Rookery Cove: The Keythong’s Blaze

by Emma Ray Garrett

  “Ack! Stop! Stop! I… can’t… breathe!” She tried to compose herself, she really did. But each time Okibi thought she might have a handle on things, she’d look at his feet and double over with hysterical laughter again. “Shoes! Oh my gods, your shoes! With tube socks! Aaahhh!” Her voice faded to a gurgle and she choked on spittle. Her nose ran, her eyes wept, and her stomach ached painfully.

  “What’s going on?” The husky sound of Branimir’s voice drew her blurry gaze. He ran a hand through his brown hair, dislodging several flecks of denim. “What the hell?” He looked at Viktor sleepily. “What happened to your pants?”

  “They got in the way!” Viktor spun around to snap at Branimir.

  “He t… t… tripped over them! And tube socks with loafers!”

  Branimir quirked a brow at her. “Yeah? Who doesn’t?”

  “What? Oh, my gods!” Okibi dissolved into uncontrolled guffaws. Her knees gave way and she slipped to the floor, the island hiding her from Branimir and Viktor. She snorted, choked, snotted, and absolutely delighted in the unfettered glee the whole scene produced. It might have been days, though more likely a few minutes, but finally the laughter faded. Okibi hiccupped loudly, thinking that laughter was a much better way to release the chaos that had been building inside than tears.

  “Are you done?”

  She tilted her head back, her eyes meeting Branimir’s over the edge of the island’s top. His voice sounded stern, but his lips were turned up and his flame-colored eyes sparkled with mischief.

  Sniff. “Uh, yeah. I think so. Wow, I haven’t laughed like that in…” Okibi stopped.

  “Forever.” Branimir’s eyes filled with understanding, but his mouth continued to smile.

  “Yeah. Forever.” She realized she was falling into his eyes and Okibi looked away. “Um, hey. I made some food. How about you and Viktor set the table while I get it. There’s some stuff you two should know. Let’s just hope all this lightness in my blood lasts long enough for me to tell you.”

  * * *

  Dinner had gone very well, in Okibi’s opinion. Her body had behaved, mostly, and she’d enjoyed herself. The Kobe beef was a hit, just as she’d hoped. The guys had wolfed down all six steaks, and then asked for some of her venison. She shook her head and forked it over.

  Branimir and Viktor were highly intelligent and made excellent conversationalists. She’d learned Viktor’s last name was Karkrakovich, which was a tongue twister but fit him. They’d told her about their childhood, what it was like to be a griffon. All three of them had laughed over some of the old myths their species shared, namely the eating of humans.

  “I mean, really! In the past they had no idea about cleanliness and now they cram so much shit into their bodies who would want to eat them?” Branimir had sounded so indignant, neither Viktor nor Okibi could stop from laughing.

  They’d talked about Need and what all went into making the perfume. Branimir had deftly maneuvered the conversation to avoid mentioning Phillip Quinn. Okibi suspected he’d puzzled out the truth behind Quinn’s offer, but she was glad the griffon avoided discussing it.

  When she’d explained the most basic ingredient of Need, both men had grinned at her lasciviously.

  “She has good taste in toys.”

  Viktor lifted his marred brow at Branimir.

  “Branimir,” Okibi warned him off, but he ignored her.

  “Yeah, an eight-inch vibrating dildo. That’s it, there.” Branimir pointed to the fake cock on the counter.

  Okibi raised her eyes to Viktor’s, saw his nostrils flare. Her body tightened. It was always tight around them. She looked away and stood from the table.

  “How much do you know about the Kokugen Nenshou?” Okibi picked up her empty plate and walked to the sink. Wrapping her fingers around the rim of the basin, she leaned forward and called on her strength.

  “I know what’s next. We have to prove ourselves in battle.” Branimir kept his tone light, belying the seriousness of his statement.

  “It’s not that part that I’m talking about. It’s the final phase, the Fennikusu Setsuzoku. In order to truly mate with me, you have to survive the phoenix, in all her fiery glory. Literally.”

  “Viktor!” Startled by Branimir’s outburst, Okibi turned to face the men.

  “Bran, it was the only way. You’ve already been through all our women and you wanted none of them for your queen.”

