Hestor smiled slowly as he watched people start scrambling, as Kalebs orders came to his team, a team Hestor was part of and had been since he was 14 years old. He heard the Guildmasters directions, listened carefully to every syllable.
"An Archangel mage...the power you could have by mating with one…" The silken purr made his blood chill but steel blue eyes turned to see Kek-T, one of the sisters of Ammit and the first spirit he had ever contacted walking and sliding her fingers over his shoulders, toying with his silver hair.
"You're a Takida...from a long line of Celestial Mages, you turned down your rightful place as the High Priest of Anubis, a life of luxury and comfort to be a guild mage, to follow Kaleb and do you really know why?" She asked in a silky purr.
"Because I was stupid...naive...believed the man would someday return my affections...he is my One Kek-T, don't play your games with me, I'm not in the mood." Hestor snapped and Kek-T put a hand over her heart in mock offense.
"You were drawn to him the moment you saw him, like any Celestial Mage would be to one possesing so much light...and...Archangel Magic." Kek-T smirked when Hestors eyes rounded, but they narrowed quickly, he knew better than to trust her, knew better than to trust any of the spirits of this set of keys until he held them all.
"Why are you being so...helpful? Usually information has to be wrung out of you." He said.
Kek-T started to speak but a deeper voice overrode her. "w-"
"The power available is worth risking...walking the lines on a few rules." Abraxis said, the handsome spirit leaning against the counter of the island in Hestors apartment kitchen.
"Go on...tell me...what I need to do." Hestor smiled. The dark side of his magic, brought by the incomplete set he carried...it was the only stable thing he had now...his bond to Kaleb had been severed by Kaleb promising with Lucy, he had lost his "One" to a Fioran mage, a busty blonde...one of Sei Roos favorite types. So not only had he been slighted, had his One taken, it had been by the very image of what he'd struggled against his whole life. Lucy Heartfilia was just about the poster girl for stereotypical female summoners, bubbly blonde bimbo that she was. Sei Roo about handed her keys on plates while male summoners like himself had to fight for every fucking key, he was blood bound to one of the darkest key sets in existance, while Lucy played with the Golden Zodiac. And now...was fucking and enjoying the man he'd wanted since he was 11 years old and had seen him in a crowded market with his siblings.
That day...watching Kaleb and Farron walking side by side following their siblings...his heart had all but jumped from his chest, both of them, Kaleb and Farron, had inspired him, led him to White Sea, kept him on the light side of magic through all the struggles he'd gone through with his key set...The Hall of Two Truths, containing the sisters and brothers of Ammit...He'd set his sights on Kaleb because Farron had been gone so much, a successful Ambassador before he'd even left his teens. Yes, he'd enjoyed Farrons company, in fact, he had actually slept with Farron more than once, something he'd not done with Kaleb, he and Kaleb always dancing around each other. To have what he had patiently pursued most of his life walked off with by Lucy Heartfilia?
His hatred now was...growing, his resentment over what he had lost, a man he had spent YEARS helping, reminding him to eat, to take breaks, laying in the bay window behind his desk, there for him every day...and that...bitch...had taken it all in less than a month. The dark side of the keys was flowing in him now, like a velvet blanket and he wrapped himself in it as Abraxis and Kek-T started telling him what he needed to do, to gain the power that would allow him to put busty blonde bimbos on their asses and show the world what a real Celestial Summoner was capable of. Even if it meant that he would bring the Heavens down upon one of Sei Roos favorites, he would take back what the Spirit King allowed his little golden girl to steal, and more….so much more….
0=0=0=0=
Kaleb had turned away almost as soon as the Saberfox pulled away, waiting until Lucy was cut off from his line of sight by the ship but spinning on his heel as soon as she did and striding off so fast Thane scrambled to keep up with him. He had work, lots of it, and while normally he delegated very well so it didn't monopolize his days he fully intended to bury himself in it, that and training for the Guild competition in the spring because Emerald Eyes Guildmaster was going to be on his damn knees in front of Kaleb no matter what he had to do to put him there.
The faint glow from the lacrima at his neck and a push of his own magic back into him reminded him he needed to vent some frustration and, since going to the baths and losing himself in a few women wasn't an option, he strode into the gym instead, startling the mages that were either preparing to work out or were changing afterward..
Beck looked up, he was on Kalebs own team, fresh in from the most recent job Kaleb had sent his team out on and looked at his Master hopefully. Kaleb steeled himself, shutting out the minds around him, he walling himself in, only allowing his magic to flow gently through the link he'd put into Lucy last night right before they had finally decided to sleep.
