For the Clan

by Archer Kay Leah

  "Of course I remember," Roan answered quietly. "You told me how much you loved my eyes. Reminded you—"

  "—of the flowers my mother planted. Yeah, I know. They still do. Blood-red and beautiful, and black as night when you work your magic. Kind of like right now. They've been black for the last five minutes, which makes me wonder what you're up to."

  Roan cleared his throat. How could he have forgotten about that small detail? Busted. He pulled his magic back, feeling the energy retract into his body. "Nothing. Much. Just trying to calm you down."

  "And here I thought it was talking to you that was doing it." Jace cupped Roan's cheek. "Just another reason I can't bear to choose. Cayra helps heal me, too. She put my broken heart back together. Picked up the pieces and made it work. She still does. I love that about her."

  "So?"

  "So I don't know where this is going. Just flapping my jaws at this point. You wanted me to talk—I didn't say it'd make sense. Guess I'm just saying I'm not as confident as everyone thinks I am," Jace murmured. "What I do know is that it's after dawn and I want to start the day off better than feeling sorry for myself. I'd rather think of you and all the dirty things we could do."

  "Dirty things, huh? Would you like to go through the list?"

  "Not really, no." Jace held Roan's hand to his lips and kissed each fingertip.

  The light touches sent tiny waves of pleasure through Roan's hand. After using magic, his hand was even more sensitive than normal. Roan's fingers trembled as Jace kissed them again. "Or you could just do that."

  "That's just foreplay."

  "What?"

  Jace thrust the tip of his tongue to Roan's palm. Without losing contact, Jace licked a path up Roan's hand to the tip of Roan's middle finger.

  Every muscle in Roan's groin clenched. The few shallow breaths he could manage were laboured, shaky the moment they left his lungs. It was the excruciating prelude to an orgasm in one sensual touch. "Jace," Roan hissed.

  Jace flashed a devilish smile and worked his tongue across Roan's hand, the tip fluttering from one section to another.

  Roan clutched Jace, his nails digging into Jace's side. A shudder racked his body. This time, he couldn't breathe. He pulled Jace closer and rocked. At this rate, he would come within minutes.

  Jace's tongue prolonged the agony, dancing across Roan's fingertips. When Jace stopped to suck in one finger, Roan jerked back his hand and grabbed Jace's cock.

  The touch backfired. Jace's hips shifted upwards, encouraging Roan's grip to work up and down Jace's shaft. Their skin rubbing together, Jace's hardened body sent Roan's nerves into a frenzy. Roan's skin alternated between numb and warm, losing him between pain and pleasure. Roan whimpered as his hand shook, caressing Jace until Roan's fingers twitched. Just as he couldn't restrain his fingers, Roan couldn't control what happened with the rest of him. He writhed and squeezed Jace's leg, trying to anchor himself.

  "Jace, please," Roan begged, struggling to pull himself up. He needed something but couldn't put words to it. Jace in him? Him in Jace? What was he asking for? "Please."

  "Jace? Cariño? Are you up yet?" Cayra called.

  Roan froze. Was he coming? Was his mind going? How was he managing to stay upright in an awkward position, partially on top of Jace?

  "Frig it all," Jace cursed. "Here. Lie down. Let me—"

  The blanket Jace flipped over them barely covered their bodies, though it hid their cocks well enough no one would notice the milky mess pooling on Jace's skin and the sheet underneath.

  Cayra walked into the tent, fanning herself with her hat. "Just thought I'd see if—"

  Roan swallowed and held onto Jace. He dared not look Cayra in the eye. For one thing, he worried she'd lose her temper. Second, she'd notice how he trembled. It wasn't something he wanted to justify. Not this early in the morning. Not ever. He couldn't even manage to put words together in a coherent sentence, let alone defend his place in her bed.

  Cayra's mouth fell open. "Oh. I didn't realize. I'll just—" She gestured to the side of the tent. "Go over here. Just need—thing. Schedule. Numbers. That, yeah." Focused on the table, she moved without glimpsing the bed.

  "Cay, I can explain," Jace started, sitting up.

