Moon Borne (Halcyon Romance Series Book 1) (29 page)

They arrived as the sun set in the sky, casting a retreating rosy hue. Or at least they anchored where the Wind and Water Borne claimed the entrance was. Even squinting hard, he perceived nothing but trees and a stream.

He climbed into a longboat with Venn and Thereus. Venn sent out a mental missive, proclaiming their arrival. They rowed to shore, hauled the boat onto the rocky beach, and waited. Within moments, several Wind Borne, fit to rival Venn in size and strength, crowded the shore.

The one in the middle, a winged male with dark eyes and auburn hair, approached them. He scanned Arsenius’s ship, passing his survey over Venn before he nodded and gave Arsenius his full attention.

Arsenius winced at the mental probe and with a quick adjustment blocked him.

The Wind Borne cocked his head, lowering his enormous white wings. “Forgive my bluntness, but where is she?” The male blinked away a flicker of desperation. This Wind Borne clearly coveted Aedre, but Arsenius hadn’t traveled this far to hand her over to the first male who claimed her.

“Are you her mate?” He let the distrust in his voice seep through.

Thereus stomped his hoof beside Arsenius, confirming his suspicions. This was not her mate.

“No, I’m not.”

Well, at least the male was honest.

“My name is Nazrin and I’m her mate’s brother.” The male raked his fingers through his locks. “He’s away, searching for her, but he should be back soon.”

Arsenius crossed his arms. “I won’t entrust her safety to anyone but him.”

Nazrin smiled at him as though taking Arsenius’s threat in stride. “Your integrity and your vow to protect her do you honor. However, I can assure you that in my care
is
the safest place for Aedre. As she is my brother’s mate, I will defend her with my life.”

He exchanged raised brows with Thereus. His gut told him this male spoke the truth.

“Arsenius!” His head whipped around at Kyme’s cry. The mermayde discharged a blast of water at Kyme and dodged past her, throwing herself off the side of his ship.

In a flash of aquamarine, she shifted into mermayde form. A dripping wet, cursing Kyme dove off in pursuit.

Arsenius and Thereus bolted toward the water, intending to cut her off as she made for the shore, but the mermayde headed for the stream.

Nazrin and his men also dashed toward the female. The two groups crashed into each other, growls and snarls erupting from both sides as they clashed for who would be the first to reach her.

Nazrin slammed his fist into Arsenius’s jaw, knocking him flat onto the sand.
Look at me,
the winged male commanded inside Arsenius’s mind. Then he spoke aloud. “I will not harm Aedre, but we cannot fight each other while she is left defenseless.”

The tips of Nazrin’s wings dripped black as he shot Arsenius an image. Vibrant malachite eyes shone from the vision of a delicate, dark-haired mermayde.

Nazrin’s mate.

Chapter 27

Kyme raced onto the shore and followed the males. The Wind Borne leader didn’t hesitate to give them passage into Halcyon. He rushed to speak the words to open the wards and they sprinted through. Scanning the stream, she spotted the mermayde. Thank the gods, Aedre was too weak to swim quickly.

They caught up with her as she stumbled out of the stream. Aedre’s eyes glazed over and Kyme doubted the poor creature fathomed where she was anymore.

Glowing, the mermayde cried out and performed the
morphos
once more into human form. Observing her weakened state, Kyme almost forgave Aedre for blasting water at her and escaping her protection. Almost.

She stepped toward Aedre, but Thereus placed a hand on her arm and held her back. The leader approached her as though she was an injured animal. She blinked up at him, but didn’t cower. He peeled off his shirt and wrapped it around her, then scooped her into his brawny arms.

He was not her mate. No band circled the male’s left bicep, yet he appeared unaffected by Aedre’s pheromones. Her bonded male would not have been so composed. Whoever he was, Arsenius and Thereus trusted him with the mermayde, and that was enough for her.

The Wind Borne inclined his head at their group before carrying Aedre to one of the cabins nestled in the forest.

