I’m lifted off the ground again, walking across the lake toward the Gate, tears flowing down my face. I don’t want to do this, but the Rider drives me on, my body a puppet to be pulled by his strings as I walk toward the Gate. My feet finally set down as I step onto the stone platform, and the Dark Rider materializes more. He casts his helmet aside, and it actually clatters as it bounces down the stone into the Lake.
“I have waited eons for this moment,” he says, the first time I’ve ever heard him speak except in my head. He’s got a deep voice, throaty and confident, and I can understand how he’s been able to seduce so many.
All I feel is repulsion though, and I shake my head. “Why?”
“I needed the Fae weak, the humans violent, and the right vessel for my seed to create a daughter, one of the Light and the Dark,” the Rider says as if it’s obvious. “You are the culmination of a plan that’s stretched back a millennia, a being possible only in one moment, one combination of factors that would drive your unexpanded mind insane if I showed you all of them. When we are joined, you shall understand.”
He lifts his hands, and my arms raise toward the Gate, and I can feel the alien words in my brain again. I try to fight it, but it’s like standing in front of a raging tsunami with a plastic cup, saying I can stop it from flooding the world.
“Eve, no!”
Out of the hazy green light surrounding the platform, Cole emerges, his hands out to me. With him are Tyler, Noah, and Jacob, all of them battered and bleeding, Noah holding his arm against his side painfully.
“Guys-”
“Don’t listen to him, Eve,” Tyler says, his eyes pleading. “Don’t open the Gate. Fight the evil inside you.”
“It’s not me . . . it’s him,” I gasp, looking at the Dark Rider. “He-”
“We know,” Jacob says, stepping in between me and the Gate. “And I know something else. You’re one badass bitch who isn’t going to let anyone force you to do anything.”
“Jacob . . . I-”
Cole steps next to Jacob and raises his arms, my power pushing against him but he’s not backing up even as the skin on his cheek starts to smoke and burn. “If you cannot fight him, then end us now,” he says, kneeling down. “I will not live in a world where you are evil.”
Jacob nods, kneeling down next to Cole, and I look to my sides, where Tyler and Noah follow suit. The Dark Rider chuckles. “Oh, you foolish Fae. If only it were that easy. My daughter isn’t evil, she’s just dark.”
“I love you, Eve,” Cole says, ignoring the Dark Rider as he looks at me. “Tonight, with our dance you made me the happiest man alive. If you’re going to turn away, if you’re going to open the Gate, I beg you . . . kill me. If you love me, kill me now.”
“Enough of this weak, pathetic Fae melodrama,” the Dark Rider says, lifting his hand again. My hand raises, and I can feel the fire building on my palm. “Goodbye, lover boy.”
“NO!” I scream, and at the last moment, a surge of light power explodes within me. I feel it, nurturing and supportive, a mother’s love that’s been tended and enhanced by the four kneeling Guardians around me, and the fire on my hand changes. It grows, brightening and turning a blinding white as I bring my other hand to it.
The ball of white fire flares, and I bring it down like a hammer, slamming into the Dark Rider. He screams and Cole leaps to his feet, his sword slashing him across the chest to knock him into the dim red glow of the Gate.
“No!”
“Goodbye . . . Father,” I growl, lifting my hands and pulling on a depth of knowledge that I’m not sure I know where it comes from. Instinct perhaps, but that’s all I need.
The wave of power that cascades out of my hands jolts me from my toes all the way up to my hair. Three waves of bright white energy fly out, slamming into the Dark Rider’s torso and into the Gate obelisk. Both shatter, glowing white shards of energy and stone exploding around us and I lift my hands, a shield of greenish-white protecting us until quiet descends. I drop my hands, exhausted.
“We . . . we did it.”
“Too easy,” Jacob says with a breathless laugh. “Although for a minute there, I wasn’t sure if you were going to turn me to ash or not.”
I can’t stop a small smile forming, hugging him. We all embrace, and their strength nourishes my soul, reassuring me that maybe we can get through all this. The sound of clanging metal reaches my ears, and I turn my attention toward the shore.