  “Fuck! I don’t care! I’d have settled!” Branimir’s hands tugged at his hair and he shoved away from the table. Okibi was confused, but when Branimir turned accusing eyes on her, she felt anger start to simmer.

  “What? I have no idea what you’re talking about. Don’t look at me!” Viktor stood as well, and moved between his king and Okibi.

  “I was burned as a child. Some villagers found me in griffon form, sleeping on a mountain ledge and they set me on fire. I almost died, and my human form was permanently disfigured.” He pulled his T-shirt over his head and Okibi gasped at what he revealed.

  The skin of his chest was a mass of slick, white scars. They covered his breadth from just below his collarbone to a couple of inches above his navel. The right side was worse, the disfigured skin spreading over his shoulder, and down the biceps and triceps of his right arm. The underlying musculature was undamaged, surprisingly, but the skin would never be right.

  “The scars continue onto my back. Do you want me to turn around?” Okibi shook her head and tried not to throw up everything she’d just eaten.

  “I disgust you.” The pain in Viktor’s voice shook her. It wasn’t the way he looked that bothered her.

  “No, no. That’s not it. It’s just… I’ve seen… Gods, Viktor, you could burn to death! And there’s nothing anyone could do to stop it! Why would you? Why?” Displaced ire coalesced in her gut.

  “Because I love him. I want to be with him, to raise a family with him. Because I would have stepped aside if you’d refused me. And because now I have hope that both of us have found a mate in you.”

  Her eyes locked to Viktor’s. Driven by intuition long ignored, Okibi flexed her telepathy, sending a tendril of energy into Viktor’s mind.

  He sensed her and threw up walls. She intensified her assault, but he redoubled his efforts. Finally, silently screaming with rage, Okibi sent psychic fire roaring into his head and Viktor hit his knees. A painful cry tore from his mouth, his defenses crumbled.

  Images of the past flickered through Okibi’s consciousness, but she followed her instinct. When she found what he was hiding, rage exploded.

  “Oh, you’re such a fucking martyr! I’d give him up, I want him happy, blah, blah, blah. You’re a liar!”

  “You’re wrong, phoenix.” Black menace burned in Viktor’s eyes, his tone ice cold.

  “Why don’t you tell him your secret?”

  “Okibi, what are you talking about?” Branimir’s calm tone soothed her a bit, but Okibi’s phoenix rattled the bars, so to speak. Test them. Fight them. Set them against each other and then take them! Okibi tried to fight instinct, but it was a losing battle.

  “You’re not enough, Branimir. And he’s not enough, either.”

  “Viktor?” Branimir’s brow creased, worry darkening his eyes as he looked at his closest friend, his lover. “I don’t understand.”

  “Stop now, Okibi.” Viktor’s feral response quickened her body and infuriated her even more. She should have known they’d been too good to be true. Someone always wanted something the phoenix could give him or her and the griffons were no different.

  “The two of you are Geminati. I don’t understand it all, but I bet you do.”

  Somewhere deep inside, Okibi realized Branimir probably had no idea about Viktor’s secret, so she softened her tone. Her eyes narrowed and she watched the fight drain from Viktor. Yes. Weak now. Attack. Okibi curled her fingers and held back the rising fire.

  “Geminati, Viktor? How could you keep this from me?” Branimir’s body tensed and Okibi smelled his anger flare to
life.

  Viktor looked up at Branimir, lost for a moment. Then his face shuttered and he got off the floor. “It’s nothing but a myth, Branimir. She’s looking for a way to set us on each other so she can attack. If you want to survive this next test, I suggest you forget what she said and prepare yourself.”

  “You asshole.” Viktor could have avoided the blow. Okibi knew it. But he took the punch to the gut. It doubled him. Now!

  She exploded, a scream of rage and power tearing through her as Okibi the woman disappeared in a ball of sparks and flares and the phoenix rose up through the black smoke, launching itself toward Branimir and Viktor.

  The men were taken off guard, just as the phoenix had wanted. When her thick black talons wrapped around their upper arms, lifting them from the floor of the house and out through the roof almost instantaneously, neither had time to react. She felt their arms scrabble for purchase, but the oil of her Kokugen Nenshou prevented them from gripping her legs. Okibi’s wings beat hard to gain altitude, and the human part of her wanted to beg the phoenix not to do this, but that part had no control. Over the trees and high into the sky she flew, heading for the rocky shores of the island.

