The Terrible Gift (Empath Found Book 1)

by Colette Rhodes

  “I’ve never felt a mating pull like the one I feel towards you, Fi.” His use of my nickname sent a flutter of desire through me.

  “A couple of times, I’ve felt a pull that would indicate compatible magic, but I’ve never felt the pull of a kindred soul before. It’s intoxicating…” he trailed off, staring at me intensely.

  “You should know, Fi, control is essential to me. In all areas of my life.” I didn’t miss the sultry emphasis he put on all. I squirmed a little on the floor, starting to feel distinctly achy in all the best places. His heated gaze told me he clearly noticed my discomfort.

  “I have always assumed that my…preferences were what prevented my connection with other women. They may have had strong enough magic, but they weren’t strong enough to handle me. But you are, aren’t you Fi?” he murmured, leaning closer. “You could be patient for me. Wait for me. Take direction from me.”

  “I could do that,” I whispered breathily, barely recognizing my own voice.

  I really hoped we were talking about sex. Arthus was giving off lusty as hell vibes, but his words could be interpreted in multiple ways. My panties were soaked through, and my nipples were so tight they chafed painfully against the fabric of my bra. I’d never been submissive in the bedroom but if Arthus wanted to tie me down and have his way with me, I’d be totally on board at this point.

  I was leaning back with my hands splayed behind me on the floor. Arthus gave me that dimply smirk again as I felt swirls of his air magic wrapping around my wrists, pinning my hands to the floor for a few seconds before he released them. Oh yes, we were definitely talking about sex.

  “I know you could, but not yet. You’re not ready for me yet,” Arthus said in a low, seductive voice. “And I’m not sure I’m ready for you yet either, but I’m working on it,” he added with a sad smile.

  We both stood, and he reached out to stroke my hair again. “Goodnight, sweet Fi. Go find Marlen. I’m sure he will be more than willing to help you out with that ache you’re feeling.”

  And with those parting words, he disappeared into the night, leaving me alone with my burning face and drenched panties.

  Marlen

  The past few weeks since Fi had entered my life had been some of the best I’ve ever had. Not just because she was perfect for me and a godsdamned supernova in the bedroom, but because of how well she fit with Leigh and Briallen and how she’d brought my twin back to me.

  Aderyn and I had always been close growing up; she was my best friend, but since she’d been forced to attend the Academy a few years after me, things had been different. She’d always been careful to be seen spending time with me and asked me not to advertise the fact we were related. I had been upset at the time, thinking she was ashamed of me, but after watching her from afar these past few months, I think she was ashamed of herself. That cut me far deeper than anything else could have.

  Fi had brought Aderyn back into my life, probably without even realizing it. She and Aderyn had hit it off straight away. They both had quiet, assessing natures and a mischievous sense of humor. It really wasn’t a surprise to see them become good friends. They also had most of the same classes, so they spent plenty of time together. Her friendship with Fi seemed to give Aderyn the cover she needed to be seen hanging out with me around campus, though I thought it was stupid that she needed one.

  I liked that Aderyn was getting to know Briallen better as well. B had become a significant fixture in my life via Leigh, and I really enjoyed her company and valued her opinion. The girls had taken to getting Fi caught up on the kinds of things she wouldn’t learn in her Academy classes. Like Avalon pop culture and the essential sort of history we were taught as kids. It was good they’d taken the initiative to do it. Not having all the answers was Fi’s biggest pet peeve but her independent nature often stopped her asking for help.

  The girl time came in handy for other reasons too. She definitely wasn’t asking for information about mating from me.

  Today was a day off from classes, and I didn’t have guard duty, so I planned an activity that would satisfy Fi’s curiosity about Avalon, give me time with my sister, and double as a relaxing day out for all of us. I’d already asked everyone to meet me near the stables with spare clothes and snacks. I was pretty sure this was going to blow Fi’s mind, but I was still kind of nervous. I felt like a kid with my first crush around my foxglove.

