They reached yet another corridor, this one decorated as beautifully as the ones in the palace had been. Ornate doors marked the entrances to the rooms, carved with the symbol of their goddess. The stone moved aside, allowing them to pass, and Jaden marveled at the sight before him. Not even at their father's estate had he seen such luxury.
Something about it made Jaden uncomfortable. As much as he trusted Aurus, he didn't know what the other mer planned. More and more, he felt like an intruder, stealing from his twin and Aurus's private time.
As the mermaid left, the door closed behind her, leaving Jaden to look around in dismayed frustration. He figured out the suite had two rooms with a bathroom in between and instantly understood. Yet again, he'd have to accept watching from the sidelines and faking happiness for the sake of his sibling.
"I'm going to go next door," he said, carefully masking the hurt in his voice. "Let me know when it's time to go."
"Jaden…" Chrys tried. He looked conflicted, his gaze continuously moving from Aurus to Jaden. "Maybe we should talk."
Jaden just smiled. He refused to spoil this moment for his sibling. He knew how much Chrys loved Aurus and the other way around. The two were made for each other, and Jaden wouldn't stand in their way. "Later."
With a little wave, he left the room and rapidly swam through the bathing chamber into his own quarters. The large bed in the middle was, like most Atlantean resting spots, a huge shell with soft coral pillows. Jaden sat down, feeling awkward and alone in the huge shell. Would this be his life from now on? If so, Jaden didn't know if he wanted to live it.
Chapter Four
Chrys helplessly watched his twin shoot out of the room as if a kraken chased him. "We shouldn't let him go like that," he told Aurus.
Aurus sighed. "I know. I hate doing this to him. If you have any suggestions, I'm open to a change in plans."
Chrys wished he did indeed have an idea, but nothing occurred to him. His biggest fear had come to pass. Being with Aurus again would tear him away from Jaden.
Why did it have to be like that? Chrys's affection for his twin should be different from his love for Aurus. Why did he have such conflicting emotions? After all, brotherly love didn't have anything to do with lust and passion. Or did it?
The thoughts led his mind on a dangerous trail. He imagined his sibling finding a lover, perhaps in this very establishment, and it disturbed him greatly. Sure, Jaden deserved love, but… but what? Sweet Sea Mother, he hated this complicated situation.
He didn't understand anything anymore. How could he be so selfish and want to keep his twin all to himself? More importantly, why? They'd talked about finding tutors for so long. Even in the bandits' den, Chrys had acknowledged the reasons for Jaden's sorrow. In fact, only now, when faced with the obvious segregation, did he finally realize the extent of what he could lose.
Aurus's warm arms wrapped around him, anchoring him in a world that suddenly didn't make sense. "Shhh… it'll be fine. You'll see. We'll find a way."
Chrys would have protested, but one of Aurus's hands swept down over his back to the upper end of his tail, distracting him. The scales there didn't have the same sensitivity as the ones below, but still… this was Aurus. The slightest touch drove all hesitation out of Chrys.
His mind whirling with confusion and guilt, he let Aurus soothe him and take away the pain. Aurus's skilled touch swept away the ache, leaving behind the arousal and the love. It would be okay. Aurus would make it so.
Their lips met in a kiss that tasted like tears and uncertainty. The water around them turned lava-hot as Aurus coaxed Chrys's lips apart. Their tongues met, and Chrys melted against Aurus as the older mer took possession of his mouth. Chrys clung to his soon to be lover, pulling Aurus closer, aching to be one with the other man.
Chrys's tail rubbed against Aurus's legs, entwining their fins as their souls had long ago done. Their hearts beat as one and the kiss went on and on, branding Chrys inside out. But Chrys wanted more. He needed more. Tearing at the golden vest, he brutally pushed the material aside with his hands. Chrys moaned, feeling his oversensitized scales burning, yearning to reveal the treasure hidden beneath Aurus's clothing.
"Please," he cried against Aurus's lips. "More."
Aurus gave in to Chrys's plea. Almost instantly, Aurus's hands returned, resuming their shameless mapping of Chrys's scales. Chrys allowed himself to do some exploring of his own. At first hesitant, his fingers trailed down Aurus's shoulder, reveling in the feel of the hard muscle and hot skin under his touch. Aurus's kisses grew more passionate, a feat Chrys wouldn't have believed possible if not for the clear evidence to the contrary. Encouraged, he went farther down, reaching the soft curve of the other man's buttocks. The tight trousers would have to go, Chrys thought, and as soon as possible. Chrys needed to feel flesh, not fabric.
