Page 24 of Paradise Bound (Pride of the Caribbean Book 4)

DAY EIGHT—Private Island

“What do you think?” Dane asked, looking nervous.

Marcus leaned in to kiss him, because Dane was his man now, and he could kiss him all he liked. “I love it almost as much as the real one.”

Dane smirked. “Then you must really love it. Because I know how much you love my big black dick.”

Marcus fell back on the bed, laughing until tears fell from his eyes.

“It was not that funny.”

“Yes, it was,” he said between raspy chuckles. “It was very funny, my little white boy.”

Dane scowled, his lips pursed in a frown Marcus wanted to kiss away. “You make no sense.”

“Kiss me anyway?” He raised his brows hopefully.

Dane’s scowl faded as he planted himself in Marcus’s lap. He quickly wrapped him up in his arms and they kissed long and slow. The tug of their soul bind pulled behind his heart, making Marcus push closer so their hearts were flush, their bond flaring with affection.

The new magical tattoo on his forearm didn’t ache like one made of ink. Marcus withdrew from Dane’s mouth, only to kiss across his neck and look down his back to study the beautiful new tattoo. He had planned to put this on his thigh, even before he met his soul mate. But it ended up right where it belonged.

The tat was Dane’ true Fae form, in all his winged, white-haired, black glory. While Marcus missed his zombie and what it had embodied to his younger self, he mostly felt queasy when he thought about the old tattoo because of what had happened to his mate. His new magical tat didn’t represent the past or the present, rather, a symbol of their future. They had struggled to get here, were bound together before Marcus even understood what it meant. They planned to take it slow, but every time they talked or touched, slower seemed like it was speeding up. Marcus already knew he loved Dane with all of his being.

Dane had said he wanted to love Marcus one day.

He longed for that day, when love would shine back at him from Dane’s beautiful lilac eyes. Marcus was already there, but he would be patient until Dane healed enough to join him.

Dane nibbled on Marcus’s neck, making him shiver.

The Pride had docked in Miami earlier this morning, the first week of Marcus’s vacation having come to an end. They’d made plans to teleport to the ship’s private island and hang out with the crew who weren’t assisting in turnover or guest check-out/check-in. But Marcus was in no hurry to leave with a hot as fuck Fae Lord straddling his lap and his tongue down his throat.

Yesterday, after the confrontation with that fucking gargoyle, Marcus and Dane took a long overdue nap before the wedding. Despite some sexy time in the shower, and over the table in his cabin, they were cleaned up and presentable in time to witness Theron and Lewis be married beside a magical pool in another realm.

It had been odd arriving with Kendra, who’d complained about the overgrown tree branches on the path to the ceremony location. Dane explained the doorway to the tiny Fae realm had been camouflaged that way centuries ago and it couldn’t be changed now. Kendra could only pass through because Dane had a hold of her arm along with Marcus’s. Other Fae had assisted Lewis’s human family through, while the magical guests navigated themselves to the other realm just fine.

Marcus had wondered how Kendra and the others justified visiting a natural hot spring on a cruise ship, until he’d overheard her gushing to Mike—the pecan farming cousin—about the “awesome” and “realistic” wedding venue Kevin had created for her best friend. “That wedding coordinator might be a dictator, but he knows his shit!”

Magic resistant, indeed.

The reception took place in all its floral and twinkly glory on the private deck at the stern of the ship, with round tables swathed in blue satin and white roses. The showstopping, tiered wedding cake had to be the best chocolate cake Marcus had ever tasted in his life, and as always aboard the Pride, the appetizers and entrees were stellar too. Marcus had been surprised Lewis—who had been almost as tyrannical as Kevin about wedding details—wasn’t furious when rain clouds filled the night sky. Instead, he’d simply laughed and cried again, before dancing in the rain with his new husband.

So fucking romantic.

The newlyweds had no doubt left for their French honeymoon already, while the rest of their friends had called cabs or driven home. Aleek, Skip, and Jeremiah intended to meet Dane and Marcus on the Pride’s private island too. Afterward Marcus would have an entire week to do nothing but get to know Dane and learn more about their gift from the Goddess.He was as eager to learn the extent of his spiritwalker abilities as he was to spend time with Dane.

