by Shea Balik
Not that they were the only kind. Like some freaky circus coming to town. Instead of tigers, lions, and bears, it was a menagerie of scales, slime, fur, claws, teeth, and tails, oh my. Or, in this case, it was more like a shudder and nausea.
Kegan had counted at least a dozen of those slimy creatures before he’d turned to take one of the torches and touch it against the kindling in as many places as possible. Less than a minute after they’d started the fire, Bjorn and Eirik went after the Unseelie’s minions, keeping them as far from Kegan, Ryley, and Megan as possible.
The ritual wasn’t long, but it would still take a good five minutes, if they worked fast. The three of them met around the back of bonfire, putting the burning wood between them and the Unseelie’s pets.
“Let’s start,” Ryley said. He stood on one side of Meghan, with Kegan on her other side.
Both Kegan and Meghan nodded in agreement. As they’d done so often in the past they stepped into position. In sync, they raised their arms, as if they were about to perform a ballet dance. Rising to the balls of their feet, they took two steps closer to the fire, then three back. Turning a hundred and eighty degrees they took two steps forward, three back.
When they turned back to the flames, they were back in the same position they’d started. As one, they spoke even as they side stepped in a grapevine move to the right. “We call to the light to engulf the darkness our ancestors created. Melt the ice from the land to right the wrong that has been done to our world.”
Energy sizzled up from the ground, pouring in through Kegan’s feet and up his legs. Sluggish, he tried to keep moving, but wasn’t having much success, as he swore vines twined around his limbs and encircled his torso, twisting and writhing in a dance of its own.
Although his body wasn’t able to move, power infused him. It was as if every word he spoke was a command that couldn’t be denied. “Bring forth the warmth needed to give birth to that which lay dormant beneath the ground, as Mother Earth grants us the ability to sew the threads of the veil, fusing them together to keep our worlds apart.”
He heard a cry, but it was too faint to make out, then a blinding light surrounded him as he finished the final line. “Heed our command to close the fabric of our two worlds.”
Heat erupted within Kegan until he feared he would burn up. Then suddenly, it spread out from his body, surging into the ground, causing it to rumble and pitch wildly.
When he opened his eyes, Kegan stared, stunned, at the piles of ash all around him. Several unmoving bodies of the Unseelie were at Ryley’s feet, as was his sister.
“Meghan,” Kegan cried out.
A groan and a curse let him know she might be down, but she was alive. Relieved, he dropped down to the ground next to Ryley. “Is she okay?”
“Do I fucking look okay?” she grumbled.
Ryley gave a relieved chuckle. “Well, at least this time you didn’t pass out.”
“Yeah, well, last time I hit my head on a rock.” She rolled to her back with a groan. Then her eyes went wide with fear. “I think I’d rather be passed out.”
Kegan jerked his head up to see ten monsters headed their way. He may not have figured out how to wield his lightning perfectly, but Bjorn and Ryley both mentioned it helped when scared. Well, he was fucking terrified as they all charged toward them.
Hell, the ground shook from their weight as they pounded closer. Kegan wasn’t so sure there was a word to describe just how afraid he really was, because terrified didn’t begin to describe it.
The hairs along his body stood on end as something primal coursed through him. He wasn’t sure why, but this time, his eyes were able to remain open as lightning flashed from the sky down to singe everything in its path. Five piles of ash floated to the ground while the other five monsters erupted in a blaze of fire that he assumed came from Ryley, who had inherited the ability to control that element.
Those creatures were still trying to charge toward them, but only managed another half a dozen steps before they’d crashed to the ground, charred to a crisp. The stench would have made Kegan cringe but behind them at least another dozen were there to replace the ones he and Ryley had defeated.
“We’ve got to get to Eirik and Bjorn so we can put Meghan in the middle of us,” Ryley said, as he bent down to help his sister to her feet.
She stumbled slightly, but was able to get moving after taking a moment to gain her equilibrium. But it wasn’t enough, for she was still somewhat sluggish in her movements. They wouldn’t make it more than a half a dozen steps before the Unseelie pets reached them.
