Becoming ONe (Kaliss Book 2)

by Cree Storm

  “Son of a bitch! Why the hell didn’t I know this and why didn’t you tell me when we were being held prisoner by Fallon all those years?” Nelson asked in anger and disbelief.

  His fox didn’t say anything for a few minutes, then softly replied, “Fallon kept me suppressed with those potions remember? So, there was nothing I could do then. And when we saw Fallon that day outside the council building, you didn’t want anything to do with me, Nelson. You refused to listen when I tried to tell you another way that would not use our energy level. You almost killed us both. I had to dig deeper than I ever thought I would to survive what you had done to us. My life was nothing to you. So I hid and left you to your own devices. I’m sorry, Nelson. I should have come forward and tried to help us out of the situation we were in.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I should have listened instead of going off halfcocked. All I saw was revenge. All I felt was hate. I just wanted the man dead. I didn’t think about you, me, or Orion. I was wrong,” Nelson replied sadly.

  “We all screwed up that day. I should have done whatever I could to get Nelson back into the council building. He was my mate and watching him slowly dying and doing nothing to save him has haunted me ever since,” Orion softly said.

  “I say we all screwed up. How about we build our lives from here. I think we have kicked our own asses as well as each other’s for long enough,” Nelson’s fox whispered.

  “I’d love that.” Orion replied.

  Nelson sniffled, saying, “Me too.”

  Orion felt his heart soar. His mates were making up and it was a dream come true. Now if they could just find Nicu before the mage changed him once more, then life would be better than great… it would be all Orion could ever want. Looking at Ezra, Orion said, “Cuddle bug says he fucked up the mage pretty badly today and he should be out of commission for a day or more. That means all we have to do is find Nicu and kill the fucker before he can get to anyone else.”

  CHAPTER 13

  “That son of a bitch. I swear the next time I see that little elven fucker, I’m going to finally kill him myself,” Nicu seethed as he stormed into the room. Stopping in front of the couch, Nicu raised his hand and rubbed it against his chin, as he looked to Laramie and said, “I need to look like one of Ezra’s most trusted guards so that I can get closer to that damn Jewel and kill the little fucker.”

  “Too soon,” Laramie hissed through clenched teeth. “Once… in twenty-four… hours. Using the potion twice… in that time… and the second… time… won’t be… as effective.”

  “So I’ll do it tomorrow. I need more of that potion,” Nicu insisted.

  When Laramie didn’t answer, Nicu looked closer at the mage. The man lay sideways on the couch, clutching his thigh. His face was twisted in pain and a fine sheen of sweat covered his face.

  “What’s wrong with you? And hey, what the hell happened out there? That bastard Orion had me a time or two. I thought you were supposed to be there to help me.”

  Laramie looked up at him with narrowed eyes. His jaw clenched and lips a thin line. “I was there you witless wonder. Why… do you think… you had the upper… hand… for most of… that fight?” Laramie admonished as he struggled to sit up. His face contorted deeper, showing the true depth of the agony he was in. As he straightened he released a heavy breath, then hissed, “What, did you… suddenly… think you… had… powers and… that was all… you?”

  Nicu dropped down into the chair across from Laramie as he huffed, “Well then, why the hell did he beat me? I should be standing there during the Ranking Ceremony tomorrow taking my rightful place as Regal to the Re. I have worked side by side with Ezra long enough and that position should be mine, not that muscle headed fuckwit.”

  “As you… had help, so… did he. The Re’s… mate was… using… his powers… but there… was something… wrong… with… them. They weren’t… very controlled and… made no… sense. I wonder… why?” Laramie asked.

  “How the hell am I supposed to know?”

  Laramie rolled his eyes and gave him a look as though he was stupid. Nicu hated the fuck, but they needed him and his magic. If not for that, he would have slit the sleezy guy’s throat a long time ago.

  “It was… a rhetorical… question,” Laramie replied, as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.

  “A ritoiwhat?” Nicu asked in confusion.

