I’m hoping that you and he would come to dinner with all of us at our quarters.
Talon wasn’t so sure.Are you certain? I know you’re worried about him and any dangers he might?—
No,Triton interrupted.No, I worryforhim. That’s why I’d like him to come to our quarters, have supper, and know that I’m not worried about him. I can tell how much you care for him. I know how a dragon worries for his omega.
Talon nodded. There were no lies there.
He worried that someone would try to use Mercury for their own ends. They had tried to kill him, after all, which made no sense at all.
Unless that keep had been worried about Mercury bringing strangers there when he slid back and forth.
What were they hiding?
Do you think they were keeping him where he was to protect him, and then he lost his protection?
He looked to Triton and shrugged.I don’t know that that makes sense, brother. They destroyed his stone. He said that they took him, sent him to the tower because he slid when he wasn’t supposed to be for a lover, and that that’s why he was “punished.”
Yes, but you have to remember once he was put away in the tower, his world was completely controllable. He had to have another person to slide with, right?
From what I understand, yes,Talon wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but that seemed to be at least how Mercury believed it worked.
All right, then if you don’t want him to go, you don’t give him access to people.Triton rolled over on his back, floating.Maybe because he was only supposed to go with certain people. What if the lover was trying to get him out of this keep?
Why destroy his stone, then?They could have left him there forever then.
What if he refused to slide for someone who wanted him to?
He looked at Triton.Why wouldn’t he tell me this?
Maybe he doesn’t remember. Maybe he’s scared. Maybe he doesn’t know. Maybe he’s afraid you’ll send him away? I don’t know. He’s not my hailee. Ask him.
It actually did sort of make sense that Mercury had been alone for so long and been fed so little interaction and his mind had fractured. That room had held nothing—basically just food that had obviously been left. Nothing but the ocean and memories.
I’ll talk to him when he gets stronger.
I don’t think he is lying to you.Triton drew a pattern in the water, a magical sigil, and it began to glow, the water dancing within it, as his brother pondered. Talon remembered Tritondoing that when they were children, and it made him smile still.It’s easy though, to brainwash someone. Especially when there’s nothing, when you’re so desperate for any connection. It’s simple. So tread carefully.
I will.He wouldn’t harm his hailee for the world.Maybe I should speak to Cain.
That wouldn’t hurt, that’s for sure.
The more he thought about it, the more Talon thought it was a good idea. He’d make an appointment with Cain and go talk to him. Cain was the common denominator between all of them. He was the one who had brought them to this keep, who had offered them a home but had never asked them to toe any kind of line.
They all did extraordinary things for Cain. But not because he brainwashed him. In fact, Cain tried very hard not to impose his feelings or his will on anyone.
Talon had never spoken to the man about where he came from or what his situation had been before this keep. But he had a feeling Cain understood what it was like to be isolated and used for his talents.
Triton turned in the water and nipped at his tail, and suddenly they were play fighting and splashing and sinking, were popping back up to the surface. It was the first time he and Triton had played like this in decades.
Incoming!The mental voice had them breaking apart, and both of them looking toward the sky. Reno came barreling down at them from a great height and splashed right into the lake, giving them a huge wave of water that crested over their heads.
With a roar, he turned to go after Reno, who surfaced and shot back up in the air. For long minutes, the three of them chased each other, playing follow the leader. Reno would dive and take off, with the other two chasing his tail.
Mate, I can see you. How beautiful you are.Mercury’s voice sounded in his head, distracting him for just a moment, which was when Reno smacked him out of the sky with his wing. Talon let himself free fall before catching himself on a tiny thermal right before he hit the water.
Oh!Mercury sounded horrified.You scared me.
I am sorry, hailee, I didn’t mean to; we’re just playing.
