Chapter 18
After following the map to Reif’s house, Dakota began to sift through thoughts, searching for those of Brian’s mate.
It took him a while because he had to discard a multitude of thoughts belonging to others, but he finally latched on to Reif’s and, after a moment, realized the man was sleeping and Dakota had homed in on his dreams.
“Babe, is he in there?” whispered Slate.
“Uh-huh, he’s sleeping,” Dakota murmured, concentrating on keeping connected to Reif.
“Let me know if he wakes,” Slate whispered, and then texted Logan. After receiving a reply, he gestured to Dakota and Theo and led them to the back door of the house.
Receiving a copy of the message, Zane read Logan’s instructions, after which he took David by the hand and whispered, “Ghost Walker,” after which they walked through the locked front door. Once inside, Zane unlocked it and, carefully opening it, moved aside so everyone could enter.
Holding his finger to his lips, Logan walked quietly over to the back door, opening it for Slate. Returning to the group in the living room, he said, “Reif’s sleeping in the bedroom, so be fucking quiet when we go in there. I want to slip these cuffs on him so he can’t disappear. Understand?”
Everyone nodded, and Logan headed for the bedroom, noticing stacks of yellowed parchments on the small kitchen table on his way to the bedroom door.
Glancing behind him to make sure everyone was there, Logan slowly turned the doorknob, then, pushing open the door, walked over to the prone figure spread out on the bed.
Taking the cuffs Mystia had given him, he bent over, locking one onto Reif’s wrist and the other to the headboard before straightening up. “Dakota, is he still asleep?”
“Ahh, that would be a big yes. Right now, he’s dreaming about Brian,” Dakota smirked.
“Is Brian going to kiss him now?” asked Theo.
“I think we should wake him up first,” Colton said.
“Why? He didn’t wake up Brian?” said Fionn.
“Oh, yes!” Theo exclaimed. “Brian should kiss Reif when he’s asleep. It’ll be just like Sleeping Beauty.”
“Naw, I canna do that to him,” said Brian.
“Quite right,” Kieran said, “Reif owes his mate an explanation as to why he left.”
“Maybe you should throw a bucket of water on him…you know, like you were going to do to Brian,” suggested Fionn.
“No…no water,” Logan said. “Brian, maybe you should shake him.”
Reif’s dream morphed into reality as voices entered it. As it faded and consciousness returned, he realized there were a number of bodies crowded into his bedroom—including a representative of the gods.
“He’s awake!” Dakota exclaimed.
Flicking his eyes open, Reif searched for the source of the power, hoping the gods had forgiven his people.
Finally locating the person he was seeking, Reif jumped up from the bed only to collapse on the floor as the cuff held him in place.
Stunned, he pulled his arm, trying to free it but unable to escape.
Turning his eyes to David, Reif spat, “I…no…we have no idea what we did to offend you. So please put us out of our misery by telling us how we can fix it, or else please, just let us die.”
At hearing his mate pleading to die, an intense pain filled Brian, causing him to fall to his knees as he clutched his chest. “Naaaw,” Brian cried, “take me instead.”
Moving swiftly to Brian’s side, Kieran laid his hands on the sea serpent, sucking out all the pain racking Brian’s body and flooding him with love.
Then, as the last sliver of heartbreak was gone, he said, “Brian, your mate will not die but you need to help him escape whatever trouble he…and his people are in.”
Shifting his view, Reif gasped at the power radiating from Kieran, then bowing his head, said, “Forgive me, I didn’t realize the gods had sent two of their representatives to meet with me.”
Walking over to him, Kieran placed his hand on Reif’s shoulders, and said, “We have much to talk about, and if you promise not to disappear, my mate will remove the bindings.”
Raising his head slightly, Reif said, “You have my word. Never before have the gods deemed us worthy enough to speak to.”
Turning around to face the group, Kieran said, “If you would, macushla. Everyone, please wait in the living room…you too, Brian. We won’t be long.”
After the cuff was removed from his wrist, Reif rose and sat on the bed as he stared at Kieran, wondering what the gods would want in exchange for forgiveness. Dammit, Dad should be negotiating with the gods, not me.
Sitting in a chair Logan pulled over, Kieran said, “Reif, my name is Kieran. The gods did not send me…I’m here to save the life of your mate, Brian.”
