Wild Magic Two: The Dark of the Sun- a M/M shifter fantasy romance

24- And I Jumped

*****Hello, loves. Thanks for sticking with me 😊😊 I sort of love Dasan in this chapter, so enjoy 😉 It's a little short, I know, but hey, it packs a punch... *****

CAIN—

The next month that went by was both the slowest and fastest I could ever remember. I spent it trying to avoid the pitying, frustrated looks of Dasan, Nibley, and Lhiam, as well as steering far clear of Lady Sera. That woman could read me like a book, and I couldn't handle her seeing how much it was tearing me inside to be away from my mate. To not know if he was safe. Happy. Warm. Fed. Cared for.

He better not be cared for, I thought with a growl. He's mine to care for, and no other's!

I refused to clean my sheets, or my pillows, because they still had the smell of Riece in their woven fabrics. The smell of his body, his sweat, his cum. It was fading, but I could still scent him if I concentrated.

After a few weeks, I had to hold myself back from sending Riece a letter, demanding he return.

You're mine! You said you'd win me over, earn my love and trust, and now you're gone! How dare you leave me alone like this!?

"Cain!" Dasan's voice cut through my mental haze, until I realized I was on the northern ramparts of the keep, staring towards the direction of Swyer Palace.

How long had I been there? I couldn't even remember coming up there, much less when or why.

Gods, what is wrong with me?

"This is bullshit, Cain," Dasan grumbled as he moved up beside me. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me, snarling in anger, to face him.

"What did we say, Dasan? What did we agree? Gentle, understanding, empathetic. We were not going to attack him," Nibley grumbled in annoyance from the steps up to the rampart, as if Dasan had left him behind in his hurry to get to me.

"He's acting like an asshole. He doesn't deserve empathy or understanding."

"I am not acting like an—"

"— How many times have you snapped and growled at River in just the last week, Cain?" Nibley cut in. "That boy worships you, stayed behind to train under you rather than returning home, and you act as if he's the dirt on your boot."

I rolled my eyes and stepped back. "He's an incompetent cub and needs a firm hand or—"

"—You selfish prick," Dasan shouted, shoving me back against the bulwark wall. I hissed, baring my teeth at his touch, but knowing I could hurt the bigger, older man if I lost control, I reined my temper back in. Shoving my aggressive instincts back forcefully. "That boy is the best archer I've ever seen. It's almost magical the way he shoots. So he's a little weak against a man who outweighs him by double— he's barely an adult! And don't even get me started on the fact that you call him cub and you're the same age. He needs time, and patience, and training, not censure and impatience!"

"None of this matters anyway," Nibley cut in, calm as usual. "This isn't the point, Dasan. Stop it. Calm down. Cain," Nibley said, turning to me as Dasan stepped back and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "For weeks now, you've been on edge. Ever since the Emperor left. You snap and growl at everyone. The other day, you yelled Edon to tears. Edon! That boy has had enough vitriol in his life, he needs no more. Especially from a man he considers his friend. I thought Lhiam was going to imprison you, and he would have if he were a lesser man. A lesser ruler. Instead, he sought us out. He's desperate, Cain, because your behavior is unacceptable."

"If you all wanted me to leave, you could have just come out and said it, Nibley."

Even to my ears, my voice was dead. Devoid of emotion. Completely and wholly apathetic. I stared up above Nibley's shoulder to the horizon beyond Swyer Palace.

"That is not what I said," Nibley said, dangerously softly. "You're family, Cain. You have to know that. But you can't take your frustration and pain out on everyone around you. It's not the way a family works."

"My pain? What are you even talking about?"

My heart pounded and my chest heaved. I felt as if I was on the edge of a huge chasm, and I could either jump and pray I made it to the bottom safely, or I could be a coward and pull back to safety. And misery.

Nibley rolled his eyes, but Dasan stepped forward, grabbed both of my arms, and bellowed directly into my face.

"You love him, you stupid boy! Go. Get. Him."

And that was it. After so many weeks. Months. Years. Of pain, fear, insecurity, uncertainty, apathy, loneliness.

All of that, and I had thrown away the chance to get rid of it all and replace it with the kind of love most could only dream about.

I didn't think for even one more second. I kissed Dasan's cheek, then Nibley's.

And I jumped.

*****Yes, River does get a book ;)*****