by Eden Glenn
“Hey don’t drink that. It’s been there a few days.” I usually set out a glass at night so when I wake up thirsty I have it there without getting up. You two have disrupted my routine and I don’t know how long that’s been sitting there. It might have dust in it for all I know.”
He smelled the water and then stuck his finger in the liquid. He licked a droplet to taste it. “Yep, just as I though, salty.” He took it to the sink to dump the fluid and rinse the glass. “Drugged, probably enough that if you’d roused you wouldn’t fully wake.”
Whaatt? A jumbled shake started somewhere in her belly. Drugs in her water?
Ethan and Caleb surrounded her. “We’ll take you to our place. Pack a few things you need.” Wren nodded numbly, started for the chest of drawers and remembered all her clean clothes were in the laundry basket again.
She looked around to grab her sword. She’d really love to see what the sword might unleash on the creep stalking her. Caleb moved toward the back door to look at the locks.
He turned the lightweight metal knob. “These locks are pretty flimsy. We need to have them replaced and dead bolts installed. I should have checked them out before now.
We wanted to take you out to our place anyway, so you could see our house. We’ll take you there while we get this place locked down a little better before you come back.”
He was playing down the danger trying to keep her from being scared out of her wits. “I’ve got my bag packed.” She hefted her purple and pink backpack. “And my sword.” The blade was in its leather scabbard. She’d laced it to the straps of the pack. She’d like to use the sword on the creep that’d invaded her apartment.
Ethan frowned. “Freaky little, messed up bastard, I’ll pinch his head off. He left subtle clues, like the dragon, just enough to unsettle her. He’s making it a game about power and control. I guess we’re lucky he just wanted to gloat for now.”
Caleb swore. “I don’t understand why he didn’t take her. He could have at any time.”
“Wasn’t ready I guess.” Ethan shook his head. “Fuck.”
“Ethan, I feel him there watching me. I never saw him. He drugged me so I wouldn’t wake? Oh Goddess, he could have done anything while he was here. Who would do this?”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ignoring her protests, Caleb pulled her from the truck and swung her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and rush through the archway from their subterranean garage into the plush underground quarters.
Ethan hefted her backpack keeping the sword well away from his body. They drove the forty minutes from her apartment in town, to the cavern home built within a natural formation of sand stone caves. Their home away from everywhere out in the middle of nowhere, established in a perfect location for dragon shifters, who didn’t want nosy neighbors poking around.
No one would find her here, that would buy some time for further investigation. They’d been delayed too long in their home dimension. The full yellow moon had risen before they arrived at the remote caverns along the river.
Caleb felt an unexplained tightness in his chest. Seeing her holding the small broken statue in her hand, and realizing he had let matters of Wyrmarach distract him from a basic task in keeping her safe, tore at him. At first the potential of bonding had stunned him. Then he thought of their people and the joy she would bring in finally turning the age. Somehow none of the other stuff mattered anymore.
Hope to the Goddess that Wren would claim them as mates, that they could get the bonding process on track from its fractured beginning. Either way they weren’t accepting the marriage contract the Queen had engineered.
All that seemed important was taking care of her, keeping her safe. When they passed through the doorway, Caleb managed to hook the car keys on the rack, alongside keys for a Jeep, an Escalade, two black Harley Road Kings and a red Ferrari.
“That my love is a Ferrari Enzo.” Caleb doubted she had any idea the significance “Only thirty made.”
All of which were parked in the spacious garage next to the rusted out dodge truck they had just arrived in.
Her eyes sparked with excitement, not missing anything. She whistled. “Evidently your kingdom does okay for itself. Let me guess, you guys don’t work for a living?”
“Yes, like I told you, we both work for a specialized forestry fire fighter team. We’ve arrange a bit of a furlough under the circumstances.”
Wren laughed. “Nice cars.”
“Not just cars, lady, those are vehicles.” Caleb liked to hear her laugh.
