I lowered my eyes to his lips, licking my own. He lowered his head, leaning to kiss me again when he flinched.
"Mother fucker," he swore under his breath, turning his head.
I gave him a confused look, following his gaze to see Elias chilling on the dock; his legs swung back forth with a wide grin on his face.
"Hey, Mako. You forgot your sunscreen at home. I thought I'd come and bring it to you," Elias called out; his grin only grew wider. He waved the unfamiliar tube in his hand.
"Sun...screen?" I blinked; my cheeks felt hot.
"He totally did that on purpose," Lexi mumbled, sounding utterly disappointed.
Marcus groaned; his eyes glowed a bright blue.
I watched the waves near the dock sway back and forth until one large wave formed and crashed into Elias. I tried to hold back the laughter that threatened to leave my throat; my shoulders began to shake as I watched Elias blink, spewing out a stream of water.
I lost it, laughing my head off at his drenched appearance; his gold locks stuck to his face.
"Marcus! Why did you...hehehehe...do that?" I asked, trying to calm the laughter assaulting me.
"Serves him right. Always interrupting me and shit," he mumbled.
"I'm not cooking for you tonight," Elias threatened.
"Stop interrupting me! Go get payback on Ryder or Daniel or just anyone but me," Marcus huffed, sitting up.
I lifted myself up, crossing my legs as I wrapped my arms around my stomach, trying to stop laughing.
"See what you did? You broke her," Elias pointed out as I continued my laughing fit.
"YOU contributed in breaking her! Why are you even here?" Marcus retorted.
He lifted the drenched sunscreen tube.
"Sunscreen," he argued. Marcus groaned as I fell to my side, laughing even harder.
"Ugh. C'mon, Firefly. Let's get you lathered up with fucking sunscreen. And stop laughing."
I side glanced at the dock; Elias asleep on a beach towel and Nightmare, who'd followed Elias, nestled next to him.
"Aren't they gonna get sunburned?" I asked.
"He's fine. The sun loves him. Elias falls asleep all the time back at Knightwood in the woods. It does wonders for his skin," Marcus confessed; his arm tightened around my waist, snuggling me closer to him.
I grinned, enjoying the soft swaying motion of the unicorn float as I relaxed in the arms of my dragon shifter. "Marcus?"
"Yes, Makoto?" he replied; both of us stared at the sky – clouds of various shapes drifted by.
"Remember how you were introducing yourself to Scarlet and the others," I reminded.
"Yes."
"You said you were the running heir of Distala. But Ryder told me you're the only child." I'd been wanting to confront him about it, but had never gotten alone time with him till now. I didn't want to miss the opportunity to ask.
"I technically am. But to answer your question I have a sister," he revealed.
"A sister? And technically?" I tried to figure out what he meant, but it only left me even more confused.
He looked down at me as I lifted my head to stare into his sapphire eyes that sparkled in the glorious sun's rays. "My sister's name is Luna, and she's adopted. It's a long story, but I wasn't in my parent's care when I was younger,” he began.
I raised my eyebrow at him.
He smirked. “We’ll talk about that another day. Now back to the story. They desperately asked the gods for one more child, but their prayers were never answered. One day, my parents were on their way home when they heard a baby's cries. It was raining really bad, and they were both afraid the baby was hurt so they followed the wails to an alleyway. There was a baby shifter wrapped in a blanket in a basket and covered with a few sheets of plastic paper to attempt to shield the poor babe from the onslaught of the storm," he explained.
I turned my body to rest on his; my elbows on his chest as I held my head, staring at him in wonder. He gave me a sad smirk before continuing.
"My parents ended up taking her in that night and asked the guards to do a search of the realm for her parents. They found out her mother had been hunted and murdered that night. Maybe she was trying to find food for the both of them, but no one knew for sure. The folks had stated her husband had volunteered his assistance to a man who'd give him and his family safe haven during hard times. Her father ended up killed by Aspen's rogues. Aspen was a strong magician and was able to create weaponry and infuse whatever magic you wanted into it. I guess when he found out what his agreement entailed and realized his wife and newborn child would remain on the streets and starve to death, he refused. They tortured him in attempt to submit, but he ended up killing himself," Marcus disclosed.
"How..." I trailed off, already imagining what had most likely happened.
Marcus nodded. "He initially agreed, made a sword infused with poison and stabbed himself," he whispered.
I gulped, turning away at the thought. I knew exactly how it felt to be in a position where you didn't see the point of living. Those were memories I locked deep inside me and prayed to the gods I'd never relive. That one year of my life was the worst out of all the years of torture and experiments. I'd rather re-live another fifteen years in the facility than endure that one year.
"Makoto," Midnight’s pained voice whispered; her heartache flooded my mind.
That was the year I had gotten to know Midnight more and probably why we had bonded rather quickly. My spirits were all I had then, and I guess if it wasn't for them taking control and making sure I'd eaten, I wouldn't be here enjoying my time with my knights.
I felt Marcus’ hand brush against my cheek, bringing me out of my dark thoughts.
"I said something that's bothering you," he whispered; his eyes filled with concern.
I gave him a small smile. "Let's just say I went through something...that made me want to end it all? And...just the mention of this father having to take his life to save thousands who would die from the weapons he created...knowing his family would die regardless of which path he chose...is heart-wrenching," I whispered.
Marcus sat up, pulling me into his arms. I relaxed against his chest, enjoying his touch as I buried the past down in the depths of myself.
"I know, Firefly. Trust me...I know. I'm glad you’re here in my arms," he whispered.
"Me too," I replied.
We stayed quiet for a few minutes, wanting to enjoy being in one another's arms and appreciating this new life we lived. I still didn't know everything that had happened in Marcus life, but my gut told me he understood me the most when it came to my life at the facility.
"What happened after?" I whispered.