“What is that?”
“Lysette’s troops,” Cole says, sheathing his sword and taking my hand. He winces, and I see the burn marks on his body. “They are attacking the walls. We should-”
I nod, reaching my free hand out to Tyler and Noah. “A moment.”
White light flares from me, and in a flash my Guardians are healed, their wounds gone and their own strength refreshed. “Now . . . grab on.”
They lay hands on my shoulder, and remembering what it felt like, I lift the four of us into the air. Thinking of my destination, we start to move, and the more I smile, the faster we go.
“They’re going to shit their pants when they see this,” Jacob says gleefully.
My smile spreads wider, and I lift my hands toward the Lunarian troops, whispers of lightning crackling between my fingertips as my hair starts to rise. I’m not exactly sure how I’m doing this right now, maybe I’m riding off the adrenaline, but I’m running on pure instinct. “We will leave no doubt.”
Chapter 36
Eve
Tears come to my eyes as I look at the burned-out farmhouse. It’s not that it’s very different than any of the other dozen I’ve seen this morning, but this one has personal meaning.
“Did the family escape?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at the member of The Vale bureaucracy who’s been officially tasked with verifying the damage to the southern fields. Tyler and Jacob are on the road, providing security, and while their presence helps, I wish I had all four of my Guardians.
My presence on the battlefield ended things quickly last night. I guess a lightning flinging, magically shielded floating sorceress with four elite warriors by her side will demoralize any attacking force, and the Lunarian troops had already taken casualties. Those who could flee south to Cassina hauled ass, while those who couldn’t are being tended to by Deara. I’ll give this to the Fae, they seem to hold an honor in combat that I haven’t seen before. Once the battle was over, aid was given to all the wounded, regardless of the color of their uniform.
“My lady, the report I have is that the family was able to make it to another property they own,” the bureaucrat replies, looking over the scroll in his hands. Relieved, I approach the burned-out husk, letting a few tears escape as I remember Noah’s whispered comment to himself this morning about fire and blood from battle.
My foot taps against something hard, and I look down, smiling a little as I see the courtsword Cole presented to Justin and his family for their ride to the castle. I pick it up, dusting the worst of the ashes off before leaving.
“Jacob?”
“Yes, Princess?” he asks as formally as possible, trying to be professional on this day when his humor might not be taken properly by most of those around him. He sees the courtsword and smiles. “Is that . . .?”
“Yes. Can we make sure this is cleaned and given back to Justin and his family?”
I’ll make sure of it, he says, and the voice in my head is perhaps the best thing about today. I’m scared, my bracers are dust at this point, but being able to hear my Guardians in my head again almost makes it worth it.
For the rest of the morning, we tour the grisly aftermath of the attack, anger building in me as I start to see the dead along with burned houses as we near the border.
“Why’d they kill? They were just farmers, civilians.”
“It most certainly would have been Lysette’s orders,” Tyler says, rubbing my shoulder. “I’m sure she didn’t want anyone reporting their movements so that they had the element of surprise. And the
n they burned when they got within sight of their objective in order to create chaos . . . so people question the leadership.”
“These people were innocent,” I whisper, choking back tears and trying to stifle my anger. “Tyler, I want . . . I want . . .”
“I know,” Tyler says, taking my hand. “And I do too. But Lysette is dead, and the woman who sent her is beyond my reach.”
“Not mine,” I whisper, a whisper of demon fire forming between my fingers. “I could, you know.”
“We know . . . but what then?” a now familiar voice says from behind us, and I turn to see Lorelai, dressed as a common soldier except for her face mask. She’s carrying a staff, but not like Noah’s, it’s more of a walking stick than anything else. Still, I have no doubt that she could put it to nasty intent if she wanted. “Where does the killing stop, Eve?”
I look down at the green electric flame on my fingertips and then nod before blowing it out. “What brings you out here?”
“You,” Lorelai says, looking at The Vale Guard who catches the meaning and makes himself scarce. “About tonight’s ceremony—”
“Can you do it?” I ask, pleading. “Lorelai, I know I used my powers last night, but I’m so filled with anger, with fear about losing control. I need this.”
