Bonded Spirits 2

by Jake Daniel

  I closed my eyes for a second and pulled back sharply on my horse’s reins. We were only a few feet from our turn, something that I couldn’t have spotted without my Sight skill. A barely visible path stretched into the woods, and if you were not looking for it, it would’ve been nearly impossible to find.

  Dahlia handed me a lit torch that she had wedged into a bracket on the carriage and looked out the window curiously. “This place gives me seriously bad vibes. The ground feels… dead.”

  Isobel brought her horse up next to mine and spoke under her breath. “Do you think we can trust Amos?”

  I knew she didn’t trust Amos, but honestly, at this point I was about one hundred percent sure she didn’t trust anyone. I glanced back to see if the man was still poking his head out from the carriage, but he had disappeared back inside. “I’m not sure we have much of a choice, especially if we want to make it into the tournament and find your father.” I gave my horse’s mane a small scratch before continuing. “That is, if you still think he made it.”

  Isobel nodded and looked at me. “Okay. If you think we need to trust this man, I will. That doesn’t mean I won’t be on guard the whole time.”

  “I understand, I wouldn’t expect anything less.” I pulled back on the reins and slowed my horse. I glanced over and met her eyes. “I didn’t get a chance to truly thank you for ensuring Gwen and Dahlia made it out of the arena unscathed. We are very fortunate to have you with us.”

  Isobel partially hid her face with her thick black hair. She let out a small laugh. “You know, before I met you I would’ve done everything I could’ve done to get myself to safety.” She paused and shook her head lightly. “I don’t know if it is your core, your actions, or a combination of both, but I find myself incredibly drawn to you. I want to fight for you, and help protect the ones who mean the most to you.” She shrugged and nodded. “I believe you when you say you will find my father. Not only that, but I believe in you.”

  I kept my eyes focused on the wolf-kin for several seconds. Her serious exterior had cracked slightly to show me the softer side. The fact that she was willing to protect those who meant most to me, only intensified my desire for her. “I’m glad you came to find me, Isobel. And you’re right, I will find your father.”

  Amos interrupted as he yelled out the window, into the darkness. “Count to ten and turn right.”

  I furrowed my brow and counted in my head. Once I reached ten I stopped the horse and turned to the right. I faced a gigantic pile of brush that stood nearly as tall as the horse. The horse hesitated and stamped his foot nervously a few times. “Amos? Are you sure about that?”

  Amos opened the door of the carriage and lowered himself to the ground. He limped over to me with his cane and pushed a bush out of the way. “There, is that better?”

  By all accounts, you could call Amos a dick. However, I was actually beginning to warm up to the bastard.

  Isobel turned her horse to face the opening created by Amos. “There’s not a path here, it just leads into the forest.”

  He lifted a finger in the air. “Ah, I’d look again.”

  I used my Sight and saw a highlighted neon pink path as soon as I closed my eyes. I opened them for a second and motioned to Isobel. “Follow me, I see it.”

  She looked at me as if I were crazy. “Lead the way.” She held out her hand toward the invisible path.

  I closed my eyes again and urged my horse forward. Pressure rose around us as if we were walking through an invisible wall of jam. The horse continued walking and just as fast as the pressure had arrived; it vanished. I looked back and saw everyone clearly behind me. I spun my horse and dragged my hand across the barrier I’d passed through. I couldn’t even tell there was anything there.

  A moment later, Isobel pointed her horse in my direction and pushed him forward. She crossed through the barrier and looked at me with wide eyes. “Well, that’s a new one.”

  “No kidding.” I gave a small smirk and moved onto the side of the path to make room for the carriage.

  Back on the main road, Gwen lined up the cart in the path's direction. She gave the horses a quick snap of the reins and they ran through the barrier. The horses didn’t even hesitate. They burst through the barrier and a second later were on my side.

  Amos craned his neck out from inside the carriage. “Very well, now straight down this path and you’ll run right into it.”

  Isobel and I pulled the horses onto the road in front of the others and led the way. The first signs of dawn illuminated our way toward our destination.

