by Kelex
“Dagr refuses that. He either has all or nothing.”
“He will change his mind,” his father said. “You have a duty to fulfill. As does Dagr. He will come to understand. One day you will wear my crown and the burden of this land on your shoulders just as the dukedom will be on his.”
“Tyne was supposed to stand in my shoes,” Oz complained. “The crown was his.”
“Our world changed. We lost your brothers and now you must wear the mantle and become the ruler I know you can be. And you must have an heir.”
“So I can force my child to rule as I’m being forced?”
His father was quiet a moment. “You became captain of your own boat. Why?”
Oz frowned. “Because I desired to go where I wished.”
“You needed to lead… yet that came with responsibilities. You had a crew to govern. A ship and resources to protect. Is being a ruler so very different? All you see is the responsibilities and the duty. You don’t see the power you would wield. You would captain this nation on a journey all your own.”
Oz eyed his father, letting those words sink in.
“This crown will lead you wherever you wish to go… as long as you protect your home and your people. Unerringly as you did aboard the Reliance.”
“You make it seem so simple.”
“To some, I doubt they would think what you did upon that ship was easy, yet you led with ease. You were born to this, my son… even if you weren’t the first in line, it has fallen to you. When you accept your fate, perhaps things might become easier.”
His father left him to contemplate his future.
Still, his mind went to Dagr and Llyr…
They were his fate… not some stupid crown.
15
Dagr stood beside his grandmother, watching the spectacle around them. It had been far too long since he’d attended a social event. And for it to be Oz’s matchmaking ball was the worst idea ever. Not only did he have to handle the stares, whispers, and gossip about his parentage, it was only increased by the news of his future status…
And rumors of he and Oz. He’d overheard a whispered comment about the time he’d spent so close to the future king. Gossip as salacious as that was bound to spread like wildfire. Yet it hadn’t stopped some of the more ruthless mothers from introducing him to their daughters.
Rumors or not, he was soon to become a duke. His grandfather’s health was rapidly declining. It was likely a matter of weeks. And the nobility knew it. Whether they liked it or not, they would have to accept him in his new role. Clyffsyde was the largest duchy in the kingdom and granted him a great deal of power.
Dagr had already danced with three insipid girls barely off their mother’s laps. Others eyed him hungrily. Perhaps they waited to rid themselves of their distaste for the color of his skin. He scowled, hating playing the game before it had truly started.
“Scowling like that will not win you any friends, grandson,” the duchess said at his elbow.
“Do I really desire friends like these?”
“Some of them you might need as allies, yes,” she murmured. “Especially those with lands bordering Clyffsyde.”
Dagr forced the scowl from his face and attempted a smile.
“I daresay that’s more terrifying than the scowl. Stop it at once,” his grandmother said.
“Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” His attention went to Oz once more. His lover twirled a pink little princess around the dancefloor. Oz’s stare flipped to his before they spun away.
“Perhaps you could stop lusting over Prince Oswald so all could see?”
“I wasn’t lusting over Prince Oswald,” he lied.
His grandmother scoffed, lifting her fan to her face. “Liar.”
He glanced down at her, narrowing his eyes.
“Two decades at his side… and the both of you cannot stop looking at one another. The gossips are already twisting the tales of your adventures into a debauched sexcapade.”
“A debauched sexcapade is not an expression I ever expected to hear from my grandmother’s lips, nor ever wish to hear again.” Chuckling to himself… and perhaps with the desire to shut her up… he added, “And what if it was debauched? There are many long, lonely nights onboard a ship.”
“You act as if you can shock me, young man. You cannot. I’ve had debauched exploits of my own. I might be old, but I was once young.”
Dagr lifted a hand. “No. Just stop. I don’t want to hear them.”
“If you promise not to threaten me with tales of yours I will promise not to tell you tales of mine.”
“Deal,” Dagr said with a grin.
“There it is. A real smile. It is possible.”
Dagr sighed, searching through the crowd again. Once more, his gaze landed on Oz… this time with a new dancing partner. Oz appeared no happier.
