“Let’s go,” Logan said. “Everyone, take the same route back you used to get here. Reif, go with Kieran and wait outside for me. Zane and David, wait a second.” Logan watched as the team divided up and left before turning to Zane. “I need you two to poof down to the marina right away in case Brian is planning to leave there.”
“Righto,” Zane said, grabbing his mate’s hand, and vanishing with him.
“C’mon, babe, and Fionn, time for us to leave,” Logan said after watching his brother and David disappear.
~/~/~/~/~
Emerging from the black hole, Zane quickly looked around, finding himself and David alone, behind a building on the far side of the marina. “Are you all right, babe?” he asked.
“Yes. You’re getting better at this than I am. This is a perfect spot you’ve bopped us to,” David said.
“Thanks for the compliment, but when we passed this building when we left, I made a mental note of it thinking it was a perfect place to hide. C’mon, let’s go find Brian.” Linking his fingers with his mate’s, Zane led them around the corner, walking down the dock to Brian’s boat slip. Zane stopped after realizing the boat was deserted. “Babe, look around, Brian isn’t on the boat so he must be around here somewhere.”
Seeing nothing, David turned around, his eyes squinting as he searched for his friend. Suddenly, he pointed, “There. Oh, no, he’s leaving again,” David said.
Turning so he could see what his mate was pointing at, Zane saw Brian walking toward a helicopter. “C’mon babe,” Zane yelled as he started running towards Brian.
“Brian…BRIAN!” David screamed.
Hearing his name, Brian turned and seeing David running toward him, hesitated, before stopping. He wasn’t one for good-byes but for David, Brian would make an exception, knowing he’d hurt his feelings if he didn’t.
When he was a few steps away from the sea serpent, David launched himself into Brian’s arms, tears falling, as he said, “Don’t go Brian, Reif wants you to claim him. Please, don’t leave. He’s coming here. Please, I don’t want you to die.”
Patting David’s back, Brian said, “There, there, laddie. Dinna cry.” Glancing at Zane, he said, “What is it that David’s saying?”
“Reif wants you to claim him. He’s coming here. If you can just wait a few minutes, you’ll see for yourself,” replied Zane.
“But I heard him…he does nae want a mate and I canna force him,” Brian said.
“Well, he changed his mind. Shouldn’t you at least hear him out? Listen to what he has to say before you make upyourmind? Someone once gave me the same advice and it was excellent, so maybe it can change your life like it did mine,” urged Zane.
Torn between what he’d heard from his mate say and what Zane was telling him, Brian wavered, afraid his heart couldn’t take any more battering. But when he heard David’s muffled ‘please’, he gave in. He’d give his mate a chance to explain.
Chapter 20
Reif could feel his mate’s bond grow stronger the closer he got to the marina, forcing him to speed up as the need to be claimed grew stronger until his beast was roaring in frustration.I hear you buddy but I’m going as fast as I can.Struggling to keep from shifting, Reif frantically looked around, hoping to find a private place where he could let his beast loose as his hold on him began to fail. Just in time, he felt a hand on his back, calming his beast with love.
“Hold on a little longer,” Kieran murmured. “We’re almost there. Don’t worry, Brian is waiting for you.”
Reif nodded, afraid if he spoke, he’d lose his concentration now focused on keeping his beast inside him. Rounding the corner of the street leading to the marina, he saw his mate, standing with two shifters who’d been at his house, hugging one of them. White hot jealousy seared his heart, the pain cutting deep causing Reif to stumble before catching himself. Seeing pain and doubt reflected in Brian’s eyes, a heart-rending sound broke from Reif’s throat. Needing to reassure his mate, he broke into a run, wanting to surround Brian with his love.
Zane glanced over his shoulder, eyes widening as he saw Reif barreling toward them. Quickly taking David’s arm, he pulled him away from Brian and into his arms, protecting his mate from the jealousy radiating from Reif. “C’mon babe, time for us to leave,” Zane murmured to his mate.
“But Brian…” protested David.
“He’ll be fine, Reif’s here and they need to talk,” Zane whispered, leading David over to Logan, Kieran, and Fionn who had arrived.
Skidding on some lose gravel, Reif nearly fell until he felt his mate’s hands grab him before letting him go after he’d steadied himself. Facing Brian for the first time, he watched his mate’s eyes travel the length of his body, stopping at the bulge in his pants. Then they resumed their journey downward before returning to meet his. Seeing the interest in Brian’s eyes, Reif let out the breath he was holding, relieved his gorgeous mate hadn’t rejected him.
“Brian, thank you for giving me a chance to explain…I’m sorry I…hurt you, it…”
Holding up his hand, Brian said, “Nae here. Too many ears. We can talk on my boat or if ye rather, at my cottage.”
“Wherever you want.”
“Ay, then, tis my cottage. We won’t be interrupted there.” Turning, Brian forced himself to walk towards his friend’s waiting helicopter. Letting out his breath silently when he heard his mate following him, his trust in Reif was still lacking. His serpent, though, had no such misgivings, coiling, and uncoiling in a sensuous mating dance, enticing its mate to come closer for claiming. Mumbling to himself about the salacious behavior of his sea serpent, he opened the chopper door, hefting himself up into a seat behind the pilot. Buckling up, Brian ignored his mate sitting next to him, still angry about his behavior. As they lifted off, only one thought ran through his mind;Reif better have a damn good reason for kissing and then running away.
~/~/~/~/~