Aurus didn't do what Chrys had in mind. He pushed Chrys down on the bed, and Chrys fell upon the coral pillows, surprised. Aurus gave him a wicked grin and licked his lips. "Not to worry," he whispered. "I know what you need."
He lowered himself over Chrys, slowly pressing kisses down his abdomen until he reached the upper edge of Chrys's tail. Chrys forgot to breathe when Aurus's tongue came out to tease at the light blue scales. The touch of the older mer's hands had felt heavenly, but this… this felt so much better.
"Aurus," he whimpered. "What…?"
"Hush. Just lie down and enjoy," Aurus said.
Chrys obeyed, clutching at the soft covers to prevent himself from moving. Satisfied, Aurus returned to his task. He took it slow, licking each individual scale, driving Chrys wild in the process. By the time Aurus reached the lower end of the tail, Chrys trembled, desperate and wanting. He felt like he would burst, the emotions and sensations too much for his body to contain.
Aurus's finger teased at Chrys's hole, drawing a gasp out of the young mer. A light push and Chrys felt the digit slip inside, penetrating his opening. He tried to calm down, to let go like Aurus said, but it was easier said than done. He tried to prevent it, but a brief flashback of Jasper's attack flashed through his mind.
Chrys tensed and the light intrusion became uncomfortable. Aurus immediately sensed his distress. The digit left Chrys's channel and Aurus moved upward, covering Chrys's body with his own. He took Chrys in his arms once again and met his eyes, his golden gaze shining with strength and decision. "What is it? What's the matter?"
Ashamed of his own hesitation, Chrys didn't want Aurus to know about the unfortunate episode. After all, nothing had come of it. By rights, Chrys probably made a big deal out of nothing. "I'm fine," he replied. "You just startled me, that's all." Too bad he couldn't shake the creepy feeling.
A frown creased Aurus's beautiful features. "Don't lie. Don't ever lie. Whatever happened, you know you can trust me."
"I do… it's just not important."
"It obviously is if you're hiding it from me," Aurus replied. The gentle but stern tone made Chrys fidget and feel uncertain. He trusted Aurus, but he didn't know how the older mer would react when he found out what had happened. A small trickle of doubt lingered somewhere deep within him. Powerless, cursed with the mysterious inability to use his element, Chrys would go insane if Aurus rejected him because of Jasper.
"Chrys?" Aurus kept his voice low and soft. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me. Let's just rest here for a while, all right?"
Chrys gave him a silent nod, feeling awful about the entire thing. He'd obviously broken the mood and made Aurus uncomfortable through his distrust.
Perhaps it was fitting he wouldn't be able to consummate his bond with Aurus tonight. After all, he'd been uncomfortable with the idea before, and not because of Jasper. His concern for Jaden returned full force and he broke from Aurus's embrace.
"I'm going to check on Jaden," he said.
Chrys left the bed and swam to the adjoining bathroom. He knocked at his twin's door, hoping his coddling wouldn't bother Jaden too much. Jaden might be younger, but he hated being reminded of it. The moments when Jaden truly showed his fragility, though few and far between, made Chrys even more protective.
"Jaden? Brother?"
No response came from the other side. Chrys knocked a little louder, wondering if maybe his twin had fallen asleep or the door somehow muffled the sound of his voice. It wouldn't be uncommon, since Atlantean doors were made out of stone and moved through complex mechanisms.
But Chrys suspected Jaden's silence had nothing to do with any particularity of Atlantean industry. Unable to keep his fear in check, he entered the room only to find it empty.
His brother had disappeared.
* * * *
Aurus entered the quarters temporarily housing Jaden to find Chrys frozen in his tracks, staring at the empty room. What in the Sea Mother's name had happened?
"Chrys? Chrys?"
The young mer didn't answer. Other than the slight twitch of his tail, Chrys seemed completely still. Aurus gripped Chrys's shoulder and made a futile attempt to get the young mer's attention.