Kegan reached into himself, channeling that same feeling he’d felt just a minute ago. As if he found the place where his magic was inside of him, Kegan felt the hairs along his body once more stand on end. This time, when the lightning came down from above, he held onto it.
His eyes nearly bugged out of his head when the jagged line arced to run from the first slimy monster on the right, to race along the line until it incinerated the last one, mostly covered in scales with tufts of fur along its arms and legs. When the streak of lightning disappeared, there was nothing but ash along the ground, as well as hung in the air for several heartbeats as if they were suspended, before drifting down to join the rest.
“Did you just see that?” he yelled out above the roar of the bonfire that was popping and crackling as they raced around it.
“Sort of, but I have to admit, I was running, so I missed most of it,” Ryley admitted. “Now, can you help me get Meghan to Eirik and Bjorn?”
If the situation wasn’t so dire, Kegan would have pouted that his accomplishment with his magic hadn’t been acknowledged. Selfish? Yep. Kegan was man enough to admit that. He also knew this wasn’t the time or place to feel that way, especially as there were another… Fuck, was that twenty more of those creatures behind them?
Kegan didn’t bother taking the time to turn around and recount. It was close enough, no matter the actual number. “We need to go faster,” he yelled as he was sure he could feel their fetid breaths on his neck.
It was taking every bit of his self-control not to let Meghan go to try and kill all of the monsters before they tore through all three of them. Like a horror movie on repeat, all he could see were those claws tearing through his brother, and doing the same to them because they couldn’t run fast enough.
Every cell in his body was screaming for him to let go of Meghan before they all ended up dead, just as they rounded the bonfire to practically run into Bjorn.
“Duck,” Bjorn yelled.
All three of them dropped to the ground. Gunfire echoed in his ears as Bjorn unloaded an entire clip in what had to be less than a second. Dazed, Kegan watched as Meghan curled into a ball, hands over her head, while Ryley grabbed a nearby sword stashed beneath the snow for easy access, and bounded up to his feet in a smooth move that had Kegan feeling more than a little jealous.
But it also brought him out of his stupor. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ryley swing his sword and cut the arm off the nearest creature as it had tried to swipe its claws across Ryley’s throat.
By the time the appendage had dropped to the ground, Kegan had called forth another bolt of lightning, striking the closest four monsters when they had moved to attack Meghan. Her sobs could be heard just over the roar of the bonfire, tearing at Kegan’s heart. Ryley was right. They had to keep her safe.
As if all four of them had the same thought, they surrounded her. But no matter what direction they looked, more of the creatures appeared. There was no way they could beat them all.
“Are they still coming through the Veil?” he yelled to whoever was paying attention.
“No,” Eirik yelled back. “They stopped coming through a few minutes ago, but there had to be at least two hundred that made it before that.”
Fuck.
“Just keep doing your job, dollface,” Bjorn called out to him as if sensing his rising panic.
Who was he kidding? Kegan had been in full p
anic mode until he heard Bjorn’s reassuring voice. It was like a balm to his battered soul. As overwhelming as the oncoming creatures were, Bjorn was right. They could only do what they could do.
They had to trust in each other to accomplish what should have been an impossible task. But together they were stronger, making the impossible, possible.
A grin that never should have been a thought in his head, tugged at the corners of his lips. Digging deep, he reached for his magic. Now that he understood that all he had to do was believe in himself, accessing his ability was easy as pie.
This time though, instead of the hairs on his body standing on end, which they still did, it was as if he was drawing on the energy within the earth and sky all around them, charging every cell within his body. When the closest slimy thing was less than ten feet from him, he let his power loose.
Light flashed before them as lightning crashed from the clouds down to the ground, shaking the ground with a force that knocked those closest to them onto their butts. But before the creatures could even shake their heads in wonder, the jagged streak of light raced along the ground, destroying everything in its path.
Focused on his objective, Kegan didn’t hear Bjorn’s shout of warning until it was too late. His body went flying. The impact with the ground knocked the breath right out of his lungs. Unable to breathe, much less move, Kegan watched in horror as one of those damn slimy things came at him.
