Runes of Destiny

by S. C. Winters

  These four witches are the figure heads of the prominent families in my coven. Mr. O’Sullivan is a dark headed, broad-shouldered man who stands about six feet tall. Mrs. Mac’Kenzie has strawberry blond hair and looks like she just walked off the runway. Her features are lean and sculpted. Mr. Doyle is a portly man with thinning salt and pepper hair. Mrs. Doyle is a tall, gangly woman who seems to be all angled.

  “To what do we owe the pleasure of your company, sirs and ma’ams?” I ask in the best polite voice I can muster as I study them.

  “We are here to help you, but it seems we are a bit late to the party,” Mr. Doyle replies. I hike my eyebrow, they are here to help?

  “I apologize, I’m assuming you know what this was all about then?” Aleric chimes in behind me.

  “We do, son,” Mr. O’sullivan answers, “We are sorry we were not here sooner, my Queen. You see we are all descendants from the last circle members. Secret stories have been passed down through the generations about which lines and who had birthed whom. It took us many years of research, but once we had discovered your family was the one to birth our community the queen, that the prophecy spoke of we went to your father looking for you. He told us he had not seen you in three or four days but you had been at Aleric’s. So we went there next. We let ourselves in and found the note. Then we headed here.”

  “You broke into my house? How do you even know where I live?” Aleric asks as his fists clench open and shut.

  “We know where every shifter lives, Mr. Cain. It is our job to make sure the peace is being kept throughout the Northwest providence,” this time Mrs. Doyle answered.

  “Fine,” I say and wave my hand at Aleric to tell him to lay off, “What is it we can do for you now that the issue has been taken care of.”

  “You’re our Queen now Viola. What is it that you want of us?” Mrs. Mac’Kenzie asks almost apologetically. I don’t really know what to say to them, I have no clue how this queen thing works and with how I feel right now I’m not going to. I need to rest, to heal, to think, to have a fucking shower. I grimace to myself and glance down… yep that is a part, I don’t want to know what part, but there is a part of Master Freyer in my bra. Great, fucking fabulous.

  “All I want right now is to go back home and relax. It has been a long week. I need to call my father, clean up and eat something decent. Can we talk about all this in a day or two?” I say reluctantly.

  “We figured that would be the case dear. We can reconvene the day after tomorrow at The Hollow. Let’s say about noon. That way you can be well rested.” Mrs. Doyle speaks

  They all return to their vehicles and drive off. I let out a breath I hadn’t been realizing I was holding. Finally I turn around to the guys, “When we get home we need to talk. All of us. But before that, let’s go home and shower, change and find food. I’m starving. Who knew killing left you hungry,” I tried joking. They all nod in agreement, apparently my joke wasn’t funny. Then we pile into the truck and head for the cabin.

  28

  Viola

  Driving back to Aleric’s, I lean my head against his shoulder. I’m exhausted. I know we need to talk about what happened and what we are going to do about the story and all that, but right now, I just want the comfort I feel when I’m with them.

  When Aleric pulls into his garage and parks, we all lumber out of his truck and go inside. The first thing I do is walk into the kitchen, grab a glass then go and grab the Jack Daniels. I need a drink, before I deal with all of this. Gabriel grabs the bottle from my hands and pours all of us a drink. We all gather at the kitchen table and slowly sip our drinks. I’m the first to break the silence.

  “Okay, so before we dissect the whole kidnapping, battle and queen issue, I need to say something. I’m not going to choose. I love you Aleric, more than I realized, you are more than a best friend to me. Gabriel my feelings for you have never changed, I have always wanted you in my life. Grayson, I want to say thank you for coming with them. I know we have not known each other long, but thank you. I hope we can at least be friends, because apparently you’re a part of the prophecy and my circle now and well I can’t seem to stop thinking about those pretty eyes of yours.” I state matter of factly.

  “We talked about it during the battle. We all want you Viola. Whether you like it or not you’re stuck with us. You can love us, hate us, despise us, mate with us, marry us or just be friends with us all. We agreed that no matter who you choose or how you choose to build a relationship with us, we are not leaving,” Gabriel is the first to respond.