Visiting the private island and meeting Dane’s para friends as they truly were sounded pretty cool, but if Dane kept working his neck with that talented mouth of his, he’d never leave this bed.

“We should stop kissing,” Marcus mumbled, shivering when Dane went for the barbells in his nipples.He tugged on one and Marcus swore he saw stars.

Fuck, they’d had sex an hour ago, but he still wanted more. The passion between them didn’t seem to need incubi magic to get out of control, it grew powerful and all-consuming on its own.

“Why should we stop?” Dane licked up and over his pulse, squeezing both of his piercings. “I like where I am at.”

A mere week ago Dane had been avoiding him like the plague, so the words and Dane’s eagerness to be with him made Marcus’s soul rejoice. But... “We’re supposed to be headed to the island while the crew turns over the ship.”

Abruptly, Dane stood, startling Marcus and leaving him bereft.

“Yes,” he said, straightening his clothes, which didn’t work with his cock poking out. “We should get out of everyone’s way.”

Though he had suggested it, he was flustered. “You didn’t have to get up so fast,” he complained.

“If I stayed a moment longer, we would have missed our plans.”

“We would?”

“Yes, because I would be buried in your ass. I was just about to flip you over and open you up with this cock,” he said, matter of fact, then gestured to his erection. “Then when you were panting and begging for more, I intended to change forms and fill you up and fuck you so, so hard.”

“Jesus,” he muttered as a surge of precum leaked out at the imagery.

Dane tried not to smile. “Oh, that idea pleases you?”

“Fuck, yeah, it does. C’mere.” He grabbed for Dane, who quickly inched out of reach.

“No, no, we need to get going.”

––––––––

“It’s so different to be on the island without all of the other passengers,” Marcus observed.

Dane buried a smile as he watched his mate—that word felt better and better inside his soul the more he used it—take in the sights of the private island. Each week half the crew took care of turnaround day, while the rest came here to enjoy the island’s amenities. It was a beautiful place with lots of fun things to do and a gorgeous beach, not that Dane had bothered to come on his week before.

An air of festivities that couldn’t be mirrored aboard the Pride while full of human passengers permeated the island. Faries flitted around, their wings on full display. Shifters played volleyball in half animal form while a couple gnomes sparred with blades in an exercise ring on the beach. Even looked like some witches were organizing a nature walk. Kan, Penelope, and a yellow-haired water sprite—Dane thought her name might be Isabel—dove into the sea then flew above the waves in a spirited, playful dance. Two pairs of mated water sprites watched while sunbathing in the surf, cheering on their antics.

When Dane spied the purple-haired sprite who’d been rescued break the water’s surface, laughing as she twirled in the air, a surge of anger and jealousy worked through him.

How could she so playfully embrace the spirit of her Fae personality after what had been done to her?

Perhaps she had not been captive as long.

Or perhaps she had a stronger constitution than Dane.

He turned away, letting her enjoy her newfound freedom before bitterness took him.He was trying to work on being a better person, but as he glanced up at Marcus, his face bright with happiness, Dane remembered at least he would not have to do it alone.

He reached out his hand and Marcus seemed exorbitantly pleased at the gesture as he wrapped his big hand around Dane’s.

The simple action felt so safe, and any irritation washed away.

Is this what having a mate is supposed to be like?

Why had he fought it so long?

Well, he was done fighting anything that kept him from being close to Marcus.

As the breeze off the sea fluttered across the waves and danced through the palm trees, creating a pleasant rustling sound, Dane almost imagined he could hear the unicorn laughing at him.

Oh what a magnificent sound that had been!

“What should we do first?” Marcus asked, swinging Dane’s hand lightly against his thigh.

“I do not know,” Dane said, looking around again.

A couple fox-shifters manned the grill, some dryads were bent over beers by the palm trees, while two vampires sat at a table in the shade, more gnomes playing horseshoes, and a group of laughing Fae wrapped around the bar. No one seemed to be tending the bar, rather, everyone went behind it, helping themselves.