That alone kept Dagr sane.
“He is quite dashing, isn’t he? Your Prince Oswald,” she whispered behind her fan.
“He isn’t my anything. Not anymore.” After whispering those words, he glanced down at his grandmother. “I’m stunned. You sound almost accepting of my exploits.”
“Remember, I had a man searching for you. I heard the stories long ago. You could do worse than a future king. Too bad you aren’t marriageable to him. You’d be a handsome couple.”
Dagr’s eyes widened. “Since my return, you never cease to amaze me.”
The duchess lifted her fan a little higher to cover her lips. “I love your grandfather. Very much. He was a good friend to me. And kind. It was the best I could expect considering he wished to wed his Franco… and me my Rebecca.”
Dagr’s head spun to look at her.
“Wipe that expression off your face, Baron von Burgstaller. You’re in public.”
“Perhaps stop dropping bombshells and I will.”
She chuckled behind her fan. “You started this little war of shock and awe. I simply sought to show you that you had a skilled opponent.”
“And I concede. You are the victor.”
The duchess grinned before glancing up at him. “I am so very happy to have you home, grandson.”
Dagr lowered to place a kiss to her rosy cheek. It was burning hot. “Would you like to take a stroll outside? It is stifling in here.” The ballroom was enormous, yet packed to the rafters. All the bodies had made it insufferable.
On more than one account.
She closed her fan and offered her hand to him. “I thought you would never ask.”
Before they could leave, the doors to the ballroom burst open and he heard strangled cries. Members of the nobility rushed in their direction, bodies crushing. Dagr urged his grandmother toward the outer doors leading to the garden, but she smacked him with her fan.
“I am not missing whatever this is,” she spat, quickly reclaiming her seat. “Go find out what’s going on and report back like a good lad.”
Dagr sighed before fighting the oncoming throng. As he broke through the crowd, he saw a bevy of half-naked men…
Holding tridents.
They’ve come back to kill us all. He searched for Oz, who moved to stand at his father’s side. Their gazes locked across the open space.
Dagr reached for his pistol and recalled he’d left it in the coach at his grandmother’s urging. Damn it.
“Where is Prince Oz?” one of the men, a crowned one, demanded.
A murmur raced through the crowd as Dagr eyed Oz once more.
“I am Prince Oz.”
Oz stepped down from the dais to face the men he was quite sure were mer. His guards filled in behind him, swords and pistols in hand.
The crowned man smiled, a light in his eyes. “You look very much like her.”
Oz frowned. “Her?”
“I am King Claus of Atlantia. Your mother, Deandra’s, brother.” The man smiled, lowering his trident. Tears shone in his eyes as murmurs swept through the ballroom. “I have recently learned of her passing…but was told she had a son
. You, Prince Oz.”
Oz eyed him, seeing his mother’s eyes regarding him. “You’ll have to excuse my shock. I only recently learned my mother was a mermaid.”
Another murmur raced through the crowd.
“Had I known where she was, I would have come a long, long time ago. I loved my sister and missed her terribly. My father mourned her for years before his passing.” The man took another step forward. “But I’m here now… to unify our family.” King Claus waved someone forward. “I bring you a gift.”
Oz looked past his uncle and felt a stab to his heart. Llyr strode in on two legs—as the other merfolk had. Oz’s stare slid down and took note of the swollen belly their merman had under his thin robe. Llyr stopped at King Claus’ side, worry in his eyes. Oz’s fingers itched to reach for Llyr and pull their lover close. He drew in a breath, his chest aching.
“I believe he belongs to you… and your lover, Dagr,” King Claus said.
More murmurs sped through the crowd.
Oz had no idea what to say. His gaze locked with Llyr’s for a moment before he glanced over his shoulder at Dagr. Dagr dragged his attention from Llyr to glimpse at Oz.
An understanding passed without a word. What belonged to them was now returned. The thread that would bind them forever. He lifted his gaze to Llyr, desperate to have the man alone with Dagr.