  Chapter 12

  Dangling from the razor sharp claws of an enormous, legendary bird of prey wasn’t exactly on Branimir’s list of shit to do in this life. He stopped struggling. The phoenix had a plan, so he might as well enjoy the ride. Ignoring the excruciating pain in his shoulder, he turned to face Viktor.

  What the fuck were you thinking, keeping this from me?

  For fuck’s sake, Bran. I was like three when the Sage of Secrets told me I was Geminati. I didn’t even meet you until I was seven. At the time, I thought it was cool. Then I thought it was bullshit. When I realized it wasn’t, what the hell did you want me to do?

  Gee, I don’t know, tell me?

  Viktor shook his head. He felt Branimir’s anger leaving, a wave of humor rising up to wash it away. In his relief that Branimir wasn’t angry with him, he missed the subtle sarcasm coloring Branimir’s words.

  Viktor sighed and looked at the ground so far below. They’d been played but good. The phoenix was smart. Lifting his eyes back to Branimir, Viktor continued the conversation.

  Yeah, I can see that conversation. Hey, Bran, we’re Geminati. The same soul split between two bodies, one of darkness and one of light. Capable of unbelievable magic, gaining unimaginable power, but unable to realize any of it until the soul melded once more. I kind of thought we’d already covered that, so why even bring it up? You’ve certainly gained unimaginable power. Okibi swooped low. Viktor clutched his gut, sure his stomach would erupt from his mouth. His ass was freezing, and Viktor groaned, realizing his bits were flapping free and he’d lost a shoe.

  Damn it! I lost a shoe.

  Branimir’s white teeth gleamed, the wide grin Viktor adored curling his lover’s mouth.

  Forget the shoe. And it’s not melded, Viktor. It says MEL-TED. As in heat, as in we can’t sire offspring until we “find a womb of fire to plant our seed within.” And I don’t know where you got that realization bit. It’s not in the definition of Geminati. Viktor’s mouth fell open and he swung his free arm at Branimir. The griffon king laughed and managed to avoid getting hit.

  “You knew? Then what the fuck did you punch me for?” Viktor bellowed in outrage. His shout echoed through Branimir, clearly heard over the whistling wind.

  I didn’t know for sure. I suspected, a long time ago. Besides, I know that’s not the only reason you want to follow this thing with Okibi to the end. The other things you said were true, too.

  Viktor snorted, though the sound was lost to the air whipping between him and Branimir. He had spoken the truth, going so far as to reveal his hopes.

  Branimir sensed his lover’s embarrassment. It was difficult for Viktor to be open, but Branimir loved him as he was. As for why I punched you, we had to get the show on the road. The Charenji Nenshou has to be fulfilled and she wasn’t getting mad enough fast enough. She was looking for an opportunity to attack so I gave her one. I want her, Viktor. I know you do, too. All that fire, no pun intended, her strength. She’s so alive! I think I’m already falling for her. Hell, I know I am.

  You are such a dickhead. You’ve known her two days, half of that time spent asleep and half of the rest fucking. You’re thinking with your cock. The green dragon of jealousy roared to life, but Viktor refused to succumb. He knew if he spent more one on one time with Okibi he’d fall for her, too. She was so open, so easy to talk to, so quick to burn. His lips twitched as he thought about her all pissed off and horny. Gods, she could turn wet spaghetti into concrete with the flash of her black eyes.

  Both men looked down as the edge of the island appeared. They had to be a thousand feet up. Branimir remembered the sharp rocks of the coast and sent a warning to Viktor. I hope you’re ready. Don’t get killed. His friend smiled, cocky as can be. Branimir shook his head, and then gasped when Okibi let them go without so much as a flex of talon to warn them.

  “Shiiiiiit!”

  “Fuuuuck!”

  * * *

  “Don’t kill her!” Both men shouted the same warning to each other a split second before unleashing their beasts.

  Branimir’s golden wings caught an updraft, lifting him into the sky. His eagle eyes spied Viktor several hundred feet below him. Come on, Vik. Shift! Branimir whipped his tail through the air, the cutting movement cracking loudly. Suddenly, massive silver wings burst from Viktor and his partner rose in the air until they faced each other.

