Omega's Dragon: Island Sun: The Sunfire Brothers, #2

2

Maxon

Maxon was headed to the kitchen for a late breakfast when he nearly collided with Kael hurrying out of the front hallway. The Omega jumped back like a startled cat. Maxon! he yelped. I didn’t see you.

Kael. Are you ok?

The Omega looked flustered, his face nearly as red as his hair. Oh, fine! Just fine! he chirped. I was just… Kael trailed off, glancing down at the pile of papers he was holding.

Oh, is that the mail? Maxon reached for it. Here, I’ll take care of that for you.

No, you don’t have to, Kael began, but Max waved a hand dismissively.

I know how busy you are helping Bailey with the baby. On top of everything else you do for us. Come on, let me help you this once. He reached over and gently took the stack from Kael. A thick envelope on top with his name on it caught his eye. He caught his breath. Is that…?

From the Oceanheart Clan, Kael said. The party.

For me?

Kael smiled. Looks that way.

Max set down the stack of mail and slit the envelope open. And yes, there it was: the invitation to the party he’d heard so much about. And not a moment too soon: the party began tomorrow on the Oceanheart Clan’s opulent private island. He’d never been, of course, but oh, he’d heard the stories.

The Alpha felt a surge of triumph. Finally. It was finally his turn to get the invite. After all these years being the good son in Tyran’s shadow, it was Maxon’s turn to have a little fun. And didn’t he deserve it?

No more midnight calls of hey Max, I need you to draw up some legal forms right now so I can impregnate this Omega tonight. No more all-nighters consulting with their PR team before a big presentation. He needed a break from the endless hours staring at screens, monitoring markets, and supervising staff.

It wasn’t that he minded doing those things. Working with his older brother to increase the prestige and power of the Sunfire Clan gave him great satisfaction. But he’d often thought that Tyran was the pretty face of the Clan, while he, Maxon, worked behind the scenes. Someone had to do it, and he was damn good at what he did. But it was easy to feel overlooked sometimes, especially in the shadow of his showy older brother.

But on the island, it would be all him. His turn to shine. His turn to be seen for himself.

You look happy, the Omega said quietly, bringing him back to the present.

Maxon smiled down at Kael. I am. Hey, you should come too. The invitation is for all single dragons, after all. It says here I’m free to bring guests, as long as they’re pure dragons.

Kael flushed and shook his head. Oh no, I couldn’t. I have so much to do here, and big parties aren’t really my thing.

Maxon knew that Kael was always a little wary of his rare Omega status around outsiders. Dragon Alphas could be cruel, but he would personally make sure that Kael came to no harm. Come on, Max said. You deserve a break from all this too. You work as hard as I do, maybe more, now that you help Bailey with the baby. If nothing else, it will be a relaxing vacation. Come on. For me?

Kael’s blush deepened, temporarily hiding the freckles that sprinkled his face like a constellation of stars. Maxon had always found the Omega’s inability to hide his feelings strangely endearing. All right, Kael said. I’ll go get packed.

That’s the spirit! Max grinned. We’ll have fun. You’ll see. And hey, you never know. Maybe we’ll both find someone.

3

Kael

Kael flopped down onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Could this day get any worse?

Normally, a trip to a tropical paradise with Maxon would be up there on his top ten fantasies list. But a trip to a tropical paradise with Maxon and a bunch of other dragons who were intent on bedding him? That sounded like torture.

From the moment he’d arrived on the Sunfire estate, Kael had tried really hard not to love Maxon. The Alpha sure didn’t make it easy on him. Yes, he was devastatingly handsome, with his deep golden hair and warm hazel eyes. Yes, he was selfless, always putting his family’s needs before his own. Yes, he was smart, making brilliant business deals and coming up with interesting strategies that had made the family millions over the years. And yes, he had always been so kind to Kael, never looking down on him or making him feel like less of a dragon because he was an Omega.

But the fact remained that they were just too different. Alpha and Omega status aside, The Sunfires had saved him a long time ago, and he never wanted to take advantage of their kindness. Kael had been content to do his job as best he could, help the family in all things, and love Maxon from afar.

He’d known deep down that Maxon would find a mate someday, of course. But part of him secretly hoped that Tyran would never settle down, and dragon tradition dictated that Maxon couldn’t search until his older brother was mated. Kael was extremely happy that Tyran and Bailey had found each other, of course. But he hadn’t expected to have to deal with the possibility of Maxon finding someone else so soon. And the thought of going on this trip and having a front-row seat while Maxon met other dragons made Kael’s stomach twist. He didn’t think he could go through with it after all. Maybe it was better that he tell Maxon he couldn’t make it.

But would it be worse to sit and home and wonder what was going on? Kael cursed under his breath. There was no good answer.

A knock on the door made him sit up and hastily swipe at his eyes. Yes?

It’s us! Bailey’s voice called cheerfully through the door. Raniel wanted to come see his Uncle Kael.

Come on in, Kael replied, careful to keep his voice normal. Nobody could ever know there was anything wrong.

Bailey entered, Raniel bundled in his arms. At the sight of his nephew and his friend, Kael couldn’t help but smile for real. Well hello there you two.

May we join you?

Please do! He patted the bed next to him, and Bailey came and sat. Raniel immediately reached for Kael with the gurgling coo that always made him melt, and he gladly took the baby into his arms. Good morning, little prince. Oh my goodness, you’re getting so big already!

Bailey smiled. He loves you so much.

And I love him too, Kael said. He nuzzled Raniel’s nose, making the baby giggle. You’re so lucky, Bailey. You and Tyran both.

We really are, Bailey agreed. After a slight pause, he said, I heard you and Maxon are going on a trip.

Kael bent down, hoping to hide his instantly red face, and kissed Raniel’s forehead. That’s right. A big party for single dragons on a private island.

That sounds amazing. Does Maxon know how you feel about him?

Kael sat up so fast Raniel gave a little squeak of surprise. What do you mean?

Bailey smiled. Come on, Kael. You know.

I… Kael trailed off and glanced over at his friend. Bailey sat quietly, waiting, but his eyes were so kind. In these last few months, the Omega had become like a brother to Kael, and he suddenly knew he could tell him everything. Bailey would keep his secrets.

Kael shook his head. No. He doesn’t. And he never will, if I can help it.

Why? Bailey frowned. You two seem like you would be really good together.

It’s a little complicated than that, Kael said. I told you when we first met that Tyran saved my life. Do you remember?

That’s right, Bailey said. You told me that in the casino suite back in the city. Before we all came here.

Right, Kael said. So you remember that a little over twenty years ago, my own Clan, the Sunborn, sent me to the Sunfires. What I didn’t mention was that they were hoping Tyran would take me as a mate. The Sunborn has always been a lesser Clan, but marrying into the royal Clan would have increased their prestige, which they were desperate to do.

Bailey nodded. Well, that didn’t happen.

No. But what they didn’t tell Tyran was that if he didn’t accept me, it was somehow my fault. If he sent me back home, I would have been… severely punished. Even now, he could hear the sickening wet crack of breaking bone. Kael shook his head to drive the sound away. He was safe, he reminded himself. Never again.

Bailey looked startled. But you can’t force someone to love you. It wouldn’t have been your fault.

"Everything was my fault