All That Shimmers

by N. J. Nielsen

  “Do you really care what other people think? We’ll have to deal with what people believe later. Right now, we have to help those who need us. Those who are unable to help themselves. I want someone looking to see if there are other such zoos out there. I’d hate for what happened to my mother to happen to some other innocent being,” Simon said

  * * * *

  “Then that’s what we’ll do,” Remi stated hours later as he stood and held out his hand to Eric. They had finished all the planning they could and now the time had come to take his mate to their room. Tonight Tagh wanted to show Eric what the man meant to him. How he’d become more than a mate—a lover. They were now bound on a much deeper level.

  He didn’t speak as they walked. The moment their bedroom door shut, Tagh pressed Eric up against it, cupped his face, and kissed him. Warmth flowed through him at the tender connection. They’d had fuck-through-the-mattress sex so many times. Tonight wasn’t about that. The warrior inside him needed to show Eric the gentler side of his nature.

  When the kiss finally ended, Tagh stepped back and slowly, sensually began removing Eric’s clothing, taking the time to lovingly hang each item up. Tonight everything had to be perfect, because that was what Eric deserved.

  “Why don’t you shower and hop into bed?” Tagh gave him a little shove toward the bathroom. “I’m not going anywhere. I only want to make sure everything is ready.”

  He could tell by the perplexed look on Eric’s face that he probably wasn’t making any sense. “I promise, by the time you get back, I’ll have finished, and if you stay in there long enough, I might even have time to join you.”

  “Okay, Tagh.” Eric walked into the bathroom and left the door ajar.

  Tagh heard the water start to flow and listened for a moment until Eric had gotten under the spray. From their closet, Tagh grabbed the box of essentials he’d hidden there earlier in the day, quickly placed the candles around the room and lit them. The chocolate sauce he tossed onto the bedside table so it’d be within easy reach when needed. He stripped and hung up his suit before joining Eric in the shower. He stopped dead in his tracks when he opened the shower door and saw Eric leaning back against the tile with his eyes closed. With one hand he pinched his nipples, using the other to stroke his cock.

  The erotic sight before him left Tagh speechless for only a second before he stepped into the stall and pushed until he pressed flush up against Eric’s chest. “I see you started without me.”

  “You took too long.” Eric smirked then wrapped his arms around Tagh’s neck. “A man has needs and if his husband isn’t here to help satiate him, then he takes matters into his own hands.”

  Tagh frowned when Eric suddenly pushed him away. His breath caught in his throat when Eric stepped from the shower and bent over. Tagh’s cock hardened instantly when Eric pulled his cheeks apart to reveal the red plug stretching him out. The temptation became too much. He turned off the taps and followed Eric back into the bedroom.

  “This looks so pretty,” Tagh whispered, touching the plug the moment Eric knelt on the edge of the bed and hiked his ass into the air for Tagh’s perusal. Kneeling on the floor behind Eric, Tagh leaned in and licked along Eric’s crease, stopping long enough to circle the plug over and over with the tip of his tongue. The faint cherry taste had him smiling—cherry-scented lube.

  Tagh stopped. He replaced his tongue with his fingers and watched Eric squirm and tremble each time he wiggled the plug, slowly moving it in and out of Eric’s body. Tagh bit his lip at the way his cock ached, yet he didn’t dare touch it, because tonight had to be all about Eric. Besides, if he touched it now, he’d probably come before he ever got the chance to sink into Eric’s tight body.

  “I think we have a problem,” Tagh said before he leaned in and nipped Eric on the left ass cheek.

  Eric moved enough so he could look back at Tagh with his lust-filled gaze. “What could possibly be wrong?”

  “I want to do you so many ways that I don’t know where to start,” Tagh admitted.

  A sexy grin rested on Eric’s face before he got up from the bed and sat on top of the side table, his back flush against the wall. Tagh vibrated with excitement, thanking the be-all-and-end-all that the table was sturdy enough for what Eric wanted. The best part was the table being the right height for Tagh to stand on the floor and slide his cock straight into Eric’s ass.