“We like options in transportation methods.” Ethan shrugged as if that explained the automotive abundance. He went ahead of them turning the low level lighting up to give a soft glow to the great room living space. Insulated by the earth it maintained a perfect climate control.
They’d made a comfortable home here that suited them well. A small kitchen flanked one side with a butcher block dining island. Doors led off to additional rooms. A sitting area with couch, end tables and recliners, collected in the middle of the area.
The paintings on the walls were originals from artist in Wyrmarach. Their scenes depicted cavernous landscapes from home. This part of the house was their private quarters. One of the doors opened to stairs that led up to the more modern structure at ground level. She walked around looking, just short of snooping.
The woven fiber wall hanging of a massive tree drew her attention. It was a modern piece commissioned from a fae artist from Dar’kind. The tapestry was his favorite. She paused in front of it hovering her finger over the fine woven threads of color.
“Breathtaking” was all she said. Caleb’s luthe, a stringed instrument similar to a guitar, leaned up against the side of the chair. He watched her eyes scanned over books, car magazines.
Ethan grabbed one of the porn magazines and shoved it in with some others under a lamp table by the couch. With a pause, she even noticed the dolcidar, a piped instrument laying on the shelf with music. “You both play?”
Ethan nodded.
A gurgle of water drew attention to an in ground spring bubbling up. Soft steam lifted from the surface of the water. “A natural hot tub?” Wren struggled to be let down.
“Yes-- a spring actually-- all the comforts of home, Jaita’me.” Caleb let her stand in his embrace reluctant to let her go. She stripped and slid into the water with a moan, blessed hot water. Ethan and Caleb joined her. They were dressed in dark bronze leather speedo like briefs. She’d have to ask about those later when she wasn’t so tired.
They floated in each other’s arms soothed by the hot mineral water of the spring. Caleb cupped her mound in his hand and began stroking her drawing her body toward pleasure again. She was deep in the hormonal throes of the change, after absorbing their blood. Her response was a positive sign indicating at least her body’s acceptance to the chemistry of the bonding.
Verucca Toadswizzler had called it the Quaynar Rou. No one could possible know the effects of their backward way into the experience. What would they do if her heart and mind said no to the claiming even as her body screamed yes? After she came moaning her pleasure against Ethan’s kiss, she floated back in the water. For the moment Caleb would be content with that.
Ethan jumped from the pool and laid a large bathing towel on the stone floor. Taking her hand he led her to the makeshift pallet. “Here, lie down.”
“You are safe here.” Caleb joined them and started massaging and kneading the tight muscles of her shoulders and neck. “Relax Jaita’me, let us pamper you a little. So much has happened in the last 24 hours we understand if you need a moment. We know you are strong enough for what’s ahead of us.”
What lie ahead? Caleb wasn’t sure. He and Ethan together would manage to resolve whatever issues came their way. In the end, he hoped they would come out of the experience together and lead their people.
≽∞≼
Wren groaned under his firm ministrations. Ethan rubbed her with deep massage pressure that felt wonder
ful. A second set of hands started rubbing her sides moving toward her lower back aided by a thick herbal lotion that caused a tingling on her skin and allowed their hands to reach deep into the sore muscles. She gave herself up to the feelings of the massage becoming boneless under their ministrations.
You need to do a better job of telling me what Jaita’me means.
Shh later, rest now, and relax.
She drifted on clouds, floating while their hands sought out every tight muscle to rub soothing relaxation into her. She was exhausted. She released all worry of how to be who they needed her to be and slept.
Wren woke buried under a mound of blankets, alone in the middle of a large bed. She heard low voices of her guys talking with intermittent splashes of water. She eased from the mattress and found her phone, plugged in to the charger. They were the best. She disconnected the cord and called Izzy.
“Hey there gurl.” Izzy answered on the third ring.
“Izzy! Can you watch the shop for a few days?”
“I’m already there. Don’t worry. Caleb txted me late last night with what’s going on.”
