Bran (Fae Shifters Book 2)

by M. D. Stewart

  “I feel Michael in your soul, Bran. I know he’s part of you. I just don’t understand why you aren’t with him. I mean, I’m kind of glad you’re not because if you were, you might not have met me.”

  He shook his head. He knew he’d have eventually found her. She was his.

  “When one of his clan got ill from being poisoned, we had to do a Vibrational Healing to try and save her life. I was being trained in advanced magical techniques as part of my time with the tribe and Michael was unmarried at the time. His father thought since we were about the same age, single and both to be leaders of our people, it would be a perfect time for us to learn.” Bran tried to control his body’s reaction to the memory. He knew he failed when she wiggled her hips and he felt her grin against his neck.

  “Two men who are alpha in nature have massive amounts of energy in their soul—that’s one thing that makes them alpha. When you can get two men to put aside their natural sexual tendencies and merge their energy centers, the Vibrations created are phenomenal. On the Earth Plane, a sacred circle is placed around the men to not only trap and direct the energy, but it also stokes their sexual energy to keep them aroused. It’s a very intense experience. Almost frenzied.” He felt her tremble against him and could scent her arousal.

  “So, you create intense ‘sexergy’ or ‘sextricity.’”

  He grinned at her creative use of words. Bran laughed and hugged her tight.

  “I guess you could say so. It has to be two men but it can include a third person. My youngest son and his best friend participated in a Vibrational Healing with his mate to help heal her of adverse magic placed on her. They created quite the Harmony.

  “Michael hated me for being so careless with my sexual exploits in the shifter camp. He thought I was being disrespectful to his women and I really can’t say I blame him. He told me he’d rather his elder would die than to lower himself into a sexual encounter with me.” Bran laughed again as he bent forward and kissed Josie’s temple. “I just couldn’t sit there looking at him. I had fantasized about him since I’d seen him. I also got to know him from my time in the village, and I had fallen hard for him. We sat there on opposite sides of the fire in the healing hut. Him expressing his anger and me fighting my attraction to him. I figured he’d knock me on my ass but I stood, walked over to him and pulled him up. He was so surprised he let me kiss him before he thought to stop me.”

  Josie pushed back and looked into Bran’s eyes. He could see how amused she was. “I’ve been on the other end of those kisses. You can be persuasive.” Bran pulled her forward, bringing her lips to his, still surprised at how much it affected him. She pulled away with a grin. “Don’t change the subject or distract me.”

  “Okay, okay.” He winked. “So, once we kissed, we couldn’t stop the flood of sexual need. Sexual release is the goal for Vibrational Healing. When both men achieve orgasm at the same time, Harmony is reached and it creates massive amounts of energy. The men usually go back to their normal selves when the sacred circle is opened and the energy is dissipated. The feeling of arousal and the drive to achieve orgasm is disbursed. That didn’t happen with us. It was the first time in my life I wanted to mate someone. We couldn’t though. He had a wife arranged for him from another bear shifter tribe who would be coming to him in a few years. Both of us were going to take over the leadership of our people so we had to produce children.”

  Josie turned to look deeply into his eyes. “Oh, Bran. You’re breaking my heart.”

  “We did promise each other that we’d never let other men touch us and we marked each other.” He ran his hand over the mark on his left hip, and her eyes followed his movements.

  “Bran. I know you were both young. I know you had obligations to fulfill, but why didn’t you find your way to each other once you had children? He’s part of you—I feel it.”

  Bran took a deep breath to answer her question when his cell phone rang. He leaned over to grab the phone from the nightstand. The number was blocked. He thought to let it go to voicemail but his gut told him to answer. “This is St. Clair.”

  “I know who it is. Did you really think you could hide the energy you sent out when you mated your human?” The shrill female voice grated his nerves.

  “Mori. What the fuck do you want?” He knew the growl in his voice came through. The laugh from the other side of the call chilled his blood.