  “Rhetorical, meaning… never mind.”

  “If you can’t answer your own questions, then how the hell is the rest of the plan supposed to work if I’m not in Ezra’s office?” Nicu huffed.

  Laramie’s eyes turned cold and hard as they filled with anger. “I don’t… answer to you, fledgling. We… both report… to a… higher power and… you know... it. You just do… your part… and shut up. Stop… thinking, it’s… not… your strong… suit.”

  “Fuck you,” Nicu spat. “Someone’s in a fucking bad mood.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Laramie. He hated that he had to work with the asshole, but for their plan to work he had to put up with the crazy ass mage.

  “I need you… to… run an… errand for… me,” Laramie said.

  Nicu gave him a bored look then raised a brow in question. “I can’t actually go out there in the world with this face, remember? How the hell am I going to run you an errand? And, why would I? I am not your dog.”

  Quicker than Nicu could see him, Laramie was up off the couch and looming over him, with his face a mere hairsbreadth from his, his eyes crazy and full of rage. Laramie gripped the front of his shirt staggering to stay upright but still with more strength then Nicu would have given the small man credit for and pulled Nicu closer. Laramie’s stale sick breath washed over his skin and a chill ran through him as a sense of great dread filled him.

  “You listen… to me now you… little cunt. You… do as I say, or… first I… turn you into… a eunuch, then… I change… you into… a slug for the… rest of… your damn life. Not… too far off from… what you… already are, but now… you’ll have… the form to… match.”

  Nicu didn’t want to show this man fear, but he was helpless against it. The pure evil he saw within the mage’s eyes was disturbing. Nicu’s body betrayed him and began to tremble. “W-what… what d-do, you… n-need?”

  A sinister smile rose from the mage’s lips, then filled his eyes. “That fucking… Santorini fox… bit and clawed… me. He… released a poison… into my b-bloodstream… and I… need the antidote. I… have everything… I need to mix… up a d-dose here… except for one... ingredient. The Epiphyllum… Oxypetalum, otherwise… known as… the… Kadupul… Flower.”

  “The what? I’ve never even heard of it much less know where to find it,” Nicu said in a strained voice.

  “It is only… found in… one place, and… only blooms… at night. You… must cut… it while in… bloom and… get it back to… me before… it wilts, or… the sun… rises. Once the… sun… comes up… the flower… will die, and… it will no longer… be of any… use,” Laramie explained as he released Nicu’s shirt and moved back a few inches.

  “Where do I find one?” Nicu asked.

  “Not one… I need you… to bring me back… as many… as you can… carry without… damaging… the specimen. It is… very delicate. With… that damn… fox around, it… would behoove… us to… have more of… the antidote… available.”

  “Boohoo what?”

  “Behoove. Never… mind,” Laramie replied in exasperation as he shook his head. “Just get me that… flower. It’s… white and… large, only… blooms at night, and… is very rare.”

  “Great. And where am I supposed to locate this rare whatever its name is?”

  “There is… only one… place in the… world the… flower grows, and… I warn you it may… not be so easy… to retrieve. Because… it is so rare, it… is protected, so… mind your… surroundings. You will… find it… on the… island of… Sri Lanka.”

  “Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka? Are you
crazy? That’s on the other side of the fucking world. How the hell am I supposed to get there, find this plant, and get it back to you safely, and still make it to the Ranking Ceremony tomorrow?”

  “I will send you… there with a… spell that will… give you… four hours, then… return you right here… to me… I… will drop you… in the… middle of… the forest where the… flower is known… to be, but… again, be… careful. The locals guard… and protect it,” Laramie said and began to chant.

