Bran (Fae Shifters Book 2)

by M. D. Stewart

  “I see two of the sexiest men I’ve ever known.” She moved her hands over her sides to trail up her body. “I’m feeling very turned on.” She grinned when Bran began to kiss Michael’s neck, and he groaned.

  “Wh-what else? Relax. Fuck, Bran, that feels amazing.” Michael pulled Bran, so their mouths clashed in a kiss. Their hands were exploring each other, pinching nipples, tracing a navel, cupping balls.

  “I see colors swirling around you. Dark blue, silver and threads of gold connecting you to each other and to me.” Bran stopped kissing Michael and turned his head to look at her.

  “Gold threads?” He smiled as he turned Michael to face Josie. He pulled his male mate so they could both see their female. He slid his hands down Michael’s body to grasp his long, thick cock, slowly pumping. “See or feel anything else?”

  Michael groaned as Bran ran his tongue over his neck then lightly scraped his fangs over his skin. He pulled his hand from Michael’s chest, sticking two fingers in his lover’s mouth. “Suck on me Michael, like you’re sucking my cock.” Both of his mates moaned as Michael sucked Bran’s digits deep in his mouth before releasing them, wet with his saliva. His other hand still moved slowly over Michael’s erection.

  “Talk to me Josie, or we stop this now. What do you feel?” Bran’s voice was husky, almost growling.

  Michael reached behind him, grabbing Bran’s cock. “Maybe we should lay down and do a sixty-nine for her. See what she feels then.” Michael’s grin was purely wicked. Josie took a deep breath and briefly closed her eyes. They were nearly glowing when she opened them. Bran held his breath at the beauty of his mate.

  “I feel like there’s a—a cord that attaches me to you both. And, and, one from me to the Earth.” Michael and Bran stopped moving as they watched their mate. “It’s like the cord that’s connected to the Earth is pulsing with energy, and that energy comes through me and to the cords that are attached to each of you. From my chest to yours. An endless supply of energy is flooding me from the Earth.” He held up her hands, touching the energy shield. The air crackled as she used her hands to absorb the bubble into herself.

  Bran felt like the world he’d known his entire life had just been flipped. He stopped touching Michael, as both men seemed to suffer the same shock at her words and actions. He wasn’t sure what to address first—the cords she saw or the fact that she just absorbed pure energy. Michael’s delectable body was forgotten as the men moved toward their female mate.

  “Josie.”

  Her face was still slightly pink, her hair floating around her and her feet were a few inches off the ground from the energy she’d just ingested. He turned his attention to Michael who looked as stunned as he felt. He reached out a hand to touch her and felt the most amazing thing. Energy cords attaching her to them, just like she had described. When he ran his hands over the threads attaching them, he could feel it, like stroking nerves. It was comforting as well as arousing. He opened his mind and looked closer and noticed a purple aura with green threads running from her to the Earth.

  “Sweet girl, I see your aura and the energy cords you’re describing. It’s different for me. I feel the energy all around, like a blanket, or the air that surrounds me. I see it and use it to manipulate.”

  Michael nodded as he tilted his head to study Josie. Her body began to lower back to the ground, and her hair smoothed back into place. “It’s the same for me as it is for Bran, I see the energy all around. But you seem to be attached to the Earth, gaining your energy and ability from Gaia. Like a, well,” he turned and looked at Bran. Both men astounded at the thought. Michael returned his attention to their female mate. “Josie. Tell me about your mother.”

  ****

  The cell phone rang three times before Leland answered. Both Michael and Bran forwarded their calls to his phone. He didn’t recognize the number, so it had to be for his grandfather or one of his mates. “Leland Mato, can I help you?”

  “Mr. Mato, my name is Eden Adaire, and I am the High Priestess for the Silver Circle Coven.” Leland raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Why would the High Priestess be calling his grandfather or Bran? “I was given this number to contact Bran St. Clair. Did I misdial?”

