“How does he access the portal?”
“I’ll never tell you! Boris will be king of this realm! He is stronger than you will ever be!”
“So you don’t know, do you?” Arthur pushed Amara away from himself and back to the bed, stepping in front of Mor.
Mor nudged Arthur to the side so she could see Amara. “Well, Amara?”
“Of course I know! I am a trusted confidant of Lord Boris!” Amara yelled.
“Sure you are.” Max’s voice dripped with disdain. “Mor, I don’t think we’re going to get anything out of her.”
Mor stared at Amara silently for a long moment. “I think you’re right. She either doesn’t know anything useful or won’t tell us.”
“That’s right! I’ll never help you! You should be drained of your power, trash! You stole my brother! Warped his mind to force him to be with you!”
“Wow. That’s a whole other level of crazy, isn’t it?” Mor shook her head. “I sincerely hope you are spelled and not just naturally insane.” Mor turned and took Max’s hand. “Let’s go. We don’t have any time to waste on this.”
They left the room and Max immediately wrapped Mor in his arms. “You know you didn’t steal me from anyone, right?”
Laying her head on his chest, Mor said, “I know. I just hate that this is happening. I know this sounds bad, but I really hope she’s just under a spell.”
“I know what you mean. I hope so, too. I really don’t want to think my sister is really that way. If she is, I could have saved her by taking her with me.”
“No, Max. You couldn’t have taken her. She was still underage and it would have been actual kidnapping. They would have hunted you down for her. We all know the plan was for her to marry well.” Sebastian squeezed his shoulder.
“She was a pawn for them to use, you know this.” Atreyu wrapped his arms around Mor and Max.
“You’re both right. I just - “
“We’ll be here for you, Max,” Ben said.
Mor squeezed Max one more time before letting go. “Time to plan our next step.”
Chapter 12
Max
After the debacle with Amara that morning, Max needed to get out of the house for a little while. He took lunch and went out into the forest. He made his way to the stream where he’d first started teaching Mor to manage her magic. When he got there, he found Morgana already sitting there. He paused, then turned to leave.
“You don’t have to go.” Morgana didn’t look up at him from where she sat next to the water.
Max nodded and came to sit next to her. They were silent for a long time. Max sat with his feet in the water, drinking in the connection with his element. He let the water soothe him, his whole body relaxing. When he reached that point, Max pulled out his lunch and offered some to Morgana. She took half of his sandwich with a nod of thanks. “What brings you out here?”
“Today is the day my mate died.” Her voice caught on the word mate.
“Arthur said something about that,” Max said. “I should have been clearer. I meant, why here, specifically? He said you wouldn’t leave your room today.”
Morgana shook her head. “He doesn’t understand. Every year on the Summer Solstice I try to be close to water. It’s where I feel closest to my mate.”
“Why?” Max was surprised.
“He was a Water Fae.”
“Wait, what?”
Morgana smiled sadly. “His name was Cormac. He was killed during our first war with Boris Thornheart. By my father.”
“I don’t understand.” Max stared at her in horror. “Your father?”
“My father was never very flexible. He was always firm in his belief in tradition, but he tried to be fair. But when he went mad, he decided my mate bond was an abomination and that the only way to end it was to kill him.” She swallowed hard, forcing her tears back. “So he had him taken from our bed. My father had me drugged at dinner so I couldn’t stop him. I was told later that my father had him taken to Boris to be executed. He laughed about it.”
“Morgana…I’m so sorry.”
“It was a very long time ago. And it’s what pushed my brother into challenging our father. And that desperately needed to be done.” She sighed. “So at least some good came out of it.”
“I can’t imagine what that’s like.”
“It gets easier, over time. And I’ve had a lot of time. But every year on the Summer Solstice I honor him.”
“Do you mind me being here? I can go…”
“I actually appreciate the company. Most people avoid me on this day. But it’s hard to grieve by yourself year after year.”
