Mystical Mayhem

by Kiki Howell

  The large creature with its long serpentine tail had helped her through all the tough times in her life, providing guidance and wisdom as well as lending strength to her magick. In times of great trial, Aiyanna and Caelyan could also become one. Even this, she didn’t understand. She would just lose herself into the Spirit as they merged. So far, she didn’t need to know anything else. She had found early that some things in life were just better accepted with gratitude, than rejected due to lack of knowledge. Faith played a huge part in that type of acceptance, as well as the support of people who loved her.

  Tonight, she’d use the same ritual she’d relied on for years to call to Caelyan, to ask for guidance and protection. She only hoped it worked with the limited supplies she’d found looking through Xander’s mother’s stuff. She hoped he wouldn’t mind her snooping and borrowing, given her reasons for doing the ritual. Tonight her life, her way of existence, had changed. She’d met her Mate, regardless of whether he wanted her or not. In the days prior, the premonition of the coming personal transformation along with approaching evil had grown stronger, clawed at her until she’d begun to feel ill from the stress of it alone. Now, Xander was in some kind of trouble, just as she was. In fact, more to the point, her entering his life was probably the root of all of his problems. She felt it in every tense muscle of her body. She needed her Dragon tonight, even if just to thank him for coming and beginning the Mating ritual with Xander. But, she would ask him for protection too.

  After smearing a black candle with patchouli oil, she lit the wick, took in a deep, cleansing breath and exhaled as much negativity as she could. Every aspect of the Chimera had seeped into her very bones. Xander’s initial rejection of their Mating had stung, worse than any beating from life she had ever taken. Yet, she’d let him go tonight, knowing in time, his Beast would come to her. They were Mates. She had to believe that soon, he would claim her too. She hoped, at least. Yet fear, a lethal and deadly waste of an emotion in her opinion, tainted and clogged up her ability at this moment to see things as they are, same as the smoke from the candle tainted her sight, burning her eyes thanks to the slight wind. With Xander’s love would come more. More what, she didn’t know. Trouble would come quickly on its heels. All of this was being carried to her on the wind, a premonition of sorts. If it must be so, then it must be. She would be ready.

  Allies in magick, best friends who understood each other like no other mortals could, Mates in every sense of the word… she thought on all of these things as she dropped pinches of rosemary needles, verbena, lavender blossoms, peppermint, sage, and salt into the ceramic bowl. She ground them into a fine powder, lucky enough to have found a mortar and pestle on a shelf. Last, by the light of only that small candle and the tiny moon struggling behind the clouds, she sprinkled the herbs and salt over water since she could find no lemon, rubbing them between her fingers to create an aura of pungent smoke.

  “As I made these herbs from whole to dust go, stop my Dragon all the negative power which around me flows. Bitter and blackened hearts, return to sender. As the water like lemon absorbs the herbs, let your desires bury the evil of my yet unknown offenders. I create a bit of smoke and fog so our enemies cannot see. Please Caelyan, for a day or two, even if just a few hours, until I work things out with Xander, blind their minds to thoughts of me. With all of this, a wall I build so that they can’t see, whatever I do, any place I may be. Of lingering fear and doubt please set me free. Out of the darkness please come to bring to me new light, by the power of fire, water, earth and air tonight. Please bless my magickal undertaking so the magick is fair. Oh Caelyan, Dragon of my heart and soul, please be with me, hear my prayer.”

  The faint breeze that had been rustling the leaves picked up and started throwing dead foliage at her. She felt a storm brewing and shielded her candle so it could burn all the way down on its own to complete the spell. She felt the tiny flame lapping at her palms, but refused to let the sudden atmospheric disturbance foil all she’d done. Although Aiyanna may not have been in completely the right state of mind, and had done the spell in haste and with makeshift articles, she needed to know her Dragon would be there for her. Usually at this point, on the outer edges of the flame, she would see her Dragon appear, to confirm her prayers were going to be answered. Tonight she squinted, the light of the moon going behind clouds and the flame shielded under her fingers.

