By the Horns

by Jeanette Lynn

  “To Adelric!” Yhem boomed above the din.

  “To my brothers!” a feminine voice crowed, drawing my attention.

  Sat atop Kerberos’ meaty shoulder, Vachel hooted and hollered with the rest of them, Cephonie shouting right alongside her. Near the back, covered in robes of the temple’s colors, Suzaela and her temple maidens cheered on with the rest.

  Kvigor and Adelric turned to the gathered people in unison.

  “This is insane,” I pointed out.

  “The best plans usually are,” Kvigor reminded. Then, through the side of his mouth, “Now lift up your sword and tell them something good,” he prompted his shorter sibling.

  “To a new era!” Adelric cried out.

  When Kvigor nudged me, setting me on my feet, I sighed heavily but removed my dagger. “This is all very silly, I assure you,” I told him, lifting my dagger up as he did.

  “Not to them it’s not.” He glanced at the crowd. “To them, luv,” he clinked our metal, “it’s hope. Now smile and be that hope. And flutter those wings.” Then louder, “To new beginnings!”

  Wings unfurling, I figured now was as good a time as any to spout some inspiration. “To that guy over there! In the pretty man-skirt!”

  “Vacha?!”

  “Addie?!”

  “Alright! Alright!” I snapped, rolling my shoulders. “Yeesh.” Reclinking weapons, I cleared my throat. “Sorry. Ahem, here I go, watch me now. To freedom from tyranny!”

  “Freedom!”

  “Hah.” I chortled when the villagers went wild. “I think they liked mine best.”

  “Show off,” Kvigor muttered.

  “Why didn’t I think of that?” Adelric asked aloud.

  “Eh,” I leaned into him, “promise you the next one, big guy, if I don’t like it as much as that one.”

  “So giving,” he murmured wryly.

  “Let us dance to the devil’s exit! Good riddance!” Suzaela called, and some fool silly enough to run and grab an instrument started to play.

  “Isn’t this how wild orgies start?” I teased my mates, murmuring quietly so as not to be overheard.

  “I’ll give ye an orgy,” Adelric muttered, sheathing his sword and scooping me up to make off with me. Leaping off the dais, my wings fluttering as I struggled, he spun on his heel, tossing his arm out, beckoning Kvigor. “Don’t tarry, brother, you’ll miss all the fun.”

  “Am I invited?” My white bull cocked an eyebrow.

  “Does a temple maiden have pierced nipples? Takes at least three to make an orgy, dearling,” I retorted tartly, earning a smack to my rump for my impertinence.

  “This demon pixie maiden does,” Adelric muttered, right before he goosed me and tugged my tail, belting out a laugh when I squealed.

  Kvigor caught up fast, motioning for a few of the men to collect Ekodar and put him in a single hut.

  “Keep the dagger on her,” Kvigor called, rubbing his hands. “I’ve plans for my little demon.” That naughty smile he was sporting made my clawed toes curl, my tail flick in anticipation.

  Oh, this was going to be good.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Six months and a lot of co-leadership and tons of raunchy sex later

  “I just don’t see what the problem is,” I argued, wiggling my aching toes, propped up on a pillow. “She’s proven herself as good as, if not better, than many.”

  Adelric made a noise in his throat that said he was already considering it, though he pretended otherwise. His hand went to my hip, waiting for me to turn to my side so he could spoon me. A snuggler, that one had turned out to be.

  Doubly thick fingers went to the swell of my belly and he made a happy noise.

  “Cephonie was my choice for the border run, she’s still my choice to replace Yhem when he inevitably replaces you,” I reiterated. “She’d make an excellent second.”

  “Am I to have a say in this at all?” he questioned, his eyes all soft and gooey staring at his house of a pregnant mate.

  “Yes, and you picked Yhem for the mission, and Kvigor chose, ah, that other guy.”

  “Zarthos.”

  “Yes, that guy!” I said with gusto.

  My dark-furred Tauran snorted, taking my hand in his as I lifted it up to bring it to his lips. “Rest. You tire easily as of late. I fear this one’s time is growing near.”

  “You fear?” I muttered, snorting. “You aren’t the one who has to push them out.”

  His chin fell to my shoulder. “So confident are you, that there are two?”