“But…but you are with the gods! I can feel their power in you,” replied Reif.
“Yes, their power is in me to help me complete my earthly mission but it has nothing to do with you and your people unless they are hurting gay shifters,” Kieran said.
“What? No! Why would we want to hurt anyone? I don’t understand,” replied Reif.
“The gods sent me because so many gay shifters were suffering from the hatred infecting the earth. I’m tasked with teaching shifters to love their fellow shifters regardless of who they are. Do you have gay men in Angelopoulos?” Kieran asked.
“Uhmm, I guess that’s probably true…”
“In what way?” asked Kieran.
“I mean, I understand other shifters are male and female, but we only have men. What the rest of the world views as abnormal, we view as perfectly normal so it’s safe to say we’re all gay. Is that a problem?”
“Nope, it makes my job easier,” Kieran said, grinning. Then, turning serious, he continued, “I’ve studied every known shifter, but none of them can do what you can do. What kind of shifter are you?”
Reif opened his mouth—then closed it, finding it hard to say the words that would expose his secret. All his life, it was the one constant he lived by and now, it seemed, he was about to reveal it. “They call me a sea dragon.”
Slapping his forehead, Kieran exclaimed, “Of course! That explains your ability to disappear without a trace.”
“You know about me?” asked Reif.
“Oh yes, my Shaman made me study all shifters even the ones like you who were thought to be extinct,” Kieran grinned. “Good thing too, since it now seems sea dragons are not extinct. And that also explains the male-only thing you have going on. That Hermes, he’s sneaky, isn’t he?”
“Oh, please don’t insult him like that,” protested Reif.
“No problemo! I bet he’s beaming right now because I paid him a compliment,” said Kieran.
“Really? We were taught he doesn’t have a sense of humor,” Reif said.
“That’s funny. Of course he has one, after all, he loves playing jokes on the other gods.”
“Well,” Reif said, “maybe that’s what he did to us.”
“I want to hear why you think that, but before I do, we have to talk about your mate. Why did you claim Brian and then leave him without giving him a chance to claim you?” asked Kieran.
“I never claimed him,” Reif said, “Who told you I claimed him?”
“Did you kiss him?”
“Yes, but I swear, I didn’t do anything else. He was sleeping for fuck’s sake.”
Kieran tilted his head and listened to his spirit, before saying, “Reif, a wolf shifter is claimed when they are bitten on their neck. Serpents are claimed when they kiss their Fated Mates. A Sea Dragon is a type of serpent so when you kissed Brian…”
“Oh, my fucking gods! You have got to be shittin’ me! I can’t have a mate! No! No! No! This is the worst thing ever!” Reif cried.
“Why? The Fates have given you the best gift a shifter can ever receive. Is it because Brian is older than you?” asked Kieran.
Agitated at hearing he’d claimed his mate, Reif jumped to his feet and began pacing, trying to figure out what to do now.
If the man found out he’d taken a mate, then who knew what he’d do to Reif’s father…
nothing good that’s for sure. Shit, shit, shit!
What the fuck should I do now…call my father…
definitely…I have to warn him! Stopping in front of Kieran, Reif said, “I have to go…now!”
“Where? What about Brian? If he doesn’t claim you in the next few days, he’ll die,” said Kieran.
“What the fuck are you talking about? He doesn’t have to claim me…I told you I can’t have a mate,” Reif said. “Are we through? Because I really have to leave.”
Placing a hand on Reif’s arm, Kieran said quietly, “No…Reif, please sit…what were you taught about how sea dragons mate?”
Feeling his anxiety abate, Reif relaxed. Sitting down on the bed, he looked at Kieran, and said, “The truth? Nothing. I can’t remember the last time one of my people found their mate and I doubt even the elders would remember.”
“The mating ritual of serpents is the same whether you’re a sea dragon or sea serpent as Brian is. Kissing your Fated Mate claimed his animal and, from that point on, Brian has three days to kiss you or he’ll die,” said Kieran.
“Is that all there is? A kiss?” Reif asked.
“For the animal part of a serpent, yes. When you kissed Brian, what else happened?” asked Kieran. “Did you feel a connection between you and Brian snap into place?”
“Yeah, I was knocked on my ass when it happened, but it’s not very strong now.”
