The Valkyrie's Princes

by Quinn Arthurs

  Soft hands stroked my hair from behind as, unable to stop myself, I gave in to my craving. Leaning forward, my chest pressing into Hunter’s, I traced my tongue down the dark, twisting lines of his tattoo. His skin was hot and salty under my tongue, causing a purr to ripple up my throat. Hunter hissed loudly, “Gods!” as he tightened his grip on my body.

  Jett chuckled behind me; I could feel him move closer to where I lay in Hunter’s arms. “It’s not as easy as it looks, now is it?”

  I lifted my head, looking back over my shoulder. A harsh whimper fell from my lips. All the guys were now waist deep in the pool, their chests gloriously bare where the water wrapped around their hips. Jett’s head was cocked while he studied me. He was closest to where Hunter held me. He was just as well defined as his brother, lean and toned, each hard muscle begging for me to touch. His dark wings were folded behind his back, purple and blue among the waves of steam.

  Blaine was taller and thicker than his brothers. His shoulders were wide, and his skin was very dark as though he spent most of his time shirtless in the sun. The dusky gold of it shown nearly as bright as his citrine wings. He flexed the muscles in his arms so that they rippled across his chest as I watched. Flynn was the leanest of his brothers, but it didn’t detract from his appeal. His skin was tight over layers of hard, compact muscle. Each dip in his abdomen was deeply defined down to the deep “v” of his hip bones. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the streak of hair that disappeared into the water. I wanted to lick that as much as I had wanted to trace Hunter’s tattoo. Neel’s sapphire wings drew my eyes to where he stood, further back than anyone else in the water. His dark, golden skin drew my eyes down his neck to his hard chest. Like his brother, Neel had tattoos. His were the same sapphire as his wings and were scattered across his chest and abdomen. There was a distinct line carved deeply into his abdominal muscles.

  Heat had pebbled my skin, and it was not all from the water. I couldn’t stop looking at them, wanting them to be close enough for me to stroke my fingers over. All their eyes were hot as they studied me. Hunter took a few steps backward, allowing us to sink into the deeper water of the pool. The guys stalked after us, their eyes hungry and their steps purposeful as they parted the water with their hard hips.

  The bubbles were sticking to my skin where they touched, dragging across my arms and stomach. Their sweet scent wrapped headily around me as I watched the guys all circle me. Flynn stepped forward to pull me from Hunter’s arms. The way his long red hair fell across his skin was enough to drive me to distraction. I had to see what it felt like against my skin. I slid the band from around the base of his braid and stroked the longs strands out so that they wrapped around my skin in a fire of orange, gold, and red. I moaned at the sensation as it tickled across my body. His hair was far softer than even the bubbles had been against my itchy, heated skin.

  Neel stepped forward with a small cloth in his hands. Loading the cloth with bubbles, he began to stroke it slowly and purposefully across my skin. His eyes were following each slide of the cloth, watching the bubbles as they stuck to my skin with each pass of his hand. My skin felt like it was on fire and I arched into his touch. The cloth was soft and warm, but I wanted to feel just his hands against my skin. He chuckled beside me, allowing the cloth to drop.

  “You want to feel my hands, do you?” His voice was a husky purr as he reached out to me. Slowly he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled his hand down my arm. I groaned, turning my face into Flynn’s shoulder, instinctively licking out with my tongue to catch the hollow at the base of his throat. Groans echoed from all around me.

  The rough pads of Blaine’s hands began to rub soap into my legs and feet. I couldn’t believe how amazing it felt having him rub and massage my feet with his fingers. I arched my feet against his hands, encouraging him to make stronger strokes. I let my head fall back, my head dangling in the water as Blaine’s massage continued. Strong hands began to scrub my hair. I opened my eyes, looking back to Jett with his hands buried deep among the dark strands of my damp hair. His fingers tightened and scrubbed, massaging my head just as much as Blaine was massaging my feet. Neel continued to stroke across my arms, moving his hands slowly to begin washing my neck and collarbone. Hunter’s hands soon joined Blaine’s, paying attention to my hips and thighs.