“Oh good. Well not good, it’s horrible, but still good too.” What a mess.
Izzy laughed. “Yeah I get your point. So, you didn’t tell them about me did you?”
“No I didn’t tell. And you shouldn’t make me think about it. Lalala. The mental connection between the guys and me is getting stronger every day and they could hear me thinking about the-you-know-what lalala. I’m thinking about watermelon pickles. Now hush.”
“Ok Wren. Think about the Samhain plans. We’re less than a week away. So, you’d better get things settled and back here to work.”
Yes work, that would permeate her thoughts. “Okay, make a list of what we can have for finger food and drinks.”
“I will, but under the circumstances, I think I’ll get with Haydn to help. He would love to do the baking.”
“Sounds like a plan. Okay, gotta go. Call me if you need anything.”
Wren slipped into the restroom alcove. She was naked. She remembered the massage. She’d fallen asleep with Ethan rubbing the stress from her muscles. She pulled her hair up into a pony tail with a hair scrunchy and grabbed the green satin robe from the back of the door to wrap around herself.
Exiting the bathroom she found the guys relaxed back on the benches of the hot spring. She didn’t mean to interrupt their peaceful moment. But, a need started building inside her.
When Ethan saw her he pulled himself out of the water to meet her half way across the room. That same bronze leather garment covered him like a tight bathing suit.
“Our Wren looks rested.” He oozed cheerful optimism.
She smiled feeling the blush slide across her cheeks. She didn’t even know how to respond this morning. The previous day hung cloudy and strange in her memory. Caleb rushed over to the kitchen area pulling food from the fridge.
Wren felt like a limp rag as Ethan slid her robe off and eased her into the water of the spring. Caleb brought a platter of meat, cheese and fruit from the kitchen area. He offered her a rolled up juicy piece of roast beef. “Here eat this.”
“For breakfast?” She considered the food on the tray. It all looked good but not her idea of morning food.
“I would see that you are fed all that you require.”
“You’re talking all formal speak again.” Not awake enough to reach for the meat herself, she took a bite from what he offered. “Ummm that is delicious. I don’t usually eat meat, especially rare beef.”
Wren felt self-conscious eating from their hands. Yet, accepting the food seemed to please them. Caleb deliberated over the choices as if to be certain, he only chose the most worthy foods for her to eat. He gave her a piece of ripe mango.
The blending with the salty meat juices was out of this world. The hot water seeping into her muscles felt heavenly. They promised they would provide all the comforts she needed here in the cavern. So far they had exceeded her expectations of pampered delight.
Ethan rolled beef around slices of mango to feed her bites with a blending of flavors. “That is wonderful.” They fed her until she could not take another bite and still they wanted her to eat more. “Really guys I can’t eat another thing. I’m stuffed. You two haven’t been eating at all. You must be starved, eat something.”
“It’s a ritual of our country; we wait to eat until you are satisfied.”
Wren floated in the deeper side of the pool. Ethan slid in the water behind her and began stroking her shoulders running his hands down her back, massaging her muscles.
“You are beautiful. He eased her breasts into his hands. “Perfect breasts.” Ethan lifted the heavy pear stroking the nipple with his thumb.
Caleb sat on the edge of the pool. “She is perfect.” He leaned over to place his lips around the breast Ethan offered him, rolling her nipple around on his tongue. Wren though her body would spontaneously combust. A fire built inside her and ravaged her senses.
“Oh Caleb, I want more. I can’t stand to wait any longer.
“When the time is right we will join in bonding, a claiming of essences. The experience will justify the blood we’ve absorbed from you and you from us.
She quivered as Caleb kissed his way down her neck and across her shoulder continuing to fondle her breasts lightly pinching her nipples.
“Is this claiming something I have to do? How will I know what to do?”
“It will happen when it happens.” Ethan held her stroking her back and over the line of her hip and buttock.
“That’s not much of an answer.”
