Calling All Heroes

by James Cox

  Aneen jerked her hands to her chest. “Stefen.” She whispered, glancing around. “We’re not alone.”

  “We’re behind a large boulder and everything is going to sleep.” I took her wrists and pried her hands away. “Let me touch you. Let me taste you.”

  She groaned and lowered her hands. The rim of the dress had lowered to reveal one perky breast and her pink nipple.

  I wanted her breasts all to myself for a little while. I wanted to lick and suck and tug until I was so hard I could blow, then I looked forward to Alexander joining us. I brushed a finger over her nipple and heard the soft gasp from her parted lips. “Aneen.” I said her name breathily. She was so beautiful. I lowered the other strap and stared at her bared breasts. Those nipples were hard in the cool night air. I flicked one, pinching it gently before tugging on the bud.

  Aneen closed her eyes.

  I kissed her chin, licking along her neck and wiggling lower so I could feast on her. I licked at her right nipple. Her breath hitched beautifully. I grabbed her breast, squeezing the flesh, kneading it as I lowered my mouth to her. Her nipple was chilled and hard. I took it between my lips and sucked.

  “Stefen.” She whispered. Her hands glided into my hair.

  I flicked the bud with my tongue before sucking again. “I could do this all night.” I said against the swell of her flesh. With my hand on her left breast, I sucked on her right nipple. Savoring the groans as she tried to keep quiet.

  “Princess!” Dusk came flying around the boulder followed by Thorn.

  Aneen squeaked, covering her nudity with her hands.

  Thorn grinned, enjoying the view.

  Dusk went wide eyed and spun around. “I’m so sorry!” He grabbed Thorn’s arm and turned him around.

  Aneen glared at me and her expression clearly said she blamed me for this. She hiked her straps up and returned to modesty. “What is it?” She fumbled off my lap and to her feet.

  “Alexander.” Dusk blurted, spinning around.

  His name brought me to a quick stand. “What about him?”

  “Fall was on lookout. He did not see it until it was too late. A creature of the blood has taken him.”

  “Him who?” I asked, willing what I was thinking to be a lie.

  “Alexander.” Dusk’s wings fluttered wildly. “A vampire has taken Alexander.”

  Chapter Seven

  “This has the queen’s stench all over it.” I was shaking with rage, with worry. “The vampires are on her side. She’s had them take Alexander to split our focus between the war and saving the man we love.” I wanted to kick something. Hit something. Scream so loud that she’d hear us high in her damn castle.

  “She won’t kill him.” Aneen whispered, her hands balled into fists. “We have to believe she won’t kill him.”

  “That may have been her order, but vampires are unpredictable creatures.” Dusk said softly.

  “Kierce!” Aneen yelled so loud that it woke many.

  The man was asleep below a tree in the shadows of the fires. He rose to his feet, running toward us. “What has happened?”

  “A vampire took Alexander.” Her voice wavered slightly. “I need you and Laren to lead them toward Fairaine.”

  Laren was beside Kierce but a moment later. “You’re fighting a war. It’s worth more than one man’s life.”

  “He’s not a man!” Aneen yelled. She took a deep breath. “He’s a half vampire and we love him. Stefen and I will save him. It’s your task to ready these warriors and the coming Aos Si. Whether I’m there or not, she must be taken off the throne.” Aneen kicked dirt over the fire. “Now, I need proper clothes and weapons. Something that’ll hold up against a full-blooded vampire.”

  Dusk said. “Thorn and I will come with you.”

  Thorn jerked his gaze to Dusk and then rolled his eyes. “Fine.”

  “Fall, an Aos Si failed to see the vampire until it was too late. It’s our task to repay his mistake by helping you.” When we didn’t say anything, Dusk kept talking. “We can fly high and tell you what direction they’re going. We may be small, but we can fight and you cannot go alone.”

  “Who you calling small?” Thorn grumbled.

  Aneen nodded then stared at Dusk with the softest gaze. “Thank you.”

  He gave a nod.

  “No! You cannot go alone.” Fall flew toward us with nearly a half dozen Aos Si behind him. When had they gotten here?

  Dusk gave him an angry glance. “Thorn will be with me.”

  “Please, your highness, it’s not safe.” Fall stopped a foot away from the angry fairy.