A roar shook the ground just as forcefully as his lightning strike had. The slimy thing stumbled, before being forced to its knees. That might have bought Kegan a minute to move, but still unable to breathe, no way was he going anywhere.
That’s when he felt the ground tremble as if a herd of elephants were heading right for him. Terrified instead of elephants he’d find a horde of slimy beasts, Kegan reluctantly glanced upward.
He let out a gasp. For there was no gruesome creatures. Instead, the most gorgeous bear, that appeared three times its normal size, bounded right for the monster that had thought to use Kegan as a bowling pin.
Bjorn.
Kegan grinned as he watched his lover tear through the Unseelie pet like it was a bug. When Bjorn then came over to Kegan and nuzzled his snout against Kegan, he found his breath. “It’s okay, big guy. I’ll be fine. Though I’m sure my muscles would say otherwise. But it’s nothing a nice long soak in a hot bath wouldn’t cure.”
Bjorn grunted and licked a path along his cheek.
Chuckling, Kegan placed a hand on Bjorn to help him get up. “Now, let’s kill these assholes.”
Bjorn dipped his head down, then turned and roared at the monsters daring to come close.
“God, I love you,” Kegan said before getting back to the job at hand.
CHAPTER 20
Hornier than he’d ever been in his entire life, Bjorn mashed down on the brakes. The SUV skidded slightly on the recent snow that had fallen that night as they’d driven home. But none of that mattered to him as he jumped from the vehicle, barely having the presence of mind to shut the door behind him.
He could hear the light musical sound of Kegan’s laughter as he threw open the passenger door. Thankfully, Kegan had been smart enough to already take off his seatbelt, or Bjorn feared he might have jerked the thing right out of the car in an effort to get his hands on the man.
“Somebody’s impatient,” Kegan teased.
Bjorn grunted and tossed Kegan over his shoulder for his impertinence. As he bounded up the steps, he smacked that tight, rounded ass. “Only because you decided it would be a good idea to blow me on the way home.”
By Odin’s teeth, that had been the singular best and worst experience of Bjorn’s life. The feel of Kegan’s tongue licking him softly from root to tip, them back down again, had him so fucking hard, Bjorn nearly drove them right off a cliff. Which was why it was horrifying at the same time.
When fighting the Unseelie’s pets, Bjorn knew there was a chance he’d fail, but he would do everything within his power to protect Kegan. But when Kegan’s lips actually wrapped around the tip of his cock and sucked, Bjorn was out of his damn mind with lust and wasn’t sure he could see straight, much less keep Kegan safe.
It had killed him to do it, but he’d forced Kegan to stop. But that didn’t stop his dollface from telling him all the dirty, filthy, wicked things he wanted to do when they got home. If it wasn’t for the fact that Meghan was in the Eirik’s SUV, and they could arrive at any moment, Bjorn would have flipped Kegan over face down on his seat and fucked him right there in the driveway.
How he was supposed to make it all the way to their room, was beyond him. Especially since Kegan’s mouth didn’t seem to know when to stop.
“Fuck, babe,” Kegan groaned as he wriggled his hard dick against Bjorn’s shoulders. “I didn’t know an old man like you had it in you to go all caveman on me. If I had, I might have worn assless chaps on our last ride.” He squirmed again. “Fuck, just the thought of you pounding that big cock into me as we ride across the field, ungh,” he moaned.
The image had Bjorn nearly turning around and heading to the barn. But it was too far away and he was less than a ten feet from their bedroom. No way was he delaying driving deep into Kegan’s ass.
When he arrived at their door, Bjorn nearly let out a shout of triumph, but bit his tongue to stop himself. No point in egging Kegan on. His feisty lover would have used Bjorn’s eagerness to tease him. Not that he cared, but Kegan already was in rare form.
He kicked the door closed the moment they stepped into the room and he tossed Kegan on the bed. By the time he’d stopped bouncing, Bjorn had stripped off his shirt and was pushing his pants to the floor.
