Poseidon glanced at his watch as he followed Ry to the front entrance of the Boosilis castle. "I am on a bit of a tight schedule today, so if you'd like to spend the night I can come get you first thing in the morning and teleport you over to your brother." When Ry was about to protest, he added. "You could drive it, but it will take an extra day to get there."
Ry gritted his teeth. "Then I'll leave later tonight instead of in the morning."
Poseidon arched a brow. "I just assumed you'd want to spend more time-"
"No… an hour or so will be long enough…" His stoic expression slipped momentarily as he added. "I… wouldn't want to impose on the newlyweds…"
The raw emotion he tried so hard to mask piqued Artemis's curiosity. Jos had mentioned a strong attachment between Ry and the new alpha… but could he really… Her thoughts were cut off as the front doors were opened and they were announced. The young king appeared almost instantly at the top of the third-floor stairs but remained frozen in stunned disbelief. Her eyes shifted to Ry. What had happened between the two of them…
Ry's heart beat out of his chest as he stared up at Russ. His usually wild, long blonde hair was neatly tied back. His usually loose, messy clothes had been replaced with a form-fitting black dress shirt under an open vest and matching suit pants. Before he realized his feet had begun moving he was already halfway up the third-floor stairs. He slowed to an awkward pause and ran his hand through his own messy hair. "Are you going to make me come all the way to you… or could you at least meet me this far away?" He muttered in a low, husky voice that only Russ would be able to hear. When Russ seemed to remain frozen in place he averted his gaze to the hand that now gripped the railing. "I see… all the way it is-pshaaaa!" The breath was knocked from his lungs as Russ's large frame crashed into him in a tight hug. He caught himself against the rails as he winced against the pain of his side with one arm as the other encircled Russ's wide shoulders. Tears burned his eyes as he buried his face into the fragrant blonde strands. "I missed you…" He whispered against Russ's head as he released the rail and tightened his hold on him.
Russ pulled away but didn't release Ry's arms. "It's really you… You're here…"
Ry chuckled as he gestured to his slim body. "Well, at least most of me is back…"
Russ gasped and took a step back. "You're bleeding." His eyes shot from the widening stain on Ry's crisp white shirt to his turbulent eyes. "How are you in this bad of shape, you're a god… or whatever… you can heal… I don't understand." His hand instinctively moved to a gash that was nearly healed over Ry's right eye. "I'll call for the palace physician immediately." He stepped over to the railing and began to call for one of the servants.
Ry blew out a sigh as he caught Russ's arm. "It's fine. I can get sewed back up later. How are you… how have things been? Can… can we talk for a little while?"
"Yeah, sure…" His eyes traveled to the ground floor. "What about them?"
Ry brushed them off. "Dad's leaving anyway, and I'm sure Artie is familiar enough with the palace that she can see to her own needs." His gaze moved down to her. "I'm sure she could use a good soak, a hot meal, and some rest…"
One of the servants nodded at his words and signaled for Artemis to follow him.
"If that will be all then, I'll see myself out," Poseidon announced, but paused as Artemis's hand caught his arm. His questioning gaze moved to her.
"Why does it feel like we just witnessed a private moment between reunited lovers? Our own reunion was not quite so… intimate…" She whispered.
Poseidon's gaze moved to the departing backs on the staircase above them. "Many things have changed since you were last intimate with Ry… His heart has mended from the pain you inflicted and has moved on." A frown curved his lips. "Though at times I wish he hadn't… The path he has currently chosen has only led to pain as well."
Her gaze moved up to the empty stairs. "He… loves the boy that much?"
Poseidon nodded sadly. "He does… those reasons he refused to mention earlier… they were the pain of seeing the only other person besides you that he's ever loved get married to someone else." He shook his head. "All the pain and guilt built at once and drove him to do something so reckless." His eyes hardened as they shifted from the stairs to her. "I can only hope he will not be driven to the same darkness once again when you decide to walk out of his life a second time."
