Fire's Embrace [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 6] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove)

by Scarlet Hyacinth

  Phoenix pressed a brief kiss over Rachen’s lips, then entered the room after Graham. Rachen stayed outside, with his two brothers, the naga, and most of the members of their family. He should have probably been anxious, but he was certain that Phoenix wouldn’t let anything happen to Caelyn’s baby. Today marked a new beginning, and not only for them.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The high-pitched cries of the child echoed in the room as the infant protested being drawn out of the comfort of his birth father’s body. Phoenix held the boy close and rocked him, allowing the warm energies of the earth to surround the baby, singing softly to him under his breath.

  As Phoenix held the baby, Graham wiped down Caelyn’s face of sweat and said, “It’s okay now, angel. You did great.”

  Caelyn blinked, still looking dazed and tired. He’d lost quite a lot of blood because of the incision necessary to remove the baby, but Talrasar and Sari had kept it all under control. The draechen medic had been more than competent. Truly, the entire process had gone even smoother than Phoenix had expected. The baby was healthy, and so was his father.

  On cue, Caelyn whispered, “I want to see him. I want to see our son.”

  Graham walked to Phoenix’s side, and Phoenix passed the baby to his sire. A pang of jealousy struck him as he watched Graham, Caelyn, and their child together. He wanted to have that, too. He wanted hatchlings with Rachen.

  “It’ll come,” Rachen said through their bond. “I want us to have children, too. Just be patient.”

  “I’m a fire bird,” Phoenix pointed out. “It’s not in my nature to be patient.”

  Nevertheless, he couldn’t cling to any petty feelings of envy, not when he saw the wide smile on Caelyn’s face. Caelyn’s happiness was simply contagious, and Phoenix couldn’t help but rejoice at the knowledge that a new life was starting today. He could feel it deep within him. His magic responded to the unique energy of the moment. The purity and beauty of it nearly brought tears to Phoenix’s eyes.

  Instead of starting to bawl like a crybaby, he slipped out of the room. Talrasar, Sari, and the draechen medic followed his example, leaving the happy couple alone with their son.

  Instantly, the rest of the family was upon them. Of course, they knew things had gone well, since Karein, Kael and Rachen had been able to monitor the entire process through their bonds with their respective mates. Even so, that didn’t seem to be enough.

  “Can we see them?” Camden asked. Apparently, he’d grown attached to Caelyn, too.

  “I think we should give them a little time to themselves,” Sari suggested. Phoenix couldn’t have agreed more. It was only normal that Caelyn and Graham have some privacy to enjoy their new family. They had already been provided with everything they needed for their son, and someone would be close by should they require further assistance.

  Just as Phoenix thought this, the door to the room opened and Graham emerged from inside. “With your permission, Your Graces, my mate has a request. He wishes to see his family in the hope of reconciling with them.”

  “Entirely understandable,” Hareem said. “We were expecting his request and are prepared to approve it as long as Phoenix doesn’t mind.”

  “Naturally,” Graham said, glancing toward Phoenix. “If Phoenix is uncomfortable with it, we are prepared to meet the Sutharlainn somewhere else as soon as Caelyn recovers.”

  Phoenix grimaced. The sprites had been the ones to imprison and use him. Caelyn was an exception, but Phoenix didn’t trust the rest of the Elusians.

  However, it wasn’t fair that, because of his own misgivings, Caelyn should have to be deprived of his family. He had been forced to give it up when he’d mated Graham, and it must have been pretty hard.

  Phoenix didn’t have parents or siblings. He was the only one of his kind. If he did have children with his lover, they wouldn’t be phoenixes. And since meeting the Tersain, Phoenix had begun to appreciate more and more the importance of having a family.

  “Don’t worry about me,” he said. “If I don’t like them, I’ll just stay away. It’s a pretty big palace. Besides, Caelyn is more important right now.”

  “So are you,” Talrasar said. “You’re a member of the family now.”

  Talrasar’s words convinced Phoenix that he was doing the right thing. “Thank you,” he said softly. “You have no idea what that means to me. If you feel it’s safe, invite them. It’s only fair.”