He maintained loose links with all of his family, something they could mentally call to him through if they needed him, it had proven invaluable a few times, especially with Farron, who had found himself cut off from escaping war torn areas and even with Vander or Cristoff with him, in need of more help, so magic or no, they could mentally call out to him and he could hear them. It was a steady constant drain on his magic, but it was minimal, and with three massive origins open, Kaleb could afford it, he'd done it for so long now he didn't even think twice about putting one into Lucy.
"So we can talk, still...be together...in a way at least, if you don't want it I won't do it." He'd told her and she had smiled her eyes drooping with sleepiness. "I'd like it." She'd told him "Do I need to do anything?" She asked and he'd shaken his head, cupping her face and kissing her, letting his magic flow into her and stunned when, at the first touch of him starting to link them her magic almost grabbed his and he felt it, streaming all along the line he made, wrapping around and through his own magic.
He had trained heavily with the priests and Light Masters at the Citadel when the Light had saturated his body, flooded his veins and turned his mindbending magic into something more, something stronger. Bickslow said at first it was like when Kaleb pulled thoughts from people he pulled a part of their very essence with them, but Kaleb had learned to temper it, control it better, so extractions didn't drain the people unless he wanted them to. "It's like you can pull...the light of life...not really their soul but...the light inside of it...it comes to you…" Bickslow had said once years ago.
He could see light magic, how it flowed, if he looked at his own hand he could see the light inside of him flowing through him with his blood. He knew, the priests and Light Mages knew, Kaleb was something more than just a Mindbender who had been gifted Immaculate Light magic, but nobody knew quite what it was. They trusted it though, the light was pure, brilliant, no darkness, no evil could survive it, and it flowed through Kaleb as surely as it did the giant lacrima at the top of the citadel.
He could see the light interact with Lucys magic, how hers embraced it, and how the connection strengthened instantly beyond what he'd even been trying for as her magic built itself into it and right back into him, when it reached him, flowed into him he smiled faintly, her magic was warm, gentle, like a breeze off the Grass Sea, like the way her thoughts seemed to caress him it did the same within him and he let it flow where it would, far too amazed by it to consider stopping it.
He trusted her, believed in her, nothing from Lucy would harm him, and the link it created was strong, he had played with it gently, so it didn't alarm her, his lips moving softly with hers as she sighed into their kiss and almost without realizing he was doing it he had rolled her to her back and moved over her again, settling between her legs, joining their bodies as their magic flowed back and forth through the link, the back and forth sway of it became the movement of his own body in and out of hers, her hips lifting, her arms wrapping around his neck and at some point, as magic and pleasure mingled, the physical, the magical, the lines blurred and his cheek pressed against hers, his breath fanning over her ear as hers fanned over his and how long they were like that...he couldn't have said, he came, they both did, and had both just passed out during that zenith of physical and magical connection and he'd awakened some hours later with the dawn calling to him, surprised to find Lucy on top of him and his semi-hard length still inside of her.
He'd separated from her, marvelling at the golden instead of blazing white link they had, but it worked, it carried thought flawlessly, so he hadn't thought more about it.
Now though, with distance from her growing by the moment, the lacrima on his neck glowed, his magic pulsing into him from it so he knew he needed to vent and taking it out magically could endanger any sparring partner he chose so instead, he'd take it out physically the only way he could right now.
He strode through the main locker area into the smaller private one that was his, his team, Thane, his family, they were the only people allowed to enter this part of the guilds massive gym. Beck followed him into it a short distance behind Thane, the Guildmasters lack of response to his hopeful look made it clear Beck wouldn't be luring the tall blonde into any sexual fun, besides that, Beck had been with Kaleb long enough to know when the lacrima at his neck had that faint glow, the Wizard Saint was in no mood for any pushing. So, he abandoned that and followed his Master, leaning against the wall as Kaleb started stripping down to change into work out clothes.
It was something he could happily watch a million times and never tire of, he'd had no real luck with the Pradesh family. Kaleb willing to indulge him only once, and Emzadi, while she would still take the big beastmaster to her bed every time he asked, he knew he wasn't her mate, so she would never be his either. His bi-colored eyes widened seeing the ring on his masters right hand.
"M..Master Kaleb...are you...Promised?" He asked in amazement.
Kaleb glanced at him and smiled faintly "Yes I am...Lucy, my brothers team mate, she and I decided to Promise." He replied. Beck didn't even try to hide his disappointment, it wouldn't have worked, he'd been in Kalebs team long enough to know he couldn't hide a damn thing from him no matter what he did.
"I AM happy for you…" He sighed, shrugging "Guess I'll toss out all the hopes of a repeat of our fun last year." he said managing a wistful smile.
