Triton's Destiny

Part Twenty-Eight

They watched the daylight fade together, Maki lounging with his tail in the water and Tristan wrapped around him from behind. Tristan's lantern gave the cave a dim, flickering glow that made the bare stone walls seem cozier. He'd brought a basket of snacks back with him to share, along with one of the blankets from the lighthouse. Now that their hunger had been satisfied and their bodies were tired, they were snuggled under the blanket in peaceful happiness, silently savoring each other's closeness.

Maki wanted this for longer than just one sunset. He wanted to be able to watch every sunset with Tristan. He wanted more evenings spent cuddling with his mate under a warm blanket. He'd gotten a taste of what a happy partnership and a promising future could be, and now he didn't want to let go of it. He still had no idea how he was going to hold onto it, but he had a pretty good idea of where to start.

"Tristan," he ventured in a soft voice, his emotion feeling very fragile in his chest. "I... There's something I need to tell you."

Tristan's arms tightened around Maki's middle and he pressed a kiss to his shoulder. "Of course, sweetheart. You can tell me anything."

Maki turned so he could look into Tristan's eyes. He hesitated a second, biting his lip. Then he drew a deep breath and took the leap of faith. "I love you."

The breath hitched in Tristan's throat and he closed his eyes, an unreadable expression crossing his face as his cheeks flushed.

Maki experienced a terrifying moment of uncertainty, a horrible second of overwhelming doubt where his heart raced in his chest and it felt like he couldn't catch his breath. Oh, gods. Had he been wrong? Had he seen more in Tristan's kindness and affection than actually existed? Had he just made a colossal fool of himself? He chewed relentlessly on his lip as the seconds stretched out between them.

Then Tristan finally responded. "Maki, I... I can't..."

Maki's heart practically stopped as despair slammed into him. No. It couldn't be this way. He couldn't be that wrong about this. "Tristan..." It was more breath than sound and if he hadn't uttered it himself, he never would have known anything came out of his mouth. He couldn't breathe through the tightness in his chest.

"I can't believe how happy those tiny little words make me."

Maki nearly collapsed to the floor under the weight of his crushing relief. He sagged against Tristan's body as a whimper fell from his mouth. "Oh, thank the gods..."

Taking Maki's hand, Tristan lifted it to his lips, smiling widely against his skin. "Maki Kirseren, I love you so much. You're so brave to have taken such a frightening step forward and I'm sorry I couldn't return it right away. I was so preoccupied with trying to figure out how to tell you first." He huffed a laugh. "When your words hit my brain, I kind of... overloaded with joy. Gods, baby... You make me so happy." He pulled Maki into a fierce hug. "I love you."

"I love you, Tristan." Maki captured Tristan's face in his hands and kissed him. Then kissed him again. And kissed him a third time, tears springing to his eyes as he laughed softly against Tristan's lips. "I love you."

Tristan's eyes were wet when Maki pulled away to look at him and he smiled, his breath hitching. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing it. Or saying it. I love you, Maki. Forever."

Maki's tears broke free and he buried his face in Tristan's shoulder, crying happily against his shirt as Tristan held him and pressed kisses to the top of his head. Maki thought he understood how his mate could be stunned by overwhelming joy, because he was going through the same thing. He was so ecstatic that he couldn't do anything but cry and hope his body was strong enough to contain the feelings trying to burst from him. It was a battle he was happy to lose because love that powerful deserved to be given its freedom. Maki and Tristan deserved this happiness. And Maki wasn't going to deny it, not for anything.