“Holy shit,” Marcus exclaimed.

Dane’s magic spiked and he whirled, stepping in front of his big mate. “What? What’s going on?” he demanded, power thrumming in his fingertips, ready to protect Marcus at any cost.

Laughing,Marcus placed his hands on Dane’s shoulders and gently stepped him aside. “There’s no danger. At least I don’t think there is,” he said, noticing two hairy shifters chest bumping and grunting at each other on the sand volleyball court. Fighting or celebrating?

No, something in the ocean had caught Marcus’s eye.

“I think I just saw a mermaid tail. Or two?” Marcus exclaimed, dragging Dane through the hot sand toward the surf, not far from the frolicking water sprites.

Sure enough, sparkling emerald green fins glistened on the crest of the waves as two men who should be rather familiar to his mate, just not in this form, skimmed towards the shore.

“Holy shit. Would you look at that,” Marcus breathed. “So pretty.”

Jealousy rippled through Dane. “Is not my true form pretty?”

Marcus looked away from the merfolk and their stupid tails, then raised their clasped hands to kiss the new image of Dane’s true form on his forearm. “Pretty, sure. I prefer sexy as fuck though. Nothing compares to you in both forms.” He pointed to the tails now more visible in the waves. “But that’s pretty damn cool, isn’t it?”

Mollified, Dane said, “I suppose it is interesting. If you’ve never seen a Mer.”

“I haven’t.” Chuckling, Marcus shielded his sunglass covered eyes for a better view. “Is that Skip with them? How the hell is he breathing without scuba gear?”

Dane loved his practical-minded mate, noticing irregularities even while awestruck by the paranormal world.

A wet, but exuberant Skip clambered out of the water, swim shorts and T-shirt plastered to his wet body, his grin as bright as his dimples and blue eyes.

Jeremiah and Aleek, now in their human forms, stood up in the water. A moment before Dane had an urge to cover his mate’s eyes before he saw two other naked men, Skip quickly withdrew a sarong from a little backpack he wore and tossed it towards Jeremiah.

Jeremiah tied the red fabric with white hibiscus around his waist, though it did little to hide the bulging outline of his cock beneath the gauzy, wet fabric.

Shifters and their lack of shame! Dane resisted the urge to stomp his foot. These were Marcus’s friends, and despite the idea of his mate ever seeing another naked man making Dane fume, he wouldn’t do anything to aggravate his mate’s friendships.

Like vaporize his merman friends for being sexy.

At leastAleek had magically furnished himself an ass-covering—barely!—loin cloth made of seaweed. Though slightly more modest than his sunbathing costume from the other day, it still showcased his muscled torso and thick legs.

Today it was Jeremiah putting on the indecent display.

“You will have to teach your brother your spell,” Dane scolded Aleek by way of greeting. He gestured at the wet outline of Jeremiah’s low-hanging fruits. “I do not wish nudity bandied about in front of my mate, thank you very much.”

Marcus threw back his head and laughed as Jeremiah’s face went as red as his sarong. Skip stepped in front of Jeremiah and placed his rear end directly against the bulge. “Don’t be eyeballing my baby’s supreme hotness, Dane,” he said, his Southern draw teasing. “He has regular clothes in Aleek’s locker.”

“I should hope so,” Dane huffed, flustered by Marcus and Aleek’s laughter.

They found his irritation amusing. Perhaps because they liked him? He hoped so.

Aleek patted Dane’s shoulder wetly as he joined them. “Brother’s magic is different, but I will try, little Fae.”

Dane wasn’t sure if he should be annoyed or pleased by Aleek’s casualness with him. He opted for pleased—a new thing for him—as Marcus took his hand.With Skip still plastered to Jeremiah’s front, they joined them at the edge of the surf, water tickling their toes.

Marcus shook his head as he reached out to fist bump each merman twin, then playfully jab Skip’s belly.

“First of all,” Marcus began. “I still can’t believe you guys are mermaids, though I mean, yeah. It totally makes sense.”

“Mermen,” Skip corrected.

“Duley noted,” Marcus said. “And just how the hell did you get here? I don’t see a boat.”

