Guardian's Flame [Guardian City 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Grace Lynn

  Jason grabbed onto D’s shirt, and Nathan latched onto Jason’s hand as they snuck through the path. Strange, silky textures caressed their skin, and Jason felt himself get hard at the tingling sensation left behind in its wake. Desire rolled through their three-way bond with an intensity that turned Jason’s desire to a fire. Jason let go of his mates, reaching his hand beneath his shirt to feel the skin beneath. The touch sent his body into flames, and his cock dripped pre-cum. The thick fog that had seemed scary now provided a level of comfort with its wet thickness. Jason rubbed against the air in need, a small whimper escaping his lips. Though he could no longer physically feel his mates, the bond shined through the mist, filled with a savage need. Jason untied his pants, easing his hand around his aching cock. He pushed his pants down, freeing his thick cock. He licked his free hand’s fingers before searching out his throbbing hole. He pushed a finger inside and moaned at the intrusion.

  His skin flamed, and the fog pressed against him heavily with the same need that rode Jason. Jason pushed the second finger inside, stretching himself open for whatever the fog promised. Whimpers clawed out his throat. His skin shivered with the intensity of the building, and Jason easily pushed a third finger inside his hole, twisting it slightly to find the nub inside that would bring release.

  Feel the bond, Jace. Look past the desire, it’s a trick of the mind. They want us to stop here and have sex until we die, D said, but Jason didn’t want to leave the fog.

  The desire begged him to stay, and Jason found himself nodding his head in agreement as his cock throbbed with a life of its own. D grabbed Jason, and a protesting yelp escaped. Jason felt those solid arms wrap around him, and his feet left the ground. His fingers escaped the hole they had been pleasuring, and he couldn’t get enough room to stroke the thickness of his cock. He could feel D moving, but all Jason could do was rub against his stronger mate. Jason felt D move, and he was forced to open his eyes as his feet touched the ground. Nathan was already lying in the dirt, and Jason whimpered at the sight. His pants were lying next to him in a crumpled mess, with his legs in the air as he fingered himself vigorously. Jason tried to take a step, but forgot about his pants, which slid to his ankles, tripping him. He hit the ground at a crawl, struggling to reach the cock that leaked its need.

  Jason didn’t wait, but licked the head as he assumed a position on his knees that his pants would allow. Nathan had rolled over, positioning himself behind Jason. Jason moaned as the thick head pressed his stretched hole. The need burned inside, and Jason slammed his ass onto the stiff cock, hearing a curse from D. Nathan hammered at Jason’s ass, rubbing the nub inside with each stroke. Jason met each stroke, feeling their balls slap together, spurning the burning throughout his body. Nathan stilled for a moment, and Jason whimpered, rotating his hips for more. D groaned against Nathan, and the bond flared to cover them completely. The Swamp echoed with the sounds of slapping flesh. Jason was moving against the length, struggling against the hands that held his hips in place.

  D slapped his hips against Nathan’s, pushing into Jason, pulling sounds from his throat he hadn’t ever heard before. His cock leaked pre-cum, and Jason felt the tingling fire building in the base of his spine. He grabbed his cock, stroking it harshly, rubbing the skin raw. The pain and pleasure mixed and Jason screamed his release. The sounds of his mate’s moans drove him further over the edge. Jason’s body fell to the ground, but inside he was still falling. Nathan’s weight pinned him to the ground, and Jason felt sated. Cum leaked from his ass, even with Nathan locked inside. Soft hands caressed his skin, and murmured words were spoken. Jason floated between heaven and earth as Nathan pulled free from his sore ass.

  “That was sexy,” a voice said, but Jason couldn’t find it in himself to care. Nathan tapped him on the ass, and helped him into a sitting position. Together they were able to get Jason’s pants up and tied. Nathan quickly got dressed, while D was speaking with the man, though what was said Jason could care less.