Kaleb eyed him carefully as he pulled on his work out clothes. "You're a powerful attractive man Beck, you just keep setting your sights on people who aren't right for you, like me, my sister, there are so many wonderful people in this guild who would love nothing more than your time and attention, I've never understood why you latch onto people who do not. Are you avoiding relationships? Sabotaging yourself? You seem to want to be with someone, I've seen you daydream about becoming a father, Gods know I sure couldn't give you that." He chuckled.
Kaleb had always been direct with Beck, the man was uncomplicated, his magic made him that way, controlling animals meant a certain attunement to their uncomplicated ways, so, to respect the man he did consider a friend, he'd always been honest, direct, almost harsh with Beck because the man responded best to that.
Beck heaved another sigh "Maybe, you can be such an ass Kaleb." He observed and the mindbender smirked at him.
"MASTER ass, we're at the guild, not in the field. Come spot for me." He invited and Beck smiled .
"Yes, Master Ass, maybe I'll drop a weight on your damn neck to remind you I'm not some first year mage with stars in their eyes over who you are." He growled and Kaleb laughed, leading the way out into the weight room. Several heads turned when the two big men entered but Kaleb and Beck ignored them, settling into their usual routine when they worked out together.
It helped, he pushed himself harder than he had in a long while, and Beck helped by giving him someone to compete against and gauge his own progress against as they went. By the time they were done they rinsed off and NEEDED the massage room, taking beds across from each other, Kaleb lifting up his right hand and pointing to his ring when the masseuse immediately asked if he wanted full service and she respectfully withdrew the offer and kept her hands nicely away from pleasure points on his body, he noted that, and while he was happy a person working at his guilds gym respected tradition so well, he'd honestly never had a massage where the person giving it wasn't working pleasure points hoping for a response from him. He inwardly sighed, tempted to reach through the link he had with Lucy just to remind himself he had something well worth the deprivation he was going to be enduring in her absence.
Parting from Beck Kaleb went to his office, seeking the solace of his work and for the most part he was immersed enough he didn't think too much about how the link with Lucy no longer felt as heavy and powerful as it had but something felt off and he couldn't quite put his finger on it, like something was missing from the room, he brushed it off as simply a yearning for his promised. It wasn't until he laid back in bed that he really, deeply missed her. His bed was too big, and the sheets and blankets still held a faint strawberry scent that had him burying his face in the pillow she had slept on the night before.
He held out for a little bit, made it two nights before on the third, he reached out to her not long after he had laid down in his bed.
Are you asleep yet beautiful? He asked gently, not wanting to wake her if she was but instead of the soft humm of her sleeping mind, he was wholly embraced and almost drowned in her joy at hearing his voice.
Kaleb! Oh Gods I miss you so much...Vander and Cobra are mating and Laxus is all annoyed because Van found out if he got Cristoffs scent on him Cobra went all dragon sex on him and he...likes that...so he's been trying to cuddle up to Laxus and see if he gets a stronger reaction than he does with Cristoffs scent...and...and being around all that...it makes me miss you...more… her shy tone made him smile, his hand sliding over the smooth silk of his sheets, compared to Lucys skin it was a rough surface in his opinion, and he'd always adored silk, worked hard to afford it.
I miss you too, more than I'd care to admit...I've been working out in the gym, training more than I have in years, two things I needed I suppose, but Gods I would rather be spending my nights with you… He purred and she'd moaned back to him and that had been when he'd decided to try and push their link.
He had pushed actions, perceptions, into adversaries, made them feel things that weren't really happening to them, he had extensive experience doing it, driving the mind to perceive what he wanted it to, real or not, as though it were reality. If he could mentally caress his beautiful promised, kiss her, touch her, he was going to do it because damn it all, he needed it as badly as he knew she did.
I want you...I want those lips on me...I love when your hands… she broke off and he felt the shy retreat, smiling faintly.
Nobody but us can hear or feel anything between us, say what you're thinking my Goddess, I need to hear it, feel it...please...he wasn't above begging, not after three days and nights without her and more than a month ahead of him of the same.
When you hold me… she said shyly and instead of words came images, of his hands closed over her breasts, his fingers teasing the sensitive peaks, he grasped onto those images and added to them until she was mentally moaning again.
"Oh Gods what you do to me…" He moaned through the link and out loud, he was very alone in his home atop the Guild, his blood fiery in his veins as he and Lucy traded ideas back and forth, until finally he was ordering her to touch herself, to plunge her fingers into her body and could almost feel like those fingers were his.
She pushed back, her own desires to be touching him driving his hands over his naked body, and he let her feel what he did, tactile senses travelling through the link for pleasure so much more easily than they did for pain. He'd had no idea it would work so well, and right then didn't give a damn, Lucys eager greedy desires making him grip his own length and start working it until he was writing in the bed, begging for more.
