by Lacey Thorn
Farrah looked up at her mates and knew that their night of love had only just begun.
Chapter Six
It wasn’t until late the next morning that Farrah finally met the mother of her warriors. When she left the bedchamber she headed down the stairs to the cooking room where Erika usually was with her two little ones. Erika was indeed there with Galrik and Malia but also present this morning were three other women. One was Erika’s mother Erin, one was her warriors’ mother Mariska and the other Farrah thought might be the mother of the Savari warriors who for some reason had been unable to attend Farrah’s ceremony.
“Good morn, Farrah,” Erin called to her, rising from the table to embrace the glowing young woman. “You were not properly introduced yesterday but this is Mariska, the mother of your mates, and next to her is Katya, the mother of Erika’s mates, Galen and Arik.”
“It is nice to meet you,” Farrah told Katya before turning to Mariska. “Mama Mariska, I am grateful to finally meet you.” Farrah couldn’t stop the blush that turned her face a bright red as she recalled everything that Erin and Mariska had witnessed last night at the joining ceremony.
Mariska Donan just smiled and walked to Farrah and embraced her warmly before placing a kiss on her cheek. “I am happy to meet you, daughter. I am delighted in the woman who has won the hearts of my sons.”
“Thank you,” Farrah answered, waiting for the women to reseat themselves before taking a seat at the table and joining them. “I want you to know that I will do my all to take care of your sons.”
“I know that, Farrah. I saw the love in your eyes at the ceremony,” Mariska told her. “I am delighted that my sons have found such a gift.”
“I believe that Mariska should be made aware of everything, Farrah,” Erin told her. “She is your mother as well now and soon you will be moving to her part of the village. When you are here with Erika, Katya will help. When you come to visit me, I will be there. And when you are at your new home, Mariska will be there.”
“Mama Katya knows already of me,” Erika shared with Farrah. Katya, catching the relevance of the conversation, looked at Farrah with knowledgeable eyes, taking in the red of her top before whispering the one word, “Fire.”
“Yes,” Erin nodded. “Fire.”
“What are you talking about?” Mariska asked. “We can all see that she is of the fire caste but what has that to do with anything?”
Farrah looked at her new mother and admitted, “I am the Guardian of Fire, blessed by the hand of the goddess to create and hold flame in the palm of my hand.”
“By the goddess,” Mariska exclaimed, “Is this true?”
Before anyone could answer Farrah held out her hand and a small ball of fire took shape there before she closed her hand and extinguished it. “It is true.”
“And Erika? What has this to do with you?” Mariska was startled by the revelation that her new daughter was indeed one of the foretold Guardians.
“I am the Guardian of Earth,” Erika told her.
“We trust you to hold these secrets close to your heart, sharing them with no one,” Erin told Mariska. “Their very lives could depend on it.”
“I… Do my sons know that you are a Guardian?”
“No. I have not shared this part of myself with them yet but I will,” Farrah assured her.
“They already know that I am,” Erika stated. “They as well as my own warriors and Reanna and the four of you all share the secret of who and what I am.”
“I am truly blessed by the goddess for a Guardian to be given into my family,” Mariska told Farrah softly. “I will keep your secret with my life. And yours as well,” she added to Erika.
“There is one other thing that you should probably know,” Farrah told her. “I was sent here by my aunt. Although she said that she was sending me to Erika I believe that she knew I would meet and mate with your sons.”
“Who is this woman?” Mariska asked, though she already guessed the answer. Only one woman would be able to foresee something like that, the Mahiki.
“My Aunt Asme,” Farrah whispered, “the last Mahiki.”
“Your aunt?” Mariska asked with a small gasp.
“Aunt by bond not by blood,” Farrah stated. “My mother has been close friends with the princess since they were girls.”
“Ahhh… You are the daughter of Solame,” Mariska nodded. “I should have known that. You look just like your mother. I remember her from before.”
There was no need to say before what. Everyone in the room knew that Mariska spoke of before the warriors had come and life had changed for everyone on the Island of Altair. “And now you are my daughter,” Mariska smiled at Farrah.
“I will not disappoint you,” Farrah hastened to assure this woman who had given life to Farrah’s mates.
“It is I who will strive not to disappoint you,” Mariska replied, making Farrah suddenly aware of just how much the women would revere a Guardian. The Guardians were those woman blessed by the Goddess of Altair with the powers of earth, fire, water and air. When they were called together and joined by the Mystic the curse over the island would be lifted and the goddess would once more cloak them in her protection. It was only just dawning on Farrah how truly important her gift was.
* * * * *
Farrah left the Savari home with Mama Mariska later that morning and crossed the village to see her new home. Marcus, Alexi and Bannen were off doing different things this morning and had thought nothing of leaving Farrah in their mother’s keep for the day. She would have liked to see her home for the first time with one of them present but she knew that a warrior’s day was full with training, strategy and maintaining the safety of the village and all who were in it.
