Chapter Twenty-Nine #2
Surprise flashed across Tristan’s face, followed quickly by something resigned. “Ghouls are dangerous even to my men. I won’t send them without me.”
“When was this decided? Nothing was agreed to at the meeting.”
“I think the problem is worse than either delegation let on at dinner. Hal met me as I came back from your territory. The king and queen are being wed tomorrow. In exchange, I’ll go north with my men, as I said I would,” Tristan said.
“Nicias extracted a promise too. In exchange for his queen not marrying him.”
“She wasn’t going to marry him anyway.”
“No.” A smile tugged at the corners of Tristan’s lips. “But try telling him that.”
Austin’s fingers twisted in the fabric of Tristan’s shirt.
“What if something happens and I can’t settle my voice?
This is even more reason to have that choker!
You said we’re bonded. My skin will crawl if you get too far away.
I don’t want to go through that again.” His voice didn’t show half the panic he felt.
“You won’t feel that way,” Tristan promised. “I might, but you won’t.”
Austin frowned. “How do you know?”
“I have felt mild discomfort each time I’ve gone to your territory. A little itch I can’t reach, relieved once I return to you. You haven’t felt anything like that, have you? I don’t think you will.” Tristan stroked Austin’s chest, hand settling over his heart. “There’s too much power in here.”
“I don’t want you to feel the way I did.”
“Our bond is wanted and mutual. It is different.”
Austin cupped Tristan’s face, fingers digging in too hard for it to be romantic, and fixed him with a piercing look. “I’m not hurting you,” he said, stern and angry. “I am not hurting you.”
Tristan’s eyes softened. “The oceans are vast. The bond is there so I never lose you.”
“So why can’t I feel you?”
“I’ve suspected since I learned of your last bond that you wouldn’t be able to feel anything at all from ours. Subconscious or conscious, your power wishes to shield you from harm. It won’t let you experience such a thing again.”
Tristan met his gaze, steady and willing. Austin relaxed his firm grip on Tristan’s face. He pushed his forehead to Tristan’s, breathing in the smell of the ocean on his skin as he shut his eyes. “Your skin will itch, and I will feel nothing.”
“I will be far happier feeling our connection than not.” Tristan carded his fingers through Austin’s hair and released a surprised grunt when his fingers snagged in the plaits. In all the fuss, Austin hadn’t even unravelled them. “And you won’t be irritated by my distance.”
“I will be extremely irritated.”
He sensed Tristan’s smile. He unpinned Austin’s hair, unwound the plaits, and carefully petted out all the snags. “I will be as quick as I can.”
Part of Austin wanted to rage. How dare you leave. But he recalled Inx’s chipped chitin. Reba’s wings, shaking and tired. And this was Tristan’s job. His purpose. If he didn’t want to go help, he wouldn’t.
Austin nodded.
“About the stone. Is it because you have faith in my control or because you wouldn’t care if I ruined someone else?”
“I trust you,” Tristan replied without hesitation. Belief and faith. Trust and devotion.
Austin didn’t know if he had belief, faith, or devotion within himself. For himself, for others.
“I trust you,” Austin said, deciding that he could manage that one at least. He kissed Tristan. It was slow, sweet. Comfortable, not desperate. “I’d like you to bite me,” Austin said against Tristan’s lips. “You’d be the only mark on my body. All of the bad can wash away, but you’ll stay.”
Tristan’s breath caught. Austin kissed him again, and again, confused by why he couldn’t bring himself to passion.
Why, when his own breath faltered, he flinched.
Why he couldn’t grip Tristan any harder and get the merman riled up.
Tristan caught him by the shoulders and pressed gently. Austin let himself be pushed back.
“Once you’re healed,” Tristan murmured softly.
Ah. Pain. That was why. His entire throat and mouth ached.
“Before you go north?” Austin checked. “After?”
“I’ll be going within the next few days. We’ll see if you feel better by then.”
Austin bit down a complaint. Nodded. “You weren’t gone long. Liam arrived safely?”
An odd look crossed Tristan’s face.
“What?”
“He came back with me again.”
“What? Why?” Austin huffed, already knowing the answer.
“See? I told you he’s like this. Always overprotective and acting ridiculous because of it!
” He clambered from Tristan’s lap and marched to his dresser, tugging on an extra layer.
“I’ll talk to him. He has to stay in Ireland.
You’re not a taxi to cart him here and there all the time. ”
“Ireland?” Tristan asked. “Not America?”
Austin paused. He looked over his shoulder at the merman, still sitting on the couch. Austin probably seemed the most fickle creature in the world. One day, he was sending Liam off. The next, he wanted him to stay.
Austin clutched the edge of the door frame. His mood rose and fell like waves, influenced heavily by both his surroundings and his inner thoughts. But Austin thought maybe something had changed. That maybe, though the waves continued, the ocean level had risen. Lows no longer hit bedrock.
“Ireland,” Austin said.
The corner of Tristan’s mouth quirked up. “I’m glad.”
“Do you like Liam?”
“I did not say that.”
Austin stared.
“I like him very much,” Tristan amended.