Page 54 of Keeper of All

Getting back up, Markov seemed to want to play, and Mao found his ears popping at the speed at which he surfaced water and landed in a sodden heap on the deck. His clothes plastered to his body. He sat up and swiped the hair out of his eyes, searching for Ekon, who appeared much more sedately over the side of the boat under his own power.

“Wasn’t that a blast!” he gushed, tugging off his wet T-shirt to reveal his toned chest. The pearl at the base of his throat looking as if attached to his skin, as did the chain when it neither moved.

“I’m not sure I’d call it that! It was an experience I wouldn’t like to repeat,” he replied, getting up and walking to Ekon, searching for any signs of harm.

Ekon’s laugh was loud and full of joy, a sound Mao loved. “Is the pearl stuck in your skin?” he asked when he wrapped his arms around Ekon’s wet waist.

“Not stuck, more positioned so that it feels like it’s part of me, yet the weight is separate from me.” His grin was all teeth. “I can feel the magic inside me now, and it's potent and very pleased with what we’ve done.”

“Potent, you say?” Mao’s grin matched Ekon’s. “Does that mean you’ve gotten all your energy back?”

“None of that until you’re off my boat!” Lou hollered from the above deck, only he was smiling.

“Yes, that can wait until after I’ve eaten. I’m starved.” Ekon shielded his eyes to look up at Lou. “Don’t suppose you have any food, do you? I’m not fussy.”

When I’ve fueled up, I’ll make good on my promise.

Are you forgetting we can hear you? Markov’s kraken cackled.

Mao turned, letting go of Ekon to point at Markov, who was dripping wet and wearing a devilish smirk. “Don’t blame me, blame my kraken.”

“He always says that to get out of trouble,” Cassius stated, laughing as he swung himself onto the deck and brought up their three girls.

“It works doesn’t it,” Markov said, winking at his mate.

“Did it work?” Riley asked shyly, clinging to Azim’s hand, Abigail holding the other, they hadn’t joined the party.

Ekon crouched in front of Riley, touching the pearl. “It did. All the lost souls are together and safe thanks to your dads and uncles.”

He reached out and ran the tip of a finger over the pearl. “No, they’re safe because you didn’t give up,” he replied with a wisdom only a child could have.

Mao choked back a sob, coughing instead, as he placed a hand on Ekon’s shoulder. “He’s right. You never gave up and I for one am grateful for that.”

Ekon rose and slipped into Mao’s embrace and nestled his face into his neck, his lips brushing his pulse. A spark of magic leapt between them and settled in Mao’s heart. “So am I. So am I,” Ekon murmured. My life only began when you came into it. Now we will have time for all the adventures together.

Just no more sea ones, okay?

What about flying dragon ones? he replied, laughing hard enough his body shook.

Behave, Mao snorted. Food, then you make good on your promise.

That I can do for all eternity.

Mao liked the sound of that—a lot.

Epilogue

Mao

Twelve weeks later…

Wandering down to the beach, Mao let out a happy sigh as he plopped his butt on the warm sand, watching the sun slowly descend toward the horizon. The sea was a brilliant blue. The air was clear. There were no sounds around except birds, the light breeze through the trees, and the faint strains of whatever music Ekon was listening to back at the house. For the moment, there was peace, and Mao just wanted to breathe it all in.

After the big “revelation”, which was how Mao was thinking about the whole boat trip and kraken magic incident, the krakens had suggested that Ekon would benefit from at least being around the other krakens and their families for a while. It was understandable, given that Ekon carried the essence of the krakens’ mother, the other krakens wanted to get to know him, and his mate, better.

They were at the compound about three weeks or so, when Mao noticed a few times when Ekon’s smile was more forced than genuine, and he realized he was doing the same thing. It wasn’t easy living in a compound full of loud and often dominating personalities. And no, I’m not just thinking about you, Alexi, Mao thought with a grin, knowing the man was often prying to see they were all right. Mao and Ekon had been through so much since the moment they met, and sometimes a cat shifter just needed space to breathe and relax in the sun.

Mao did appreciate that when he and Ekon did get to have five minutes to themselves, they were able to talk—not about the eternal fae, the records, or even that Ekon carried kraken magic. They snatched moments between cute kids, Todd’s questions, Marvin’s “you’ve just got to see…” and Alexi’s suggestions, to talk about themselves as people.