“Prince Llyr’s father stole your mother’s tail and her legacy under the sea. For that, he has paid the ultimate price. Now, his son, Amyr, the new King of Aegeaus—he has agreed to my terms for peace. That a Prince of Atlantia weds Prince Llyr, and seals this peace accord.”
Oz frowned. “I thought you said he was ours?”
King Claus took a step closer. “You are a Prince of Atlantia.”
“Wait just a moment,” Oz’s father interjected. “I will not stand idly by and watch you rob him of a legacy here! He will be the next King of Aelymanua and needs an heir.”
“So this is the man my sister left the sea for?” King Claus asked, ambling closer to the dais. He sized Oz’s father up before walking closer and offering a hand.
His father glared at it a moment before begrudgingly taking it.
“Did Deandra never tell you of our kind?” King Claus asked Oz’s father, his voice low.
“What do you mean?” Oz’s father asked.
“Prince Llyr, is an omega male. Omega mermen are capable of giving birth. He is already pregnant with your son and Dagr’s children,” the king said. “Your son will have his legacy—a royal one with a prince from under the sea. Where his mother’s family is from.”
A ripple of shocked whispers shot through the crowd.
King Claus continued. “Your love stole my sister from us.”
“I had no idea that would happen and I mourned that loss for her,” Oz’s father proclaimed. “I loved Deandra. I would’ve given anything to give her what she lost.”
“Now you can. By honoring her and allowing her son to mate a prince of the sea,” King Claus said.
“What of the prophecy King Augustine claimed? The one that said Llyr could never be with us?” Oz asked, never taking his eyes off Llyr.
Llyr smiled softly. “My father had it a bit wrong.”
“A bit wrong is an understatement. King Augustine had learned of the missing pieces—as well as a mistranslation some time ago but kept it to himself,” King Claus murmured. “The true translation is this: Omega-born and stained by the shell, the bitter monarch's third offspring will give birth to two alphas under the same moon…One born of a dark, magical father…The other born of both earth and water. Heroes both. Once grown into men, they will protect both land and sea—together.”
Oz frowned. “Heroes?” He shook his head. “Why would King Augustine keep that from us?”
“Revenge. My father was angry that your mother had been taken from him. So he aspired to see the destruction of King Claus and his family. And keep us apart. You were her son. How could he accept his child with you?” Llyr replied taking a step forward. He smiled as he ran a hand over his swollen belly. “Now he can no longer keep us apart.”
“We should have the troth now and the wedding ceremony soon,” King Claus said. “Where is this Dagr I keep hearing about?”
Oz spun. Dagr stepped forward, seeming as shocked as he.
“A man and a woman can wed. There is no marriage ceremony between men,” Oz’s father stated. “Nor three.”
“In your world,” Oz’s uncle stated. “In ours, an alpha weds an omega. Sometimes two of one weds one of the other. Your son is part of our world, too.”
Oz sauntered closer to his father. “Did you not recently tell me you would accept Dagr and I together if it could result in a child?”
“I was being facetious—a man giving birth was impossible two hours ago.”
“You wish me to have an heir. My heir grows in Llyr’s belly—a prince from the world of my mother. I can have Dagr and Llyr—there is no danger. Augustine’s prophecy was wrong. You can have what you demanded, and I can have what I wished for.”
“But there are laws governing marriage in our realm. It is not done.”
“Given that you’re the king, I would think you could mold the laws any way you saw fit,” King Claus replied.
“Wasn’t it you who told me of the great power I would wield? So wield it, father. Give me this,” Oz pleaded.
Oz’s father looked contemplative as he turned to the merfolk. “I will consider agreeing. On two conditions.”
King Claus lifted his chin. “And those are?”
“You’ll lift the exile on Queen Deandra. I know she is no more… but her biggest regret was never being able to revisit the sea—not as she once could. That regret was voiced in her dying words. Perhaps in death, her spirit can find peace.”