Skip gave him a mischievous wink. “Magic.”

“Wait, what?” Marcus shot Dane a confused look then asked Skip, “What are you now?”

“Nothing but a regular old human,” he said with a shrug, though he waggled his ass against Jeremiah’s bulge. His mate gripped his hips to still him, but he didn’t look annoyed by Skip’s actions. “Though I guess somewhere in my bloodline there’s leprechaun.”

Dane screwed up his face, and said without thinking, “I hate leprechauns. They’re dreadful beings.”

Skip laughed—thank the Goddess!

“Yeah, I’ve heard that. I think I only got the lucky part. But to answer your question, I can breathe under water because Aleek used an old Mer spell when we had our mate bond ceremony. We weren’t sure it would work when we did it.” He cast a side-eye at Aleek. “Although no one bothered to tell me that until the last minute.”

Aleek shrugged, long hair clinging to broad shoulders. “It worked,” he said simply with a shrug. “I’m hungry.”

“Me too, brother,” Jeremiah agreed.

“Let’s get changed right quick,” Skip suggested. “Then we can get something to eat. Whatever they’re grillin’ smells dee-lish!”

While Marcus’s three wet friends shuffled off to change into dry clothing, Dane led Marcus back the bar where he spied Adam laughing with Ace and another bartender named Roxy.

“Hello, Adam,” Dane greeted him. At least he had one friend. He didn’t want his mate to see him as weird or pathetic. “Hi, Roxy. Ace.”

His fellow crew members greeted him with welcoming smiles.

“Hey there,” Marcus said to Adam with an easy grin. “It’s the man who makes the best cocktails.” He held out his hand and Adam gave him a friendly fist bump, which made that jealous little monster inside Dane scowl.

I hope my face isn’t making that same expression.

Goddess help him, he really was trying.

“That’s me,” the fire wizard said.

“I might have something to say about that,” Roxy teased. The assertive woman had a big personality, but Dane did not know the empath all that well. But if Adam liked her, she must be worthy.

“You do make the best margaritas,” Adam agreed.

“She sure does.” Ace, a water wizard, raised his salt-rimmed glass in illustration.

“Hey, there’s Sammy.” Roxy nudged Ace in the arm and pointed toward the locker rooms. “Check you guys later.”

Eyes locked on the meadow sprite, Roxy and Ace grabbed a six-pack and shouted out to their friend before fading into the partying crew.

“You can go with them,” Dane offered.

“I’m cool here,” Adam said, smiling brightly at Marcus and Dane. “I’m so happy for you guys. I’d like to feel I had a tiny hand in getting your kids together, but I know it was all the Goddess and frankly the Pride.”

“Yeah.” Marcus draped his arm around Dane. “I definitely think it was the divine that led us here.”

All of Dane’s irrational jealousy and awkwardness disappeared the instant Marcus touched him and smiled at him. He remembered the sexy plans they’d made before leaving Marcus’s cabin and his belly fluttered. But this feeling inside him was so much more than sex, wasn’t it? More than just the power of a soul bond, the growing trust and affection between the two of them made Dane’s spirit light.

The box inside Dane seemed to crumble even more. He realized then it was his heart expanding and reaching out for the man beside him. The human, the spiritwalker, the tattoo artist.

Marcus Rodriguez.

The other half of Dane’s soul.

If this was the fabled love he’d read of in books and heard people tell stories about, then they’d all gotten it wrong.

Reality was far better than he’d ever believed possible.

“I’m not working, but what can I get you boys to drink?” Adam asked. “Dane, Fae prefer ambrosia, right?”

“I will have whatever my mate is having.”

The goofy grin on Marcus’s face told Dane he’d made the right choice.

“Two whiskey sours coming right up.” Adam pointed finger guns at them and dropping the hammers. “For my new favorite couple.”

“Hear, hear,” Jeremiah said from behind them as Marcus’s friends joined them again.

Thankfully fully dressed.

The three swimmers already had plates of food, so Adam passed them each a beer. Once drinks were in everyone’s hands, toasts were made. Dane felt like this small group Marcus called his family might one day include him.

Maybe it already did.

