Bran (Fae Shifters Book 2)

by M. D. Stewart

  Josie felt Michael’s wrist leave her mouth, and Bran licked the wound to seal it. Michael rolled off Bran and landed on Josie’s right and Bran rolled to her left. It was a good thing she didn’t have to move. She licked her lips tasting Michael’s blood. She never thought she’d like the taste of blood but suddenly she craved it. Bran’s was so sweet, nearly like syrup. Michael’s was saltier with an undercurrent of sweet.

  “I never thought I’d like the taste of blood. If anyone would’ve told me just a few weeks ago I’d want it, I’d have thought them insane. I used to get queasy at the sight of it.” She felt Bran chuckle next to her before he wrapped his arm around her.

  “You don’t fight being enthralled by Michael so you must not mind it at all.”

  Michael sat up and looked at them. “I didn’t enthrall her. I thought you did. Did you help her during the claiming?” Bran frowned and then shook his head. “I didn’t either.”

  “Leland and Chalice said they’d help me out.” She looked between her mates watching their brows furrow in thought. “What?”

  “I didn’t feel their magic at all.” Michael moved off the bed and began to pace. “I know Leland is one of the most magical shifters on the Earth Plane and Chalice has both Fae and shifter blood but I’d have felt their shifter magic.” Bran sat up and looked down at her.

  “Even if they gave you a magical boost during the claiming, that wouldn’t explain how you took blood just now with neither one of us magically helping you.” He narrowed his eyes before smiling and leaning in. His lips brushed over her ear, and his warm breath tickling the sensitive flesh.

  “Josie, I love it when you suck my cock. I’ve never come so hard as I did in your sweet, hot mouth. Except when Michael sucked me off.” Her body responded immediately, like a switch she didn’t know she had. “I can’t wait to see you suck him. He likes you to tease the head with your tongue and lightly scrape it with your teeth. I remember how he liked his cock teased and played with before I would suck him down. I loved the feel of his come jetting into my mouth.”

  She felt Bran’s body so close to hers, she could smell him, hear his blood. She turned her head toward him while he pulled his hair away from his neck. The tingling in her gums returned ten-fold. She took a deep breath and sank her teeth into his soft flesh. The sweet coppery taste of him flowed through her. Her pussy felt attached to her teeth, each pull while she sucked him felt like it stroked her clit. She heard him moan as his hand cupped the back of her head.

  “That’s it, sweet girl. Drink me.” His voice was husky next to her ear before he moaned softly. Her body arched in ecstasy a moment before she felt him tug on her lightly. She released the hold she had on his throat as Michael leaned over her and licked Bran’s soft flesh, sealing the small holes she’d created. Bran rolled to his back, panting while Michael looked at him with a smirk on his face.

  “You’re six centuries old and you act like a young Fae who’s never experienced bloodlust.” Josie licked her lips as she looked down at her stomach at the cooling semen. She grinned as she looked at Bran.

  “I’ve never had bloodlust with my mate before. It’s an amazing force. Don’t make fun of me until you give it a try.” Bran didn’t look the least bit embarrassed.

  “I don’t suffer from bloodlust.” Michael looked smug until Bran grinned back.

  “Your loss, Michael.”

  Michael went to the bathroom and brought a towel and began to wipe off her stomach then his own body before tossing it to Bran. He climbed into the bed and pulled Josie close.

  “It still doesn’t explain how she’s able to grow her fangs. We’ve not started to train her yet.” Michael kissed her forehead. Her body felt different—it buzzed with the energy she’d never felt before. She needed Michael’s blood. Now. The dampness between her thighs grew. She could hear Michael and Bran talking but it faded to a pleasant white noise in the background.

  Josie turned her head and could see the vein in Michael’s neck moving and pulsing as the blood coursed through his system. Her gums tingled again, causing her to moan before she pulled him down. Salty, warm blood washed over her tongue. She focused hard on his pleasure, needed to feel the snap of energy his sexual release would give her. She thought of nothing but his body, his desire and her need to stoke it and make him burn.