  "Nope, that's fine. Just fine." Cayra raised one hand. Her back to the bed, she rummaged through one of the metal containers on the table. "Don't mind me. I'm just coming—I mean, grabbing—I mean, looking for… Good god, where is it?"

  Roan held his breath. If his clothes weren't in the corner, he could've dressed and left before she turned around. But it was difficult enough to sit up let alone stand without falling onto his face. Maybe sex after magic… not a good idea.

  "Did you want to talk about it?" Jace asked.

  "Nope." Cursing under her breath, Cayra opened another container.

  "Did you want help finding it?"

  "Nope. Just stay in bed. It won't be hard—I mean, difficult—to find."

  "Can you at least look at us?" Jace pressed.

  "Can you at least wait until I find it?" Cayra retorted briskly.

  Roan pulled the blanket higher over his shoulder, battling the chill dancing down his body. A lover's spat wasn't the best way to start a day.

  "Found it," Cayra muttered, pulling a crumpled mass of paper from the container. While she turned, she put the hat back on, her eyes disappearing under the wide brim.

  Roan was certain she'd hidden her eyes on purpose. He recognized the hue of a blush on her face, and it wasn't from the sun.

  "Need anything?" Cayra asked.

  "No," Jace answered, "but you did, remember? You were asking for me?"

  "Yeah. I, uh, yeah. Just curious if you wanted to help transfer plants." Cayra raised her hands. "It's fine. You're busy. I'll just get Dali to help. It's all good. Handled. Covered. Crap. I'm leaving now. Have fun."

  As Cayra made her way to the entrance, Jace stood. "Did you want him to leave? I don't want this to bother you all day. We'll just talk now."

  Cayra spun around. "No, stay. I'd actually love to join you, but this is a boys' thing between you two." Her laugh sounded forced and bashful. "Kind of wish I could stand here and watch you get each other off. If it didn't feel like it's going to piss rain later, I probably would. But I need to get this done. I'll see you later. Enjoy yourselves. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

  She slipped out of the tent and walked away.

  "That went well," Jace murmured, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Can't tell if she's pissed or embarrassed."

  "Either way, I think it's killed the mood." Roan retrieved his clothes. "And she's got a point. The weather's probably going to be crap later. We should help her."

  "We? Don't you mean me?"

  "No, I mean we. If she loses her shit, we’ll just distract her with the plants."

  "Nice plan."

  "At least it's something. You wanted me to try, so here I am, trying."

  "I know." Jace pulled on his pants, flashing an apologetic smile. "Let's just hope she sees it that way."

  Roan finished dressing. He hoped a lot of things, mostly that he'd been wrong about her. This wasn't a good time for him to be right.

  07

  Their relationships should have been driven apart, strained by the wedge Jace's divided heart stabbed between them.

  If that was true, why did it appear Roan and Cayra were becoming closer, making their uncommon circumstances seem normal?

  He couldn't shake the sound of the warning bells clanging in his head.

  Jace bit into the green apple, his grip tightening the longer the warnings soured his relief. Cayra and Roan walked side by side, closer than Jace would've expected. Cayra touched Roan's elbow as if they were on a leisurely stroll and not a diplomatic tour. If not for the loaded basket Roan carried, she probably would have slipped her arm through his.

  And for his part, Roan wasn't flinching, at least not that Jace could see. The slight smile on his lips looked genuine.

  In three w
eeks, it was as though they'd never been at odds.

  This can't be good, can it? Jace changed positions on the wide stump, forcing his glance to the unlit fire pit. And why am I obsessing? I should be happy about this. I am happy about this. But it shouldn't be this easy. It can't be this easy. This isn't how things are done. She can't possibly be that calm. Most women would tear his face off, or mine. Shouldn't there be an ultimatum here? There's a reason marriages are two people—to keep from killing the third.

  Realization gnawed on his doubts. I'm not jealous, am I? Rationalizing her getting friendly with Roan while I'm secretly hoping she backs off? Or am I just so paranoid I don't know what's going on anymore? What is wrong with me? This is the perfect situation, and I'm overanalyzing everything.

