by Chloe Adler
Keystone
Chronicles of Tara - Book 3
Chloe Adler
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Epilogue
Author Musings - Stream of Consciousness (Unedited)
About the Author
Copyright
Keystone by Chloe Adler
Chronicles of Tara - Book 3
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of a brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews. Criminal copyright infringement including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Copyright © 2019 by Signum Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-947156-33-3
© 2019 Cover Art by Cora Graphics
Editor: Elizabeth Nover - Razor Sharp Editing
Chapter One
All five of my men stare at me like I’m the most beautiful goddess they’ve ever seen. I’ve come home to a castle-like mansion festooned in vibrant greenery, palatial marble and soaring skylights. The water feature in the middle of the expansive entryway burbles away in cheery welcome. With a snap of my fingers, no doubt my handsome men would carry me up the grand stairs and take me directly to whatever bed I wanted. As fairy-tale homecomings go, it’s pretty much ideal.
So why is a gorgeous raven-haired woman walking down the stairs in my home, licking her plump, pink lips?
She’s almost familiar and yet, I can’t place her. She moves to Forrest’s side and leans toward him, pressing her ample chest into his arm. I snarl, ready to leap forward and tear out her eyes, but not because I’m seeing green. No, it’s because there’s something wrong, something very, very wrong. Every cell in my being screams—danger. And yet all eyes are on me and every single one is filled with concern.
Or worse, pity.
I jerk forward, to do what I don’t know, but Jules intertwines her fingers with mine, squeezing my hand. She gives me a little shake of her head. So I’m supposed to ignore the sirens blaring in my ears about this chick?
The raven-haired girl takes a step toward me, extending her hand. “Amaya,” she drawls, her accent not quite Southern. “It’s so wonderful to meet you.” Her eyes flash like flint striking steel. I glance around. Did anyone else see that? It was the same color blue that Bob’s meaty hand glowed in the café a few weeks ago.
“I’m Betty.” She blinks ridiculously long eyelashes at me. I don’t take her hand.
Forrest clears his throat and steps forward, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Amaya, Betty is the synergist we told you about. She is the one who helped us all get to Tara together. It was her magical focus that allowed us to travel with you, to save Vasily.
Right, the abada horn with the glowing blue gem nestled in it. If she’s a synergist, then she should be able to planeswalk into Tara like I can. Must be how she got ahold of the magical focus. Ugh, did she kill one of the mystical horses from Vasily’s homeland just to get its horn?
And just how long has she been here in Vasily’s mansion, with Forrest and Cedar? I don’t even know how long the four of us—Bodhi, Arch, Vasily and me—were in Tara this time, since time runs so much slower on that plane. Any amount of time would have been worth it, since it meant rescuing Vasily from Azotar, the fachan. But a little ping of longing jolts through me when I remember that I had to leave my new sword, Sanne, behind. Something about Betty makes me wish I had it right now. The inhabitants of Tara, and their king, are safe for now. The fachan may not be fully imprisoned back in its monolith, but it certainly can’t get far. The question now is, just what slithered into the mansion while we were busy dealing with Azotar?
I clear my throat. “I know who Betty is.” But how?
The men exchange glances. “Have you met before?” asks Forrest.
I take a moment, searching for the right words. She looks familiar, but I can’t say that, it’s too cliché. It’s not like I’m trying to pick her up in a bar. Maybe I’ve seen her around town? Maybe synergists have a sixth sense and just know each other? As the silence stretches, Arch puts his arm around me, and I lean into him. I realize I’m openly glaring at Betty, but I don’t really care. There’s something so off about her, and it grates against my senses, like metal sparking inside a microwave. I can’t believe no one else notices it.
Jules, still holding my hand, squeezes it tighter. “Amaya is probably tired from her long trip in Tara. She’s forgotten her manners.”.
What the fuck? Jules has worse manners than I do! But she’s right, I can’t let this girl know I don’t trust her. She’s already won over my men, and without tangible proof that she’s up to no good, no doubt they’ll dismiss any antipathy from me as jealousy. And who will that discredit? Not her.
Lifting my head, I give it a little shake and force a smile. I stick out my hand and take hers, which is still floating in the air in front of her. “Jules is right, I am exhausted. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Betty. Thank you for helping us. Your services are no longer needed.”
“Excuse me?” She keeps hold of my hand. Her grip is firm, her hand ice-cold. Calculating eyes narrow, never leaving mine. “I’m not going anywhere. I live here now.”
Gut punch. My internal reaction is visceral, but I fight to maintain control. Instead of squeezing her fingers until they break, I just narrow my eyes.
She looks around, first at Forrest, then Cedar. “Isn’t that right, boys?
