Jade couldn't turnabout without talking to her friends so she continued to walk toward them.
"Jade, how come you're here?"
"It's a long story. I'd like to tell you all of it. Shall we meet later?" Of course, Lauren had no idea about all that had happened, and there was an awful lot to catchup up. Too much to tell right then.
"Yes, of course, but how are you here? Who are you with?" Lauren's surprise and her questions were perfectly reasonable. To Lauren's knowledge, Jade only passed through to other dimensions with her. Lauren looked over Jade's shoulder searching through the surrounding faces.
"Philip. I'm here with Philip." Jade answered at just the same time as Lauren's expression turned dark.
"You must come and talk with us, but first I have to sort something." Lauren stepped forward abruptly, freeing herself from the hold of her warrior men. "Hey. You can't be here." She marched away.
As Jade turned, with a sinking feeling she realized exactly who had Lauren's attention.
"What are you doing here? I thought you'd left Beaumont woods. I told you there was danger and to stay away for your own good. Now you're here, we can't let you go back." Lauren was screeching and attracting the attention of everyone who stood near.
"Honey, I don't want to go back." Karl stepped forward with his hands on his hips. His elbows out wide, squaring up for a fight. "I'll only go back to Beaumont if Jade wants to go there."
"Jade?" Lauren stopped walking and turned.
Jade crashed into her and took a step backward.
"Jade?" Lauren repeated this time directing her words toward Lauren. "What is going on?"
Suddenly, Nic was by Jade's side; his supportive hand slipped around her waist. "We're with Jade"
Not helping.
While she searched for words to defuse the situation, Jade watched Lauren trying to recall Nic's face and saw exactly the moment she recognized him.
"Jade, did you bring these men here?"
Jade sensed danger, and she froze.
The three Spartan men had moved closer, and so had Karl.
Lauren spoke to them. "These are the men threatening Beaumont. And it looks as if Jade brought them here. I can't believe I trusted you, and you did this."
"I can explain."
Lauren didn't want to hear. "Explain what, Jade? You fall into bed with one or both of them and then bring them here to show off? Is that it? This was a secret, Jade. It is a secret. It's not for you to just tell your latest guy. And I can't believe these two of all men. Is this how you got them to leave Beaumont in the first place?" Palpable anger rolled off Lauren as she spoke. Everyone became increasingly tense.
"Why don't you give us a chance and listen?" Karl said as he stepped right up to Lauren. His stance and his proximity were threatening. That must have been how the Spartans saw it. Greg held a dagger and Jasper had drawn a sword.
Gripped with fear, Jade wondered if they'd die before she could explain. They were demigods. They had a right to be there.
Everyone looked to the side for a moment as three men appeared to one side. Dressed in black pants and boots, with shiny black hair and dark eyes, similar in appearance their striking appearance demanded attention. All three had huge black wings fully extended ready for flight. They said nothing as they appeared to be weighing up the scene. They came to a halt by Brenna.
The ground trembled. A rumbling noise like far-off drums could be heard. The tremor was so small at first Jade wondered if she'd imagined it.
One of the winged Corax, Waldrom, picked up Brenna in his arms and hovered a few inches above the ground.
"What's happening?"
It was only at Greg's question that Jade stopped wondering about the earthquake and noticed Greg's dagger glowed. It had bent downward and appeared to be melting. It was dripping like ice cream in the heat. It had turned into molten liquid.
Jasper's sword had curved into a metal spiral. He gasped and dropped it. Not that the Spartans needed weapons. They could kill with their hands and had trained to do so in childhood.
"It's not what it seems. The men are no danger," Jade said to Lauren.
"How can you say that?" Lauren paid no attention to the earthquake or the faulty metal.
Jade extended her hand and pointed at the coiled sword on the ground. "Because they did that."
Karl and Nic were both staring in stunned amazement at the ruined weapons.
With a skeptical expression, Lauren looked at Nic and then Karl and then Philip who was standing a short distance away with a grin on his face. "I don't think so. Philip did that. You know it. Is he in on this with you?"
Jade didn't know it. "There's nothing for him to be in on, Lauren. Let me introduce demigods Nic and Karl." She indicated each man with a wave of her hand as she said their names.
"Demigods?" Lauren gasped.
Greg finally dropped the handle of his dagger into the pool of liquid metal at his feet.
"That's right. They're my distant cousins." Philip called out as he walked over to them. He was still grinning. "I didn't do any of that, by the way. The earth tremor, the metalwork, not my doing but down to these men."
Even Karl and Nic looked both skeptical and amazed.
Zander narrowed his eyes. "If they're metalworkers, why did the ground tremor?"
"I think you'll find the source of the tremor is an ancient forge many miles west of here."
"Do you mean a volcano just erupted?" asked Jade.
"No. Merely rumbled."
"Can we start again? Jade, tell us how you the three of you came to be here?"
A dirty sweaty and tired looking Jasper wrapped an arm around Lauren. "We need to bathe and rest. And we've a job to do back home. If a god vouches for them all that's normally good enough for us, so why don't you ask Jade and Philip and their new friends to tell us the full story in Sparta.
