As realization struck, they both stopped their shifting and stared at each other, uncertain what to do next. Vaar noticed the slight awkwardness and gestured for Aurus to take Chrys. "Why don't we go inside and talk there? You'll probably be more comfortable in the water."
Not to mention Jaden wouldn't be forced to change shapes and present his nudity to his twin. Unlike Aurus, he hadn't figured out how to preserve his clothing in between shifts. Vaar claimed it would all come in time, at least for Jaden. Apparently, dragons didn't bother with things like that.
"This is one of the lairs I kept for when I would find my fated mate," Vaar explained. "The land has belonged to my kind since ancient times, although black dragons were rare even back then. I'm not sure what happened to the rest of us."
"It's very beautiful," Chrys offered.
Vaar led them through the corridor and pointed out several chambers. "There is a sleeping area, as well as a chamber that serves as a kitchen of sorts. The bathing room is this way."
They entered the now familiar pool room and Vaar gently placed Jaden in the warm water. "Would you like anything to eat or drink?"
Jaden almost laughed at the sight of his reclusive lover playing host. He wished he could help Vaar, but he had no idea what to say. Now that they were together, Jaden quite honestly didn't know what to do. He'd been so happy about the reunion with his twin he'd practically forgotten the root of all his problems, his inappropriate affection for Chrys and Aurus.
Aurus placed Chrys in the water then turned toward Vaar. "Actually, I'd like to see your kitchen for a minute, if that's all right with you."
Jaden gaped at the older mer. He was even more surprised when Vaar agreed. "Certainly. Right this way." After throwing a comforting smile toward Jaden, Vaar led Aurus out of the pool room. Jaden and Chrys were now all alone.
"They left on purpose," Chrys said, "to give us time together."
Jaden gritted his teeth, annoyance warring with fear inside him. His twin would ask him what he'd been hiding all this time. Jaden didn't think he could wall himself up again. His magic had broken free, and the bond between the two of them had grown even stronger.
With a flash of insight, Jaden understood. He figured out why they'd been powerless in the first place, why their magic refused to manifest. It had been his fault, for pushing Chrys away, for shielding himself from the one mer who was basically the other half of him.
No longer able to contain his emotions, Jaden lunged for his twin and wrapped his arms around Chrys. "I'm so sorry. They rejected us because of me. And the saurion could have eaten you and Aurus because of my thoughtlessness. I'm sorry. So sorry."
Chrys gently caressed his hair, murmuring in his ear, "Stop talking nonsense. How could you possibly be to blame? Our power simply took time to appear, that's all. And you're not thoughtless. You couldn't have been expected to come after us when you were still overcome with accepting your emotions for Vaar."
Jaden tensed. So his twin had sensed his confusion. How much did Chrys know, exactly? Did he realize the reason for the rift between them? Jaden didn't think so. At the same time, he was somehow certain Chrys did indeed understand that Jaden had once set a barrier between them. After all, how could he not? The difference in the intensity of their connection was staggering.
He broke away from the embrace and met Chrys's blue eyes. "Chrys, listen to me. It really was my fault, and you know it. You realize it now, don't you? You can tell that I pushed you away."
Chrys winced, but nodded. "I don't care about what happened, about what everyone said about us. I just want to know why. We were so close. Why did you shut me out? Was it because of Aurus?"
Jaden saw a flash of doubt in his sibling's eyes. He didn't know if he should take the chance to explain. It meant risking their whole relationship, throwing away the one chance he had to keep seeing Chrys. A different time, Jaden would have shied away from it. But now, he couldn't lie. Chrys would see right through him.
"Because of him, and more," Jaden replied hesitantly. How could he explain what he felt for his twin without disgusting him?
"M-More?" Chrys's voice trembled and his nervousness made Jaden even more anxious. He had to say or do something now, before he lost every ounce of courage he'd mustered.
Jaden looked at his twin's face, so much like his own, yet ten times more beautiful. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. They were so close now and Jaden could smell Chrys's intoxicating scent, mingled with a tinge of Aurus and Vaar's. Sea, sun, and darkness, all mingled together.
His element whispered in his mind and Jaden realized no words would convey the emotions in his heart. He pulled Chrys close and pressed his mouth to his twin's.