They sat silently for a long time, both of them comforted by the water running in front of them. Finally, Morgana asked Max, “What brought you out here today?”
Max shook his head, disgust washing through him. “My sister. She ‘rescued’ Atreyu and brought him here, knowing he would try to kill Mor. Than she was spying for Boris and just tried to attack my mate.” He let the water he was playing with fall back into the creek with a splash. “Either she’s spelled or she’s turned out just like the rest of my disgusting family.”
“Why did no one send for me? If there is a possibility she is under a spell then I need to make sure I take care of it as soon as possible.”
“Arthur didn’t want to disturb you.”
“That ass. I appreciate that he tries to respect my grief, but this is too important for that.” She glared as she stood up and started stalking off. When Max didn’t follow her fast enough she turned and glared at him, foot tapping as she waited with hand on her hips.
Max scrambled to his feet and started after her. As soon as he was moving, Morgana turned and hurried toward the house. “Tell me about what your sister was like before, Max.”
“Uh, she was sweet. She would sneak around my parents back and try to help. I actually had to step in several times to keep her from getting a beating.” Max felt his voice go monotone as he spoke. “She was the cliche Fae kid who had a way with animals and was too naive for her own good.”
“So this new sister - what would you say she is like?”
“Unhealthy, obsessed with taking me away from Mor, angry, bitter, major superiority complex.” Max’s frown deepened. “Sebastian had to bind her power because she was using it to put others to sleep so she could sneak into places.”
“It’s possible that she could have had a complete change of personality, but typically you’d still be able to see some of the old in there,” Morgana said as they walked into the house. “Take me to her room, please. I’d like to get started right away. If Sebastian keeps her bound, then that will free up my magic to focus solely on freeing Amara from this spell - if there is one, anyway."
Max pushed down the hope that tried to fill him. He didn't think there was really any way that Amara was actually spelled. He knew what his family was like, and she was acting just like them. When they reached Amara's room, Max gestured for Morgana to go in. "Would you like Sebastian to join you while you work?"
"Please. That way he can make adjustments in the moment to her bindings. I'd hate for them to come undone while I'm working. That would be...not good."
"I'll go get him then." He turned and sent a probing thought out before heading down to the War Room. He walked in, finding Sebastian talking with Arthur and Atreyu over a map - again. "Morgana is going to see if Amara is spelled. She'd like you to join her."
"Of course, I'll go right up."
Arthur gaped at Max. "How did you get her to come in?"
Shrugging as he walked out, Max said, "I went to the creek to think and she was there. We talked and she said she wanted to go in. I'm going to go find something to do."
A sly grin crossed Atreyu's face. "You know, Max, Ben is upstairs with Mor taking a shower. I bet they could use some company."
Max paused. "Why didn't you join them?"
Atreyu grinned. "I need to get out and move. Too many fucking days in one fucking
room. I need to be outside. And Mor said, and I quote, ‘I don't want a stick poking my ass.’" He laughed. "I tried to tell her it wouldn't be like that, but I haven't convinced her yet." Atreyu pointed to Max and said solemnly, "Go, now. Drown your sorrows in our mate."
Max laughed with them as he turned to go back outside. He paused as a little pulse of desire shot through him. Mor wanted him to come upstairs. Who was he to argue with that? Of course, the blood rushing to his cock at the thought of Mor and Ben definitely had nothing to do with it. He ran up the stairs two at a time and into their suite without pause for breath.
Opening the door he moaned at the sight of Mor on the bed, Ben's face between her legs. He was holding her legs open while Mor pulled at his head. Max wasn't totally sure if she was trying to push him away or pull him to her, but either way he loved it. He stalked to the bed, stripping out of his shirt as he went.
Mor's eyes flashed open and locked on Max. "Max," her voice was breathless. "Come to play with us?"
