Page 63 of Sea and Sky
Kyler clenched his inner muscles, and that was it for both of them. Kyler came with a shout across Gavin’s chest. Warmth flooded his channel. Gavin breathed heavy against him, unable or unwilling to let Kyler go. When he did, Kyler flopped off the prince, letting the cum drip down his thighs. They could clean up later.
Kyler’s mind whirled. Gavin didn’t deserve his betrayal.
“Oh, the scale.” Gavin’s finger trailed over Kyler’s hip. “It’s retreating.”
So it was. Didn’t mean Kyler was a good person. Just meant he’d rip his own heart out in the end.
Chapter 27
Gavin’sheartpounded.Thesiren call of the phoenix stone sang to him. The vortex of energy made him drunk and giddy. Even Ailey was affected. She stood at the rails, watching the sea. Gavin’s life was about to change drastically.
He and Kyler stood on the main deck, naked and ready to retrieve the stone. The moment he’d been waiting for the entire trip. But when he turned to Kyler, all the life had left his eyes.
“Please forgive me.” Kyler blew something in his face and the next thing Gavin knew was darkness.
Chapter 28
Pureself-hatredboiledinKyler’s blood, but he had to stop Gavin.
As soon as Gavin thumped to the ground, Kyler jumped. Ignoring the shouts behind him. He made it over the rails before anyone could catch him and dove under the waves. No one could follow him.
His shift rolled through him, ripping out the last of his breath.
The water sparkled with drops of magic. The deeper he swam, the more difficult breathing became, as if the magic stifled the oxygen in the water. He gasped, forcing his gills to take in more water.
He just wanted his freedom, that’s all. His heart pounded. But what of the sacrifice? What could he offer? He squeezed his eyes shut. He knew. It was the only thing he had and then Gavin could become the Grand Mage he deserved to be.
Pressing on, the sea thickened with magic. Kyler’s head spun. He lost his sense of direction. Of time. The phoenix stone was everywhere and nowhere, all at once.
He came upon the yawning opening of an underwater cave. Slowly, he entered, knowing it was exactly where he was supposed to be.
“Please. I just…”He called out with his mind in case there were guardians. He just what? Wanted the adventure to be over? That would be a lie. He wanted to stay with Gavin for all eternity.
“I don’t want the stone for myself.”
“Who do you retrieve it for?”A new voice echoed in his head.
“A prince.”
“Lies.”
“A pirate.”
“Truth.”
“I don’t know what the pirate wants it for, but I know why the prince does.”
“Truth.”
“The prince deserves the world. He’s trying to better his realm.”
“Half truths.”
“He wants the stone to achieve his Grand Mage status. He plans to research where he hadn’t been able to before.”
“Why do you help him?”
“I believe in him.”
