Page 55 of Sea and Sky
Jessi’s eyes flashed with the unfamiliar anger. “Don’t be so ungrateful.”
“Ungrateful? I’m guessing you’re here because Vex wants to keep track of me. Wants to make sure I follow through with givinghimthe stone instead of Gavin.”
Damon growled, and Kyler couldn’t look at him.
“You’re true on all accounts. Vex promised me freedom as soon as he has the stone in his hands. I’m here to make sure you don’t fuck me with your stupid emotions.”
Stupid emotions. It was true; he was letting his feelings for Gavin fog his brain. But what a pleasant fog it’d been.
“You don’t have to worry about that. Gavin knows this is all for show. He came up with the silly idea of us being pair-bonded. He’s been obsessed with merfolk his entire life. How fucking pathetic.” He swallowed hard. The words pained him as soon as he said them.
“Indeed.” Jessi eyed him. “I have a bit of information that will help you with the stone. Vex said there’s a trick to retrieving it and that’s why no one’s been successful in all these years.”
“How would he know?” Damon interrupted.
Kyler wanted to ask, but was too afraid of the answer.
Jessi snorted when she laughed. “He’s the most powerful creature in the realms, but his soul is bound to the sea as punishment for pissing off the sea god. He’s only allowed on land on the new moon. He’s older than old. Ancient.” Her laugh turned bitter, and she looked right into Kyler’s eyes. “The stone requires a true sacrifice. Something the retriever can’t bear to live without.”
Kyler’s heart dropped to his feet.
“That’s doable.”
Kyler whipped around at the familiar voice to find Gavin standing next to Damon.
“It will be the most painful decision of your life,” Jessi said. “I wish you luck, because if you can’t retrieve it…” Her shoulders dropped and all her malice drained away. “Kyler and I are dead. Or worse.”
“What’s worse than dead?” Kyler whispered, though he was sure he’d lived through worse.
“Becoming a revenant,” Damon answered. “An undeadthing. It’s what the necromancers were known for during the war.”
Jessi shivered. “I’d rather be sold to a brothel.”
“Come back to bed.” Gavin held his hand out for Kyler.
“Enjoy the prince while you can, Kyler. Who knows what the future holds?”
In that moment, Kyler hated Jessi. He wished he’d beaten her that day and brought the jewel to Vex himself. He should have fought harder. Should have chased her instead of giving up.
Gavin lifted Kyler’s chin. “Everything will be fine.”
“You can’t possibly know that.”
“I thought you lived in the now, so you didn’t think about anything else.”
“Don’t use my words against me,” Kyler mumbled just as Gavin lifted him into his arms. “Let’s go back to bed and worry about things tomorrow.”
Kyler nuzzled into the prince and let him carry him back to bed. But this time, his mind wouldn’t be quiet and sleep wouldn’t come.
Chapter 23
“Okay,whataboutthisline right here?” Gavin pointed. It was an easy one, but he wanted to see Kyler put everything he’d learned so far into practice.
Gavin was grateful that Jessi had left Kyler alone since that little midnight meeting three days ago. She’d watched him from the shadows, but hadn’t said anything else that Gavin knew of. He had to wonder if she just enjoyed taunting him or if they’d really been friends for a time.
Gavin had Kyler between his legs as they sat on the main deck out of everyone’s way. Gavin loved giving Kyler little reading lessons. The mer did best in small increments and especially well with rewards. Such as kisses. Or, after a particularly good lesson, orgasms. They’d practiced the mer kiss a few more times with each kiss giving Gavin longer underwater, but today was a rest day.
Kyler seemed to vibrate with concentration. He sounded out the letters of the first word. “Son.”
