Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
Talon might just die from sheer sexual frustration.
Or at least explode.
Boom.
Mercury grew stronger every day, but he still wasn’t ready in any way for a knotting. Too bad Talon was.
So he worked out. A lot. He sparred. When Mercury was having lunch with Kami and Elowyn and the kids, he flew. Right into the lake. Sploosh.
The cold helped.
He just desperately needed. He needed to sink into that sweet body and bring them together, joining them in their mating. It hurt, he wanted it so badly.
He would die before he pushed Mercury to go any faster than he needed to, though. It was wrong, and Talon loved his brave little dragon dearly. He admired the hell out of Mercury, with his strength and resilience.
He heard a splash close by and glanced over, knowing before he even saw Triton that his brother was there checking on him.
I’m well, brother. Just frustrated.
I understand.
He wasn’t sure about that, but Triton snorted water, steam coming up out of the water in a wild rush. It was gorgeous.
I scared my hailee so badly when we first met that he moved away. It took months, possibly decades, before I could even touch him. It felt endless.
At least you had Cerran, yes? It was still shocking that his brother had an alpha lover as well as an omega, but it worked for them. And he had never seen Triton so happy.
I did until Cerran was angry at me for upsetting Elowyn. Then let me tell you when two of them are mad at me… Another puff of steam formed. It’s a nightmare.
He laughed as they swam together in lazy circles. He had missed his brother so much, and it was a miracle in many ways that they had found one another again.
Has your hailee been healing? Is he well? He hoped that Triton’s concern was one of a brother and not of a warrior.
He’s getting stronger every day. And he’s learning so quickly. He’s like a sponge; he just draws everything in.
I’m hoping that you and he would come to dinner with all of us at our quarters.
Talon wasn’t so sure. Are you certain? I know you’re worried about him and any dangers he might—
No, Triton interrupted. No, I worry for him. That’s why I’d like him to come to our quarters, have supper, and know that I’m not worried about him. I can tell how much you care for him. I know how a dragon worries for his omega.
Talon nodded. There were no lies there.
He worried that someone would try to use Mercury for their own ends. They had tried to kill him, after all, which made no sense at all.
Unless that keep had been worried about Mercury bringing strangers there when he slid back and forth.
What were they hiding?
Do you think they were keeping him where he was to protect him, and then he lost his protection?
He looked to Triton and shrugged. I don’t know that that makes sense, brother. They destroyed his stone. He said that they took him, sent him to the tower because he slid when he wasn’t supposed to be for a lover, and that that’s why he was “punished.”
Yes, but you have to remember once he was put away in the tower, his world was completely controllable. He had to have another person to slide with, right?
From what I understand, yes, Talon wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but that seemed to be at least how Mercury believed it worked.
All right, then if you don’t want him to go, you don’t give him access to people. Triton rolled over on his back, floating. Maybe because he was only supposed to go with certain people. What if the lover was trying to get him out of this keep?
Why destroy his stone, then? They could have left him there forever then.
What if he refused to slide for someone who wanted him to?
He looked at Triton. Why wouldn’t he tell me this?
Maybe he doesn’t remember. Maybe he’s scared. Maybe he doesn’t know. Maybe he’s afraid you’ll send him away? I don’t know. He’s not my hailee. Ask him.
It actually did sort of make sense that Mercury had been alone for so long and been fed so little interaction and his mind had fractured. That room had held nothing—basically just food that had obviously been left. Nothing but the ocean and memories.
I’ll talk to him when he gets stronger.
I don’t think he is lying to you. Triton drew a pattern in the water, a magical sigil, and it began to glow, the water dancing within it, as his brother pondered.
Talon remembered Triton doing that when they were children, and it made him smile still.
It’s easy though, to brainwash someone. Especially when there’s nothing, when you’re so desperate for any connection. It’s simple. So tread carefully.
I will. He wouldn’t harm his hailee for the world. Maybe I should speak to Cain.
That wouldn’t hurt, that’s for sure.
The more he thought about it, the more Talon thought it was a good idea.
He’d make an appointment with Cain and go talk to him.
Cain was the common denominator between all of them.
He was the one who had brought them to this keep, who had offered them a home but had never asked them to toe any kind of line.