  “Did … did he just call you “your highness”?” I asked. Maybe I heard him wrong?

  Dusk cleared his throat, almost awkwardly. “I may be… I am royalty.” He sighed. “I’m only eighth in line for the Aos Si throne.”

  So they had a king/queen system?

  Aneen grabbed pants, a shirt and a sword belt from one of the banshees. She ran behind the boulder and started changing.

  Dusk turned to his Aos Si. “It’s my orders to go with Aneen’s army and fight. You will make the Aos Si proud by helping rid Otherworld of the human queen. I will rescue their future king. We shall meet on the battle field.”

  Fall wavered in the air. “Yes, Prince Dusk.”

  Aneen came out from behind the rock. The black pants she wore were tight with brown boots strapped up her legs. The shirt clung to her breasts and bared her stomach. She was adjusting the belt with the daggers when she looked up.

  “You should take more warriors with you.” Laren said.

  “No. Focus on the queen. We can handle a vampire.” Well, not really, but I didn’t know who we could trust.

  “We must leave. Now. There’s only a few hours until sunrise.” Aneen ripped a piece of cloth off the peasant dress and used it to tie back her hair.

  She didn’t have to tell me twice. Although, if we could free Alexander from whatever bound him, then I had no doubt we’d be successful. Aneen and I ran across the scattered field of firelight with two Aos Si flying behind us. Even as the stars and the moons lit our way, I had a terrible knot in my gut. Alexander, our Alexander was in the hands of a vampire. “Faster,” I whispered. Aneen didn’t question or complain, she simply picked up her speed. We were both worried about our Alexander.

  The moons chased each other in the sky as we climbed the steep paths of The High Peeks of Dragons. Night creatures slithered among the brush and hissed into the whispering breeze. The flickering firelight of our army faded away until all that lit our path was starlight. Thorn and Dusk had taken to the sky, flying over the incline as we traversed up it. The land flattened, only to turn into a gentle hill. Aneen stayed behind me despite her protest of me being just human. Human or not, I was not letting the future queen of Otherworld and the woman I loved be in danger first. It was nearly an hour into our trek that Dusk came diving from the sky and landed haphazardly on my shoulder.

  “Found him.” He was breathing, heaving. His wings sagging as he held onto my hair for balance.

  “Is he … alive?” Aneen’s voice was shaky, but she pressed her lips together in a determined line.

  “I believe so. His chest still moves.” Dusk took a few breaths. “He’s been bitten. There is lots of blood. He’s restrained against a tree with…” Dusk’s voice faltered.

  “With?” I prompted as I increased my speed.

  “Not with. By. He’s restrained against the tree by daggers piercing his palms.”

  Aneen covered her gasp with her hand.

  “The vampire is nowhere to be seen. I believe he is trying to lure us in.”

  “Then let’s not disappoint him,” I whispered, but the anger was boiling beneath my skin. The creature dared to harm my Alexander. I was going to let Aneen blast him with her powers and then stab him through the heart with my sword. Slowly. “I will go first. You stay here.”

  “I will not! I will not stay back while you fight my battles. I love him, too,” Aneen
said through gritted teeth.

  I brushed my palm against her cheek. “I meant, let me go first to distract him. You stay here until his back is to you and then blast him with your magic fingers.”

  She opened then closed her mouth. “Oh.”

  I kissed her cheek when we stopped behind a cluster of leafy trees. “Be careful.”

  “You, too.”

  I took a deep breath as Dusk flew off. I had no idea where he or Thorn was now. Would they help fight or were vampires that dangerous to their kind? It didn’t matter. I would not leave Alexander to his mercy. I walked a few feet from the hidden princess and peeked around the tree. The sight nearly had me heaving. Alexander was slumped against the tree. Blades stabbing through his palms sending rivulets of blood down his arms. His chest was bare, showing the numerous bite marks on his chest. Dullahan’s dick, the vampire had only had him a little over an hour and the damage was already extensive. I slipped from the shadows of the tree, even knowing that the vampire could be on me in a matter of seconds. “You just always have to find a way to take your shirt off, don’t you, Alexander,” I whispered as I carefully tread upon the long grass.

