by Ivy Barrett
* * *
Brianna stretched and wiggled, luxuriating in the softness of the fur against her naked body and the warmth cocooning her. She felt lazy and relaxed and happy. Her lids fluttered before she summoned the will to open her eyes. Did she really have to abandon such wonderful dreams?
She’d been locked in a tower with Sean and Kellan. The overlord had spanked her, warmed her naughty bottom until she came around Sean’s fingers. Then they’d touched her and loved her, made her feel amazingly alive. Clutching the top fur to her breasts, she sat up and looked around. Images rolled through her mind, sensual echoes of passion, pleasure, and pain.
She was safe here, cared for and protected. By her knight and her overlord.
It isn’t real. Logic intruded with sharp clarity. None of this is real.
Her fantasy lovers stood near the window, speaking in hushed tones. Sean had pulled on his pants, but his chest was bare and his hair was mussed. Stark-naked and glorious, Kellan held a gleaming sword, yet there was no dragon in sight.
There is no dragon! This was some sort of dream. It had to be. Sean’s rescue attempt had failed. She was now Kellan’s prisoner-guest.
Noticing she was awake, Sean ambled toward her, his expression cautious and concerned. “Welcome back, milady. How do you feel?”
His soft tone swept through her, triggering images and sensuous memories. She stood between them, naked and trembling, as their hands caressed her naked body. “Where am I? What is this place?”
He knelt beside her and took her hands between his. “What do you remember?”
Her memory was muddled. Which images were real and which had been part of this fantasy? The sex was definitely fantasy. She would never allow those things to happen in reality. Would she?
“Do you remember the lab?” Sean prompted, drawing her wandering thoughts back to the present.
“Yes.” She latched on to the suggestion, using the incident to push away the erotic images teasing her imagination. “You tried to rescue me, but Kellan’s men grabbed me while you were fighting off the guards.”
“What’s the last thing you remember before you woke up in this room for the first time?” Sean stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, the small caress surprisingly soothing.
“I was…” She looked at Kellan and heat spread across her face. He’d been using his mouth to drive her crazy when she’d sensed something or someone forcing their way into her mind. “Someone broke into my mind. It was horrible. It felt like they were trying to lobotomize me.”
“Ceddrik didn’t mean to hurt you.” Kellan set down the sword and crossed to the furs. “The scan has never been harmful before.”
Keeping her gaze focused squarely on his face, Brianna ignored the edginess she felt each time she looked at him. “What are you talking about? Why was Ceddrik scanning me?”
“I told you he was confirming your story, I just failed to mention how.”
She suppressed her anger for the moment. There was still too much she didn’t understand. “Are you sure it was Ceddrik? The being I sensed was horrible, corrupt and evil.” She shuddered, unable to hide her revulsion.
“Maybe she sensed the old woman,” Kellan said to Sean. “The spirit might have used Ceddrik’s link to insinuate herself into Brianna’s mind.”
“It’s possible, but I didn’t sense any real malice when I scanned her.”
“What did you sense?” Kellan moved to the other side of Brianna, uninhibited and impossible to ignore.
“Energy, pure, concentrated energy.”
She shifted toward Sean, surrounding herself with the compassion shining in his eyes. “What are you talking about now? Who did you scan?”
“The entity who created this reality appeared to us while you were sleeping.” Sean sat beside her and wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her close. “For some reason she wants Ceddrik dead.”
“She created all this hoping you would kill Ceddrik?” It seemed like a roundabout way of accomplishing that goal.
“It might be more than a hope,” Kellan muttered, apparently content to loom over them. “It could be her intention to trap us here until one of us does her bidding.”
“Could you hand me my shift?” She pointed toward the discarded garment. Rather than hand it to her, Sean moved behind her and helped her dress. Kellan’s fathomless gaze followed their every move, making it impossible to forget all the things they’d done, all the ways he’d touched her. “I’d rather not stick around to find out what she intends. How do we get out of here?”