Unfortunately the good mood soured slightly—no, it totally soured when Kevin pranced up to the bar wearing his usual smirk. He reeked of animal musk and Dane curled his nose, wondering if the Fae lord had just been intimate with a shifter.

Ugh! Why would he sully himself with a dark magic para?

But when Fae Lord Selena and her polar bear shifter mate, Rick, scowled at Kevin’s back and took their drinks elsewhere, Dane wondered if their disgust stemmed from Kevin being a notorious asshole, rather than his choice in bedmates.

Am I being like my mother, judgy and scornful?

“Since I’m mixing already, do you want something, Kevin?” Adam asked with a smile that didn’t reflect in his navy blue eyes.

Naturally the narcissist did not notice.

“You probably don’t have ambrosia,” he said with a contemptuous, snobby look. Somewhere off in the distance tinny tropical music began playing and paras started dancing on a driftwood dance floor.

“Of course we do,” Adam said, still smiling and always professional. “It’s Sunday on the private island, Kevin. Everything us paras like is here. Even got a pitcher of rosemary blood for our resident vamps.”

“Gross,” Marcus and Skip said at the same time. When Chris and Daniel looked over from their place in the shade—each wearing gauzy long-sleeved shirts and pants, big sunhats and huge sunglasses—they both said in total sync, “No offence, sorry!”

“No worries, blokes. It’s an acquired taste,” Chris called back and everyone laughed.

“I suppose I’ll have an ambrosia then.” Kevin gave Adam a dismissive wave, as if he were not a peer aboard the Pride, rather, a servant there to do the Fae Lord’s bidding.

“The blood or the ambrosia, Kevin?” Adam clarified.

Dane couldn’t stop his smile, knowing full-well Adam kept using Kevin’s first name to get under his skin.

The guy really was too easy to rile up.

Kevin scowled. “The ambrosia, obviously.”

“Obviously,” Adam drawled.

Kevin’s attitude did not endear anyone in their small group, but Skip and Jeremiah kept smiles on their faces, no doubt grateful for him organizing their wedding. Aleek was too enamored of his grilled oysters to even acknowledge the Fae.

“You’ll never believe what I just learned,” Kevin taunted as he took a sip of ambrosia, made a face, then shrugged and took another sip, as if somehow the drink of their Greek demi-god captain wasn’t good enough because it hadn’t been served with a side of obeisance.

Dick.

“Go ahead and tell us then,” Dane snapped. “Or don’t. None of us really care.”

Chuckles danced on the tropical air, taking the wind out of Kevin sails.

Well deserved, Dane thought. He hadn’t forgiven Kevin for taunting him with that sexy video of Marcus dancing and singing.

He loved the video now, but that wasn’t the point.

“Fine if you’re going to be like that,” Kevin snipped. “Then I won’t tell you.”

“Fine. I’ll find out soon enough when I get back on the ship.” Dane turned away from Kevin, picking up his own drink, pleasantly surprised at the delicious taste.

“This is wonderful, Adam,” he told his friend.

“Thanks.”

But then again, Dane’s mate always had good taste. He let his eyes roam up and down the well-dressed Marcus. He wore another sexy white tank top, cargo shorts with a wide belt, and the cutest rainbow checkered shoes. Mostly all high end, Dane had learned. His mate liked designer things, a symbol of his rise from poverty and his pride in his accomplishments. He also wore a gold bracelet and a diamond in his ear. The Christan symbol on his necklace intrigued Dane because Marcus touched it often. Dane would love to learn why. He would also like to give his man more gold jewelry. He had a few stashes in nearby realms that made the Aztecs look like paupers. If he didn’t have any baubles that Marcus liked, he would craft him something special.

Kevin barely suppressed a sneer, pulling Dane away from such lovely, though surprising, thoughts of spoiling his mate.

“I guess I will tell you then,” Kevin said in a superior tone. “An entire herd of mustang shifters just appeared at the port all bedraggled, looking like they literally rode all the way here.”

Adam perked up. “I’m assuming the captain granted them asylum?”

“Of course His Majesty and his consort did,” Kevin said, like all Fae, never failing to mention their king first.