  For a few seconds, Hareem, Kael, and Karein studied him. Then, they nodded at last. “We’ll speak to them,” Kael said. Glancing toward Graham, he said, “Notify Caelyn. We’ll contact his family and invite them here.”

  “Thank you,” Graham replied. “You are too generous.”

  He bowed slightly, just enough to be polite without humbling himself. Phoenix hid a smile. Even if he’d left his pack, Graham Powers was still very much an Alpha, and it showed. That would probably turn out to be an advantage when they had to meet with other members of the lower castes.

  Graham returned to the room, and the door closed behind him. Once he was gone, the helpful attitude of the three Imperial Consuls changed. “We have to be careful,” Hareem said. “The Sutharlainn might be the key to finding proof that Ferradul Sutharlainn really did kill Elina.”

  Phoenix winced. He’d been self-centered enough to forget all about the woman who’d been recently murdered. He still couldn’t remember any of it, and that was quite a problem, given that he could have easily been the one behind it.

  That theory had apparently been scrapped, much to Phoenix’s relief. Everyone appeared to be convinced that Elina had known about Phoenix, which was why Ferradul had taken her out. However, they hadn’t been able to find actual evidence of it, and the balance of power between Elusia and Ornoz was already threatened. The last time the Krites had gone against the draechen, the enchantment created had been the clearest evidence, but now, they didn’t even have that. One thing on top of the other, the draechen now risked war with Elusia.

  Phoenix hated that this moment of joy had been tainted by politics, but it couldn’t be helped. “What makes you think Caelyn’s family will want to help, Your Grace?” he inquired.

  “They probably won’t,” Hareem admitted. “The fact of the matter is that we don’t strictly need them. The Elusian Krites went against our truce by sending an illusion instead of Alwyn Cyraltin. We’re completely entitled to attack them if we wish. But I want to try a different approach first.”

  Kael nodded. “Our sources say that there is some tension between the Krites. Likely, not everyone agreed with Ferradul’s actions. I want for one of us to eventually go back there and see what’s going on. The Sutharlainn can provide us with important information.”

  “In any case, now is not the time to discuss this,” Karein said. He didn’t look thrilled about the prospect of receiving Caelyn’s family here, but Phoenix couldn’t exactly blame him. “Phoenix, do your best to see if you can remember anything that happened then. It might be the clue we need. Let us worry about the rest.”

  Finally, Hareem’s somewhat glum expression melted into a warm smile. “Karein is right. This is a joyful moment. Let’s not let our problems ruin it.”

  Phoenix jumped at the chance to change the topic. “I’m glad things turned out all right for Caelyn and Graham,” he said. “They make a beautiful couple, and they deserve to be happy.”

  Sari nodded. “For a while, they had the hardest time. You know…it’s funny, but if you think about it, if Caelyn and Graham hadn’t met, Karein and I might have never crossed paths either.”

  “True,” Rachen said. “And if that had happened, I’d have still been stuck without a physical form.”

  “And likely, the sprites would have never released me,” Phoenix offered in turn.

  It was strange to think about the course of events like that, but Phoenix had learned a long time ago that even the slightest action could change the course of a destiny. Caelyn’s decision to mate Graham had led up to this point, to Ph
oenix’s freedom and him mating Rachen. Yet another thing he had to be grateful for.

  “I believe the humans call it the butterfly effect,” Karein said as they started to walk away. The beating of a butterfly’s wings that could stir a hurricane. Perhaps not an adequate metaphor for a sprite in a privileged position mating a werewolf, but still suitable to their current situation.”

  “Well, I can only be happy for them, and for us,” he said. In fact, he was in a celebratory mood, and he looked forward to proving it to his mate. Not to mention that he really wanted not to think about any potential involvement from his part in the Elina Eretar matter. Rachen could give him that.

  His mate obviously overheard his thoughts. Rachen wrapped his arm around Phoenix’s waist, arousal flashing through him. “We’ll be off. Good night, everyone.”