  Our little ragtag group ambled over to meet me, and Fi’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took in the stables. This wasn’t the kind of stable that housed horses; this was the home of the school griffins. The stables were open-air, with a roof to protect the herd from bad weather but the gates were always open, the beasts were free to come and go as they pleased. Confining them would have been a grave insult.

  Griffins had the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion and the head and front talons of an eagle. They were at least as big as a carriage though they could only carry two full-sized fae comfortably over long distances. They were also incredibly smart. They understood a lot of what we said and could find places they’d visited before without direction.

  Griffins were majestic beasts and had to be treated with respect; they weren’t so much as kept by the school as offered sanctuary here in exchange for their services. Not all creatures in Avalon were as respectful of the griffins as the fae were. I was glad the Academy had made a deal with this herd. Avalon was big, and plenty of areas were only accessible by flying, including the secluded waterfall I was planning on taking us all to today.

  I lifted Fi around the waist and she scrambled, rather ungracefully, onto the waiting tawny griffin. He turned to give me a very fae-like what the hell face before ruffling his wings irritably. I smothered a smile at Fi’s alarmed expression and boosted myself up behind her, nestling her in tight against my chest and wrapping my arms around her waist.

  Once everyone was settled on their griffins — Leigh and Briallen on one, Aderyn flying solo — I made sure Fi was comfortable and got us ready for take-off.

  “To the waterfall at the edge of dragon territory,” I instructed the griffins and all three inclined their heads in unison.

  “Hold on, little foxglove,” I told her cheerily. “Take-off is the worst part.” I leaned forward, curling my body over hers so I could gently grip the griffin between her legs. I moved Fi’s hands to my thighs. The last thing we needed was to be thrown off at 10,000 feet because Fi yanked out a bunch of feathers.

  “I’ll wager you a kiss that you scream during take-off,” I teased to try to ease some of her nerves.

  “I’ll wager you a kiss that I don’t. Either way, we both get what we want,” she countered with a saucy grin.

  The griffin took off at a run, wings beating hard and buffeting our legs as the three of them took to the sky with us on their backs. It was the most efficient way to travel but by far the least comfortable.

  Fi’s white-knuckled grip on my thighs would probably leave bruises, but I didn’t mind. I loved wearing her marks. She didn’t scream, but she did squeal in delight as our griffin swooped and then leveled out, gliding high above the brilliant forest and glittering meadows below.

  We soared through the sky and I stared at Avalon below us, trying to see it through Fi’s eyes. She stared so hard at everything, hardly blinking, memorizing each detail. I knew she’d be taking this flight as seriously a class or a textbook, Fi never let an opportunity to gain new knowledge pass her by.

  “Aren’t you scared at all, foxglove? I think my heart stopped the first time I rode a griffin,” I called over the sound of the rushing wind, grimacing at the memory.

  “Oh, I’m terrified. However, I trust that you have this under control. Right?”

  “Your faith in me is heart-warming and entirely misplaced, little foxglove,” I told her honestly. “This is my first two-person trip, it’s sort of terrifying.”

  “Marlen!” she shrieked, her nails digging into my thighs.

  “We’ll probably be fine, the griff
ins are amazing. They won’t drop us unless they want to. Besides, we’re almost there,” I said, pointing at the mountain ranges ahead and a clearing in the forest below that was dominated by an enormous waterfall.

  “Not that I don’t love this idea, because I absolutely do, but isn’t swimming more of a summer activity?” Fi called back teasingly, not releasing her vice-like grip on my legs.

  “So much faith in my flying skills and so little faith in my date-planning skills.” I shook my head. “The mountain is dragon territory, dragon fire burns in the mountains year-round and warms the water. It isn’t like a hot spring but it’s comfortable enough to swim in winter. Plus, there’s never anyone here this time of year.”

  The griffin began its descent and Fi leaned so far back into me it was like she was trying to embed herself in my skin. I curled myself around her and enjoyed this brief moment where Fi was depending on me. I knew she trusted me but, for the most part, she didn’t rely on me. I didn’t take it personally. I would be the mate to comfort her and make her laugh. Hopefully she’d find someone she felt comfortable turning to for guidance.