“Amaya, Betty needed a place to stay. It was the least we could do after everything she’s done for us.” Cedar offers me a big smile, but I can’t smile back.
What’s wrong with my men? They’re obviously being played.
“Amaya!” Candy squeals, bounding down the stairs. I finally snatch my hand away from the siren as Candy throws herself into my arms.
It was only a month ago I saw Candy as a threat, I remind myself. The ethereal silver-haired fairy is Vasily’s niece, a woman so beautiful and so confident I wanted to tear her eyes out the first time I met her. And now we’re close friends. It took a while, a long while. But the situation was different then. When I entered her life, the men were hers. But now they’re mine.
“We missed you. What happened?”
“Let’s go somewhere we can talk,” Vasily says. “Amaya, do you want to lay down?”
“I’m fine.”
Vasily crosses to my side, tak
es my face in his hands and tilts it up to look into my eyes. “You’ve been fighting and running and traveling through different dimensions. You haven’t slept or eaten or even had enough water. I’m worried about you.”
He’s right, of course. The criminally soft bed in my room is calling my name, but every fiber of my being screams that Betty is untrustworthy. I can’t leave my men alone with the vixen. My travels to Tara have taught me to listen to my instincts, but what can I do right this second? She’s been alone with Forrest and Cedar for days while the rest of us were gone and no one’s dead yet.
Jules leans in and whispers into my ear. “Can we talk privately?”
“Absolutely.” I force a smile, catching Arch’s eye. “We’ll be in my room if anyone needs me.”
“We all need you,” says Forrest.
“All the time,” adds Bodhi, and I flash each of them a quick, genuine smile, ignoring Betty, who stands there, mouth agape.
I lead Jules up the stairs, taking the floating stairs two steps at a time. Then I practically run down the hallway and through my wing’s massive living room.
Chapter Two
“So how long has Betty been here?” I sit down on my bed and Jules plops down next to me.
“A few days.” She nudges me in the ribs, catching a ticklish spot, and I shriek. “Why, you jealous?”
“No-o-o-o,” I draw out the word. “I’m curious.”
“Sure you are.” She reaches for my ribs again.
I swat her hand away. “Whatever, Jules.”
My best friend sighs and leans back on my bed, propping herself up on her elbows. “Do you want to talk about what happened in Tara?”
I rub my eyes. “For now things are somewhat stable but we still have more work to do there. Vasily wants to free Azotar.”
“The bad guy who’s locked in that prison?” Jules sits up.
“It’s complicated. The fachan, Azotar, it’s been discriminated against, but yes, the bad nonbinary entity locked in a magical monolith.” I pull my knees up to my chest.
She leans toward me. “I’m sorry, Amaya. I don’t know what happened between us, all that weird tension before you left, but I’m here to talk if you need me.”
Jules has always been honest and open, even if it sometimes comes off as harsh. It’s one of the many things I love about her, because right now, it’s the in I need.
I got so spun around between losing my parents’ house and trying to get my stupid powers to work and making a place for myself with my men that I lost sight of myself. The whole world was out to get me, or so it seemed, and I lumped Jules into the mix, assuming she was after my men. It’s funny what racing to another dimension to save the king of the fairies can do for regaining perspective. Now that my feet are firmly planted on Earth again, it’s easy to see that Jules has always had my back. It’s time I woman up and apologize.
I throw my arms around her. “I’m the one who needs to apologize. I was a bitch to you.”
“Yeah,” she says into my hair, “you were.”
I pull away and we both laugh before hugging again.
Someone knocks on the door, and we let go. I give her a soft smile. “Love you, ho.”
“Love you more, bitch,” she says.
“Yeah?” I call to the door.
It cracks open and Vasily’s head pops through. “We’ve missed you. Can we come in?”
“Of course.” Jules and I scoot over as my room fills with men.
They drape themselves on the bed around us, and Jules shifts closer to the edge. Bodhi tackles me, throwing an arm around my waist and pulling me down to cover me in kisses.
Jules shoots up. “Hey now!”
“Sorry you had to see how sappy they are,” I manage between breathless giggles.
“No . . . no you’re not sorry at all.” Jules winks down at me.
“Can you blame us?” Forrest asks. “We missed the shit out of our girl.”
“Lucky skank.” Jules grins and inches toward the door. “Don’t stop on my account,” she calls over her shoulder as she slips out of the room.
Arch laughs, deep and loud, then bends down to kiss my forehead. The other men repeat the gesture, Forrest, Bodhi, Cedar and finally Vasily.
“We missed you so much, all we want to do is help you relax,” says Vasily.
