Darkness Falls: Cirenthian Chronicles (Book 2)

by D. R. Rosier

  I carefully put it in my pack and thanked her; I knew what I’d be doing during magic practice each evening in the foreseeable future. We went back to the inn and ate lunch before packing up, loading the horses and heading out of town.

  We had one more mayor to recruit, and then maybe we could confront the king and end this internal problem. There would still be politics of course, but it would be nice to not be hunted, not to mention being able to spend some time in that big training library. With everything going on I still had a lot to learn, and not just spells but the laws and how things worked.

  I wasn’t so sure I wouldn’t have killed the king back then if I’d known about the laws to elect a new one, I had only held back because I feared civil war would make it worse. That, and I had worried it would have backfired and the Elves would be attacked.

  The road followed the twisting river as we went north. The last town, River’s Bend, was between Forest River and Hunter’s ridge almost on a directly north south line. River’s Bend was close to the center of the kingdom, and was an extremely large farming community. The mayor’s name was Reece, and according to the information Serina sent he was trustworthy.

  I also assumed it was by a bend in the river… It would take us about four days to get there.

  That evening I spent some time on the spell Nialla had provided. I learned about twenty new symbol words and their meanings, but found three that didn’t seem to be in the two books Aja had sent along with us. I sent a quick message spell to Efrain, asking him if he could explain those. I was hopeful there wouldn’t be too many more I couldn’t look up; I guessed it would take about a week to learn the rest of them that weren’t familiar.

  Chapter 13

  Early on the second day we started passing by a lot of farms. There was no central town to them but there was infrastructure for irrigation from the river as well as docks and some boats which I imagined they used to deliver produce from up north by hunter’s ridge and further south there was another town past Forest River.

  We didn’t detect any mages, but I did feel a healer after we passed the fifth farm. When I looked in that direction I saw a temple. Most priestesses were healers so I wasn’t all that surprised. I pulled up on the reigns and we slowed to a walk.

  Sienna asked, “Why are we slowing?”

  I said, “Well, I didn’t want to in the towns, I was too worried about ambushes. But this seems like a good safe place for Ari and me to trade names with you, all of us together. We still need to get your co-mate bond with Ari, and of course you’ll be both married to and mated with me at that point.”

  I smiled, “There will be no escaping me then… Unless you want to wait until this is all over, and we can enjoy a vacation after. We really can’t spare more than the rest of today but I thought a day right now might be good enough, I’m not sure when we’ll get another chance.”

  Ari added, “It’s okay with me, I’ve been wondering about when we would get a chance, but it’s up to you Sienna.”

  Sienna grinned, “Waiting might be better but I don’t really want to. Let’s do it now.”

  I asked, “You sure?”

  They both nodded so we veered off the road toward the temple. We tied up our horses and I set a ward on them. I wasn’t expecting anything to happen, but better to make sure of it. I didn’t want to be worrying about thieves while we were in the temple.

  When we got inside the temple there was an old man in green robes getting up off a bench to greet us. He was the first priest I’d met; all the others had been priestesses before now.

  He said gently, “I’m Dane, the blessings of the goddess on you. Do you need assistance?”

  I replied, “Good morning. I’m Marcus and this is Ari and Sienna. Do you think we could get a little privacy?”

  He looked confused at that, so I explained the Elven ritual of sharing names, that it was something privately shared between mates and the goddess.

  He smiled, “I’d never heard of that before but I guess that’s not surprising. I’d be glad to extend you some privacy and I’ll be right outside.”

  I felt a little guilty as he hobbled toward the door; he wasn’t very mobile at his age. I shook off the thought as he closed the doors, I was sure he wouldn’t thank me for the thought.

  We gathered before the altar and I felt the goddess’s presence. How she knew when to show up I didn’t know, nor was I going to worry about it. We held hands before we started, and when the timing just felt right I began with mine.