“Okay, so what’s the big deal about that?” Adam asked, taking a seat on a stool behind the bar, a sweating pink wine cooler in hand.

Kevin smiled, like he’d finally arrived at his point. “You’ll never guess how they found out about the Pride.”

Both Adam and Dane’s curiosity peaked, though Marcus’s friends didn’t quite understand why, judging by the expressions on their faces. Aleek had already moved on to his shrimp kabobs.

“Stop being an ass and tell us,” Dane ordered.

“Please,” Marcus whispered gently in his ear.

“I do not have to be polite to, Kevin,” Dane declared. “He’s intentionally withholding information to lord it over all of us. However I am higher ranked than he is. The king’s and my mother are sisters. He forgets his birth.”

Dane had never mentioned the truth of Kevin’s birth aloud—Mother always said to do so was unseemly.

And why am I worried about what Mother used to say? To hell with that woman!

Unseemly or not, Dane’s dig did have the desired effect on the arrogant Kevin.

“It was an incubus, all right?” Kevin cried, clearly unsettled and irritated.

I suppose we’re even now, you dick,Dane thought to himself meanly.

“Not a full incubus, right?” Adam clarified.

Kevin rocked back and forth on his heels, his attitude making a swift comeback. “Nope, a full-blooded demon by the name of Bartholomew.”

Skip sucked in a gasp that startled everyone. Even Aleek looked up, curious. “Did you say Bartholomew?”

“Yes, why?” Kevin demanded, obviously disliking that Skip knew something he didn’t.

“It can’t be a coincidence, can it?” Skip asked his mate.

“Unlikely,” Jeremiah agreed.

“Oh, I hope that Nathan and Josh were long gone,” Skip said, clutching nervously at Jeremiah’s shirt. The mates stared at each other as if communicating telepathically. Dane heard blood-bound mated merfolk could cast a spell to do such a thing underwater and wondered if these two could do so on land.

Jeremiah looked at his twin next and, after a moment, Aleek seemed concerned too.

“They were long gone.” Kevin flashed one of his dismissive hand flaps as he finished his ambrosia with a greedy gulp. He smacked the cup on the table twice and snapped his fingers at Adam.

“You’re a Fae Lord. Be more respectful to our fellow crew members,” Dane scolded.

Kevin looked properly chastised, an expression Dane doubted anyone had seen on his face except the king. “Fine.” He forced a smile at Adam. “My apologies. May I please have another?”

“Sure,” Adam said in a much more genial fashion. He set a glistening purple bottle on the bar. “Help yourself.”

Dane wasn’t sure if the offer was dismissive or hospitable. Kevin didn’t seem to know either, so he simply picked up the bottle and poured himself a refill.

While Dane was well aware “my apologies” and saying “I’m sorry” we’re two very different things, for Kevin that may have been the greatest amount of humility he was capable of showing.

“Why is it significant if Nathan and Josh were still here?” Marcus wanted to know, obviously concerned about his cousin and his husband.

“I haven’t the faintest,” Kevin said, taking a dainty sip that almost seemed coy. “I just thought you guys might be interested there are full incubi still roaming the planet despite the Treaty.”

While his words sounded like a warning, Dane could sense his magical pheromones rising as easily as he could see the eager look in his eyes.It sounded like Kevin was more than intrigued for an encounter with an incubus. Well, that made sense. To Dane’s knowledge, Kevin had already bedded a partial-incubus and a shifter.

Obviously old Fae prejudices against the dark races didn’t bother his fellow lord.

While Dane would never grant that Kevin might be more generous than himself, this discovery was rather interesting.

“I’m sure the captain and Raoul,” Adam began, then quickly corrected, “I mean, the captain and His Majesty will make sure if a demon comes into contact with anyone on the ship, we’ll be safe.”

“No one answered my mate’s question,” Dane remarked irritably. Do I sound like Kevin when I talk like this? Maybe I ought to work on that. He changed his tone. “Is it because Nathan is partial incubus and it might be some blood relation?”

There, that sounded much nicer.