Artemis wrapped her arms around herself as she averted her gaze. "How did you know?"
His frown deepened. "I know you… as does he… Don't ask him for more now than you are willing to reciprocate later. I will not sit back idly a second time as you destroy my son."
Russ's eyes continued to return to the angry stain that had spread across the side of Ry's shirt. "Are you sure you don't want me to call the doctor first? We can talk after… hell, we can talk during even."
Ry chuckled. "No, it will be fine… the bleeding has already stopped. I don't think the stitch was broken or anything…" His warm gaze moved over Russ as he propped up against the window seat of the library. "So… how are things here? Are the guards working out?"
Russ nodded. "The training you gave them left little to be desired. They all continue with the same regiment you implemented."
The corner of Ry's lips curved upward in amusement. "Listen to you using big words. Have you been studying a thesaurus?"
Russ averted his gaze in embarrassment as he shrugged. "No one wants an ignorant leader… isn't that what you told me?"
Ry laughed as he followed Russ's gaze to the grand piano in the center of the room. "It was… So… does that mean you have also taken up learning these instruments as well?" He didn't wait for Russ's answer as he walked over and poked out a simple, yet lovely melody. Russ's gasp of disbelief caused a smirk to curve his lips.
"I take that as a no then…" He sat carefully on the antique bench and let his fingers glide methodically across the keys. Beautiful notes rang out throughout the room. He put all his heart into playing the melody knowing well that Russ would never recognize the song and thus never know the lyrics that accompanied it. The melody slowed to a sad lament before finally reaching completion. Ry blew out a long, satisfied sigh. "Once you learn, it's a lot like riding a bike. You can never quite forget how…" His gaze moved from the keys to Russ as he leaned back. "Perhaps I could teach you some time if you ever did want to learn."
Russ nodded still in awe. "I'd like that. I've heard that my mom and dad both were amazing players, and they both loved it." A sad longing filled his eyes. "Sometimes when I look at it, I can almost hear a song playing that I've all but forgotten… I'm sure they used to play for Shell and me often." He shook his head sadly. "I just can't remember it…"
Ry forced a smile as he pushed up from the bench. "I'll play for you anytime you'd like. All you have to do is ask. You should know that by now."
Russ frowned. "Ry… I have missed you… and maybe that's why I've thrown caution to the wind thus far, but things haven't changed… my… feelings where you are involved have not changed. You are like a big brother, a mentor to me… nothing more… I can never love you the way you love me."
Ry had the good grace to be embarrassed. He ran his hand through his messy hair. "I know… believe me, I know…" He met Russ's troubled gaze. "However, it doesn't change a thing for me. I will always love you, and I will always go out of my way to do what is best for you. If you believe that is to leave once again, then I shall. Just say the words."
Russ quickly shook his head. "I know it's selfish of me, but I don't want to lose you again. I… I have grown… attached to you in a way I never expected… Not in love… but still a form of love I suppose… Like the older brother I never had or something…" He stumbled over his words awkwardly, not wanting to bolster Ry's feelings but not wanting him to leave thinking he was indifferent either. "I love you like I do Shelly and Raven…"
A rough laugh escaped Ry's throat as he commented. "But not like you love Jos? Is that it?"
Russ blushed as he averted his gaze and nodded. "Not like I did Jos… Never like I do Jaden…" His timid gaze met Ry's. "I could never be with you in that way. As long as you're ok with that and don't try… stuff… again… we're cool… I'd like to keep you around as much as possible."
Ry smiled sadly at him as he closed the distance between the bench and the window seat Russ still leaned against. He cupped Russ's cheek and leaned down to whisper. "And what if I couldn't promise that? Would you ask me to leave and not return then?"