“Those are fears you will always carry with you no matter what I do,” Lorelai says, not unkindly. “As for your inner demon, you already did more than I can do. I have been observing you, gaining the measure of the woman I see in front of me. You are not the Eve I spoke to the day you all arrived.”
I shake my head. “No, but I don’t feel like I’m all that different either.” I look at Tyler and Jacob, who are standing nearby, watching us. “I’m just a woman.”
Lorelai glances at Tyler and Jacob, chuckling. “I’d say you’re a rather remarkable woman. But the demon inside—”
“There is more to it than that. The Dark Rider was . . . is my father,” I whisper, and Lorelai’s eyes widen. “He’s . . . I’m not sure, but he might be the demon king.”
Lorelai nods. “That would make sense. He’s mostly sealed in Hell but his avatar is still able to leave, to influence and deceive.”
“You say mostly. What does that mean?” I ask, shivering. I don’t know if it’s the cold wind that just ruffled the back of my neck or the knowledge that yes, I may be an actual princess . . . of demons.
“If he leaves the confines of the demon realm, his power is supposedly sealed. Obviously, that’s not a hundred percent true, but still he is not able to bring his full power to bear,” Lorelai says. “In your case, he used his avatar. But you resisted him, fought him off, and purged his influence from your heart.”
“Then why am I so angry still? Why am I still so tempted to use my dark powers?”
Lorelai lifts her hand, and I gasp as a green light forms on her palm. “I told you, Eve. Power is not good or evil, but light or dark. Your anger is a part of you, but you must not be afraid of it. You can control it, steer it, guide it. Replace the fear with something better.”
It’s been a long day, but as we retire to our temporary quarters, I know of only one thing that I want to do. I’ve already stripped off my boots, socks and tunic, leaving me in just my underwear and my pants, which I can’t get off quickly enough. After an exhausting day both physically and mentally, I’m ready to crash.
“It’s not too bad,” Jacob says helpfully as he looks at the mattresses arranged on the stone floor. “Better than the forest floor.”
“Considering I did blow out the side of the castle, I’m surprised they’re not making us sleep in the courtyard,” I reply, looking at my Guardians.
“They probably didn’t want to scare the horses,” Jacob chuckles, grabbing me and playfully throwing me down.
In an instant, I’m overwhelmed, four sets of fingers finding my tickle points through my pants and top and making me scream gales of helpless laughter.
“You fuckers!”
“Oh, we will get to that,” Cole says as he laughs, his heart relieved. It’s amazing, I can feel them, all of them, and it fills my heart with light. I giggle again, squirming my hand until I find a set of muscled ribs and start tickling back, making Noah laugh. “Ha, missed me!”
“What about here?” I joke as I find another body and start poking. Cole grunts, and I find his armpit and start tickling, making him laugh almost as helplessly as I am.
It’s silly, it’s ridiculous . . . but it’s exactly what I need. After a day filled with somberness and horror, finding the joy in a touch, in the laughter of my loves and the light in my own heart, it’s soothing medicine to my soul.
The five of us roll back and forth, sometimes I’m pressing into one body, sometimes another. Regardless, it is four on one, and I’m soon helpless, my face flushed when I reach for another tickle point, and instead of finding a muscled arm or rib I find something much harder and much more sensitive.
“Mmmhmm, that’s nice,” I murmur as I wrap my hand around a familiar cock, and I know exactly who I have. Tyler moans as his fingers lift from me and I feel his lips on my foot, licking and starting to suck on my toes. His tongue is magic, and with each lick it feels like he’s found a nerve that’s connected directly to my pussy somehow.
A shadow falls over my closed eyes and I open to see Jacob kneeling next to me, his eyes burning with desire.
“Princess?”
I open my mouth, licking my now nearly permanent fangs and making him shiver in anticipation. I run them over the sides of his cock, both of us moaning as fresh wetness starts to slicken my deep pink folds. Opening up, the dark side of me revels in the instant flash of thrilling fear I get from Jacob before I swallow him, sucking him deeply into my mouth.