  The air abruptly not only rushed into her lungs, but pushed at her chest with icy fingers. As the candle flickered out and black clouds covered the last of the moon’s light, her heart sank. She closed her eyes only to be practically blinded by the fierce light accosting her eyelids. A gust of hot air flashed over her, bringing an immediate sweat to her brow. Aiyanna scrambled away from the intensity of the heat. When she opened her eyes, Caelyan appeared above her, his Spirit so strong that he almost seemed scale and bone in the physical plane. Before, when they were not one, she could only see the Dragon’s Spirit form. Why tonight was different, she could only imagine had something to do with her biting Xander.

  Footsteps crunched the snow, making her stand. Her Mate stood there. Her Dragon roared, hovering just behind Xander, dwarfing the large man with its great size. Flames haloed his head, yet didn’t come close enough to burn him.

  “He’s here for protection,” Aiyanna called out. “Trouble is not far behind.”

  “I can feel it too. Trouble is heavy on the wind. It comes soon.” He walked into the cave, bare feet covered in snow. He’d looked like a mythical god there, in the frosty night, naked, a Dragon hovering above him, fire around his back, the light of it glistening off his sweat covered skin. Although she didn’t want him to freeze, she was sorry to see that image go, wishing she’d had her camera from work with her to have captured the moment.

  Nodding to her Dragon, who she knew would now stay at the entrance to the cave, she went to Xander. Still naked, he poured water that had been hanging by the fire into the tub. She stopped, admired the way his solid back rounded into a dip and then mounded out into his ass. A sharp cut of muscle shaped the globes to perfection. His tight abdominal muscles cut into ripples just above a large muscle on each side of his hipbones, framing his erection. Her own stomach tightened. Her Dragon Spirit roared to have him.

  “What happened out there? You look tense.”

  “Another sick ritual – different group – very poorly organized this time. They were easy to stop. That black ops group I mentioned before -– the one out of Washington DC – has part of their unit here, as I said. Tonight the ritual was merging vampire and fae clans, though we still don’t know for what purpose. The group and I handled it, as we have handled all such rituals here so far, but they want me to come back with them. They want me as part of the team in DC, to be deployed elsewhere when they are needed, more often than not.”

  He sunk his body into the water, moaning. She bit her lip not to say what was really on her mind.

  “So, you’re leaving?”

  “I don’t know.” He hadn’t looked at her when he spoke.

  And, damn him, but his semi-erection, bobbing in the water, looked enticing. He was thinking the same thoughts she was, obviously wanting the same thing – to be buried inside her.

  “So, the Mating thing. Do I get no say in whether or not we are going to finish the ritual? Of course, you will do what you have to with the group. If you are needed…” she paused, not sure where her boundaries were as far as his life went.

  “We will finish it. That is, if you’ll have me.” Finally he looked at her. “But, you have to know that I don’t know if I’ll be leaving soon for DC or not. It was bad out there tonight; but easier to deal with than last night. These three days around the full moon, the creatures are going crazy. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to erase from my mind the first time I saw my Mate, and damn them all for her being bloody and tied to a wall at the time.” His voice had gotten louder, deeper, as if the words were choking him, and it was killing him not to strangle someone.


  “I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you,” Aiyanna answered, looking at her Dragon who seemed to agree. She could feel it, part of their unspoken communication.

  Xander nodded, a simple, yet profound movement of his head, one that could command armies if it had too, she knew. No wonder this special group wanted him. The bulk of the man was intimidating even for her; a real turn on was more like it. Yet, when he got all serious, as she only knew Xander to be, the feelings doubled inside her. She wanted him, his beast, to tear her flesh, to mark her as his. Then she wanted the man to fill her until she knew nothing of this world except for him, except for their connection.

  “Aiyanna? How are you really feeling about all of this?” Xander asked. “Instincts aside.”