Russ gently brushed away his hand and pushed him away carefully as he stood. "I know what you're doing. It's no different than sacrificing yourself to that damn island. You're wanting to force my hand… make me banish you… but I won't… He stood toe to toe with Ry and stared directly in his eyes. "I know that you will not do anything else that would cause me so much discomfort again regardless of how out of hand your feelings became."
Ry studied him silently for a moment before replying coldly. "How could you ever be so sure?" His hand darted out and gripped the back of Russ's neck. Just as his lips were about to fall onto Russ's, Russ's hand shot up to block him.
"Because you love me too much to truly hurt me…"
Ry narrowed his eyes as he clasped Russ's hand to his lips and placed a kiss into his open palm, instead. "Smart cookie… Toward the end of my captivity, the only thing I could think was 'I'll never see his handsome face again or get a chance to laugh at his stupid replies.' You're right, I'd rather end my own life than cause you undue pain." He stepped away and bowed over Russ's hand this time placing a kiss on the back of his hand. "I pledge my loyalty to you, King Russell Alessandro Boosilis in any capacity that you shall ever need me until your dying breath." Ry straightened and sent Russ a devilish smile. "I do not bind myself to others… well, ever… But for you… I believe I shall find it more pleasant than restrictive." He released his hold on Russ's hand and stepped away farther. "I must go pack and get ready to leave, but I'll return as soon as this business Jos and Arei are currently working on is over."
Russ nodded, still stunned into silence. He watched as Ry's now slender frame made its way from the room. "What was that just now…" He muttered to himself.
***
Arei cursed as they searched yet another empty port locker. He turned his rage on Russo as he clasped the man's collar and shoved him into the cold, tin wall. "If I find out this is all some kind of set up I promise you I'll put you and your entire clan through so much hell you'll pray for death in the end!"
Russo shuttered uncontrollably as a second set of angry eyes locked on him. "I… I…" He whimpered as he felt hot liquid course down his leg for a second time when faced with this man's rage. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, wishing he'd turned down the mission from the start.
Chery snarled up her nose. "This coward has already pissed himself… Surely that's a confession of guilt."
Russo quickly shook his head. "It is not! I swear it! Don't kill me! I have a family that depends on me."
Chery raked a long, sharp nail across his cheek drawing a faint line of blood. "Does your family know what a coward you are? Perhaps if they did, they'd thank us for putting you down."
"Look at this, a man skips out on a few jobs and suddenly he's replaced and stuck missing out on all the family fun!"
Arei instantly released his hold on Russo as he and Chery both whipped around to greet the familiar voice. Arei ran to his brother throwing his arms around him and lifting him off the ground as he did. "How the fuck have you been! Damn man, we were worried we'd have to tear that island apart ourselves before long!"
Ry gasped against the pain in his side. "Too tight!!! Too tight!" He huffed as Arei finally set him on his feet. He could feel the blood oozing from his wound. "Damn… not again…" He glared back at his brother. "You owe me a new shirt… and make it red this time…"
Arei arched a brow. "Red?"
"Yeah…" He turned as he lifted his arm. "So that the blood will be less obvious…" His eyes shifted to the Vampire that had collapsed against the wet floor. "Perhaps while you're at it, you could get him some yellow pants…"
Arei glared down at Russo. "I'll make them red too if I find out this bastard has been playing us." He turned and clasped Ry on the shoulder. "Hopefully with you here now, this will go much faster."
Ry nodded. "Yes, of course…" He looked around the small warehouse. "Where's Jos? Dad said she was with you."
Arei frowned. "Ah, she wasn't feeling well, so she and April stayed behind today."
Ry's voice fell flat. "Lack of sleep no doubt."
Arei nodded as he ran his hand over the back of his neck. "Most likely. It's been a rather stressful endeavor."
Ry's eyes narrowed as he stared into the back of the warehouse. "I see… and you're alright with leaving her alone?"
Arei shrugged. "No, not entirely, but there was little option… and besides April is staying with her, so she's not completely alone."
Ry's wary eyes met Arei's. "We need to talk, brother."