“I was not the king to exile her. I will have to seek that from Prince Llyr’s brother in Aegeaus… as Amyr now carries his father’s trident, he would be able to reverse the curse. I doubt he would reject the idea. He seeks peace and if that will ensure it, I suspect he will do what is just.” King Claus paused. “And the other?”
Oz’s father faced him. “This one is for you, my son. I understand the sea is where your heart lies—but—” He drew in a deep, shuddering breath. “I’ve lost my queen. And my eldest sons. I can’t lose you, too, Ozzy. I have missed you more than you can ever realize these past two decades…” He sighed. “This kingdom needs a ruler. I’m not a young man anymore… I wish to pass this crown to you.”
Oz stepped closer to his father. “Honestly, I was not pleased at the thought of my homecoming. I had to give away my heart to do so.” He grinned. “As long as my husbands agree to live here with me, I would be happy to remain.” Oz focused on Llyr. “Could you be happy here with us? My father took my mother away from her world. I would never expect you to turn your back on yours.”
Llyr nodded, a smile to his lips. “I would turn my back on nothing. I could revisit the sea on occasion. And as close as we are, it’s not like a morning swim would be out of the question, would it?”
“But would you have to give up your tail to remain?” Dagr asked Llyr.
“No,” King Claus interrupted. “My sorceress has a permanent spell that would allow Llyr to walk on land and swim in the ocean. She’s already gifted him with it—as a wedding gift. For it to take full effect, he must be mated to at least one human before the year is out.”
Oz faced Llyr and grinned. “I think that can be arranged.”
Dagr moved closer to Oz. “Is this really happening?”
“I’m fairly sure I’m dreaming,” Oz whispered under his breath. “But don’t pinch me… if I’m dreaming, I never want to wake up.”
King Claus offered a hand to Oz’s father. “Do we have an agreement? Oz and Dagr will wed Prince Llyr?”
Oz’s father took King Claus’ hand. “Agreed.”
Llyr rushed into Dagr and Oz’s arms, holding them tight.
16
Oz held Llyr’
s hand tight as they all but ran down the castle corridor. Guards stationed every so often eyed Llyr curiously as they passed, but none said a word or stopped them. Dagr’s heated regard captured Llyr’s each time he gazed over his shoulder to ensure the man was following behind them. His heart was thundering so hard, he feared it would burst straight out of his chest.
As soon as they were inside a vast set of rooms with the door closed behind them, both men spun to him—shock and surprise written into every line of their faces.
“Is this real?” Oz whispered before brushing a lock of hair from Llyr’s face. “Are you really here with us?”
Llyr nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his throat. He turned to Dagr, who approached slowly—almost as if he was afraid Llyr would bolt. His hand rose to Llyr’s stomach. With a gentle caress, he slowly swirled his palm over the swell.
“Two babies?” Dagr murmured before lifting his stare and holding Llyr’s. “One from each of us?”
Llyr nodded, a smile breaking over his lips. He struggled to hold it back. Not now when he finally had what he craved. Oz’s hand came down to caress his stomach, too.
“I knew you were the thread,” Oz said lowly before kissing Llyr’s forehead.
“The thread?”
“You would bind us all together. I didn’t know how, but I knew we needed you back,” Oz answered. “And now… here you are.” He let out a trembling sigh. “I’m terrified it’s all a dream. I fear I’ll wake up any moment.”
Llyr rose on his toes and pressed a kiss to Oz’s lips. Oz didn’t move at first, allowing Llyr to control the embrace. He stood there, still, trembling as the need took root. But after a moment, his lips moved—nipping here and there—before fully claiming Llyr’s mouth. He moaned as Oz took control of the kiss, one of his captain’s hands sliding up the back of his neck. The second their lips parted, Dagr used a finger to force Llyr’s chin. Again his lips were seized, Dagr as hungry as Oz was.
Oz pushed the thin robe he wore to the floor, where it puddled around his feet. Llyr wore nothing underneath it. Their hands stroked his bare, swollen belly before dipping lower to the hardening shaft jutting out just below it. He moaned against Dagr’s lips… and then Oz’s lips… as they traded his mouth back and forth.