Lauren pursed her lips for a moment before visibly relaxing. "Do you want to all come to our home today and fill us in on the news?"
Still struggling for words, after all that had just happened, Jade nodded.
Philip placed a friendly arm over Karl's shoulder and looked at Lauren. "I have to see that everyone gets away from this island safely, but later today we'll be delighted to visit you in Sparta. I know a shortcut through the Labyrinth. What do you think boys?"
Karl nodded his agreement and a moment later so did Nic.
"Are you cooking?" Jade found her voice.
"The whole of Sparta will be celebrating. There will be lots of food. Philip will bring you."
Of course, Lauren still looked annoyed at seeing the guys, even if they were demigods, she hadn't even found out about Jade yet. Jade was pleased to hold on to that information a little longer as it was still so new to her.
"I will bring them safely and look forward to the party." Philip smiled, and his eyes gleamed as if he were the luckiest man alive. Beside him, Karl looked perfectly at ease too.
They exchanged farewells.
Lauren and the Spartans departed into the encampment, presumably to meet up with others before they returned to Sparta. Jade assumed they would travel home through the ancient maze.
When Lauren disappeared from view, Brenna stepped forward, placing a warm hand on Jade's forearm. "What was all that about?"
Jade had forgotten about the Corax royalty not several feet away.
Chapter Thirty
Prince Waldrom invited Jade's party to go and drink with them.
In the shade of a large marque, Jade told Brenna and the princes all that had happened since they last met. She was suitably impressed to meet Philip for the first time and discover Jade and the other two men were demigods.
"Do demigods have the same powers as gods?" Brenna asked. Her eyes wide with amazement.
With no idea how to answer, Jade shrugged and shook her head.
"Some have been very powerful, other not so much. From what Hephaestus told me, and what we saw out there, these demigods do have some abilities
related to metal working, even if they do not have control over the ability, yet."
"You mean those bending weapons?" Prince Waldrom asked.
"Yes?" Philip nodded. "And the rumbling of the underground forges."
Nic and Karl exchanged puzzled glances. "How did we do that?"
"Something got to you. I'd say the emotion of the moment. I'd also say that it's the fact the three of you were working together."
"Do you mean two?"
With a crooked smile on his face, Philip looked amused"The three of you, Jade included. You just weren't aware of it. Together you are stronger, if you learn to control your abilities."
The reunion could so easily have gone wrong. Brenna was obviously excited about her wedding with the three princes, and she may have felt slighted by Jade's news. Jade wasn't marrying princes, but she was sleeping with a god and two demigods. If it were a game of top trumps, Jade might pull out the winning card when she revealed she was a demigod herself.
Fortunately, Brenna was in too much of a good mood to read anything negative into their conversation.
The Corax princes shared their story. Disgruntled Corax rebels had set a plan to release some terrible monsters. They had only an idea of the route the revolutionaries intended to use. Last night they were able to catch some of the rebels in the Labyrinth when they were forced to land and trigger the sensors.
"What about tackling the cause of their grievances? Is that possible?" Jade asked. Ideas from her psychology degree taking form in the back of her mind.
"I don't know how we'd do that. Ultimately many of the rebels were once human, or their ancestors were human, and they aren't happy that the gods turned them into shapeshifters. I've sympathy with them. The gods shouldn't go around changing people into something else without permission." Prince Corbin looked at Philip. "I hope you don't mind me say so."
"I don't mind at all. I've never changed a person into anything else so my conscience is clear."
"Can you believe there are some among us who don't like being able to change into ravens." Prince Victor ran long slender fingers over his silky smooth black hair. "They say the gods shouldn't mess with nature."
"Humans wouldn't exist if the gods and titans didn't mess with nature." Philip stood up. "I do apologize, but I must meet with some of the other campers before they depart."
On his cue, Jade and her men also rose.
"Before you leave Jade, you know we're planning a wedding ceremony in Beaumont. I'd love you to be my best woman or something. Make a speech that sort of thing. Perhaps you could come and visit us at the palace so we can make plans."
"Yes. Definitely." Jade blurted out. There must have been something in the air today, for she was still the same woman, but had never received so many exciting proposals and invitations in such a few hours.
"The invitation includes you all, of course."
"Um," Jade looked about at her companions. "Can we wear clothes?"
All the Corax royals and Philip laughed while the demigod men looked surprised by the comment.
"Of course, guests can wear whatever they want."
It took hours to wander around the encampment. Philip knew everyone, and as sociable as he was, everyone wanted to sit and exchange war stories with him.
It was late in the afternoon by the time they returned to Philip's cool rooms within the stone building.
"We should get ready to leave for Sparta. I'd like to shower first." Jade kicked off her shoes. "Is that okay Philip? How soon did you want to leave?"
Philip looked about the three of them and then went to reposition a vase on his table. "I'm happy to leave whenever we're all ready. Autolycus is here, and he'll see to the island's security."
It seemed odd to have a god of thieves in charge of security, But Jade guessed there was some logic there.
"I've a few things I'd like to do before we leave. What about you, Nic?" Karl's voice was gravelly and full of suggestion.