  “Uhm, yes,” I sassed, reaching up and flicking his ear, wiggling my rump into his groin. “I’d a dream of it. I don’t think, I know. There are two. And we still haven’t decided on names yet. How horrid are we?”

  “Absolutely horrible,” he uttered gravely, taking on a serious mien.

  “Hush, you, this is seri-”

  A commotion started up outside, voices fighting to be heard, one overlapping another. Ah, so much to be done to find peace in the village, so little time.

  The door opened and Kvigor poked his head into our hut. “Might want to come out here, Addie-mine. The border search has come upon an interesting find.” Maroon eyes glinted with something, not quite happiness, a note of something unpleasant mixing with that smile that left me unsure.

  “What’s happened? What’s wrong? What did they find? Another fae artifact? A portal? What?” I was all sorts of questions, struggling to gain a sitting position, left in the dark as my male waited. “Come now,” I grumbled, rolling to my side to slip off the side of the bed to my feet, a roly poly of a backwards turtle, “don’t keep it all to yourself now. Out with it, my pale beauty.” My lips quirked as he chuckled and I searched out a shawl. The warmer weather was almost too much for a top, but my mates had seen the advantages of keeping their female covered. Their possessiveness only grew as my burgeoning baby bump swelled.

  “Flattering will not loosen these lips,” Kvigor tossed back, holding his hand out to take mine and settle it in the crook of his arm.

  “No?” I gave a slight pout, though I could barely hold it for the grin that then split free. Waggling my eyebrows, I made a purring noise. “What will then, hmm?”

  It was no surprise to find Adelric coming up on my other side, already redressed, kilt and sword handy. Vachel had asked once if I found it tiring, always being trailed by two lovesick males. Never. And if I didn’t feel like a bloated whale I’d have been following them around just as doe-eyed.

  Excited shouts were giving way to angry ones, and I paused, hand going to my belly, the other to my dagger. “Should I be-”

  “No.” Kvigor shook his head, glancing down at me. “It is not to be, ah, concerned over.” Now why did he sound so happy at the idea, I wondered, wanting to rush ahead and find out for myself. His hands kept going to me, almost worriedly. Was he? And if so, why?

  My hand slipped back into the crook of his arm and I gave it a squeeze. “Kvigor?”

  Maroon eyes were swirling with red as we drew closer. Hmm. Definitely something going on here... “I love you,” I told him.

  His eyes lit with satisfaction, his lips pulling up to match. “And you know you have my heart, little demon wife.”

  Adelric stopped abruptly, his head cocking as he blinked. “Is that... Kvigor, did they find humans?”

  “Humans?” I whispered, eyes widening. After that they could barely keep up with me, my legs pumping, hands going to my belly to hold it up as I rushed off. Humans! Here?! But when? Why? How?!

  “He said to wait here,” Cephonie snapped waspishly, a deep male grunt following.

  “Did you have to thump me on the head for it, demonic cow,” a masculine voice countered.

  “Thessen?” I squawked, pushing past the curious villagers gathering around the newcomers to find not only Thessen but, “Vetra!” Screaming my sister’s name, making the poor, unfortunate souls next to me wince and cringe away from the demon co-ladychief, Taurans parted, allowing me to come forward. />
  “Thessen?” I thought I heard Kvigor grumble from somewhere to my left, getting lost in the crowd, but I was already moving.

  “Addie?” Vetra blurted, shocked, soft green eyes wide in her pretty face. Granted, she was covered in mud and muck, caked with it, actually, and more red than pink beneath all that muck, but she’d never looked better to me. Going at her at a run, I crushed her to me.

  The second her arms wrapped around me, not a care or single reservation, no terrified hesitation at my new appearance, not a note reservation about her, nothing like in the labyrinth after everything, of before, I burst into loud, noisy tears.

  “I missed you,” I wailed, my hands going to her hair, her back, terrified she might disappear and I’d wake up, realizing this was all just a dream. “Ah, but you aren’t a dream,” I got out on a sniffle, pulling back to stare down at her. “Vetra,” I couldn’t say her name enough, “how I’ve missed you.”

  “And I you.” Her eyes were as glassy and wet as mine, her nose red, cheeks flushed. “Feared I’d never see you again after, ah,” her eyes darted around, “after,” her voice lowered, “after I heard what happened.” Her hand went to my hair, the thick lengths curling at the ends, so long they went down past my bum.