  I was breathing in heavy gasps, and the guys breathing was nearly as ragged as my own. Flynn’s arms were hard and tight around my body, pressing me into his hard, bare chest. The strokes and press of their hands were causing me to arch and twist, desperate for more. None of their hands roved to where I needed them most, to my aching breasts and core. No matter how I moaned and twisted, their hands stayed just shy of where I needed them.

  I groaned, lifting my head to bite the crook of Flynn’s neck. “Fuck!” He spat out, his hands tightening enough they would probably leave bruises. I wanted more, so much more! I was aching and burning, desperate for their touches.

  Jett tightened his grip on my hair, turning my face outward. “You need to tell us what you want, Starshine.” His voice was hard as steel, a command.

  “Please!” I begged, helpless and squirming against their stroking hands and squeezing fingers.

  Chuckles surrounded me, but no hands moved where I needed them. “Not enough, Emberly.” Blaine ground out, pressing deeply into the heels of my feet. “What do you want?” His leather voice cracked across me.

  “Touch me!” I gasped, arching as Hunter’s fingers stroked so close to my center that they were just a breath away.

  “We are touching you.” Jett’s voice was still hard, but I could tell he was teasing me.

  “More, please… I ache…. Help me, please…” I managed to grind the words out of my dry throat.

  Growls surrounded me. Neel trailed his hands down across my collarbone, scraping lightly with his fingernails. Ever so slowly his fingers trailed across the swell of my breast. I groaned, low and long. My breasts were heavy and full, aching for more of his touch.

  “Do you like him touching you, Starshine?” Jett’s voice was hardly more than a whisper.

  “Yes! More!” I gasped, arching my back to bring my breast more fully into his hand.

  With a sudden move, Neel reached out and brushed his palm against both of my nipples. Oh yes, that was what I needed. The way he rolled and tugged my nipples caused an answering echo deep in my womb.

  “Good girl,” Jett purred, watching Neel squeeze and shape my throbbing breasts.

  I was nearly thrashing in Flynn’s arms; he had to tighten his grip to hold me in place while his brothers continued their ministrations on my throbbing body. Bending his head down, Flynn began to suck and bite my neck right where I had bitten him. The feel of his tongue and teeth against my throat knocked me over an edge I hadn’t even known I was near. The world began to swirl as I cried out hoarsely, pressing myself tighter into their hands as my world exploded.

  Panting and growls filled my ears as I came back to myself. I was now held in Jett’s arms again, as we strode to the rinsing pool. “Did that feel good, Starshine?” He murmured against my ear, sinking us deeper into the small rinsing pool. I hissed as the cool water swept over us. My voice was thick with pleasure and sleep as I gathered my thoughts to try to answer him.

  “That felt amazing, Moonbeam.” Jett laughed so hard he nearly dropped me in the cool water.

  “Moonbeam?” He choked out.

  “Well, you kept calling my Starshine,” I muttered. He was killing my buzz. I forced my eyes open, despite their desperate desire to remain closed as I soaked in this luxurious haze I was floating in. The guys were gathered in a loose ring around the rinsing pool where Jett held me. Their eyes were all still hot and intense, their gazes locked on my body. I enjoyed watching them, though I was beginning to feel a little guilty. They had made me feel so relaxed and content, the least I could do was make them feel just as good. I tried to sit up in Jett’s arms, reaching my hands out to make contact with their gold
en skin. They were just out of reach, and a small growl of frustration escaped my lips.

  Blaine smirked as he spread his citrine wings out behind him. “No, Sweetheart, this was for you, not for us. Another time, maybe. For now, let us just care for you.” The others nodded, though the heat in their gazes didn’t dim in the slightest. Jett lifted me from the pool and passed me over to Neel who stood above me. Hunter and Flynn began to rub towels over my skin, slicking all the water off my flushed, tender skin. They were careful to avoid my new wings with the towels, I assumed to avoid damaging any of my feathers.

  Flynn began to thoroughly work a brush through my hair, starting at the ends of my hair and working his way up to the crown of my head. I purred, leaning into his hands. That felt so good. I assumed he would be used to working with hair since he would have to braid his own every day.

