She was sobbing now, her body so hard with need that he knew that as soon as he entered her, took her, she was going to hurt them both. Akassa took her breast into his mouth, his fingers sliding to her pussy and into her. When she came again, Akassa moved his hand and Simeon entered her quick and hard. And waited.
Her scream this time was of pain. He didn’t move but Akassa kissed her, comforted her while he felt sweat roll down his back. Simeon couldn’t have moved even if he wanted; she was strangling his cock so tightly that he feared for permanent injury. When she moved, her hips just adjusting herself into a better position, he moaned.
“Christ, you’re beautiful.” The grin she gave him made him think she knew just what she was doing. “Move again like that and I’m not going to wait any longer. As it is now, I’m having a hard time, harder than you think, just waiting until you’re ready for us.”
“You mean like this.” Akassa laughed and she moaned again when Simeon filled her deeper. “Oh yes. That’s much better. Do it again.”
“So demanding.” She nodded and bowed up from the bed when he moved again. This time he laid over her, taking her breast into his mouth as he took her slowly, gently. “I love the way you tighten around me. The way your body milks me. Come for me, Bryn. I want to feel your climax.”
They made love for as long as she’d let him. She was demanding…not that he minded, but she wanted relief and so did he. Knowing that he was going to have her in his life forever, Simeon let her have her release and he did as well.
It was glorious. Spectacular. He saw stars and diamonds. There was even a moment, a tiny one, when he was sure that he saw the castle in all its glory. Even as he dropped over her, his body spent, she reached for Akassa. Simeon watched the two of them while he rested.
Akassa did indeed take her hard. He looked as if he were ramming nails into the floor. As she came again and again, Simeon fisted his own cock and knew that when they came again, he was going to as well. It was the most amazing thing he’d ever realized, having a mate that was this special to them both.
Chapter 6
Gideon walked around the castle three times. No easy feat either, considering that it was about a football field across in the front and about half that shoved back up against the mountain behind it. He could see that something was different, he just didn’t know what it was. So, he was standing in front of the thing when he was joined by three of his brothers.
“What did you do?” He looked over at Asher when he spoke. “I mean, it’s been played with, don’t you think?”
“Played with? It’s a fucking rock building, Asher, not some kid’s toy blocks. I think that playing with it is out of the question. But there is something different. I just can’t put my finger on it.” Asher nodded and asked Elam and Jed if they knew what it was. “I thought it was the windows that are now in, but that’s not it either. It’s something big.”
The women joined them…all seven of them, including his mom. And then before they were there very long, the rest of the family showed up. It was as if someone had set up a time for them to meet, and there they all were. Everyone stared at the castle as if they too were wondering what was different. He didn’t want to ask the question again, but left it to Elam. He said that something was off.
“Off good, or off bad?” Elam shrugged, and when Bryn laughed, he wondered what he’d done now. She was a little hard to get to know, he’d realized. Always so quiet and on the ready. Like she was ready to kill anything that touched her. He asked her what she saw.
“It’s done.” No, that wasn’t it, so he looked again. “Yes, it is. It’s done to the point where it can be. The magic has done all that it can for it. So the rest is up to us. I’m sure that the book will be readable now. Try it.”
“Book?” Gideon turned to Asher. “Do you have it on you? I mean, if this is the time we do this, then I’d very much like to get it over with. Having this thing done will do wonders for my back and sleeping.” They all laughed. Any one of them could lift up a stone the size of a car, but he understood what he meant. Done would be good.
“I don’t carry around old books, Gideon, but I can go back for it. Just don’t do anything until I come back.” What Asher expected them to do without him was beyond him, but they all stood around and waited. When he returned, he looked a little freaked out and they asked him about it. Asher said that the book was still blank, but they had visitors.
“What sort of visitors? You know, I’m mighty sick of people just showing up unannounced like this. You’d think we was running a show here or something.” Mom hushed Dad and turned to Asher. “Well, it is mighty hard to have a quiet moment or two with your loved ones when they keep popping up like one of them kid toys.”
“Who is it, son? No one we know, I’m guessing.” He shook his head and handed the book to Essie. “The book isn’t working, you said? That’s all right. We’ll get it to work. Tell us about the people.”
“No, not yet. I wasn’t sure that we all had to be together when we tried it, but I guess that’s not it. About the visitors, they’re in town. Not here yet. They’re planning a meeting. And while Victor, the hotel manager, doesn’t know exactly what they’re here for, he’s seen a couple of pamphlets that let him believe that they’re slayers. A big group of them, too.”
“What do you want to do?” Gideon didn’t like the look on Bryn’s face when she spoke. It was hard and deadly. When she glanced at him, he had a feeling that, like most of the women in the family, she could read his mind. Her next words confirmed it. “I say we just let them hang themselves by coming out here. I know that Gideon thinks that they’re as good as dead as far as I’m concerned. And he’s right. End this shit once and for all.”
“No, I didn’t.” He lowered his voice when his mother cleared her throat. “What I mean is, I don’t want to kill the lot of them when there might be a better solution. You know, like asking them nicely to go away.”
