Hidden Depths Read online

  Kyle gathered Finn into his arms as Jake scrambled into the bedside cabinet for the lotion to soothe the burn of Finn’s tender arse.

  “Feeling better now?” Kyle asked as Finn recovered.

  Finn nodded.

  “Good, because if you don’t tell us what you need, when you need it, you’ll be getting another spanking, but I’ll make you wear a cock ring while you’re having it.”

  Jake knew Kyle’s threat was an idle one. While they had quite a stash of toys in the chest, none of them owned a cock ring or anything of that sort.

  Finn scooted over to Jake’s side and gave him a mock pitiful glance.

  “Don’t look at me for sympathy,” Jake scolded. “Kyle is right. I thought we were long past a time when we couldn’t discuss our needs.”

  Finn hung his head. “I’m sorry.”

  “Why did you feel you couldn’t talk to us?” Kyle asked.

  “I guess I was embarrassed.”

  “I thought we already went through this the first solstice we spent together,” Jake said.

  “No one can control what their mating trigger is,” Finn said. “On the solstice, I can only break my fever when someone spanks me. I had to say something or else continue to go through the pain of going without release. The rest of the time, I can still find release, so I kept quiet, rather than feel like less of a man than I already do.”

  “Less of a…?” Jake shook his head and pulled Finn into his arms. “Neither me nor Kyle would ever think that of you. I thought you knew us better than that.”

  Kyle nodded his agreement until he realized Finn wasn’t looking at him. “Jake’s right. I love you, Finn, but sometimes you can be a bit of an idiot.”

  Finn clung to Jake, who gave him another squeeze of assurance.

  “Next time you want something from us, tell us,” Jake said. “Now, I think we should probably get out of bed since, in case you’ve both forgotten, we have guests.”

  “What about the other issue?” Finn asked.

  “What other issue?” Kyle questioned.

  Finn gestured to Jake. “How did Jake hear my private thoughts?”

  Jake shivered. How did I forget such a crucial point? He wasn’t hearing either of his lovers’ thoughts right now, but he had a feeling this wasn’t a one-off occasion.

  * * * *

  Despite Jake’s insistence that they couldn’t leave their guests to fend for themselves, it was still some time before the three of them made their way downstairs.

  Finn had pointed out to the others that he was the only one who had come, which had led to him sucking his lovers off one by one in the shower.

  Finally, they arrived in the kitchen, eagerly tracking down breakfast.

  Finn stared at the door, wondering how long it would be before Delwyn joined them. He hadn’t seen his oldest friend in more than two years and was eager to catch up on his news. Delwyn had arrived the previous evening and had met Jake on his arrival. Unfortunately for Finn, Jake had insisted on letting Delwyn and his lover, Fabian, have all the time alone they needed.

  “Stop staring at the door,” Jake teased. “I’m not letting you disturb them.”

  Kyle chuckled. “I’m going to go check on Marin. I’ll see if he wants anything to eat.”

  “Take him something,” Jake said. “He’s barely eaten a thing since he arrived.”

  Finn didn’t blame the merman for his lack of appetite. Marin had been brought to them from Atlantis by Caspian, the Atlantean God of Justice. He had barely spoken a word since his arrival. The kind, friendly merman had lost his lover during the battle raging in the sunken city, and the only thing driving him now was the need to return and avenge Calder.

  Calder had been the leader of the city guards and he had died saving Marin and other unarmed mermen from the attack of the sea dragons.

  Marin, the worst recruit the guards had ever seen, had been training every waking minute since, perfecting his technique with both spears and tridents.

  He had blasted to smithereens at least half of the junk room contents and was the only merman in the house who seemed able to conjure sea-fire at will and with accuracy.

  “I’ll come with you,” Finn said as he crammed the last of his bacon into his mouth.

  They found Marin in the makeshift training room. Finn wondered what time he had gotten up or whether he had slept at all. From the dark shadows under his eyes, he suspected not.

  “Breakfast?” Kyle said. “We’ve brought you what Jake calls a proper English breakfast.”