  “Wait. How the hell am I supposed to bring them back? And I’m not armed, how do I protect myself from these guards? You need to give me more than just go fetch me a fucking flower. This is bullshit, man. I don’t answer to you, only him. Does he know about this? I want to talk to―”

  Suddenly a canvas messenger bag appeared in Nicu’s lap and a pair of garden shears in his hand as Laramie cut him off. “No time for… looking… at the sights. I… have less than… twenty-four… hours before… this poison… kills me. Get… the flower and… get back… here. But first, hold… on tight,” Laramie said, with a smirk and touched his hand to Nicu’s forehead.

  All at once Nicu heard a whooshing sound and the room he had been in, flew past him as if he was in a tunnel. After a few seconds, he stopped and the vision before him steadied and stilled, as he dropped to his ass on the hard-packed ground with a thud. Looking around, Nicu stared in awe at the sight. He was now in a tropical forest and it was pitch black outside. Not even the moon was strong enough to help guide him. “Son of a bitch. I don’t even know what the damn thing looks like.”

  In an instant a picture of a white flower popped into his head and shocked Nicu. He held the vision there as he climbed to his feet and began his trek through the trees.

  * * * *

  “Moron,” Laramie huffed, as he made his way back to the couch and dropped down upon it, hissing as a new jolt of agony raced through him.

  “Like I don’t… have enough to deal… with. Now I… have to babysit that… total waste of life. When… he returns with… what I need, I… think I will zap… his ass with a bolt… of lightning so that… he remembers… his place.”

  Laramie reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone, then dialed. When he heard the click on the other end, he knew the man he wanted to speak with was there. He never spoke as he answered, waiting to make sure who was calling him first. “I sent the… idiot, Nicu off to… find something… I need… for a potion. He’ll… be back in… a few hours.”

  “Now is not the time for this, Laramie. We need him at that Ranking Ceremony now that he fucked up and didn’t win against General Orion.”

  “I know… that, but it… was unavoidable… if you… want me to… continue as part of… this. That… damn fox… poisoned me and… if I don’t… make… the antidote, then… you’ll be… looking… for a new mage… to help you,” he replied, between clenched teeth.

  “You are a long and faithful friend and comrade; Laramie, and we would not be where we are today if not for you and all your wicked skills. It is because of you that we are so close to getting everything we have both worked so long for. Do you need assistance with the potion or to help you stave off the poison while you are awaiting Nicu’s return?”

  “No, my… friend. If I… just remain as still… as possible… for the… next few hours… then begin… to get the potion… ready before Nicu’s… return so all I… have to do is… add the final ingredient, I… should be okay.”

  “Good. Very good. If you feel like that is changing, call me immediately. I can’t afford to lose you, my friend.”

  “I will. So… now that the damn fox… got in our… way and… ruined our plan at… the battles, what… is the next step?”

  “First, we get you in tip-top shape, then we move ahead with the rest of the plan. Once we get rid of Ezra, his elven mate, and General Orion, you can take the fox for yourself and use him as you wish for what he has made you suffer. I’m sure all his special abilities will come in very handy.”

  Laramie smiled at the thought of getting his hands on a Santorini fox and using it for his own gain. “Between him… and the butterfly… dragons, we will be… unstoppable… I will call… you when everything… is done,” Laramie gasped.

  “Good. My plane will be landing in a few hours. You know where to reach me.” And with that, the phone went dead.

  Laramie hung up at his end and tossed the phone on the cushion beside him. Lying back against the couch, he looked up at the ceiling, then sighed heavily. A fucking Santorini fox. Nicu said the creature didn’t have any powers anymore, so how was he able to stop me? No matter, I will trap you along with the butterfly dragons, and when I do, you three will know the true meaning of pain. Now I just need to adjust my entrapment potion once that buffoon brings me the flower and I can heal. I will make you pay for this fox. I promise you.

  CHAPTER 14

  “Oh, fuck yeah… right there… right fucking there… don’t move from that spot or I swear I will sic Cuddle bunny on your ass,” Nelson panted, as Orion continued pounding into him.

  Orion grabbed Nelson’s hair, lifting his head so he could see in the bathroom mirror. “Watch us, Starlight. Do you see how well we fit together? Do you see how beautiful we are connected as one?”

