This was how he always wanted her.
“Renee, what is this?” he asked.
She blinked up at him. “What do you want it to be?”
“Everything,” he said. “I want everything.”
She curled in against his side, holding him tight. “Me, too,” she said, as if whispering a secret.
The dragon inside him leapt for joy in an endless ocean. His mate was agreeing to be his.
She yawned and stretched again, burrowing alongside him, and he held her for a while until she started to fall asleep.
He got up to clean up, and when he returned, she was gently snoring.
Humans were adorable. His human was, at least.
He wanted to rest alongside her, but the dragon in him was still buzzing. It felt like the start of forever, but he had no idea where to go next. He couldn’t just sleep. He had to talk to someone, and he knew exactly who would answer his call.
Chapter 14
“Marina, I’ve found her,” Kai said, twisting the string of his shorts around his finger as he sat on deck. Renee was asleep, but he’d lain awake, thinking about what had just happened, the amazing time he’d had with this mate. The talk they’d had just after when she’d agreed to be his. Were they mated?
Marina sounded tired. “Kai, do you know how early it is?”
“For me, it’s late,” he said, knowing New York time was hours ahead. It should be around 9:00 a.m. there, but Marina was a notoriously late riser, unlike him.
“What is it? Are you all right?”
“It’s like I said. I found her. I’m coming back to the mansion.”
“You are?” Marina said, sounding more awake now. “That’s awesome. When?”
“As soon as I make it official. Do you know how to do that?”
Marina let out a yawn. “I think so. I’ve heard the others talk about it. They have to have sex and agree to be mates. And I think the land dragons here actually give a ring with their stone in it. I know you aren’t a fan of being like land dragons, but—”
“It’s fine,” he said quickly, surprised by how much he meant it. “I don’t mind being on land so much anymore.”
“So you have really found her? And she’s the one we talked about before?”
“Yes,” he said. “And you were right. We can’t always choose who we deserve. If anything, she deserves better than me. She’s kind, sweet, and can’t swim at all.”
Marina laughed. “I look forward to meeting her. Do you need anything else?”
“No,” he said. “But I’m sorry I was hard on you about Mercury. You’re my sister. I worry about you, you know?”
“I know.”
“When I’m back, I’ll try to be more supportive.”
“It’s all right,” Marina said. “The oracle does not want me to see him anymore. And I’m not really making any progress. I really thought I could get through to him if I just kept trying.”
“If anyone could, it’d be you,” he said. “Your ability to love is beyond anything I’ve ever seen. Save for maybe my mate, who puts up with my difficult self.”
Marina laughed. “You aren’t that difficult. Well, not to me anyway. I miss you, bro.”
“I miss you, too. Stay safe while I’m gone.”
“I will,” she said.
“Is Seaton back yet? Are the other dragons all there still?”
“Actually, Aegis’s mate is due any time now, and some of them went to his castle along with the oracle. Ruby and his mate and the young dragons and Diamond and Amethyst and their mates are here, too. Sapphire and Aegis are gone.”
“I see,” Kai said. “In that case, stay even safer. Wait, are Lead and Mercury still there?”
“Yes, but they’re safely in containment.”
“Good,” Kai said. “I mean, I’m going to be more supportive, but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you. They’re locked up for a reason.”
“I know,” she said. “They’ve done wrong things. And Lead is just stubborn about his honor, or he’d probably be out right now. He doesn’t want to rat out his crew or their location, so the oracle won’t let him out. I personally don’t think he’s a danger. He saved Jenny, after all.”
“He was going to kidnap her himself.”
“He was going to trade her for Mercury. That was until he found out Mercury was a criminal.”
“And now?”
“Now he doesn’t care so much. He’s all locked up tight. Won’t tell us anything.”
“I see,” Kai said. “Well, again, I wanted to thank you for your help in winning over Renee. You and the other dragons have been so much help.”
“It’s no problem,” she said. “You win her over and stay safe out there. I can’t wait for you to come back.”
“I will,” he said. “So you think if I do those things, I can get the collar off?”
“Should work,” she said. “From what I understand.”
“Great. Well, we’ve had the sex. Now we just need to get the ring and the agreement.”
“Ew,” Marina said. “Don’t tell me that. Ask Red about that kind of thing. He’s the expert on that.”
Kai laughed. “Yeah. I should thank him.”
“Love you, Kai,” she said. “Did you need anything else?”
“No,” he said. “Just to thank you.”
“No need,” she said. “We’re family. You’ve been there for me countless times. Love you, bro.”
“Love you, too,” he said and then hung up the phone and looked out at the ocean. It was the middle of the night, and he knew he should go down to his mate, sleeping silently down there.
But he wanted to just stay here for a moment, watching the sea and contemplating how lucky he’d gotten having her all for his own.
He thought about how it had been when he was first awakened, alone, living on the beach, causing storms whenever anything happened that he didn’t like.