  Judging by the smirk on Karein’s lips, Rachen’s twin knew the exact reason for his haste. Probably, all of the shifters realized it, not that it was very hard. Still, Phoenix didn’t care. He quickly said his good-byes, too, and eagerly headed toward their quarters with his mate. The fire within him demanded touching Rachen’s, and only one thing would satisfy it.

  * * * *

  Rachen hadn’t exactly expected this night to end with him having hot and raunchy sex with his mate, which, in hindsight, had been pretty stupid. All of their nights ended with hot and raunchy sex. There was no reason why today would be in any way different. In fact, they had a pretty good one to continue on the same pattern.

  The entire conversation regarding Elina Eretar had upset both Phoenix and Rachen. Not only that, but it seemed that Caelyn giving birth had made Phoenix a little melancholic. Rachen had known that his mate wanted hatchlings, but he hadn’t appreciated just how much Phoenix craved that. So far, he hadn’t been able to impregnate Phoenix, although his mate guaranteed it was possible. Rachen would have feared that he’d been permanently damaged by absorbing his brother’s magic, but he knew nothing could withstand his mate’s abilities.

  And so, he decided to try again, and again…and again. His libido certainly wasn’t complaining. In fact, his dragon was pretty excited at the thought of what followed. Rachen practically dragged his lover through the corridors of the palace, his eagerness to be one with his mate making him a little brusquer than he normally would have been. For his part, Phoenix didn’t seem to mind. In fact, his urgency fed Rachen’s as they ran together, desperately trying to maintain a measure of composure but probably failing abysmally.

  They passed several draechen guards who bowed and greeted them. Rachen threw the occasional comment over his shoulder, but he wasn’t even sure what he was saying. By the time they entered their corridor, Rachen could no longer keep his hands to himself. He ended up pinning his lover to their own door and crushing their mouths together. He even ignored that a guard was standing not one foot from them. He couldn’t have cared less that the other draechen was watching. Let them see. Let them learn how beautiful, perfect, and passionate Phoenix could be and realize that he was and would always be Rachen’s.

  Phoenix wrapped his arms around Rachen’s neck, grinding against him and moaning desperately. In the process, he granted Rachen entrance, and Rachen gladly took advantage of it. He thrust his tongue into his lover’s wet cavern, sampling Phoenix’s by now familiar taste. He fed on his lover’s mouth, ravishing Phoenix, taking no prisoners. However, Phoenix more than held his own, his hands clutching Rachen’s shoulders wildly, his cries muffled by Rachen’s kiss but still echoing within their bond.

  As their tongues dueled, Rachen was gripped by the sudden thought that he could have so easily missed out on this. Sari’s earlier comment had shaken him more than he’d have liked to admit. If Caelyn hadn’t been brave enough to stand up for what he believed in, if he’d ended up shying away from the truth of his mate bond because Graham was a werewolf, Rachen would have never met his Alwyn. He’d have never found his Phoenix.

  Possessiveness and nearly angry desire soared through him, and Rachen bit down on Phoenix’s lower lip, needing more, craving everything Phoenix was and had ever been. He wanted to reassure himself that Phoenix was truly there, that nothing could ever tear them apart. The past was the past, and it didn’t matter anymore. Their future, their bond, and hopefully, their hatchlings had to become his priority.

  He fumbled with the doorknob and managed to push it open. Behind him, he thought he heard the draechen guard release a choked noise, but he ignored it. He pushed his mate into the room without even breaking their kiss and closed the door with his foot. It was a little tricky to balance everything, but Rachen managed, because he had the perfect incentive.

  By now, Phoenix was almost writhing in his arms, his naked dick nudging Rachen’s, the tip already leaking generous amounts of pre-cum and painting Rachen’s abdomen with fluid. Rachen couldn’t figure it out when they’d gotten undressed, but then, in some ways, Phoenix still remained a mystery to him. Granted, this wasn’t exactly unusual. In fact, Rachen accepted it without even blinking an eye. Phoenix had a way of undressing them without them physically bothering to remove their clothes. One moment, they were dressed, and the next, their garments vanished into thin air. Phoenix had once admitted to Rachen that he didn’t always know how he did it, or how he cast some of his other enchantments. At times, he just willed things, but that didn’t always work the way it should have. According to Phoenix, the energies of the earth were hard to tame, and while pure flame, flight, or even healing came pretty easy to him, other spells weren’t so easy.