“You think that’s going to work with these men?” He didn’t and told her that. “Well then, why are we wasting our time in doing this when we could just go there, end them, and move on with our lives?” She looked at Asher. “I have enough men right now to finish this if you want.”
“What do you mean, men?” Gideon looked around. “There isn’t anyone here but us. Unless you plan on taking the faeries with you from here, but I don’t think that’s going to do you a bit of good. I know that they have magic and all, but to think that they can do any real harm to anyone is just.... Well, you know, like I said, they’re very tiny.”
“Really? All right then, Gideon, how about we have a bet. You stand right there, and I’ll show you what kind of damage my army of faeries can do.” He knew that he should have turned her down, but he heard his brothers laughing and he stood where she told him. The tree behind him was strong and sturdy, and he knew if need be, he could get behind it, but as soon as the swarm came to stand beside Bryn, he realized he might have made the biggest mistake of his life. And hopefully not his last one.
The pip, what he’d heard a group of faeries were called, came at him at once. Not one of them touched him as they flew around him, and he had to close his eyes against the dizzying speed that they were moving. He felt things touch his face and arms, but nothing heavy or painful. When the buzzing stopped, he opened his eyes and looked at his family. They were staring at him as if he had a gun in his hand.
“That was scary, but I think I’ve proven my point, don’t you think?” They were still staring at him oddly, and he finally had enough. “What are you staring at? I’m not harmed, just as I said I’d not be.” Gladly too.
“Come here and look.” Gideon moved from the tree toward Asher when he waved him over. “Just don’t make any sudden moves, all right? I don’t know how safe that is around you.”
“What are you talking about?” He was facing Asher when he took his shoulders in his hand and turned him. When he did, he fell on his ass and stared at what they’d done. “Christ. What t
he fuck?”
“Gideon. Your language, please.” He nodded at his mom, but continued to stare at what was left of the tree. “It’s a good likeness of you, don’t you think?”
The tree was gone, or at least most of it was, but what was left was a carving of him. Not just a crude one, but an exact replica of him. Even his boots, which he’d not tied, were there, and his scruffy hair. All it needed to have was color and he was sure that someone would be hard pressed to tell the difference. Christ, they’d done that, with him standing there, in a matter of seconds, and he’d not been touched once. He looked at Bryn.
“They might have gotten a little zealous in doing this for you, but as you can see, they’re very good at carving out a solid piece of wood when they’re playing around. Can you imagine what they’d do with a human being? One that would try and harm anyone here? Or for that matter, anyone not human? They’re the best there is, Gideon, and they are very tiny, as you said.” She laughed again. “Why don’t you stand still again, and we can show everyone what else they can do to one. You don’t mind being an example, do you, Gideon?”
“I don’t like you.” They all laughed, but he wasn’t sure that anyone actually thought this was funny. It was fucking scary, is what it was. “You trained them to do this? For sport?”
“No, I trained them to kill, but they had to hone their skills at it. They’re small, as you’ve noticed, and they can be knocked away very easily. What they did here, it was the best way to show you that they’re strong. In a matter of seconds, they can kill a full-grown man, and not one of them will be harmed. They work as a single unit, and as you can see, they’re huge in number, so they’d be bigger than any dragon here should they wish to be.”
Tinsel came to land on his shoulder and Gideon let him. He’d been hanging out with him since they’d arrived. Bryn had quit him, and while he wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, the little brownie had been heartbroken. He cried about his stupidity every day.
“Hello.” Gideon looked at Anthony when he simply appeared. “My goodness, to see you all here together makes me think that Eve and I did a good job in this. How are you, Brynhilde?”
“Mad at you still, so don’t go getting all mushy with me. You misled me in having me come here, and you know it.” He grinned and nodded. “And he has the book, fat lot of good it’s done him. The magic isn’t working for us. If there was any in the first place. How could you do this to me? To them?”
“Oh, but it has. Look at the castle. It’s done.” She pointed out that it was nearly done before she arrived. “Yes, but now the magic is working its way through the stone. Soon it will be made of the most impregnable rocks ever made. All thanks to you doing what I asked of you. And you didn’t make it easy on me, either. The way you’d just lie there, waiting for something to befall you. I had a headache for hours after.”
No one mentioned that he’d died shortly after that…no more than a couple of days, as a matter of fact. Gideon was helped to his feet, and he looked at the carving again. To think that he’d been standing there when they’d done it. Turning to the family, he listened to what was being said. Or in this case, what was being argued over. It would never be boring with his family, he thought.
“So that’s why I brought the book here? So that the castle, that’s made of stone, can be stronger? That’s it?” He rubbed his head, something she’d seen him to several times that night she’d spoken to him. She was glad, Gideon realized, that she was frustrating the poor king. “And now what do we do? Sit inside and let the slayers come and slaughter the dragons?”
“You know, I think I liked you better when you were a bit more subservient. No, we do not just sit back and wait for that. You’ll take care of them, all of you will, and once you do, this will be finished once and for all.” She asked him how that was going to happen. “You do have to kill them.”
“No.” His mom moved toward the king. “No more killing, please. Being dead and with the dead has taught me a few things. We should talk to them. See if we can work something out. You know, like a compromise or something. Surely we could do that rather than just have a bloodbath. Something needs to be done, I know this, but death is so.... Please?”
