by Renee Field
Her beauty was surreal, and his body thrummed with an immediate hot, hard need to thrust into her silky wetness.
“I’m not sure I’m up to meeting more of them. Darius, please make me human again.” She rubbed her stomach.
Stifling the urge to pull her in tight to him he said, “I explained that to you all before. You are a Siren. I can’t make you human again, but...my mother might know of something to help you get rid of...” he couldn’t bring himself to say it. The thought of killing his children settled like muddy water deep within him.
“Darius, I’m really tired. Can I meet your family another time?” she muttered.
Scooping her up into his arms again, he took his fill of her. Less than a day ago she’d been a human. Then she had to endure her first rapture, which is always the most painful, and then I claimed her. What was I thinking? Not only does she have to cope with being a Siren, which she seems to be handling pretty well, but now she’s pregnant. Silently he vowed to keep his hands off her. To give her space. After all, it was him giving into his Titan nature that had caused all of this.
“What happened to her?” demanded his father, as Darius carried Kassandra into the crèche, which used to be the Titan school and was now used as a makeshift hospital – something his race had never needed before.
Darius took a look around. There were five scallop-shaped beds and in them were three Sirens, one being his mother, Queen Helem of the north seas, looking just as unconscious as Kassandra. The feel of Jamie’s hand on his shoulder brought him instantly back to the moment.
“She will be okay, Darius. Seth explained what happened to her and you did the right thing,” she said, ushering him to place her down in the empty bed by his mother.
Forcing his hands off her, he sat on the edge of the bed, “Does she have the plague?”
“No, I don’t believe so. She’s simply exhausted. It’s not every day that a woman gets to rapture into a siren and then...” Here Jamie smiled and paused.
“I know...” he muttered the words in a low voice, not actually talking to anyone in particular.
“This has been ordained since the dust of times. You have found and claimed your Sokhan, and we are proud of you. Give her time, she is a strong one. She will do you proud,” said his father’s loud voice. The King joined Darius to watch as Jamie took over.
“You knew all along,” accused Darius, pinching his nose in an attempt to sort out what to do next.
“I had my suspicions, but I am not always right, as your mother would kindly point out if she could.” His father winked, causing Darius to do a double-take. Did my father actually wink at me? Just what is going on here? He took a long, hard look at his father – the Titan feared and awed for his power.
He took in his father’s slumped shoulders and for the first time he noticed the age lines around his father’s eyes. When did that happen? When did my father become old? The vulnerable look on his father’s face hit him hard. His father’s love for his own Sokhan, Helem, his mother and Queen of the north seas, ruled his father’s heart more than he let on.
Sighing, Darius, asked, “Is that why you gave me the choice?”
“I never once doubted you would do the right thing. Not all find their Sokhan. Count yourself lucky, Darius,” said his father.
Why is everything a test with him, and why don’t I feel lucky? He turned his back to his father and eyed Kassandra’s limp form. Jamie motioned them away from the bed. They moved back a little and watched together as Jamie held a small, green oblat over Kassandra’s forehead. Gently, she swiped the small, powerful crystal over Darius’ mate. An audible groan from Kassandra caused him to grit his teeth.
“It’s okay, Darius. Trust Jamie, as we have come too. Kassandra will be fine. Why don’t you go talk to your brother while Jamie tends to her?” said his father, pointing out Seth, who was propped up in the bed, in the far corner.
“Is he...?”
“He seems to be getting better, as does your mother. Before Master Odeon left, he and Jamie were working on a vaccine, and it does seem to be dulling some of the effects of this plague, but I am afraid it might only be a temporary reprieve. I must leave you and go to Helem,” said his father, gliding away towards his mother’s bed.
“Father, about Master Odeon…” said Darius, reaching out to stop his father.
“I already know. But all is not lost. Master Odeon is a far more powerful Titan than you or I could ever imagine. Trust him as I have come to over the long centuries,” said his father, gently patting Darius on the arm.