He wanted to cause another rainstorm now, one that was happy, to wash away the feelings of the past. He’d do it when his collar was off, when a storm wouldn’t stir the water that was under his mate.
Right now, her safety, her comfort were tantamount. But as much as he loved these peaceful moments with her, he hoped one day she would also love his storms.
Maybe the greatest storms of his life were over, but hopefully he could still kiss his mate in the rain sometimes.
He watched the waves a bit longer, then stood, saluted the ocean, and went down to curl up by his mate.
Marina hung up the phone and curled up in her sheets, enjoying the comfy pillows all around her for just a few more minutes before she got up.
The oracle had been having her shadow her most days, but with the oracle gone, Marina would have the day to herself. She could play with the dragon young or visit with Bridget or Lana or simply go to the dungeon and talk to Mercury.
Talk at Mercury, since he never really responded, just glared back at her, which made it all the more fun.
She knew everyone hated him or was at least wary of him. He’d tried to do some very serious things. Maybe she was crazy because she liked most people, but she could swear she saw something else in him.
But before leaving, the oracle had warned her that Mercury was probably going to be put back to sleep. That he wasn’t safe for anything, and when they figured out things with Lead, they wouldn’t need him anymore.
It wasn’t really Marina’s place to fight it, because the oracle knew best and Mercury truly had done some terrible things. But had anyone really asked him about it? She knew he hated the metal dragons. That he’d been poisonous and villainous for a long time.
But who had he been before that? Surely, at some point, he was just a child like anyone else? Besides, despite his attempts at evil, he hadn’t actually managed to cause lasting hurt. In fact, without him, the metal dragons wouldn’t have awakened in this time to meet their mates and help the world.
They were living out on the West Coast, while the gemston
e dragons protected the East. She and her brothers were technically gem dragons. It was just that they had always identified with the ocean more than anything else.
Should she really talk to Mercury again, knowing she would just have to say good-bye soon? That it had all been pointless?
No, showing love was never pointless. Maybe in another life, when he woke up again—if the oracle put him to sleep rather than killing him—he would remember something of the love she’d shown.
Perhaps she was hopelessly naive, but she’d always felt that love could fix most things.
And the oracle wasn’t here to tell her not to talk to him, so why not?
She stood and got dressed in a flowing blue dress she liked and admired her reflection in the mirror. Long, thick blond hair, curvy figure. Mercury was the only one who didn’t register any admiration when he looked at her. Just dull irritation.
She laughed lightly, adjusting the bracelet the oracle had given her to make sure she didn’t leave the mansion without permission. She’d said it was for her protection, and Marina saw no reason to leave at the moment. And when the oracle was here, Marina was sure she’d take it off.
She just wouldn’t be able to leave while the oracle wasn’t here, which shouldn’t be a problem.
She was just leaving her room and heading out into the dimly lit hallway, when an odd feeling struck her. It was quiet, as the others were still either downstairs or in bed, so no one was there to see her fall to her knees, holding her head. It was like a headache, only worse, and she gasped as time seemed to stop and everything disappeared around her.
She saw a vision playing out in front of her as if happening before her eyes. She saw Kai, and he was in an unfamiliar place, in danger.
As the rest of the situation played out in her mind, she heard his voice, saw his face pleading.
Marina, I need you.
But it was something Kai would never say. He never asked for help. It must mean something. Perhaps she was hallucinating? Perhaps something was wrong with her brain?
She’d been empathic at times, but she’d never had visions before. She rubbed her head as the images faded. Not knowing what to do or who to tell, she found herself running down to the dungeon where Mercury was held.
As she reached the door that led to the final stairway, she paused. What was she doing? Why was he the one she should go to?
She paced, putting a hand through her hair. Her brother needed her. She should go to him. But wait… She put a hand on her bracelet, knowing she wouldn’t be able to go. And none of the dragons here would be able to break it.
She was stuck, and her brother needed her. She felt ready to scream in frustration but then suddenly calm.
Go ask Mercury. He’ll help you. It was her dragon speaking with a low voice inside her.
No, she howled inwardly. Why would he do that? He hated her. It was in every one of his intense looks. Mercury had never tried to help anyone but Mercury.
There was nothing she could do.
Go. Ask him.
She shook her head, hating the suggestion but knowing she didn’t have any better ideas. And he was wicked and had always broken the rules. Perhaps if there was someone who might be able to help her break free of the oracle, just for this moment, it was him.
She had to hope.
Chapter 15
Mercury stared up blearily from the sterile, white cell he inhabited while they decided what to do with him. The sound of footsteps, light ones. He knew from the tempo that they were Marina’s.
She was a funny thing, always coming to see him. He’d gotten used to her visits, not sure what she got out of them, since he never spoke.
He just watched her, not sure what to make of her. He’d been cold inside ever since he’d been speared on Silver’s sword. Something had changed in him, and he wasn’t sure what.
Perhaps it was the cryo-sleep he’d been put in before he was awakened, or perhaps it was something in the blade of Silver’s sword, but he didn’t feel the burning hatred anymore that had driven him for so long.
