Chapter Thirty-Four

We didn't go to Shasenai. Instead, we went north of it and into a deep crevasse. I clutched the Eye, hoping, as instructed, that King Lyrandir would give up on the Lu-Ken. But I knew he wouldn't stop chasing us. What would he do? I hadn't considered that Land Dragons could come to the sea kingdoms. King Lyrandir wouldn't be able to bring his army, but he could bring his dread. The idea of Shasenai under siege made me shudder. But, as Vax had said, this was his kingdom. His world. Attacking him here wasn't wise.

At last, Vax dove and spun, coming to a rest on a ledge before a dark cave. It looked familiar. He set me down, shifted into his man body, and strode into the darkness. I followed without question, and he took my hand. As an undersea man, I had great eyesight, even in such conditions, so I didn't need Vax to lead me. But I wouldn't have been able to go much further without his magic parting the ward that met us.

Beyond the ward, the tunnel opened up and branched out. Vax continued through the winding passage, lights in coral cages coming on as he approached. The walls were rough stone, and the ground was sandy, nothing unusual in the tunnels beyond the lights. But I recognized this place.

"This is where you brought me to heal," I said.

"Yes. I knew you'd be safe here," Vax said.

I processed that as we passed the cave we had stayed in, then I asked, "Is this where you hibernated?"

"Yes. And where I stored my treasures. The Eye will be safe here."

I didn't respond, but he must have sensed my concern because he said, "Don't worry, Mate. Everything will be all right."

"We just made an enemy of a Dragon king whose kingdom borders yours. This is not good, Vax. Not good at all."

"But today is also the day we have become true mates and declared our love for each other. That makes it very good indeed."

"Oh, no! We're going to miss our celebration."

"No, we won't. They will wait for us."

"Yeah, I guess they have to."

Vax sent a chuckle into my mind before saying, "This will only take a moment, and then we'll go home."

"Home. I like the sound of that."

"And I like that you like it." He squeezed my hand. "Ah, here we are."

Vax came to a wall. It was seamless, with no door or even a line of demarcation. Then he placed his palm on the stone. The stone shimmered and vanished, revealing another passage. He drew me into it, but his guards remained behind, taking posts to either side of the archway and down the corridor.

"Nice trick," I said.

"Thank you. It's a ward connected to me. Only I can open it."

We entered a huge space. A few shelves stood along the rock walls, but nothing else. It was utterly empty. Probably because all of Vaxarion's treasures now resided in his palace. Wait. There was one thing on a shelf. A tiny black box.

I went to it and held it up. "Did you know this was here?"

Vax smiled as he took it from me. "Yes. It's the only thing I wanted to protect more than I wanted to enjoy."

He opened the box and angled it toward me. On the glossy black coral surface inside sat a necklace. Its thick, gold chain was coiled neatly, and a pendant rested atop. My gills widened, sucking in more water as I leaned closer. The jewel was round and faceted, gleaming even in the low light. But then, diamonds always shine brighter in the shadows.

"Holy shit," I said. "That's the biggest diamond I've ever seen."

Vax lifted it from the box and held it before me to dangle on its chain. It swayed gently in the water, making rainbows on our skin. "It belonged to my mother. This is all I have left of my parents."

"Oh." I looked up at him. "Fuck. I'm sorry, Vax. I never thought to ask about your parents."

"Don't be sorry. I had many years with them while you had only a part of your childhood. I was lucky. And so were they. They lived long lives before an accident took them. And I'm glad they died together instead of one having to mourn the other."

"I barely remember my parents now."

"Your time with them was too short."

"I thought all the Sea Dragons were made by Karadas? I didn't know there was a second generation."

"We lived here for over a thousand years before Karadas was imprisoned. Although we didn't reproduce often. I believe there are only three generations, but there could be four. I'm from the third."

"Then you're younger than I thought."

He grinned at me. "Yes. I'm considered young by my people."

"That explains your personality."

"Oh?"

"How playful you are."

"So, you thought I was an old man who acted like a child?"

"Stop twisting my words." I shoved at his chest.