It was on the tip of Darius’ tongue to ask exactly how long his father had known Master Odeon, who was thought to be one of the oldest Titans in the north sea, but the pat on his arm confused him. Did he just do that? When did the iron-fisted Titan who lived to follow the uncompromising rules of the sea law become compassionate?
Darius shook his head to clear his thoughts. Taking a long look at Kassandra, he forced himself to leave her. After all she was in good hands. Gliding over to Seth, he grinned.
“You picked a very pretty one,” said his brother, grinning back with that devilish grin Darius was all too familiar with.
Instant and irrational jealously raged through him. “Keep your eyes off her, brother dear, or you will quickly find yourself having a relapse.” He turned his head to catch Jamie giving him a penetrating look.
“Ahh, I had to see for myself. It is true. Finally, my brother, you have found your Sokhan. As for looking at your mate, you need not worry. I only have eyes for her,” said Seth, winking at Jamie, who was gliding towards them.
Jamie sat next to Seth, tousling Seth’s hair with her fingers. “She has a very unique gift, Darius, but she might not be able to help you in your quest.”
“Will the two of you cut it out!” said Darius sharply, already tired of seeing his brother and his wife flirting. Then Jamie’s words sunk in. “What are you talking about? Does she have the plague? Is she going to die?” Just saying the words almost choked him. The idea of losing Kassandra ripped his heart and soul in half.
“No, I don’t believe she has the plague, but she’s pregnant, you know, and carrying twins isn’t easy.”
“I still can’t believe it.”
“It’s been well over two hundred years, but I think it’s the Fate’s way of paying you back, brother,” said Seth.
Darius enjoyed the teasing side of Seth. His brother looked more like his old commanding self, and that eased his heart. He could tell Jamie liked it too as she leaned her head on his brother’s shoulder.
“And here Jamie you thought raising one son was hard. Just you wait,” said Seth, chuckling.
Darius laughed with him. “I’m trusting on their relatives to help, or we’re in for it. I have no idea how to raise children.”
“Neither did we,” said Jamie. “And I most certainly had no clue how to teach a wild young freshling who could swim faster than anyone I knew to stay close.”
“Finally you gave up. Remember the day when he realized he’d gone too far ahead and had to use his powers to get a dolphin to take him home?”
Seth started to respond but had to stop talking. The coughing fit came upon him suddenly. Within seconds, Jamie went into healer mode. It took a while, but once Seth settled, he gave Darius a sheepish grin.
“Sorry about that. This damn plague. I trust you, Darius, to put a stop to it. For the sake of your children and all of us.”
“I won’t let you down,” said Darius, letting Jamie urge him away from Seth’s bed. As he left, he couldn’t help but grin. The idea of twins, of two babies, quickly filled him up with pride.
Wiping his face with his hands he fought like the devil to wipe the grin off his face. But somehow he just couldn’t. Twins. I am the father of twins, he thought, wanting to shout it out to the entire kingdom.
Then a loud groan from Seth pierced through his thoughts. He turned back and watched as his twin fought against the pain. Instantly he was there, lending
his brother his healing powers, but he knew within moments it was doing no good. “What’s happening to him?”
Jamie motioned for him to move as she grabbed a large blue oblat. “Sometimes the medicine works and sometimes it doesn’t,” she said, forcing the crystal into Seth’s mouth.
Another groan of pain filled the room. “Mother?”
“Maya, give her the extra strength oblat and then a shot of the solution,” said Jamie, as she motioned a young Siren forward.
“You should leave, Darius, this is not a pretty sight,” said Jamie, darting between Helem and Seth as fast as a tiger shark.
“No, I’m staying,” he said, moving to his mother’s bed. Her once beautiful skin was green and pale, and parts of it looked to be molting. The tired, weary, stance of his father slumped over her tore into him.
“Darius, where am I?” said Kassandra, finally coming to and attempting to sit up.
