Chapter 44
Chapter
Forty-Four
Malachi poured all the passion and love he felt for Trent into his song.
For so long, he’d buried his feelings. Now he let them burst forth as he navigated the melody. His tentacles curled and stretched in all directions, dancing in time with his siren song.
Trent tilted his head back, gazing up at him and smiling, listening to Malachi sing. No distress marred his face. He looked at Malachi with teary eyes. But this time, they were tears of joy and happiness.
Now that Malachi had started to sing, it flowed effortlessly. It was a new song. It had come to him fully formed when he opened his mouth. He’d never had a song that had done that before.
He didn’t know exactly what to make of it. But he knew this song was for Trent. Because he loved Trent, even if it had taken him a while to work it out.
Dear heart. My love. Be mine. My Trent. I love you.
He thought the words, letting them infuse the tune. He sang a note, letting it grow and vibrate with the passion and all the devotion of his heart.
Trent had heard Malachi’s siren song and come to him. Trent had come to him.
Malachi held Trent. The ache in his chest and throat had gone, replaced by an ecstasy that grew and grew and exploded from his mouth. He opened his jaw wider. His voice rose to a crescendo, like a wave swelling higher and higher.
How had he been able to deny this? How had he been able to deny his feelings for Trent for so long?
His arms and tentacles squeezed the young man against him.
He didn’t fully understand it. He’d not thought he could find love again. But he had. He had found love with Trent.
And as he sang, he became more certain of another truth. Trent was his mate.
He’d always known sirens were capable of more than one. But for some reason, he’d assumed it could never happen to him again after he’d lost Forathia.
But this song he sang now, although it was a new song, he knew it was a mate song. It was not the mate song he’d sung for Forathia. This one was different. This one was specifically for Trent.
Because Trent was his mate. He knew it with soul-deep certainty. Awe tangled with the notes he sung.
After several minutes, Malachi reluctantly let his song fade. He wanted to keep singing and proclaiming his love for his mate to the world. But he had actual words he needed to say to Trent.
Silence followed when he stopped singing. Those who’d gathered in the street remained still as they watched.
“I’m sorry, Trent. I’m so sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you. I didn’t know I could find this again. I didn’t think it was even possible.” Malachi stroked a tentacle along Trent’s hair.
“Bit by bit, my feelings for you grew. But they grew so quietly and gently that I didn’t even realise what was happening.” Malachi paused. “I didn’t realise you were taking over my heart. I didn’t realise I was falling in love with you.”
Trent’s eyes sparkled. “You’re in love with me?”
“I am.” Malachi touched Trent’s cheek with his fingers. “I love you, Trent. So much.”
Trent beamed. “I love you too.” Then he surged forward, pressing his lips to Malachi’s.
Malachi closed his eyes, holding and kissing the man he loved as the world around them stopped breathing.
How could I have been so oblivious? How could I not have known that I loved this human? That he was my mate?
After several moments, they broke the kiss. But they didn’t pull back. They held each other. Noses and foreheads pressed together as the snow continued to fall.
“I love you,” Malachi whispered.
Trent shivered. “I love you too.”
“We should get you inside.” He lifted his head, but he still held Trent against him, trying to keep him warm.
Several of the strangers who’d gathered had left. But Trent’s family, who stood a few steps back, watched them.
Grady no longer glowered at him. And Malachi felt a surge of gratefulness towards the man for pushing him and helping him realise his true feelings.
Grady walked towards them. “Well, I’m glad you finally came to your senses. For both your sakes.”
The other family members came forward, smiling. But they watched Malachi with a hint of wariness.
“I’m pleased for you both.” A woman, who Malachi assumed was Ordelia, smiled at Trent. She smiled at Malachi too, but there was something assessing in her gaze. “We care for Trent very much. We only ever want what’s best for him. We hope you do too.”
“I do,” Malachi said. “I’m sorry for any pain I caused Trent. I intend to make it up to him, to do all I can to look after him and show him how much I love him, for as long as I draw breath.”
Trent leaned his head on Malachi’s chest.
“I’m so happy you worked it out!” Pixie dust burst around Cas. “I really am.”
A man stepped forward. “I’m Jack, by the way,” he said to Malachi. Then he looked at Trent and held out his hands, which were clasped around something. “And she wanted to come. She almost hopped right out the back door into the snow to follow you.”
Jack lifted his top hand slightly. Malachi could see a flash of green and beady black eyes blinking up at him.
“Kelby.” Malachi smiled at the sight of his old friend.
Trent reached out. “Thank you, Jack!” He took the frog, cradling her against his body.
“We should get you both inside,” Malachi said. “It’s cold.”
They said their goodbyes to Trent’s family and made their way to the emporium. Grady had informed Trent that he would not be expected to work the rest of the day.
They walked silently through the streets, Malachi’s arm and tentacle wrapped firmly around Trent’s shoulder and waist. He never wanted to let his mate go.
They reached the emporium and entered. Trent placed Kelby on the yellow sorrow. She hopped from the stem into the water. Malachi smiled to have her back.
“I really am sorry, Trent,” Malachi said. “It was cruel what I did to you. I can’t really explain it. I just didn’t think it was possible.”
Trent tilted his head. “You didn’t think what was possible?”
Malachi considered. “Growing up, there was so much talk about finding a mate. And like I told you, when a mate died, it was considered the right thing if their mate died too.” Malachi paused. “But no one ever spoke of those who went on living. It was taboo.”
Trent took his hands.
Malachi stared at them. “I went on living. And I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love again. I thought that since I’d already found and lost my mate that I couldn’t love again. But…”
“But?” Trent pressed.
“But when Grady started questioning me, it made me think in a way I hadn’t before. He made me question things.” Malachi squeezed his hands.
“Well, for once I’m glad for my nosy brother’s interference, then,” Trent said.
“Me too.” Malachi chuckled. “He helped me realise that I love you.”
Trent beamed.
Malachi shook his head. “It was so obvious once I stopped being oblivious. And then my need and love for you just swelled up inside me. I knew I needed to sing for you. For the first time in years, I sang. And you heard my song, and you came.” He paused. “And I realised you were my mate.”
“What?” Trent’s eyes widened. “I’m your mate? How is that possible?”
“I mean, I always knew it was possible for a siren to have multiple mates,” Malachi said. “Perhaps I thought that when you found and then lost a mate, your heart became so damaged that it could no longer love or find another mate again.”
Malachi looked into Trent’s brown eyes. “It turns out I was wrong about a lot of things. And I must say, I have never been so happy in my life to be so very wrong. You are my mate, Trent, and I love you with all my heart.”
Trent exhaled. “I love you too.”
Malachi leaned forward. He slid his hands down Trent’s sides. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of Trent. “Now I think that’s enough talking for today. I want to take you upstairs and show you how much I love you.”