  “I’ve gotten what I wanted. Your human won’t be able to protect herself from me. Your bond is too new. You’ve always underestimated me and my sister. You could never see beyond your own importance.”

  “Your sister is dead. Lena is a spoiled brat who can’t do magic even in the Fae Realm and your own magic is limited there. I doubt you can even magically light a candle here on the Earth Plane. Give up and turn yourself and Lena over to me and I’ll spare her life.” Anger and his dark promise carried in his voice.

  Mori’s laugh disturbed him. She was totally unhinged. “Nope. Your family took something from me. I’ll do the same to you. Your family also took my sister. Now I’m going to take someone from you. I have such a surprise waiting for you both! Think of it as a celebration of your union.” The line beeped, indicating she’d ended the call. Bran growled deep in his chest. Mori had just threatened his true mate. He knew she was insane, but this went above the bar, even for her.

  “I can practically feel anger rolling off of you. What’s going on?” Bran pulled Josie in tight.

  “Mori. She’s threatened you. Us. I’m not going to let her hurt you. It won’t happen.” He dropped his head back and closed his eyes. He went into details about the Maclins and how they had tried to strip his youngest son’s mate from his life by stealing her memories. He explained how he came to the Earth plane to hunt her and her niece, Lena. She held him as he told her of the pain of Rhys’s disappearance and how it hurt him and his youngest son.

  “There’s only one place that I know I can protect you until you learn how to tap into our soul bond to magically protect yourself.” When he opened his eyes to look at his mate, he saw the confusion on her face.

  “What are you talking about?” Josie placed her hand on his chest and he knew she could feel his heart pounding.

  “Tomorrow I’m taking you to the bear shifter camp. We’re going to Michael.”

  *****

  Bran was curled behind Josie feeling complete. He and Josie had showered together. He had no idea that getting clean could be so fun. They’d not only soaped each other but they’d laughed and talked. They’d bonded and continued to do so, and it made his heart feel full. He smiled. His body was relaxed but his mind was spinning. He’d finally found his true mate. He never expected his mate to be human. Possibly a shifter, hell, even a witch but never a woman who couldn’t protect herself from magical attacks. They shared a soul, and theoretically, she should be able to access the magic available to him. As the leader of the Fae, he had more magic than any magical being on this or any plane. But she wasn’t trained on how to access the magic yet.

  He sighed as his instincts suddenly flared. Something was very wrong. He wasn’t sure what it was but he knew they needed to leave. He sat up and shook Josie. “Sweet girl? Come on. Wake up for me.” He felt her rousing. He jumped up from the bed, found his clothes and slid on his jeans then grabbed for his t-shirt.

  “Josie. Come on. Get up. Now. We have to leave.” He grabbed a bag he found in her closet and started to throw in some of her clothes as she sat up, coming awake quickly. “Josie. Grab things that mean something to you. We have to get out. Come on. Get dressed. Now.” He tried to not scare her but his brain was screaming at him to hurry.

  “What’s going on?” she asked but still jumped up and threw on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Bran ran to his phone and dialed a number while she seized pictures off the wall of her and her father. She tossed them on the bed where he stuffed them in the bag. She ran to her dresser, pulled out a small photo album and carried it to the bed and carefully put it in the bag. B
ran cursed as he stuffed his phone in his jeans pocket.

  “Get your phone, grab your purse. We’re headed out the back. Go!” Bran slung the bag over his shoulder as he pushed her toward the back of her house. Panic had him pushing her faster. He hastily threw a magical shield over them as they breached the door to the yard. Breaking into a run, he reached behind him, wrapping his hand around her wrist, and pulled her, urging more speed as they rushed into the trees.

  He detected an acrid scent he couldn’t place, but he knew it was evil. He pulled Josie off her feet and gave one last burst of speed before he pulled her behind a tree. He dropped the bag and wrapped his body around her. The bar and house blew in a series of explosions, sending debris and flames in every direction. Josie’s screams were drowned by the sound of the detonations and the fire engulfing her home. Bran pulled her tight against him, trying to calm her down. His heart pounded in his chest. Mori.