  “You talked during the battle? How?” I ask.

  “I guess since we are all linked through you we are linked like a pack. We can hear each others thoughts and speak with each other,” Grayson chimes in.

  “Viola, we do not care how you want this all to play out. We are in this for you. We love you, each in our own way. And I know I speak for all of us, including Grayson.” Aleric says.

  I’m speechless. I can’t imagine my life without any of them now. I know we have a bond that was forged in the most unlikely of ways, but I can feel it. Just sitting here I feel the sensation of extra power moving in my body. Fire, Earth and Spirit, they represent each of the guys currently sitting at the table. I get up and walk to each of them and kiss them all softly on the cheek, then I walk to my room, close my door and lock it.

  Through the door I hear the boys clean up and head to their own rooms. It has been a long couple of days. I go and turn on the shower to scalding hot. I need to get whatever is on me off and pronto. The water feels warm on my aching muscles and I feel them start to relax as the pressure from the water pushes against them. I get out and start to dry off and feel a little pain along my spine as I do. I think maybe I’m bruised by the throw into the tree. I turn around and look in the mirror, I scream. What in the blue blazes. As I am examining it, Aleric, Gabriel and Grayson come bursting in my room breaking my door. Grayson immediately turns around.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” Aleric asks. All I can do is point at my back. They all look and gasp. My half mark of Morrighan is now a full mark. To say we are all shocked is an understatement. I push past the guys and put on pajamas then go find Aleric and Gabriel. I need to talk to them again before I talk to Grayson. I guess I’ve just been blessed by the goddess

  I find Aleric in the living room. He’s showered and in sweats, flipping through channels on the tv. I go and sit beside him on the couch. “Can we talk?” I nervously ask.

  “Sure love,” he turns to me before cupping my face and kisses me. Damn! Who knew Aleric could kiss like that. Passion, love, and lust are mixed into the kiss. I feel him press deeper into the kiss and slightly run his tongue across my lips asking for entrance. I oblige. I want it just as badly.

  Upon entering my mouth I feel one hand cradles the back of my head while the other wraps around my body as he lifts me on top of him. I straddle his body and can feel just how hard he is. Oh boy, if we continue this I don’t think we are going to get much talking done.

  I reach my hand between us and place it on his chest. Slowly pushing us apart, I sit back on his lap. He has moved his other hand to where it is around my waist and is making sure I do not leave his lap. “Sorry. I have wanted to kiss you for so long, I just had to take my chance,” he explains sheepishly.

  “I have wanted to do that as well. But we really need to talk, I want to date you Aleric. I want all the things with you, but I want those things with Gabriel too. Maybe Grayson down the road. I want to start a friendship with him first. But Aleric I love you and Gabe and I won’t choose if you ask it of me.” I say with all the seriousness I can muster. I’m slowly swaying my hips and feeling him throb beneath me. He groans beneath me, “Viola, I already told you. I’m learning to be okay with sharing you. I have shared you all my life. It’s not ideal, but I love you. If it makes you happy, I’ll learn to deal.”

  At that I bring his lips back up to mine and begin to kiss him with such fervor I was afraid we would b
urn up. Aleric binds his hands around me and lifts, soon I’m wrapping my legs around him and he’s walking. I have no clue where, but at this point in time I don’t give a fuck. I just want to be fucked by him.

  I feel a soft bed underneath me. A quick glance shows me that the covers are from my bed. I sink into it as Aleric’s hands start to roam my body, his mouth moves down my cheek to my neck and down to that part of the shoulder that just makes you shiver. He’s nibbling hard at it, but not hard enough to puncture. His hands are cold as they go under my shirt, I lift up slightly and take it off. He caresses my breasts with his cold hands and my nipples peak at the sensation. I grab his hair and pull him back to my mouth. Kissing him feverishly as I move my hands down to his sweats and pushing them down so I can feel him. I grab hold and softly but firmly work my hands up and down his shaft.

