when the seal leaned into his touch. It was like a dam breaking free as he felt hot tears splashing over his cheeks.
“Oh, my sweet mate. I’m so sorry they did this to you.” It had been horrific enough to see on Kylo’s body, but everywhere he looked there were deep gouges and ragged flesh. Even with all the damage, Kylo was still gorgeous with his light grey fur and patches of darker grey fur along his back and sides.
Yosi imagined if the two greys were mixed together, it would perfectly match Kylo’s eyes. “Stunning,” he whispered as the heartache turned to pure awe. He continued to run his hand over Kylo’s head and neck, the only areas that weren’t marred by burns as he tried to soothe the wounded animal with his touch.
Slowly, the painful cries began to subside and Kylo was able to lift his head and nuzzle against Yosi’s side a bit. “There you go, my love.” Yosi leaned down and nuzzled his cheek against Kylo’s for a moment. “Do you think you can swim, or is that too much for today?”
The look in those grey eyes told Yosi all he needed to know. Kylo was going to swim even if he had to go through hell to do it. “Okay then,” Yosi backed up just enough to give Kylo room to move further into the water. “Let’s see what you can do, babe.”
He gave Kylo a cheeky grin when Kylo glared at him. Then his mate scooted his body further into the water. There were still several pitiful noises coming from the seal, but once he was in all the way, Yosi could have sworn he heard what sounded like a sigh of relief.
Yeah, it was fanciful thinking on his part as he was fairly sure seals didn’t sigh, but it was obvious Kylo’s seal was happy to finally be set free into the water. It gave Yosi the peace of mind he needed to not pace the shoreline. Don’t get him wrong, he was tempted, but he didn’t think that would send a good sign to his mate.
Kylo needed to know that Yosi would support him no matter what. Even if he was torturing himself with this asinine need to prove he can be who he was before his old alpha tried to burn him alive. Or, maybe not the same, but a version of himself that would send a signal to the world that Kylo wouldn’t be beaten down.
As proud as he was of his mate for doing this, Yosi was still terrified. For, if anything happened out there in the water and Kylo couldn’t make it back to shore, there was a chance he’d drown.
Thankfully, wh
ether it was for Yosi’s sake, or because as much as Kylo wanted to show the world he was still alive and kicking he wasn’t stupid, his mate stayed close by. He only gave himself enough room to glide just under the surface without scraping his torso along the bottom.
Several minutes passed before Yosi took his first real breath as he watched his mate in amazement. There were still a few sounds Kylo was making that clearly told Yosi he was hurting, but he twisted and turned, swimming gracefully back and forth. He even caught a fish and ate it.
Yosi grinned when Kylo barked in happiness after he’d gobbled the treat down. As much as his mate might have grumbled about not being given a choice to come to the island, it was clear he and his seal would love it.
He hoped so anyway. For as brave as his mate was, Yosi wasn’t sure he could leave the safety this island provided him. For Kylo, he would do anything, but the terror of once more being chased by mobs of people, not to mention a government bent on forcing him to do their dirty work, Yosi knew to leave this island would mean never feeling free again.
CHAPTER 10
There was no denying how brutal it had been to shift. And the feel of the saltwater as it lapped against his animal’s body for the first time? Torturous didn’t begin to describe it. Those first few minutes, if Kylo would have had the ability to shift back, he would have.
But then he felt his mate’s hand on him and slowly the agony that gripped his body started to recede. It hadn’t gone away completely, but then again, it never did. But it allowed his seal to finally enjoy the sensation of the water as it enveloped its body.