Chapter Eighteen

It turned out that while it wasn’t Cyrus’s favorite shifting spot, a beach on the coast between Los Angeles and San Diego was what Cyrus considered the most convenient spot. “The water’s slightly warmer than farther up the coast,” he explained, and San Diego had a decent airport which meant the two men didn’t have to drive far. Cyrus was obviously organized and had made the trip countless times before because there was a car waiting for them when the plane landed, and Cyrus seemed to know where he was going.

The trip had been quiet, mostly on Cyrus’s part. Ness had tried to make conversation a few times on the plane, but Cyrus just leaned his head on Ness’s shoulder and had a nap. So much for that. But Ness could understand why Cyrus was feeling subdued. After all their bother about whether they should have kids or not, and what might happen if they did – which was now a real possibility – Cyrus clearly hoped Blade would welcome the news of his father’s mating and desire to extend his blood family.

Families are not necessarily like that. Ness knew that from personal experience. Thinking of which, Ness took his phone out of his pocket, taking care not to disturb his napping mate, and opened his email program. There was nothing from his family, but he didn’t expect anything. Since he’d been rejected as a bond mate by the woman his mother had high hopes about, Ness was lucky if he heard from his immediate family more than once a year.

Ness hesitated a moment, his last conversation with his mother still ringing in his ears from six months before. The way she had shut him down so quickly when he asked what he thought were perfectly normal questions a person might have about procreation and feeling like crap, which he had at the time.

His uncle’s laughter hadn’t been helpful, but his uncle wasn’t cruel, and there was a good chance his father had seen the same joke his uncle had. His mother on the other hand had made him feel as if Ness was some underhand, dirty deviant for even thinking about sex. That could be why I don’t have any siblings.

What to say, though, that was the problem. No matter how Ness put it, his whole family was likely going to be horrified he had a male mate and worse had been claimed. It meant Ness’s genetics were not going to be able to be used in a trade deal his parents might want to put in place further down the road. Honestly, that was how bonds were cemented in Ness’s family and to his knowledge, always had been.

Keep it simple, clean, and to the point. Something his father had drummed into Ness’s head since he was a child. There was also the snippet he’d told Cyrus back when they had been at Blade and Hal’s place – You don’t have to explain. Although, in Ness’s head when it came to his parents, he shouldn’t have to. A mate was a mate was a mate. That didn’t need any explanation for ninety percent of paranormals everywhere.

Just thinking that made it easier for Ness to type.

Dear Mother and Father,

I trust this email finds you both in good health.

Good news, I have found and claimed my fated mate. He is a businessman from out of Las Vegas, previously from Sicily, named Cyrus Marinus.

He and I are very happy together and I am sure you will wish us well.

Kindest regards,

Farness

Ness read it over, snorting quietly in a few places. His parents would be in good health, because that was the life of a shifter. But when it comes to the news being good, Ness already knew his mother and father wouldn’t see things that way. He was equally sure his family would not be wishing him and Cyrus well anytime in the next couple of centuries. But they can’t say I don’t tell them anything, he thought as he hit the send button, checked there wasn’t anything else that required his immediate attention and slid his phone back in his pocket.

“We are very happy together, aren’t we, darlin’.” Cyrus’s voice was sleepy, but Ness wasn’t surprised his mate had been reading what he’d written. That shark wouldn’t miss a thing.

“We always will be. We might have differences of opinions at times, but we’ll always feel happiest when we’re together. That’s one of the joys of being fated mates. Other people’s opinions don’t dictate our joy or levels of it. It’s only how we interact and treat each other that counts.”

“Ooh, I love the way you weave a sentence. Sounds very sexy.” Cyrus grinned as he stretched. “If your parents do come to visit us, I promise I will be on my best behavior.”

“There’s not much chance of that.” Ness internally shuddered at the idea. “My parents don’t leave their estate very often.”

“Their loss. I can be wonderfully delightful in the right company.” Peering out of the plane window, Cyrus added, “We’re almost there. Are you going to come swimming with me, darlin’?”

“I can’t shift on a public beach, Cy, especially not in the middle of the afternoon.” Mother would have a fit if something like that was reported on social media.

“Hmm, good point. We don’t want anyone chasing you for a touch of your marvelous skin.”

“I can paddle in the water or even swim in my human form for a bit while your shark has a decent workout, and I have no problem being stretched out on the sand waiting for you to come back. Just like you do for me.”

“I hadn’t thought of swimming with you in fresh water, with me on two legs. That’s a good idea. We must try it, the next time you shift in somewhere warmer than a Scottish loch.”

