Chapter Twenty-Five
Ekon
Todd sat next to him on the jet they were once more on, holding Ekon’s hand. It seemed to be the only way that Ekon could stay awake. They had stayed at the Thalassa building for less than thirty-six hours, most of which Ekon had slept through.
Todd and Alexi had spoken to their other brothers, and they were going to stop off and collect Kelvin and Victor. Then they were flying to a private island where Markov and Cassius lived with their children.
A boat would await their arrival at the island and take them all where they needed to go.
Not all of the krakens were mated to water creatures or had children with tentacles.
Ekon had heard Todd tell Victor they didn’t need to travel through the sea, resulting in him asking what he meant by that.
It turns out that mates of krakens could breathe underwater.
Seriously, a cool thing, when Victor’s mate, Azim was a vampire!
It gave him something else to think about for a while, when Mao’s nerves were kicking in with thoughts of rough seas and big waves. He had thought to suggest taking something to settle his stomach, but one look at Mao’s tight-lipped expression and he’d kept that to himself.
They had left Marvin and Ajani behind. Marvin hadn’t been happy, but Todd had explained there was nothing he could do to help.
“Please, can everyone buckle up, we are preparing to land?” A fraught steward asked, looking at the four little girls running amok to get Alexi’s boys to chase them.
Ekon tried to smother his laughter as Mao started on the other side of him, wearing a look of alarm when Alexi unleashed his tentacles and grabbed the two boys, as Todd did the same to the girls and placed them into the seats with minimal fuss.
The steward scurried off to the back of the cabin. Ekon couldn’t decide if it was to escape the tentacles or the children.
“It takes some getting used to,” Todd chuckled, as another tentacle pushed his glasses up his nose.
“What?” Mao replied in confusion, his eyes never leaving the tentacles.
“Seeing this,” Todd waved a tentacle at Mao and tickled under his chin making his two mates laugh and cause Danik to snort.
“It never gets old. First time I met Alexi, he rolled up his sleeve and next thing there’s a tentacle digging in the dirt collecting scents.” Danik shook his head, wearing a besotted grin. “Those things sure do make you stop and stare.”
“Why, it’s me you’re staring at love, not my tentacles,” Alexi replied, a twinkle in his eye that got everyone laughing.
Danik rolled his eyes. “You keep believing that.”
The conversation continued around them, and Ekon was happy to just listen having lost his connection to Todd and therefore his energy source, for the time being.
There was a flurry of activity as Victor, and his mate Azim boarded the plane. There were hellos and hugs for the children before they were taxing off once more.
When the seatbelt sign was off the children were unleashed once more to create havoc. They headed straight for Azim who was laughing and pulling sweets out of a bag he’d brought with him, causing all six children to vie for his attention.
Ekon wasn’t sure how them all being in the water was going to be safe with how fast they were at evading their parents.
It’s going to be tricky that’s for sure.
Ekon glanced slowly at Mao, his lips tugging into a small smile. They do appear to be a little unruly.
Victor unclipped his seatbelt and got up to walk to where Ekon was seated, the dark eyes were alive with his animal spirit. “There’s something about you… that… that calls to me.” He turned his attention to Alexi. “Do you feel it?”
“My kraken felt something in the pool with Ekon, a welcoming of sorts,” Todd replied, looking between his brothers as he reached for Ekon’s hand, threading their fingers together, the same energy boost following.
Alexi came to Victor and stood next to him, eyeing Ekon like a student would a specimen in a petri dish. Ekon scratched his head. “What?”
“Will you let us touch you with our tentacles?” Alexi asked, getting a nod from Victor.
“He’s not some freak show,” Mao snapped, getting up and stepping in front of Ekon, nearly treading on his toes to keep the krakens back.
“We need their help, Mao.” Ekon peeked around Mao’s backside. “I don’t mind.”
Mao made a growling noise at the back of his throat but acquiesced by stepping aside. Just not far. “No frisky business, just his hand.”
Ekon folded his lips together to stop the laughter, his mate was cute being all possessive. Ekon held up his free hand. Todd sat forward, interest shining in his eyes as he watched.
In fact, everyone was watching, even the children lost interest in the sweets they were eating. Ekon found himself holding his breath as Alexi and Victor’s arms turned to tentacles, and they both used a tentacle to wrap around Ekon’s, hand, wrist and forearm.
His body became a conduit of electricity firing the cells in his body. “Holy fuck!” Ekon gasped, shaking from head to toe with the energy pouring from him. He was damn sure his eyes were glowing when the fae inside him came alive.
“You can say that again,” Victor replied, wearing a wary look, turning to Alexi. “Can you feel that?”
“Feel what?” Mao demanded, his eyes darting between the two men who continued to have hold of Ekon’s hand.
“The connection,” Todd answered, staring at his brothers, his fingers clasping Ekon’s tightly. “It’s an ancient bond, right?”
Alexi’s skin lost its color as he stood transfixed, looking at Ekon. “It can’t be.”
They all knew the fae was ancient. What the hell is this about?
It’s clearly something to get Alexi looking like he’s seeing a ghost, Mao answered him, doing his best to mask his own growing concerns.
“I’m not wrong, Alexi. I know you feel it!” Victor growled in frustration.
Danik was up and trying to squeeze by Mao who wasn’t having anyone else getting close to his mate.
“What is it? Why are you blocking me, Alexi?” Danik’s demand seemed to wake Alexi from a trance.
Alexi shook his head as if trying to shake something off himself. “Let’s leave it until we have everyone together.”
“Markov’s kraken is going to fucking freak,” Victor muttered, unfurling the tentacle, and seconds later they disappeared.
Alexi did the same, his color remaining deathly white when he tugged his shirt sleeve down, not looking at his brothers. Danik returned to his seat a wariness about him that made Ekon wander what the fuck he was missing beside the huge energy boost they’d given him.
“Don’t worry, Ekon, I know we can help,” Todd reassured, the smile reaching his eyes. “I’m positive of it now.”
At least someone was.