by Shea Balik
The thorn moved again. This time it was nearly halfway out.
“Or maybe they thought they were the only ones who could protect you,” Logan said. “I’m not sure I can ever forgive myself for not trying to save them.”
“I never got to tell them that I loved them,” Kyleigh wailed. There were several minutes of silence before she whispered. “My last words to them were that I hate them. What kind of person does that make me?”
“Human,” Logan told her honestly. “Your parents would never hold it against you for lashing out in fear. So why are you?”
“What if I’m a terrible person?” she whispered.
The concrete door disappeared and Logan walked over and sat next to Kyleigh, as she was still huddled on the ground. He sat down next to her, just sitting there with her. Well, that, and he continued to send out his magic to find a way to release the thorn, but it was as if there was a field of electricity around it, zapping him any time he tried to get too close.
“What if you’re not?” Logan asked her in return as he let his magic poke and prod at the Fae’s. He swore the thing hissed at him. Somehow he didn’t think he could heal it himself.
“I don’t think a terrible person could feel the guilt you do for that day.” It was the truth even if it was a bit simplistic. “All we can do, is try to be better in the future.”
She finally lifted her head and looked over at him. “But I do keep trying, yet, in the end, I keep hurting others with words I don’t mean to say, but…” She let out a sigh and dropped her head to her knees. “It’s like I can’t stop them from coming out.”
“Do you feel that thorn?” He prodded at the area, ignoring the zings of what he assumed was Fae magic that was trying to protect it.
Kyleigh closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she nodded. “Yeah.”
“It’s causing the area around it to be all red and inflamed. That thorn is the pain you’re in. The inflamed part, the result of that pain. It radiates out and infects everything around it.”
“Like when I lash out,” Kyleigh mumbled. “What if I can’t stop?”
“You took the first step toward doing that by agreeing to talk with someone about it.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “The guys feel horrible about not vetting Rowan better, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try again.”
“What if it doesn’t work?” she whispered.
Just like he’d challenged her before, Logan said, “And what if it does? More importantly, at least you’ve tried. We can sit here and do the ‘what if’ game for the rest of our lives, but that will never change anything. It is up to you how you live your life.”
Kyleigh gave him a look then waved a hand around the fact that she was stuck in her own head. “Clearly, that’s not true.”
“Really?” he asked her. “Sure, things can happen, sometimes horrible things, but we all have choices to make on how we handle them.” He pointed to where the door had been. “There is no cage, no door, nothing impeding you from coming back to the ones you love.”
“I can still feel his enthrallment,” Kyleigh told him.
Logan nodded. “It’s attached to that thorn. I’m willing to help you, but you have to try to dig it out.”
Logan held out his hand to her, silently indicating he was there if she was willing. He felt relief flow through him when she returned the simple touch. Closing their eyes they concentrated on the thorn.
Soaking in the strength of the man he loved, who still held him tightly, Logan and Kyleigh worked to pull free the thorn. As they slowly wiggled it back and forth, Kyleigh asked, “What if I lash out again when I don’t mean to?”
Logan nudged her with the comfort of his magic. “You apologize and continue to try to do better.”
“Will they be able to forgive me?” she whispered, the fear naked in her voice.
“Always,” Logan told her with zero doubts.
Then the thorn dropped and they were no longer in her head, but back in the basement.
Needing her to know he was still with her all the way, Logan reached out and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “And try to forgive yourself. Everyone here already does.”
He could hear Cullen, Ulf, and some of the others reassure her as they hugged her as tightly as they could.
Even though he was no longer inside her head, Logan could feel the imagined wound healing over as he sank back against Brandr’s broad chest. His eyes closed all on their own. Then he felt himself being lifted and carried. He had no idea where they were going, but so long as Brandr was there to care for him, Logan knew he would remain safe.
CHAPTER 15
Brandr was so damn relieved when he felt Logan return to him. It had felt like he’d been holding his breath that entire time, unsure Logan would be able to get away from the Fae’s powerful magic that had captured Kyleigh so completely.