  As Tagh pulled the toy from Eric’s body, he smelled the flush of desire that flowed from Eric. Tagh needed a taste. He dropped to his knees and placed Eric’s legs over his shoulders, then pressed his tongue into Eric’s well-stretched hole. Fuck, this is good. Sweat ghosted over both of them, leaving behind a faint sheen. Pinpricks of pain bombarded him when Eric grabbed fistfuls of his hair and tugged.

  Tagh pulled away and stood. He grabbed the lube, watching Eric the whole time. Watching the way he panted. The way he rubbed his hands down his body as if trying to hold on to what they’d just done. Tagh whimpered when Eric reached down, slid two fingers into his ass and began finger-fucking himself. In his haste to get back to Eric, Tagh slathered his cock in lube and nudged it in beside Eric’s fingers. The tightness around his cock plus the stimulation of Eric continuing the slide of his fingers was sexy as hell. One of these days, Tagh would have to immortalize one of their sex scenes on film, so they could lie back and watch it together.

  “Okay, baby. I need you to pull your fingers free. It’s my turn to do the sliding.” As Eric did what he’d been told, Tagh pulled out far enough for them both to stare down to where they were joined. Keeping his rhythm slow, Tagh made love to Eric. Each time he pressed inside his husband’s body, he leaned in for a kiss. Electricity swirled within him and he swore to God, every time he thrust into Eric, that power flowed between them. Warmth pooled at the base of his spine at the heated gaze Eric wore.

  Eric’s kiss-swollen mouth parted slightly and Tagh could only watch. Tagh gave him one more passionate kiss before saying, “Wrap your legs around my waist.”

  “Fuck me, Tagh. Want you to make me forget everything around us. I want you buried so deep inside me that I can’t tell which bits are me and which are you.”

  Tagh picked up the pace. “Your wish is my command.”

  The look of pure pleasure on Eric’s face had Tagh coming unglued. The power zapped through his body as he continually slammed into Eric, filling him up and letting Eric know he had become Tagh’s whole world.

  “Taaaaggghhh,” Eric screamed at the instant he came and coated both their bodies.

  Tagh gritted his teeth as he rode Eric through his orgasm. The clench on his cock overwhelmed his senses, but still he didn’t stop. Tagh ground into Eric one last time, a guttural moan falling from his lips as his own extended orgasm began. He rested his head against Eric’s shoulder, smiling when Eric whimpered and more heat flowed between them. The strength of his orgasm had set Eric off again.

  “I love you so much,” Eric whispered as they clung together.

  Tagh shivered. “You are my beginning and my end. My inhale and my exhale. The very beat of my heart. From this day forth I’ll never be able to live without you.”

  Eric trembled in his arms and Tagh had no doubt that if he lost Eric, his life would drain away to nothing. If Eric died, then Tagh would soon follow.

  Before sliding free of Eric’s body, Tagh gave one playful thrust just to see Eric shiver. “Come on. Let’s finish that shower we started.”

  He helped Eric to stand until his legs were able to hold him upright. As much as he wanted to toss Eric on the bed and start all over again, he remembered tonight needed to be all about Eric.

  Crap! He’d forgotten to use the chocolate sauce, but they had all night for that.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Days blended into weeks and Eric became more frustrated with each passing hour. He should have been the calm one in their pairing, yet lately it seemed as if poor Tagh did all the holding together. Fury constantly simmered beneath Eric’s skin because
there had been no sign of Jory. Hell, lately the guy had disappeared from his dreams, which for Eric meant a bad omen. According to Tagh, Eric’s markings were coming in much faster than they had on anyone else who’d mated a Draconian Warrior, at least anyone he’d ever heard of.

  What the hell did that even mean? Lara had the guild searching for any information on the warrior breed that would give them an inkling of what was going on with Eric.

  “How are you feeling today, love?” Tagh asked when he entered the common room and placed a cup of herbal tea in front of Eric.

  Eric glared back. “I want to kill someone. I want to go and smack the ones responsible for creating these zoos. I want Jory found. I want the ones responsible locked up and put them on display for people to see. How would they like it then?”