“That’s because Brian hasn’t claimed you yet, but when he does, the bond will be unbreakable,” Kieran said.
“Are you saying it can be broken now?” asked Reif.
“In a way. If Brian doesn’t claim you soon, his animal will die and so will he. If that happens, then the bond will break.”
“Fuck!” Reif yelled, feeling a sharp pain coursing through his heart. “How fucked up is that? Look, I didn’t know I was claiming him when I kissed him. Doesn’t knowledge…like intent…have anything to do with it because I swear, I didn’t mean to claim him. I told you, I can’t have a mate.”
“I understand it was an accident but it happened…without Brian agreeing to it. Do you think it’s fair that what you did should result in him having to face a death sentence?” asked Kieran.
“No, of course not! But what can I do now? How can I choose between my people or my mate? No matter which one I choose the other will suffer from my choice. DAMN!!!!” Reif jumped up again and began pacing.
He needed time to think—to sort the mess out—maybe talk to his father—but as the pain grew inside him, he knew time was growing short.
Swirling around to face Kieran, Reif asked, “What happens if I die in the next day or so, will my mate be free of the bond?”
“Yes, but Brian loves you…even though he may not yet know it…and I’m afraid if that happens to you, he’ll die anyway,” Kieran said.
“H-h-he loves me?”
“Yes, Brian has been alone for over 600 years and had given up on ever finding his mate. When he caught your scent, he tried to find you, but failed…he’s very worried about the danger you’re in. That’s why he sought my help…to find you so he could save you. That’s how I know he loves you.”
He loves me? My mate loves me…holy shit…
he loves me! Standing there, Reif felt the loneliness of his life fading away replaced by love filling his heart and soul.
My mate loves me! Gobsmacked at the realization, Reif lifted a finger to his mouth, rubbing his lips, reliving the feeling of kissing the sea serpent.
Running his tongue over his bottom lip as he sought his mate’s taste again, everything snapped into place!
Reif knew what his choice would be. “I choose my mate. I want him to claim me.”
“What about your people? What will happen to them? If they are hurt because of your choice, will you blame Brian?” asked Kieran.
“I don’t know…I mean I don’t know what will happen to them but I won’t blame my mate. This is my choice and I’m fully willing to accept the consequences. I know it sounds selfish but my beast is telling me it’s the right choice and I have to trust him.”
Studying Reif’s face, Kieran found only the truth.
Standing, he said, “I’ll get Brian. I have one last piece of advice…
trust your mate…tell Brian everything…about your people, who created you, what your quest is and what it means to you…
everything. Then, come find me and I promise, we will help you save your people. ”
“I will…I promise,” Reif said, his eyes tearing up.
“Oh…be sure you explain your lack of knowledge about claiming a Fated Mate. Because when you left without saying a word, Brian thought you rejected him. He thinks you knew exactly what would happen to him the moment you kissed him and deliberately did not allow him to claim you. My recommendation? Be prepared to eat shit,” Kieran grinned, sassily.
Reif grinned back. “I’m kinda good at doing that.”
“I’ll bet. C’mon, let’s go and get your mate.”
“Kieran? Thanks for everything.”
“No problemo but just know this…if you hurt Brian, you will answer to me.”
“Trust me, I won’t,” assured Reif.
“Good,” Kieran said, opening the bedroom door and walking out to the living room. Looking around, he asked, “Macushla, where’s Brian?”
“He went outside for some air,” offered Theo.
“Slate, would you get him. Tell him Kieran wants him,” Logan said.
“How long has he been gone?” asked Reif, concern reflected in his voice.
“Uhmm, ten, maybe fifteen minutes. It was right after you were yelling,” replied Norm. “He said he was still tired and just needed some fresh air.”
Reif gave Kieran an anguished look as he said, faintly, “He heard me…my mate heard me say I didn’t want a mate. He’s gone. I can’t feel him anymore.”
“How do you know he heard you?” asked Theo. “And if he did, that was a stupid thing to say in front of your mate. Brian’s a nice person…you don’t deserve him after hurting him that way.”
“Hush, honeybunch. I’m sure Reif didn’t mean it,” replied Norm.
Just then, Slate came in through the back door. “Brian isn’t out there. He’s gone.”