  “No, Priestess Adaire, you didn’t. He’s not able to take calls at the moment and has had his phone forwarded to mine.” He heard frustration on the other end and something else that gave him pause. He couldn’t put his finger on the emotion she was emanating. “I don’t know when he’ll be back, but I can get a message to him.”

  He heard a hiss of displeasure. “No, that won’t work. I just found out that my Coven has been harboring a fugitive Fae in my ritual house for the last few weeks, probably since leaving the realm. I believe her name is Mori. She’s been hiding with a glamor, but it has its cracks and is failing. She’s pretending to be a Fae named Marie, a woman who saved my grandfather from witch hunters. I also found out during a ritual that she is responsible for destroying a local establishment and she tried to murder the woman who owned them. I need him here within the next few hours. I think she is planning on running again.”

  “Can you put a magic locator on her without her knowledge? In case she runs?” Leland left his cabin and began to jog to the line between Earth and Limbo. His grandfather’s mates would want to know what was going on. He could get there faster in shift but couldn’t hold the phone or speak. He’d just have to hump it in human form.

  “Ah, yes. You’re very clever. I never thought of that. I should be able to whip up something. I told her that I would be meeting with her this evening. I’ll need something of hers.” He could hear her calling for someone named Payton and told her to gather objects for the magic.

  “If you don’t mind me saying so Priestess, you could also give her something that she could wear. Something that you have that you can give her like a ring or necklace. She may be vain enough to wear it if she thinks its worth something.” He was near the line but couldn’t cross and keep the connection. “I can’t tell you where Bran is or what he’s doing but I can get him for you if you would wait just a few minutes or I’ll have him call you right back.”

  “I’ll be making a locator object for the next few minutes. This spellwork should take me half an hour. Then, I’ll be setting the bait with Mori, who’s going by the name and image of Marie Callahan. I have the perfect thing that someone of her conceit would wear. Thank you for the idea. It’s been a rather emotional day, so I would never have come up with that. I do hope that we can meet one day soon young, Leland.” The phone beeped, ending the call.

  Leland shrugged as he slid his cell phone in his back pocket. Raising his hands high in the air, he pulled energy to himself and directed it outward, making a gateway into Limbo. Before crossing over, he sent an energy ball over the line, creating a loud clang. It was, in effect, a doorbell. Crossing into Limbo to interrupt training was not a big deal. Unless it was three mates, then it could be embarrassing for all involved. Leland smiled. It would serve his grandfather right to be interrupted mid-coitus. It would be payback for that incident when Leland was making out with Danalee McDaniels in the back of his car. He’d been so close to getting her pants off when grandfather knocked on the window with a grin on his face.

  He counted to thirty before crossing the line and entering Limbo. Turning he closed the gateway, hoping by taking his time to get to the Crystal Cave, his grandfather and his mates, would be dressed.

  ****

  Eden moved to the small ritual house that currently, their guest was inhabiting. She could almost smell the stench from the sidewalk. Payton had been right. The Fae wasn’t taking care of the place. She would have to have the novates come by tonight to clean. Even if she left, the house would need a good cleaning. If she took the bait and stayed, the novates would have to come over every day until Bran came and took care of the Fae. If she was still in residence, that was. But Eden didn’t think Mori would leave sooner than the Coven had stipulated. Mori had nowhere left to go, and
Eden thought she might stay when she made her the offer.

  She thought of just walking in, since it was, in reality, her home, but decided to let Mori think she still had the upper hand. Once she knocked, Eden had to school her features so she wouldn’t let her anger and disgust show. Mori had tried to kill her child, but bigger schemes were in play, so she had to pretend that Mori was Marie. A woman who had taken in Eden’s grandfather when witches were actively hunted. If he’d died, Eden wouldn’t have been born, then Josie and Payton wouldn’t have been either.

  Mori opened the door slowly, seemingly fearful that Eden would push her way inside. In reality, she didn’t even want to be in the same house with the rogue Fae, but being High Priestess, she had a duty to perform. As a mother, she had to ensure the safety of her children.

