Page 91 of Visions of You

Did he have the same idea as Keegan?

The thought made Keegan's chest constrict. Somehow, Jaron giving up was so much sadder than Keegan giving up.

Except that Jaron hadn't given up. A fire still burned in his eyes. "We'll go somewhere no one can touch us," he said.

"Yes," Keegan agreed. "You choose the place."

CHAPTER 21

Jaron emerged from the swirling portal, one hand clutching Keegan's and one the amulet around his neck, which he'd received from Altair before they'd stolen away. His dragon instincts felt uneasy about the sudden plunge into an unfamiliar environment, but the sight before him stole his breath away.

Aquavaris unfolded in shimmering luminescence, an underwater city bathed in gentle light from the bioluminescent dome overhead. Schools of vibrant fish swam lazily above the dome, their scales reflecting the glow in myriad colors. Elegant structures of coral and glass rose from the ocean floor, interconnected by streets that seemed to flow like rivers.

Keegan stepped through the portal behind him, taking in his surroundings.

Jaron smiled at him. "Ready to explore?"

"I've never seen anything like this," Keegan admitted. "It's like something out of a dream."

Jaron laughed. "Glad you like it. I wanted to find a place where we could both feel safe. This seemed perfect because the sun doesn't reach down here."

Keegan looked up as if that thought hadn't occurred to him.

In fact, the only light illuminating the city came from the dome. There was no sun to be seen.

"I wonder why this isn't a hotspot for vampire tourism," Jaron mused.

"Most vampires don't tend to travel much," Keegan explained. "I shouldn't have left my territory either, without permission from my lord."

"You mean Altair?"

"Yes. It can reflect badly on us if the local covens think we're intruding."

"Sounds stifling," Jaron said. The portal had spat them out near a market area, and Jaron tugged on Keegan's hand to lead him toward it.

The stalls displayed a variety of underwater treasures: glowing shells, crunchy seaweed delicacies, and exotic marine life preserved in crystal-clear spheres.

Most of the vendors were water dragon-shifters, but Jaron spotted a few sirens as well. Keegan and he stuck out among the market-goers, but no one seemed to pay them much attention, which was just as well.

Their fingers intertwined as if they were an ordinary couple, taking in the sights and sounds of Aquavaris.

If only that were true…

Jaron willed himself to believe that it was as he marveled at the colorful coral sculptures around him and the shimmering scales of the fish that swam overhead. It was like stepping into a dream, a world so different from their own. It helped him forget the troubles he was trying to leave behind.

"Look at that," Jaron said, pointing to a stall selling glowing seashells.

Keegan picked up one of the shells, turning it over in his hands. "I wonder how they make them glow like that."

"Magic, probably," Jaron said with a grin. "Everything here seems magical."

They continued on, stopping to sample some of the local delicacies. Jaron wasn't sure what half of the things were, but he was willing to try anything once while Keegan watched him curiously, unable to eat himself.

Jaron ate something that looked vaguely like a lemon but tasted like watermelon. Then he turned around and kissed Keegan, shoving his tongue into the vampire's mouth.

"Got a good taste?" he asked with a grin.

"Not bad," Keegan said with a smile. "But I might need another taste to be sure."