  I shifted my attention to Isobel as we continued along the path. “Are you familiar with these forests?”

  She shook her head slightly and sighed. “I thought I was, but I’ve never seen this path before. We have to be on the northern edge of the Mystic Vale. I know that Ambirn’s cemetery is near, though. After the Great War it became the largest cemetery in Aurilon.”

  “What caused the Great War?” I asked.

  “Power. Wealth. Hatred. You name it. I still think a lover’s quarrel caused it. At least that’s what my parents always told me when I was growing up.”

  “A lover’s quarrel, eh? I’d like to know just how many wars over the years were started by a spurned heart.”

  Isobel chuckled. “Probably quite a few. Love’s reserved for the dreamers.”

  I shook my head. “If I’d met you about two months ago, I’d probably agree with you. Now though? I’m not so sure.” I paused and glanced at her beautiful blue eyes. “Have you ever been in love?”

  “Me?” Her face turned bright red and she let her thick black hair cover half of her face. “There’s no time for love. Not when a tyrant is hell bent on destroying everything I hold dear to my heart.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “You just haven’t found someone worthy of receiving it yet.”

  She turned her head toward me and gave me a small smile. “Do you love your bonded women?”

  “With all my heart.” I responded without hesitation.

  “How are you able to love one as much as the next? Doesn’t one always suffer?”

  “I guess I’ve never really thought about it too much. Bonding is strange, although, I can tell you this, Gwen, Dahlia, and Chloe all do an amazing job of telling me what they expect and need out of our relationship, and I tell them exactly what I need as well.” I paused and let out a long breath. “It’s crazy, but before I arrived here, I would’ve been skeptical. Honestly, it still seems a little strange when I say it out loud, but I love all three of my bonded with everything that I am. It is as if ever since we bonded, we share the same life force. And I can feel our bonds becoming stronger each day. I’m lucky to have found them.”

  Isobel rolled her eyes and gave me a small smirk. “Well, I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but they are lucky to have found you. You are one of a kind. If love does truly exist…” She trailed off.

  I mentally chided myself as my eyes remained locked on her. You better not be falling for her. You’ve already got three incredible women. She was stunningly gorgeous, and my connection with her was instant. I knew it the day I saw her at the manor. I could tell that beneath her normally hardened exterior she was drawn to me as well.

  She turned back and caught my eyes and gave me a cute smile. “What?”

  “Nothing.” I snapped my horse’s reins and returned my focus on the road ahead, a smile across my face.

  After several minutes, I spotted a small castle through the thick trees which stood alone atop a hill with two towers on each side. A few streams cut the landscape on our sides before disappearing into the lush forest that started again about fifty yards away. As we approached, a woman burst through the front gate and ran toward us. I pulled back and reached for my knife.

  As she came closer, I recognized her as one of the four dragon women that was traveling with Amos earlier.

  Amos spun and eyed the woman curiously. “Mona? What happened?”

  She wav
ed her hands wildly and had tears streaming down her face. “I think my sisters are dead!”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Amos jumped out of the cart and nearly fell over before catching himself with his cane. “What do you mean dead?!”

  Mona sobbed uncontrollably. “That man that won us, but then sold us to a very bad man. I know you told us to kill the man who won us and come back here, but he didn’t give us a chance. The man that bought us, he took us behind the arena and lined us up against the wall. Before I even knew what happened, he’d clipped all three of my sisters’ wings. He would’ve got me as well if it were not for a large man who intervened.” She wiped her tears and tried to take in a long breath. “I flew here as fast as I could.

  Amos was twenty shades of red as he paced back and forth. He muttered loudly as he rubbed his forehead. “Who would do that? Everyone knew I’d be back for you four. I’m the king’s brother. They’re going to pay.” His breaths came out short and choppy as he raised his eyes to meet the dragon-woman. “Do you know who it was?”

  “He had long hair and seemed to be the leader of a small group of men. They were bragging about all the monsters they had killed. I heard someone call him Striker.”

  “Striker? I thought he’d died in the trade ship explosion a few weeks back.” Amos said, almost hopeful in his tone.

