by Dee, Bonnie
“I think I know why.” Both of the men turned toward the entry into the chamber as Eileen stepped into view, pulled out a chair, and sat down next to Casey, taking his left hand in hers and stroking it with her other hand, examining it as if she’d never seen it before. “I think it’s because of how much emotion Casey has suppressed in his life. As an SFA Ranger and a commander of a unit, you’ve had to remain calm under insane conditions. Add that to your not letting your guard down regarding your love for Paddy Larkin and not counting your confusion when you found that you love me and Mach … well,” she looked up at him, “‘tis no wonder you reacted more to the spell.”
Mach stared at her. “Are you sure there’s no Spirit Keeper blood in you?”
“You know very well that that’s not possible. No, I’ve just read enough psychology articles to get a handle on situations like this. Besides, I listen to Oprah.”
“Oprah? Is she some demigoddess I’ve not heard of?” Mach asked seriously.
Casey and Eileen burst into laughter. Still trying to gain control, Eileen told Mach about the well-known talk show hostess.
“The woman sounds very wise. Perhaps she has Terran blood in her.”
Casey bit his lip. “You know, I sometimes forget how isolated you’ve been from so-called civilization.” He leaned back against the chair and sighed. “Convincing the new recruits drained my spirit. There were times… Christ, I need you.”
Mach rose from his seat and offered his hands to them. “Come. We’ve missed you, Casey. We’ve been incomplete without your presence in our bed. ‘Tis time to refill that empty place.”
* * * *
Mach lazily stroked Casey’s hair, longer and thicker than the day he’d first entered the Cave, as the young Protector sucked his cock. He practiced the control he’d gained from almost a hundred years of love-making and didn’t tug at the thick strands of Casey’s hair when what he wanted to do was pull him off and crush his mouth against his.
The earlier shared laughter had released the tension in the air, but had left all three eager to make love. A tension of a different kind altogether.
Eileen slipped back into the wider bed Casey had made by lashing two cots together and placing a bigger mattress over the makeshift frame. In her hand she carried small, lavender-colored tube. Casey didn’t even raise his head. His ass bobbed rhythmically as he continued ministering to Mach. It was a temptation no one could resist and Eileen leaned over and smacked Casey’s ass.
“Christ! Why’d you go and do that? I nearly bit off Mach’s prick!”
“Sorry. But I bear a makeup gift.” She held the lube aloft, giggling as both Mach and Casey grabbed for it, and dropped it beneath her blouse. “Nu’uh. You’ll have to look for it.” With a wink, she flipped over onto her stomach. “Come and get it, boys.”
Mach looked at Casey. “I’ll grab her hands, you lift her by the waist and find it.” He smiled. “Make sure you strip her. We don’t want her hiding it again.”
Casey needed no second urging. He turned up Eileen’s skirt and stared. No panties. Her smooth behind was as bare as a baby’s. He licked his lips and tsked. “For shame. Going about in public with no panties on. You surely need to be punished.” He brought his open palm down and smacked her lightly. “Here’s for slapping my ass. And here’s one for teasing us with hiding the lube. And this one’s for prancing about half-naked under your skirt. And here’s another, just because.” With each sentence, Casey smacked her a bit harder until her bottom was rosy. And with each wallop, she moaned.
“What did you say? Mach, can you understand what Eileen said?”
“I think she said, ‘I’m a naughty girl and I deserve to be chastised’.”
Eileen turned her head. “I said, ‘Just wait. You’ll get yours’.”
“Is that a promise?” Casey smoothed his palm over Eileen’s pink flesh. “Should I stop?”
“Yes, it’s a promise, and no.” She raised her behind. “Don’t stop.”
Mach pulled off Eileen’s blouse over her head without any resistance. Totally naked now, the skirt tossed aside, Eileen’s succulent lips were pressing kisses to his chest, nipping at his flat nipples while she rubbed her breasts against his skin.