  That aside, Rachen could appreciate the convenience of having such a skilled mate. Because of it, he could now explore the full extent of Phoenix’s naked body without the bothersome constraints of garments. He didn’t have the patience to go to their bedroom, so he just pinned his mate to the door and proceeded to do exactly that.

  Without breaking the kiss, he swept his hands over every inch of silky skin he could reach. He ground against Phoenix, rubbing his hard dick against Phoenix’s, making his mate groan in delight. Rachen swallowed that sweet noise into their lip-lock, and it just whetted his appetite for more.

  When the need to breathe forced them apart, Rachen took advantage of the brief respite to scan his mate’s beautiful face. Phoenix’s lovely eyes burned with the flame of passion. Rachen felt like he was falling in the flame he saw there, burning within his lover’s blaze and reveling in it. He ached to feel it all, to be consumed by the pyre of Phoenix’s desire and to consume Phoenix in turn.

  Greedier than ever, Rachen dropped to his knees and took his mate’s dick in his mouth. The flavor of his lover’s pre-cum exploded over his taste buds, and he released a groan of his own. Enjoying his mate’s beautiful body like this was his own personal drug, one Rachen had gladly become addicted to. Phoenix was ambrosia and opium, sweet and spicy, so very hot, and yet, so soothing. The sensations he experienced when Rachen touched him were explosions of pure desire that nearly maddened Rachen. In fact, Rachen could have come just from sucking his lover’s dick if he hadn’t wanted to be inside Phoenix so much. Sometimes, he lost control anyway and orgasmed without Phoenix even touching him.

  Now, though, it was Phoenix’s pleasure he aimed for. His own was irrelevant beyond the extent to which Phoenix experienced it, too. Rachen wanted Phoenix to feel treasured, loved, to acknowledge just how much Rachen desired him, to understand that Rachen lived for him and him alone. With every moment that passed, Rachen became increasingly convinced of it. He heard it in Phoenix’s laughter, in his song, in the way he suddenly stole kisses every morning ignoring the fact that their breaths didn’t exactly smell amazing. It was reinforced every time Phoenix held his hand, or when he gave Rachen one of those curious looks, tilting his head in a gesture that Rachen was quickly growing to adore. It became even more potent when they sat outside, enjoying the wind as it blew on their faces, with Phoenix listening closely to the stories Rachen told him in search of his still-missing memories. It grew to a near impossible extent when they
went flying together, experiencing a freedom neither of them had before. Again, it gained more contour when Phoenix approached Sari or another member of Rachen’s family, seeking their attention, all for Rachen’s sake. Finally, it exploded into a supernova of need and love when they unavoidably came together like this.

  It was this need that they both experienced now and that urged Rachen to suck Phoenix’s cock with everything he had. Well, to be true, he didn’t immediately go for the gold. He loved teasing Phoenix from time to time, because it just made the end result, their orgasms, even sweeter. As such, he traced the largest vein of Phoenix’s dick with his tongue, licking his mate’s prick like he would a lollipop. He swirled his slick muscle over the glans, gathering all the pre-cum pooling there and moaning as he drank it down. Then, he went for a deeper, harder suction, keeping the rhythm slow and torturous.

  At first, Phoenix endured it, but then his hands tangled through Rachen’s hair, his talons already out but not harming Rachen’s scalp. “Rachen,” he cried out.

  He didn’t have to say anything else. Rachen understood it all, regardless. He began to bob his head up and down his mate’s prick, accepting and reveling in the sensations that flowed into him through their bond. On occasion, he hummed, enjoying the way the vibrations sent little shocks of pleasure all throughout Phoenix. He rolled his lover’s testicles in his palm and rubbed Phoenix’s taint, all the while never stopping his ministrations on Phoenix’s dick.