“My beastie would love that.” Ness could feel that deep inside. “But for now, let’s focus on your shark and give him a chance to stretch his fins.”

/~/~/~/~/

Over the years, Cyrus’s shark had swum in every body of sea water on the known world with the exception of Antarctica. He liked his balls where they were, and there were huge whales at the bottom of the world. But he was familiar with every other sea, ocean, and inlet. He was nosy on land or in the water, and because of his size, his shark could travel great distances in a short amount of time.

Today was going to be different though. As much as Cyrus the man needed to feel that burst of speed through the water before he did something destructive or stupid – yes, he was pissed off at his son but knew how to hide it – the shark wanted Ness to feel comfortable with him. So chasing other sea life for shits and giggles and just because he could would have to wait.

Ness had changed into a pair of shorts that had Cyrus eyeing his mate with appreciation as they walked down to the water’s edge. “You know my shark won’t hurt you, don’t you?” Cyrus felt the point had to be made. He wasn’t used to shifting with another person around.

“Your shark knows me on a soul level,” Ness said easily, looking so sexy with no shirt on and his legs on view. The day wasn’t freezing, but Ness was wandering around as if it was a hot summer’s day. “Let him out, Cy. I trust you. I trust your shark. You’ve got so much tension caught up inside of you.” Ness’s hand brushed over Cyrus’s chest. “Your shark needs a chance to get rid of some of this angst.”

Cyrus nodded. Clearly he hadn’t been as clever as he thought he was, hiding his feelings from his mate. They splashed into the water together, and yes, the water was cold. But Cyrus didn’t notice when he had the warmth of Ness’s hand in his.

“Go on,” Ness urged when they were thigh deep in water. “Let your shark come through and swim for a bit. I’ll linger here until you come back.” He ducked down in the water, until it was covering most of his torso.

Cyrus’s shark was like a battle tank when compared with Ness’s colorful beastie, and Cyrus was nervous. But his shark wanted to meet his mate at last, and he took advantage of Cyrus’s dithering and sprang free, causing Cyrus to stumble and fall face first into the water with a splash.

Shifting, for the shark, was the best form of stretch possible. His senses immediately attuned to the environment, scanning it for any possible threats to his mate, although there was none. But the shark wanted to be sure, and he swum off in a huge arc checking everything within a mile of the shore.

Convinced he was the only being capable of causing any damage in the immediate area, the shark swum back more slowly, flicking his tail in a lazy manner, wending back and forward in a zigzag pattern with his dorsal fin showing above the water line so Ness wouldn’t be surprised by his sudden appearance.

He was still swimming a bit fast. That was evident when he nudged against Ness’s knee and the man went flying backward, landing back in the water with a splash. The shark immediately swung around, nosing under Ness’s butt, nudging him upward so that his mate could breathe.

“You must’ve been pleased to see me.” Ness was laughing. Not screaming in horror or yelling at him for getting splashed. Nope. Ness was wiping the water off his face with his hands and laughing loudly. “Come here, you stunning beast, so I can see you properly…slowly this time, that’s right.”

The shark was so glad he couldn’t blush. How embarrassing. But Ness didn’t seem to think anything was wrong. “Look at you, all sleek lines and so powerful. You’re stunning.”

Giving a bit of a wiggle, because the shark was so pleased, he swam around a few times so Ness could see him from every angle. “We have to get a saltwater pool of our own,” Ness said, stroking gently across his nose. “We can put it in next to my lake at Arrowtown if you like, so our shifted forms can visit with each other. My beastie could even get in a saltwater pool with you, so long as I don’t put my head under the water. Would you like that?”

The shark loved that idea, so sending those feelings through their bond, he swam off, just to have a race up and down the beach for a bit, to work off the sadness and rejection he felt by Blade’s reaction to his mating.

Apparently there were a lot of feelings to process because by the time the shark made his way to the shore, the sun was setting. He could see Ness sitting on the beach, dressed, wrapped up in a blanket, reading something on his phone, with another blanket beside him. Ness looked up as he reached the shallower waters, a huge smile on his face. Putting down his phone, he grabbed the other blanket and came hurrying down to the shore as Cyrus shifted back.

“Do you feel any better?” Ness asked as Cyrus splashed his way to the dry sand.

Cyrus couldn’t speak. It usually took him a few moments to reorientate himself after swimming along on his belly for so long. But Ness’s hug was warm as Cyrus was wrapped in the dry blanket, and he sagged against his mate’s shoulder as they made their way back up the beach.

Thank you, he sent through their bond.

“Let’s get you dressed and fed,” Ness said quietly. “It’s been a bit of a day.”