Shadows of Fate

by Jessica Jarman

  “That’s a good thing, no?” Finley asked.

  Leilen levelled a glare in his direction. “For him, yes. Those of us who saw their mates in the Waters, though, have yet to find them. Maybe everything thing has changed—those who didn’t see anything will find their other half, and those who did are to be alone.”

  Shock coursed through Ciarra, and a roar filled her ears. He had a true mate? He’d seen that? Tears stung her eye and her stomach turned.

  “…because of that traitor, instead of looking for my true mate, I’m stuck in this hellish realm playing third with a couple who wants to add a bit of excitement to their sex life,” he said disgustedly.

  Ciarra gasped at his venomous words. Even though she knew, deep down, the powers of the Captive Lands were preying on his doubts—no matter how small—the words cut deep.

  Finley slid his hand down her back and gently pushed. “We’re moving on.” His voice was hard. “You take the lead.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, but at Finley’s slight head shake, she snapped it shut.

  “Let it go, love. He doesn’t mean it. His thoughts and emotions are all over the place right now. He doesn’t mean it.”

  Finley continued to talk to her as they made their way through the forest, away from the Captive Lands. His voice in her head soothed the rough edges, but didn’t erase the hurt. Hours passed, the tension palpable. Finally, they arrived in the glade they’d slept in the previous night.

  “We’ll stay here again,” Finley announced as he removed his pack.

  “We need to keep going,” Leilen insisted tightly.

  “No, we don’t.” Finley kept his voice even and calm. “We’re all exhausted. We need rest, and we’ll finish the journey tomorrow.”

  Leilen glared at him before tossing the bag he carried to the side and stalking away.

  “Fin…”

  “He’s just going to the creek. He’s upset and confused and needs some time alone, that’s all.” He started laying out the bedrolls. “He needs to process what he saw, what he felt. He felt sorry for Darrick, and that made him really angry. The other stuff….Just small doubts exaggerated by the magicks.”

  She reached up and released the tie holding her hair. Running her fingers through the heavy curls, she heaved a sigh and moved to help. Finley leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

  “I know you hurt, love. I’m sorry.” He ran his fingertips down her cheek. “It’ll be okay, I promise.”

  They worked together and quickly finished setting up camp. Ciarra glanced towards the creek and wondered when Leilen would return.

  “Come here.”

  She turned towards Finley. He leaned against a large tree, legs crossed at the ankles, eyes on her. She smiled for the first time since their encounter with Darrick and crossed the grass into his open arms. Resting her check on his chest, she inhaled deeply, savouring his dark, earthy scent. He shifted, bracing his feet apart, and held her tightly.

  A part of her wished she’d never seen Leilen of Fey. She wanted things back the way they had been—simple, easy. A larger part, however, ached, because she feared she’d never see him again. Or worse, things would be tense and awkward when they saw each other. How could she be so affected by him after so little time? Even though he’d been coming to the realm for years, their time together was so short.

  “Time doesn’t matter,” Finley murmured. “When something is meant, time means nothing.”

  “Stay out of my head.” She laughed quietly.

  “Quit thinking so loudly,” he teased obligingly.

  Leaning back, she looked into his grey eyes. Goddess, she loved him. She narrowed her eyes when he smiled broadly.

  “One day, you’re going to find something you don’t like if you keep poking around,” she warned.

  “Oh, I always like your thoughts about me,” he drawled, lowering his head.

  Her stomach jumped in anticipation, then his mouth covered hers, and she began to shake. Need consumed her, and all else—the journey, Leilen’s harsh words—faded into the background. She could only think of being with him…right now.

  He pushed his tongue past her lips, deepening the kiss, tasting her. He straightened slightly, and she pushed him back against the tree trunk. He chuckled and cupped her ass. Lifting her, he settled her against his erection. She spread her legs to cradle him between her thighs. His hard cock against her pulsing clit sent waves of hot pleasure spiralling through her.

  Soft music wound around them, dancing on the air. Awareness tingled in the back of her mind. Finley ran a hand up her back and fisted his hand in her hair. Louder and louder, the notes sounded, pushing past the need that filled Ciarra, replacing it with…joy. Pure joy. Finley’s lips curved against hers, and she pulled back, confused.

  “What—”

  “Shhh.” He closed his eyes briefly. “Just listen. Just feel.”

  When his gaze met hers again, she gasped. The Song! But it couldn’t be. The Song of Souls only sounded between true mates—it was how they recognised each other.

  “I don’t understand,” she stammered, cupping his face. “All these years, we never heard it. Why now?”

  “It’s not me, love.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

  “What?” she cried. “You don’t hear it?” Was she imagining it? But he’d told her to listen… He must hear it!

  “I hear it. I should have said, it’s not only me.”

  His eyes shifted, focusing on something over her shoulder. She twisted in his arms and, if not for Finley’s embrace, would have fallen over.

  Leilen stood on the other side of the small clearing, still and pale with shock. She whipped her head around and studied Finley. Joy and satisfaction shone on his face.

