Chapter 7
GAVIN
The fewer people who know that Kyler and I are a farce, the better.
I usually tell Damon everything, but I need him to think Kyler truly is pair-bonded to me for this to work.
Damon has loose lips when he’s drunk. Not that he gets drunk often, but often enough, and this might just drive him over the edge.
It’s damned inconvenient that he somehow always knows where to find me.
I push to my feet and dust the sand off my body the best I can, but being wet, there’s not much I can do about it.
Damon chuckles. “What do you mean you’re pair-bonded? You hadn’t seen this man before that day in the tavern. You pined over him. It was hilarious to watch.”
My cheeks blaze hot. “I pined after him because I missed him so much.” I hold my hand out to help Kyler stand. Surely he’s weak after the blood loss.
Kyler takes my hand and kisses my knuckles gently before gracefully rising to his feet.
“That day in the tavern wasn’t our first meeting. You know how our Gavin likes to roleplay.” Kyler’s arm wraps around my waist, making me shiver. I can’t tell if he does it for show or to keep himself upright.
Damon eyes us. “So all this time you’ve known a merman, and you led me to believe you’ve never met one before?
You’re not that good of an actor, Gavin.
” A smile lifts his lips, and then he beats his knee and laughs.
“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?” He wipes his eyes. “I just don’t believe you.”
“He didn’t want to put me in danger, and if you 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.”
I squeeze Kyler closer and drop a kiss to the top of his head. The gesture must make Damon question himself because he stops 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 gives me a squeeze back and then turns to embrace me, pressing his face to my chest.
Skies, I love Kyler’s scent. Ocean water and something sweet and spicy underneath that I can’t quite place. I rub my hand down his back and pull him even closer.
Too soon, Kyler lets me go. His knees buckle, and I catch him before he can fall. Kyler looks up at Damon. “You wouldn’t happen to have water with you? I’m incredibly thirs—” He slumps and passes out. With the blood loss, it’s not a mystery why.
“Skies.” I gather Kyler in a bridal carry and pass Damon on my 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 throws a silk robe at me and wrestles Kyler from my arms. “Put that on.”
I can’t help the growl at Damon stealing my merman.
“You’ll get him back, but you will cover yourself first.” Damon glares at me, holding Kyler protectively until I oblige.
Begrudgingly, I shrug on the violet robe and tie the belt. “Happy?”
Damon tenderly passes Kyler back. The merman looks so peaceful that I can’t help but take in every feature. Thick dark lashes fan his eyes. He has sharp cheekbones, soft-looking plush lips, and slightly pointed ears; I hadn’t noticed that before. His hair—
“You are incredibly irresponsible right now,” Damon starts. He paces the beach. “His Majesty is on a rampage. Do not let him see Kyler any time today.”
“Wasn’t planning on it.” I brush a bit of sand from Kyler’s chin. Skies, he is 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.” I look him in the eye and set my jaw.
We always have a good rapport, but his questioning is testing my 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.
I decide what I do. 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.
I won’t let His Majesty or Leander use me like Avondra wants to.
” I’m not sure why I say we, but I get the feeling there’s something Kyler is running from too.
Maybe one day I’ll find out. Maybe we could set off together. Maybe we could be friends in the end.
“There are better ways of going about this.” Damon drags his hand over his face and sighs.
“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—” I lift 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 causes my dragon to roar inside. I sound too much like a dragon when I say, “He wouldn’t dare.” Kyler is the first mer I’ve ever met, and I won’t let any harm come to him if I can help it.
Damon strolls up close and jabs me 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.”
“It’ll be fine. Have a little faith in me.”
“That’s the problem. I do. Which worries me.”