Beneath the Broken

by James Cox

  Joen lifted his head and licked her from clit to hole.

  Aralynn came, her fingers dug into my shoulders as I fucked Joen like it was our last night on Otherworld. It might very well be. I came hard, my whole body a conduit. I couldn’t stop fucking him as my orgasm dragged on and on. I had to keep myself from howling as the last drops of sperm shot into his ass. I grabbed Joen’s dick just as mine began to soften. Three quick tugs and he was there. White ribbons of cum shot out between us, decorating our flesh and the grass. Then I was gasping, hunching, smiling.

  Aralynn quickly moved away from us, using her dress as a shield.

  “Don’t go far.” I muttered. Uncoordinated, I still found my trousers and pulled them on without buttoning them. Joen was still on his back, gasping and spent. I crawled past him to Aralynn. “Open your legs for me.”

  She clutched the dress tighter.

  “I swear I will only use my mouth on you.” I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her blushed cheek. “I won’t fuck you. I won’t finger you. I won’t even stick my tongue inside you. I just want to taste you as you come.”

  Aralynn pressed her lips together and shivered, then moved the dress.

  I placed my hands on her knees and opened her legs then lowered to my stomach. That’s why I put my trousers back on. If my cock did decide this was too exciting to sleep through, I didn’t want to scare her with it. I rasped my knuckles along her inner thighs then cupped her pussy.

  She flinched.

  “Watch me, Aralynn.” I rubbed the heel of my hand along her clit. “It’s just me. Just Darrow. I would never, ever hurt you.”

  She nodded.

  I kissed her inner thigh and then took my first taste of her pussy. She was sweet, wet from her previous orgasms. I lapped at each lip and then found her clit with my tongue.

  Aralynn instantly shoved a hand over her mouth and groaned behind it.

  I couldn’t count how many times I’d dreamed of this moment. I circled the bud, giving it a gentle scrape of my teeth before sucking.

  Aralynn’s hips came off the ground. Her hands slapped against my head and held me against her. There was no place else I’d rather be. I sucked harder just as Joen joined us. He laid his hands on my ass and straddled me. His cock was still soft but the warm body over mine was another surprise delight. I liked it. I alternated between licking and sucking. Aralynn kept pressing her hand into my scalp and when she came Joen was there to catch her loud moan with his kiss. Their tongues met, ever being gentle those two. Her hips returned to the ground, her legs fell open and ah, fuck it. I couldn’t resist. I started licking her again. When another climax made her dig her nails into my scalp, I savored the pain, the taste, the sounds. When she collapsed in Joen’s arms, I crawled up beside them and kissed her. Her flavor mingled on our tongues and a moment later Joen joined up. A three way kiss was a lot harder than it sounded. I missed his mouth and got his nose. Aralynn licked the corner of my mouth instead of inside. Eventually we all parted with smiles and a bit of laughing. I grabbed Aralynn’s dress and helped it over her head. Joen didn’t bother covering up his flaccid cock. I was kind of glad about that.

  And then we sat there watching the stars and huddling for heat.

  No words would express how I was feeling. It was foreign, indescribable. Ah, fuck. Was this love?

  Chapter Fourteen

  The fire had died down as Joen and Aralynn fell asleep. They curled peacefully beside me, attracted to my body warmth. I watched over them vigilantly even as my stomach grumbled and the distant snores of the others sounded. Fire crackled in the distance and I could hear Alexander shuffling around. He wasn’t able to sleep either. The location was too vulnerable, too open to attack. Aralynn sighed and rubbed her head against my chest. I’d thrown on my shirt when the chilly night air became a bit much. I even covered Joen with his clothes after seeing the shrinkage and the way he gripped his dick in his sleep. Now, Alexander and I remained in an edgy state of tired but alert. At least I wasn’t alone. If I missed something he’d pick it up and vice versa.

  Alexander’s boots scuffed as he stood.

  I could barely see him over the boulder between us.

  He glanced at the mountain alongside us, lifted his nose and sniffed. Then his gaze found mine and narrowed.

  Fuck. Trouble. I placed my hand over Aralynn’s mouth.

  She jerked up, jamming her elbow into my side and nearly punched me in the face. Then she saw who it was and winced.