“I’m Spyridon.” A tall, lean, and golden-haired winged male stepped forward. “You can call me Spyros. Here, let me help you.” He held up his hands, formed a wind tunnel around Kyme, and dried her sopping wet tunic in seconds.

“Thank you.” She smoothed her windswept hair and smiled up at him.

He winked at her, his cerulean eyes sparking. “Follow me. I’m sure you must be hungry and tired from this ordeal. Nazrin will be back as soon as he can.”

Aedre was safe, so Kyme followed Spyros, scanning this new environment. Halcyon was a quaint village, tucked between mountains and forest on three sides and a vast lake on the other. Wood cabins and stone villas were scattered throughout the trees. Off in the distance, she spotted fields and stables, as well as a training arena and an archery range. Judging from the number of people milling about, well over a hundred inhabitants lived here, divided about equally between Wind and Water Borne.

She shook her head in awe. These two races had been enemies since birth. Here, they lived and worked together, and even blended their species.

The air filled with the woodsy scent of smoke from the cabins, the mouth-watering promise of roasting meat, and something else—a sweet note blended in with the others. The scent intensified and her mouth watered as they passed a bakery.

Spyros led them past several more huts and a central square to an outdoor dining area. Her stomach growled at the appetizing aromas. Hours had passed since she’d last eaten.

Kyme stole a glimpse of Arsenius, but his arms were crossed and his eyes distant. He didn’t glance at her as they waited in line to receive their meals, or as they strolled to one of about twenty outdoor tables. He refused to sit anywhere near her at their table. At opposite ends and on opposing sides, she had to lean forward to glimpse him.

Instead, she poked at the food on her plate. Roasted lamb, baked fish, and vegetables of every color blended like an artist’s palette on her plate. This meal was so much more appetizing than what they had on board Arsenius’s ship. She’d have to replace Cook. Kyme’s stomach dropped. She wouldn’t remain on the ship much longer, certainly not long enough to make changes to Arsenius’s crew.

She bit into a delicate roll smothered in butter, and although her stomach rumbled in appreciation, the flavor was lost on her tongue.

Nazrin returned and brief introductions were made. He was still missing his shirt. She blushed at the well-defined muscles of his bare chest. In fact, all of the males and females in Halcyon were fine specimens of their respective sexes.

Yet only one captured her and held her entranced.

Nazrin claimed a seat beside her, drawing her attention back. The male’s wings were angelic, but the rest of him seemed dark and brooding.

She frowned. If he was Gaven’s brother, was Gaven also a Wind Borne? Kyme cursed her delirious new friend.
Aedre, that tidbit would have proven useful.
A mention of a protective brother couldn’t have hurt, either.

“How is Aedre?”

“Not well. I had to lock her in their cabin.” He offered her a tentative smile. “Don’t be concerned. It’s for her safety, until my brother arrives.”

She disregarded the low growl emanating from Arsenius’s direction. Gods, if he had chosen to ignore her, he had no right to care who she conversed with.

“Why were you able to touch Aedre without being affected by her—”

“Charm?” His eyes glinted copper with mischief before they darkened once more. “Ah, yes, well…” He cleared his throat. “Close your eyes.”

She tensed but did as he asked. Instantly, an image of a maiden shot into her mind. Her eyes flashed open. “Who is she?”

“Someone I’ve waited a thousand lifetimes for. My mate.”

Kyme scanned the tables. “Where is she?”

Instead of answering, he grew quiet. From the wrinkling of his forehead, he must be communicating with someone. Telepathically. She shuddered. How strange.

Nazrin cleared his throat and addressed their group. “Gaven is with Aedre now. He would thank you himself, but he has other concerns at the moment. He wished me to tell you he’s truly grateful. You have no idea how lucky we are that you found her.” He pointed into the distance. “We have cabins available if you wish to stay the night. The sole rule is this: During the females’ breeding season,” he regarded each of the males with a stern glare, “you may go with them only if they so choose. Females are protected here.”