“I’m afraid these men are on a path much like the one that the villagers were all those years ago, young Sally. They have it in their heads not just to kill every dragon that has gathered here, but all of you as well. And they’re being fueled by a single man, a man that I have not seen in a great many years.” Gideon asked him who. “Wilson. I’m not sure if he’s using a last name as is the custom now, but he is one of the original members of the slayers from all those years ago.”
“Wait. One of the original members? You mean, he’s like us? An immortal?” Anthony shook his head. “Then I don’t understand. How could he be one of them from all that time ago?”
“He’s an immortal, but he can be killed. You cannot, not since Brynhilde joined the family. Iron can kill him, as well as slicing his head from his body. He can sustain injuries, as well as bleed to death. And before you ask, yes, he’s the one that has been moving people into your way all along. I only just found out about it when I was awakened. He’s even behind Helena and her fumbling around. Not the fumbling part, but you understand. Getting others to do his work has always been his way of doing things. And in this, he’s failed at every attempt. And I for one would like to see him finished.” Gideon asked why he was doing this now and not before. “You weren’t as strong as you are now. There is literally no one out there, not even a whole group, that can take you down. Not anymore. Not that he won’t try. He’s always been someone that can’t take no for an answer. But you must kill him, and some of his flock. It’s the only way to disband them completely. A show of force…it’s got to be that way so that others will realize that it’s not worth the death count.”
“I don’t know why it should matter. I mean, as you said, we’re all immortal now. There isn’t any way for him to kill us.” Anthony said nothing, but he could tell he was frustrated with their mom. “Why can’t we just try and talk to them? I mean, wouldn’t it be better that way? No more bloodshed?”
“Several hundred years from now, they’ll return if we don’t do this now. And when they do, you will have to stand by and watch the ruination of your family; the other dragons here, as well as the ones coming, will begin to die off too because there will be no children born to them. They’ll not be able to kill your loved ones, not with the magic that they now have, but they can hide them in a way that they shan’t be found. Their bodies will be alive, their minds as well, but they will be under the dirt and water so that no one can find them. And no one will even know how to look for them or where. The magic of the land, it depends on the dragons. When they’re gone, so will be the magic. And he will leave you here, you and Jacob, to be the last of your kind, to live out the rest of your days, forever. There will be no dragons, no magic here, except the part that keeps your hearts beating…your broken hearts, that is.” Mom looked at all of them, then back at Anthony as he continued. “Neither Eve nor I wish for that to happen to the nicest, kindest family that we have ever met. Without the two of you and your kindness, none of us would be here. The dragons would have nowhere to have hidden. There would be no children born to them. All because of the two of you. And he knows this. It’s why his plan is to leave you here with nothing. Because to his way of thinking, you are nothing.”
“They’ll do this? They’ll come anyway?” Anthony nodded at Gideon when he asked. “But if we do this, this showing of our force, they’ll leave us alone? All slayers will go away and never bother us or the dragons again? How can you be so sure about something so permanent? I mean, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but how can you know?”
“Never would they bother you again. And it will happen because the man who will have been there, forever, will be dead. He will no longer be pushing people into doing his work. There will be no more of his magic being used to manipulate others into tryin
g to kill you. His body will become dust and you’ll be free of him. As I said, forever.” Anthony looked at Mom. “You must allow them to end this, Sally. If they don’t, all that you’ve lived for, every person’s life that you’ve touched and loved, will be dead. And you will be alone again. It is a fate that I would not wish on anyone, but especially you and Jacob.”
Gideon wasn’t sure what she was going to do. Mom looked like she was hurting from the things that she’d been told. And he was too. To have come all this way, to have found such happiness here with his love and family, to see it all for nothing, hurt his heart so badly.
“Kill them.” Anthony told Mom that he was sorry for this. “So am I, my lord, but I won’t have this family suffer again. And I won’t lose them again, not like this. This is something that I have dreaded my entire life, the ending of something so wonderful. And if it takes the killing of a few, I hate it, but I want it to end. Now. Today if we can.”
Anthony nodded and moved to stand next to Asher. As they spoke quietly, Mom turned to him and his other brothers. He saw how much this was costing her—what it took from her to condone murder—but she patted him on the cheek then walked away. He ached for her, but knew that this was the only way they’d all be safe. Then she went back the way she’d come, toward home.
Gideon loved his mom more in that moment than he had at any other time in his life. She was the bravest woman he knew, and a warrior. Mom, his mom, would keep them all safe, no matter what it took. He’d known that, he supposed, but right now he felt it all the way through his heart. His mom was as brave and as strong as any warrior that had ever come to the battlefield.
~~~
Wilson looked at the single book he’d been able to gather. Not that it did him much good. The language that it had been written in had been dead longer than some dragons had been. Now that he was close to getting all that he wanted more than anything, things weren’t going his way. And he had a feeling that his book, the one that had been stolen from him all those decades ago, was now in the very hands that could use it. The new king would be able to destroy him. And he wasn’t going to let that happen if he could help it.
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