  I got down off my horse and walked over to Amos. My hands were shaking and I finally realized just how badly I wanted that son of a bitch to be dead. “How do you know Striker?”

  Amos shook his head. “My brother hired him. He tasked him with finding a monster that could purify his core. He had...unconventional techniques, but he was, or rather is, one of the greatest hunters in all of Aurilon. But he, of all people, knows my dragon women. He wouldn’t dare...” He trailed off and rubbed his forehead as if he were trying to make sense of everything.

  “I may have had a run in or two with him recently. I had a feeling I’d run into him again.” I replied and shook my head.

  Gwen helped Dahlia out of the carriage with Fapplejack, who was now sleeping soundly in her arms. “Did I hear you say Striker?” Gwen asked.

  Amos nodded. “I take it you know of him as well?”

  “Yes. I was hoping we’d gotten rid of that son of a bitch.” She brushed her hair back behind her ears and shook her head.

  “He’s a very dangerous man. I’d warn you to be cautious, but since you already know of him, I’m sure you also know what he is capable of.” Amos turned and comforted Mona. While he had his arms around her, she stared at me. There was something unsettling about her stare.

  Now that I knew Striker was alive, it meant things could get very interesting for me and the others once we reach the Capitol.

  Amos led us into his castle and to a small room where we could let Fapplejack rest comfortably. A large shield hung above the bed emblazoned with a dragon coiled around a sword as its coat of arms. The others moved back into the main courtyard while I hung back to talk to Fapplejack. “How are you feeling?”

  The goblin gave me a small wave of his hand. “Oh, I think I’m alright Logan, sir. I’m really missing being able to feel my legs, though. Do you think that will ever come back?”

  I took a long breath and let it out slowly. I couldn’t bring myself to lie to the goblin. “I’m not sure, but honestly, I wouldn’t count on it.”

  “Oh.” Fapplejack sunk back into the bed, and I could tell that I had just crushed whatever amount of optimism he had remaining.

  “Hey, don’t you give up. There are plenty of things you’re able to do without your legs.”

  “What, greet people as they arrive at the tournament?”

  I smiled and admired that he still wanted to fight. “Remember, you’re my wingman. I wouldn’t have been able to hold off all those spiders by myself. It’s because of you that we were able to make it long enough for me to build up enough spirit to blow that arena apart.”

  “They didn’t stand a chance.” He let out a small laugh. “Well, before momma came and made it an unfair fight.”

  “I need you to rest up, so, if the need arises, you’re able to fight alongside me again.”

  The goblin propped himself up on an elbow and nodded. “Okay, Logan, sir. I will get some rest, you do the same.”

  I gave him a small nod and rejoined the others. I moved next to Dahlia and ran my hand down her back. She shivered under my touch and craned her neck to give me a small smile.

  Amos stood in the center of the courtyard and pointed to the corridor opposite the one Fapplejack currently rested in. “Over here, you’ll find our baths. You all look like you could use a good scrubbing. We’ll prepare some food in the meantime. Please, let me know if there is anything else you need.”

  Amos’s tone had completely flipped from what it was back when we met him. I stopped him as he walked away. “Amos?”

  He paused and turned, spinning around by planting his cane in the ground. “Yes?”

  “While the hospitality is appreciated, why the sudden change in your attitude? I get that you want me to win the tournament as my sponsor, but it seems like there’s more.”

  A wide smile rose to his face. “Oh, don’t worry, I have my reasons. Reasons which I’m sure you will discover very soon, and, if you really think on it, you can probably figure it out.”

  “Hmm, that’s incredibly vague,” I said and eyed him cautiously. I walked across the room while Amos and his dragon woman disappeared into a room behind us. I turned to the women and held my hand out in front of me. “Ladies first.”

  Gwen smiled and pulled off her shirt right there in the great hall. Her bare breasts prompted an embarrassed shade of pink rise to Dahlia’s cheeks.

  Isobel hung back and eyed me cautiously. “You guys go ahead, I’ll wait out here.”