“You should take her to your dwelling. She shouldn’t be in here to see this. It will frighten her. And, Darius, she needs to rest,” said Jamie briskly.
Gliding to Kassandra’s bed he scooped her up, relieved when she didn’t protest, and quickly glided to his own dwelling. Once inside, he gently laid her on his bed. A bed he hadn’t slept in in over two decades. A peripheral glance around told him nothing had been touched. His mother had probably insisted it stay the same until he returned.
“Darius, I think I’m going to be sick again,” croaked Kassandra, attempting to slide her body over to the side of the large scallop-shaped bed.
“Jamie said to give her two of these daily. It will help with the sickness,” said the Siren called Maya as she darted into Darius’ dwelling.
“Thank you,” he said, taking the small vials from her. Then it dawned on him. He was going to be the father of twins, a Siren and a Titan.
The idea terrified him while warming his heart. Secretly he longed for the Siren to look exactly like her mother, his beautiful mate. The Siren who was currently forcing herself to not get sick all over his bed.
“Take this,” he said, tilting her head back as he forced the crushed green crystals into her mouth.
She diligently chewed and then swallowed them. Then her eyes lit up.
“They tasted minty, and thank God they seem to be working. Darius, I want to go home,” she said, her eyes misting over.
More than ever he wanted to pull her into his embrace. Instead he sat beside her on the bed. “Kassandra, I tried to explain this to you. I really can’t turn you into a human again. You are going to have to come to terms with being a Siren. Is it really that bad?”
She rubbed her stomach and he had to force his hands to keep still.
“Am I really pregnant?” she asked, her eyes filled with awe.
“I am afraid so...and…” He paused, not quite sure if he should tell her the rest.
“And?” she said, her hand reaching out to grab his.
“They’re twins. Jamie said one is a Siren and the other is a Titan. You know the only other time twins were born was well over two hundred years ago.”
She flopped back into the bed, her hand absentmindedly rubbed her stomach and then reaching down lower to stroke her tail. He squeezed his eyes shut. Torture. It was pure torture watching her hands on her own body. His body ached to repeat her actions. Deep down, he felt the beast start to raise its ugly head and he fought against his Titan desire.
“Twins...I really can’t believe this. Tell me this is all a dream and that when I wake up everything will be all right,” she said, her voice sounding weary.
“Kassandra, what do you want me to say? If saying sorry will make things better, then I will do it. But, I can’t change or undo what has been done,” he said, running his hands through his hair. “Talk more with Jamie. I am sure she will help you understand better.”
“Jamie? I liked her. She was like me. A human. Now she’s a Siren, too, but…”
“Jamie is wonderful. My brother is lucky to have found her.” He reached out to move her hair off her shoulders.
“I like it when you do that,” said Kassandra. Then she started to laugh and cry all at once.
Not sure what to do, he relied on his instincts, not that they’d been very helpful so far. Grabbing her to his chest, he cuddled her on his lap while rubbing her back. “Ahh, sweetlips, it will be okay. I promise,” he said.
“Like you promised to get that relic. Everything seems to be poised or toppled onto you,” she said, turning her eyes up to face him.
The relic? In all the confusion of the past few hours he had almost forgotten his mission. He still had to get the relic if there was going to be a chance to save his mardom.
“I can help you, Darius,” she said, stilling his thoughts.
There was no way he was going to let the mother of his children help him. No way at all. He didn’t care if she happened to be a Seeker. She was carrying his children, and he would not put her or their life in jeopardy.
“Absolutely not!” His commanding tone left no room for argument of any sort. “You are staying here. There is no way you are coming with me.”
“So, the He-man has returned,” she replied, tartly, her eyes all but narrowing to slits.
If being He-man meant keeping Kassandra safe, then so be it, thought Darius, ignoring her protests.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Don’t judge Darius to hard. He is a Titan who will give you all of his heart, but he feels the need to prove his worth to me. But that is another tale, for another time. Did he tell you where he was going?” asked King Sadok.