  Blaine carefully stepped forward with a clean tunic, sliding it over my shoulders and fastening it behind my neck before scooping me from Neel’s arms. “Come on, it’s time to rest, Sweetheart.” His voice was a rumble, and I yawned deeply against his chest. Between the bath, the orgasm, and their gentle touches I was as fluid as wax in his arms. His bare chest was hard and warm underneath my face, and I nuzzled deeply into him, enjoying the way I could hear his steady heartbeat pound under my ear. I was sound asleep before he laid me in bed.

  Chapter Eleven

  I was jolted out of a deep sleep by rapid-fire knocking on the door of the bedchamber. I was curled up in Jett’s luxurious bed, I realized, seeing the sparkle of starlight glistening over my head. Flynn was asleep to my left, his arm hooked tightly around my waist. He slept like the dead to still be unconscious despite the ruckus whoever was on the other side of the door was making! He must be desperately tired. Careful not to disturb his peaceful sleep, I slid gently from his grip. I hurried to the door, determined to stop whoever was there from waking him up.

  Slightly breathless from my mad dash I whipped the door open and was shocked when Master Jaison nearly landed on me. “Master Jaison! What’s wrong? Are you injured?” I took quick stock of the man as he entered the room, pacing madly. His purple wings were flipping back and forth rapidly, his hair stood on end as if he had continuously run his fingers through it, and he kept twisting his fingers tightly against one another. I had no idea what could have him so worked up, but I didn’t think it could be good. I closed the door gently behind him and led him over to a seating area at the side of the room. “Master Jaison, did you need one of the princes? Flynn’s asleep, and I haven’t checked on the others yet.” I kept my voice low, still afraid of waking Flynn up.

  His frenzied gaze met mine as he looked around the room. “I’ve found some information. I think…” He trailed off his sentence, muttering to himself. His leg was bouncing against the floor as if he could barely keep the information contained. His eyes trailed around the room, finally landing back on my concerned gaze as I placed my hand on his. “Yes, yes the princes. They need to know. Well, you need to know, but I assume you’ll want to tell them as well.” Frankly, I was a little concerned. I had never seen this calm, controlled man so agitated before.

  “Just, just sit here, alright?” I murmured, squeezing his hands tightly and racing from the room. I didn’t even bother to try waking Flynn yet. If he could sleep through the loud banging and Master Jaison’s entrance, I would probably need some help to pull him awake. I darted through the bathing chamber, aiming for the citrine stones that marked Blaine’s room. I didn’t know if he would be in there, but I figured it’d be best to start where I knew what I was walking into.

  The door slammed hard against the wall, knocking over a tower of books as I fell through it, landing hard on the floor. Well, that had definitely hurt more than I expected. Blaine tore from his bed, a sword held in his firm grip. “Woah!” I cried out quickly. “It’s just me!”

  “What’s wrong?” Blaine reached me in two strides, scooping me behind him as he surveyed the empty bathing chamber. “You came tearing in here like something was after you!”

  “It’s Master Jaison!” I gasped, still trying to regain the breath that I had knocked from my own lungs.

  Blaine looked extremely confused. “Master Jaison’s after you?”

  I snorted. “Yeah, right. Like he would ever hurt me. No, he’s in Jett’s room. Something is wrong. I’ve never seen him like this before. I don’t know what’s going on, but he’s extremely agitated, can’t stop shaking. He said he found something and I needed to get all of you.” I was pushing each word out hard, desperate to be on my way to grab the others. Towing on his arm didn’t do me much good – he was solid as stone and unwilling to move until he had the whole story. His eyes were hard, his lips pressed tightly in a grim line.

  “He was extremely agitated? Can’t stop pacing?” He confirmed with me, watching for my nod. “Fuck.” He slid the sword into a scabbard I hadn’t noticed hung around his hip. I was momentarily distracted – how did he sleep with that on? Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable? I shook my head, trying to get myself to focus on the current situation.

  “Come on,” I begged, continuing to pull at him. “We’ve got to get the others. Something is really wrong!” With quick, long strides Blaine strode towards the center of the bathing chamber, holding tightly to my arm to keep me with him. When he reached the near center, he stopped.