  Chapter Eight

  Nathan shuddered, fighting the chill that swept his body from the earlier sex. Demend had told them they had been rolled, an Incubus’s way of stealing energy without the person’s awareness. It had left him feeling violated in a way, and he was glad Demend had respected his mates enough to not do that. He wasn’t even sure if Demend could do that, but the chill was soaked into his soul.

  It will go away, eventually. It’s your body reacting to the loss of life magic. But, no I can’t do that kind of magic without some serious help, Demend informed, and Jason sighed in relief. Nathan had to agree, it wasn’t the sex. The sex was wonderful, and the orgasm felt everlasting. It was the aftereffects, and Nathan felt like he had just taken a pill to find out the side effects were worse than the original problem.

  What are they saying? Nathan asked Demend, who was speaking with what appeared to be the leader. Demend didn’t answer right away, so Nathan looked around the small campfire that had been built as the sun lowered. The invading Incubi had been nice so far, even giving Jason and Nathan a blanket to share. The sun had disappeared now, and the surrounding area was lit up by the glow from the flame. Nathan still knew that less than three feet away was the aphrodisiac swamp that almost killed them. It was a good thing Demend had carried both himself and Jason out of Spanish Fly fog.

  They are going to allow us to enter the city. They are even giving us permission to find our mate. We can find our mate, but we can’t take them. I have no rights here, according to Mufasa, Demend vented, and Jason stomped his foot in annoyance. Nathan peered at the small mate with a smirk. It was becoming cute the way he did that when things didn’t go as he planned. Nathan had a feeling they would be seeing more of the foot stomping from Jason in the future.

  You’re an Alpha, and a Prince. What more can they want? Nathan asked curiously. If they could find their mate but not remove him, then what was the point? It was a dangling gold carrot hanging just out of reach from a poor person.

  At least a half-breed Incubus. I’m only a fourth Incubus, Demend answered.

  So how are we going to get our mate to be able to leave with us? Jason asked as he stamped his foot again, making Nathan smile wider.

  We have to answer a challenge issued by the leader of the establishment we are headed to, Demend answered before leaving the man’s conversation. Nathan smiled as Demend captured his lips in a soft kiss. The soft lips kissed slowly, taking the time to enjoy the moment, before breaking away. Nathan smiled at his mate, which turned into a yawn. Jason received his kiss, and Nathan pulled him closer to the fire, snuggling each on the earth. Nathan let his eyes drift shut, and it wasn’t long before he was snoring softly underneath the wool blanket.

  Nathan opened his eyes to the bright lights of the morning sun. He sat up, amazed he had slept the entire night, even after his flight nap he had taken on the way here. Jason grumbled and tried to roll over, but Nathan nudged him awake. Demend wasn’t with them, and Nathan struggled to escape the blanket that had curled around him in the night. Jason was up quickly, joining him in the search of their wayward mate. Nathan used their bond and located Demend shortly later, eating a piece of fruit from a makeshift tree-stump table.

  Did you sleep any? Nathan asked at the sight of his tired mate.

  No. Did you two sleep well?

  We would sleep better if our mate would kindly join us from now on, Jason stated with a stomp of his foot.

  “I was about to wake you. We are leaving soon. We are going to a place called Fusion,” Demend informed them out loud.

  Nathan nodded his head and showed his neck to Demend before going to collect the small bag they had brought with them. Nathan found it next to the blanket, which he folded and handed back to the Incubus that had loaned it to them the night before. He joined his mates, who had cleared the makeshift table quickly. Jason handed Nathan a few pieces of fruit, which Nathan was grateful for. He ate the fruit and licked the sticky juice from his fingers. By the time he was done eating, it appeared
everyone was ready to go.

  We are going to run it, but they are basically human in their running speeds and stamina. You shouldn’t have trouble keeping up, but you could always shift if you wanted to. Demend shrugged.

  Nathan decided to run, surprised to see Jason was willing to jog with him. Jason loved flying, so Nathan thought he would take to the air at first notice. It seemed that they all wanted to stay together after their ordeal in The Swamp. The pace the group started at was a jog, and they had no trouble keeping up. The Swamp slowly faded from view, and Nathan was excited to be away from the dreadful place. How are we going to get home? Do we have to go back through The Swamp? Nathan asked.

