“Why do you have all-access here at Deep Harbor? Do you know Reginald’s family well?” Layla asked, curious about Rhennic and Reginald’s association now as he led her down another flight of stairs. They had reached the northeast cliffs of the island, and Layla saw a tremendous spread of tide pools above the water line. Winding down yet another set of coral stairs, more plain than the ones that led to the royal guest suites, they arrived at the tide pools, dusted by spray from the waves.
“Decently well.” Rhennic glanced at her as they meandered over the jagged rocks to a particularly colorful pool. “I know all the drama, if that’s what you’re asking. Reginald and I have spoken frankly with each other all our lives – about our families, about the demands of growing up sons of royalty, etcetera. It was how we first bonded, when we were young and I came to visit the Siren court with my mother. Those talks didn’t change between us when Reginald became a Hotel Courtier, they were just preceded by more… intimacy. But I know Leni and Fury, Atlantos and the rest of them, Layla – I’ve known them all my life.”
“Intimacy?” Layla perked at his choice of words, glancing at him.
“Layla, why do you think Reginald comes to see me at Chambord occasionally and I come see him here at Deep Harbor? We’re acquainted.” Rhennic chuckled, watching her process.
“As friends?” Layla frowned.
“Aslovers.” Rhennic spoke with an amused grin, smoothing his hand over hers as they walked. “Why do you think he and I visited together for nearly a week after the whole Prague debacle, after we had to fight for our lives against pissed-off Crystal Dragons? We’ve been lovers for ages. Or didn’t he tell you?”
“He never mentioned it.” Layla’s cheeks were flaming now as this secret was revealed. Her world felt like it had just flipped upside-down, but not in a bad way. In a decidedly sexy way – interesting things shuffling into place. “I guess I just never knew you and Reginald were close.”
“You never asked. And it sounds like you never asked Adrian, Rikyava, or Dusk. They all know about it.” Laughing brightly now, Rhennic turned, reaching up to cup Layla’s neck with one of his big, warm hands as he smiled deeply. “Reginald and I have been together on and off over the centuries. We’ve been friends since our youth, though he’s a bit younger than I am. He’s sexy, and I like sexy. He’s furious, and I love furious. We’re a good match in the bedroom and when it’s done, we talk politics and sip whiskey. Reginald is like cocaine; either you love him like crazy, or he makes you severely enraged. Adrian and Dusk get pissed off around him, whereas I find him limitlessly fascinating. It’s really not all that complicated, Layla.”
“I guess not.” Layla’s face was positively scarlet now as she flushed hard, her Dragon roaring in her veins as she blinked at the sudden possibilities. “Do you love Reginald?”
“As a comrade.” Rhennic smiled fondly. “But for a true mate… Reginald’s not my type.”
“What is your type?” Layla asked, lifting an eyebrow and crossing her arms.
“Well, first of all, she needs to be a drakaina,” Rhennic growled hotly as he moved closer, corralling her with his big hands at her waist. “Secondly, she needs to be dangerous. Furious. Bold. Powerful. And tender. Like you.”
Leaning down, Rhennic’s lips met Layla’s and she was suddenly melting into him as his powerful brightness coursed through her. Wind whipped the tide pools from Layla’s drakaina rolling over with delight inside her. Heat simmered between them, a few blitzes of lightning flashing around them as they kissed. Layla was breathless by the time Rhennic pulled away, and he was also, his eyes a deep violet with sexy intensity.
But he was a gentleman as he offered his arm to escort her around the pools, and Layla took it. Meandering and admiring a tide pool full of orange starfish, green anemones, purple sea urchins, and little hermit crabs that scuttled quickly away, Layla was about to ask Rhennic more about his past with Reginald when they rounded a peak of rock and she saw Reginald’s brothers Atlantos and Typhos, with Leni.