  Alexander didn’t stir.

  “Alexander.” I was scared. The knowledge hit me when I heard the timber of my voice. Fear caught in my throat like an object, choking my breaths. I stepped up to him. There was so much blood. “Alexander?” Seeing him broken like this made that terror toss and turn into rage. “If you want me to suck your dick ever again, I’m going to need you to wake the fuck up and help me.”

  His chest rose and his eyelids fluttered open slowly. “Good … good guys don’t curse.” He mumbled. His words were slurred and his head slumped against his arm.

  I grabbed the hilt of the dagger. “This is going to hurt.”

  “Do it.” He whispered. The tough half vampire assassin shivered.

  I tightened my grip and the shadow above slammed into me. The vampire’s speed was terrifying. One moment I was on my feet and the next he was above me. It was so pale with long fangs. Alexander’s blood had dried on his lips as it hissed at me. Naked. The thing was naked and pinning my body down with his.

  “Aye, ya fangy fucker!” Thorn yelled. The Aos Si hovered over the vampire with a large rock held between their straining bodies. They dropped it on the vampire’s head.

  It hissed out in what I hoped was pain and surged toward the fairies.

  They flew toward the stars, well out of the vampire’s reach.

  I rolled to my side, but the vampire clung to my back like a lover. “Get off me!” It grabbed my hair and jerked my head to the side, revealing my neck.

  “Vampire!” Aneen’s voice was a hiss of a sound. She stood underneath the tree with her fingers extended and her palms facing us.

  He was too fast. He’d be on her in a second.

  “Mmm.” The vampire sniffed the air. “You smell so good.” Its voice was almost too deep, oddly grating.

  I felt the weight lift off me and it was suddenly in front of Aneen. I screamed her name, too slow to get to my feet.

  Light flashed from her fingers. It slammed into the vampire like a punch. The pale thing flailed on the ground, screaming and hissing as its skin burned. I watched as she stared at that vampire and continued to torture it. The light pulsed from her in a continuous stream and her red eyes seemed to glow. The vampire curled in on itself and began to turn to ash. Only when it was barely recognizable did Aneen stop, she bent her fingers against her palms and watched as the breeze spread what was left of the vampire on the grass.

  “Fuck me,” Thorn said as he flew back toward us with Dusk in tow.

  “Aneen.” I whispered her name. She was staring at the charred remained and the blowing ash.

  Her eyes were still glowing an incredible eerie red when she looked at me. “I-I killed it.”

  A deep groan made us both lunged toward Alexander. His eyes were hooded, but open. “Did I just see our princess fry a fucking vampire like he was dinner?”

  I didn’t answer him because I didn’t want my voice to betray my thoughts. What she just did scared me to the core. The power she possessed must be more massive than even I could have guessed. I grabbed the hilt of the sword and jerked the blade out.

  Alexander yelled. His hand fell to his side, blood flowing anew from the open wound. “Fuck!”

  “Not done yet.” I grabbed the other dagger and tugged. The blade shimmied free a few inches but didn’t come out.

  “Oh, fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Alexander hissed in pain.

  Sweat beaded my forehead despite the cool night air. I had to wiggle the damn blade out. “Take a breath.”

  “Just fucking do it.” He ground his teeth together and bared his fangs.

  I pulled, it was lodged in there. I wiggled the blade, sending the sharp edge cutting deeper into Alexander hand. He growled loudly and cried out by the time I finally pulled the dagger free. His arms slumped down to his side, even more blood coating the grass beneath him. A moment later he slumped to his knees and fell sideways.

  “Alexander!” Aneen rushed to him and cradling his head in her lap.

  I was right behind her, falling on his other side and brushing strands of hair out of his face. “Bite me.” I shoved my wrist at his mouth. The fangs pierced my skin and warm blood began to flow between his lips. He drank greedily until I pulled my hand away and cradled the arm.

  “You came for me.” Alexander smiled up at us, still pale, still bloody.

  “Of course, you dumb vampire. We love you.” I wanted to kiss him. The moment he was healed I was going to give him that blowjob he was always joking about. But the wounds remained. “Alexander. Heal.”

  Aneen stared at him and then me, her eyes wide with alarm.

  His breathing became shallower. “I’ve lost too much blood.”