  I said confidently to Sienna, “My love, my name is Marcus Damon Erraman Arinith. It is who I am and I am yours.”

  Ari smiled and said, “You are my co-mate Sienna, and I would share with you who I am, my name is Ari Lira Anais Arinith.”

  Sienna said softly with moist eyes, “I love you both, Marcus my mate, and Sienna my co-mate, my sister, and share with you both who I am, Sienna Faith Seraphina Arinith.”

  I felt a new binding between Sienna and I, holding us together. I also felt the bond of our marriage oaths as clearly as I had at the moment we gave them over a month ago now. Sienna looked overwhelmed as she pulled us together into a tight embrace.

  Faith Seraphina, why wasn’t I at all surprised at that? Loving and faithful described who she was perfectly underneath her stunning beauty. The fact that she’d had a hard life before meeting me just made her all the more incredible and dear in my eyes. I kissed her softly and then reluctantly released her.

  We thanked the old man on our way out and continued down the road just long enough to find a place private enough to set up camp. I felt the urge to consummate our bond despite the fact we were married already. Now we were twice bound.

  As we passed the farms by we left the road and found a small clearing sheltered by trees. I was setting up the tent with a single mindedness when Sienna stopped me with a very aggressive kiss. Right… who needs a tent?

  I felt Ari kiss my shoulder as I got lost in the feeling of Sienna’s soft sweet lips on mine. The scent of her growing arousal invaded my mind and I started to strip her clothes off as she removed mine. It felt right to have Ari there, today was about the three of us completing our bonds. But my focus was on Sienna and our newly created bond. I just knew I needed her, to be one with her. The pressure seemed to build up the longer we waited.

  I grabbed her hair and pulled her to me into a passionate kiss, my other hand found her ready for me, and I slid a finger between her labia and teased her entrance with my fingertips.

  I gasped in pleasure as I felt her hand wrap around my girth, squeezing me tightly before she stroked me up and down with a light teasing touch. I lowered my other arm down her back and held her tight before I started pushing down on and circling her clit. She gasped and her knees buckled slightly as I held her tightly against me while working her clit, driving her to bliss.

  Ari said softly, “You two are so… beautiful and perfect together.”

  Sienna reached ecstasy on my fingertips, and I lowered her to the ground carefully on top of some clothes and part of the tent. I crawled in between her legs, pushing them apart. I couldn’t wait any longer as I lined myself up and pushed firmly but slowly into her heavenly bliss.

  Ari said a little breathlessly, “Take her love,” while Sienna mewled in pleasure as I filled her center with all of me.

  I looked over and was surprised to see Ari half naked with one hand rubbing a nipple while the other was between her legs. I wondered what their new bond encompassed, she was obviously as desperate and turned on to watch Sienna and I join our bodies as we were.

  I moaned softly and started to work my body in and out of her silken paradise. I could feel her tighten around me each time she arched her body into mine, as if she wanted to keep me buried. She looked so beautiful as she gazed at me with hungry wide blue eyes, her light blonde hair arrayed around her head shone in the light of the sun, her full lips were moist and slightly swollen from our rough passionate kisses.

  She begged breathlessly,
“Faster,” as she wrapped her legs around my middle and started to meet me more forcefully as our bodies slammed together.

  I felt Ari’s fingertips start caressing my lower back and ass, and saw her other hand as she teasingly pinched Sienna’s hardened nipples with her fingertips that were covered in her own honey.

  Ari whispered encouragingly, “Faster,” to which Sienna and I sped up, our bodies effortlessly syncing as one.

  My eyes were locked with Sienna’s as I watched her come closer to reaching ecstasy, but I could see her breasts bouncing and Ari’s half naked sexy form almost on top of us out of the corner of my eye. The combined scent of their arousals, and the perfect symphony Sienna’s pleasure played on my hardened shaft, was driving me towards losing control.