It was like being brushed by a flame. Was it her Fire Element at work? A new technique she’d learned? There were no burn marks on him. Maybe it was simply how sensitive he’d become to the touch of the two younger people. He gazed at Casey’s open palm lightly coming down on Eileen’s backside. Each time it made a connection, Eileen moaned and sucked harder on his tight nubs.
Then Casey stopped. He lowered his face to her rear and shifted so that Mach could see his profile. With a sly smile, he licked the creamy skin he’d just punished.
Mach groaned. He gripped Eileen’s shoulders and pulled her up to look into her eyes. “I want to make love to you now, and I think Casey is dying to sink his cock between those cheeks he reddened.”
Eileen didn’t speak, just shifted so that Mach’s penis was at her lips.
Mach’s voice trembled. “Casey, fiorghra, join with us. We’re ready.”
*
Casey lifted his head. Mach’s nostrils flared and the tendons in his neck stood out. His grip on Eileen’s upper arms was so tight, Casey imagined he could see the bruises forming.
When Eileen had repositioned beneath him, he knew what to expect next. It was still a miracle to him. To be loved and desired so much by not one but two people was a gift he would never dismiss.
And he had Lark to thank for it. If he had ignored Lark’s wish to explore his heritage, he never would have found Eileen and Mach. Never would have found a new amazing use for his skill. Never would have found love. He coated his fingers with the lube and gently fingered Eileen’s rosy hole, readying her for his entry. He moved so that his prick was positioned at Eileen’s rear and, inch-by-inch, sank into her plump little ass.
And joined them.
* * * *
Boynton, New York
“Please, Lorraine, let me down. You’ll hurt my hands.”
Lorraine eyed James dispassionately as he hung by his wrists two feet off the ground. He really was no fun at all. He was such a soft sub he made her puke. And she had to be careful with him. Mustn’t hurt his hands. Couldn’t cut his face. Couldn’t castrate him and kill him.
Only Arven was allowed to really punish James. Selfish bastard. If she knew what power he used to control them, she’d steal it and leave him.
“Lorraine?”
Her attention was diverted, and she sighed. As much as she hated him, she knew she’d never leave Arven.
Loved him. Loved his power.
Feared him. Feared his power.
Lorraine undid the rope holding James dangling and he dropped in a heap on the floor. At least that was amusing. “Get out. I need to make up some menus for Arven’s lovely guest this weekend. He wants something special for her. Something she can’t get anywhere else.” A sly smile crossed her face, and then a wistful frown erased it. “I don’t have the time for one of the specialties from At Your Service. Too bad. I would have loved to have seen her face when I told her she’d had ‘l’homme du jour’.”
James gasped, and retched. Lorraine knew that like any good Canadian he spoke French, and smiled as the words ‘man of the day’ sunk in.
She planted her stiletto-heeled shoe on his back, keeping him on his knees as she blissfully discussed the various flavors of the meat and the different cuts. With a shove to his ass he scuttled toward the door Lorraine’s laughter filling the room. With any luck, she would never have to cook for the mewling prick again.
* * * *
Manhattan, East 92nd Street
Brigid checked and rechecked the information laid out before her. Nolen couldn’t be that insane. Could he?
It must all be some monumental game to him. Humans and Terrans alike were no more than pawns to be moved about according to his whims. No wonder they hadn’t found his final plan. No wonder
he had used the word bourne. He truly did mean the end of all.
She tried to speak, but the words dried in her throat and she reached for the bottle of Mayim Chai’im water Aviva had sent to her that morning as a gift, and her hand froze. Had Nolen already set his plan into motion? No. Not yet. They had some time. A little time. Brigid gulped down the pure, refreshing liquid as if it were her last drink in the desert. If Nolen had his way, it might well be the last.
“Gabe, Ethan. I’ve found it.”
The slight click of the laptop keys ceased. “Bridge, are you sure?”
“How did you find it, agra?”
“Pull up the folder marked Cluíchí, Games. Open the file marked Ficheall, Chess. Next, open the sub-file named Marbhsháinn. It means Checkmate. At first I ignored the folder. I thought Nolen had just gathered some relaxing games to play. Then I thought of how he manipulates people, like they’re merely pawns that he moves around as he pleases. I opened the folder.” Brigid’s voice hushed. “It’s all there. Everything. It’s bigger than we thought.”