  “What happened? Oh my god!” Her screams and fear made his knees weak. He’d have lost her if he hadn’t trusted his instincts. Thank the gods he’d listened to them as he’d been trained.

  “Mori. I know she did this. Gods, I’m so sorry, sweet girl. I called Michael but he didn’t answer. I’m taking you there anyway.” He released her enough to cup the sides of her face with his hands. He forced her to focus on him. “I love you. I’m going to keep you safe. Michael and I will help train you. I surrounded us in an energy shield that nothing can penetrate. Soon you will be able to do so as well.” He leaned in and kissed her. He had to. The fear of almost losing her was like ice in his veins. He released her from his embrace and brought his hands to her shoulders.

  “Come on. We need to move deeper into the woods. The authorities will be here soon and they might search the area. We can’t be here for them to find.”

  He tried to be as gentle as possible in moving Josie away from the destroyed shell of her home and her bar. His SUV had been destroyed by the blast and the inferno that followed, but he needed to get her to safety as soon as possible. His instincts were screaming at him and he needed to get her farther away. Mori wasn’t done. But neither was he.

  Bran stopped in the middle of the woods and realized he was standing where he had shifted to show Josie his wolf. That was just a few hours ago. “Josie, sweet girl, I’m so sorry.” He turned her to face him but saw a look the shock and grief on her face. “Talk to me.” He opened his link to her through their bond and tried to send her warmth and love.

  “I can’t believe it’s gone. The Hogg Trough was dad’s dream, his—his baby. He created the bar for his motorcycle club because he wanted to settle down when I was b-born. He wanted a legitimate business to take care of me. To give to me one day.” Her breath hitched as tears fell down her face. “I can’t believe that bitch took that from us. All of us. His, his old friends, what will they do n-now?”

  She closed her eyes and moved toward Bran, wrapping her arms around his waist. His heart nearly broke when she snuggled her head against his neck. Her sobs broke his heart. Now that her father was in prison, she had only memories and pictures of him.

  Bran held her with one arm around her waist and pulled his cell out and dialed Connor. When the guard answered, Bran gave him his location and made arrangements for transportation away from the scene. After hanging up he rubbed Josie’s back. He had a little bit of time to try to comfort her.

  “I’ll make it up to you, my sweet girl. I promise.” She tightened her arms around him briefly before backing away. She looked down before grasping his hands in her own. He noticed they were cold and trembling. He could hear her taking deep breaths and sniffing before she raised her swollen eyes to meet his gaze. The tracks of her tears leaving large wet trails on her pale cheeks. He never knew he could hurt so much from another’s loss. He never wanted to see her in pain again.

  “Bran. Dad would be the first to remind me that things happen according to plans the Universe designs.” She sniffed again. She was trying to be brave and it touched his heart. “I have nothing left so there’s nothing holding me here now. I don’t know if I could’ve left the bar to go with you since it’s all I had from my dad. The place where I felt close to my mom. It’s gone now,” her voice wavered. “I – I don’t need to stay. There’s nothing here now.” Her eyes strayed to the ball of light that had been her home and her job. Her chin was quivering and silent tears streamed down her face. He could see the sadness in her eyes but knew she really was saying goodbye.

  “Okay then, sweet girl, I’ll make you as happy as I can for eternity.” He moved to stand behind her wrapping her in his embrace, as the emergency vehicles started arriving to put out the fire. She sighed then moved away from him to go deeper into the woods.

  “Let’s go.”

  *****

  Connor drove to the opposite side of the woods to the bar and parked his SUV. Cloaking his presence from humans, he walked into the woods to find Bran comforting Josie. “I’m so fucking sorry, Josie.” His voice was filled with true regret. She nodded to acknowledge she’d heard him. Wordlessly she reached for his hand and squeezed briefly before releasing him.

