The next afternoon a luxurious cruise docked near the shorelines of the small island. The nearby crocodiles swam away from the disturbance and a smaller boat rowed closer.
Nicolai looked at it coldly. 'Hmm, he's making a grand gesture.. I still won't believe your ass, Dylan.. I won't..'
The place was one of the two places where the waves were less destructive. They used to dock their boats here. To get to their smaller boat, they had to get in the muddy marshy waters.
Nicolai took a step but all of a suddenly Dylan held his arm. "What are you doing? Let go of me,"
"Sorry. Just wait a bit," Dylan looked around frantically and his eyes focused on a huge tree nearby. He walked up to it and suddenly uprooted it.
"What the fuck.... why did you..."
Dylan carried it close and placed it as a ramp between the boat and them. "Don't get your feet wet..."
With just a small tug, this man had uprooted this beautiful tree and made it into a ramp.
'That was not the grand gesture this was... this is a terrifying gesture.... how the heck is he so strong..' he looked at the tree. Beautiful white flowers had fallen off it and they were floating on the ocean.
It was one of his favorite magnolia trees that was about a few hundred years old.
"Nico?" Dylan doubtfully looked at him.
"That was my favorite tree."
"oh.. ohh...." like a little kid with his hand stuck in the cookie jar, he guiltily glanced at the tree. "I.. I bet it can actually be set back into the ground." he carried it back to the spot and placed the tree there. But lo and behold, the tree just swooped down and fell to the side. "oh.. I'll have my men fix this for you. It will be good a brand new.." he guiltily smiled.
"Yeah I hope so..." Nicolai stepped closer to the swamp.
"Wait, wait!" Dylan jumped into the knee deep muddy water and stood there with a smile. "Don't get wet. Climb over me. I'll take you over to the boat without getting wet,"
Eyes wide, Nicolai glanced back at the trusted beta. "Was he always crazy like this?"
"When it comes to you, he is a crazy manic. Please step all over our alpha king. I'm sure he would love to have your footprints all over him," Killian sarcastically mumbled.
"Of course," Dylan chuckled.
"I pity you," Killian whispered close to his ears.
"Yeah but I pity you. I only had to deal with his craziness for a few hours. you work with him. I have to imagine what that would be like," Nicolai whispered to Killian as he climbed over his shoulders.
Dylan had broad shoulders for sure, but it was so uncomfortable to step on someone like that. Even with his shoes on he could feel his tight muscles. "Okay I'm done. I'm getting down. I don't feel good doing his."
He grabbed his legs.
"It's okay. You don't weigh anything. Do you eat well? Oh I forgot vampires drink.. do you drink blood regularly? You must not have... your weight is like a feather." Dylan looked up with a frown. "I'll have to make sure to feed you well. How about I arrange a blood donation campaign the nearby villages for their new alpha king,"
"No! Don't do that!" Nicolai squatted unsteadily on his shoulders. He pried his fingers that had grabbed onto his legs. "Can you let go now? I wish to walk to the boat on my own,"
"The water is too dirty and cold. You were sneezing yesterday..." he whispered softly.
Nicolai froze. He did in fact have a bad cold last night. His nose was completely blocked and his eyes were slightly teary because of it. he had hid it so well from his brother but he could not trick this man.
"It's okay... I will not die from it,"
The grip on his leg slightly tightened. "Don't talk about dying please... for thousand years I had assumed you had died... I didn't have a grave. I didn't have a photo.... I had nothing...,"
Nicolai held his head slightly to balance himself. "... the moment I woke up I went to search for my father and you... guess my disappointment when I found only bricks there at the very spot my huge castle existed....I thought you had died of old age."
"I watched as the castle was run down to the last brick….I know how you feel…" Dylan stopped right before reaching the boat. "Did you.. Did you like me? Even just a bit..."
Nicolai tightly gripped his hair. 'I loved you...' he thought, but he did not say a word. He did not want to give this man hope. He was going only 'use' him after all.
Dylan acknowledged his silence and did not ask that question anymore. He moved close to the boat.
Nicolai jumped into it. Dylan was wading in waist-deep turbulent water. He glanced behind him. The others were all swimming over to the boat with children in each of the adults.
Dylan helped the kids climb in.
Kiran immediately rushed to him and stuck to his side. Elijah hunter and Issac were silently sitting on the other side where the werewolf was rowing the boat.
The wolf just gave them a look and the kids moved away from him.
"You!" Dylan swam close to the row man.
The wolf silently bowed. 'Long live alpha king,"
"They are my special guests, treat them well. Spread it amongst our servants. Those who disobey me will have their tongues cut out, got it?" Dylan threateningly growled/.
The wolf silently bowed, trembling. "Y-yes alpha king,"
Dylan then held the kids' hands. "Don't worry they will never hurt you, ever. if they mistreat you, let me know I will take care of the punishment,"
Hunter cutely nodded. "Okay mister,"
"Good kid. All of your brothers are so sweet," Dylan climbed in raking a hand through his messy hair.
Nicolai could not take his eyes off his hair. 'It's so messy but how does he make it look so good... even I have messy hair but I look like shit..' he consciously touched his own wavy brown hair.
"Oh you're hair..." Dylan reached out and helped rake a finger through it. His fingertips gently scraped his scalp.
Nicolai shuddered involuntarily. "ah,"
Dylan glanced down with a slight blush. "I.. I didn't mean to do that... leaves were stuck in your hair..." he plucked out a few leaves and branched caught in his curves. "Did it feel good?"
"no! no! it didn't! Don't touch me without permission! Stay away from me," he gently kicked and pushed him away.
All the while his heart was pounding loudly In his chest.
'This man is dangerous... he is not that easy to deal with. I have to be coldhearted and reject him in every advance.' He mentally made up his resolve.
The small boat could not carry all their weight so only Nico the kids and Dylan took the first one. The second one was sent for Killian and the others.
Nicolai watched carefully until everyone had gotten in.
'I hope this is a good decision.. I hope I can make a change.....'