  “That’s not a bad idea.” Tagh grinned.

  “What?”

  “Once we catch these idiots. We should incarcerate them in glass prisons. Treat them the way they treated the people in their hands. Hopefully make it so no one else ever tries to do anything so callous again.” Tagh was laughing by the time he finished.

  Eric frowned. “Are you making fun of me?”

  “No, love. I’m going to put your suggestion to the guild, and if they like your idea as much as I do, there’ll be lots of preparations to be made.”

  Eric found a smile. True justice would be served. His temper calmed somewhat. “Good. I’ll be the first one to visit them in their new homes, and if I happen to kick the shit out of them, all the better.”

  Their conversation got interrupted when a frazzled-looking princess entered the room. Eric grinned at her. “When did you get here, Princess?”

  “Right now. I think we may have found the answer to Eric’s mood swings.” She held up a piece of paper and waved it in the air. “Thallon found an obscure bit of literature that seems to fit the bill somewhat.”

  Tagh squeezed Eric’s hand. “What did he find?”

  “According to this, we already know about how the normal warriors were basically bred to be assassins. Not that I’m saying you are a born killer, Tagh—it’s just the perception some people have.”

  “What does this have to do with Eric?”

  The princess poked her tongue out at them. “I was getting to that. According to this”—she shook the paper—“once in a while there is born a warrior whose heart is pure in life. They alone will sit at the top and rain justice on all warriors.”

  “Huh?” Eric frowned at her.

  “Once your mating with Tagh became finalized, you ceased being who you were and were reborn—so to speak—as a warrior. If what we’ve found is right, then you, my dear boy, will be the warrior regent. You will be the warrior assigned to watch over all you come into contact with,” the princess explained.

  Eric thought about it for a moment before he started laughing. Not a quiet little titter, either. Huge, breath-stealing belly-laughs. Who in their right mind would think Eric had it in him to be a leader of such a fierce race of people? By the time he got himself under control, both Tagh and the princess were staring at him.

  “What?”

  Tagh smirked. “Are you quite done?”

  “Come on, even you have to admit how ludicrous this sounds. I married a warrior. I’m not leader material,” Eric said.

  Why is Tagh’s smile getting bigger? “Love, you looked after three vampires all on your own and kept them safe. Why would you think you are incapable of taking care of other beings? Hell, even Jory has sought you out in your dreams.”

  “I know about vampires. I’ve been a day warden for over five hundred years. I know next to nothing about Draconian Warriors. As for Jory, I’m starting to believe he may not exist. If he did, we would have found him by now.”

  “Then it’s about time you learned about the warriors,” the princess stated. “I’ll have Thallon send over all the information we’ve gathered. Once we rescue these others, you, my dear boy, will have your hands full getting them acclimatized to being free. You’ll have to be their anchor so their darker natures stay buried.”

  Worry surged through him. “I’m not going to have to be mated to them all like I am with Tagh, right?”

  “No, but as they are warriors, they will have to swear blood fealty to you,” the princess said.

  Shock rolled over him in a cold wave. How could his life have changed in such a short amount of time? Maybe if he pinched himself really hard, he would wake up and find this whole thing had been a very realistic dream, because right now it was starting to feel more like a nightmare.

  “You can do this, Eric.” The princess patted his leg.

  “No, I can’t. There has to be someone out there better suited to the job. What about Tagh? Can’t he be this regent thingy?” Eric offered, hoping the princess would take him up on it.

  She shook her head. “Murtagh already has a job as a guild member, so suck it up and get your head in the game. This shit is getting real.”

  “Have you always sworn like a sailor?” Eric blurted out the question.

  The princess chuckled. “Yes. Ask Daven if you don’t believe me. He can probably tell you a story or two of what I’m like. We’re family now, so you’ll just have to get used to my potty mouth.”