His long, thick cock jutted out in front of him, as if trying to get closer to the man they both wanted. Bjorn wrapped a hand around his length and gave himself a few strokes as he stared at the most beautiful man he’d ever laid eyes on, stripped to reveal miles and miles of silky skin.
Several drops of precum dripped from the tip of his cock, which Bjorn used to give himself a little lube as he continued his slow strokes. When that tight, white ass was revealed, Bjorn licked his lips in anticipation.
“You know, if you take any longer, I’m going to think it’s because you need a walker to get around, old man,” Kegan teased when he was gloriously naked and spread out on the bed like an angel just waiting to be debauched.
And damn if Bjorn didn’t want to be the man to do it. When he didn’t move right away, Kegan lifted one eyebrow and said, “Is this where you’re going to tell me, you really are too old for sex? Maybe you need one of those little blue pills because you don’t think you can keep that massive erection you have long enough to fuck me?”
Bjorn didn’t rise to the bait. Oh, he was going to show Kegan just how virile and strong he was, but he wanted something first. “Grab the lube and prepare yourself for me, dollface.”
Grey eyes sparkled at him, but Kegan reached under the pillow where they kept some lube. As he opened it and poured it on his fingers, Kegan teased, “Are you going to need me to do everything, Bjorn? I mean, its late. I’m sure you’re tired.”
Kegan lifted his legs, presenting that pink pucker for Bjorn to see. He trailed a finger along his crack, circling that rosebud for several minutes to tease Bjorn. All the while he kept up his comments about Bjorn’s age.
“Maybe I should have driven home so you could have taken a nap,” Kegan said with a tinge of laughter in his voice. “That way you would have the energy to fuck this hole like I want you to.”
Bjorn definitely planned on doing that, but not until Kegan was ready for him. For a moment, he considered batting Kegan’s hands away and doing it himself, but, to be honest, Bjorn feared he wouldn’t have the patience and would end up taking Kegan before he was prepped.
When Kegan easily pushed three fingers inside that tight passage, Bjorn nearly came as he continued to watch the show. Tightening his fingers around the base of his cock, Bjorn forced the orgasm back that was threatening
to barrel through him.
Done with waiting, and praying Kegan was stretched enough, Bjorn strode to the bed. He climbed on and hovered over Kegan’s prone form. “Are you ready for me, dollface?”
Those grey eyes were dancing with laughter as he said, “I guess that depends on you. I’m looking to be fucked, hard. Are you going to be able to do that, or are you too tired and need to lie down while I do the work?”
Bjorn didn’t answer. He just grinned as he pulled Kegan’s fingers free of his hole. With no warning, he slammed inside his lover, just as Kegan liked.
“Oh fuck,” Kegan cried out. He threw his head back against the mattress and thrust his hips down as if to try and get Bjorn even deeper. “Just like that, but harder, old man. Come on, I know you’ve got it in you.”
Bjorn chuckled at Kegan’s antics. He gripped the cheeks of Kegan’s tight ass as he pulled back a bit. Then he thrust into his heat, the squeeze of those muscles were what he imagined it would feel like in Valhalla.
But he wasn’t close to done teaching Kegan just what he was capable of. Tightening his grip on Kegan’s ass, Bjorn lifted up onto his knees, then pushed onto his feet and walked to the nearest wall.
The low throaty groan Kegan gave told him all he needed to know. His lover appreciated the show of strength as well as the change in position. He pinned Kegan to the hard surface with his body while he threaded the fingers of his right hand through those golden locks with a tug, to offer more sensation.
While his other hand wrapped around Kegan’s right leg and lifted it higher to wrap around his waist, opening him up further for Bjorn to drive in deeper. “Fuck, you feel so good around my cock, dollface.”
There was nothing like Kegan’s heat, as his muscles massaged his length with every thrust. The throaty moans. The way his body writhed against Bjorn. All of it had a way of driving Bjorn out of his damn mind with lust.
He altered his thrust a fraction, causing Kegan to shout with pleasure. Satisfied to find his sweet spot, Bjorn pegged it every time until Kegan could only babble nonsensical words. This was when Bjorn felt like a God.