He felt hatred, true. For the world. For how things had turned out. For himself, even, for being the type of dragon who deserved the place he was in.
For the fact that he’d still been using the past weeks to store up what little energy he could in case there was some chance to escape.
But he could tell that wasn’t happening. He could sense the mood in the air and the oracle’s mood when she came down to interview him.
He answered her questions dully. What did it matter? He’d failed to take revenge on any of the metal dragons. He’d failed at finding his own clan. He’d failed at building any meaningful relationships.
The only thing he had to look forward to now was the visits from Marina, and who knew how much longer he would have those?
He didn’t stay silent with her because he was trying to annoy her. He simply didn’t have anything to say.
There was no way to defend who he was, what he’d done, and she had some insane idea that he was salvageable, when he knew that was far from the truth.
Maybe very long ago, when he was young and still hoping for someone to accept him. When he’d been so very alone.
But that was so long ago he almost couldn’t remember, and what did it matter after what he had done? He’d attempted awful things that made him shudder to think of them, and he’d done it in a rage so black he hadn’t even seen them as problematic.
He was screwed up, and the world was better off without him. Everyone would win who should win, and he would go into the darkness to answer for his punishments.
He wouldn’t even regret it, except that he would sort of miss seeing Marina’s face.
So why did he hang on to that little bit of energy, as if some part of him were still hoping for escape? What would he even do? Go back to his dark deeds like before? Go back to trying to hurt people who had wronged him? What was the point there?
He just knew he was deeply corrupted and there was probably no point to keeping him around any longer. He couldn’t tell them anything about Lead or his kind. He’d been shocked to learn that his parents hadn’t started on Earth, but he only ever remembered being here, so it was pointless to talk to him.
He’d be going to sleep soon enough.
He raised his head, wondering why Marina wasn’t down here yet. It was almost as though she had paused. That wasn’t like her. She laughed in the face of other dragons warning her to stay away from him, and everyone pretty much let her do what she wanted.
And why not? She was sunshine personified. Blue skies and kindness and light smiles. The opposite of him, walking, talking darkness.
He leaned back on his bench, feeling the chain on his ankle jingle. It was made of unbreakable metal and kept him within the bars of his cage, no danger to others. He could walk anywhere within his cell, but that was it.
The door at the front of the stairs opened, and he stood to get a better look.
He caught his breath as Marina appeared at the top, radiant as always.
Too beautiful. The dragon who got her would be lucky. And yes, there would be many candidates; he was sure. They would have to be spectacular. Female dragons were rare, a special treasure.
If only he’d been a different kind of dragon who could have deserved a chance with her.
She was quieter than usual, and her head was lowered as she came down the stairs and walked toward him. He cocked his head and walked forward, confused by her demeanor. He’d never seen her like this.
When she didn’t look up and smile at him, he narrowed his eyes. Had someone hurt her? He would kill them, get out of here and—
“I need your help,” she said dully.
He was dumbfounded. She needed his help? What did she think he could do as a prisoner that she couldn’t as a free dragon?
He eyed the bracelet on her wrist. Well, not totally free, then.
Her eyes raised to his, and he was shocked by the despair in their depths. He knew th
at despair, had felt it before his own heart locked up and he’d known only rage.
So long ago.
But this wasn’t his problem. He wasn’t anyone’s hero, and besides, he was caged, powerless, chained.
Well, you have a little power, a voice said inside him.
Shut up.
“What is it?” he said a little sharply, not used to being the one to talk.
Her head snapped up. “You talked!”
“I’m not mute. The oracle interviews me, you know.”
“Yes, but you don’t talk to me,” Marina said, her eyes looking less sad as she eyed him eagerly. “What changed?”
“You said you needed my help,” he said flatly. “Not that I have any to give, but I’m interested in what you could possibly want from me.”
And why she had that trapped, helpless look in her eyes that he knew so well.
“My brother, he’s in trouble.”
Mercury’s lip curled. Ah, yes, her brother. Some people actually had families and people who cared for them. Some people didn’t just emerge from a flaming wreckage all alone, with no one who wanted them. “He is?” As far as Mercury was concerned, her brother could hang.
“Yes,” she said.
“And you think I would care why?”
She blinked, and he was astonished to see tears well in her eyes. How could someone like him even have the power to put them there?
She was much too good for that.
She swiped at the tears and turned away from him. “I didn’t expect you to care. I don’t know why I came down here. Perhaps to say good-bye because I don’t know how much longer you’ll be here.”
That was bleak but true.
He sighed. “How could I help anyway?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I just thought I should come down here. I’m silly sometimes. I don’t know.”
He thought for a moment. “You want to go to your brother. Why don’t you go to him?”
“I can’t,” she said, turning back around and showing him the bracelet.
“Ah, she has you on a leash, too,” he said sardonically. “Figures.”
Tourmaline (Awakened Sea Dragons Book 2) Page 12