All three were casual today, the men dressed in fitted sweaters in different shades of grey with jeans tucked into hiking boots, Leni in one of her elegant safari-outfits but matched with a fur-collared motorcycle jacket and tall boots. Seated on the rocks, Typhos had his head in his hands as Atlantos faced him, talking and making soothing gestures. As Layla and Rhennic rounded the rock, she felt like they had intruded on a deep conversation. Layla tugged Rhennic’s sleeve to get him to turn around, when Atlantos and Leni suddenly looked over, and Typhos looked up.
Typhos was miserable, his face drawn and his eyes red-rimmed as if he’d been crying. Layla’s suspicion was confirmed as he hastily wiped his face and stood, taking a deep breath and facing them. Layla had thought Typhos would be rageful or standoffish as Rhennic hailed them, but he was neither. Instead, he watched them come with chagrin in his pale blue eyes.
“Leni, Atlantos, Typhos.” Rhennic spoke kindly as he frowned. “Everything alright?”
“Rhennic! I heard from Vindaris that you’d just arrived. Good to see you.” Moving forward, Atlantos was welcoming, clasping Rhennic’s hand as they smiled at each other with easy familiarity. Leni was next, sharing a sweet embrace and French pecks on the cheek with Rhennic. But as Typhos moved in, Rhennic hauled the poor man into his big arms for a hug. Which, to Layla’s amazement, Typhos accepted – sighing and sinking into Rhennic’s embrace like it was exactly what he needed.
“Hey, hey.” Rhennic spoke soothingly as he gripped Typhos close. “What’s going on, Ty?”
“It’s father.” Typhos hitched a breath as he pulled back, clapping a hand to Rhennic’s shoulder in a tired fashion. “He won’t let me wed Alanna. After everything we’ve done to prove that she’s a good mate for me, he still says she’sbeneathme. God, I’m ready to take Alanna and run off to Peru and fuck this whole damn place. Reginald had it right, leaving here when he did. I should have gone a long time ago.”
“That’s big.” Rhennic eyed Typhos soberly as he gripped his shoulder. “If you need to get down to South America and get set up somewhere, I can help.”
“Thanks.” Typhos sighed with a wry shake of his head. “I appreciate the offer, but Atlantos and Leni have already been helping me figure out a backup plan if things go badly with father. More badly than they already are.”
“Well, the offer stands. I’ve never been afraid of your father and I won’t back down if he comes at me.” Rhennic spoke again, holding Typhos’ gaze.
“I don’t think it’ll come to that.” Atlantos spoke now, glancing to Layla as he moved in to stroke Typhos’ back comfortingly. “But the Dragon Bind has been sparking fires since she arrived, and father’s been a tyrant because of it. Layla. I must apologize for Typhos’ and my behavior the day you arrived. Father demanded we seduce you to try and break Reginald’s Bind to you, but you were right – he really doesn’t know how a Bind works. I can feel you, calling through my very bones; so can Ty. We know it’s something Reginald can’t undo. And Fury’s in the same position now.”
“Yikes. How much of our visit with Fury did you hear about?” Layla grimaced, amazed that both brothers were being so civil today.
“We didn’t hear it, we felt it.” Atlantos spoke soberly, watching her with his kind slate-grey eyes. “All of it.”
“Fuck.” Layla breathed, feeling awful inside.
“Sirens of close bloodlines can feel each other at a distance, Layla.” Leni spoke, reaching out and taking Layla’s hand supportively. “Especially when something this big happens. But it’s shown us all that Léviathan’s time controlling this family with an iron fist is coming to an end. Which is what we’re all discussing right now.”
“Ending your father’s reign?” Layla blinked.
“Something like that.” Typhos spoke. Holding Layla’s gaze with his pale blue eyes, Typhos sank to one knee on the rocks and reached out, trapping Layla’s hand between his as he gazed up at her. “Layla. Please forgive my fierce rudeness the other night. I was furious at my father for denying me the woman I love. He told me that if I could seduce you away from Reginald, that I would prove myself strong enough to marry my beloved. I was more than a bastard to you, and I’m sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”