  If we have permission to leave, no. I’ll be able to open a portal from inside according to Mufasa here. If we have to run for our lives then yes, Demend answered, earning a string of cuss words from Jason. Nathan had to agree, it would be best to get a nice way out, but they could always go back through it if they had to. The morning passed by slowly as the group had to stop and walk for a bit, and then run a little. Nathan was surprised at the slow pace that Incubi had to take and was grateful to be a Shape-Shifter. It would take forever for a pack to cross their territory at this speed.

  By midday, they were passing small houses that thickened the closer they got to their destination. Silence had taken over the party, and Nathan found himself wishing he was there already. Nathan was concerned about their mate, and what sort of challenge could possibly be issued. Nathan scanned his brain for any knowledge he remembered about Incubi, but found that he didn’t know much about them. The only thing he’d ever been taught about them was their need for victims, by using a person’s sexual desires against them. Other than that Nathan didn’t know anything else about them. He made a mental note to visit the library more and start becoming knowledgeable about other species. They approached a small hill, and the Incubi slowed to a steady walk.

  Nathan followed suit, though he wasn’t even close to being winded. Jason walked beside him, wrapping his small hand around Nathan’s. Nathan smiled and quickly pecked Jason on the cheek. As they reached the peak of the hill, Nathan got an entire view of the condensed area. Buildings were strung about close together, all surrounding a circular, cobbled road. In the center of the trading post, a tented area stood with people wandering about in their daily routines. They followed the group toward the trading center, passing wagons that were set up alongside the road to be the first things travelers saw. Nathan figured there must be other towns that held the Incubus’s tribes. It would make sense to have a shared trading place, where all tribes could trade equally.

  As they walked the circular drive, they had to dodge people going about their daily routines. Water was carried in large pots by women and children. Children tossed stones in a hand-drawn board, playing some sort of game. They looked like humans to Nathan, only everyone here was attractive. Nathan assumed the women were Succubae, while the men were Incubi. He just didn’t understand why they were divided into two separate species, when they were the same species. Nathan shook his head and followed the group toward a scandalizing-looking building. Animal skins hung on the windows behind women and men dressed in next to nothing. Guards patrolled around the extremely large building that was named “Fusion” in dark pink lettering. A line waited outside the building, but it didn’t seem as though anyone was getting in.

  The Incubi led the way toward the door, with the leader Demend called Mufasa, whispering something to a bouncer before breezing past the guard. Their small group followed the man inside the doors that were held open by two women that had more sparkle on them than a rich woman’s diamond ring. Nathan paused inside, giving his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkened room. Music played from speakers throughout, shaking the glasses that hung from pegs behind a fully stocked bar. Tables were lined around a center stage, with an upper floor overlooking the main floor. A single woman danced on the stage in clothes that left little to the imagination. Nathan was speechless, and for a moment had no idea what they were doing here. Nathan followed their group to a reserved table, where the trio was left alone, watching a female seduce the crowd with her entrancing voice.

  Nathan sat with his back to the wall, next to Demend. The table was thick, and the scratches told tales of bar fights. He was grateful he was strapped, and for once thought Demend might not be as paranoid as he once thought. The female swayed to the music, circling the pole in the middle of the stage with the grace of a ballet dancer. Nathan cocked his head at the conflicting images in his mind and quickly focused on the filled patrons in the club. Every table was full, and there wasn’t an extra chair to be seen anywhere. Money lined the table in large stacks, but no one made a move to approach the stage. Demend, what exactly is going on here?

  It’s an orgasm club. Incubi and Succubae come here from all over to try their charms, and whoever walks out with the most money wins a grand prize.

  So, she is going to do the fog thing to us? Jason asked.

  If we stay out here long enough, yes, but our bond should hold. She isn’t as strong as the fog was, Demend assured.