  I shook my head and tilted my chin toward Joen. Then I quietly got to my feet and extended my claws. Shit was about to get complicated. I hope she got the hint. I glanced up, seeing only darkness and the occasional reflection of the firelight. The sun was a few hours off from rising and I had a sick feeling I knew what Alexander smelled.

  Joen was jerking awake, covering his body with clothes as fast as he could. He nearly face planted putting his trousers on. Aralynn shoved the shirt over his head and then pulled him behind me.

  Every time I stepped back, they did, until we were close to the cliff. I could see Aneen and Stefen getting on their feet. Alexander was trying to wake up some of the guards. That’s when a small pattering of rocks cascaded down the cliff. “If they overrun me, jump into the water. Find the boat. The mermaid will help you,” I whispered and bared my canines.

  The dark figure leapt from the high cliffs. I could barely make out the opaque skin before it was running at me. Alexander slammed into the vampire and they both tumbled to the ground. When he hopped to his feet his lips were covered in blood. “Don’t be shy.” Alexander grinned. “Come out and play!” He yelled the invitation, spitting blood.

  Two came barreling down the cliff at stunning speeds. I could barely keep track of them. One launched toward Aneen. It barely got its feet off the ground before she blasted it with her light. Stefen lunged with his sword, slicing the thing’s head off. The second vampire landed in the circle of guards. Screams rang out as it used its amazing speed to attack them. Four men were dead before Alexander got there. He faced the full vampire. Both bloody, both dangerous.

  I looked away. Alexander could handle himself. So could Aneen. I was not leaving Aralynn and Joen’s side. A shadow flickered. I growled and the fucking thing struck me. We went down in a tangle of limbs. I jammed my claws into his shoulder, going for a neck swipe, but missed. These fuckers were fast, but I knew how to beat them. I dislodged my claws, rolled out of his way, then waited there. It only took five seconds for him to lunge, taking the advantage, one he didn’t have. I shoved my arm up and sunk my claws into its chest. The tips nicked his heart and I tugged.

  The vampire spun away, ripping my claws free. He sputtered, collapsing onto the ground before he could flee more than a step.

  That was the only way to kill these fuckers. Make them think they were smarter. Alexander had done that to me once and I nearly ripped his heart out. I guess our whole ‘kill each other on sight’ rule was on pause now. I returned to my stance before Joen and Aralynn.

  Alexander had killed his vampire. He stood just as I did, beside his queen and king. Two guards stood with us, back to back. The stench of blood lingered in the air as we waited for the next attack.

  I sniffed the air, unable to distinguish vampire from the coppery scent of death. “Move right.” I scanned the cliffs as we shifted toward the others. Step by step, easing our way through the darkness toward the dying fire.

  Alexander spun toward us, eyes wide.

  I heard it. The scratching of nails on rock. I spun around as the vampire reached out and latched onto Joen’s leg. He cried out and kicked back. A human kick, even to the face wouldn’t do much to harm a full blooded vampire. Joen fell forward and the fucking vampire started dragging him off the cliff. The fall might not kill him, but the vampire would. I lunged out, grabbed his hand, and growled.

  Aralynn. My queen. Crazy fucking woman. She grabbed the dagger from Joen’s waist, leaned over and stabbed the vampire in the head.

 
; I swear I had a heart attack. My heart stopped beating as I watched her lean over, toward a nasty, deadly vampire and stab it. It hissed, releasing Joen’s leg and falling down the cliff, banging into jutting rocks as it went. It landed with a huge splash in the ocean below followed the scaly flash of a naked mermen.

  I hauled Joen up, gave Aralynn a scathing look and turned back toward Alexander’s group. Aneen finished frying two more vampires and Stefen rushed toward us.

  “In one piece?”

  I grunted at his question then pushed Joen and Aralynn toward him. We circled the fire, back to each other as the eerie silence of the night grew. “Smell anymore?”

  “Too much blood,” Alexander answered. “You?”

  “Same.”

  Alexander glanced at Aneen. “Love, would you mind giving us some light?”

  She grinned and it was entirely wicked. There was a darkness there, maybe because of her creepy red eyes. She lifted both hands into the sky and let her light burst out. It lit up the side of the mountain like sunrise.

  Fuck me. I was speechless. Aneen was more powerful than I could imagine.