  She heard Michael curse softly as his arms wrapped around her, holding her to him, encouraging her to drink her fill. Pleasure filled every space inside her while his body shuddered against her. She came to herself slowly. Michael’s body was rubbing against her, his fingers pumping inside her. Bran chuckled in her ear just before he licked Michael’s neck.

  “You might not ‘suffer’ from bloodlust but she damn sure made something happen.” Bran’s fingertips circled in the warm liquid that pooled on her stomach. Michael pulled his fingers from her body and reached for the towel that Bran was holding for him. He was panting as he wiped her clean. Again. Bran smiled at him then turned his attention to her.

  “Open your mouth for me, sweet girl.” She obliged him while he and Michael studied her teeth.

  “Well, it seems you’ve tapped into our souls enough to create your own magic. You can grow fangs and apparently manipulate sexual energy.” Bran smiled again as he snuggled his face close to her neck. “That will make things much, much more interesting.” His sexy voice and Michael’s admiring look directed at her, made her feel proud of herself.

  Chapter Seven

  The hike to the Crystal Cave was beautiful. The mountains were still lush and green, giving lots of shade as they climbed higher in altitude. Bran and Michael carried backpacks with clothing. Bran held a bag with several stones used to direct magic that Chalice and Dev had brought that morning. Leland promised that someone would bring them food midday for as long as they were training Josie. With her ability to already tap into magic enough to grow fangs, take blood and manipulate sex energy, the men had hoped she’d be a natural. Josie expressed her fears that they were expecting too much from her.

  “Where is this Crystal Cave located? I grew up near here and I’ve never heard of it.” Josie stopped to drink from the thermos of water she carried. A small breeze blew across her skin, bringing a light aroma of wildflowers. She inhaled deeply and smiled at the vision she had of a field of flowers not far from her. She picked up the scent of a small creek nearby and a few rabbits and deer drinking from the cold water. Caught up in the beauty of the area, and her fear of disappointing her mates, she didn’t give her new ability to scent any thought.

  “It’s actually in a place called Limbo.” Bran smiled at her, making her blush. It wasn’t hard to figure out what he was thinking about, especially when his erection pushed against his pants. Michael noticed too and shook his head. “Very few of us can enter and exit Limbo without magical aid. As King of the Fae and Michael being the Leader of his shifter tribe, we can go to any realm without help from any magical beings. You are mated to both of us, so you will also be able to shift between worlds. That is, once you’re trained.”

  Josie glanced between the men seeing more than just a passing look of desire. They looked like they were ready to pick her up and run with her to their destination. “What’s going on? Why do I feel like you’re keeping something from me?” They both gave her what was supposed to pass as innocent looks.

  “Oh look, there’s the line into Limbo.” Michael was grinning as Bran pointed at two oak trees. “Now, the first lesson for you, sweet girl. Concentrate and tell me if you feel any differences, see anything or hear anything.”

  Josie closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on what Bran had told her but it didn’t feel right. She felt a tug in a different direction. “No. It’s not there.” She kept her eyes closed as she let her body lead her to where she felt she should go. Much like when she was led to Michael, she didn’t fight the pull. Not opening her eyes, she let her body go. It was like an invisible cord attached to her chest was being drawn and she was just along for the ride.


  *****

  Michael was astounded as Josie walked through the trees. She never faltered in her steps, never came close to hitting the trees as her body was drawn to the line between the Earth Plane and Limbo. He glanced at Bran, who had a stunned look on his face. By the time she had reached the cross-over point, she was almost floating above the ground, her magic flowing around her in a purple aura so strong, he figured anyone nearby could see the glow.

  “Josie, what do you feel? Tell me.” Michael followed along, watching her dodge trees, step over roots, and duck under limbs as she went forward.

  “It feels like a cord is attached to my chest and it’s pulling me.”

  Michael looked at Bran. Both men must have had the same expression. Shock, disbelief mixed with admiration. Suddenly, Josie disappeared as she crossed the line into Limbo.

  “Did you open the gateway?”