He shrugged, “That’s all I can tell you right now. As you know, we’ve not learned a whole lot yet. There’s got to be references somewhere, we’ll keep searching.”
Caleb soothed. “Everything we remember or have heard as rumor seems to indicate there is no real set pattern. Each bonding is unique and the participants somehow know what to do when the time is right.”
She puffed a breath of air blowing her bangs back from her face. Frustrating mess. “Then we can …” she’d almost said fuck. It was a raw primal need that rode her. She censored. “--can make love completely.”
Yes. Both men’s mental voices eased across her.
Caleb explained. “I’m thinking the experience of first sex as fully linked is worth the wait.”
Ethan rubbed his hands along her body, smoothing the skin “We might even gain our mated marks at the same time if we are self-disciplined.”
“What? Mating Marks? Wait Izzy said something about that.” She had so much to learn.
Ethan nuzzled her shoulder. “Yes, Izzy had found references about the marks.”
“The marks are inspired by our soul essences. They appear gradually somewhere on each of our bodies as a confirmation of our acceptance by the Goddess.” Caleb clarified
“They will come, once we face our individual trials of spirit, a Daevedar Challenge.”
Wren remembered the word. “I remember that word. It didn’t sound good.”
Caleb smiled. “Yes, we found the answers to a few questions during our time in Wyramarch. When it happens, we are challenged by our weaknesses. If we conquer them and all proceeds as expected the Goddess will choose the manifestation of how our marks combine and where they will appear on our bodies.”
Ethan squeezed the cheek of her ass with a firm possessive stroke. “There are fewer and fewer bonded couples in the modern generations. It has become rare and is greatly revered by our people.”
“Do you know what your own marks will be?” Wren asked.
Caleb traced the Y shape of Gamma γ. “This is Ethan’s symbol, Gamma. He is our Anchor.”
Ethan continued the narrative. “Caleb is Zeta and has the role of Focus.” He traced the Zeta ζ symbol on her skin. With using the gift, we’ve had inklings of what our symbols are. We’ve used them successfully to aid in drawing the psi-energy to us so we’re pretty sure they’re accurate.
Caleb
eased his head toward his shoulder in a half shrug. We aren’t sure which essence you will receive, it will come upon you during part of the claiming process. I suspect from the etchings on your sword you will be delta. He drew the Delta δ mark with his fingers.
“Those marks are so familiar.” She climbed out of the water and retrieved her sword. “There is one mark on this sword like what you said. It came up when the Goddess gave it to me. Yet, after I had your blood on my hands I looked again and two additional marks were floating on the surface of the metal. Later they were gone.”
“Wren.” Caleb cautioned.
“No I wanted to show you. I thought I might remember looking at the sword. I’m pretty sure the marks on it were the ones you’ve just described.”
A loose haziness engulfed her as if walking in a dream. A sense of other slid into her awareness. The feeling was feminine, like a benevolent mentor. “I’m feeling something, remembering something. So these marks have significance to an essence of our souls?”
She pointed the sword at Caleb. “Focus.” Then slowly arched it over to point at Ethan and said. “Anchor.” With unsure, questioning expressions they exited the water and reached out to her as she raised the sword in the air and declared.
“I am Relevance”. The words created an incantation. Magic sizzled around them through the air. The energy danced over her radiating from her dragon necklace in a flood of power. The sense of other within her grew. A thousand fire-flies tingling against her skin. Caleb and Ethan both looked at her with growing concern on their faces.
“Guys, what’s happening?” She knew they spoke to answer because she could see their mouths moving. The roar in her ears prevented her from understanding what they were saying. The air around her grew brighter and brighter until she had to close her eyes and throw her arm across her face to shield herself against the harshness of the light.
A strange feeling of tightness was followed by a sensation of shrinking and pulling, as if she were being compressed and at the same time stretched like taffy. The roar in her head stopped. She heard a sound like a large section of fabric torn in half with one clean rip.
