Rather than coming toward him, Tristan circled back towards shore, retrieving rocks that the Troop had dumped into the ocean. He began to arrange them around Austin, kicking up sand into the current, clogging Austin’s gills.
Austin growled. He pushed off the seabed and propelled himself to the surface. He’d just finished cleaning the sand from his gills when Tristan emerged next to him. The urge to snap at the man rose and fell in quick succession. Bright moonlight lit Tristan’s face in outline, but his features were indistinct.
“Did you get all the sand out?”
Inexplicably, Austin found himself blinking back tears.
Tristan moved closer, large tail bumping against Austin’s legs. He nuzzled Austin’s cheek, letting out a soft, calm hum. He folded a strong arm around Austin’s lower back and pulled him in, guiding Austin’s slack legs around his waist. He supported him with a hand under his bottom and then cupped the back of his head. Austin tensed, but he sensed nothing sexual in Tristan’s touch. He slowly folded around the warmth, reminded of how Liam felt in stolen moments.
Austin let his head drop to Tristan’s shoulder.
A lecture didn’t come. Nor did any question leave Tristan’s lips, though Austin was certain his outburst would have been reported by now. As Tristan waited, he carefully worked hisfingers into Austin’s hair, warrior fingers managing not to snag on wet strands as he stroked.
Austin broke the silence. “I have a headache.”
The hand in Austin’s hair became very soft, fingers a ghost touch. “I will get you painkillers.”
“There’s something wrong with me.”
“You will settle. Being in a new territory is not easy, and”—the pause here alerted Austin that Tristan was choosing his words carefully—“though you are powerful,Iam a dominant male and you are within my territory. Was the last time you were in another’s territory with your father?”
Austin frowned, considering the question. “I’ve kept to myself since him.”
Tristan made a sound like he had expected that to be his answer. “Then being uneasy is only natural, but I promise it will fade eventually. It took years before I felt right after leaving the north.” His fingers dug lightly into Austin’s scalp, stroking him. “Even with Hal so close by, every day I worried that something would separate us once more, and those worries persisted long after I had grown into my power. Long after they were rational to feel.”
A wave washed against Austin’s face, and with a grumble, he moved his head to Tristan’s other shoulder so it would touch the back of his head instead. Tristan’s words were meant to soothe, but their situations were not the same. “What I fearisrational. You’re not in danger of someone coming and taking you away from your brother anymore.”
“And you can never be trapped again. Not with this.” He tapped lightly at Austin’s throat, indicating his voice box.
“I could be drugged, knocked out, I—” He pushed abruptly upright, legs still locked on Tristan’s waist, but hands flat on his chest and holding them apart. “I have spent almost aweek here barely able to use my voice!Youdon’t even react to it!”
Tristan’s eyes caught and reflected the moonlight, showing him where to direct his glare. Austin gazed down at him, the few inches of height he had on the merman meaning more to him than he could put into words.
“You could very easily make me react to it,” Tristan said calmly. “But you haven’t tried. Go ahead now, if you like.”
Austin tried to push off him, but Tristan didn’t let go. Austin snarled. “The last time I used mypowerwhile touching someone, they went totally mad.”
“Why lessen your power? Drive me mad,” Tristan invited.
Austin’s glare worsened, but Tristan’s aura was all challenge. His touch confident. Inviting. Austin could easily imagine him facing down a court of rival mermen, and winning.
“I’m not exaggerating,” Austin snapped.
“I believe you,” Tristan replied. And madly, Austin really thought he did.
Austin’s arms began to shake as if he were struggling to fend off a wild beast, despite Tristan not pushing against his hands. Austin blinked back tears again, these ones born of fury and fear. Here was another shackle: Austin couldn’t bring himself to call upon that power. Not while they were touching, not when it could leave someone so warped they were another person entirely.
Tristan’s head tilted to the side, and the merman softened. “Idofeel your power when you wield it. It is…” He paused, considering. “A punishment and pleasure wrapped together, itching under my skin like a painful, exhilarating drug.”
Austin hadn’t spoken to people about what his voice felt like to them. He could read flinches and cringes well enough. Even with Gary, the teenager he’d caught by the wrist andbreathed an obsession into, the effect was not a pleasant one: he did notenjoyAustin.
“Liam said my disapproval makes him want to jump off a cliff,” Austin choked out.
“Your power is immense.”
“But—does that mean my voice doesn’t makeyouwant to—even when I’m angry?”
“It does not.”