Holding him as Logan slept in Brandr’s bed, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to let go. He damn well knew he didn’t want to.
Logan had been sleeping for over twelve hours and the only time Brandr had gotten up was when he heard a soft knock on the door. Oluf had a tray of Logan’s favorite foods.
“Is he okay?” Oluf had asked, not even darting his eyes into the room, since Brandr had answered the door with nothing on but a pair of boxers.
Nodding, Brandr took the tray. “Thanks. Yeah. He’s been sleeping the whole time.”
“So has Kyleigh, but before that she seemed…” Oluf smiled. “Like herself again. Do you think Logan healed her?”
That wasn’t something he could answer. “I think only time will truly tell. I’m not sure we know enough about the Fae’s magic to say with certainty.”
Oluf handed him the tray. “If you need anything, let us know.” Then his friend turned and left. But before Brandr had gotten the door shut, Oluf looked back over his shoulder. “Tell Logan, we all appreciate what he did.”
Brandr smiled at his friend. Shutting the door, he put the tray of food on the small table he had set up near the doors to the balcony, then climbed back into bed. He pulled Logan close, breathing him in.
If this was all he had with his fated one, Brandr would forever be grateful for the chance to hold him. He may not have had a lot of time getting to know this sweet, kind, yet stubborn man, but Brandr had still fallen in love with him. He just hoped, one day, Logan would feel the same way about him.
Logan inhaled deeply, his body moving slightly toward him, as if burrowing deeper into Brandr’s embrace. “Is that chicken noodle soup I’m smelling?”
Damn if that sleep gruff voice didn’t go straight to Brandr’s dick. “Yes. Would you like me to bring the tray over?”
But when he started to roll over to get out of bed, Logan gripped his hand, holding it against his chest. “Not yet,” Logan told him. “Right now I’d like to just lie here with you.”
Plastering himself along Logan’s back, he murmured in Logan’s ear, “That is something I can definitely do.”
He had a million questions, but Brandr didn’t give voice to any of them. He knew, when Logan was ready, he’d talk. Then he could ask, but until then, he was going to be content just holding the man who had become his world.
Closing his eyes, Brandr soaked in the warmth from Logan’s body. Savoring the sweet aroma of their combined scents as it surrounded them like the blanket they were cuddled under. His fingers brushed along the soft skin that contrasted beautifully with the hard muscles of Logan’s abdomen.
Little mewls of pleasure rang in his ears as Logan voiced his happiness at being there with Brandr. It was perfect. Brandr couldn’t imagine anything better than this moment of peace that settled over them.
Well, maybe one thing. But as much as he wanted to claim Logan, Brandr refused to push. He needed for Logan to decide when he was ready.
His lips kissed along the shell of Logan’s ear. Okay, so maybe he could push a little. Not really even push, more like silently suggest. If Logan was onboard
, great. If not, Brandr would accept that.
Nipping the fleshy lobe gently, he smiled when Logan’s hips rolled back, bumping into Brandr’s groin. His hard length responded with a twitch.
Then, as if all his dreams were coming true, Logan flipped around so they were lying face to face. Uncertainty filled those azure eyes as he looked at Brandr and whispered, “Would you claim me?”
It took everything within Brandr not to swallow his damn tongue as the image of finally being buried in that hard body took center stage in his mind. “You mean now?” There was no way he was going to allow his hopes up if Logan was just talking hypothetically.
Logan smiled sweetly. Leaning in, he kissed Brandr’s lips before saying, “Yes, now.”
That was all it took for Brandr to push Logan onto his back and seal his mouth over those lush lips. His toes curled when he felt Logan thrust his tongue inside his mouth. As he stroked Brandr’s tongue with it, he swore it was as if the man was using it on his cock.