They all did extraordinary things for Cain. But not because he brainwashed him. In fact, Cain tried very hard not to impose his feelings or his will on anyone.
Talon had never spoken to the man about where he came from or what his situation had been before this keep. But he had a feeling Cain understood what it was like to be isolated and used for his talents.
Triton turned in the water and nipped at his tail, and suddenly they were play fighting and splashing and sinking, were popping back up to the surface. It was the first time he and Triton had played like this in decades.
Incoming! The mental voice had them breaking apart, and both of them looking toward the sky. Reno came barreling down at them from a great height and splashed right into the lake, giving them a huge wave of water that crested over their heads.
With a roar, he turned to go after Reno, who surfaced and shot back up in the air. For long minutes, the three of them chased each other, playing follow the leader. Reno would dive and take off, with the other two chasing his tail.
Mate, I can see you. How beautiful you are. Mercury’s voice sounded in his head, distracting him for just a moment, which was when Reno smacked him out of the sky with his wing. Talon let himself free fall before catching himself on a tiny thermal right before he hit the water.
Oh! Mercury sounded horrified. You scared me.
I am sorry, hailee, I didn’t mean to; we’re just playing.
Soon I hope I’ll be able to play with you.
Talon withdrew from the battle between Triton and Reno, which was still raging on, and landed gently at the side of the lake, grooming himself so Mercury could see. I know you will so very soon, my love. You’re going to be incredibly fast.
Giving up the battle so quickly? Triton asked him.
I was making my mate nervous. That last free fall made him think I was really in trouble.
Ah. Triton waggled his wings as he flew over. Your mate is very far-sighted.
He is. He often sees Reno and Kami playing here over the water.
That’s an interesting thing to know, Reno said. You said he was stuck in a tower that looked out in all directions over the ocean. Maybe he was like some sort of sentry without him even realizing it.
Maybe. That was also a very interesting idea. So many thoughts swirled in his head. I really need to get a hold of Cain.
Reno landed next to him, nudging him with one side of his head. He’s available today. You should just go see him; you don’t need an appointment.
I think I will. Hailee, I’ll see you soon. I’m going to visit someone. I’ll be back.
Mercury chuckled. Make sure you have clothes.
Are you saying you only want me to be naked with you, my love?
That’s exactly what I’m saying. Mercury’s arch little tone made him smile.
I promise to at least wear a robe. He leaped back into the sky and headed up to the main buildings, wanting to get this conversation with Cain over with.
Sure enough, the seer was available when Talon got to his door. Betty nodded and smiled at him, waving him toward the seer’s private chambers.
Talon didn’t even have to knock. He raised his hand, and Cain opened the portal, smiling at him. “Would you like to come in and have a snack, Talon?”
“I’m always willing to have a snack.” Cain knew how to make people feel at ease, although sometimes he served weird fish delicacies that Talon didn’t understand. He had a feeling that was when Cain was trying to make people uncomfortable though.
“Well, come on in, then. Did I need to invite Mercury to come sit with us as well?” Cain turned and led his way back into the apartments.
He had a large, sprawling set of rooms set back on a deep hallway with a double set of doors hiding him from the rest of the world.
Talon could see why it was good for a seer to have that much privacy.
Cain had a difficult life, constantly being struck with either visions or directives from the dragon gods to guide him in what he was supposed to be doing. He wasn’t sure how that worked.
Talon much preferred to take his orders from a corporeal dragon.
“Have a seat. Would you like coffee, tea, or some other sort of beverage, like a soft drink?”
“That tea you make. I would love some of it.” Cain used a mixture of peppermint tea, green tea, and orange something-or-other that was super soothing and calming, and he found he craved it.
“Sit. I’ll bring our snack and drinks. One moment.
” Cain wandered to the kitchen and he heard clinking, clacking, whooshing, and what sounded like slicing.
Cain was back, really in about five minutes, with a tray of tea cups and saucers that would look ridiculously dainty in Talon’s hands, a pot of tea, and a pile of snacks that were both savory and sweet.
They settled, and Cain relaxed back into his overstuffed chair.
“Now then, tell me what’s going on, Talon.”