“He’s crazed!” Gabe slammed the laptop shut. “Who will be his devoted followers if he kills off every living creature?”
“Not everyone will die, Gabe.” Ethan’s voice soothed as he spoke. “I was going to share the news in another minute, but … Siobhan got back in touch with me via email. The fluichlari consume only enough blood to sustain them. Once they’re satiated, they stop feeding. The problem is that they need to consume enormous amounts of blood before that happens and they’ll multiply if they’re allowed enough room to expand. Nolen must be keeping them confined in a very small area and feeding them just enough to keep them dormant.”
“Exactly what he’s doing,” Brigid said.
Gabe had swiftly read through the file, winnowing through Nolen’s egomaniacal meanderings interspersed with the actual plans. “Let me sum up what pertinent information we have.” Gabe’s fingers sped over the keyboard, recording the data as he spoke.
“On the last days of the month named Holly, a two-pronged attack begins. On the sites we found that are based on water, the fluichlari will be released. As they are ingested, they’ll absorb the red blood cells of their unwitting hosts and kill them. Each of the Earthbound sites, whether they be ley lines or volcanoes situated on ley lines, will be offered a human sacrifice, nine in all. Everything will be ready to go by the fifth of August, the last day of Holly. Checkmate.” The typing stopped. “I repeat what I said before: the man is crazed.”
Brigid rose from the plush carpet and began to pace. “The man likes everything to be neat and tidy and precise. He didn’t succeed in Ireland so he’s set up a new plan. But if it doesn’t go off as scheduled, if we can delay it just enough…”
Ethan took up her words. “We enter the month of Hazel and that month is one of protection. Dangerous plots fail.”
Gabe’s mouth thinned. “I grant you, throwing Nolen’s timing off is an excellent plan, but not enough. The man has an uncanny instinct for self-preservation and always seems to have a back door open. We’ll need to have people in place at each site to prevent Nolen’s agents from fulfilling their assignments.”
“He must have the water demons at his home. If we can free them, he’ll lose the most vital part of his agenda.” Ethan picked up Ceol Mhor and strummed a few notes. His agile fingers drew forth string after string of tones.
Gabe and Brigid looked at each other, their eyes widening with comprehension.
“ ‘I am your friend. I wish to set you free.’ ” Brigid translated the message implied in the music.
Gabe gazed at Ethan with additional respect. “You continue to amaze me, my dear friend. If Aviva can find out where they are, perhaps she’ll be able to communicate with them.”
“It’s worth a try,” Ethan stated.
“See what other information you can find out about them, Ethan. I’ll contact Donovan and bring him up to speed.”
“I’ll contact Aviva and let her know what more we’ve discovered,” Brigid offered. “We’ve developed a real rapport with each other. Perhaps she’ll have some ideas about getting the fluichlari away from Nolen.”
Gabe punched in Donovan’s cell phone number on the speed dial, his desk phone already set to speakerphone. His eyes riveted to the screen as he drew up lists, dividing them now into water and land locations and volcanoes. “We’ll need a team to be ready to meet Nolen’s forces and disable them while we take care of Nolen and anyone else with him.”
“This is to inform the caller that ‘Code Talisman’ is currently in effect. Please refer to procedure for further instructions.”
“Shit!” Gabe spat out the one word.
“Aye. My feelings exactly.”
“And where does that leave us precisely?” Brigid asked.
“On our own again. It means any Protectors are to stand down until they’re called upon. It means that we don’t have anyone but Aviva and ourselves. It means I’d have to break protocol and attempt to individually contact those Protectors out in the field.” Gabe shut his eyes.
Ethan and Brigid waited in silence for him to speak again.
“Dagda’s recruits.”
“They can’t possibly be ready yet,” Ethan declared.
“Were you and I?” Brigid asked. “We didn’t have time to even learn how to control our powers when we were forced into battle. At least the bunch in Donegal has had some instructions.”