  Josie’s tears had since dried up. The sun was close to coming over the horizon. The fire marshal was on the scene, trying to determine the cause of the explosion. She wasn’t sure how it would turn out since her body wouldn’t be in the house. She was almost afraid they’d think she destroyed the building herself. Bran assured her they would find a “body” and for all intents and purposes, she’d be dead on the Earth Plane.

  She cried when she realized her dad’s friends would mourn and give her a biker’s funeral. She also knew her dad would be inconsolable. Bran assured her, they’d find a way to let him know the truth if she wanted him to. Although Mori probably wouldn’t be fooled, she could let go of her “mortal body” and her life on the Earth Plane. She could now embrace her new Fae reality. She could go with Bran to the Fae realm after Mori had been found and destroyed.

  Connor and Bran gently led her to the car. She was too tired to do more than climb into the back seat and let Bran pull her into his lap. The men told her it would be a few hours’ drive to the tribe’s camp. Giving up the fight, she let her exhaustion take over. Bran held her tightly as she drifted off to sleep.

  When she opened her eyes, it was a cloudless early morning and Connor was paying for food at a drive-through lane of a fast food restaurant. She’d never met the red-haired Fae before but Bran had told her so much about him. He smiled as he handed two cups of coffee to the back seat. “Glad to see you’re up in time for some liquid gold.” Josie smiled at the man, even though she didn’t feel like it.

  “Thank you, Connor. I really appreciate you doing this. All of this. Especially since your son is still missing.” She stopped talking as the reality of losing so much hit her. Connor pulled into a parking space and put the car in park, though he kept the car running.

  “Josie,” he turned in the seat to face her. “I know you’ve lost so much and I want to help. I want to do something but I would never do it without your knowledge or permission.” She felt Bran stiffen but he never said a word.

  “I can do certain magic that is pretty rare. If you’ll allow me, I can dull your pain. It won’t change your memories, it won’t make you forget anything, but it will ease your grief.” Connor’s gaze shifted to Bran then back to her. “It will just help you to not hurt so much and allow you to process your loss.”

  Josie was shocked that he’d share that gift with her, especially since Rhys was missing and he had his own fears and pain to deal with. It touched her that he’d offer to help. She couldn’t turn him down. She didn’t want him to think she didn’t understand the magnificence of his offer and she really did want to stop the hurt.

  “Okay.” She felt tears roll down her cheeks again. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the pain she suffered or her emotions from knowing he was offering to share his special talent with her, especially with his own issues. Maybe it was both. Connor got out
of the car and moved to the back seat. Bran continued to hold her as Connor took both of her hands and placed them on his chest.

  Warmth moved up her arms to her own chest. Immediately, the heavy grief she felt lessened.

  “That’s enough, Connor.” Bran’s voice sounded behind her. “Stop taking it.” Bran’s large warm hands pulled her hands gently from Connor’s body. When she opened her eyes, she saw the raw pain in the eyes that met hers. The haunted look in his expression broke her heart.

  “He doesn’t heal your pain,” Bran explained. “He pulls it from your body to his.”

  “Oh, Connor. I wouldn’t have allowed you to do that if I knew you were taking my pain for yourself.” He gave her a small smile as his expression cleared. She placed her hand on his cheek and gently rubbed her thumb across his skin.

  “It’s not my pain so it’s easier for me to process it and let it go. I’m fine now.” He took her hand and kissed her palm before holding it between his. “You are my friend and my King’s mate, and it is my pleasure and honor to help you as I would do for him. Are you better?”

  She nodded, feeling like the pressure in her chest was gone. “I’ll never let you do that again, but I can’t thank you enough for not only sharing your ability, but using it to help me.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” He took her hand that he still held and brought it to his lips, kissing her reverently before releasing her. She got the feeling he was honoring her as his queen. She felt love and respect for the man who Bran trusted above all others.