Hyacinth, Scarlet - Craving Owen [Tides of Love 2] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) (15 page)

In the circumstances, it seemed clear that the crystal needed to be destroyed. But if this happened, the plague lands would be under attack by the wyrms.

“What are you going to do?” Kani asked, just as Sassaki readied himself to inquire the same thing. “Sassaki’s people aren’t going to lose this opportunity to take control of the plague lands.”

Kyllian opened his mouth, obviously intending to answer. But before he could do so, he tensed and looked toward the waters. Sassaki sensed the same thing Kyllian did. He pulled Kani away from the ocean, waiting for what he knew would appear.

His mother and father emerged from the sea in their bonded shifted form. Even if they could shift independently, they sometimes chose to unite their powers. When this happened, they looked extraordinary indeed, two heads emerging from the same reptilian body, hissing and snarling threateningly. Sassaki had never thought to see that threat directed at him, but here it was.

Thankfully, in that shape, his parents could not come on land. They shifted into their legged form and made their way to the shore. “Sassaki,” his father said, “I do hope you have an explanation for this.”

Sassaki suppressed the urge to wince. He’d been caught red-handed, and there was no point to lie and pretend. “It depends on what kind of explanation you want to hear,” he replied, surprised at his own daring.

His mother glared at him. “What’s wrong with you? What is this treachery?” She gazed over Sassaki’s shoulder. “Is it your mate?”

For a few moments, Sassaki’s mind went completely blank. He wondered how in the world his mother could have realized Owen was his mate.

She continued, undeterred. “Do you have any problems with that mer of yours? I always feared mating outside our species would cause trouble, but the mer seemed nice enough. Was I wrong?”

Lota’s words finally registered in Sassaki’s consciousness, and he realized his mother had been looking at Kani. He blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “You knew about Kani?”

Arssan arched a brow. “Of course. You didn’t really think I wouldn’t notice your visits to the shipwreck, did you? And besides, these waters are our territory. It is our duty to know about every creature that lives here.”

Sassaki found it shocking that his father, who was always so adamant about keeping the waters under their control, would agree to allow Kani inside. He felt horrible about betraying them, but at this point, it couldn’t be helped.

His mother continued to glower at him. “We would not send your mate away, even if the situation is less than ideal. We’ve been waiting for you to introduce us for ages now.”

Sassaki had two choices—to perpetuate the misunderstanding or to tell the truth. His parents had been kinder to him than he’d known. Perhaps they might be able to help. Regardless of what happened with the crystal, Sassaki didn’t want the war to continue. And Sassaki had already lied enough.

“Kani is not my mate,” he whispered.

“He isn’t?” His mother seemed surprised. She took a deep breath. “Then explain this situation to me. Explain what you’re doing on the mainland with a nymph and an eagle in your presence. And Yanentah, out of all people.”

The conversation was surreal. Sassaki had never expected his parents to actually give him the chance to defend himself. Alas, there were no words he could say that would wash their anger away. His reasons were treasonous, at least to the wyrms, as was his affection toward Yane, Owen, and the others.

“I assure you, I have a good reason. Mother, Father, don’t you think this war has gone on long enough? Eagles, dryads, nymphs, wyrms. Why should we fight? We can achieve peace, if only we try.”

Arssan’s eyes flashed briefly at his words. It was the only warning Sassaki had before his father lunged for him. But Arssan did not get the chance to reach him. A thick column of water hit him face-front, sending him flying into the ocean.

“Back off, wyrm,” Yane snarled as he joined Sassaki. The group had been silent while Sassaki talked to his parents, but it seemed all bets were off now.

Hash stepped forward as well, his wings emerging from his back threateningly. The dragon might not be able to shift fully with the enchantment in place, but unlike Sassaki, he controlled fire magic. Alcharr also came to stand by his side, and to Sassaki’s surprise, Kyllian. Owen and Kani also joined the line. Even without the human and the mer, Lota and Arssan were outnumbered.

Lota looked shocked. “What have you done, my child? What is this?”

To Sassaki’s surprise, it was Owen who answered her question. “I do not understand half the things you shouted at each other,” he said in English, “and I’m not even sure you can understand me. I can appreciate that you’re shocked at this situation. But I also think, and I see in your eyes, that you love Sassaki. And I want you to see that we do, too.”

As if to illustrate this message through actions too, Owen came to Sassaki’s side and pressed their lips together. Just like that, Sassaki’s doubts and fears evaporated. His wyrm settled, understanding that in spite of Owen’s bond to Yane, Owen remained his mate. The lingering traces of jealousy faded, replaced by pure desire. He wanted to see Yane and Owen together. He wanted to touch them both, to join their bond in body and soul.

What started like an innocent lip-lock evolved into a hot and heavy kiss. Sassaki couldn’t hold himself back. He licked across the seam of Owen’s lips, demanding entrance. When Owen let him in, their tongues tangled in a duel of passion. Owen tasted delicious, just like Sassaki knew he would. He wanted to kiss the human forever. He wanted to touch him and claim him right then and there.

The sound of a cleared throat was like a bucket of ice water on his fervor. He remembered his parents were there and he’d just been caught consorting with the enemy. Now was not the time for a make-out session.

Reluctantly, he broke away from Owen and looked toward his parents. During his kiss with Owen, his father had reemerged from the water. They both seemed to have realized the new realities of Sassaki’s life.