  Arthus would be the ideal choice if they were able to open up to each other. Fi’s sex drive had been out of control since her tutoring session with him the other night. I was definitely reaping the rewards of his seduction.

  We landed gracefully, the griffin cantering to a halt a few feet from the pool of water. The other two landed quickly behind us. Leigh and Briallen looked unaffected but Aderyn was a little green. Neither of us had ridden a griffin until we arrived at the Academy, it was a luxury only the wealthy could afford.

  Dismounting the griffin, Fi made a beeline for the waterfall just like I thought she would.

  There was a large pool at the bottom of the falls, perfect for swimming and rocky paths to climb to the top. The whole area was lush and green and relaxing. It was the ideal place to escape to when life at the Academy became too much.

  Satisfied the griffins were making themselves comfortable nearby, I walked up behind Fi and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, resting my chin on her forehead. The feeling of her body melting into my touch was incredibly satisfying. Every moment we spent together, I felt Fi becoming more relaxed around me and letting me in a little more. She was clearly used to doing everything on her own, and I never took for granted the chances she gave me to show her that she could lean on me. I knew each one was a tough concession on her part.

  “I’ve never seen a waterfall in real life,” Fi breathed, staring at the rushing water in awe.

  “What do you think, foxglove? Wishing you had some sweet water magic right about now?” She laughed, and the sound warmed my soul.

  “Why would I want that? The water is already here.”

  “But you can’t do fun things like this,” I curled a finger, beckoning a stream of water up toward me then directed it square between Leigh’s eyes. Leigh used a gust of air magic to dry himself off and narrowed his eyes at me playfully.

  “It’s on, Ferris. You just started a battle that you can’t win.”

  I scoffed, shucking my shirt and wading into the pool in my shorts. “Bring it on. I’m literally in my element.” I spread my arms to gesture at the water around me and tossed him a wink.

  I turned back to the edge where Fi was waiting and preened a little when I noticed her gaze was firmly on my chest. She shot me a challenging glare before oh-so-slowly lifting her dress over her head, seductive gaze firmly caught in mine.

  Gods, I was glad Aderyn was distracted exploring her surroundings. I really didn’t need my twin to see me eye fucking my girl.

  Fi stood there in a skimpy dark blue linen bra, laced tightly behind her neck and around her back, and matching underwear, laced up the sides and tied at the top. It was standard, Academy-issue underclothes for fae females, but it looked like it had been designed just for her.

  She waded into the water, and as she got close, I tugged her into my arms, relishing the feeling of her bare skin against mine.

  “That was mean, foxglove,” I murmured, my lips grazing the shell of her ear. “Now I have a hard-on, and my sister is here.”

  Fi laughed lightly and pulled my hips tightly against hers, rubbing herself discreetly against the bulge that my shorts were doing a poor job of hiding. “Guess we’ll just have to wait until we’re back at the Academy to do something about it then, hm?”

  “Not a fucking chance, foxglove,” I murmured, summoning the water to scoop us up and speed us through the waterfall to the hidden spot behind it. Fi squealed, clinging onto me tightly but laughing in delight. It seriously took a lot to shake this girl.

  I boosted Fi onto the ledge and used my magic to reinforce the curtain of water behind us, cocooning us in our own little oasis. Unfortunately, it wasn’t soundproof. I could hear Leigh and Briallen’s laughter follow us through.

  “My, my, it appears I’ve got you all to myself, Mr. Ferris,” Fi laughed as she pulled me to stand between her legs. We were eye-level with her sitting up on the ledge. Level in all the right places, actually. Fi lazily licked a line from the base of my neck to my ear before nipping at my ear lobe. Gods, this girl.

  “So what shall I do with you?” she murmured.

  “Anything you want,” I breathed hoarsely, her hand moving down to stroke my painfully hard cock over my wet clothes.

  I groaned as she pulled her hand away but perked up when she moved it to unlace her underwear.