“You’re right, agra geal. We need to get Mach and Dagda up to date with this new information.”
Gabe agreed. “I’ve set up a database with each of the different locations and what the expected activity would be at each site. I have whatever information I could gather about the water demons from what you gave me. We’ll transmit this to Dagda and the Irish contingent. It’s still early over there. We’ll set up a meeting in a couple of hours.”
“I’ve a feeling they’ll be more than willing to get some action,” Ethan said. “Ceol Mhor has many a battle song in her strings just waiting to be played.”
Brigid stopped pacing and threw her body onto the matching loveseat facing Ethan. “We’ll need all the encouragement she can give. Not all those Terrans are Protectors. I hope they’ll be able to hold their own against Nolen’s pawns.”
“Nolen won’t be using Terrans. He wouldn’t trust anyone he couldn’t control or had abilities he doesn’t. No. He’s using human servants, and with the Keeper training our Irish Terrans have received thus far from Mach and Dagda and the combat skills from Casey, I’d wager they should be able to succeed in any mission.” Ethan set down Ceol Mhor and sat down next to Brigid, drawing her into his arms.
“It’s settled. We have our own game plan now,” Gabe announced.
* * * *
Donegal, Ireland
Dagda’s Cave
“We’re all here, Gabe. Eileen, Casey and Mach are ready and waiting.”
“We each have a laptop in front of us,” Eileen added. “This way we can individually assess the information you send regarding its impact on us.”
Four pairs of eyes looked at their screens as pages of information were transmitted. Finally, Gabe’s preliminary battle plan was presented.
Casey examined Gabe’s strategy with acute interest. And approval. “At present we have twenty recruits, plus Eileen, myself and Mach. Of them, ten have Protector bloodlines. I’d recommend that they be sent out in teams of two each, one Protector, one Keeper. That will give us eleven two-man teams on our side. We can handle the North American sites too, so we should be covered.” He paused, then added grimly, “I presume those we can’t disable can be taken out with extreme prejudice?”
Gabe responded. “If needs must. Dagda, would you be able to locate where on Nolen’s estate he’s imprisoned the fluichlari? Can it be done?”
Mach interrupted them. “I can attempt to communicate with their leader. I’ve no wish to harm them. It’s Nolen who’s imprisoned them and is, as you suggest, most likely keeping them just
above starving. I’ve been thinking of this since you first spoke of them. I’ll try to establish contact with them and let you know what’s transpired.”
“Excellent! If … no … when you do, let me know.”
Dagda spoke up. “I doubt I can do long-range reading that far, Gabe. Brigid should be able to locate them on her own.” He smiled with pride at Brigid’s computer image. “Just concentrate, my darling girl. Immerse your body in as pure water as you can find and open yourself to them.”
Brigid gave a curt nod, then spoiled her newly discovered maturity with a cocky grin. “They better come clean.”
Intercontinental groans flew across cyberspace. And hit a bull’s eye.
Chapter Eighteen
Donegal, Ireland
Dagda’s Cave
“I can’t get through. The fluichlari set up a barrier for protection, I’d guess, and I can’t break through it!” Mach smashed his fist against the ancient, scarred wooden table in the main chamber. His composure had broken for the first time since Mach had met the other Terrans.
“That means we’ll have to depend on our comrades in America. We’ll concentrate on what we can do here.” Dagda’s voice sharpened. “Don’t waste time on what you can’t control.”
“You’re correct. There is one thing I can do. I’m going back to the Spirit Keepers and present my case in person. They need to hear firsthand what is in store for the world if Nolen succeeds.” Mach laid his hand on Dagda’s shoulder. “I wish you could come with me. If they could hear the words from your mouth…”
Dagda shrugged off Mach’s hand. “If you think that seeing me wither into a husk will convince them, I will gladly join you. As it is, I’m increasing the Keeper training for all the Terran-mheasctha as is Casey for his combat training.” He rose from the bench and turned toward the outer cave. “Leave now and bring back some good news!”
Mach continued staring long after Dagda had left his sight. He wished he knew a way past the restrictions placed on the older man.