Striker by Lexi Ander

Zeus met his father's gaze and he sucked in a deep breath at the name Cordyl. The knowing look in his father’s eyes caused his stomach to plummet. His abrupt departure from Atlainticia had not fooled his father after all.
    "The Basilisc are escorting your meme personally," his father continued.
    Zeus’s lips twitched with humor as he and his brothers released their pent-up breaths simultaneously. She may be in the company of Rathmar and his father, Timsah Gadrius, but next to the Monticore, the Basilisc were the best choice to be by her side. The Monticore were the Elite Honor Guard who protected the royal family when they left the palace.
    The Basilisc were the Home Guard: the palace and the surrounding grounds was their sole territory to protect.
    "Did she say why she is coming? I thought she prepared the palace for the commitment ceremony for Ariafella and me," Azaes said.
    With a glance at Zeus, their father replied. "From what I understand, Azaes, your Amor overheard Timsah boasting a trip to Haven regarding an unresolved issue. Both your meme and Ariafella agreed that the trip was too dangerous for Timsah to take common transport, especially after what happened at the space station when you left in search of Zeus. She insisted they all go and take the warship escort to ward off the common brigands."
    Zeus thought the timing of his imminent return home and Timsah's trip was suspicious. The head of House Cordyl had, knowingly or not, drawn his parents' attention. Zeus did not want them involved in business with that foul male. He still had nightmares about what he endured at Timsah's sadistic hands. Zeus had not reported the abuse to his father to keep the whole House from being banished to the Black Sands Desert. What kind of help did Timsah believe he would receive in Haven?
    "There is much we will speak of when you arrive." Again his father held his gaze. Zeus understood he would have to explain his actions with House Cordyl to his father, as he had to Azaes. He did not relish explaining to them that he trusted his parents, but he felt too ashamed and humiliated to confide in them. He did not want to cause continual strife in the family because there were those, few as they were, who hated him for his human appearance—for what he could never be in their eyes.
    After a moment of tense silence, Azaes moved the conversation on. "We will arrive later than we indicated on the flight schedule. There is a stop we need to make for Zeus’s Amors that will add time onto our journey. I do not know how much longer we will be, but I will contact you when we are closer to arriving."
    "I look forward to your arrival. Zeus, you will be lucky to leave Haven unwedded if your meme has anything to say about it." His father paused and his smile grew until it split his face in a sharp-toothed grin. "Twins? I look forward to meeting your Amors. Be safe, my sons, and return to me unharmed," their father formally intoned.
    "We will be vigilant on our journey and return with our honor intact." Zeus and the twins replied together.
    The screen went dark, but not before Zeus read the worry in his parent's normally more guarded expression. Alongside the verbal conversation, discreet hand signals had conducted silent information between them and their father. The Mar'Sani were the people of Poseidon and they spent as much time as possible in his waters. There was not a family who did not have members born with the Longing who lived in the waters. While swimming in the ocean's depths, they used the language of the hands to communicate. The military used a shorthanded version of the language, a closely-held secret of their race.
    Zeus digested what they had learned. Dargon approached, a puzzled expression on his face.
    "You seem upset." Alpha sounded worried and Zeus automatically reached up to stroke the symbiote in a soothing manner.
    "We were given some valuable information," Azaes replied. "Zeus, you need to teach your Amors the rest of our