  Raising his eyes, Jace found Cayra and Roan stopped at a tent not more than thirty feet away. Cayra's hands waved excitedly through the air as they did every time she told a story. In front of Cayra stood a tall, tawny man with a bald head and a stocky woman with short, dark dreadlocks and a rich, bronze complexion. They both were leaders of other clans in the surrounding area: Dixon of Clan Inheritant and Gin of Clan Fealty. Both nodded and laughed as Cayra continued to talk. Were they being polite, or were they genuinely amused? Jace hoped for the latter. They needed to stay in good graces with the others to survive.

  Behind Gin, Roan shuffled and adjusted his hold on the basket, stealing Jace's attention. Once again, Roan had covered almost everything that suggested he wasn't like the rest of them. The glasses and bandana hid most of the branding on his face. Although the K1 was still visible, it wasn't as conspicuous, especially when Roan tilted or lowered his head.

  Roan didn't trust the other leaders to know what he was. They'd start a witch burning if the other clans knew, Roan had cautioned the night before. Rather, they should focus on business and reveal the truth later, buying time for Roan to become an integrated, functioning member of Teach before anyone interjected.

  Given how skittish people were about harbouring Vens, Jace had agreed. The clans were a perceived threat to the nation's system, questioning the choices of government and corporations, and speaking against officials who violated the people's rights.

  Yet Vens were the bigger threat. The best way to disarm Vens was to round them up and keep them under control.

  Roan was a secret worth keeping, even if just for a little longer—for Roan's sake more than any of theirs. Clan Teach could talk their way out of almost anything with the other clans, but no one could talk Roan out of captivity if someone reported him. Soldiers would clamp him in cuffs and drag him away just as they did before. Roan would never survive recapture—he'd already said as much. He'd rather die.

  And this time, Roan wouldn't hesitate to slit his own throat.

  Snarling at the bitter apple core, Jace tossed it into the ash. He'd rather think about a suspiciously impending argument with his wife than Roan dead.

  When he lifted his gaze, Jace caught Cayra's wave at him before she moved towards him. Dixon and Gin followed her, flanked by Roan, who made faces while he shifted the basket under one arm. Roan's expressions were almost as funny as those he had whenever Cayra caught Jace and Roan together.

  Jace was starting to wonder if her intrusions weren't by coincidence but intentional. More than once, Jace had noticed she appeared more comfortable finding them in Roan's bed or locked in an embrace. It felt as though she lingered longer, her shy embarrassment gone. The last time, Jace could swear she'd watched them for at least ten minutes before saying something. He'd seen her shadow on the other side of the tent flaps—or what he suspected was her. There was a chance he'd seen nothing at all.

  Part of him hoped she'd been there. The thought of her observing them made him want her all the more.

  "And here's the fearless leader now," Cayra said, entering into the circle around the fire pit. Her peasant skirt hid her clunky work boots as it swayed, the buttercup yellow fabric a sharp contrast to the dark ground. As usual, she'd brought her work back with her: dirt smeared the bottom of her tank top, a single red petal clinging to the hem. "Working incredibly hard, cariño?" she murmured before kissing Jace's lips. She gestured to Dixon and Gin. "They're staying for dinner. And they want copies of the plans for the greenhouse."

  "Ours isn't as efficient as it should be," Dixon complained. "Missing a couple things your girl's managed to scrounge up. We could use the help."

  "All about who you know," Cayra answered, hugging Jace. "Wasn't easy tracking the supplier down, but I can get you a fair deal. He trades smoothly. It helps he's got family in some clan out east. I could probably get you some of the smaller hydroponics gear thrown in for free." Her slender nose scrunched. "Well, sort of. You might have to part with some food. The man likes it sweet and organic. Berries; peaches for certain." She grinned. "I can bribe him with just about anything that makes a half-decent pie. Says it beats that crap they manufacture in the metros."

  "Typical man," Gin said, her voice gravelly. "Straight through the stomach and right up to their head."

  "Hey, I resent that, Ginny." Dixon leaned down and nudged her shoulder with his. "Some of us aren't that easy."

  "Oh, you'd like to think that, wouldn't you?" Gin crossed her arms, a smirk on her lips. "You just keep believing, Dix, and go tell your wife. I'm sure she could use the laugh." She motioned beside her to the basket filled with greens and fruits, her hand almost hitting Roan. "And thanks for these, Cayra. Always love trading with you folks."