“I’m not at liberty to say,” Skip said. “And I know that sounds vague and annoying, but it’s not my story to tell. But if it isthe same incubus, then the captain and Raoul, hells bells, even Darrius should be told immediately.”

“Really?” Kevin said, eyeing Skip in a very predatory way. “And how many incubi secrets do you have, little human?”

Jeremiah curled his lip and let out a growling hiss remarkably similar an angry sea lion.

“Whatever.” Kevin tossed out another wave of his hand. He picked up the ambrosia bottle and poured a third. Then he turned around, elbows on the bar, and leaned against it. “So what’s the plan for this afternoon? Any plans besides dancing in the hot sun?” He gestured to the revelers. Though he tried to sound condescending, Dane noticed he watched the dancers with a hint of longing.

Skip still seemed unsettled, but he answered politely. “Jeremiah and I are going with Aleek to the other side of the island where they’re building the new cabanas.”

“Those were His Majesty’s idea,” Kevin said in that know all way of his. “Our king is constantly looking for ways to generate new revenue. Since Aleek likes boarding the ship and eating whatever he wants, perhaps he can rent one of them when they’re finished. Everything is all inclusive, just double the price.”

“I pay for everything my brother eats and does,” Jeremiah said but Kevin talked over him.

“There will be seven cabanas, each with private piers and hammocks above the water. Very romantic. Now guests can add on an additional five-night stay after their cruise. We’ll charter them to the island with the private yacht—cha-ching!—then they’ll be picked up on Saturday when the Pride docks for its usual visit to the private island.Obviously, His Majesty won’t allow anyone to be on the island Sundays, that way our people can enjoy themselves freely. He’s so cool like that.”

Dane ignored the braggy way Kevin spoke so casually about their leader. Let the guy have his win because he didn’t have his mate.

Obviously irked by the Fae Lord, Jeremiah said, “Raoul and I have come to an arrangement where one of the cabanas will belong to my brother outright. No renting. It will be his own home.”

“Really?” Kevin said, taken it back by this new information. Dane barely suppressed a laugh and Adam didn’t bother to hide his smirk.

Ah! Not so in-the-know as you’d like to think, little bossy lord?

“Yes, really.”

Kevin topped off his drink. “His Majesty must’ve cut you a deal.”

Jeremiah’s patience seemed to be wearing thin, but he somehow managed to remain polite in the face of Kevin’s remarks. “My twin and I went on a long swim and brought back some pearls of exceptional value that more than paid for my brother to have whatever he wants aboard the Pride, and his own house here on this island.”

“And gold,” Aleek added. “Lots of gold.”

“Rare Spanish doubloons, actually,” Skip bragged. “I married into old money.”

“That’s wonderful, Aleek,” Marcus said. “So you’re gonna live here? No more crashing in the spare room at Miah and Skip’s house?”

“He’ll keep his room at home,” Skip insisted. “But now he’ll have a safer homebase on the water. I mean, we’re on a canal, but it’s a very populous area. Without us taking him out on the boat, it’s a risk for him to be seen.”

“Would you guys like to see where they’re being built?” Jeremiah offered. “Aleek already picked out his lot. I think the pier is finished.”

While Dane truly wished he and Marcus could slip away and cuddle in one of those empty hammocks off in the distant palm trees, he deferred to his mate’s decision.

“You know, boys, as much as I love you, I’d like to spend some alone time with my mate,” Marcus said.

Dane’s heart fluttered that they were on the same page.

“I understand that,” Skip said, smiling and clutching Jeremiah’s hand. “But seeing as I don’t have a tail and can’t swim hundreds of miles, I haven’t gotten to see the progress on Aleek’s new house.”

“Lead the way, Aleek,” Adam said. “I can’t wait to see it.”

When their friends and the begrudging Kevin—who would no doubt play tour guide, though he sucked at it—disappeared with Adam, Marcus tugged on Dane’s hand.

“You see those big hammocks over there?” he asked Dane. “Wanna take our drinks and cuddle. Maybe kiss and make out?”

“Goddess yes!” Dane squeezed his big hand, all but dragging Marcus through the sand toward the inviting hammocks in the cool shade.