Kassandra gulped. She tried not to feel intimated by this towering Titan and failed.
She had been surprised when she’d awakened to find herself in Darius’ house and when Sadok had come barreling in, she didn’t know what to do. “Going? What do you mean?”
“I thought as much. He left the north seas in search of the relic the Court has asked him to find, but all is not right with the Court at the moment,” sighed Sadok. “I find it hard to believe the Court would set Darius on this course. I am going to look into the matter myself. In the meantime, I thought you should know that it pained him greatly to leave you in your present condition, but I trust his judgment. As should you. I must leave now, but before I go, I know my Helem would tell you to go to the reflection pool to see your heritage for yourself. I will send Mercka to guide you.”
With a flourish, King Sadok left. A dozen questions burned bright in Kassandra’s mind, but she realized with Sadok’s hasty exit that he wasn’t exactly the question and answer type. He simply commanded, much like his son, Darius.
Thinking of Darius filled her with an intense longing. She closed her eyes. Haunting images of his warm hands gliding over her body caused her skin to tingle in anticipation. Ugh, she groaned, shaking her head to get a grip on herself. She wasn’t happy with him at the moment. She tried hard to keep that in mind, even when her traitorous body all but screamed for his touch.
The silence in Darius’ dwelling threatened to suffocate her. Shaking her head, she forced the thousands of questions looping around in her brain to halt. While the tale seemed implausible, she somehow knew Darius’ father told the truth. As the fog started to burn off in her panic-stricken brain she mentally listed the oddities of her father.
The fact that he could speak ancient Greek was something she had always wondered at. The fact he had been Commander of an elite special Naval forces group trained in underwater reconnaissance, something she’d only found out about by accident when her brother joined the same Naval group, hadn’t seemed unusual at the time…but now she wondered. The unusual tattoos on his body he attributed to his early years with the Navy. His devotion to her mother was something she was used to now, but when she was a teenager, her friends used to point out how unusual it was for two married people to always be holding hands or kissing.
Her rational brain saw the signs. But somehow discovering that the man who tucked her into bed at night, the man w
ho sat and cuddled her when thunder and lightning rained down from the heavens, was capable of killing his own father unnerved her. Did she really know her father? Did she even know herself?
Then another, more pressing thought popped into her head. King Sadok didn’t trust the Court that had told Darius finding the relic that would stop the plague. Is Darius being sent on a wild goose chase? Kassandra chewed on her lower lip, ignoring the rumble from her tummy. She was ravenous. Taking two huge mouthfuls of seaweed salad momentarily settled her stomach.
“Father said you wanted to go to the reflection pool. Can you tell me what he said? Can you?” asked Mercka, darting to and fro.
Jamie appeared from out of nowhere. “Mercka, that’s not polite. I can show Kassandra the way, plus I’d like the chance to talk with her. Would you mine checking in on your mother for me? Give her another small green oblat. Maya had to run an errand for the King,” said Jamie, ushering Kassandra forward.
Although Kassandra had visited with her before, she still had a hard time keeping herself from staring at her. She was a beautiful Siren with long, jet-black hair, and her tail shimmered in hues of blue and green. Her eyes, like the Bermuda Sea, broadcasted kindness that helped put Kassandra more at ease.
Mercka pouted for a moment. Then she said, “Sure, no problem. Catch you later, Kassandra,” and darted away.
“I find that I have a thousand questions for you when I see you, but there’s so many I don’t know where to start,” said Kassandra trying to figure out how best to stay in one place. It was like her tail had a mind of its own.
Jamie reached out and gently touched her arm forcing Kassandra to hold still. “Keep in mind, I know how you feel. I’ve gone through what you’re going through, and just getting my rational brain around the discovery of this world would sometimes blow me away. You can ask me anything, you know.”
“So you were once human?”