  "No problem. Just happy to help. And we always love seeing you, don't we, hon?" Cayra tapped Jace's shoulder. Was she trying to tell him something else?

  Jace stood, looking twice at Cayra's eyes. Behind the smile, she stewed over something. "Yeah, of course. None of us can survive completely alone."

  Dixon dug the heel of his boot into the dirt. "Especially when we hear things are getting hotter out here. Heard about the fight weeks back, yeah? Something about rogues getting the smack down. Also heard they got fried."

  Don't say a word, Jace reminded himself, glimpsing Roan's uneasiness.

  "Now apparently the governtary's back to get rid of more," Gin added. "Couldn't get enough the first round. So watch yourselves. They're not going to be out here making friends, governtary or rogues. We'll shoot them on the spot and claim trespassing. You might want to do the same."

  "Thanks," Jace muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets and rocking on his heels. It wasn't the first time he'd heard the warning: Teach's sentries had reported more of the same. He still needed to talk to Roan about new strategies. Jace had avoided the discussion for days. The last thing he wanted was to remind Roan of what he hated most. He hadn't wanted to tarnish their moments of peace.

  Cayra cleared her throat. "Why don't I finish showing you the rest of what we've been up to? We've made a few changes since the winter you might find amusing. Think we've even got some spare SUV parts, Dixon, since you said yours is on its last legs."

  "Yeah, sure, that'd be awesome," Dixon said, his face brightening. "My poor gal's killing herself just trying to start. Almost stalled on the way here. It's driving me nuts. All over a bucket of bolts."

  "Better than fighting over scraps of plastic funny money." Cayra faced Roan. "Do you mind parking those in our tent? Just for now. On the table. I don't want the kids or the damn dogs getting into it."

  "Yeah, sure," Roan replied. "Got something I need to grab anyway. I'll catch up with you after?"

  Cayra's smile looked genuine; similar to those she gave Jace. "Yeah, I'd like that." Lifting her hand, she prompted Dixon and Gin to walk away.

  When Jace turned, Cayra's hand hit his chest. "Wait."

  Jace stopped and caught his breath. She was serious, the worry from her gaze spreading across her face. The same expression overtook her whenever she confronted him about his feelings for Roan.

  "What?" he asked. This can't be good.

  "We need to talk. Not now but later, after they're gone. I've got something I need
to tell you, something I can't keep hiding. It's making things… difficult."

  He swore the blood drained from his face. Despite the worsening humidity, he shivered.

  She'd changed her mind.

  Oh god. I knew it.

  Cayra patted his chest. "I'm going to show Dix and Ginny around, we'll get to dinner, then we'll see them off. Then I want to talk. And Roan should be there, since it concerns him too. Don't go sneaking off."

  Jace froze. Words escaped him. He nodded, thankful it was enough to make her leave.

  Shit.

  He drew a shaky hand through his hair. The honeymoon phase was over. Cayra had decided it wasn't what she wanted. All those times of finding them together had made her realize it.

  Roan was going to be screwed over again.

  How do I break it to him? I need to warn him. Let him know—

  "Jace, we need to talk. Now."

  Alim's voice yanked Jace's attention to the group approaching him. Hart, Seth, and Baret followed Alim through the circle of tree stumps and stopped in front of Jace. Each of them crossed their arms, no less threatening than their darkened expressions.

  What now? Jace returned their defensive stances with his own. "About what?"

  Alim jerked his chin, gesturing behind him. "Not in the open. We're taking this inside."

  Jace let out a slow breath and followed Alim. The dubious way the other sentries followed didn't escape him. He felt like a prisoner.

  The day was going to get worse before crawling towards better.

  Following Alim's lead, Jace slipped into the weapons tent before the others crowded around him and drew the flaps closed. The tent went dark.

  Alim turned on one of the lanterns on the table along the back wall, pushing the darkness back with soft yellow light. "Emergency meeting," he said flatly, sitting on the table. "And before you start asking: yes, Dali and Emma do know about this. They've entrusted us to speak on their behalf. We're unanimously in agreement."