  “Good evening, Marie. I came to apologize for not meeting with you sooner. We’ve had a few emergencies within the Coven that only I could oversee. I hope you found hospitality within our circle.” Eden was proud of herself for sounding believable. She even forced a smile, pretending not to see the glamor slip briefly showing the woman’s true face before it switched back to the dark-haired, chubby woman Mori wanted the world to see.

  “I, I uh, I’m satisfied with the accommodations. The younger women make sure I’m fed.” She seemed to be at a loss if she should invite her in or not. “I’m afraid I don’t have a clue about cooking or taking care of an abode, but if you'd like to come in…” her voice faded into uncertainty.

  Steeling herself against the mess she could only imagine, she forced a smile and nod. She needed inside to get the location tracker to Mori. Mori could glamor herself to lie to the Coven, the least that the High Priestess could do was lie to protect them. Once inside, Eden moved to the couch, trying to not grimace at the mess or the smell. She moved a few boxes from the couch and placed them on the coffee table. How hard could it be to discard items in the trash?

  “I’ll inform a few of the novates to come by tonight to clean for you. We don't need the house for the ritual as this is a minor Sabbat. We can do the circle on the grounds of the main house.” She didn’t think for one minute that Mori would believe her, but she put that out there, in case she was desperate enough to stay. Mori smiled, seeming to be happy at that little surprise but her eye kept wandering to the round silver locket that she was wearing.

  The chain was a thin silver with several pearls on either side of the locket. The locket itself held a large pearl in the center of the face. It was one of a set of custom pieces of jewelry the Coven used to identify its members. Each coven had their own type of identification jewelry that each member of the Coven could use to tap into the energy of the others if needed. Hopefully, Mori would be curious about the necklace. Eden did her best to ignore the woman’s interest.

  “I know my daughter stopped by to see you this morning. She’s young and has a sharp tongue, so I wanted to apologize if she said or did anything to upset you. We do owe our lives to you. If you hadn’t hidden my grandfather, we wouldn’t be here.” She reached inside her pocket and pulled out a box. “One reason I didn’t come to see you sooner, we had to schedule a meeting for the Coven members. The Coven and I have discussed this. We would like to offer you sanctuary with our Coven, and if you agree, we will give you this locket as proof of your association with us. Even if you decide to leave our lands, you will be respected and offered hospitality with any other Coven you come across.”

  Mori took the box and opened the lid. It was an exact match to the necklace that Eden wore. “This is exquisite. The craftsmanship is amazing.” Mori stared at the object with a critical eye but didn’t touch it. Not sure if she could detect the magic, Eden pretended to be ambivalent to Mori’s decision to wear the necklace.

  “If you don’t wish to be associated with the Coven I’d completely understand. After all, you aren’t a born witch and may not understand the significance of the piece.” She reached out her hand to take the box, but Mori jerked it out of her reach.

  “I didn’t say that.” Mori was staring at the locket with clear indecision.

  “Well, as I said, the Coven discussed this. You are the reason my d-daughter, and I are on this Earth since you did save my grandfather.” Saying that was the hardest thing Eden had done. Mori had tried to kill one of her daughters. And Mori wasn’t the real Marie, only a glamor image of the actual woman. Eden took a deep breath, trying to gain control of her anger. The goddess would help protect one of her children from the treachery Mori was creating.

  “So, to show our gratitude we offered you this distinction. Our Coven is closed to non-witches and new members since we have our required twelve. We also have novates in training, but you are above that station. This is the closest thing to being a member of our Coven as a non-witch can be. Again, if you feel uncomfortable about it…” Eden reached out again and put her hand on the box and gave a slight tug. Resistance met her efforts.

  “I just didn’t notice your daughter wearing it nor you when I first met you.” Mori was shrewd.

  “We don’t usually wear our Coven jewelry unless it’s for a ritual or a Coven meeting. I did just come from a meeting, and since I’m on Coven property, I didn’t bother with hiding it. We usually wear them under our shirts so they won’t draw attention when we are off Coven property. Other Covens have similar pieces they wear. Some have rings, others like us, have necklaces. It’s just a tradition. Silly as it may seem to a Fae. I’ll take the necklace back then. You’re welcome to stay until we need the ritual house at the next major Sabbat.” Eden stood and for the third time, reached for the necklace.