  A waiter approached the table, dressed in a leopard-print thong. Nathan slid a glance to Demend in concern. He wasn’t really up to being social. He wanted to find their mate and disappear. A set of guards appeared from a darkened hallway and approached their table, flanking the waiter.

  “Leo will allow you to search freely for your mate, with a guard of course,” the young waiter said with a dazzling smile that probably made him good money at an establishment like this. Nathan stood first, stepping in front of Demend with the protective, dumb-dog look he was learning to perfect. He needed to be in front anyways, since it was his nose they needed. He just couldn’t smell anything beyond stale beer and cigarettes in the bar itself. The guards stood aside, and Nathan went first. Jason followed, allowing Demend to cover the rear of their small group. Nathan walked to the hallway, sniffing the air experimentally before catching a slight hint of summer rain and earth. The smell was the same as both of his mates, with a hint of something exotic, deeper, and more dangerous.

  Nathan looked back at his mates before nodding his head. He could smell the scent. Demend nodded his head with a look of pure relief, and Nathan swelled with pride that he could be of some use. He followed the smell down the hallway, surprised at the trailer-like wood paneling on the walls. He almost commented at the difference in the décor, but thought better of it. His nose led him past the bathrooms, and through a door that was labeled “Fusion Personnel Only.” Nathan ignored the makeshift offices that were splattered throughout the room, following the succulent smell to its source. Nathan smelt his way to another closed door, but the scent had changed slightly with harder scents of blood, sickness and death.

  He opened the door, steeling himself to whatever was on the other side, but was surprised to find a staircase leading down into darkness. Nathan wondered what it was about the Incubi and darkness. He eased down the steps, with Jason latching firmly onto the hook of his jeans. Nathan was grateful for the touch, reminding him that he wasn’t walking down alone. The steps were old, and in some places had crumbled away. Nathan was careful, reaching the bottom of the steps easily. A large room that looked much like a kennel was laid out before him, only instead of cages it held closed cell doors.

  Nathan almost choked on the overbearing smell of urine, sickness, and blood. A hint of death touched the scent, but it must have been a while ago. Nathan followed the summer rain smell that was hidden beneath the layers, finally landing on a cell two doors from the wall.

  “Here,” Nathan said as he pointed to the cell, sure whoever was behind the cell was their mate.

  “Leo would like to see you in his office where you may discuss the issue,” the guard rumbled with a tone of annoyance.

  Chapter Nine

  D followed the guards through the office door, almost dying to get the meeting over. The office was deviously designed in exotic furs that were meant to offend every
Shape-Shifter in the world. D felt his animals inside stiffen at the room, and he forced himself to remain lax. There would be enough time to be rude. Until then, he didn’t want to set the man off. The man that sat behind the desk radiated power, and D knew he was pushing to appear more powerful. His Elvin side protected him from Glamour magic, but his mates shivered against the magic. D opened their bond, and allowed his own natural magic to infect them, protecting them from the dick-showing contest.

  “You’re a mixed breed?” the man asked with a laugh.

  “Yeah,” D answered shortly, not bothering to play King Mufasa with the full-bred Incubus.

  “Pray tell, what mixed”—the man cocked his head—“flavors?”

  “My parents are full Elf, full Incubus, and full Dragon,” D answered with a shrug, knowing the man probably had already figured that much out.

  “So you’re only a third Incubus?” the man laughed loudly, slapping his hand against his leg in amusement.

  D smiled at the man, one he knew to be devilish. It wasn’t like he was the greatest, in fact compared to each full-breed species, he was considered weak. It was the combination of genes that made him capable, not how much of each species he was. “Actually, I’m only a fourth Incubus. Fate gifted me with another genetic trait or two. Now, you’re off topic. My genes guaranteed this meeting, but you have our mate in your custody. We want our mate, free and clear. So what is it that we have to accomplish to keep us both happy?”

  “Your mate is a prisoner of war. We do not allow prisoners to walk free from our jail,” the man snapped. His laughter drained from his face to show the rage hidden beneath. D could feel the warning bells coming through the bond, and he had to agree. The man’s emotions changed like a teenaged girl changed clothes.