It took a little maneuvering to be curled up with Marcus as the hammock gently moved with their motions and the breeze. Marcus propped his head in his hands and Dane burrowed in beside him, their drinks and everything but each other promptly forgotten.

With the warm sun above, the gentle rush of the sea, and Marcus’s steady heartbeat against his cheek, Dane had almost drifted off to sleep, when Marcus asked, “After this week, what happens next?”

“What do you mean?” Worry hit him in the chest and he froze.

“I mean, I’ll go home to my loft and my cat,” he said hesitantly. “But you live on the Pride.”

Bravely, Dane pushed away his fears.

“You must love and trust this human,” the unicorn had told him.

“I liked Kitt.” Not moving a muscle, Dane held his breath a moment before adding, “We could live with him, if he’d allow it.”

Marcus laughed, making Dane bounce and the hammock sway. “Kitt would love your wording.” Then he sobered. “But are you serious? You wanna live with me? Just like that?”

Dane lifted his head to study his mate as he formed his answer. He’d gotten a nice tan this week, the skin hiding behind his ink like coffee with only a dash of cream. His hair, as usual, was styled as perfectly as the pencil-thin goatee lining his jaw.

And he is mine.

But did he deserve Marcus?

Dane had survived torture for decades. He’d broken his own bones to free himself, used his own teeth to tear his flesh to save himself and his mate. He’d confronted a monster who tortured him. But he also had the favor of the Fae King. He’d been blessed by a unicorn and the Goddess Herself.

He may not have treated his soul bond properly at first, but Dane was no longer afraid. He would not run away from what his heart wanted, what his very soul needed.

“Yes,” he said at last. “If Kitt agrees, I would very much like to live with you. You have many books I would like to read. Perhaps when you are putting more ink onto humans, I can return to work for His Majesty. We will see what he thinks.”

“I thought he said mates are above everything,”Marcus countered. “You think he won’t approve of us?”

Hmm, that wasn’t how Dane meant for it to come across.

“Yes, he does, which is why I have no worries. I know he will want me to be with you, but it is proper we include him in the decision. I am still a member of the Royal Court.”

“And we need his permission?” He bristled a bit.

“No, but a blessing would be nice. I do not wish to offend His Majesty. My family is already an embarrassment.”

“Getting high and working on the paranormal black market?”

He gave his mate a serious look. “Exactly.”

Chuckling, Marcus gave him a kiss. “Okay, whatever you want.”

His confidence faltered. “Would you prefer I stay on the ship? Perhaps it was too bold of me—”

Marcus squeezed him and kissed him quiet. “Don’t say it. I want you with me. Where you go, I go, remember?”

“Marcus?”Dane shifted to his stomach, laying on Marcus’s chest now, with his chin on his hands so he could gaze up at his mate. Marcus smelled of the beach, coconut tanning lotion, and his usual herbal aroma. It was positively divine.

“Hmm?”

“I think I might love you very soon.”

“You think you might?” he teased, pulling him closer with his big arms and shifting his knees so Dane could settle in between.

Dane nodded, still smiling. “Yeah, I think I might.”

The party was in full swing now, but under these palm trees and in each other’s arms, there was no one else in the world.

“We should have a wedding too,” Dane declared, enjoying Marcus’s shocked face.

“Wait, what now?”

Dane was a bit surprised himself, but he would not retract his words. “When the time is right, we should be married, as is your human custom. Our bonding was... not conventional. I have come to learn you are very romantic and tenderhearted under all these tattoos and muscles. You cried at the Magus’s wedding. You wish for something similar. We should have the ceremony we missed. Your sister should be there. Your mother and cousins. Would you like that?”

Looking stunned, Marcus cupped his face with both hands before a beautiful grin filled his own. “I would love that, Dane.”

Dane’s heart swelled with pure joy at finally having everything he’d never dreamed possible. Yes, their road had not been easy. They’d been soul bound strangers, but one day soon, they would be united as lovers and best friends.

Husbands.

As Dane snuggled into his big soul mate, he was no longer afraid. He had trusted the unicorn, the Goddess. Himself.

Without a doubt, Dane knew their future would be pure paradise.