Jade's insides turned over at the sound of the words.
Nic took off his shoes and then his shirt to reveal the taut skin covering his developed muscles. "I'd rather not hurry as I've got something on my mind too. Philip, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Philip gulped. He picked up the vase and "Mind reading isn't in my skill set. However, I think we're generally like-minded people."
"I think I should shower," Jade repeated.
Karl ripped off his shirt and slowly began to remove his pants. "You showered earlier, and I like you dirty, like my mind."
"What exactly is on your dirty mind?" If they were alone Jade would have gone to him, but there were three gorgeous men in the room, and she didn't know which way to turn.
"You wanna know the truth?" Karl's pants came down as he spoke, underwear too. And he stood up and wrapped his hand around his erection.
She nodded.
"Most of the day I've been picturing one of us fucking you while you take turns sucking two cocks. But if that suggestion doesn't appeal, I'm willing to try just about any other foursome positions."
Tempting.
Jade's internal temperature rose by several degrees. "I'm hot and dirty," she said taking a step toward the bathroom.
"And so appealing. Hot and dirty is definitely something we like about you." Nic dropped his pants too.
Philip was still decently clothed. Jade quickly scanned down his body and saw evidence of his arousal too.
"I'll be very quick," she said and walked into the bathroom making sure to leave the door open. She shed her clothes and was soon under the water.
It wasn't long before three naked men saw the wisdom of feeling refreshed and they joined her in the shower. The space was plenty big enough for two but quite a squeeze for four. They couldn't move without touching each other, which was sort of the idea. Mostly, Jade wanted to get out, get dry, and get on with Karl's earlier suggestion.
Playfully, she slapped the men' hands away from her body and hurried them up with the soap. Within minutes she was ready to slip out and give them more space.
She wrapped herself up in a towel. "I'll be on Philip's bed waiting for you guys, so don't have all your fun in here without me," she instructed.
If they did have fun without her, they were quick about it. She was sitting on the edge of the bed and barely dry when the men trailed out. Karl first, followed by Nic they came and sat either side of her. She could hear Philip still in the shower.
As if they'd made a pact to take half each, Nic and Karl each placed a hand on her back and the other on a breast. They nuzzled either side of her neck. Showering her with kisses and playful sucks and bites.
She reached out and wrapped her fingers around each man's hard cock. It was still early enough in their relationship for it to feel incredibly decadent to hold two dicks at once. It made her pussy pulse, and she loved it.
Nic claimed her mouth. Their lips united as their tongues explored and tasted each other.
The friction over her nipples along with every other touch forced her to moan into Nic's mouth. Warmth flowed through her and without thinking about it her knees parted a little wider.
The men continued to lavish affection above the waist. Whereas, she longed for contact lower on her body.
She squeezed their dicks and stroked her fingers up and down the lengths, enjoying the way they twitched and filled her hands.
With Nic's face up against hers, only from the corner of her eye did she see Philip join them. He got on his knees between her legs, gently kissed her mound. She spread her legs wider, but sitting up, she knew Philip's access was woefully limited.
Philip's tongue made the best of it. He licked over her mound and around and over her clit. She wanted to jump off the bed and on to his face.
And she wanted to suck all their dicks too. Damn Karl for putting the idea in her head. Why was he always right?
The men worked together as if they shared a mind. They moved her back onto the bed to lavish attention on her. She couldn
't complain, but she was already so worked up that she wanted something else.
She rolled over on top her hands and knees and wiggled her bottom at them. "See anything you want? Who's first?"
"If you don't mind I haven't finished." Philip got onto his back and slipped in underneath her. His nose, lips, and tongue stroked between her folds.
Karl grinned with approval.
Nic took hold of an arm and helped her to rise from all fours, so she was upright on her knees and kissing him. He was an enthusiastic kisser.
It all left her nipples and Karl to become better acquainted. Of course, once he started licking and sucking them, it brought her to orgasm.
If Philip hadn't wanted her coming on his face, he wouldn't have put himself there. And it wasn't just his tongue working her slit. He'd inserted a couple of fingers inside her too.
She broke the kiss, threw her head back and called out their names as she came while grinding against Philip's face.
The men didn't cease giving her pleasure but touched her more aggressively, exactly as she wanted it. One orgasm became two, became many, merging and impossible to count. She could barely hold herself up and didn't need to with the men's strong arms around her. They only stopped when she asked them to.
Smiling and contented, Jade fell forward on to her knees and sought out a cock with her mouth. There were two close to her face to choose from.
Philip moved from beneath her and took up a position behind her. "Is this alright with you? Jade?"
He was rubbing his cock against her pussy, so it was obvious what he meant.
"Yes," she replied and licked the bead of precum from the end of Karl's dick. She needed a hand to support herself in this position so she only had one hand free. She wrapped it around Nic's cock while she sucked Karl, taking him as far into her mouth as possible.
It felt great being filled at two ends.
Philip's cock met no resistance. It slipped in easily after all the orgasms she'd already enjoyed. Nevertheless, a dick inside her was a different sensation bringing with it a new source of pleasure.
Architects_Sons of Olympus Page 22