  “I’m not hungry,” Marin replied. He blasted a burn into the back of a broken chair before swiftly turning around to aim a thrust at a damaged table.

  “If you plan on returning to the sunken city, I’d suggest eating something first,” Kyle said. “You’ll need your strength for the swim.”

  “I don’t intend to swim back,” Marin said. “Caspian brought me here, and he can damn well take me back again.”

  Finn picked up a spare trident and the tip glowed blue. He quickly put it aside.

  “I don’t think Caspian will agree to take you back,” Kyle said. “He was pretty adamant that we keep you here on land.”

  “I don’t care,” Marin snapped. “I’m going back, and if he won’t help me, I’ll find someone else who will.”

  “Medina might help,” Finn said.

  “Would she?” Kyle asked.

  “Maybe. Marin has lost his love and wants to avenge him. She would understand his loss. Maybe we should ask her next time she comes to visit Jake. In the meantime, we can help Marin practice and build up his strength.”

  Finn pointed to the plate of food Kyle still held.

  Marin put aside the trident and took the plate. He picked at a fried tomato. “Human food is strange.”

  “You get used to it,” Finn said. “Some of it is great, though I don’t get why Jake cooks tomatoes either. Try the bacon instead.”

  Marin ate a bite and nearly managed a smile of pleasure.

  “What’s it like living on land?” Marin asked in between bites.

  “I love it,” Finn said. “But anything is better than being held prisoner in the sunken city.”

  “I sometimes miss the ocean,” Kyle admitted. “And I miss my family. I don’t like to think of my sister and niece being in danger so far away, when I’m not there to protect them.”

  Finn rubbed Kyle’s arm. “I’m sure Lynna is fine.”

  “I hope so. I want Delwyn and Fabian to emerge from their room so I can ask Delwyn if he can check on her.”

  Delwyn was an Oracle of the Past, bound to Cari, the Goddess of Prophecy. He had the ability to see anything that had already happened and was the only one in the house who could assure Kyle his family was safe.

  “Delwyn and Fabian are already awake,” Marin said. “I saw them heading into the pool room earlier. They’re probably still there.”

  Kyle and Finn exchanged a quick glance. Finn didn’t want to leave Marin alone, but they were both eager to see Delwyn.

  Marin seemed to sense their hesitation. “I don’t need a bodyguard,” he said.

  “We’ll be back to check on you later,” Finn assured him.

  Grabbing Kyle’s hand, Finn pulled him from the room and back down the stairs toward the indoor pool.

  Delwyn was in his mer form in the middle of the pool. Finn watched as he splashed water at Fabian, his human lover. Something was wrong with that picture, and he tried to put his finger on what.

  “I thought the Oracles were blind when they were in their mer form?” Kyle whispered into Finn’s ear.

  “They are,” Finn confirmed. Kyle had pinpointed what was bothering Finn with perfect accuracy.

  “Finn!” Delwyn waved from the water and swam swiftly to the edge of the pool. Fabian followed behind him at a much slower pace. No human could ever hope to keep up with one of the mer when it came to moving through the water.

  Finn ran to the poolside and knelt so he could wrap his arms around
Delwyn’s back. “I’ve missed you so much. How are you? How is it you can see?”

  Delwyn laughed. “I renounced the Goddess of Prophecy, which means I’m a plain old boring merman now.”

  “Never boring,” Fabian said as he finally caught up with his lover.

  Delwyn flashed Fabian a grin while at the same time yanking Finn into the pool.

  Finn was glad he didn’t bother with clothes around the house, unless they had human guests, because whatever he’d have been wearing would have been ripped to pieces the moment he transformed into his half-fish form.

  “You always were too slow,” Delwyn teased.

  “Not that slow,” Finn replied as he ducked Delwyn under the water.

  Delwyn wrestled himself free and they chased each other around the pool. Finn couldn’t recall ever being happier. Now that Delwyn was here in England, he felt as though his family was finally complete. He knew Delwyn must have left his parents back in Atlantis, but Finn hoped they might join him here soon.

  He glanced at Kyle, who sat on the edge of the pool. Of course, there were some who insisted on staying in the sanctuary, even if it meant splitting families in two. Lynna, Kyle’s younger sister, had chosen to stay in the sunken city.