  Three shadows scurried to find a new hiding place and she fried them all with a flick of her wrists. Their bodies burned, sending charred pieces flopping down the cliffs. When the light dissipated, we were all staring at her with wide eyes. Hell, I think one of the guards pissed his trousers.

  Alexander winked at her. “If we had time I’d reward you.”

  Aneen blushed.

  “Vampires first, sex later.” Stefen mumbled, his cheeks just as pink as hers.

  “Fucking ruining all my fun.” Alexander said it with a grin, then scanned the cliffs once more. “I do think it’d be wise to keep moving.”

  “What about the guards?” Aneen asked, staring at her fallen men with glassy eyes. “We can’t just leave them here.”

  “We can’t exactly save them.” Aralynn said, facing Aneen. “Revenge is all they have left.”

  Aneen frowned and took a step forward.

  I stepped in front of Aralynn just as Alexander stepped in front of Aneen. Both of us bared our teeth.

  “Okay. Teeth away.” Joen moved between us.

  “Don’t you know not to come between two alpha males?” Alexander said.

  “Who said you were an alpha?” I growled at the half vampire.

  “Yes, you’re both alphas.” Joen rolled his eyes. “You both have big dicks. Congratulations. Now let’s get out of here before another vampire decides to drag some of us off a fucking cliff!” He eased to the left to look at Aneen. “We can come back and give them a proper sendoff down Durnin River later. When it’s safer.”

  Aneen nodded slowly.

  “Joen. The peace maker.” I said then grunted.

  He glared at me and then grinned, “You know, you make that same sound when you’re about to come.”

  Alexander burst out laughing.

  Oh, Joen would get punished for that comment.

  “Dick jokes later.” Stefen began kicking dirt on the fire. “Vampires. Dullahan. Certain death. Let’s move.”

  “Is he always so uptight?” I asked, retracting my claws.

  Alexander grinned. “Nope. He’s much more laid back when he’s actually on his back.” A short, bolt of light snapped at Alexander’s ass making him yelp. “Hey!”

  “Focus.” Aneen walked past all of us, heading south, toward the fallen god.

  ****

  I could actually see Little Fairaine in the distance and the plume of smoke rising above it. We had a few hours to go and the deep darkness of night was beginning to recede. We’d probably arrive about sunrise and I hoped we were in time to meet this fucker, Dullahan. The more I walked, the madder I became. At one point I was stomping so hard that Alexander looked over his shoulder at me.

  “Breaking in new boots?”

  “Shut the fuck up and keep walking.” I ended it with a growl.

  Aneen lifted her hand, fingers glowing. “Play nice back there.” She was leading us south toward the town, followed by Stefen, Alexander, Joen, Aralynn, and the two remaining guards. One of which smelled distinctly of piss. I couldn’t even blame him. Vampires made me nervous and I was a fucking werewolf. Humans were toys to them, less than that, easy prey.

  “Would you look at t’at.” The voice came from the patch of trees along the mountainside. “Bunc’ of s’it eaters.” The small Aos Si that came flying from the trees had shoulder length black hair with red highlights.

  “Hawthorn?” Alexander squinted. “You little fucker!” He smiled.

  “Vampire.” He landed atop Alexander’s head. “I ‘eard you needed some ‘elp.”

  “And you’re going to what? Fly at Dullahan’s eyes?” I asked, placing my hands on my hips.

  “T’e fuck is t’is? Anot’er fucker like you Alexander?” Hawthorn hovered in the air. “I can kick your arse any day.”

  I bared my canines at the fairy.

  “Don’t eat my mate, wolf.” Another Aos Si came fluttered from the tress with a handful of others. There was a damn horde of those things.

  “Wolf…” Alexander’s eyes went wide. “Motherfucker!”

  Well. I didn’t like these guys already.

  “I knew it. I fucking knew it.” Alexander hopped from one foot to the other like an excited child. “I told you.” He slapped Stefen’s ass. “I told you I thought he was a fucking werewolf. You kept saying no way, they were hairier!”

  The loudmouth fairy came closer, this one had orange highlights. “Apologies. I didn’t realize your ancestry was a secret.”