  I urged her to follow, more because I didn’t want Amos to pull something when we weren’t all together. It was hard enough leaving Fapplejack in the other room. “Come on, I’m sure it will feel nice to wash up. We can discuss our plan from here.”

  She nodded and ran a hand back through her long black hair. “Okay, maybe you’re right. I do feel a bit, grimy.”

  I pulled off my shirt, wadded it up in a ball, and tossed it to the side.

  Dahlia let out a small gasp from behind me. “Logan, your back! You’re injured!”

  I craned my neck back and realized that I’d taken much more damage than I expected. As if on cue, the pain in the deep slash marks across my back flared. They’d not healed as fast as my other wounds after Amos gave me his healing potion. “I hadn’t even noticed.” I gritted my teeth as Dahlia ran her hand softly over each of the deep cuts. I grimaced and clenched a fist. “Damn, I wonder why those haven’t healed up.”

  She bent closer and inspected each gash and straightened a couple seconds later. “The queen’s poison. Her legs were most likely dripping with it. It’s preventing your skin from regenerating.”

  I turned and met her eyes. “Do you have any bandages I can use?” She held a hand to my back and I felt a vine find its way to my wounds from her palm. I looked down to my chest and watched as it wrapped itself around me slowly. It made three revolutions around my chest, covering each of my wounds before she broke it off.

  She smiled and nodded. “There you go, that should help, at least for now.”

  “Thank you, Dahlia, that actually feels amazing. Please let me know if one of those opens back up and I don’t notice it.” I stretched to each side before heading toward the doors behind Gwen. She turned as I approached and held her arms out to give me a hug. She pressed her warm breasts against my chest and kissed my neck. “Only you could have your core explode and end up with only a few scratches.” She kissed me again and ran a hand across my exposed scar on my chest. “Come with me. Time to clean you up.”

  I smiled and grabbed Dahlia’s hand, pulling her along with us to the bath. We entered an all-white room with several ornate cherub fountains lining the high walls. Water poured
continuously out of them into a large pool below. The pool wasn’t very deep, maybe three feet at its deepest in the center, with several stairs leading down into the water. I pulled off my pants and stepped into the pool, expecting it to be cold like the one back at the manor, but it was the opposite. The water was warm and felt incredibly refreshing. I stood at the edge for only a moment before Gwen grabbed my hand and led me to a shallow area.

  She smiled and ran a hand up and down my bare chest. “It’s not every day a girl gets to wash the next tournament champion of Aurilon.”

  I kissed her lips as she brought water up to pour over my body. Dahlia joined, running her soft hands down along my back, kissing each area as she worked her way down from my shoulders. My cock was already hard before either of the women had even ventured below my waist.

  Across the pool, Isobel dipped her feet into the water and removed her leather armor. Her soft bushy tail waved behind her as she removed her pants. She turned her body to shield herself as she lifted a white undershirt that she wore under her armor. She brought water up to wash off the dirt and grime of the day, occasionally stealing a quick glance over at me.

  Gwen leaned up and whispered in my ear. “Why don’t you invite her over here?” My length stirred at the thought and Gwen smiled. “Looks like you think it’s a good idea.”

  Dahlia moved closer and pressed her body against my back. Her nipples were fully erect as her soft breasts slid against my skin. She reached around my waist and ran a hand down my chest. She stood on her tiptoes and her warm breath danced across my neck. “I think it’s a good idea as well. Isobel proved herself at the trail by fighting alongside us. She didn’t even think twice about it.” She lowered back down and ran both of her hands down my chest, pulling me tighter against her naked body.

  I grabbed each of the girl’s hands and led them over to where Isobel was washing. She watched me cautiously as I approached, her eyes locked on mine. I slowly released my bonded girl’s hands and reached out a hand to Isobel. She shifted her eyes down to my hand, staring at it for a second before she finally accepted it. I led her over to a stream of water and she eyed all three of us cautiously. I peered into her eyes for several seconds as she stared up at me; her grey-blue eyes seemed to glow from within. I leaned down and kissed her lips. She remained motionless for a moment before her mouth parted slightly and she kissed me back.