  Branimir had wondered if they were Geminati. He’d never had the guts to ask Viktor about it, but there was no denying the truth. They were like photo negatives of each other. Every golden thing on Branimir was silver on Viktor. The violet iridescence of his scales shone red along Viktor’s back and tail. Amber eyes met orange and locked.

  A cry of outrage screamed through the air, and the griffons swooped around as one to face its maker. They dodged the fireball Okibi sent at them, flying away from each other and flanking her. She pulled up, turning back toward her home, and they followed.

  Looks like we passed the flight test. Viktor laughed darkly.

  Great. What’s the next part, oh learned one? Branimir shot back.

  Hand to hand combat. Viktor’s dark laughter drew a chuff from Branimir’s lion-like chest. His best friend had a dark sense of humor.

  * * *

  Okibi landed in the large open space in front of her house. She’d cleared the area when she’d built the home, per her father’s instructions, specifically for this purpose. It was an arena of sorts, cleared of flora, the ground leveled, the perfect place for testing an opponent’s tactical skill.

  The phoenix partially shifted back into human form. She kept her wings and talons, but took on a bipedal shape. Looking upward, her eyes tracked the gold and silver blips headed toward her. Foils of each other, the massive beasts called out as they circled above.

  Viktor’s silver wings, flashing tinsel light to mercury dark, beat in short strokes as he landed. His lion fur glittered, as bright as the snow that covered the peaks of the Chubu Mountains of her homeland. Colors spanning the palette of gray shimmered over Viktor’s body, and his beauty stole her breath.

  He screeched, jerking his eagle’s head at something behind her. Okibi whirled. Branimir had landed behind her, massive wings folding to lie against his furred back, serpentine tail flicking to and fro. Though she’d already seen the splendor of Branimir’s golden spectrum, she took a moment to appreciate his grace and power. Looking from one male to the other, the phoenix silently sung its approval. Either of the griffons would make an ideal mate, but together there’d be no better choice. Both human and phoenix hoped the challengers would match her in battle.

  “Come on, boys, let’s see what you’ve got,” Okibi taunted, keeping both males in sight. She felt the telltale buzz of telepathy, and glared, pursing her lips. “Oh, now where’s the fairness in that? Well, if you c
an cheat, so can I.” The phoenix struck both men, using her mind to attack. The harsh, electric zap of telekinetics snapped out, striking the griffons, hurtling them back and away.

  Branimir struck a large pine tree some sixty meters behind him, cracking the thick trunk. His breath left in a rush, and he fell to the ground stunned. The crack and groan of collapsing timber flooded his system with adrenaline. But before he could move, the hum of Okibi’s telekinetic energy wrapped around the falling conifer, easily settling the ruined tree on the ground without a sound.

  In less than a second, she’d knocked him on his ass and managed to stop the huge pine tree from slamming into her home or crushing him. With a beak, he couldn’t smile, but inside Branimir was grinning the dumbest smile he could. She wasn’t going to make this easy.

  She’s good. Really good. Viktor’s voice sounded rough in Branimir’s head. He looked to where his partner had fallen. The other griffon rose from the furrowed earth Okibi’s psychic slap had driven him into.

  Yeah. Lust surged through both of them. Branimir got off the ground, and moved toward Viktor, careful to keep his distance from Okibi. Should we shift to match her?

  Viktor chuffed. I don’t know that it matters. Got any ideas?

  Branimir’s thoughts immediately went to thoughts of sexual Olympics and Viktor growled. Bran, focus.

  Two on one should be easy, but the phoenix has quite an arsenal. Unless we can strip her of her talents, I don’t know how we’re gonna get close enough to do shit.

  Sometimes, Bran, you’re a genius. Viktor stalked toward Okibi, shifting his body into human form as he did so. Branimir had no idea what Viktor meant, but he followed suit. Side by side, naked as the day they were born, they moved to stand before Okibi.

  She didn’t attack, but her power danced in the air around her. Viktor bowed to her at the waist, as did Branimir. She returned the gesture, her eyes never leaving their faces.

  “Phoenix, the terms of the challenge aren’t set. In an effort not to destroy your island, your home, or innocent creatures, the griffon king and I request a battle of human forms only. No other power or talents.” Branimir and Viktor held their breaths, each tense second ticking slowly past while Okibi considered their appeal. Finally, her wings and talons slipped away, leaving only the creamy expanse of her skin.