  Aleric groans at the movement. I’m all too aware I’m ready for him, but since this is our first time together I want him to be in control. Control of the situation is something he takes quickly. Pulling down his sweats the rest of the way off, he then is at the perfect level to see that I’m in just boy shorts. He rips them off with one swift motion as he spreads my legs open to get to my core.

  I feel his tongue lapping at my mound and lightly caressing around my entrance as he moves quickly between the two. There is a building pressure at the base of my stomach. Then he takes a finger and starts sliding it in and out of me alternating with his tongue. That pressure keeps building. Then with a suckling lick of my mound and his fingers entering me, I release that pressure with a loud gasp and his name ringing out from my lips. My hands are pulling at the comforter around me. Aleric stands up, brings his lips onto mine all while lining himself up with my entrance.

  With one quick thrust he enters and stills. He’s letting me get used to him. He gasps as he does and whispers, “You feel better than I could have ever imagined. And I have imagined you many many ways, love.” In answer to him I start to slowly roll my hips. He slowly thrusts in time with my hips roll to give us each more sensation. He takes his lips from mine and softly kisses down to in between the mounds of my breasts.

  Kissing one and then the other. He works his way up to the nipple of my left breast and starts to softly suck and nibble it. There is pressure building in my lower stomach again. He takes a hand and starts to massage my lower stomach while he flicks my nipple with his tongue. My hands go to his back and my nails dig in as the pressure in my stomach builds more. He then moves his mouth to my other breast and repeats his actions, all while thrusting in and out of me. I can feel every inch of him, I’m not disappointed at his size. I love the feeling of the throbbing and the thrusting he gives in time with my hip rolls.

  As he brings his lips back to mine, he picks up his pace. He has been as gentle as he can but his animal instinct is starting to take over. Through gasps of breath and the building of pressure, we both release and start to shake. Once done, Aleric goes to the bathroom to find a washcloth, he comes back and cleans us both up. As he’s about to leave after saying goodnight, I catch his arm and ask him to stay. His smile could light up a runway. I crawl into bed and lift the comforter for him. I feel the bed dip as he gets in beside me. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close to him and quickly falls asleep, I soon follow after. Aleric has many talents that we thankfully get to explore together several times during the night.

  29

  Viola

  The next day starts with an early round of cuddles and amazing morning sex with Aleric. He was very attuned to my body’s wants and needs. I get up to shower and he follows me in. “We need to wake the others and talk about what’s going to happen with all this,” he says while rubbing my back with the loofah.

  “We will. Let’s finish getting cleaned up first. I want to smell clean when I talk to everyone. Especially Gabriel, who knows what he thinks happened last night.” I shake my head as I answer.

  “Oh, he knows what happened. Everyone in a ten mile radius knows what happened,” he laughs. I go to smack his chest and once again I barely miss. This makes him laugh even more.

  We are showered, dressed and ready for the day. Walking into the living room/dining room I hear Gabe and Grayson talking and laughing. The smell of bacon, coffee and pancakes fill the air. My stomach rumbles and they turn to look at us. With a smile Gabe jumps off the counter and comes around to me and kisses me with just as much passion as he used to. I smile into his kiss, it always felt so right. When he pulls back he asks with a smirk on his face, “Did you enjoy yourself last night?” I slap him on the arm and it actually makes contact. I instantly jump back, hollar and do a victory dance. Gabe just looks at me confused while Aleric and Grayson are laughing at me so hard they are both holding their stomachs.

  We sit down at the kitchen table and have breakfast. “We need to talk about what is going to happen before we get to The Hollow.” I say in between bites.

  “We have a day to figure it out. Why don’t we do something fun today? We could all use some time to relax.” asks Grayson.

  “I like that idea why don’t we have a picnic,” Gabriel says with a bounce in his step.

  “Yeah, a picnic sounds like a good idea Gabe.” Aleric chimes in. I swear those two have been having a secret conversation or something.