  Michael shook his head but smiled. Their mate had hidden secrets and Michael looked forward to revealing each one. “I think we need to follow our mate, Bran.”

  A few seconds later, Josie popped back into view. “Are you guys coming or not? Why are you looking at me like that?” Josie had no idea she’d just crossed the door into Limbo and come back to the Earth Plane.

  Michael held out his hand to his female mate. She frowned but moved toward him and he took her hand in his. “Josie, did you see or feel anything differently just now?” He was shocked at her shaking head.

  “No. Why? Are you guys playing a trick on me?” She glanced to both her mates and turned to look over her shoulder.

  Bran took a deep breath and turned her to face the opposite direction. “Nothing looks different to you?” When she shook her head again, Michael wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him.

  “I want you to watch Bran and then tell me if you see something different or odd.” Bran kissed her forehead and then retraced her steps. He suddenly disappeared from view and Michael could feel Josie stiffen in his embrace.

  “What happened to him? Where is he?” He thought she might have run after Bran if he didn’t tighten his hold on her.

  “You were just there, where he disappeared. Are you sure nothing seemed different to you?” He could hear her breathing increase as she fought his hold. He loosened his arms but didn’t release her completely.

  “No. I could still see you when I turned around. You seemed,” she paused as she thought about what differences she could explain. “You both seemed almost lighter like you had less color. I could’ve been looking at you through water or a dirty window.” She made the most adorable face as she concentrated.

  “Bran, come back and help comfort our mate. She’s getting upset.”

  Josie turned her head and watched as first Bran’s hand came into view, then one of his legs, then half his body, then he was completely visible.

  Josie squeaked then began to tremble in Michael’s arms. “I don’t understand.” She might have collapsed if Bran hadn’t moved to stand next to her, trapping her between her mates. “What just happened?”

  “I crossed the line into Limbo. Just like you did earlier, only you didn’t seem to know you had. And you did it without help from either of us to open the gateway. Only the most magical beings can do that, Josie. You don’t seem to understand the amount of magic you possess. You’re a natural talent and once Michael and I train you, I dare say you could give either one of us a run for our money in the magic arena.”

  Michael could hear the pride in Bran’s voice. Josie was a natural mage and both men knew it was a miracle that she was not only in their lives, but she could wield magic and it didn’t influence her negatively. Some mages had to be stripped of magic because they were corrupted by the amount of magic they could tap in to. If Josie were going to be corrupted, she would’ve already shown signs of evil manipulation, but she was the same, sweet woman. Her ability to tap into magic was growing quickly and she didn’t seem to be affected by it at all.

  “So, I just walked into another realm and didn’t even know it? I mean, is it because I’ve exchanged blood and sex energy with two powerful magic users?”

  Both men shot looks to each other. Michael wasn’t sure why neither one of them had thought of that before. “It could be that, yes. As far as I know, the King of the Fae and an Elder shifter have never shared a mate. But it could also be that you have an ancestor somewhere in your family that was a magic wielder. Sienna’s grandfather is full-blooded Fae and he is also one of the strongest mages in Faedom. Do you know if your family has any Fae, shifter or witches?” Michael ran his hands up and down her arms, trying to soothe her. Bran was holding her tightly around her waist.

  “No. I don’t know much about my mom. She died when I was little but I remember her a little bit. I have pictures of her in my bag back at the cabin in the shifter camp. Dad is in prison, and I’m sure if he could do magic, he’d find a way out or he’d have manipulated the jury into finding him not guilty. Hell, he would’ve manipulated it so he was never arrested I’m sure.” She had stopped shaking and her face was not as pale.

  “We will find out the answers once we get in Limbo and start your training. Limbo not only contains magic so if something goes wrong it doesn’t affect the Earth Plane or Faedom, but it enhances magic if it’s used correctly. We might be able to create a spell that helps us see any magic in your family lines.” He kissed her forehead and then Bran’s. He winked and then indicated the line to Limbo. “Let’s get to where we’re going and start your training.”