  Ari gasped in pleasure, and I saw Sienna’s hand working quickly between Ari’s legs. It was all too much, watching them pleasure each other as Sienna and I were joined drove me to the edge and I fell over it hard as my body was overcome with the pleasure of filling my wife with my seed.

  As I pumped into her I felt Sienna’s body lock tightly around my girth, her breath was frozen as her body trembled beneath mine, her core milking me, greedily claiming my seed as her silken nectar bathed my length.

  Ari quickly followed, gasping out as her body locked onto Sienna’s questing fingers. As I came down I smiled at the domino effect. I pulled Ari in for a kiss, then bent down low and kissed Sienna. Sienna licked one of her fingers, then fed me Ari’s taste from another. My slowly shrinking manhood reversed course and I felt it jump as it started hardening again in Sienna’s tight, hot, and slick sex.

  Sienna pushed me up then pulled Ari across her stomach before giving me a meaningful look.

  I pulled out of Sienna and walked on my knees behind Ari, my once again hardened manhood slid into Ari’s tight ready pleasure from behind. Ari’s body was draped over Sienna’s stomach, her breasts and hardened nipples pushing into and rubbing against Sienna’s body as I started to build up speed.

  Sienna started playing with her hair and said, “I love you, and I love to watch our mate take you.”

  It was Sienna’s turn to gasp and involuntarily spread her legs wide as Ari bent her arm to the side, finding Sienna’s exposed warm center with her fingers.

  They were both so beautiful and sexy as we pleasured each other, and Ari’s body was pure bliss as I plundered her depths from behind. But it was so much more than just hot sex with the bond. There was so much love and a sense of intense vulnerability as we each gave ourselves in perfect trust to the other two. I would give up everything for my mates, and I knew they felt exactly the same as I brought Ari to ecstasy and Sienna quickly followed.

  I could last a while longer, so I not only continued but started to saw in and out of Ari faster, and harder, bringing her two more orgasms before I followed her into ecstasy, spending myself inside her grasping center with my essence.

  We laid there against each other as we came down. We weren’t done yet, but we took a few minutes to set up the tent, although we never actually managed to move into it. We tried out a number of different positions as I joined with both Sienna and Ari throughout the day stopping only for brief rests and the evening meal… I was pretty sure we completely skipped lunch.

  All good things must end however, and we felt the pull of duty the next morning. We packed up after breakfast, washed up as best we could in the river, and started down the road toward River’s Bend.

  That evening we went back to practice and studying, we just hadn’t gotten to that yesterday. I made similar progress on the spell, except there were no missing symbols this time. Still, it would be a few more days before I could finish. Both Sienna and I were getting to the point we could almost get through the sword dance without making too many mistakes. Although it was with intense concentration, focus, and effort; we had a long way to go before it would be muscle memory and automatic.

  I found myself thinking about the future more and more, it was frustrating not knowing enough about things. I wasn’t really interested in a political position though. I’d been there before and the truth was it was usually more trouble than it was worth. I hoped to build a house and start some businesses. Most of the things from Earth didn’t have a place here, but I had a few ideas that I thought would work well here.

  My plans were extremely vague, I needed to win through this first, and keep my mates safe. Then there was the mandatory training and oaths, which put a big obstacle in front of any control I might have over my life. Last but certainly not least I wanted to be near Serina and figure out where things would lead between us. It was still kind of nebulous, but Sienna, Ari, and I felt good about the possibility.

  Oh right, there was also that small thing about a huge empire that threatened to swallow the Cirenthian kingdom whole. I was used to being a planner and taking my own action, and I chafed against the go with the flow attitude I’d been forced to adopt since I arrived here. It wasn’t all bad though, despite my limited options I had still managed to attract two amazing mates, and another woman who I was interested in.