  “You do owe me a kiss since I didn’t scream when the griffin took off. I don’t believe we specified where that kiss had to be,” Fi winked saucily, pulling her underwear off, so she was bare from the waist down. Gods yes, I could work with this.

  “Best make it quick, we’ve got company,” she added huskily. I dropped down to my knees in the shallow water without hesitation. I needed to taste her, it was like a compulsion at this point. Nothing tasted as good as she did.

  I pulled Fi’s long, tanned legs over my shoulders and they rested on my back, leaving her beautifully exposed for me. Her head dropped back against the rock wall behind her as she sighed a long, breathy moan that I felt through my entire body to the tip of my cock.

  I worked her over and over, using my lips, teeth, and tongue to hit every sensitive spot I knew she loved. I could write a thesis on giving Fi pleasure. I had all of her hot spots memorized.

  Just as I felt her begin to tense and squirm with an impending orgasm, I yanked my cock free of my shorts, dropped her legs back to the ledge so I could stand and sunk deeply into her, smiling into her neck as her walls clenched tightly. She came around me, biting down hard on my shoulder to keep in a scream, then breathing out my name as reverently as a prayer.

  I gripped Fi’s ass and pulled her closer to me as she wrapped her legs around my waist, meeting my movements with her own ferocity. If sneaking off together hadn’t given away what we were doing, the gouge marks Fi was leaving on my back and shoulders definitely would.

  I was happy swimming gave me an excuse to show them off. I wanted everyone to know I was hers.

  Our mouths met in a frantic tangle of tongues and knocking teeth as if no matter how close we got, it wasn’t enough. The mating pull was drawing us ever closer together, pushing us to claim each other and seal the bond.

  With a punishing bite to my lip that had me groaning, Fi found her release again, arching her back and thrusting her luscious breasts into my face, her expression euphoric. Taking a nipple into my mouth and enjoying her long moan, I followed quickly behind her, growling out her name. We rested our foreheads against each other’s, both searching the other’s eyes for a long moment.

  “That was… intense,” Fi hedged, still clinging tightly to my shoulders.

  “It’s the mating pull, encouraging us to claim one another now we’ve grown closer.” Her eyes widened a fraction in panic and I moved my hand to cup her jaw, stroking my thumb across her cheek. “Hey, it’s okay. We don’t have to act on it, foxglove. We’re moving at your pace, remember?
”

  “Snail’s pace,” she said apologetically.

  “Right,” Leigh yelled, bursting our bubble of serenity. “Unless you two are actually having your mating ceremony in there, do you mind coming out and joining us? You’re monopolizing Fi’s time, ye’ selfish bastard,” he added. Prick.

  Fi laughed, already reaching for her underwear. “Come on then, before Leigh loses his patience and follows us in here.”

  “I’m wounded that you have so little faith my magic, foxglove,” I told her, feigning an arrow to the heart. “No one is getting through that water without my say so.”

  I leaned forward, so my mouth was right next to her ear and bent to lace up her underwear. “I’m not about to let just anyone see you like this, foxglove. Practically naked and on display for me. Though I’ll make an exception if Arthus ever wants to join us,” I murmured, loving the way her breath hitched. Oh, she definitely liked that idea.

  As we made our way back to the group hand-in-hand, I thought about telling Fi that I’d be okay sharing with Bryn too if he ever pulled his head out of his ass long enough to become her third mate. I didn’t think she was ready to hear it yet. Those two were an inevitable conclusion, and they were the only ones that couldn’t see it.

  Fi

  As soon as Marlen and I waded into the main pool, a strong gust of air magic blasted us apart and I landed on my ass in the shallows.

  “Dude,” I exclaimed, glaring at Leigh.

  “For your own safety, Fi!” Leigh called back, grinning like mad as he gusted air magic at Marlen over and over each time he tried to stand. Marlen laughed, using his own magic to create an enormous globe of water that he shot at Leigh.

  Leigh grinned in anticipation, getting ready to block the ball of water when vines shot out of the ground below him, binding his hands and feet. Marlen’s ball of water exploded above Leigh’s head, leaving a confused, spluttering air fae in its wake.