  “Then take more.” I extended my arm.

  Alexander shook his head. “I’d have to drain you to heal.” He closed his eyes.

  Aneen laid her hands on his cheeks. “I love you, too.” She kissed his forehead. “So I want you to try my blood. I refuse to lose you, Alexander. Don’t even think about saying no.”

  “Wouldn’t … wouldn’t dream of it, princess.” His voice was weak.

  I saw Dusk and Thorn move to the tree beside us as Aneen took a deep breath. She glanced at me. For reassurance? For confidence? I didn’t know. Then she placed her wrist over Alexander’s mouth.

  He opened wide and she flinched when his fangs broke skin. Alexander swallowed once and then his body lurched. Both Aneen and I fell back as Alexander bucked. I didn’t think a position like that was possible! He formed a half circle, using only the tips of his toes and his head on the ground. His arms were stretched over his head. His hands opening and closing. A low roar turned into a deep scream.

  “What have I done?” Aneen whispered.

  Alexander fell back to the ground. He shook so violently that he rolled onto his side and then his stomach. To our horror he then went still.

  I glanced at his hands surprised when no wound greeted my eyes. Had it actually worked? Why did he have such a reaction?

  Alexander took a deep breath, the sound made Thorn and Dusk fly lower. He shifted to his hands and knees with his head down. I was about to call his name when his head jerked up. His eyes, Dullahan’s dick, his eyes had a hint of red in his light blue irises. His fangs were bloody and bared. A growl ripped from his lips followed by, “Mine.” He was looking at Aneen, but his gaze swung over to me. “Mine.” Alexander lurched forward and grabbed a handful of my shirt. He pulled me toward him with strength that easily lifted me off my knees. I fell into his body and his mouth found mine. His lips were wild and his fangs nipped my bottom lip. I couldn’t think, couldn’t focus as he grabbed my ass and devoured me with his kiss. I was gasping when another growl left his lips. He reached out and pulled Aneen closer. She let out a soft squeak and then he was kissing her. Hard.

  “Looks like we got ourselves a show.” Th
orn snickered from the trees.

  Alexander ripped her shirt clean off and bared her breasts to the night. Aneen gasped, trying to cover herself, but Alexander was faster. He latched his mouth onto one nipple and sucked. Her head fell back and she moaned.

  From the corner of my eye I saw Dusk tug on Thorn’s arm, dragging him away from us.

  “’Ey! I wanna see!” Thorn said, his voice fading off.

  Alexander pushed Aneen to the ground and crawled on top of her. He was kissing her so persistently her lips were turning red. I watched, stunned at the intensity and violence. Alexander growled low in his throat and then fastened his mouth onto Aneen’s nipple again. She let out a startled cry followed by a soft moan.

  Alexander bared the red breast and tugged on her pants. He pulled them down below her knees before he spread her legs. His cock was out. I hadn’t even seen him do that. He was rubbing it against her pussy, up and down.

  “Aneen…” I crawled to their side. She grabbed my hand, squeezing before she came.

  I watched, completely forgetting about everything but the moans she made and the way his red tinted eyes watched her squirming.

  Alexander grabbed her hips and then thrust inside.

  Aneen cried out.

  Alexander bared his fangs and thrust deeper, unrelenting.

  I watched as his dick slid inside her completely and then pulled out to reveal his shiny flesh. He plunged hard and Aneen squeaked out a sound. She whispered his name. Her head thrashed from side to side. I couldn’t help myself, I reached out and cupped her breasts. I flicked my fingers over her red nipple as Alexander started thrusting against her. Every time he went deep she would gasp and arch her back. I kissed her neck and set my teeth against her skin. Aneen gasped, pulling me to her for a kiss. Alexander was moving faster, driving harder. Her body jerked with each stab of his shaft and her mouth opened in a swift moan. She was coming again. Her cheeks were turning pink and her eyes fluttered closed. I took her nipple into my mouth, licking the bud and circling it with my tongue. I had a hard time, too, because Alexander was thrusting into her violently. Her breasts bounced and then a roar left Alexander’s lips. The sound was completely animal. It was feral and predatory. Alexander shoved once more and lifted Aneen’s hips so she was completely impaled on him.