  The next day was our last full day ride before our destination. I started seeing farms past noon, and I knew from the map in my mind that there were a great number of them surrounding River’s Bend. We wouldn’t make it there for another day. I guessed we’d be there sometime before noon tomorrow…

  Chapter 14

  River’s bend was much as its name suggested. The town was just a few hundred yards from the river, which turned slightly from straight north south to the east for about half a mile before turning north again. There were hardly any guards here at all, and I didn’t feel another mage until we neared the government mansion, and even then there were only two mages.

  I was still cautious, but I felt a lot more confident about our chances than back in Forest River if things had gone wrong. We decided to get a room at the inn first. Once we got our horses situated we all took a bath. We were able to get clean on the road of course so we didn’t smell, but nothing replaced an immersive bath with soap. Once we felt presentable I set up wards on our stuff and the room and we headed back over to the government mansion.

  It felt like I’d done it a million times before as the guard grabbed a servant, and the servant escorted us to a receiving room and offered us refreshment. We drank the provided tea and waited patiently for just about a half hour until the mayor could see us.

  Two mages walked into the room. The first was Mayor Reece, he was in his early thirties. The reason for the wait was the second mage who was an attractive woman in her twenties. She had long bright reddish blonde hair, brown eyes, and full lips that were almost too plump, giving her a permanent sexy pouty look. I held back a smile as it was apparent why we had to wait; they both looked a little flushed and not quite perfectly put together.

  I stood and introduced myself and my mates.

  Reece replied, “I’m mayor Reece and this is Neala, one of our roving mages. I’ve been looking forward to your visit, if you’d like to take a seat?”

  I followed his lead as he sat down with Neala on a couch across from the one we were using.

  Reece continued in a pleasant voice, “Please, don’t stand on ceremony. I trust Serina but the story was just too hard to believe without corroboration.”

  Neala looked slightly angry as she said in a pinched voice, “Yes, I was shocked by what Reece told me when I arrived, rest assured we’ll do what’s necessary if it turns out to be true.”

  I was on automatic pilot as I told the story once again. I hoped this would be the last time for a while, but I didn’t stint on details as I shared all the attempts against our lives, and the pivotal conversations along the way. I found myself relaxing as they plainly believed what I was telling them. I didn’t expect anything less with magic involved, but it was habit to evaluate how I was being regarded.

  They asked a few questions at the end of it and asked what our plans were.

  I answered, “I think we wil
l stay here a day or two, see if Serina is ready for us to head toward the capitol or not, I know she still has some planning to do, and most of it will happen with political pressure, or at least we can hope so.”

  I also wanted to concentrate on getting the spell for the horses working. If I worked on it most of the day it would only take a day or two longer. If I did that we could be at the capitol in hours instead of another week to ten days in the saddle. I wasn’t so free with that information however.

  Reece nodded, “Good, if we can think of any other questions I’ll send a servant over with an invitation.”

  I thanked him for seeing us and we all stood. He actually walked us to the door and wished us well as we left and made our way back to the tavern. I sent a quick message to Serina outlining what happened and let her know I thought about her often. After that I got to work on the spell right away, only giving up later that evening when Sienna sat in my lap and wiggled around for a bit. That always got my complete and rapt attention. It was my duty as her husband after all, and one I took great joy in fulfilling…

  The next morning there was a knock on the door. I looked up from the spell and Sienna was arms deep in the tub washing clothes. Ari was out too picking up some items we ran out of. I got up and answered the door, it was a servant from the mansion.

  She curtseyed at me, and then said, “Would you be available to visit? The mayor and Neala have some questions for you.”

  I nodded and looked over at Sienna who shrugged, “Go ahead, I’ll be fine here.”

  I didn’t like us all being split up, but I knew it was just my paranoia, probably.

  I replied, “Lead the way miss…”

  She smiled, “Teri.”

  I returned the smile, “Lead the way Teri.”

  She turned and led me to the mansion, leaving me in the same room as yesterday. A short time later Neala came in. She was done up and looked quite attractive. I stood up and she waved a hand at me to stay seated.