  There was more silver and white to it now, a bit of gold from being sun kissed, but I still had enough of those thick locks to claim it my one fit of vanity.

  The sides remained as they had after I’d claimed Beast, as I’d nicknamed Adelric’s mighty sword—hah—permanently blackened, scarred, by fae magicks, but I rather liked the feel of Adelric’s fingers coasting over the bared sides, as he often did when he came in from his morning duties to lay with me in the afternoons.

  “You’re different,” she said finally, studying me, her eyes unerringly going to mine, my hands, the tips of my teeth peeking through my smile, noting each and every difference she could find, and finally that bump leading the way. “So very different.”

  “I am,” I agreed, smiling when I felt two walls of heat coming up behind me. “And, Vetra,” taking her hands, I lifted my head, turning it this way and that to encompass my males, “these are my mates, Kvigor and Adelric.”

  “Mates?” she gasped out, her small frame stiffening, gaze lifting to stare up into the bovine faces of my men.

  “Mates.” I beamed, slipping my hands free of hers to hook my hands on my males’ forearms, their arms folded over their wide chests, imposing beasts they were.

  Kvigor glanced at Adelric, then Vetra. “Greetings, tiny human Vetra.” Kvigor grunted, smirking when he got an elbow to the ribs for that one. Tease.

  “I believe humans call permanent bondeds husbands, more commonly.” Adelric looked to me for confirmation, as bad as Kvigor, dipping his chin when I nodded, hiding his smirk. Looking to Vetra, he murmured, “I am Adelric, head guardsman, son of Suzaela, temple high priestess, my vacha speaks of you often.”

  Vacha. Vetra mouthed the word but nodded. “It’s nice to meet you, Kvigor, Adelric. I, ah- Did you say temple priestess?”

  “High priestess. Move. Move out of the way.” Throwing her arms out in welcome, those udderly fantastic mammaries of hers out on glorious display, she greeted our newcomers.

  Thessen, standing off by Cephonie, who he seemed to be in a never-ending squabble with, sputtered, tongue-tied, speechless, at her approach.

  To be fair, I’d probably looked no better on first greeting the effervescent force of a female, but I still grinned like a loon watching him struggle for composure. As if to assist in kick starting the rocks he had rattling around in his head, Cephonie lent him a generous, helping hand.

  “Oomph. Ack...” Thess glared up at the female Tauran with a dark scowl. She was actually a half a head taller than he—all the more reason to make me smile. Thessen prided himself on his height. “Was that really necessary,” he groused.

  Cephonie grunted, sparing him an impassive look, the thick hide breast plate she favored covering her modesty. “You are welcome, pitiful male. No need to thank me.”

  “Thank you,” he exploded, “I-”

  “Enough,” Yhem grumbled, stepping between them to march past. “I tire of your endless needling. Do you never cease?! Constant. Nattering. Bickering. Like children! Take her already and put us out of our misery! At least that way, I’ll have silence the next you anger her and she sews your gob shut!”

  The giant of a male brushed past Vetra, my sister’s wide eyes going to his back, her brow beetling as she watched him take his leave. Fidgeting, biting at her lip, hand clenching as if to hold back the impulse to wring them, she looked like she wanted to chase after the male but didn’t dare, clearly conflicted.

  Oh my, my, my, I thought to myself, watching as her eyes devoured his retreating form. A small laugh left me but I muffled it with a cough. Did Yhem know he was about to have his hands full?

  “It’s good to see you, Addie,” Thess said as silence stretched on.

  Blinking back to the here and now, our eyes met and I smiled up at him gratefully. Taking all of me in, in my new... present form, his gaze perfectly blanked, more curious than judging, he found my belly and blinked, then blinked again, almost blanching. Was that such a strange development? I could have shifting eyes and pointed teeth, darkened hands with retractable clawed tips, raised, rune like markings carved into the sides of my skull, but being with child is striking?

  I had a feeling he’d been prepared for all but the babes now growing in my belly.

  Adelric, watching our little reunion with avid interest, narrowed his eyes at the lone human male in their party. “Vacha is mine. Ours,” he bit out. “I will slit the throat of any male foolish enough to try and tempt her from us.”