  She looked at him, his arms crossed over his chest, one hand on his bare shoulder, his fingers inches from the mark she’d left there. If anyone had told her a day ago that she’d be in a cave, high up on a mountain with this very unique man, gifted in abilities and empathy and looks, wanting her as a Mate, she would’ve thought the person had been smoking something. Now she was the one on some kind of high.

  “I want you with all that I am. I love everything about you.” Butterflies had taken up permanent residence in her stomach, but now it was tightening, her insides clenching with the possibilities of what was to come.

  Xander reached out his hands to her. Aiyanna took them. An electric shock made her inhale deeply.

  “You are my Mate,” she stated, voice solid. “Of that fact I’m sure. Our kind doesn’t choose what the heart wants. And, I want you. We can figure the rest out together.”

  “Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you.” He got up, stepped out of the tub. “Well, beyond the bite.” Xander winked, and her heart jumped in her chest.

  He nodded to Aiyanna. Every man or woman with an animal inside them or an animal Spirit knew the Mating ritual, what was to come. The bite, one that scarred the recipient for life, a permanent wedding ring if you will, was made on the shoulder. Usually with the couple taking turns, the animal form biting the other’s human form. No fear could be shown of the other’s animal. Then the couple consummated the union just like any other wedded pair. In their case, there were some semantics to iron out, what with his beast having three heads, but she figured she would let Xander run the show. His bite was not healing well, not as a usual bite, which would pretty much disappear from the healing abilities of his kind. Only a Mate’s bite left a smooth, permanent, pinkish scar, like a tattoo.

  With that thought, she watched Xander shift. If all of his transitions from man to beast were wearing on his energy, it wasn’t showing. Although the cave was large, the Chimera filled it. Surely, only one mouth, the Dragon’s she assumed, was going to bite her. Their eyes met, woman to beast, Aiyanna to his Dragon, and she was able to straighten her spine against what was to come from the support she found in that one look. She removed her dress, having nothing on underneath.

  Every muscle in her body tensed. With the prick of his teeth, came pain, sharp and piercing, an affliction that shot through her, touching every nerve ending, then concentrated back in her shoulder as a stinging ache. A second later, it was over and she watched his whole form shudder as she felt hers do the same. She was wet and ready to be taken, the wound of her torn flesh, burning, tingling, turned her on even more.

  Pleasure and pain – hers, he could feel it now too she somehow knew, merged in his tense jaw, his eyes tightly closed, head thrown back, fists clenched at his sides. Feeling her Dragon, she knew he was connecting with its Spirit. His erection grew, standing out from his body as if proud, finally ready to be hers. She hoped to some day build his confidence in himself, not as a warrior – he had that, but as a man more than worthy of love. He was strong, he’d been a hero to many, and she loved him with all of her heart, so much that she was willing to share him with whomever needed him, follow him to the ends of the earth if need be.

  But that was to think on another time, as the image of the man standing naked in front of the fire, facing her, became her focus. His cock reached out between them. Two hands, big and rough from manual labor, grabbed at her flesh, one on her neck and one on her side. Their foreheads came together, and the next second they kissed. It was rough, harsh, hot, as Xander’s fingers wove into Aiyanna’s hair.

  What happened next seemed a sexual wrestling match, and Aiyanna had never been so turned on. Her body practically vibrated, each nerve ending alive, wanting attention. Xander practically threw Aiyanna onto the rug in front of the fire, turning her body but holding her as she fell to her knees into a push-up position. Then, moving between her legs, hands gripping her hips, lifting them to meet him, he mounted her.

  Aiyanna growled and tensed, but stayed put, her fingers curling into the plush rug as Xander began nudging her opening with his cock. It seemed once he felt wetness there, he was no longer gentle in the venture. He was rough, impatient. She found her body opening more in invitation to come deeper, to take her harder. She needed him, as if it sealed the deal. They had a lifetime ahead of them to go slow.