  “Cover your ears.” He ordered seriously. I rapidly pressed my hands over my ears, watching him in fascination. What in the world was he doing?

  Tilting his head back, he let loose a series of whistles that were piercingly loud and echoed repeatedly around the cavernous chamber, bouncing back at us off the stone. Guess I knew why he told me to cover my ears, that would have really hurt! Pounding feet rang out from all around me, and the doors to Neel and Hunter’s room opened, allowing Neel, Hunter, and Jett to tumble out to us, each of them armed. Neel carried what appeared to be a large whip with a spiked head at the end. Hunter had a more traditional bow in his hands, the quiver strapped over his shoulders. It looked as though the bow was made of ivory, it was pure white and engraved with multiple runes similar to his tattoos. Jett grasped a sword that was slightly larger than Blaine’s. Just like his brothers’, there was no ornamentation on that weapon – it was made to be used, not to be a pretty showpiece for a wealthy prince. Seeing me next to Blaine, they all ground to a halt.

  Flynn fell through Jett’s door a second later. In his hands was a wicked looking scythe, the blade made of fine steel. He looked at all of us gathered in the center in mild exasperation. “What’s with the war call? I was sleeping, you know.”

  Blaine glared at his brother. “You really are oblivious, aren’t you? How did you not notice Master Jaison in Jett’s room with you? Or Emberly leaving, for that matter?”

  Flynn blinked his deep red eyes at me, trying to clear the sleep from them. “Master Jaison’s in there?” He asked groggily, turning to face the way he had come.

  Neel growled. “Ok, that’s it. I know it’s been a long two weeks, but we’re getting sloppy. Drills are starting up again today. How are we going to protect Emberly if we can’t even respond properly to a call?” His voice was harsh as he swung his whip over his shoulder. I hissed through my teeth. That really didn’t look like it was safe. I assumed that he guessed the reason for my discomfort as he smirked at me.

  Hunter turned his attention to Blaine. “Master Jaison needs us? Is he alright?”

  Blaine simply shrugged. “Emberly said he’s in one of his fazes. He is extremely agitated and said he needed to talk to us immediately. I suggest we don’t keep him waiting and see what this is all about.”

  Weapons were holstered all around as we made our way back into Jett’s room, our way lit by the constellations that glowed above our heads. Master Jaison had remained where I placed him, though he continued to bounce his leg and wring his hands over and over as he muttered to himself. I hurried over to his side, patting his hands gently with mine. “Master Jaison, it’s okay.
See, I brought them! Now please, what’s wrong?” My tone came out more desperate than I had meant it, rushed and highly pitched.

  His eyes met mine, and he glanced around the room. “Good, good. All of you are here. I was just going to tell Emberly, but, I didn’t feel that it would be loyal not to inform all of you as well. I will eventually need to inform the king, but I wanted you to be prepared.”

  Bodies stiffened all around me, and the guys pulled me into position between them, I assumed to keep me better guarded against whatever unknown danger Master Jaison was about to reveal.

  Taking a deep breath, Master Jaison met my eyes with his feverish ones. “I’ve found out what you are, Emberly. Why I had heard of cases like you before. I had thought they were just legends! It’s been centuries since we’ve had a Guardian!”

  Blaine hissed sharply through his teeth, but I was grateful that the rest of the guys appeared to be as confused as I was. Master Jaison nodded towards Blaine. “I see you recognize the term. I would never have thought of it. It’s just impossible! It all fits, though. I can run some test, just to confirm. I’ll want to do that before I take this to the king, but Emberly had a right to be the first to know. I thought she might need all of you to help her through this.” His tone was gentle, some of the manic energy fading from him as he told us the news that had been weighing on him.

  I glanced from one of them to the other, finally meeting Blaine’s gaze. My face was twisted in confusion, mimicking the expression of the other guys. Blaine’s face was serious, but held a look of something else that I was having a hard time placing – it seemed almost like awe.

  Flynn finally snapped, “Okay, one of you explain. You drag us all out of bed while you have an insane meltdown. What in the world is a Guardian? Why is it significant?” His voice was harsher than normal, the frustration and irritation clear in his tone.