Fisting Logan’s hair, Brandr held on for all he was worth, loving the fact that his fated one was as into this as he was. Fuck, but it felt so damn good.
His other hand started to roam over the ridges and lines of Logan’s toned body. He traced each delineation of his abs and was happy to discover Logan had a nice six-pack there. Even on the run, Logan must have done his best to keep his body in shape, especially since he’d been living in a bunker for a couple of weeks.
Skimming his fingertips even lower, Brandr ran them along the edge of the man’s boxer briefs. Logan’s hips bucked upward, as if trying to get Brandr to dip inside. Chuckling, he did just that, but avoided actually touching Logan’s cock.
A growl of frustration was fed into the kiss before Logan ripped his lips away from Brandr’s. “Touch me, damn it,” his fated one demanded.
Smiling down at the man, Brandr edged his fingers a little closer. Those azure eyes flashed with sparks of lust, which had Brandr ready to come. That he was able to cause this reaction in someone like Logan, stole the very breath from his lungs.
Wanting nothing more than to please this man who had agreed to let Brandr claim him, he pushed himself down Logan’s body, tugging down those boxer briefs on his way. By the time his mouth was equal with Logan’s hard length, neither of them were wearing a stitch of clothing.
Fluid seeped out of the tip of that long, thick cock before him. Lapping it up, Brandr savored the flavor of the man he was about to claim as he heard Logan groan in pleasure.
Fingers threaded through his hair, holding him in place, as if Logan feared he would stop. That wasn’t about to happen. Not anytime soon.
“Fuck,” Logan moaned when Brandr sealed his mouth over the crown and sucked. Fingers tightened around the strands of his hair, causing a sting of pain.
Brandr didn’t mind. Hell, he enjoyed knowing he was driving Logan crazy with need.
When he bobbed all the way down until his nose was buried in the man’s pubic hair, the sting to his scalp increased, as Logan held him still while fucking his mouth. That Logan was as demanding in bed as out of it wasn’t a surprise. What Brandr hadn’t expected was how much he’d loved the feeling of being manhandled.
Suddenly, images of Logan being the one who was inside Brandr started to form, and Brandr couldn’t deny that he was more than a little bit turned on by the idea. He’d never considered bottoming before, but with Logan, he might just be okay with it.
He let Logan take over for several minutes. It wasn’t until he could feel Logan’s dick throb and his balls pull up that he put his hands on his fated one’s hips and forced him to remain still.
Something between a moan and a groan erupted from Logan’s lips as he tried to keep thrusting in and out of Brandr’s mouth, but found himself unable to move. “Please,” he cried when Logan couldn’t break free of Brandr’s hard grip.
“Slow down, my love,” Brandr cooed when he popped off the man’s cock. “We have all the time in the world.”
Logan’s head thrashed back and forth along the pillow. “But I need you now,” Logan insisted.
So did Brandr. Reaching over to the bedside table, he yanked open the drawer and nearly wept with relief when his hand closed around the lube. The snick of the cap sounded loud in his ears as he poured the viscous fluid onto his fingers.
Once more he settled between Logan’s legs. He ran his lube slicked fingers along the man’s balls, before tracing the line of his crack to the place where he would join with this man who held his heart.
As he slid a finger into Logan’s entrance, his mouth once more engulfed Logan’s red, throbbing prick. The man shouted in pleasure as his hands once more found their way to his hair.
But this time, he not only thrust up into Brandr’s mouth, Logan also pushed back onto the fingers that were stretching him open. The need to make this man his was hard to hold back so as not to rush. It didn’t help that Logan was encouraging him with his moans and pleas for more.
Gods, but he could get lost in this man. What was he saying? Brandr already was. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for Logan. Protecting him and ensuring all his needs were taken care of were all Brandr thought about.
Slipping in a second finger, soon followed by a third finger, he willed Logan to find his release soon. For as much as Brandr wanted to give him this pleasure, he was becoming desperate to claim him. It was like a driving need that spurred his every move at that point.
