Chapter 291 - House Guests (2/2)

Ry arched a brow as he studied Russ. ”So, you're not still afraid of me after what I did to you the other day?”

Russ shrugged. ”I deserved it... It was a shitty lesson to learn, but after tonight, I definitely see what a prick I've been...”

Ry chuckled. ”Glad to hear you've seen the light... but... it wasn't all a joke... You understand that, right? I really do... care... about you...” He sent Russ a nervous glance as they neared the bedroom.

Russ nodded. ”Yeah, I get it... but I also realize that not everyone acts the way I did... thank the gods...” He searched Ry's troubled expression. ”I trust you, man.”

The corner of Ry's lips turned up in a teasing grin. ”You sure you're not a little bicurious and trying to seduce me?”

Russ let out a surprised laugh. ”Dude, if I were ever that curious, I'd just go shove a damn zucchini up my ȧss!” He slapped Ry's back playfully. ”I'll leave you and your endowments for the pros.”

”Ha, you're a mess!” Ry laughed as he followed Russ inside. ”You sure you don't want to build a pillow wall or something?”

”Dude just fuċk off and get in bed before I change my mind and make you sleep on the damn floor!” Russ kicked off his shoes and slid under the covers. The second the shifting from the other side of the bed ended, he asked. ”Do you think that was all the guards who worked directly for Fern?”

Ry let out a long sigh. ”I'm not sure kid... there could be more... Honestly I'd expect there to be. It's only smart to leave some behind to report back, and that bastard was a smart man... but I don't think they'll make a move anytime soon. They would be smart enough to realize outing themselves would be certain death or imprisonment...”

Russ nodded against the pillow. ”That's what I thought...”

”Get some sleep, kid. Anyone comes in I'll just big spoon them...”

Russ laughed. ”That would be enough to scare off most men...”

Ry snickered. ”See, you're safe. Now go to sleep.”

***

Beautiful singing hit Rin's ears the second he'd teleported into the bedroom. He scanned the room, first locating a sleeping Shelly then searching for the baby. A radiant green glow lit the corner as the beautiful redhead sang to his swaddled son.

”He woke up not too long ago, but Shelly was sleeping so, well, I didn't want to bother her. So we've just been over here sing, haven't we.” Charybdis said in a soft, sing-song voice. She pushed up from the rocker with the baby held tightly to her ċhėst. The light from her eyes lessened as she walked toward Rin.

Rin held his arms out for his sleeping baby. ”The song you were singing, it didn't...”

Chary chuckled, ”It was just a normal song, I ȧssure you. We, sea creatures, aren't always set on malice, you know.” She bent and stroked the back of her finger over the baby's soft cheek. ”Sometimes a song is just a song.”

Rin nodded; a look of skepticism still obvious in his expression as he walked toward the small cradle.

Chary tilted her head. ”You don't have to fear me. I'll not hurt Shelly or your son, Rin...”

Rin nodded. ”Yeah...”

Chary frowned. ”You don't seem very content in that answer.”

Rin shrugged. ”I guess I'm still working out a lot of what I've learned since coming back.”

She leaned against the window seat. ”Like?”

Rin held her bright green eyes. ”Like why you and your father seem so invested in Shelly and Russ's lives all of a sudden.”

Chary held her hands up with a laugh. ”I'm not invested at all in that angry boy's life, but...” her eyes moved to where Shelly slept on the bed, a smile curving her lips. ”What's not to like about her? She's such a strong woman... and beautiful. You're very lucky, you know.” She let out a wistful sigh. ”Be glad I'm happily married, or I might have tried taking her from you.”

He gave a light chuckle. ”I'm sure she would have considered it.” He ran his hand over his thick, black hair as he watched his wife sleep. ”I love her... and only want what's best for her and our son.”

”You are talking about your refusal to stay with Jos and my brother?” Chary asked.

Rin nodded. ”I've known she was supernatural for years... but to find out that she's THE Kraken... and worst yet, that she has no control over her cursed form... It's terrifying.” He ran his hand over his hair again. ”Don't get me wrong, I hate it for her but still I can't put my child and wife in that kind of danger.”

Chary nodded in understanding. ”You realize, cursed or not, we still have some control... even Jos. Even in her full shifted form, she would never hurt Shelly or the baby unless they were on a boat headed straight toward the cursed island. Do you understand? She is only ever that beast when in the cursed waters nearest her mother's island.”

”Yeah, I know... but she wasn't in those waters when she killed all those men back home...” Rin said in a low voice.

Chary nodded. ”And had you been here for her trials, you'd understand her motives. They deserved what they got.” When his opinion didn't seem to sway, she asked. ”Do you trust me here with them right now?”

Rin thought it over. This had been the second time this woman had been left alone with his wife and son. He nodded. ”Yeah, I guess why?”

Chary shrugged as she crossed her arms under her large brėȧsts. ”I'm a worse monster than Jos, I'm cursed, I've rarely left survivors, and I have no natural enemies or weaknesses. Why would you trust me or any other creature within these walls more than the woman who raised Shelly?”

Rin frowned his eyes moving away from the firey redhead back to his wife. ”You make a good point... I suppose I should reconsider... If it's what she truly wants...”

Chary smiled widely as she pushed away from the window seat. ”Don't get me wrong, I'll hate to see the two of them go, but you weren't here... you didn't see how much those two need each other... how much they love each other...”

Rin met her gaze. ”You're wrong there. I've seen how much they care for one another for years... though Russ has always had his own impact on their relationship.”

Chary nodded. ”I could see him monopolizing most of Jos's attention but trust me when I say when the pup isn't around... what they have is beautiful. Don't force her to give that up... to chose between you or Jos...”

Rin let out a sigh. ”I'll talk to her about it tomorrow... I guess with Fern dead there's really no other excuse anymore anyway.”

Chary patted his shoulder. ”I'm glad to hear it. I look forward to seeing what the two of you decide in the morning.”