  “Delwyn,” Finn began, “I know you’re not an Oracle anymore, but do you know anything about Kyle’s family?”

  Delwyn swam over to Kyle. “As far as I know, there were minimal losses during the battle between Mariana and her sea dragons and the mer. I’m sorry. I don’t know about Lynna personally. I never met her, but I believe all the casualties were among the guards.”

  Kyle nodded. “I had hoped you might be able to check in on her, but I guess that’s out of the question.”

  “I’ll ask Medina to find out how your family is,” Fabian offered.

  “Jake was going to do the same thing,” Kyle said. “We’re hoping she’ll stop by for a visit soon.”

  “Why doesn’t he call her?” Fabian asked.

  “I think he doesn’t like to bother her. She can be a little temperamental.”

  Fabian chuckled. “She sure can. I’ll give her a call. There are advantages to being the nephew of a goddess.”

  Finn covered his ears as Fabian yelled—at the top of his lungs—for ‘Aunt Medi’.

  Loud as his call was, it seemed to be quite effective, too. Medina appeared and took a seat on the sun lounger.

  “Was that really necessary?” she asked as she sipped from a glass containing a strange purplish drink. “I’m not deaf.”

  “I thought you might be busy,” Fabian said as he climbed out of the pool.

  “If I were, it wouldn’t matter how loud you yelled. Now, what can I do for you?”

  “I hoped you might go check on Kyle’s family in Atlantis. He’s worried about his sister and niece.”

  Medina sighed dramatically. “I suppose you want me to bring them back here, too?”

  “Would you?” Kyle asked.

  “If they wish to come, then yes, but I won’t transport them here against their will.”

  Kyle nodded. “I understand, but if you can try to talk them into coming here, that’d be great.”

  Medina gave them all a bright smile, placed her glass on the table and vanished.

  Kyle, the only one not in the water, walked over to the table and picked up the glass. He sniffed the contents and gave it a dubious look. “I’ve never seen a drink this color before,” he commented.

  “Give it a try,” Fabian called.

  Finn could hear the mischief in Fabian’s voice, but he held his tongue until Kyle had taken a sip. “What is it?” he asked.

  “I can’t say for sure, but it looks like some of my aunt’s special brew.”

  “Which does what?” Finn asked.

  Fabian lowered his voice to reply. “For immortals like my aunt, it simply tastes pleasant. For humans, even half-humans like you guys… Let’s just say, it’s a good thing Kyle has two lovers, because one sip of that and he’ll be insatiable for the next few hours. I doubt one man would be able to keep him satisfied.”

  Finn laughed. “Like that’s any different to normal.”

  Kyle put down the glass and shrugged. “It tastes all right, nothing special.”

  Finn snickered into his hand.

  “What has you so amused?” Kyle asked.

  “Nothing.” Finn choked on his laughter while Delwyn and Fabian made no effort to hide their own mirth.

  Kyle, like Finn, chose to remain naked in the privacy of their home. As such, Finn could see the moment the drink began to take effect. Kyle’s cock, previously hanging between his legs following their earlier activities, rose in an instant.

  Finn gaped at his lover. He had never seen him get hard quite so quickly.

  Kyle glared at them. “You do realize she’ll be back any minute? What will she think when she sees me like this?”

  “She’ll probably offer to give you a hand with it,” Fabian suggested. “Though, if you take her up on that, give me a chance to get out of here first. I really don’t need to see my aunt like that.”

  “You’re not funny,” Kyle said. “Finn, stop laughing. Come here and help me get rid of this thing.”

  Finn guffawed as Kyle frantically tried to get himself off before the goddess returned.

  “Why don’t you jump in the pool and transform,” Finn suggested.

  Kyle gave him an annoyed frown. “That won’t help. I’ll still be aroused, but with no way to fix it.”

  A few minutes later, when Medina reappeared, Kyle was still trying to get his raging erection under control.

  Medina smirked at him and picked up her glass.

  Kyle hurriedly tried to cover his groin with his hands—not that he had any hope of managing such a feat.