Sean helped her to her feet, his warm hand lingering at the small of her back. “I was afraid to attack the visualization before because you were so deeply immersed in it.”
“I’m better now.”
She tried not to think about everything that had happened since she became ‘immersed’ in this non-reality, but her memory wasn’t paying attention to her determination. She saw herself writhing on the fur, one man on either side of her, as they sucked her breasts and caressed her naked body. Had she really taken Sean in her mouth while Kellan fucked her pussy? A graphic image materialized in her mind, making denial impossible. They’d fucked her together and she’d never known such pleasure. Her orgasms had never left her boneless and utterly content until last night.
She should be humiliated, should be squirming from the shame, but echoes of desire were the only things making her squirm. She’d knelt in front of Sean and spread her legs, offering him her pussy or ass to use as he chose. And he’d chosen both! He’d used his fingers and—
“What about Ceddrik?” Kellan’s question cut through her erotic recap. His tone was tight and conflict knitted his brow. “Is he still lost in the visualization? What will happen to him if you disrupt it?”
“Unfortunately, there’s only one way to find out.”
“You’re going to destroy the castle?” Brianna crossed her arms over her chest. She knew it was inevitable, but she wasn’t ready to leave, wasn’t ready to face cold, unfeeling reality.
He nodded. “I’m going to do my damndest. This might be our only opportunity. If the spirit pulls your consciousness back into this world, I suspect we’ll go right along with you. It’s now or never.”
Kellan wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back against his body. “You don’t need to be afraid. No matter what happens, you’re safe with us. We’ll protect you.”
She hadn’t realized how tense her shoulders had become until his words allowed her to relax them. Despite his gruff exterior, Kellan was remarkably perceptive. She pressed her arm over his and entwined their fingers. His other arm encircled her waist as well and he nuzzled her hair. Would he be this affectionate once they emerged from the illusion? How much would they remember?
“Is Sean at your compound as well?” She felt him nod. “How did that come about?”
“He came looking for you, of course.”
“We’ll explain everything as soon as we’re out,” Sean told her. “I need to concentrate.”
Sean closed his eyes and spread his arms. A deep pulse vibrated the floor, the rhythm slow and steady. His lids flew open and amber light blazed from his eyes. Visible waves radiated out from his body, colliding with the walls surrounding them.
Brianna pressed into the warmth of Kellan’s embrace, fascinated yet terrified by the spectacle. She’d seen eyes like Sean’s before, glowing in the darkness, as mutant rebels scavenged the wreckage scattered across a hillside. Checking bodies. Counting the dead.
Determined to fight back the fear swelling inside her, Brianna turned and wrapped her arms around Kellan. He tucked her head beneath his chin then hugged her tightly.
“I’ve got you, princess. There’s nothing to fear.”
She hated being so timid. San Carlos women were stronger than this. She used to be stronger than this. But the fear was real and inescapable. Her fingers dug into his back, savoring the rock-hard muscles and the warmt
h of his scarred flesh. She breathed in his scent, letting the spicy-clean musk wash over her.
His fingers tangled in her hair and he carefully pulled her head back. Her lips parted as he lowered his head, welcoming him with a tentative lick. His lips sealed over hers and his tongue curled, stroking as he pushed into her mouth.
Sean’s energy pulsed through her like an exaggerated heartbeat. Kellan cupped her bottom and dragged her up along his chest. Her toes barely touched the floor and then the floor disintegrated.
With a startled gasp, she broke the kiss and turned her head sharply to the side. Their surroundings blurred and spun. Flashes of light within the stones seemed to protest Sean’s efforts.
Sean held his ground, determination contorting his features.
Stop this, specter! I can’t let her go until you—
He silenced the disembodied voice with an especially violent pulse.
You must kill the dragon or he will destroy everything!
He ignored the voice and continued his attack. The walls began to crumble, revealing the endless blackness beyond the castle walls.