  Eric sat there, shaking his head. He wanted to start laughing again, but if he did, he might never stop. If what he’d been told came close to the truth, Eric knew he had a long road ahead of him as he tried to figure out his new role in life. In doing so, it would forever take away the chance of him remaining Daven’s day warden. Eric would seriously have to start training Gabriel to take his place, and Eric wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

  “What’s the matter?” Tagh asked, after the princess had said her goodbyes and left.

  “I can’t ever be Dav’s day warden again, can I? I thought…I thought maybe I’d figure out a way to be with you and still be able to look after him. If the princess is right, that can’t ever happen.” Tears burned in his eyes. “I’m a little sad about it, is all.”

  Tagh yanked him into his arms and Eric went willingly. Breathing deeply of his mate’s scent soothed him.

  “Are you okay?”

  Eric nodded when he heard Mitch speaking. “Just figuring shit out.”

  “Does it have anything to do with what Lara kept grumbling about when she left?”

  He turned toward Mitch and said, “All depends what she bitched about.”

  Mitched flopped on the seat opposite them. “Something about stubborn-assed warriors who needed to figure out there were more people in the world then just them.”

  “She and the guild think I’m supposed to be some sort of regent to the warriors,” Eric admitted.

  Mitch laughed for a few moments before he figured out Eric wasn’t joking. “Oh, you’re for real?”

  “As a heart attack.”

  “What are you supposed to do?” Mitch asked.

  Eric sighed. “Right now, I’m contemplating how far I’d get if I ran away.”

  “Not far. You’re the one that dragged me into this crazy world and you’re not abandoning me now,” Mitch groused. “If I’m here, so are you.”

  “He’s not leaving,” Tagh simply stated, and Eric melted further into his lover. “Besides, we still need to find Jory.”

  “Did I hear right? Are you a regent?” Daven asked the moment he entered the room.

  Eric nodded at Daven. “Apparently.”

  “Holy hell—you’ll wield as much power as the guild master. If memory serves me correct, a warrior regent also holds sway over the demons,” Daven added.

  Fucking hell! “First the warriors and now the demons. I’m so not cut out for this. No one in their right mind is going to take any notice of me. Can you see Remi or Orion following my orders?”

  “Daven is mistaken,” Remi spoke up. Eric hadn’t even heard the demon enter the room. He stared as Remi went on, “You won’t lead us, but, if you are a regent, you’ll be our liaison with the guild. If we
have a problem, you’ll be sought out to present our case. Also, your presence will be requested at all head of clan meetings—not that they occur very often. The last one occurred nearly one hundred and fifty years ago.”

  “Can this shit get any more complicated?”

  Daven nodded. “Yes—you still have to teach Gabriel his duties.”

  “I know my duties,” Gabriel snapped.

  When the hell had he come in? Eric looked around and found quite a few of their friends had now joined them. Thank God their lounge room had lots of space, or it would have started getting squashy.

  “I think he might be talking about doing your duties and not trying to kill your charge,” Isiah drawled.

  “God! You try and kill your charges a couple of hundred times and they never let you forget it—I said I was sorry,” Gabriel complained.

  Eric couldn’t have stopped his laughter if he tried. Thankfully, for once, he wasn’t the most fucked-up person in the room. Maybe he really could do this without stuffing it up too badly. He couldn’t be any worse than Gabriel at his first turn of being a day warden.

  Nobody could be as bad as that.

  Chapter Fourteen

  For the last couple of days, since the big revelation by Lara, Tagh had taken to studying his mate. Eric was changing. Some of it had to do with the possibility of being a regent, while, on the other hand, the anger flowing through him had more to do with figuring out if Jory really existed or not. With everything that had been thrown at them lately, Tagh thought that was a given. Somewhere out there Jory waited for Eric, and Tagh wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about that situation.

  Also, if he wasn’t mistaken, the demons in their family were seeking Eric out more often and including him in things. Eric had also seemed to become their mediator for minor in-house squabbles. Eric took it all in his stride, though. Tagh saw that Remi and Orion were keeping an eye on everything to make sure the demons kept the situation under control. In essence, Eric still held many of his human elements and would be nowhere near as strong as a demon.