He pushed his pants down his hips, reveling in the way Mor's eyes lit up when she saw how hard he was for her. Taking his cock in his hand, he stroked it a couple of times before kneeling on the bed and gripping her hair in his hand. "I love playing with you, sweetie." He kissed her hard and then pulled back, "Open." Mor opened her mouth and let him guide her head to his cock. He sighed as he felt her lips wrap around him and her tongue tease the underside of his cock.
"Fuck, that's hot," Ben said.
"Make her come again. I want to feel her come with my cock in her mouth."
Grinning wickedly, Ben lowered his head and took a long slow lick of her pussy.
Mor came off of Max with a moan. "Now, now, sweetie. Don't lose track. I'm going to fuck that pretty mouth of yours while Ben makes you come."
She turned to him with another long moan as Ben licked again.
"Good girl," Max's voice was rough. He held her hair tightly enough to remind her he was in charge - at least in here - and started moving his cock in her mouth.
She moaned around his cock as Ben picked up his pace. Max couldn't keep his eyes off of Mor as he moved her up and down his cock, her eyes closed tight with pleasure. She moaned as she came, her lips tightening around Max's cock and making him gasp with how good it felt.
Ben kissed his way up Mor's body until he could whisper in her ear, "Ready to come for us, love?"
Ben thrust into her and Mor's eyes opened for a moment before closing again with a moan that sent vibrations around Max's cock. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to come right then. "Open your eyes, Mor. I want to see you come with us filling you."
Her lips tightened again as Ben started moving, making Max move a little faster and deeper into Mor's mouth.
"Good girl. Don't come until we tell you."
Ben moved faster, kissing her neck and up to her ear, "That's it, love, swallow Max all the way down. I want to see you take all of him."
Max had forgotten how fun it was to dominate with Ben. Ben was almost as controlling as he was in bed, and Max was having a hard time controlling his need to come as he watched Mor with Ben moving on top of her. His grip tightened a little bit and Mor groaned around him.
Max pushed his cock in until her lips hit his groin. "Mor, you're such a good girl. I think it's time to come." He nodded at Ben who slipped a hand between his body and Mor's, thumbing her clit and making her come hard. Max came in Mor's mouth, moaning as he watched her swallow him down.
Gently, Max let go of Mor's hair and laid her head down, crawling into the bed next to her as Ben cuddled on her other side. "How are you feeling, sweetie?" Max kissed her forehead and cuddled her to his chest.
"Really good. Really fucking good." Mor's voice was soft as she nestled in between them. She yawned, making Ben and Max chuckle.
"I think it may be time for a nap. Maybe by the time we wake up, Morgana will have Amara straightened out."
"What?!" Mor tried to sit up.
"Erm, sorry. I forgot to tell you that. In my defense I was distracted by Ben eating you."
She paused, annoyance warring on her face with a smile. When the smile won, she grinned and said, "That's fair. Now, what are you talking about?"
"I went to the creek to think and found Morgana there. When she found out what was happening, she insisted on going to work on Amara now. Sebastian is with her, making sure the bindings on her magic hold."
"Oh, maybe we should go?"
Ben kissed her shoulder. "Love, we can't do anything to help her. Take a nap, and then we can check on her afterwards. If she needs you before that, she knows how to find us. Sebastian is with her and can get us without any problem."
Mor nodded, her eyes already closing.
Max sighed as his eyes drifted closed. He felt the relief he'd been seeking at the creek wash through him as he soaked in Mor's presence. This was where he needed to be. Wrapped up in his mate's arms. Drifting off to sleep, Max knew that Mor was the only home he ever needed.
Chapter 13
Mor
Mor woke up slowly, still wrapped in the arms of Ben and Max. The two of them had worn her out earlier, and she had loved every moment of it. She frowned as she woke up further, feeling...odd. Struggling to move the two sleeping Fae off of her, Mor finally sat up and looked around the room, feeling like she had forgotten something. She felt a tug in her mind as her brain finally caught up to her body and came fully awake. Sebastian was calling for her.
"Ben, Max. Wake up. Sebastian needs us." She pushed on their shoulders. They grumbled, but Mor kept messing with them until they finally sat up.