  “Gods yes! So good!” Nelson gasped.

  Someone pounded on the bathroom door, yelling, “You know there are other people who would like to get in there?”

  Orion’s fangs dropped at the intrusion, but he never stopped thrusting in and out of Nelson.

  Sweat dripped down Nelson’s face and he could see the same was happening to Orion. The look of his mate pleasuring them was a sight Nelson loved seeing. “We need to get our walls mirrored so I can watch you all the time.”

  The banging on the door increased as someone shouted, “Come on, I need to get in there!”

  “There are twenty-two bathrooms in this place… find another one, or I’ll find you and rip your nuts off myself,” Nelson shouted.

  Orion’s claws dug into Nelson’s sides as he pulled Nelson towards him. The scream of ecstasy Nelson let out as Orion pegged his gland over and over told the world, if they didn’t already know, that Orion was claiming what was his.

  “Not gonna last,” Orion hissed.

  Shaking his head, Nelson stammered, “Me… neith… neither.”

  “Come for me, Starlight. Come for me, now,” Orion snarled. Leaning over Nelson’s back Orion embedded his fangs deep into Nelson’s neck and sucked in his liquid gold, as Orion called it.

  Nelson’s Santorini fox’s fur began covering his arms as his ears began to form. The need to come grew more and more desperate with each pull of blood Orion made. It was as if Orion was pulling the seed from his balls until it was spilling over the bathroom sink and floor.

  Orion slowly withdrew his fangs and licked the bite closed, then tossed his head back as seed filled Nelson’s hole. Orion continued to thrust a few more times until he had nothing left to give, and then rested his forehead on Nelson’s sweat soaked back, both men gasping for air.

  Orion stayed like that for a few minutes, then stood, allowing his softened cock to slip from Nelson’s body, causing him to moan once more. Nelson turned around, whispering, “I hate when we aren’t connected.”

  Orion took Nelson into his arms, kissing the top of his head. “Starlight, I don’t need to have my cock in your ass to be connected to you. Our connection is soul deep.”

  “I know that, but as long as we are making love, we’re safe,” Nelson softly said.

  The pounding on the door came once again, as someone shouted, “Okay, you’re finished, can I please get in there now?”

  Orion and Nelson got dressed and Nelson opened the door. Jael stood there looking pissed. Nelson pursed his lips, asking, “What is your problem? I told you this place has a shit ton of bathrooms in it.”

  Jael growled, “But this one is in my room.”

  Nelson tilted his head to the side t
houghtfully. “Oh.”

  Orion laughed and gently pushed his mate toward the door, so Jael could get in. “Sorry, Jael. We came into the first room we found to get cleaned up.”

  “Sounds like you cleaned up all right,” Jael said with a short laugh, then waved his hands in front of his face. “Damn, it smells like sex in here.”

  Nelson giggled and walked out the door. Jael started to spray something, saying, “Oh, hey, Ezra was looking for you about ten minutes ago. He said to tell you they may have a lead on Nicu.”

  Orion nodded. “Thanks.”

  They were just about out of Jael’s room when he shouted, “Tell Ezra I’ve been delayed, and you better tell him why, too.”

  Orion laughed. “No problem.”

  Nelson walked hand and hand with Orion toward Ezra’s office. Many people nodded and congratulated him on his new position as they went, and Orion tensed with each man’s acknowledgement. The second they exited the Imperial guardhouse, Nelson asked, “What’s wrong, Sexy?”

  “What could be wrong, Starlight? I won my position, I have the best mate in the world, and I have my Cuddle bunny,” Orion said with a smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes.

  “And yet, there is something wrong. Now spill,” Nelson insisted.

  Sighing, Orion stopped and looked around. “I hear these men congratulating me on my new position, and yet I feel as though they doubt I earned it.”

  “Orion, that’s not true. You almost died competing to be the new Regal,” Nelson quickly replied.