Sensations and feelings exploded in Jaden's mind, a whirlpool of confusion, fear, and want. Jaden couldn't tell which were his and which belonged to Chrys. His twin tensed and Jaden began to pull away. His secret out now, he braced himself for the rejection that would follow.
To Jaden's shock, Chrys hauled him back. The other mer parted his lips and his tongue prodded at Jaden's lips. What had begun as a chaste kiss turned into a frantic meeting of mouths and Jaden surrendered to the desire he'd suppressed for so long.
Their tails rubbed together, driving Jaden wild with lust. His twin seemed just as excited and their tongues tangled in a sweet battle for domination. Neither won, or maybe both did. It didn't matter. Jaden had just received the greatest prize of all, his brother's heart.
* * * *
Vaar stood in the hallway, silently watching the twins in the pool. He should have been jealous. Instead, arousal singed him, hot as hell. He wanted to touch his treasure, touch both young mer, take them in his arms and possess them. His aching cock demanded action.
But Jaden and Chrys needed to be alone, at least for a little while, and Vaar needed to deal with Aurus.
"Did you know about this?" Aurus asked darkly.
Vaar arched a brow. "I knew about Jaden's feelings, yes. Why? Does it bother you?"
"Maybe," Aurus replied. "I don't know."
Vaar mused over the mer's reply. There was something more there, he could feel it. If nothing else, Vaar could try and figure out. "Come on," he told Aurus. "Let's leave them alone for a bit."
He led Aurus toward his bedroom and laughed when the other man gave him an ugly look. Apparently, Aurus preferred to call the shots. "Give me a second. I still need to put something on."
The mer looked away, but not before Vaar noticed a blush staining Aurus's cheeks. Smirking, Vaar scanned through the room to find a pair of rough cloth pants. He rarely used clothing, and the few items that had survived the passage of time no longer qualified as appropriate wear. Vaar thanked the gods for even having those. Hard enough to keep his arousal in check, being naked in the presence of a very handsome mer did not help his resolve.
Once decent, he gestured Aurus toward the kitchen. He found a couple of apples and offered them to the mer. Together they sat on two rocky ledges that served as chairs. "Tell me," Vaar urged the mer.
Aurus bit down into the apple and glared. "Why should I?"
Vaar arched a brow at him. "Perhaps because I may be the only one who can understand?"
Fruit juice seeped down Aurus's chin, drawing Vaar's gaze. Vaar forced himself to focus on the matter at hand and not on how much his body needed release.
Thankfully, Aurus seemed to believe him. "The thing is, I've known both of them since we were kids. As we grew up, I started to feel attracted to Chrys. I loved Jaden, but like a brother. Or so I thought." He paused and bit down on the apple once again, gathering his thoughts. "When we met again, after years of being separated, things were so different. And then, you came along and took Jaden. I was crushed. I had no idea, until that moment, how much he meant to me. It's so odd, so confusing."
Vaar nodded in understanding. It was, indeed, very confusing. Vaar had only wished to find one person, one soul who could understand him, accept him, and complete him. Now, he felt this peculiar attraction for three people. Even with all the centuries he'd lived, he couldn't fathom it.
"I know what you mean," he offered. "Black dragons aren't affectionate by nature. Meeting Jaden was strange enough. I never thought I'd actually find my mate." Vaar stopped speaking, uncomfortable with how much he revealed. The words seemed to pour out of him, like a dam had been broken. "I knew you and Chrys were special as well, but you loved each other, while Jaden and I were all alone. I didn't realize how much I'd like for things to be different until Jaden told me you were in danger." Aurus looked shocked, and the embarrassment Vaar felt over saying such things became overrun by satisfaction.
"Oh…" the mer said.
"It's all right if you don't feel the same," Vaar hastened to add. "We just have to find a way to make Jaden and Chrys happy."
"They can't live without each other, I know that now," Aurus confirmed.
Vaar considered the situation, fighting to come up with a plan. He'd have very much liked to keep the three mer to himself, but that would be greedy, and he didn't think it would make the others happy.
A moan sounded from the direction of the pool area, effectively dissipating Vaar's good intentions. Aurus's groan echoed Vaar's every thought. "Oh, sweet Sea Mother. They aren't helping my resolve."
