by James Cox
Thorn and Fall rushed to Dusk’s side, blades out.
“Easy everyone.” Alexander gave a wave. “It’s Kierce.”
The great white bird flew through the dim clouds. Kierce’s white-blond wings were spread wide as he fought the wind and rain. The bird landed, stumbling some, and a moment later a bloody Kierce unfurled himself.
“Well, you’ve looked better.” Alexander said.
Kierce growled at him. He had four bloody claw marks on his cheek. The rain made the streaks of red lighter and flow over his bare shoulder. A gash was bleeding profusely over his ribs and there was a dark bruise forming on his knees. Oh, and there was his dick again. Did this guy just like to flash it around?
I glanced away.
“Fucking werewolves?” Alexander asked.
“Fucking werewolves.” Kierce bared his teeth in pain. “Are you going to heal me?”
Alexander grinned, “Nah, I thought I’d stare at your dick for another couple of minutes.”
I rolled my eyes and peeled my shirt over my head. “Here.” It wouldn’t hide much, but it would at least cover his dick so we only got occasional peeks of his flaccid penis.
Alexander, still grinning, elongated his fangs and bit his wrist. Red erupted from the punctures and Kierce placed his mouth over them.
Aneen and I watched. I was fascinated. If half vamp blood could help speed up healing, what could a full vampire’s blood do?
“I’m assuming they declined.” Aneen interrupted the awkward silence filled with sucking sounds.
“Yes.” Kierce grunted the word as he straightened. His wound had already stopped bleeding. “They are nothing more than beasts on two legs.”
“Eh, ya could say ‘he same fucking t’ing about humans.” Thorn muttered.
Alexander snorted.
Kierce shoved the shirt over his head, wincing. “A group of humans from Allaway and Bown will join us at Crimson Pass. Cockburn filth nearly captured me for dinner even after they found out I was more than just a large bird.” He spit. “The banshees of Aibell’s mountains wish to meet you first, but I believe they will help.”
Aneen sucked on her bottom lip. “Werewolves, no. Banshees, humans and Aos Si, yes.”
“And the Selkies.” Keirce pulled the shirt down carefully over his ribs. “The Selkies have agreed to help, but out of the water they are as vulnerable as humans. They only have a handful of warriors.” He wiped the rain off his face. “They’ll fight by ocean.”
“That still leaves us with a much smaller force. Humans in Fairaine easily outnumber us.” Her shoulders slumped. “I have no doubt my mothe … the queen is also gathering men.” She winced. “I have to stop thinking of her as my mother.” She glanced up suddenly like she just realized she said that aloud.
My chest ached for her.
“I don’t believe it wise to bring the vampires into this fight.” Kierce glanced at Alexander.
Our own vampire shrugged. “The fuckers are probably already on her side anyway.” His hands balled into fists. “If they are, fights at night are going to get very fucking bloody.”
“Who’s left?” Aneen asked quietly. Anxiety obvious in her expression.
“Whatever powers you possess and luck.” Kierce said just before starting to walk down our very long, rain-prone path. His tight ass cheeks peeked out from beneath the shirt.
I grabbed Aneen’s hand and smiled when Alexander took her other. “You can do this,” I whispered. I believed in her.
Aneen squeezed my hand and took a shaky breath. “We can do this.”
Chapter Six
As the sun began to set, the clouds thinned and eventually faded off to the east. Kierce returned my shirt and shifted. Once everyone got a good look at his dick, he flew off toward our growing army. “Are you doing well?” I whispered to Aneen once Dusk left her shoulder. She’d been quiet for some time.
She gave a quick nod.
I would have hugged her, but we quickened our pace to reach Crimson Pass before nightfall. Stopping to hug her would make her look weak. I glanced at her angelic face and those red eyes stared back.
“If I was not worried, I’d be a fool.”
“Which makes you smart.”
She smiled softly. “There is such a thing as a smart fool.”
“Don’t be grouchy and gloomy like Alexander.”
“Hey!” he glanced back at us.