  “Grayson, will you be joining us? Or would you rather have some one on one time with me?” I ask in my most sultry voice I can imagine. I giggle to myself as Grayson’s face gets a weird, but delightful expression. Aleric and Gabriel are laughing as well. Well so much for my seduction technique.

  “We can deal with that later. What exactly will happen tomorrow?” Grayson asks, trying to change the subject.

  “Tomorrow we are probably getting named Queen and her circle. I’m sure we will have to do something fancy. Then after that I will probably talk to the prominent families and you all to decide on how to proceed.” I reply. I have no clue how the next few days will pan out, but hopefully with my men by my side we can manage

  Finishing breakfast we put up our dishes and head to the garage and take Aleric’s truck. I assume they don’t have anything for our picnic or groceries in general for us all at the cabin, so we are going to the store to grab what we need. It’s a quick visit once in the store we all seperate to grab different items, we all meet at the checkout after five minutes. Aleric pays and we are soon back on the road. This trip is full of laughter, jokes, and me blaring country music and singing so off key, I think Grayson has ripped part of his shirt to plug his ears. He needs to invest in some decent ear plugs to get away from my singing.

  Once we get back to the cabin Grayson bids us farewell as we head for our picnic. I will have to spend some one on one time with him, when we get back. He deserves that and so much more. I turn to look at Aleric and Gabe, I am truly blessed by The Great Mother for these two.

  “I want to go to the meadow. Is that okay with everyone?” I ask cautiously.

  “If that is where you want to go, sure. I am warning you though, my wolf does not like that idea. He would rather we stick closer to home for the time being.” Aleric answers.

  “I think with us to protect her, she will be fine. I think with your wolf and whatever I am we can scare off anything.” Gabriel chimes in. Aleric gives in but you can tell the entire walk he is constantly checking our surroundings.

  Once we get to the meadow, I sprint from between them and head to the earth bench again. Aleric freezes and goes stiff. I laugh at him. I can’t help it, it’s like he is scared. I know I probably should be but I can’t think about anything but Aleric, Gabriel and Grayson. I end up laughing so hard I fall off the bench. Within a few seconds Aleric and Gabriel are at my side. I just wave them off and keep laughing as I get up. I take the gigantic blanket from Gabriel and head to a small clearing behind the earth bench. I had always thought about planting some flowers here but I like the idea of using it as a picnic spot.

  Spreading my legs… Oh, no wait, I mean the picnic blanket, I turn to the
guys and try to slyly get them to sit on either side of me. Gabriel places down the picnic basket in front of us, while Aleric is just standing there staring at me with a look of hunger and curiosity. I get to my knees and grab Aleric’s hand and pull him down to the blanket. I look at them sitting together and say shyly, “I want to try something, I know that it is not normal for any of us, but I love you both and I don’t want to choose between the two of you. I want to be able to have you both.” They look at each other and, I swear if they are talking in the pack link thing I am going to murder them myself, then they turn to me and look at me and with hunger, lust, love and something else, in their eyes they push me down on the blanket. I seriously need to get access into that link of theirs. I could make it so much more interesting.

  Aleric moves to where he is sitting by my head while Gabriel remains near my feet. They both start kissing pieces of my body. With each new place they take off an article of clothing. Once it is removed, they massage it and kiss it. Thank Brighid I am in comfy clothes and not a lot of it. Aleric starts by taking off my shirt and bra, all while kissing and sucking along my skin and nipples. Gabriel takes off my yoga pants, socks and shoes. He is kissing his way up my legs to the one place I really want to be consumed. Aleric lifts me up in his arms and we reposition ourselves to where I am in the middle. The heat from Aleric’s wolf and Gabriel’s demon are making me sweat already and we have only just started.

  I start kissing Gabe, man I missed his touch and taste. He tastes like ash and ice cream. I lean back my head as Gabe starts to nibble on my neck and kiss Aleric. Aleric tastes like the waves on a beach mixed with honeysuckle juice. I am in love with this feeling. I let my hands roam their bodies as they pepper mine with kisses.