Rhys nodded. “I knew you were hiding something, but I couldn’t put my finger on it and then when I sensed our bonding…”
Mari chuckled as she reached up, dragging him over her body. “Ha, you knew you were in trouble.”
“Trouble wasn’t the word I’d use,” he laughed as she smacked loud kisses over his face. “Woman, behave before I smack your ass.”
“Ha! Now that’s something I’d like to see.” Triton chuckled.
“I don’t think so, fish man,” Mari said as she spotted him leaning against the door jamb.
“No respect, I simply get no respect anymore.”
“Oh, my poor Triton!” Moving her hand, she lifted him off the floor with her powers, bringing him to the side of the bed, she reached up and yanked him down. “I love you, you know that.” Spreading kisses all over his face, Mari chuckled as he tried fighting her off.
“Dragon spit, dragon spit, ewwww gross!” Triton complained as he backed up, grinning at Rhys as he sat back on the pillows. “I’ll leave her and her dragon saliva to you my friend.”
Mari stopped laughing. “Why what’s up, where are you off to, what happened?”
“Dad summoned me this morning, there’s a meeting with the aunts and uncles about the darkness. They want an update on what’s happening and then will decide if they’ll come to help or not.”
“Triton.”
“I know, Mari. If I can’t convince them it’s time to fight, we may be going at this alone.”
Mari knelt, clutching the covers around her body. “Well screw them then! If they don’t want to fight with me this time, they can go to Hades when they want my help. I won’t come running when the darkness goes after them.” Huffing she met his gaze. “Well, you know…if I’m still alive.”
“Of course you’ll be alive,” Rhys growled as he yanked her onto his lap. “Don’t you ever think otherwise, do you hear me?”
Mari smiled softly as she cupped his cheek with her hand, “Yes, love, I hear you. Now tell me, my color hasn’t faded with my age has it?”
“Color?”
Triton chuckled as he sat on the corner of the bed. “No you’re still as vibrant red and beautiful as ever.”
“And my tail?” Mari smiled.
“It still shades wonderfully from red to blue, although, it looked like the very tips are now a royal blue color instead of a midnight blue, but still gorgeous darling. Oh and a nice roar that says, ‘hey I’m back and I’m going to kick some ass’.”
Mari shrugged. “What can I say, I’m territorial, and someone is trying to invade on my territory.” Snuggling up to Rhys, she smiled when his arms went around her waist.
“It makes my heart burst with joy to see you happy, Mariwen.”
Mari smiled softly as Triton’s fingers caressed her cheek before he leaned in to kiss her other one.
“You know I will be here for you, my sister, whenever you need it. I must go now, but I will be back. Take care of her well, Rhys Beven.”
“Be safe my brother,” Mari whispered as he rose and headed for the door.
“I didn’t think you two were family,” Rhys asked.
“Not by blood,” Mari replied as she tilted her head to meet his gaze, smiling as his lips lowered to hers gently. “I need to go to my sanctuary today to gather a few items; would you like to go with me?”
“I’d love to.”
* * * *
“How in the hell am I supposed to get up there?” Rhys asked as he turned to Mari.
Mari chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hold on to me, I’m casting a cloak over us so no one can see what we’re doing. Are you ready?” When he nodded, Mari breathed deeply, smiling when his eyes widened as she shifted enough to change her eyes and expand her wings.
“You can fly.”
“I can fly.” She smiled as her wings swooped once, lifting them up. With her enhanced strength she could easily keep a hold of him and flew up the rocky face to the ledge that looked like nothing more than a small crevice, and landed. Once Mari had them firmly on the ground, she kept a hold of his hand when he went to step back. “Don’t let go until we’re inside. I have a cloak surrounding my sanctuary at all times.”
“Didn’t the Kelpie come ashore near here?”
“Yes, that’s why I called Triton in that day,” she said as they walked through the barrier into her cave. “I knew it wasn’t a coincidence.”
“Holy shit!” Rhys exclaimed as he looked around at the opulence.
Mari chuckled as she released his hand. “What? Did you think I’d leave it a dank, dark, wet cave?”