Damn vampire hearing. “Focus on learning your abilities. Once we get to the pass, you can practice. The queen may have an army of her own, but we have … heart.”
“Seriously? Heart?” Alexander slowed down. “We’ve got banshees, Selkies, humans, a badass bird shifter, Aos Si and a very sexy half vampire.” Alexander swept Aneen into his arms while keeping pace. “We’re going to win this. Then I’m going to get my two favorite people naked and fuck them in every room in the castle.”
“Alexander!” Aneen tried to sound offended, but she giggled and blushed. She laid her head on Alexander’s shoulder. He easily kept our quick pace with the princess in his arms.
“Come on, Stefen, tell me that sexy cock of yours isn’t hardening thinking of us naked?” He winked at me.
I knew what he was doing. Alexander was trying to distract all three of us by talking about lack of clothing. It was working, too, until the tree line of the eerie swamp curved and disappeared against the base of a huge mountain. Thoughts of Alexander and Aneen in the throes of passion faded. We were close to the pass.
“Just think about me spreading Aneen’s legs and feasting on her sweet pussy.” He was too busy nuzzling her neck to notice the change in our pace.
The narrow path we’d been on opened up revealing a stone path for traveling wagons. The setting sun illuminated the mountains on either side and the hint of white atop the highest peaks. A light fluttered to life in the shadows of Aibell’s mountains, then another. They were fires being lit. I spotted at least a handful before Alexander placed Aneen on her feet. “I guess our army has arrived.” I said. More fires sparked to life. Figures moved around, more than I could have hoped for.
Aneen led us down the slope, over the stone path and to the awaiting warriors. She kept her chin up, despite the occasional tremor in her bottom lip. A group of humans lowered to one knee as we passed. A swarm of Aos Si settled in a tree, quieting as we walked by. Kierce rose from a log, a white cloth wrapped around his waist and tied at his hip.
“So, it’s true. Vampires still exist.” The voice was feminine, coming from a hooded figure. “Dullahan’s spawn and a creature of the blood…”
A touch of jealous riled me. We were three, not just two.
“It’s Princess Aneen.” The chill in her voice was surprising. “And you are?”
The hooded figure peeled back her cloak, dropping it to the ground. I do believe every male of every species suddenly had erections. I glanced at Alexander who gave me a shrug of his shoulders. He didn’t know her either, then. Well, she didn’t affect my body. That right belonged to Aneen and Alexander.
The woman was under thirty years. No lines marred her tan skin. “I am the ruler of the banshees, blood kin to the first banshee of Otherworld. My names is Laren.”
A real, live banshee. I think my mouth fell open.
She gave a brief bow of her head. There was some kind of skull over her dark hair. Thick black lines were painted around her eyes. “Finally, we meet.” She wore strange thick cloth over her breasts and a bare stomach that revealed more black paint in strange designs. Strips of that same fabric were on her hips that hung to mid-thigh. Those strips crisscrossed her calves and ended at thick boots. Beneath all that looked to be toned, well-used muscle. Intimidating was a word that would easily describe her.
Aneen, in her tattered peasant dress with her blonde hair wild around her head, looked Laren in the eyes. Not an ounce of nerves or shame of appearance on her face. The only thing that betrayed her false confidence was the way she curled her fingers up. “Greetings, Laren, leader of the
banshees.”
The corner of Laren’s mouth lifted. “Kierce was right. I can sense much power behind that pretty face.”
Was that an insult or a compliment? Being as cool as a night breeze, Aneen thanked her. Damn, if she weren’t trying to look like a future queen I would have kissed her for being so brave.
“Does this mean you’re joining the fight?” Aneen asked.
Laren titled her head, really staring at Aneen. “Can you keep your blood creature under control?”
Alexander snorted. “No one controls me, woman.”
Aneen lifted her hand at Alexander but spoke to Laren, “This half vampire and this human will be your future kings. I do believe a bit more respect is deserved.”