“Fear not, Nazrin. My men are well familiar with those rules. They are the same on board my ship.” Arsenius inclined his head. “We thank you for your hospitality.”

“Not here.” Nazrin cocked his head at Kyme as he answered her previous question. “She can’t be mine. Yet.”

Kyme fisted her hands to stop from reaching out to him. How long would this male wait for the woman he desired? “Even with the breeding pheromones, you can’t mate with anyone else?”

His brows drew together. “Why would I wish to?”

She smiled at his declaration, her curiosity piquing. “Why was everyone on Arsenius’s ship so affected by Aedre? I see Water Borne females everywhere, yet none appear as helpless as she did.”

“Well, I have a theory, Kyme.” His sincere smile enveloped her. “The stronger the bond between mates, the more forcefully the female responds to the Tide. I’ve rarely witnessed love like that between Aedre and Gaven.” He winced as though he longed for the same with his mate. Suddenly, he rose and excused himself with a polite bow.

Kyme stared after Nazrin, regretting the obvious wound her questions had pried open. Poor male. Would he ever claim the woman he called his mate?

She tapped her fingers along the wood of the table. Thoughts of Aedre and Gaven invaded her mind. How easy it was for them to love. At this very moment, were they sealing their commitment with the act of making love? How she envied them.

The strumming of a lyre’s strings being plucked pulled her from her musings. Other instruments joined in, and a lively melody drifted toward them as a band picked up a tune. Several of the men and women formed a dance in the center of the square.

Thereus rose and cleared his throat. “May I be excused as well, Captain?”

Arsenius nodded. “Just remember—”

“Aye, ladies’ choice.” Thereus grinned as he headed off to search for some willing females.

Kyme rolled her eyes as not five minutes later he had three, no, four females draped around him. As he winked at her, she waved him off. The others at their table joined in the dance. She and Arsenius were left alone. Very alone.

***

Arsenius settled at the table, doing his best not to peer at Kyme. He had no words for her, and even worse, he didn’t trust himself near her. Lust was everywhere—in the air, in people’s heated looks and sly caresses. The whole camp was rife with passion.

He wasn’t sure how strongly the Water Borne females would affect him, but one thing he did know. Come midnight, he’d better be on the opposite side of a locked door from Kyme.

“Would you do me the honor of a dance?” Spyros, the fiend who’d ogled Kyme all evening, approached her. His hand outstretched, he bowed, and more than friendship was promised in the glint of his eye. Arsenius watched, helpless, unable to move or speak lest the fury inside him be released, as Kyme accepted Spyros’s hand.

“I should warn you. I am an Amazon, and therefore not accustomed to dancing with a partner.”

Spyros chuckled. “In my arms, darling, that is irrelevant. Come, let me be your tutor.”

The blockhead. Probably had no notion of how quickly she could kill him.

Ugh
, the male’s pathetic prose made his stomach heave. As Spyros grinned at her, Arsenius’s fists ached from how tightly he rooted to the table. Oh, how he’d love to knock loose a few of those even, white teeth.
Let’s see if the ladies find you so charming after I’m through with you.

As the cur swept her into his arms, he loosed the growl in his chest. Gods, when had he ever been jealous? Ever?

Kyme was free to dance with whatever bastard she liked. She wasn’t marked. Nay. He barked a wry laugh. It was he who was marked, wasn’t it? He’d permitted her all manner of branding to his body, not to mention his heart. Yet she would never hold any attachment to him.

Gods, how he yearned to claim her love. To bury himself deep inside her, mark her with his seed and his scent. Let the winged bastard try and dance with her then.

Aye, he was sour. Kyme would not be with him tonight. Not tonight, not ever.

A smile tugged at his lips as he spied them. Kyme was a terrible dancer. The kind of grace she possessed was that of a warrior. The stealth used to stalk prey and slaughter it, not the type to be paraded about in front of an audience.

Even so, the Wind Borne did his best to teach her, and she was a quick learner. He glared at the pair of them laughing, and wished they weren’t enjoying her failure so much.