"Sweetie, I was having a good dream," Max grumbled.
"Sebastian is calling for us." Mor was already out of the bed and pulling her clothes on.
"Fuck!" Max was up and had his jeans on before Mor finished talking.
As soon as they were dressed, Mor followed Ben and Max to Amara's room. They wouldn't let her go in first because they wanted to make sure it was safe. She was more powerful than them, but in their minds they were expendable. Ben opened the door and Max followed him in with Mor close on their heels. Morgana and Sebastian were sitting in chairs on either side of the bed, Amara sleeping - or passed out - in the middle of the bed.
"Morgana, what happened?" They both looked so tired Mor was worried until she saw them both smile.
"It was definitely a spell," she held up her hand before Max could say anything. "Now, that doesn't mean she'll revert right back to your sweet sister. We have no way of knowing how much was due to her being spelled and how much is really her."
"I understand." Max still smiled. "At least there's a chance now."
"How long will she sleep?" Mor slipped her hand into Max's and squeezed.
"Probably until dinner time. Sebastian is going to leave on the bindings until we know for sure what she's truly like." Morgana stood with a groan. "We both need to go rest for now. Wake us when she wakes up. Or for dinner. Whichever is first." She yawned and left the room.
"Morgana is right, I do need to rest. She'll be fine in here until she wakes up."
"I'll keep an eye on her," Max said, looking down at Mor.
"I think that's a good idea. Ben and I will go find Atreyu and Arthur to work on our next steps. We need to find those missing Fae."
Max bent down and kissed Mor softly before going to sit next to the bed. Mor and Ben left, shutting the door softly behind them. "War Room?"
"I'm pretty sure that's where we'll find them," Ben said. "What are you thinking?"
"Let's wait until we find them. I want input from all of you," Mor said.
A few moments later, they walked into the War Room to find Arthur arguing with Brandon while Atreyu leaned back in a chair eating an apple.
Lancelot was watching Arthur argue with a tired expression on his face.
Mor sighed, straightened her shoulders and stalked over to Brandon and Arthur.
Atreyu winked at her and Mor fought down a giggle. "What is the problem?"
"My rose, I didn't see you come in." Arthur smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I was just trying to explain to this - Fae - why we needed to rescue the missing families."
"And I was just explaining to this - Dragon - why we need to focus on breaking Boris's hold around the castle!"
Mor frowned. "I feel like I'm not getting the full story."
Laughing, Atreyu set his chair down with a thunk. "You aren't. It started out with them, uh, discussing differences in strategy, and then ended with Brandon telling Arthur his son shouldn't be tangled up with Max's family issues and Arthur telling Brandon that he should get his family in line. It went downhill from there. There was some rather creative name calling. I took notes."
Mor sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Really, y'all? As if we don't have enough bullshit to handle right now." She stepped away from Arthur and turned to face Brandon. "Brandon, Max's family is our family. Do whatever you have to do to get used to that. We will support him just like we support anyone in our - whatever this is called." Mor looked over at Atreyu. "What is it called, anyway? Mate group? Circle?"
"Anamchairde." Atreyu's voice was soft as he smiled at her. "It means soulmates."
"We support all of our Anamchairde, however they need it." Mor's voice was sharp as she turned to Arthur. "And Arthur. You cannot tell him to ’get his family in line’." Seriously. If he was having a problem with our plans, then you should have set up a meeting for later or told him to talk to me. You're a fucking king. Act like it." Both of them were hanging their heads by the time Mor finished speaking.
"You are correct, your Majesty. I know that if any in my Anamchairde needed help we would do whatever we could for them." Brandon took a deep breath, turned to Arthur and said, "I apologize, my Lord."
Arthur nodded. "Accepted. And I apologize for calling you a spineless toad." Turning to Mor, he said, "And I apologize to you, my rose. I am not used to my subjects arguing with me or demanding an explanation. I will strive to improve."
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