Look at her talking like a queen! Wait, what? My gaze jumped to Alexander. He looked equally surprised at the kingly revelation. No non-human had ever sat on the throne of Otherworld. Not once in all of our history. I closed my eyes. Dullahan’s dick. I could just imagine Alexander cursing, smacking my butt and talking about licking Aneen’s nipples at royal parties.
“My apologies.” Laren’s voice was icy.
I opened my eyes. Kings? Really? I hadn’t thought beyond winning the war.
Laren’s lips lifted into a smile. “Well, you reacted to those insults incredibly well. Much better than your mother would have.”
Aneen’s stiff shoulders dropped. “I’m not my mother.”
“I see that.” Laren returned to Kierce’s side. “Come. Let us talk battle plans.”
It was a test? A test to see if Aneen would … what? Fold like a coward or attack like a beast? She was a beautiful princess, not a fool. Alexander and I stayed close as the planning began. Laren, leader of the banshees, was bringing all her warriors to the cause.
Apparently, the queen had tried to recruit them and when they declined she sent trolls to destroy their entire species. The trolls never made it out of the mountains alive. “We may not be inclined to mingle with males, but we will not murder them simply for being what they are.” Laren said.
Kierce was being very quiet around the female warrior. Not that he was a big talker, that one. He was more the type to grunt and nod. But he was stiff on the log and too intent to stare at the ground. Alexander must have noticed as I had, because he gave me an elbow nudge and wiggled his eyebrows. I definitely couldn’t see either of us as kings.
Dusk flew over, avoiding the fire and landing on Aneen’s knee. They seemed to have formed a bond. “I have gotten word that trolls are slinking from their caves and are marching toward Fairaine.”
“Shit.” Alexander blurted.
“Do you know how many?” Aneen asked.
“I do not.” Dusk’s wings fluttered. “There is … there is also sightings of dark figures coming from the high peaks in the thick of the night.”
“Vampires?” My voice was too sharp with fear.
“My spies report four such figures, but there could be more.” Dusk added quietly.
“Dullahan’s dick.” I sat on the nearest log. Four vampires! Four beings, faster and stronger than Alexander.
“There aren’t that many vampires left.” Alexander said. Still standing, he towered over everyone. “We’re not exactly a social species. I can’t help but wonder what the queen promised them to get them to join this war.”
“It matters not.” Aneen swallowed loudly. “We must fight. We must win. If the queen continues to reign she will turn this world toward slavery and suffering.”
Laren grinned, “Those are the words of a queen.”
Aneen smiled shyly.
But I couldn’t agree more.
****
“Did you know, fairies have the smallest cocks in all of Otherworld?”
My head jerked up. I was just filling a bowl with water for Aneen when I heard the insult. The fires were roaring since the night had long since devoured the light. Aos Si and humans huddled around the flames.
Thorn was lingering around the fire with two other Aos Si I’d never seen before.
“What the fuck kind of man are you when a woman can’t even gag on what you got?” The dark-haired human was with two others. They looked like brothers or at least in the same kin.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Thorn flew into the guys face. “Yer gonna insult my dick w’en yers looks like a fucking shriveled up selkie skin?”
His friends laughed. “You got a problem, fairy.”
“Aye, only ‘he fact yer full of shite.” Thorn was as big as my hand, but he was eye level with the human and didn’t look like he’d back down. “W’y dont ya just close yer mouth otherwise I’ll piss in it.”
“Sick fuck.”
Thorn lifted into the air, pushed down his pants and started pissing on the human.
I couldn’t help but stop and laugh. The human was cursing and swatting at the Aos Si. Thorn easily zipped left and right to avoid the hand. When he was done he pulled his pants up and laughed. “Ya dumb fuck.”
“Stupid fucking fairy. I’m going to crush you under my boot.”
“Aye, and I’ll make sure to cum all over yer face while ya sleep.” Thorn laughed as he flew toward the other Aos Si. They all lifted to the tree well above the fire. The cackle of fairy laughter got louder.
“Fair warning…” Alexander used his vamp speed. One minute he wasn’t there and the next he was leaning against the tree that the Aos Si lounged in. “Anyone who sleeps naked will have their pubic hair braided and trust me … it’s painful to unknot.”