A cry rang out, at the same moment, Brandr felt the muscles that were clenching his fingers clamp down. A heartbeat later, sweet nectar flowed down his throat as Brandr drank every single drop.
Before Logan even had a chance to catch his breath, Brandr surged up his body and kissed him. Tugging his fingers free, Brandr placed the head of his cock at Logan’s entrance and slid home.
His eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head in bliss as all those wonderful muscles along Logan’s channel tightened rhythmically along Brandr’s length. His canines extended down as the need to bite and claim Logan became a living thing within him.
Only the determination to have Logan orgasm a second time stopped him from rutting against Logan and claiming him right then and there. But it was a close thing, since Brandr couldn’t get rid of the raw need to make this man his for all eternity before it was too late.
Pulling his hips back, Brandr plunged back into all that tight heat. He wrapped a hand around Logan’s still hard dick, stroking him in time with each thrust.
Lips, tongues and teeth met in a hard, brutal kiss that had them both grasping for the other as fingers touched everywhere they could reach. “Please,” Logan cried, his back arching and hips canting upward to meet Brandr thrust for thrust.
Unable to hold back, Brandr sank his teeth deep into Logan’s neck, even as he buried his length as far as he could into Logan’s body. The coppery taste of blood splashed onto his tongue as he claimed the man fate had designed just for him.
Every cell in his body went on overload when he felt those muscles surrounding his cock clamp down, holding him tight. “I love you,” Logan cried out as fluid filled the space between their bodies, triggering Brandr’s own orgasm as he came within Logan’s ass.
Then he floated for a long time, wallowing in the euphoria that surrounded him. It wasn’t until he was able to breath normally again that he had was able to whisper, “I love you too, my fated one.”
Only then did his body work enough to roll over, bringing Logan with him, to cradle in his arms.
Eternity.
The word floated around in his head. As long as that sounded, Brandr was sure it would never be long enough when it came to his time with Logan.
CHAPTER 16
Lying there, completely satisfied with being claimed, Logan hated the thought of what he needed to do next. He’d done all he could to heal Kyleigh, but she would need to finish the rest on her own. He didn’t really know her that well, but he sensed she was up for the challenge, which would relieve the minds of the men
who cared about her.
But there was something else he had seen while prodding the Fae’s magic holding her captive with fear. “I think I know how to seal the Veil,” he blurted out.
Brandr, who had been holding him close, leaned back just enough to look into his eyes. “I thought it would require the eight of you to perform the ritual.”
“Sort of,” Logan told him. “But there is more to it than that.”
That was an understatement, if he had understood everything correctly. He feared it would possibly kill him if things didn’t go well. As it was, he was still feeling a bit wonky with the residual effects from his encounter with Kyleigh’s enthrallment. Although, it was greatly decreased due to being claimed.
He felt his lips curve upward. He had never known sex could be so damn… well, phenomenal. Sure, he had been with several partners over the years, but never had he come like he just had with Brandr.
It was as if the man had owned him body, heart, and soul. In a way, he did.
“We need to gather my friends and yours together,” Logan said as he looked into those silver eyes that had a way of mesmerizing him. “But first,” he pressed a kiss to those lips that had created their own kind of magic along his body. “I know I said it during sex, but I want you to know I meant it as more than just an orgasm thing.”
Logan stared right at Brandr, hoping to convey all the feelings he had at the moment for the man. “I love you. I know we were fated to be together, but…” he let out a long stream of air as he struggled to come up with the right words. “Fate, destiny…” he shook his head. “None of those things compare with how I feel about you.”
Brandr was grinning, like he’d just received a reward. “I love you too, my fated one. Not because you’re destined to be mine, but because of who you are. Everything from your kindness, to your stubborn streak, has managed to captured all that is within me.”
Logan wanted to cry, or laugh, or… hell both, everything. “I am happy to be yours for all eternity,” he said with tears pricking his eyes.