Things seemed peaceful in this village but Farrah knew well the hardships that their warriors faced. Her own brothers had been killed in battle against men who sought to lay claim to the Island of Altair and its women. She had helped her mother to bathe and prepare the bodies for the funeral pyre. War was brutal. It indiscriminately killed those on both sides, with little thought to the ones left behind to pick up the pieces, to mourn, to live.
She had hidden many times on her journey from groups of the others who had penetrated from the shores into the interior of the island. It seemed that more and more of these men were coming every day and somehow their warriors fought and held them back. She could feel the time of change thickening in her blood, a call in her soul. Soon she and the other Guardians would be called forward by the Mystic. Together they would call upon the Goddess of Altair and plead for her protection once more.
Farrah shivered as a chill traced down her spine. It was as if a shadow had crossed through her as if the eyes of the ancients watched her. She glanced around but no one seemed to be paying any undue attention to either her or Mama Mariska. Farrah did her best to shake the feeling away and focus on the portion of the village that they were now entering, the homes of those in the fire caste.
Everything was familiar yet different. It was like coming home and yet it was not. Gone were the faces that she had seen every day of her life replaced with new ones filled with curiosity. Many women approached and she was introduced to more people than she could ever possibly remember. They were friendly and accepting, glad that the Donan brothers had bonded with a mate at last. There were no harsh looks or jealous outbursts from the young women present, which was a relief to Farrah.
Mama Mariska approached a beautiful home and opened the door, leading Farrah inside and leaving the rest of the people outside. Farrah took in everything as Mama Mariska gave her a tour of the home, showing her the eating room and great room with pride for the elaborate furnishings before leading her up the curved staircase to the second floor and the bedrooms.
There were four of them but it was the main one that she was most interested in. Mariska must have moved her sons’ things into the big room before she had gone to the Savari home for the joining. A large bed took up one entire wall and seemed more
than big enough to hold her and all three of her warriors which she knew it was meant to. From this point on they would all share the same bed unless one of her mates was away or ill. The closet was already filled with their clothes as well as more skirts and tops for her that someone had already provided.
The bathing chamber was attached and the rounded wooden tub was deep and long, easily large enough for all of them to bathe together. She noticed the little details in the room, the flowers and soft drying cloths that were the same green as her eyes. She noticed the fragrant smell of the soap that she knew was meant for her. She was overcome with all that this meant. She was a claimed woman now, mated to a fierce set of warriors who might be called to take a greater role in the fight they constantly waged at any time.
Mama Mariska seemed to know exactly what Farrah was thinking for she took her hand and squeezed it tightly. “You must not think of what could be or what might come. You must enjoy every moment of the here and now and savor it.”
“And your husbands?” Farrah asked the woman who was now her mother. “How long have they been gone? When do they return?”
“They serve one more year with the prince at the shores,” Mariska said with a soft smile, “but they come home to me when they can. The prince is very good about letting his men leave for a day every once in a while so that they may see family and know that all is well.”
“I didn’t know that,” Farrah murmured. “My fathers were sent back home when my brothers were killed in battle. They stayed for a few months before returning to the shores and the prince. I know that they visited often but I did not know that the prince knew and allowed it. I always worried that they would be caught.”
“You think so little of our prince?” Mama Mariska asked.
“I am finding that I know very little of him at all,” Farrah admitted. “It was always Uncle Godar who was around from the time that I was a child. I never really saw the prince when I visited with Aunt Asme.”
“The prince has always fought with his men,” Mariska told her, “never once has he hidden behind who he was.”
“I know that Aunt Asme always hurried in to him when he did come and I just thought that it was fear of displeasing him,” Farrah spoke quietly, seeing things so differently now as she looked with the eyes of a woman. “Now I wonder if I knew anything at all.”
“We all see things differently as we grow from child to woman,” Mariska told her quietly. “One we see with our eyes and the other we see with our hearts.”
“I have been wrong in so many things, Mama Mariska,” Farrah said.
“You have been right as well or you would not be so blessed by the goddess,” Mama Mariska told her.
“Yes,” Farrah said. “She did bless me as a Guardian.”
“I was speaking of sending you to my sons,” Mama Mariska replied, making Farrah laugh as they both headed out of the room and back into the hall.
When they were once more in the cooking room Farrah noticed a door that she had not earlier. “Where does that lead to?” she asked.
“That is the room where I have been staying since my husbands have been gone,” Mariska admitted. “My sons wanted me close so that they could watch over me for their fathers. Now that you are here I will move my things back to my own home across the way.”
“You will do no such thing,” Farrah told her adamantly. “If my warriors wanted you here to watch over you then here is where you shall stay. Your husbands are still gone and I would feel much better knowing that you are down here if I have need of you.”
“You honor me,” Mariska told her new daughter, with tears on her cheeks. “I would not wish to interrupt your bonding time with my sons. I know the importance of time spent alone.”