Aurus forced himself to think calmly. There had to be a reasonable explanation behind this. If anyone had come to take Jaden, they would have had to get past Aurus and Chrys. Most likely, the youth, embarrassed about the entire situation, had run off on his own, a very unwise course of action given the circumstances. Still, Chrys would know where Jaden might have gone, if anyone did. Therefore, Aurus needed to get Chrys out of his trance.
He turned Chrys toward him and squeezed his lover's arm harder than he would have liked. "Chrys, snap out of it. I need you to tell me where Jaden might have gone."
For a few seconds, Chrys blankly stared at him. Then he blinked, his eyes clearing up, no longer seeming so dazed. Instead, a crushed look of despair crossed his face and Aurus's heart clenched when big, fat blue tears flowed down Chrys's cheeks. The water around them swept the drops away as they fell.
"He left," Chrys murmured. "I just knew it. I knew this would happen."
Aurus had no idea what his lover meant. "Did you have a fight?" he asked softly. "Come on, Chrys, work with me. We have to find him." Every second that passed increased the danger for Jaden. For the first time, Aurus realized how much he truly cared about the younger twin.
Chrys pushed Aurus away and shook his head. For a moment, Aurus thought Chrys didn't know anything about Jaden's location. To his surprise, Chrys headed toward the door, "I know where he is," he said. His voice sounded strangely calm now, but also aloof, almost distant.
Aurus opened his mouth to ask, but Chrys didn't give him the chance. He rushed out of the room before Aurus could say anything. Cursing to himself, Aurus followed. He didn't dare risk losing both twins.
He caught up with Chrys easily enough but the mermaid hostess intercepted them. Even if they'd hardly used the suite, they still needed to pay for it. Aurus didn't argue, paying the woman for the service and her silence. Before they left the establishment, Aurus asked, "The other boy with me? Did you see him since we entered the suite?"
"I did, sir," the mermaid replied courteously. "He left just a few minutes ago."
"Was he alone?"
The woman nodded. "I would've stopped him, but I didn't want to interfere."
"That's all right," Aurus replied. "I'll find him. Thank you."
Aurus followed Chrys out of the brothel. He only hoped Chrys did indeed know where to look for his twin.
* * * *
Jaden wrapped himself tighter in the cloak, berating himself for his foolishness. He shouldn't have left the brothel, he knew that now. But he'd been so ashamed of himself, so scared he would be discovered and his secret would come out.
He hadn't lasted long in the room on his own. The first gasp that reached his ears crumbled his resolve, and he'd needed to go see with his own eyes what caused it.
He regretted it now. The sight of Aurus making love to Chrys would be forever branded in his mind. He wished he could say he felt disgusted. Instead, envy filled him, not just over Aurus but his sibling as well.
Because Jaden now realized he wanted Aurus, too. As if lusting for his own twin wasn't enough… when had things gone so wrong? Why did he have to desire such sinful things? He couldn't live like this any longer, especially now, when Aurus had taken Chrys as his lover. It hurt too much.
The thought prompted Jaden to run away, much like a few weeks back. It had seemed like the right thing to do, but now, he realized it had been stupid.
Unfortunately, unlike then, Jaden didn't think he could return. He'd been so lost in his thoughts he'd completely messed up. He couldn't remember where he'd come from and, as he advanced, he dug himself deeper and deeper. If the brothel had been shady, this area of the capital seemed even worse. Jaden felt like he would be attacked by the Sea Mother knew how many bandits at any moment now.
By a miracle, Jaden spotted the dome in the distance. The dome marked the exit out of Atlantis and could be seen only when very close to it. Someone—or something—had guided him this way, taking him to the gate closest to the Forbidden Zone.
He managed to dodge the guards at the city exit easily enough, and breathed a sigh of relief when he was out. The water around Atlantis welcomed him. And besides, Chrys would know where to find him if he went to the Forbidden Zone.
How odd that such a dark place had become a sanctuary for him. He couldn't explain it, but something wanted him there, needed him, just like he needed love and warmth. He'd stopped questioning it long ago, and felt grateful he had a place to run to when things got bad.
Unfortunately, in his excitement, Jaden forgot one thing. The path toward the Forbidden Zone took him dangerously close to the bandits' hideout. Jasper had told them they were on their own to get out of the city, but that didn't mean they'd been freed.
Jasper came out from behind a large coral, followed by Dialy and a number of other mer. Jaden froze in his tracks, fear surging inside him.