  “You aren’t surprised,” she accused. Her confusion cleared immediately. “You knew. The whole time. The dream… Talking to me about him while we made love…” She thought of the previous night, of him rummaging for the lubricating gel. “You were prepared for us to be together. Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I waited for you to say something, to share what you’d seen in the dream,” he said quietly. “You didn’t. Then you shielded your thoughts from me…”

  “I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t recognise you in the dream.” Her voice broke. “I couldn’t bear the thought—”

  “Shhh.” He rested his forehead on hers and inhaled deeply. “It’s all right.”

  “Why now? Why didn’t it sound before…when we were together?” she whispered, her mind racing.

  He lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. Perhaps we weren’t ready before. Perhaps Fate chose this moment for a reason.” His lips curved. “It doesn’t matter.”

  And he was right. All that mattered was they were all here, and the Song was filling the air. She slid down Finley’s body and steadied herself before turning. Leilen watched them, shaking his head. Ciarra reached a hand out towards him. A moment later, Finley’s hand stretched out beside hers—both of them beckoning to their lover, their mate.

  “By the Blessed Lady,” Leilen whispered, his eyes widening.

  Finley chuckled, and she glanced between the men.

  “Do you want to share? I can’t poke around in people’s heads,” she pointed out.

  “I never saw my mate’s face. When I looked into the Waters, I saw a couple in the shadows, reaching out. I always thought it was my mate and me together, but this,” he gestured towards them “this is what I saw. Sweet Goddess, it was right there the whole time. I just didn’t see it.”

  Together, Finley and Ciarra crossed the glade. She wrapped her arms around Leilen’s waist and kissed him. It began gently and quickly grew frantic. Cool air wrapped around their bodies as their clothes were flashed away. Ciarra gasped as Leilen pulled away and spun her around. Suddenly, she was pressed against Finley, and he took her mouth. His flavour mixed with Leilen’s, and she felt lightheaded. Finley lowered himself onto his back in the grass, and Ciarra
followed, straddling him. Her soul rejoiced as the Song once again grew louder.

  Leilen knelt behind her and kissed her upper back. He made his way down, then with gentle pressure, forced her down until she was bent over atop Finley. The movement caused the tip of Finley’s cock to nudge her folds, and she bit her lip to keep from whimpering. Finley nuzzled her neck, kissing and nipping.

  “The pack next to the tree,” he murmured, his breath gliding over her sensitive skin.

  She realised he was telling Leilen where the gel was packed, and her muscles clenched delectably. She couldn’t wait to be filled again, to be claimed in every way. Then he was back, his hands caressing her ass as he kissed the small of her back. For a moment, he laid his cheek there and stilled.

  “I’m sorry. Before, the things I said… I was thoughtless and cruel.”

  “Forgiven,” she responded simply.

  “And forgotten,” Finley added.

  “Thank you.” He straightened and renewed his attentions to her backside, squeezing and rubbing the cheeks.

  Finley flexed his hips, and his cock slid between her pussy lips, becoming slick with her arousal. Leilen moved his hands to her hips and lifted. Finley reached down and positioned himself at Ciarra’s entrance. Leilen guided her down slowly, and a cry escaped her lips.

  Ciarra moved up and down on the cock filling her—once, twice—then Leilen tightened his grip, holding her still. His hot, wet tongue glided along her crease, then probed her puckered hole.

  “Oooooh!” she cried as it speared inside.

  She wiggled, pushing back. He shifted and bit her gently on the ass. After a moment, he circled her anus with a slick finger, then dipped inside. Finley held her as Leilen pumped the digit in and out of her ass. She realised with a jolt that they were re-enacting the dream…the dream they’d shared. Leilen added another finger, stretching her. Finley’s cock inside her jerked as the pressure increased.

  Finley reached between them and circled her clit, and Ciarra shuddered and burst. The orgasm washed over her. She tightened around the cock and fingers inside her. The Song strengthened, winding around them, like a living thing. Leilen withdrew his hand, and immediately, the thick head of his cock was pressed to her tender opening.

  “No waking up this time.” Leilen’s voice, though strained, was tinged with laughter.

  “Thank the Goddess,” Finley replied.

  Ciarra pushed back and the head of Leilen’s cock slid in. This time, she couldn’t hold back the whimper. Leilen glided the rest of the way until he was fully seated within her. In tandem, the men pistoned in and out.

  Fire built in her core and sparked throughout her body. Finley released her hips and grasped her hands. Leilen leant forward, and his strokes, though shorter now, hit deeper. He ran his hands down Ciarra’s arms until his palms covered the tops of her hands.

  “I belong to you. You belong to me.”

  Ciarra’s soul sang, and she could feel it joining theirs, knitting together seamlessly. She trembled between them, every sensation intensifying as their voices blended together as they said the binding words.

  “Our souls, our hearts are bound together. If one doesn’t exist, neither do the others.”