“I will have that,” Farrah replied, “and I will have it whether you are under this roof or another. You above all else should know that your sons would have it no other way.”
Mariska laughed and hugged Farrah tightly for a moment before stepping back with a big smile on her face. “I am doubly blessed to have you for a daughter. Now let’s get started on the things that have gone undone for the past day while I was away. I’m sure that we do things similarly to how you were taught. I will show you where we keep things and how we spend our day.”
“I was always a gatherer in my village,” Farrah spoke softly.
“Ahhh but you are a mated woman now so you will no longer be a gatherer,” Mariska told her. “Now most of your work will be confined to the village and the Donan family homes.”
“How many homes do you have?” Farrah asked.
“There is my home, my sons’ home and my mother still lives here in the village with the widowed women. Each family who has someone living in the widow home takes turns every week keeping up the home. Next week will be ours but I would like to take you there this week to introduce you to my mother.”
“I would like that,” Farrah nodded. “For now, what do we do?”
The rest of the morning was spent learning the duties that would be required of her from now own. It was all relatively easy and she finished quickly. It would be up to her and Mama Mariska to make sure there was ample supply of wood and oil for the fire places and lamps in their homes. The supply was replenished every morning and by the time they had carted what was needed the morning was almost gone. While they had been out Farrah had been approached by one of the elders in the fire caste to become a trainer.
The newly mated women were asked to spend one afternoon a week training the younger girls in their duties. Farrah had been glad to accept as long as someone showed her where they went for wood and oil. She had been paired with another young woman named Imisha. Imisha was married to three warriors as well and had spent her entire life in this village so she knew everything about everything and most everyone. She was pregnant and welcomed Farrah’s help on her teaching day because it was getting harder for her to do the more physical part of the training as she grew rounder and rounder with child. Farrah liked her instantly. She was actually looking forward to spending the following afternoon with Imisha learning and training as well.
When she and Mariska finally left the elder and Imisha it was midday. Farrah was grabbed and swung around as soon as they entered the house. She shrieked and kicked out until she saw the smiling face of Mariska then she calmed down enough to realize it was Bannen who held her so tightly.
“You scared me to death, Bannen,” Farrah scolded but Bannen was anything but repentant. He turned her in his arms and consumed her with his kiss. When he finally pulled away he scooped her up in his arms and headed for the stairs, telling his mother that Farrah would probably be busy for the rest of the afternoon. Farrah heard Mariska’s laughter behind them as Bannen bounded up the stairs and into the bedroom with her. He stood her on her feet and hurriedly undressed both of them before tossing her onto the center of the large bed and joining her there.
He bent to kiss her once more, his passion inflaming her own until they both burned with desire. He moved from her lips down the sleek column of her neck until he reached the mounds of her breasts and the tight buds of her nipples. He took one into his mouth sucking it voraciously while he plucked the other between his fingers. Back and forth he went between them until she was tugging at his long blond hair and begging him for more. He skimmed his lips down her soft belly, stopping and nipping of her flesh in several places before he reached the dewy curls of her sex. He inhaled deeply of her musky scent before swiping his tongue through her glistening folds.
He sucked and nibbled and licked greedily at her pussy, ravishing her with his lips and teeth and tongue until she screamed her release and filled his mouth with her sweet nectar. Still he ravished her, showing no mercy as he forced her higher and higher until she burst again, feeding his hunger with her cries of ecstasy. Finally when she lay spent beneath him Bannen pushed his way back up her body, shoving her legs wide and then moving them so that her feet sat upon his shoulders. He entered her then with a violent plunge
of his cock that slammed into her core. He fucked her as greedily as he had eaten her, filling her repeatedly with harsh thrusts of his engorged cock that soon had her wailing and bucking under him as she crested toward orgasm again.
They came together, her screams piercing the air as his grunts of pleasure met and matched hers. She could feel the fiery wash of his seed in her womb as he forced his pulsing rod deep into her center, giving her every inch. She could feel her muscles contracting around him, squeezing and releasing with her own orgasm as she sought to milk him of every drop she could. They collapsed on the bed together with Bannen turning them to their sides at the last moment and wrapping her in his arms. He kissed her softly on the lips before pulling her close and relaxing into sleep beside her. She heard him whisper “I love you, Farrah” softly and her heart swelled with her own love for him but he was asleep before she could answer.
* * * * *
She woke later when Alexi and Marcus joined them in bed. She was pulled from Bannen’s embrace by Marcus and placed roughly on top of Alexi. His cock pierced her core, making her cry out, but they held her still while Marcus prepared her ass for his own hardened staff. Alexi gave small thrusts, unable to remain still as Marcus hurriedly lubricated her with fire oil. She was wide awake and kissing Alexi intensely when Marcus finally entered her, his cock pushing all the way inside with one sharp thrust. They all moaned and cried out their pleasure as her mates began to fill her together, thrusting and withdrawing with fast, deep strokes that set flame to her blood and ripples of pleasure through her womb.
