Page 18 of Sea and Sky
“That day in the tavern wasn’t our first meeting. You know how our Gavin likes to roleplay.” Kyler’s arm wrapped around Gavin’s waist, making him shiver. Gavin didn’t know if Kyler did it for show or to keep himself upright.
Damon eyed them. “Soall this timeyou’veknowna merman, and you led me to believe you’ve never met one before? You’re notthatgood of an actor, Gavin.” A smile lifted his lips, then he beat his knee and laughed. “If you have a mer lover, why go through all the trouble of finding another mer? Why ask around when we could have already set sail?” Damon wiped his eyes. “I just don’t believe you.”
“He didn’t want to put me in danger, and if you will recall the conversation from the tavern, we’re not in Lane often. I got here as soon as I could when Gavin told me his need. Then he kept trying to convince me not to help.”
Gavin squeezed Kyler closer and dropped a kiss to the top of his head. The gesture must have made Damon question himself, because he stopped himself from laughing.
“I never want harm to come to Kyler, ever.”
“But I insisted. Gavin deserves his Grand Mage status. I’ll do anything to make that happen.” Kyler gave him a squeeze back. He turned to embrace Gavin and pressed his face to Gavin’s chest.
Skies, Gavin loved Kyler’s scent. Ocean water and something sweet and spicy underneath he couldn’t place. He rubbed his hand down Kyler’s back and pulled him even closer.
Too soon, Kyler let him go. The man’s knees buckled and Gavin caught him before he could fall. Kyler looked up at Damon. “You wouldn’t happen to have water with you? I’m incredibly thirs—” Kyler slumped and passed out. With the blood loss, it wasn’t a mystery why.
“Skies.” Gavin gathered Kyler in a bridal carry and passed Damon on his way to the palace.
“Wait! You can’t just show up naked. His Majesty will have your head.”
“No, he won’t. He wants the phoenix stone. I want to know why.”
“Damn it, Gavin.” Damon threw a silk robe at Gavin and wrestled Kyler from his arms. “Put that on.”
Gavin couldn’t help the growl at Damon stealinghismerman.
“You’ll get him back, but youwillcover yourself first.” Damon glared at Gavin, holding Kyler protectively until Gavin obliged.
Begrudgingly, Gavin shrugged on the violet robe and tied the belt. “Happy?”
Damon tenderly passed Kyler back. The merman was so peaceful Gavin couldn’t help but take in every feature. Thick dark lashes fanned his eyes. He had sharp cheekbones. Soft looking plush lips. His ears were slightly pointed; Gavin hadn’t noticed that before. His hair—
“You are incredibly irresponsible right now,” Damon started. He paced the beach. “His Majesty is on a rampage. Donotlet him see Kyler any time today.”
“Wasn’t planning on it.” Gavin brushed a bit of sand from Kyler’s chin. Skies, he was beautiful.
“Gavin! Are you even paying attention? What were you thinking, going behind His Majesty’s back and pair-bonding? You’re out of your ever-loving mind.”
“I’m tired of being a pawn, Damon.” Gavin looked him in the eye and set his jaw. The two always had a good rapport, but the guard was testing his patience. “I’m done. I deserve my Grand Mage status ten times over. I’ll indulge His Majesty in his desire for the phoenix stone, but I won’t have my future stolen.Idecide whatIdo. Once I’ve delivered the stone and gotten my status, we’re gone.
“We’ll roam the countryside. I’ll… I’ll offer my services for the less fortunate. We’ll change our names. But we won’t be staying here. Won’t be letting His Majesty or Leander use me like Avondra wants to.” Gavin wasn’t sure why he said we, but he got the feeling there was something Kyler was running from too. Maybe one day he’d find out. Maybe they could set off together. Maybe they could be friends in the end.
“There are better ways of going about this.” Damon dragged his hand over his face and sighed.
“Leander was taking too long.”
“Have you talked to Ailey? Maybe—”
“I’ve tried. But she just doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
“Do you mean you tried to take her to the gardens, and she decided she had better things to do? Or maybe she didn’t like—”
“Stop. Just stop it, Damon. This—” Gavin lifted Kyler. “Happened. Deal with it.”
“His Majesty will make you remove it. He won’t care. He’ll steal Kyler away from you and rip your mark off him. He might even kill him.”
The thought caused Gavin’s dragon to roar inside. He sounded too dragon when he said, “He wouldn’t dare.” Kyler was the first mer he’d ever met and he wouldn’t let any harm come to the mer if he could help it.
Damon strolled up close and jabbed Gavin in the chest. Hard. “You better have a damn good plan. I’m trusting you not to get yourself or anyone else murdered for this.”