“So
he
is your mate,” Arssan said, “the human you saved from your brothers.”

Sassaki nodded. “This is Owen. I care for him deeply.”

“That’s understandable,” Lota replied. “But you don’t have to help the dryads to keep the human by your side. There are spells…things that can make your human breathe underwater. He could live with the mer. He’d be safe.”

Sassaki’s heart squeezed in pain. Even with the evidence of his betrayal, his mother was still attempting to bring him back. As much as he’d have liked to cling to that lifeline, he knew he could not go back. “This is no longer about just Owen and me. I care about Yane, about all these men. I care about making the plague lands a better place.” He loved his parents, but this was the right thing to do.

Arssan stared at him. “So you’ve made your choice then. You’re abandoning us for them.”

“I don’t want to do that,” Sassaki answered. “Things can still work out.”

His father shook his head. “I’m sorry, Sassaki, but no. Wyrms and dryads are enemies, and by choosing to side with them, you’ve become an enemy, too.”

Without another word, the other wyrm turned his back on Sassaki and headed back toward the water. After giving Sassaki a pained look, his mother did the same. It was the time his parents had showed most emotion, and when their forms vanished into the ocean, Sassaki knew he’d lost them.

Owen’s arms went around him, hugging him tightly. “I’m so sorry, Sassaki.”

Sassaki felt numb. In his heart, he’d always known this would happen eventually. The affection he had for these men could not be accepted by the wyrms. But in this particular moment, it didn’t really register. It didn’t seem real.

He looked out at the ocean where his parents had disappeared. It was his home, his home of so many years. But now, he would no longer have a place there.

“Where are we going to go?” Kani asked in echo of his own thoughts. “What will we do?”

To Sassaki’s surprise, Kyllian answered, “Worry not. You can stay with me. There’s plenty of space.” He met Sassaki’s eyes. “In fact, it would be best if you took Owen and your mer friend and remained there for the moment. Hash will come with you.”

Hash looked temporarily startled and gave the wizard a side glance. “A word with you in private?”

Privacy was hardly possible on the beach with no vegetation around, but Kyllian nodded nonetheless. The two of them burst into the air, disappearing above the clouds. Sassaki blinked in surprise. So the wizard knew how to fly. He supposed that could be useful.

He turned his attention toward Alcharr and Yane. “What about you? What are you supposed to do?”

“The rest of us will be needed for the…wedding,” Alcharr answered. He was gritting his teeth, obviously displeased with the situation.

Sassaki agreed with the man. “Why would you even want to do that? Why chance it?”

“It’s the only way we can find out who is out to get us,” Yane said.

Alcharr sighed. “I’m pretty sure it has to be my father. He’s the one who rushed the wedding in the first place. Why would he do it if he didn’t know about the crystal?”

Yane didn’t seem convinced. “And how do we face him then? How do we know no one else is involved? We have to go there, Charr.”

That was true, except Sassaki wished there could be another way which wouldn’t imply Yane risking his life. It was strange to realize how much he’d come to care about the other man in so little time.

Yane must have guessed his thoughts, because he offered Sassaki a small smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. We have too much to deal with to give up now.”

And for whatever reason, the promise in those words made Sassaki feel better.

Hash hovered above the clouds, glaring at the wizard in front of him. He understood Kyllian’s interest in the destruction of the crystal, but he didn’t really appreciate being stashed away in the man’s home as if he were useless.

“I’m coming with you,” he told Kyllian. “I can justify my presence there as an agent of the Imperium.”

Kyllian sighed. “Has’hendral, don’t be stubborn. I assure you I would not have said that without just cause.”

The arrogance of the man made Hash want to scream. “Why? Why do I have to go? Give me one good reason.”

Kyllian smirked at him. “I’ll give you two. The first I intended to talk to you about anyway. I need you to watch the crystal for me.” His silver eyes seemed to pierce Hash’s very soul as he spoke. “As one with magic affinity and a shape-shifter, you’ll be able to tell what modifications it goes through. The wedding was pushed up, so someone is panicking. If I’m right about this, this person, whoever it is, might attempt to strengthen the wards around the crystal. If that happens, you have to be there to stop it.”

Hash’s anger deflated. “Oh. That makes sense.”

Kyllian chuckled, but then his expression turned serious. “And the second reason is just as important. You have to take care of the others. Sassaki… He will be torn and distracted by the separation from his family. The mer and Owen might need protection, even in my realm. Also, if that happens, I’m worried about Fayre. He’s young still and not ready to face something like this.”

Hash felt humbled by the trust Kyllian placed in him. He silently agreed with the wizard. Fayre was young and very impetuous. He might very well go charging into battle if he didn’t have someone to temper him. And Sassaki might be able to deal with that, but the wyrm was not a creature of magic.

“All right,” he answered. “Agreed. As long as you take care of Yane and Alcharr.” And of yourself, he finished wordlessly. He frowned to himself, uncertain why he would even worry about the wizard. At most, they were unlikely allies in a war that had swept them both off their feet. Nothing more, nothing less.

Kyllian smiled, the irritating smirk that seemed to say he knew something Hash didn’t. He flew closer to Hash and whispered, “And don’t waste any more time. Your mate needs you.”