  “Too fucking late now.” I muttered. Joen placed a hand on my arm and squeezed. Now they knew what I was. My advantage was gone. I could only hope word didn’t get back to the pack and they decided to see for themselves.

  “Dusk?” Aneen’s smile was huge as she approached the flying creature. The small army he brought with him hung back, their purplish robes fluttering about their black trousers.

  “Hello, Aneen.”

  “What are you doing here? Are you okay?”

  It was Hawthorn who answered. “Aye, we ‘eard you were about to kick Dull’ans arse. Need ‘elp?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  She held out her hand and Dusk landed on it followed by Hawthorn. “We’ll take anything we can get.”

  “Good, because we have a plan.” Dusk kissed her palm.

  “Good, because we don’t have shit.” Alexander said.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll save your arse.” Hawthorn grinned.

  Fucking fairies.

  ****

  “A werewolf.” Alexander shook his head as he walked beside me.

  I was very tempted to push him over the fucking cliffs. The Aos Si had already told us their plan and it was stupid. Apparently, the robe fairies were royalty and they had some magical power shit. If they all banded together they could create a portal, although it hadn’t been done in generations. It’d create a temporary door between our world and the only other one that we knew existed. They called it Earth. The plan was for Aneen to blast him, send him to Earth and we close the portal. Hopefully his wounds would kill him. It was Aneen who didn’t surprise anyone by asking, “What if Dullahan rains his suffering upon Earth?”

  But according to all the Aos Si there that was a moot point. “The Aos Si have tried to contact the few who fled there when Dullahan first arrived. We never received any responses. We believe Earth to be a dead planet. Let him take out his anger on dirt and rock.” Dusk had assured her.

  And so we walked, planned, and I got to listen to Alexander’s shit.

  “Do you get furry and howl at the moons like in the myths?” He was like a fucking kid after a day of sweets. “I knew you weren’t human with the claws, but I was betting on some kind of Selkie mutation or a curse that made you all growly.”

  I grunted.

  “A fucking werewolf. No wonder you were my match.”

  “I kicked your ass. The only reason you’re alive is b
ecause Aneen fired her light at me.”

  Alexander scoffed. “Do you have fangs like me?”

  “Not as long.”

  Alexander grinned. “Nothing is as long as me.” He winked.

  I rolled my eyes. “Could you shut the fuck up already.”

  “Could? Yes. Will I? No.” He kept going. “I was betting on a werewolf, which Stefen said was impossible, or a dragon hybrid. There could still be dragons up in those mountains somewhere.”

  “Are you done yet?”

  “Can you change into a full wolf? I’ve seen one before and they’re actually nice looking creatures. Hairy and kind of skittish, but…”

  “I’m going to push you off the cliff.”

  Alexander chuckled. “Do you have a really hairy dick, too?”

  “Alexander!” Aneen’s voice traveled down the line.

  “It’s the first time I’ve met a rare creature like me.”

  “It’s the first time anyone has.” Joen said from behind us. “And no, not so hairy.”

  I growled and latched my hand onto the back of Joen’s neck. “You’re looking for a spanking, boy.”

  He grinned and placed a kiss on my cheek.

  Aralynn was hiding her laugh behind her hand unsuccessfully.

  I growled and stomped ahead. I couldn’t go joking and flirting before the battle. Anger and survival instincts had to kick in for us to win. These people were like dumb novices.

  “Easy.” Alexander was beside me again. “I’m just trying to get them to relax a little. The fear is so potent I can’t smell much else.”

  “You’re a pussy.”

  Alexander smiled wide. “I do love pussy.”

  I sniffed the air. “Nothing around us.” There were a few prickly bushes coming up. I waited until Alexander was right beside them, then gave him a shove. He hissed out a curse when he landed in the thorns and bared his fangs at me when he finally stumbled to his feet. “Easy, I’m just getting them to relax.” Okay, I was smiling now.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The plumes of dark smoke hung over the town like storm clouds brought on by whatever chaos was happening there. We picked up our pace, jogging through the last moments of darkness. The sun was starting to burst through the horizon, sending bright streaks across the calm water. It also showed what our delay caused. Little Fairaine was in ruins. I kept Joen and Aralynn behind me as we entered right near Death Falls. The smoke was from homes on fire. The orange and red flames licked at the sky, turning memories into ash.