  With both his hands on Aiyanna’s ass, pinning her hips, Xander pushed into her. With each small, yet hurried, thrust, he entered her, inch by inch. There was roaring, deep and animalistic, hips moving in short jerks. At one point they even rolled, Xander onto his back with Aiyanna on top of him, the two still joined. She sat up, looking toward his feet, and reached for his balls, massaging them, until Xander bucked. Aiyanna rode him with skill, as her body answered his. Giving into the friction building inside her, she moved, letting her body take all the pleasure his had to give. He grabbed her arms and pulled her back to his chest, embracing her. He rolled up into her, holding his cock still inside her, he coiled his body around hers. With his mouth nuzzling, kissing her neck, for that one moment, that instant of complete contact, they were inseparable; one.

  Then he rolled them again on the plush carpet until she was back up on her knees, his body over hers. One hand still on the floor, bracing his weight, his other hand on her breast, his chest resting along her back, he thrust again and again. His hand moved lower, rubbing over her stomach as it went, until it found her mound. A few rough rocks of his fingers between her folds had the pads of his fingers circling her clit. He was buried inside her, balls deep now, a little more movement on his part, in and out, and she found herself climaxing. Her body, wound so tight began to pulse – shake, until release washed over her, waves of pure molten pleasure, hot liquid rushing through her veins. It matched the feeling of his own hot seed shooting into her as he roared. Their movements finally became more subtle as the waves decreased, leaving them shaking together, until they fell, side by side, onto the rug.

  Panting in her ear, he said, “Sorry to be so rough. I wanted you so bad.” He reached out, stroking the side of her face.

  “No apologies,” she panted, grabbing his hand and squeezing.

  “Let’s finish getting you cleaned up and then reconvene on the bed.” Aiyanna spoke through heavy breaths. “I wanted to give you that bath myself anyway.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Xander said, running his hands over her hair.

  “I want to. I want to care for you.” She smiled, feeling the emotion from the fluttering in her heart to the knots in her stomach.

  He took her hand, helping her step into the tub with him. So she wouldn’t slip, he’d pushed a towel to the bottom for some traction. Taking the washcloth, she ran it over him, from his feet to his neck, getting to know every inch of his hard body. She stifled her giggle, pushed back the schoolgirl butterflies in her stomach, as she rubbed the cloth between his ass cheeks. The noises coming from deep in his throat were revving up her body, spurring her on, killing any tiny misgivings or fears she may’ve had.

  Grasping this moment, she had to play alpha over him for a second. Aiyanna re-dipped her washcloth, got it nice and soapy, before running it over the reddish skin of Xander’s erection. As she lightly scrubbed the hard
protrusion, he jerked it forward through her fist. Pressing it against his stomach with her palm, she washed what hung heavy beneath. She felt Xander grab her hair as she leaned in to kiss him there. He sucked in a breath.

  He was big in both girth and length, and the idea of him finally having come inside her just about drove her mad. Once she had him clean, with a glance up into his face, one so full of love and admiration, she took him as far as she could into her mouth. Her hands on his hips now, slid around to his ass as she moved his length in and out of her mouth. She worked him, like she had done this a hundred times, like a well oiled machine, increasingly proud of herself with each of his reactions until he pulled her away.

  “I don’t want to come like this. Well, at least not this time. We must be together, me buried deep inside you, each time it happens tonight,” Xander stated, as if it was not up for discussion.

  “I need you inside me,” Aiyanna declared as they walked the bed.

  She slid onto the bed, scooting up to the middle.

  Xander sighed, shaking his head. He looked her up and down. “You are simply exquisite. And you have healed so nicely.”

  “Yes, I’m healed already thanks to you. Now, take me with as much passion as you did a moment ago.”

  He pushed her shoulders back to the bed then, laying his hands heavily onto her breasts, squeezing both mounds into his hands. He brushed a soft kiss over the mark he’d made. The sting of pain sent flames through her blood. With her natural healing powers, it’d already scabbed over, but there would be no spelled herbs for it to hurry her natural accelerated abilities. It needed to recover, to process and mend, in its own time, in its own way.