Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

watchful expressions all screamed powerful guardians.
    Once the two men took up positions flanking the dock, another head broke the surface. Long, white hair gleamed in the morning light, rivulets of water trickled down a muscular chest, just adding to the majesty of the merman's regal bearing. Considering the man's obviously advanced age, Kyle decided that Damian's father looked damn good. He glanced at his husband out of the corner of his eye. Would Damian look like that someday?
    Damian caught him looking, and gave him an encouraging half-smile. When the merman reached the dock, he raised high in the water, showing off glittering silver and blue scales covering a powerful tail similar to a dolphin's. Between one second and the next, the tail split and formed two thickly-muscled legs, a soft-looking deep blue sarong surrounded his waist, and the man stepped onto the wooden planks and strode confidently toward them. The two guards followed.
    "Greetings, Father," Damian said, stepping forward.
    The two men stood staring at each other for all of two seconds before the older man grinned and wrapped Damian in a backslapping hug. "Well, met, my son," the older man replied. Then he glanced over at Darius. "And you, my youngest, are in so much trouble."
    He said the words, but the sparkle in the man's green eyes, so similar to Damian's, made Kyle wonder, as did Darius's huge grin as he replied, "Hello, Father."
    Finally, the man turned to Kyle. His gaze swept over Kyle's form slowly, as if assessing him, maybe deciding if he were worthy to be mated to his son. The old merman's face remained impassive, giving away none of his thoughts.
    Damian held out a hand, palm up, and Kyle took it. Kyle was grateful for the show of support when his husband slid his arm around Kyle's waist and pulled him against his side. "Father, this is Kyle LaRoche. He's my Adelfi Psychi ," Damian said, introducing them. He smiled at Kyle. "This is my father, Fabian."
    Kyle held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," he offered respectfully.
    "So, you've known my son for over three years," Fabian rumbled slowly, taking Kyle's hand and giving it a firm shake. "I'm surprised it took this long for us to be introduced." The older man gave Damian a disapproving look before turning back to Kyle. "Do you know why that is, human?"
    Kyle heard nothing derogatory in Fabian's tone, only curiosity and concern. Glancing toward his husband, Kyle discovered that Damian was blushing. He realized Fabian's disapproval stemmed from his husband's lapse in honesty with his mate, and he decided he needed to set Fabian's mind at ease that Kyle wasn't going to hold it against the man he loved. Smiling, he looked at Damian and stated dryly, "Because he's stubborn and a bit pigheaded, sir, but we're working on it. I'll have him whipped into shape in no time."
    Fabian's laughter rang out over the now still waters of the bayou as Damian's jaw dropped. "I'm going to like you, Kyle LaRoche. You will do well with my son," Fabian replied, still chuckling. He clapped his hands together and grinned. "Now, I'd like a cup of hot chocolate. I haven't had one of those in decades. Can you make me one?"
    "I'm certain we can accommodate you," Kyle replied with a grin. "Come on inside."
    Ten minutes later, Kyle handed a large mug of hot chocolate, complete with whipped topping, to the aging Nixie. The man smiled his thanks, grunting happily after taking a sip. Kyle settled on the couch at a right angle where Fabian sat on an easy chair, his two guards standing behind him.
    Fabian sighed, staring at them over the rim of his cup. Setting the still half-full mug on his knee, he said, "You found your Adelfi Psychi first. You are now eligible to receive my title, Damian."
    Kyle felt his husband tense, the hand clasped in his own tightening. Before Damian could reply, Fabian held up a hand for silence. Smiling slightly, Fabian stated, "I received a message from Drake this morning."
    "I suppose he's heard about my mate as well," Damian murmured. "I never intended to usurp him. I know how much he wanted to be your heir."
    Fabian shrugged. "It is the way of things, but that is not what his missive was about. Well, at least not completely," he added. At Damian's questioning look, Fabian smiled. "He does send his congratulations, but the real reason is that he has, also, found his Adelfi Psychi ."
    Both Damain and Darius let out loud whoops, clearly pleased for their older brother.
    "That's