Vaar met the mer's eyes, silently asking him for permission and advice. He rarely questioned himself or relied on the wisdom of others. He'd lived for so long, and learned so much in his many years. But this time, he admitted Aurus knew the twins better. He couldn't take any chances with hurting the two mer.
Aurus got up and took a deep breath. "You really do care, don't you?" he asked, his golden gaze unreadable.
The sudden shift in conversation surprised Vaar, but he nodded. The mer made his way to him and seated himself on Vaar's lap. "What are you doing?" Vaar managed to ask, proud when his voice sounded calm.
"It's clear enough," Aurus whispered, "that all of us feel this weird bond. We should get to know each other a little better, don't you agree?"
Aurus's hand massaged Vaar's dick through the coarse material of the pants. Vaar cursed, bolts of lust shooting through him. They shouldn't do this, not until they'd straightened everything out. It would only add to the confusion. "Aurus…"
The mer prince nuzzled his neck, sending ripples of pleasure through Vaar. "It's the first time you ever said my name. I like how it sounds on your lips. Vaar…"
Vaar could no longer hold back. He was, to a certain extent, an animal, and therefore a creature of passions and instincts. Growling, he wrapped his arms around the mer and crushed his lips to Aurus's.
With Aurus, he didn't need to take it slow. He could tell his partner had sexual experience. While Jaden had been shy and uncertain, Aurus knew exactly what to do. Vaar didn't hesitate. He plundered the mer's mouth, relishing the addictive kiss of the prince.
His hands traveled over Aurus's muscled back, clutching the other man's buttocks and pulling him closer. Aurus moaned when Vaar's fingers rubbed against his crease. Vaar wanted to tear apart the material of Aurus's pants and bury himself inside the mer's hot body.
Aurus, however, had something else in mind. He tore their mouths apart and pressed hot kisses down Vaar's neck. Vaar threaded his hands in Aurus's golden hair, aching to pull those sweet lips back to his. Something kept him from doing so, however, and he allowed Aurus to take the lead.
The mer slid off Vaar's lap and knelt at his feet. He undid the clasp that held Vaar's breeches and started to lower them. Vaar eagerly helped him, wiggling a bit to free himself from the constraining material. Aurus tugged them off altogether, releasing Vaar's dick from its confines.
When Aurus's fist closed over his erection, Vaar groaned at the exquisite feeling. "Gods, yes, just like that."
The mer gave him an evil grin. "I'm only just beginning."
Aurus lowered his head to Vaar's shaft and lapped up the precum already gathering at the tip. Vaar almost swallowed his tongue at the sight of the prince of Atlantis pleasuring his cock. He could have come right then and there, it looked so incredible, but he held back. He wanted to feel Aurus's warmth surround him. He ached to fuck his lover's mouth and have Aurus swallow his spunk.
Clinging to his resolve proved quite difficult. Aurus teased him, licking and nipping, massaging his testicles in slow, sensuous motions. Vaar's control finally broke. "Enough," he snarled. "Suck me."
Aurus's eyes shone brightly, the fire of lust igniting them with an otherworldly flame. Without a word, he complied with Vaar's command. He took Vaar's cock all the way to the root, a considerable feat given the size of Vaar's erection. Even back when he'd lived with his kin, few had been able to swallow him whole.
All thought scrambled when the mer began to suck in earnest. Each motion made Vaar's pleasure soar even higher. Trusting Aurus could take it, Vaar began to thrust, fucking his lover's face. A moan signaled Aurus enjoyed and got off on Vaar's dominance, and very much loved sucking dick.
In that moment, a feeling niggled at the back of Vaar's mind. With difficulty, Vaar tore his gaze from Aurus and looked up. Chrys and Jaden stood in the doorway, gaping at them.
Vaar froze when he looked into Jaden's eyes. He didn't know what to say, how to explain. Arousal had basically short-circuited his brain and reason eluded him. He didn't want to apologize, because that, in itself, would be wrong. He felt a connection to Aurus. He refused to spit on the gift the mer prince gave him.
Jaden and Chrys took pity on him. They walked inside the room, naked, their hard cocks clearly illustrating how much the scene aroused them. "You don't mind if we join you, right?" Jaden said.
The words sounded confident, but Vaar heard a touch of hesitation regardless. The shadow of doubt vanished when Chrys wrapped his arm around his twin's naked waist and drew him closer. "It's not nice to play without us."