Thorn flew below the branch. “Aye, ya fucked wit one of us before?”
“A feisty one named Clare. She also put bugs in my hair and stole my coins.” Alexander crossed his arms over his chest.
“Aye,” Thorn grinned, “I like t’e sound of ‘er.”
I shook my head and finally went back to walking toward Aneen. I knew we wouldn’t all come together that well, but it was like some of them weren’t even trying. Humans were messing with the Aos Si. The banshees kept glaring at all the men. They already shot an arrow at a human who was just trying to bring them food. Kierce was the only one who shifted into a bird and was perched in a tree, not stirring anything.
Aneen was near a large boulder with green moss atop it. The fire was crackling as it warmed the breeze. She was alone now. Her hands out as she focused on a row of rocks. She pointed her fingers and the light shot out. It struck the first rock, turning it black before it exploded. The second rock cracked. “Damn it!”
“I take it you didn’t mean to break that second rock?”
She jerked her head up. “No.” She flicked the air and the second rock flew over the fire and into the mass of green grass beyond.
“Well, that’s new.” I sat beside her.
“If I just jerk my finger or hand I can shoot out this sort of half powered light. It doesn’t destroy everything, but it can move things.” She took the wooden bowl and sipped.
“Hey, that can come in handy.”
“It’s useless beyond flicking Alexander’s pants down?”
I chuckled. “Been thinking on that awhile, have you?”
Aneen blushed and grinned. “Maybe. I just want to see his face when it happens.”
“Me, too.” I took the bowl and gulped down some cool water before placing it beside me on the ground. “You should sleep.”
“I will. I tried already.” She sighed. “I’m too worried about tomorrow.”
“It’s going to take at least two days to get to Kings Bridge. Worry about everything when we’re closer.”
“I know that. I do.” She frowned. “I don’t know if I can do it … fight her.” Her red eyes had an eerie glow in the firelight. “She’s my mother and I know she did horrible things and I know she has to be stopped, but she’s all the family I have left.”
“No. You have Alexander and you have me.”
“I don’t know if I can do this. I can’t even control my damn powers.” She wiggled her fingers.
It wasn’t going t
o be perfect instantly. Life wasn’t like that, but it did give me any idea. “When Alexander was about to be killed, you didn’t hit him, but you did hit the guy right in front of him about to rip his heart out.” That had been only days ago and yet it felt like a lifetime. I picked up the bowl and held it in the palm of my hand. “Hit the bowl.”
“What? Did you hit your head? I could hurt you. I could explode your hand or something.”
“I trust you. Aneen, hit the bowl.”
“No. I won’t do it.”
“Aneen, hit the bowl!”
She crossed her arms over her chest, tucking her hands in. “No.”
“I swear you are the most stubborn woman in all of Otherworld. Hit. The. Bowl.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “N. O.”
I growled in frustration, dropped the bowl and pulled her against me. My lips found hers instantly. “You are impossible.”
Aneen was kissing me back. Her arms fell to her sides.
I pulled away quickly and, hoping this didn’t fail, threw the bowl at her head.
She gasped, threw up her hands in reaction and hit the bowl with the light shooting out of her finger. It was mere inches away from my head and yet, no tendril of power touched me. The bowl flew back, bounced along the ground and splintered into pieces when it landed.
“You dirty, son of a—”
I kissed her. “I trust you.”
Aneen slapped my chest. “I could have hurt you.” She hit me again. “You can’t heal like Alexander, damn it. I could have killed you!”
I grabbed her hips and rolled so she was straddling me. Her hands clasped my shoulders and her peasant dress tangled around her thighs. I grabbed her chin with my fingers and kissed her bottom lip. Our eyes locked and I slowly pleasured her mouth with mine. It was a slow, languid kiss. My tongue tangled against hers. It felt like we had all the time in history, nowhere to go. There was nothing but Aneen and me kissing. I slid my fingers under the strap on her shoulder and tipped it down.