His grin widened. Then he lifted the necklace and slid it over my head.

"What are you doing?" I asked even as I stared at the diamond, enraptured.

"It belongs on your neck. My father once gave it to my mother, and now, I want you to have it."

"What?" My stare jerked up to his face. "I can't take your—"

"My mother would be overjoyed to know that we have mates now, and that I've given her favorite jewel to mine." He laid his palm over the diamond and one of my hearts. "It will bring me great joy to see you wearing it."

"Well, if it makes you happy." I smirked.

Vax pulled me into his arms, and I eagerly lifted my lips to his. Our groans were more vibration than sound, rippling through us and the water, but nonetheless powerful. They spoke of all the love that had grown between us and how it would grow even more over the years to come. It spoke of longing fulfilled and unwanted happiness that was all the sweeter for the surprise of it. And above all, it spoke of lust. Pure, powerful lust.

I ground against Vax, and he pulled me closer. With him naked, I couldn't resist gripping his shaft and pumping it.

"We shouldn't do this here," he said.

"Just let me suck you off." I dropped to my knees.

"There's my pirate." Vax grinned and shook his head, but not to say no. "Well, if you insist."

His hand slid possessively but tenderly over my loose hair, smoothing it back so he could watch me take him into my mouth. I stared up at him, the heat in his eyes making it so much better. I did that to him. Me. And it would only be me who did that to him for the rest of our lives. Vax had given me his greatest treasure. Because I was now his greatest treasure. I knew it in my bones. And I wanted to show him how much I treasured him in return. No, a blow job doesn't sound so romantic, but I made it so.

I moved over Vax slowly at first, then tightened my lips and sped up. My cock strained my pants, but this was about him. I wanted to focus on Vax. Let him see that he was more important to me than my needs. I tongued his tip and took him deeper.

"Zix. Oh, fuck. Zixin. My sea butterfly. Just like that. Soon, Mate. Will you drink me?"

"Will I swallow? Fuck, yes, Your Majesty. I want to taste you."

His hand clenched in my hair. "I love it when you drink me. I love knowing that you have more of me inside you."

"Oh, fuck. Vax. You're going to make me come before I make you come."

"Let me see it. Take your cock out of your pants."

Urgently, I freed myself. My dick sprang forth into the cold water, but my body was made for the sea. The temperature made my balls clench in the best way. My hips canted forward, and Vax made a happy rumble as he started to pump into my mouth.

"Stroke yourself," he said.

"No, this is about you."

"And I want to see you stroke yourself, Mate."

"Fuck." I grabbed my dick with one hand while I kept a grip on his base with the other. Then I stroked. Twice. It was all I needed to come.

Cum spurt into the water, spiraling out in a ribbon before gently falling to the ground. Vax locked up against me as soon as he saw it, and even as I shuddered through the end of my climax, he emptied into my mouth. I expected him to tighten his hold on my head and hold me pressed tightly against his pelvis, but he didn't. His hands did clench in my hair, and he locked up against me, but there was no anger in him anymore and it gentled his actions. His salty flavor heightened my pleasure, sending me into a spasm. But I held still around Vax, taking all he offered until there was nothing left. For now.

Sucking him clean, I moved away and tucked my cock back in my pants. My mate helped me to my feet and kissed me again.

As we kissed, he said, "If that is how you react to presents, I will shower you in them."

"Oh, it is! It is!" I said eagerly.

He smiled in peaceful joy and stroked my cheek. "We must go. Give me the Eye."

I stepped back and pulled the Eye out of my pocket. It gleamed in a darker way than my diamond. A way that made me shudder.

Vax took the jewel and put it in the coral box that had held his mother's necklace. He closed it, then bent to dig a hole in the sand. I widened my eyes at that. Even his treasure room didn't feel secure enough for him. He had to hide the Eye in the warded room.

When Vax had a hole deep enough for his liking, he dropped the box in, then covered it up and smoothed the sand so there was no hint that it had been disturbed. Nodding to himself, he took my hand, then led me out of his treasure room.