You fool! The voice sounded thin, depleted. I was trying to protect her. She has seen the true face of the dragon. He will not let her live.
Sean sent one final burst of energy into the visualization and the illusion ruptured, breaking apart into countless shards and blinding flashes of light.
Brianna buried her face against Kellan’s chest. She clung to him then melted into him as tactile sensation was swept beyond the metaphysical plane.
Chapter Seven
Kellan sprang up in bed, panting and disoriented. Had Sean done it? Were they free of the spirit’s spell? Black dots swam before his eyes, making it hard to see. He blinked furiously as he brushed Brianna’s hair back from her face. A soft moan escaped her lips and she shook her head.
“Kellan?” Her eyes opened and she managed a weak smile. Her gaze remained unfocused, her face pale. “Where’s Sean?”
“Behind you.” He dragged in several deep breaths as his vision cleared. They’d stretched out on the bed with her, one on either side. Sean sprawled on his back, arms spread wide as they had been in the visualization. The steady rise and fall of his chest assured Kellan he was only dazed, at the worst unconscious.
“Is he all right?” She wiggled away from him as her attention zeroed in on Sean.
“I think so.” He hoped so, but he knew nothing about battling incorporeal entities. “See if you can rouse him.”
Brianna turned toward Sean, giving Kellan a delightful view of her bare back. She touched Sean’s face then squeezed his shoulder. “You did it, sir knight. You brought us safely home.”
Two words caught in Kellan’s mind. Us and home. Who did she include in ‘us’ and how long would she consider this her home?
He scrubbed his hand over his face, his feelings jumbled. It hadn’t been real. He needed to purge his mind of the memories and the possessive urges that accompanied the images. It had been an illusion. An intense, amazing illusion, but an illusion all the same.
Sean groaned. His face turned, following her hand, obviously eager for her touch. “Is Kellan okay? Where’s—Ceddrik?”
Needing something to distract him from his troubled thoughts, Kellan rolled off the side of the bed and walked toward Ceddrik’s cot. Night had fallen while they were inside the castle, or was this the second night? It felt as if they had spent a lifetime comforting her, loving her…
“Ceddrik?” His eyes adjusted to the darkness and his heart lurched within his chest. “He’s gone.” He snatched back the covers to verify the conclusion. “Damn it!” Rushing to the door, he called for a guard and told him to locate Ceddrik. “Our link is still active. He couldn’t have gone far.”
“Can you use the link to find him?” Sean asked. “We need to figure out why the spirit wants him dead.”
“If the link can be used like that, I have no idea how to do it.”
“I bet Ceddrik does.” Sean swung his legs over the side of the bed and wobbled a bit as he stood. “I bet he’s been tracking your movements for as long as you’ve been linked.”
“I seldom keep my whereabouts a secret. Why would he bother?” Even as he dismissed Sean’s concern, doubt shot tendrils through his mind. He’d always thought of Ceddrik as his servant and the link was necessary for Ceddrik to communicate with him. He should have been more cautious, less focused on the benefits of having a mystic at his disposal. Well, the link existed. There wasn’t much he could do about it now. Or was there? “Are you able to follow the link?”
Sean shook his head. “I’m not a tracker. There are those in the Underground—”
“We’ll try it the non-mutant way first. If my men can’t find him, we’ll explore other options.”
Sean accepted the decision with a stiff nod.
“She said I’d seen the true face of the dragon.” Brianna sat in the middle of the bed, sheet drawn around her slender body. “What did she mean?”
“It was all mystic nonsense.” Despite the casual dismissal, Kellan wasn’t quite convinced.
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Without asking permission, Sean opened the closet door and grabbed one of Kellan’s tunics. “If there was nothing to her allegations, why did Ceddrik run?” He handed the tunic to Brianna then faced Kellan. “How long has he served you and how did he come to be your personal mystic?”
Kellan tensed at the challenge in Sean’s tone. “He presented himself to me shortly after you left.”