  “Would you like another drink?” Medina asked, holding the glass out to him. “I should warn you that it’s quite addictive.”

  Finn and the others in the pool spluttered as Kyle appeared torn between taking the glass and continuing to hide his cock from the goddess.

  “A shy merman?” Medina said. “Such a rarity.”

  “Aunt Medi, stop teasing him,” Fabian called.

  Medina laughed. “You could have warned him what it would do. Now, about Kyle’s family…”

  “You’ve spoken to Lynna?” Kyle asked.

  “Yes, and her mate Xane. They are both quite well, as is your young niece.”

  Kyle gave up trying to hide his erection and sighed. “I take it they don’t want to come here?”

  “They’re settled in Atlantis and don’t wish to leave Xane’s family or the safety of the city.”

  “Is the city still safe?” Fabian asked. “Without the sea dragons hiding it from predators, both human and sea-life, Atlantis is visible to anyone or anything in those waters.”

  Medina nodded. “You’re quite right, and the pantheon is already discussing the implications of this.”

  “What do they intend to do about it?” Fabian asked.

  “None of us has the power to hide the entire city. Only dragons, those of the land and sea, have the power to become invisible and mask their surroundings to such an extent. Land dragons are now extinct and sea dragons are on the verge of the same.”

  “Are there other sea dragons besides those loyal to Mariana?” Delwyn asked.

  “A handful, but they’re wild and uncontrollable, except by the Goddess of Sea Creatures herself. I’m sorry, but Atlantis can no longer be hidden. It’s just a matter of time before humans discover its location.”

  “They’re already hunting way too close for my liking,” Jake said from the doorway. “I’ve been reading reports on the Internet and the deep-sea exploration vessels are heading directly for Atlantis. Without knowing the exact location, I can’t say for sure, but I’d say the city could be discovered within a few years.”

  “Years is foolishly optimistic, I’m afraid,” Medina agreed. “While the immortals don’t have modern technology to keep an eye on th
ings, we have other methods. The human science vessels are within five hundred miles of the city.”

  “Fuck!” Jake swore. “Will they find the city for sure?”

  Medina nodded. “Many of those who are drawn to the ocean carry Atlantean blood in their veins. Some are swimmers and surfers. Others are sailors and explorers. The call of Atlantis has always been strong in those who are descended from the original inhabitants of the city. As the rest of the gods wake, the lure of the city grows stronger. It’s silent but as seductive as the call of the sirens, and for as long as there are Atlantean descendants walking the earth, there will be those who seek Atlantis.”

  “Are there many Atlanteans?”

  “Yes. Those who were banished were scattered across the world, with no memories of their lives there. They married, had children, grandchildren and thrived in their new lives. They outnumber the mer by at least a thousand to one.”

  “Why is that?” Fabian asked. “The mer far outnumbered the Atlanteans before the humans were banished.”

  “Because the mer are a cursed race,” Medina explained. “But that’s a problem we cannot do anything about today, so let’s leave it at that and concentrate on the issues we can try to manage.”

  “What do you intend to do about those approaching the city?” Jake asked, though he wondered why the mer had been cursed. Kyle and Finn didn’t seem to be under any form of magic, not like poor Lucas and Justin had been when the latter had angered the goddess in front of him. Reminded of how they were hexed was enough for Jake to resolve not to bring up the subject of the curse again. The last thing he needed was to anger Medina.

  Medina paced the floor. “There’s nothing we can do while so many of the mer insist on staying in the city.”

  Finn swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out. “Are any of them intending to leave for safer waters?”

  Medina nodded. “A few have already been scared away by Mariana and the other rising immortals. Unfortunately, far more are staying in the city. You rarely left Atlantis except to come here. You don’t realize how much of the ocean has been contaminated by humans or is frequently explored by them. Places where the mer can safely hide are few and far between.”

  “Medina is right,” Kyle said. “My clan traveled extensively before we sought shelter in the sunken city. The oceans of the world may be vast, but for the mer, there are very few places we can still hide as well as thrive. I want my family here in England, where at least I know they’ll be safe.”