Page 47 of Castor
Water gently lapped at the shore as the tide rolled in.
Kyo sat beside me in the sand, our shoulders touching as we stared up at the endless sky of stars. After we were shown to our room at Baxter’s villa, we had decided to go on a walk and soon found ourselves at the beach.
“Makes you feel so small sometimes, doesn’t it?” Kyo asked, moonlight spilling across his handsome face. “The universe is infinite. Much like us, I guess. But our actions have no effect on the stars or the moon. Whether we live for a thousand years or die tomorrow, the stars will still shine just as they are now.”
“Even stars die,” I said. “Eventually.”
“Then maybe it’s about perception. Faith.” Kyo looked over at me. “Your belief in something gives it power.”
“What do you believe in, little dragon?”
He shifted his gaze to the sea. “I don’t know.”
I stared at his sharp jawline and followed it to the soft curve of his mouth. Every instinct told me to reach out for him, to pull him close to me and kiss those lips. Instead, I looked to where the moonlight reflected off the dark water in front of us.
“What doyoubelieve in?” Kyo asked.
“Myself. It’s kept me alive this long. I also believe in my brothers. No matter how the odds seem stacked against us, I know we’ll prevail. We have to. Because too many people rely on us.”
“How are you, Red? Really.” Kyo’s orange eyes watched me. He had removed his contacts after meeting with Baxter. “When we first started hanging out, you were a mess.”
“I still am a mess.” I took a deep breath, held it, then released it into the night air, wishing the shit inside my head could be dispelled just as easily. “Belphegor really fucked me up while I was in the underworld. He plays on your fear, uses it against you while he searches your mind. What’s weird is the physical torture sucked, but it was the shit he did up here that I can’t let go of.” I tapped the side of my head. “I can’t help but feel like it’s some kind of omen. That maybe the shit I saw will come true. I guess it’s one reason why I’m so desperate for Baxter to join our side.”
We sat in silence for a while after that, listening to the surf and the mild breeze move through the trees behind us.
I didn’t know if it was the peaceful setting or maybe the uncertainty of what tomorrow would bring that encouraged us to start talking like this, but I liked it. Normally I wasn’t so open, yet it was easy to talk to Kyo. Probably the whole “destined mate” thing. I felt eyes on us—probably pain-in-the-ass Titan or some of his men making sure we weren’t up to no good.
“Do you think he will agree to the alliance?” Kyo buried his bare toes in the warm sand. We had removed our shoes once finding our spot.
“I can’t say for sure.” The question would keep me awake all night though.
“I didn’t like him flirting with you,” he whispered. “Or how he called you Red. I don’t know why, but it pissed me off.”
My heart beat a bit faster. No matter what species—werewolves, vampires, or Nephilim—the connection felt with a mate was rarely one-sided.
When Galen met Simon and began to show signs of having found his destined mate, Simon felt a connection too. It drew them closer, made it damn near impossible to stay apart. Their souls recognized each other, knew they were meant to unite. However, it didn’t always mean the two would end up together. If Kyo really wanted to, he could fight the connection.
Did he want to?
“How corny would it be if I said I only have eyes for you?”
“Totally corny,” Kyo said with a light laugh. He bumped our shoulders together, keeping his eyes on the water. “But… sweet. Even if it’s not true.”
“Huh?” I turned to him. “Why wouldn’t it be true?”
He shrugged. “I just know how much you get around. I mean, you have a private room at Konnar’s club with a bed so you can regularly fuck random guys. I’m not that special.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?”
“Fuck you.” Kyo shoulder-checked me, harder this time. His smile faltered. “I’ve never been like this over a guy before. I hate it.”
“You’re wrong about one thing, little dragon.” I leaned in closer, brushing my lips across his earlobe. “Youarespecial to me. More so than anyone else.”
A soft sound left his throat, and he turned his face to meet me for a kiss. It lasted only a second, but it pulled at my damn heartstrings. Though short, the kiss was filled with vulnerability. It felt a little sad too.
And then he pulled away from me.
“We should get back,” Kyo said before putting on his shoes.