  “Now, don’t be hasty. I just didn’t understand the significance of the trinket.” Eden raised her eyebrow at the insult to the ancient locket. “I didn’t mean to make your Coven jewelry seem trivial. I’ve had my needs cared for, but I’ve not been treated, well, special as befitting my station. I’d be happy to belong, even as a distant member of your Coven.”

  Mori pulled the necklace from the box and eyed it carefully. Even a nonmagical Fae could probably see the aura of magic on the necklace. Eden made sure to put a spell on all the necklaces of the Coven. Each one could locate the one Mori was about to put on. As if on cue the Fae woman looked up and studied the one Eden was wearing. Eden had to stop herself from speaking to try and convince the bitch to wear the jewelry.

  “Do you usually have a ceremony when you give this to someone?” Mori was a clever one.

  “No, the only time we have a ceremony for the necklace is when we promote a novate to our Coven. The ceremony is done when a novate has completed her training. It’s on the first Sabbat after a novate’s cycle. My daughter was the last one to get a ceremony. There won’t be an opening for a new member until she becomes a High Priestess and leaves to create her own Coven. That won’t be for at least a decade though.” Eden turned to leave, hopefully making Mori believe she didn’t care if she wore the locket or not. “I’m headed to our restaurant, The Garden, to check on supplies and work out scheduling issues. Would you like me to send the novates with food this evening when they come to clean for you?”

  Mori stood and slipped on the necklace before walking to the door. “Yes. Please do that.” The smile she gave made Eden’s blood run cold. Little did she know, the locator spell also weakened the glamor so Eden could see the real woman behind the magic. It wasn’t a pretty sight. Without blood to replace the energy she was losing holding her glamor, Mori looked as if she were starving. Her face was gaunt, pale, and her eyes appeared dull. Her blonde hair was stringy and limp. If Eden didn’t kill her first, she’d probably die soon anyway.

  “I’ll have them send you our special tonight. If you need anything else, please ask one of the novates. They’re here to learn service of others as well as how to be a witch.” Eden smiled as she made to leave. She couldn’t wait to get out the presence of the hag standing in her living room. It took all her strength and faith in the goddess to not wring her neck for trying to kill her oldest baby
. She needed to go home, shower and let Payton run a smudge stick over her to get Mori’s evil filth off her, physically and psychically.

  ****

  Leland made it to the Crystal Cave and heard voices coming from inside. They weren’t panting, moaning or screaming, so he figured they were decent. He still whistled loudly to make sure they knew someone was there.

  He saw his grandfather stick his head out of the cave. “Leland! What brings you here? Is there an issue?” He could also tell by his grandfather’s face that he was enjoying the time alone with his mates. He looked younger, full of sex energy and happiness. Leland was happy for him. If not a bit jealous.

  “No, Grandfather, everything is fine, but I need to talk to you and your mates. I got a call from High Priestess Adaire asking for Bran.” Bran and Josie moved to stand next to Michael, all of them dressed and grinning like teenagers.

  “We figured something was up. The loud energy ball and the whistle got our attention, Leland.” Bran was smiling as he strode from the cave. “I guess you were being cautious.”

  Leland felt his face grimace. “Catching people in sexy time is fun. Unless it’s your grandfather, then not so much. Not at all, actually.”

  Bran and Michael laughed uproariously but Josie turned pink. Leland felt for the human. They didn’t seem to understand the sexual exploits of shifter and Fae. She’d have to get used to it now that she was mated to one of each.

  “I hate to put a damper on your time alone. I know you are in training and also enjoying your honeymoon. But High Priestess Adaire said she had news on Mori.” Leland watched Bran’s face change from carefree to all business. “She said she has Mori staying at her ritual house under the glamor of Marie Callahan. She’s afraid she’s going to run but is creating a locator object to track her if she runs. She also knows that Mori set the explosion off at Josie’s place.”