  “I can hardly wait.” Bran sounded like an excited child. “Some of the training is going to be fucking fantastic.”

  *****

  Mori stared at the newspaper article. The house and bar that the human bitch owned were completely destroyed. It seemed they found one body inside belonging, the investigators theorized, to the woman who owned both. The preliminary cause was a natural gas explosion. One SUV in the parking lot was also destroyed by the blast, leaving the police with more questions than answers. Nothing could be found on the vehicle to discover who it belonged to. The fire had been so hot, the tires were melted and gone, and the plate and VIN information had been scorched beyond recognition.

  “Fucking idiot humans.” Mori grabbed her hair in both fists and pulled as she screamed. She needed to go to the house and make sure the body was indeed that of the human female Bran had mated. The witches she had gone to for aid were getting tired of cleaning up her messes and were ready to push her out on the Earth Plane. She couldn’t allow that. She had no way to take care of herself since what tiny bit of magic she had in the Fae realm was non-existent here. The Coven had taken her in because she had a tie to one of their ancestors, but that wasn’t going to get her much more time with them. The Head Priestess had already given her as much leeway as she was willing to give.

  Now that she had limited time, she needed to finish off the human if she was still indeed alive. But she needed to get to the scene of the explosion and investigate soon. She stood and paced the small room. The Coven had let her stay at one of their ritual houses until the next Sabbat, which would be in a few days. Once they needed the house to prepare for the ceremony, Mori would be cut loose. It wasn’t enough time to destroy the St. Clair family and all of Faedom.

  Hiding her true intentions from the Coven was getting harder to do. The magic she had used to glamor her features and hide her true intentions before she left Faedom, were being leached off by the natural magic dampening of the Earth Plane. She was getting physically weaker as well since she couldn’t even drink blood. Damn the St. Clair line. If her father had been a stronger Fae, he could’ve taken over the leadership from that damnable twin brother of his.

  Mori’s father, Dirk had conspired to kill his father and steal his Fae magic but his twin, Devin discovered the plot and revealed it to everyone at the annual Fae Cotillion. Instead of killing his son, the King, her Grandfather had passed his leadership to Devin. Dirk was stripped of the name St. Clair, branded “M
aclin”, Fae for traitor. The line was punished with declining magic for her father’s attempt to take over his rightful place as future King. Devin then passed it to his oldest son, Bran. With the magical line of the St. Clair line gone, the realm would fall into chaos and anarchy.

  Now Lena was out in the Earth Plane all on her own. The least Mori could do for her sister’s child was wipe her memories so she had no idea of the terrible situation she was in. Without magic, she might as well be human anyway. Now the darling child was living with a childless witch couple that knew the Maclin family. They were told that Lena had suffered a tragic accident with her mother and she was the only one left of the line. Which, technically was the truth. Mori knew her time was limited. Once she was found, Bran would take her life and Lena would be alone. She’d never know who she was or the truth of what had happened. It was the last favor Mori could give to her sister Marinda; not letting Lena remember the shame of being a magicless Fae. It was better that she thought of herself as an orphaned human with no memory of her real past.

  Too bad Mori couldn’t forget. The hate for the St. Clair line ate away at her every moment of every day. Revenge for the cruelty of not being a princess in a ruling family was all consuming. But now that Bran had mated to a pathetic human, he had a weakness. How the King could not know that he sent out a huge magic blast when he mated the human? Even on the Earth Plane he should’ve had more control, especially on the Earth Plane. Every creature who craved magic would be called to the area like sharks to chum. But in being so careless with his magic, Mori had a new way exploit that weakness. She could die knowing she had destroyed at least one of those selfish St. Clair men.

  Her and Marinda’s plan was to destroy Devitt, by severing the tie between Dev and his true mate. His father’s favorite child would be helpless and Lena could mate him and siphon off his magic without him even knowing it. That way, they’d hurt the whole St. Clair line. Bran would suffer pain if Dev suffered and the rest of his children would feel the bite of jealously for his love of the youngest Prince. They’d turn on each other to fight for Devitt’s place in Bran’s heart.