  “Ah...” Thessen blinked, glancing from one chest rumbly male to the other, realizing my warrior chief was addressing him. “Good to know. I, uh, grew up with the girls. We’re from the same-”

  “We know of you,” Kvigor muttered, eyes narrowing to tiny little slits of red. “All of you.” It was when his nostrils started flaring, steaming wafting free, I felt it was getting a bit overkill.

  Thessen, unaware what the display meant or too used to it from Cephonie to find it intimidating, nodded. “She’s spoken of me, then?” His tone was neutral, face perfectly impassive, but he’d begun to sweat, and rather profusely, swallowing thickly, pinkening when Cephonie came up beside him, until they were standing shoulder to shoulder. With a noisy chuff, her lips pursed in a disinterested moue.

  Seeing what she was doing for what it was, a subtle claim on what she thought of as her future conquest, I smiled. Mine, the action discreetly acknowledged.

  “Cephonie,” I nodded in acknowledgement, “Vachel says Kerberos worries for you. He goes to temple to ask the All-father to watch over you often.”

  “Does he now?” Amusement lit her somber features, lavender eyes dancing. Everyone knew exactly why the large beast of a male went to temple. Everyone but clueless Vachel. “I’ll have to go and thank him for it, next we meet.”

  “Is that your brother?” Thessen asked of her. He scratched at his chin. “Ber, right? I’ll go too,” he said quickly.

  When Cephonie gave him a look he cleared his throat, shrugging, “Mayhap I wish to talk to him about a sword...”

  Kvigor relaxed at Thessen’s eagerness to join in with Cephonie, spotting the same thing I did. A Tauran would have to be blind not to. “I did that, put that babe in her,” he felt the need to tell Thessen.

  Thessen’s head turned and he blinked. He was doing that a lot lately—it was his genuinely surprised response. Keen eyes slid from my mate to me, then over my male, all over him, as if to size him up. Scratching at his temple, eyeing my choice in partner, he cleared his throat, mumbling awkwardly, “Ah... congratulations.”

  “Gods,” I muttered, “as if the I’m her mate-husband thing wasn’t enough of a hint, you jealous beastie. Silly brute.”

  “Jealous?! Of me?” Thessen squawked, gaping.

  “I help
ed,” Adelric offered with a smirk, ruining his deep rumbled announcement by laughing.

  Though I feigned annoyance I couldn’t have been more happy than now. Those ribbing asides and ridiculousness meant my males were happy. Yes, the village was still pulling itself back together, and of course not everyone was pleased with all the sudden turns of events. Three chiefs, overseers, as I’ve come to coin the term, because chief felt too bloody pretentious for me after Puck did a good job poisoning the title for me, and seeing as this was a new era, we needed a new name for what we were doing. The people of Feagmunt’s best interests at heart, as a whole, we were to be their watchmen, not rulers of any, overseers of our fellow Taurans. Fear of too many cooks in the kitchen were quickly squashed, a council of members, an assembly, we called it, to help with important decisions, provide important information as we planned Feagmunt’s future growth, went a long way in assuaging the majority of the villagers this was indeed not to be another leadership gone sour.

  Oh, there were those who didn’t trust the demon woman, or a woman in general, to help look after things, but never in front of me, my mates, or the All-father’s high priestess, or any of Feagmunt’s guard, not if they wished to walk away whole. I’d accepted after the third or fourth Tauran stormed from here in a huff, refusing to accept the new era, there was simply no pleasing everyone. And may the snows loosen up the post up their arse.

  “He helped a little,” Kvigor lied, dragging me back to the present.

  “Heavens help us.” With a shake of my head and a quick swipe at both of my males, of which they expertly ducked, the incorrigible rapscallions, I motioned for our new guests to follow. “We shall have a great feast this night to welcome my kin!” I called out, giddy from the inside out when the villagers, instead of scowling with condemnation, cheered right along with me. “I love it here,” I told my mates, wishing I wasn’t waddling so badly I worried I’d topple over, should I attempt to skip.

  “Me two,” Adelric agreed.

  “Me three,” Kvigor seconded, then, his hand to my belly, grinning when a little foot or arm let him have it, “and four and five, I’d say,” he said with a chuckle.