“He just presented himself to you? Your distrust of anyone with mutant abilities is well-known. What made him think you would even consider his services?”
“He’s not a mutant and my attempt to recruit you for a similar position is also well-known. You caused quite a stir when you left, my friend. No one was sure what I’d do.”
Sean had the audacity to laugh. “No one had ever dared to refuse you before.”
There was more truth in Sean’s statement than Kellan cared to admit. Most people bent over backward to please him. Kellan wasn’t vain enough to think they did so without ulterior motives, but there were definite perks to his position. And inescapable responsibilities.
He shook away the useless tangent and narrowed his focus once more. “How Ceddrik came to me is irrelevant. He proved himself worthy of trust.”
“It still seems a bit too convenient for my comfort.”
“He hasn’t done anything,” Kellan stressed. “The spirit admitted that she was responsible for the illusion. Why are you so certain Ceddrik is guilty and what do you think he’s done?”
Rather than fuel the budding argument, Sean turned to Brianna. “You said the being that entered your mind was corrupt. Were there specific thoughts and images? What exactly did you sense?”
“It’s hard to explain.” She wiggled into the tunic before she went on. “I had no idea Ceddrik was scanning me, so the presence felt extremely intrusive. The harder I resisted the more… wrong it all felt.”
“You should have told her.” Sean shot him a sidelong glare. “Invading a person’s mind without their permission is—”
“What hypocrisy! Are you going to try to convince me you’ve never used your abilities to invade a person’s privacy? I know Fane has a small army of hackers and spies. Compiling information is the first step in establishing any strategy. So get off your high horse. I’m not buying it.”
Brianna crawled off the bed and smoothed the tunic down over her thighs. “What happens now? Do you still think I’m Fane’s spy?”
He knew what she was asking and the words clogged his throat. “Sean confirmed your story. I have no reason to detain you.” Freeing her was the last thing Kellan wanted to do. Even before the castle she had fascinated him. And now she was like a fire in his blood. He wanted her, craved her, would find a way to have her over and over again. “So the question is, what do you want to do now?”
“I want to see my s
ister.”
Kellan inclined his head, scrambling for a reason to make her stay. “Sean can contact Mal Ton and ask him to bring Lorelle here. Until we find Ceddrik, it’s probably better if we err on the side of caution.”
“Can I at least talk to her now?” Her gaze shifted from him to Sean and back. “I’ve been told many things since I was captured. I need to know she’s really all right.”
“I’m sure something can be arranged.” He wasn’t sure what. Off-world communications could be tricky in the black zones, and Stilox security made everything complicated. But he’d figure out something. It was obvious she wouldn’t relax until she saw Lorelle with her own eyes.
She nodded and looked away, a rosy blush creeping over her cheeks. He’d never wished he could sense emotions more than he did in that moment. Was she remembering the pleasure they’d shared in the tower room, or had her surrender been part of the illusion?
Of course it had been illusion. None of it had been real! But it would be. He would seduce her slowly, explore every angle and curve of her soft body.
Do you know what you’re doing?
His gaze snapped to Sean’s. He couldn’t send his thoughts, but Sean could hear what he was thinking if he was scanning his mind at the time. The spirit didn’t create the attraction, she only intensified it. I’ve wanted Brianna from the first moment I saw her.
And wanting her is reason enough to seduce her? What about what she wants?
She wants us both! Do you honestly think Brianna would have accepted such a bold scenario if the desire wasn’t already inside her? Stay. Explore this attraction with me. See where it leads us.
She doesn’t need a sexual relationship. She needs affection and stability and—
Let her decide what she needs.
“I want my own room.”
Her words stung like a slap. He was relatively sure she couldn’t hear their telepathic conversation, but her comment struck too close to the mark. “It’s not safe.” The words were out before he could stop them. It didn’t matter that they had been trapped in an illusion, every cell in his body remembered.