“Relax, huh?” I giggle, covering my mouth with a hand. “How about a . . .” I waggle my brows.
“I like where your head is.” Forrest puts one of my fingers in his mouth and sucks on it. If I were standing, my knees would buckle and someone would have to scoop my jellied body off the floor.
“Is that what you want?” Vasily hovers over me, demanding eye contact.
Hell yes, that’s what I want. These are my men and they’re here to please me. They couldn’t care less about the other synergist who’s got some agenda I haven’t quite figured out yet. No, they only have eyes for me, and they will give me anything, anytime. So why not now? I’ve been gone in Tara for ages, it’s time to celebrate my return.
“That’s what I demand.” My voice is husky, probably because Bodhi is running his hands up one leg while Cedar runs his hands down the other.
“Why don’t we get you out of these uncomfortable pants?” Cedar moves his hands up, his caresses languid, until he reaches the top of my jeans and unbuttons them.
I sigh, letting a smile take over my face, and close my eyes. Cedar pulls my jeans down over my hips, and I lift up so he can slide them off easier. Bodhi continues his massage on my bare legs.
Vasily leans down and grasps my chin with his hand, forcing his lips over mine. “Will you direct us?” he says.
No problem there. I nod, my smile turning a little sinister.
“Tell us what you want. Who you want where. And we’ll satisfy your every whim.”
Yes, please. I really want Forrest and Cedar to show me how much they missed while I was away, so I’ll start there. “I want Forrest to kiss me, then Cedar.”
Cedar lets go of my leg and moves to the top of the bed. Forrest leans his lithe body over me, dropping kisses all over my face. When he leans back, Cedar leans in to take my mouth, his plump lips pressing hard against mine. Forrest nuzzles my neck, unbuttons my blouse and slips a hand inside to press against my heated skin.
“Like this?” Forrest growls.
“Yes,” I moan into Cedar’s mouth. “Just like that.”
“What else?” asks Vasily.
“I want you to lick me, down there.” It’s the best I can do right now. I can think lick my pussy, bitch all day long, but to actually verbalize it is completely different.
Two hands spread my legs wide and a face presses into my damp panties.
“And me?” asks Bodhi. “Where do you want me?”
“I want you to finish undressing me.”
The men comply, covering me with their bodies, their hands, their mouths dropping kisses and tiny bites.
Vasily’s tongue darts inside my wet pussy and back out again to tease my bud. I groan and raise my hips. Someone’s hands slip beneath my ass to push me deeper into Vasily’s face. A finger swirls around my entrance while a mouth clamps on my nipple, teasing until it’s hard.
“Kiss me,” I cry out and Bodhi complies, covering my mouth with his. The man’s sweet tongue enters and twists with my own. My core heats as more hands cover me, massaging and kneading.
I lose myself in Bodhi’s kiss, lost in the sensations of Vasily’s mouth below. A wet finger plunges inside me while his mouth sucks my clit with mind-numbing, teasing flicks. Letting my orgasm build slow and steady, I nibble Bodhi’s lip and he pulls back to look deep into my eyes.
“I want each of you to please yourselves while you please me,” I breathe.
The men don’t wait a moment longer. Each one fists himself without breaking contact with my heated skin. Down below, the king works his magic on my sensitive folds, caressing me with a velvety tongue. One hand pumps a finger inside me while the other stroke
s his shaft.
Bodhi switches places with Arch, who fists my hair and positions his hard cock over me. I stick out my tongue to taste him but he won’t let me. He pulses it over my face and my eyes widen at the delightful sight. He’s enormous when he’s hard and his prick throbs in his hand, bulging from the top as he presses down on the head.
Cedar climbs up my body and kisses my neck. As my head arches back, I’m overwhelmed by so many sensations ravaging every inch of my body, tightening each nerve of my being. One of the men groans and it pushes me to the edge, Vasily locked on my clit, his fingers playing with the deepest part of me and each man stroking my fiery skin.
I buck and moan as the climax rips through me like a shooting star, lighting up my inner passages as it streaks across the landscape of my sky.
I squeeze my eyes shut as hot cum bursts over my face, my breasts and my legs. The five of us coming together in a torrent of lust and pleasure. I float back into my body far too soon, and my eyes snap open as I fall back on the bed. But from where? The sky? No, the lust just took me to my outer limits, flooding my mind and creating a nice little hallucination.
The men pile on top of me, groaning and moaning in the aftermath of quenched desire.
“That was amazing,” sighs Cedar.
“Did you guys feel like you were floating?” asks Bodhi.
“I have no idea what I felt besides pure, white-hot love for this girl.” Arch gently swipes my face and body with tissues.