“Holy shit, they’re perfect,” Jacob rasps as his cock slides just between my fangs, rubbing him on two sides while my lips form a tight ‘O’ around him and my tongue finds every other place I can lick.
I reach out with my other hand, guided by feeling alone until I find Cole’s cock, and I feel the weight of Noah above me. I let go of Jacob’s cock to smile at Noah, who’s eyeing my breasts greedily.
“Well . . . any fantasies, big boy?”
“You know very well,” Noah whispers, pushing my breasts together. He slides his cock between my soft pillows, completing me as I swallow Jacob again. It’s beautiful, I’ve got all four at once, and as I stroke Cole and Tyler, I feel two sets of lips start to kiss my thighs, my eyes rolling back as I feel twin licks on my center.
You should see what I see, Jacob says as he thrusts his cock in and out of my mouth while laying on his side. They’re addicted to your sweetness.
Is that a bad thing? Tyler asks as the tip of his tongue traces around my clit while Cole’s tongue probes lower, dipping in and out as he sucks on my honey. I could do this all night.
As could we all, Cole adds as his tongue flicks down lower before dipping deep into me again. I moan around Jacob’s cock as Noah starts to thrust faster, a sheen of sweat covering my body as my heart races.
There’s nothing like Linked lovemaking. Each pleasure is highlighted, magnified, shared among the five of us. They can read my mind and I can read theirs as Tyler and Cole tag team my pussy with their tongues. My first orgasm cracks over me like a shattering of glass but we don’t stop, my body drawing strength from them as Noah lifts off, letting me turn over before Tyler lays down, feasting on my sopping wet pussy while Cole positions himself and thrusts deep inside me.
Noah and Jacob kneel side by side as I alternate between them. I love you all, I send as I please them, feeling Tyler stroking his own cock as he devotes himself fully to teasing my clit while Cole’s shaft pumps in and out of me. Any time . . . give it to me.
Jacob cries out first, giving me just enough time to swallow him fully before he blasts my mouth with his sweet seed and Cole speeds up, my pussy clenching around him as Tyler’s tongue adds to it, my stomach clenching with another orgasm barely held back.
I foc
us on Noah, sucking the head of his cock like a lollipop while Cole grabs my waist, pounding me so hard my hips ache and his cock swells. Noah looks into my eyes as Cole shudders, coming deep inside me and triggering my second orgasm. I cry out around Noah’s cock. I’m convulsing, barely able to focus as Noah grunts and Tyler cries out at the same time as he strokes himself, the three of us coming simultaneously, and I collapse on my side as the giggles take over me.
It was so intense, the high is higher than ever, but the low’s even lower. I start to sob, overtaken by the loss and the pain inflicted over the past twenty-four hours until I feel them with me.
We are here . . . we love you. It’s not just for me, it’s shared among the five of us, each of them loving me and loving their brothers. It’s . . . pure. Share the pain, and gain strength from the sharing.
It lifts me, softening the darkness and lifting me back to a place where I feel myself again. I lay down, rolling over as my body cries out for a stretch.
“Thank you,” I murmur as my heart slows and I share kisses with all of them. “I suppose you don’t mind me working off my emotions with you all this way? I’ve got a lot of darkness inside me that needs tempering with your light.”
“We might need to develop a rotation schedule,” Jacob jokes, running his hand through my hair, “but I’m pretty sure we’ll figure something out.”
A booming knock comes at the door, and we sit up, me grabbing a robe to pull over my shoulders.
“Come in!”
A Guardsman comes in, his voice impassive as he snaps to attention. “Lord and Lady Wintersong are arriving, and have sent word that you are to be in the Great Hall for their arrival!”
“Thank you,” Cole nods, and the trooper snaps a salute before leaving, closing the door behind him. Cole raises an eyebrow, looking at the rest of us. “I think this might be the time I need a little support. I haven’t seen my father in centuries.”
Guardians of Hellfire (Guardians of the Fae Book 2) Page 19