  She looked down, and other either side of Finley’s head, their hands clasped together—hers surrounded by theirs, fingers intertwined. Her vision blurred as tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “No longer three but one for eternity.”

  As they completed the bonding, Ciarra exploded around them. Her muscles squeezed their cocks as the release engulfed her completely. Her men—Goddess, her mates—groaned as their cocks swelled inside her. As they emptied, filling her with their seed, they both cried out her name.

  Sometime later, when they’d managed to untangle themselves and stretch out side-by-side, Leilen fiddled with a lock of Ciarra’s hair.

  “How could I not see that this was meant? From the very first moment, it felt…” He paused, searching for the right word.

  “Right,” Ciarra and Finley supplied simultaneously.

  Leilen burst out laughing. “Exactly.”

  * * * *

  Ciarra stared out her window into the shadows and blinked back the tears that kept welling up in her eyes. She refused to let them fall. They’d returned from their journey the previous day. Their reception had been a warm one—especially when news of their bonding was shared. Only Dienne had been upset with the news, but that was to be expected.

  Leilen had flashed back to the Fey Realm immediately to meet with the King. Ciarra and Finley waited for his return, and in a way, she dreaded it.

  Only because she knew once they together again, she would have to leave her home.

  “You’re worrying too much,” Finley drawled.

  She looked over her shoulder to where he was sprawled across her bed. Naked. He looked perfectly comfortable and content, hands behind his head, eyes closed, not a worry evident on his face.

  “You love our home as much as I do. Maybe there’s a way to compromise,” she said hopefully. “Obviously Leilen needs to be in the Fey Realm since he’s one of the King’s advisors, but maybe I could go back and forth. You could stay here and—”

  He popped an eye open. “No. Wherever we are, we’ll be together. I’m as bound to him as I am to you.”

  She sighed deeply and turned back to the window. The air shifted behind her and she spun around. Colours swirled, and energy filled the room as Leilen flashed before them. He smiled at both of them, then held his arms open. Ciarra rushed into them and some of the worry she’d felt drained away.

  “How did it go?” Finley asked, remaining where he was.

  “Fine.” Leilen kissed the top of Ciarra’s head. “The King will be coming in a day or two; he’d like to talk to you about our encounter with Darrick—what you saw and felt.”

  “Good,”

  Ciarra stepped back from Leilen and forced herself to ask, “He couldn’t wait until we were there?”

  He gave her a bewildered look. “I didn’t know when you and Finley could be free from your duties, so it seemed best to have him come here.”

  “Oh.” She frowned. What did he think they had to do before leaving with him? “When will we be leaving? When the King returns home?”

  He glanced at Finley, who appeared to be dozing, then back at her. “Leaving? Where are you going?”

  “To the Fey Realm. With you.”

  His answering laugh did nothing to calm her racing heart.

  “I’m not going to the Fey Realm,” he said slowly.

  “What do you mean?” she exclaimed. “You’re the King’s advisor, his friend. Your place is with—”

  “—my mates,” he finished for her. “Kaelen understands that. He’ll tell you himself when he comes, but he feels this realm has been ignored by our people for far too long. My new position is here, as an ambassador of sorts. Yes, I’ll have to travel there often, but I have a home to return to now—the two of you.”

  “Truly? You’ll be content here?” she asked incredulously.

  He took her hand and led her to where Finley lay. “With my mates, absolutely. Although,” he pushed her back onto the bed into Finley’s arms before climbing next to them, “we may need a bigger bed.”

  “Why?” She laughed. “Do you plan on spending much time here?”

  “As much as possible,” he answered as he and Finley shifted, capturing her between them.

  “I told you not to worry,” Finley whispered next to her ear.

  “And I told you to stay out of my head,” she teased.

  “Quit thinking so loudly,” Leilen murmured against her shoulder.

  Ciarra burst out laughing. “Already together against me, are you?”

  Leilen bit her shoulder, and Ciarra pressed her thighs together at the delicious pain. He grinned at her. “But, you like it when we’re together—“

  “—against you.” Finley pressed against her, rubbing his erection against her ass.


  Ciarra tried to sigh, but a low moan escaped. “Yes…yes, I do.” Goddess, it was good to be home.

  About the Author

  Jessica Jarman has been weaving stories for many years, starting in her childhood when she’d entertain her younger sister every night. The stories, though simple, involved love and a happily-ever-after ending. It is no surprise she has come full circle and is now penning romances.

  Jessica currently lives in Minnesota with her wonderfully supportive husband and their four children. Although family keeps her busy and on her toes, she manages to squeeze out time to put the characters and plots that live in her head onto paper.

  Email: jessica@jessicajarman.com

  Jessica loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.

  Also by Jessica Jarman

  The Fey: Fate’s Song

  The Fey: Waters of Fate

  Out of the Shadows: Have Me, Hold Me

  Bite Me! Lust Me, Trust Me

  Night of the Senses: Sweet Urges

  All or Nothing

  Total-E-Bound Publishing

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