He was smiling when he felt her cum, then gasping as her deep need drove him to push himself over the edge of his own release, the depth of the pleasure traveling through to her and hers did to him leaving him panting, gasping for air with enough satisfaction from the experience he suddenly felt hopeful their separation wouldn't be a nightmarish as he'd expected it to be.
His days were busy, he made sure of it, and he found his brother shared his misery at being separated from someone.
"Gods how are you holding up?" Farron sighed over the com one evening. Kaleb smiled at him, loving his oldest brother far too much to tell him he wasn't suffering as much because his magic blessed him with at least some connection to Lucy.
"I miss her so much it fucking hurts." He said, and it was true, it did, the mental games they were playing with each other at night when she wasn't too wrapped up by either Laxus or Cristoff who were taking turns sleeping with her at night to keep her warm and so she wouldn't feel lonely, something he DID appreciate they were doing though it honestly made a side of him growl and act ridiculously irrational with jealousy. Those games were helping to keep him from having Thane teleport him all the way into fucking Pergrande even knowing the man, while damn good, would struggle through multiple massive distance teleports to do it and he would never be able to justify such a thing...the temptation was still there at times, so he could see her, hold her, fucking be there when she got Aquarius back...Gods he wanted to be there for that, an event that had left a rift in the womans being almost as profound as losing her mother.
He wanted to see those two together again, witness Lucy summoning her and creating a new contract. Besides that, Lucys memories of the spirit were vivid, and he kind of wanted to be there with her if only to prevent the inevitable comment about Lucy needing a man, she damn well HAD one, he was just too tied up with his responsibilities to be at her side...during one of the most important moments of her damn life...he felt horrible about it.
What kind of promised man let his partner go through something like that without being there for them?
"A Guildmaster is who, Lucy knows it Kaleb, and you know she does, you know she doesn't resent you not being with her." His father had soothed him when he'd voiced that very concern.
"It's a big event...Gods...huge for her, and here I sit, handling mage assignments along the border with Seven and trying to coordinate with the military so none of Boscos troops are left without mage support in weak sections of the border...then there's the damn mess with Joya, you know that battle queen sent me another letter? She wants to send an envoy to White Sea, negotiate ME going and spending time with her in exchange for an enhancement to the trade route...I had Thane send her a letter telling her I am A Guildmaster, not an Ambassador and I am NOT something to be bargained for…" He growled and Arman groaned.
"Well, Princess Kurino is supposed to be addressing that issue, that particular Battle Queen too." His father said and Kaleb inwardly sighed, Kurino might be part of the problem he was having with the woman who would have been his owner if his father hadn't found him on that slave ship. Still, years later, she still wanted him, and had been intermittently trying to manipulate things so he came to Joya, a place he had been, but only ever in secret during jobs, never would he ever enter that country willingly if anyone from it knew he was coming.
Kurino had teased him about when she had come last. She'd been particularly brutal with him, her handmaids helping her work over the Wizard Saint for hours. He handled magic cancelling and draining manacles better than most mages did, Immaculate light could not be drained, the most powerful cuffs could only weaken his connection with what flowed in his very blood by so much, and his ability to access it was why he withstood Kurinos treatment so well, not as well as Cristoff did, Cristoffs self healing was spectacular and reflexive, even unconscious his magic would heal him.
Kalebs worked a little more slowly, but it did work. So Kurino seemed to take that as an invitation to do her worst.
The woman was twisted, and Kaleb knew that better than anyone, he'd seen her mind, she was sadistic, and while S&M had never bothered him, he had learned in his lessons with the Sudehpah how to appreciate pains translation into pleasure when it was used right, and bondage, domination, all of it still wasn't an issue for him, it was only because what Kurino did really wasn't sex, yes, she stripped he and Cristoff down and used their bodies for her own gratification, and that did include her riding them, but neither man wanted her, at all, Cristoff, more game for rough play because of his Dragon Slayer magic, had even been interested the first time, had been willing, but after enduring Kurinos brand of "pleasure" neither brother found her attractive or wanted anything at all to do with her.
So, she resorted to drugs, the use of which was legal in Bosco, pleasure enhancement potions and elixirs were common in Bosco, the country had developed the best birth control on Earthland in a slightly bitter little disk you could take before or immediately after sex and it even combatted all known STDs, so naturally, their assortment of sexual experience enhancement accessories, drugs, potions and elixirs was extensive, but Kurino had needed more.
She wasn't dealing with normal men, no, some of the men she used were powerful mages whose bodies couldn't be forced into compliance through normal means, Kalebs light drenched blood purged toxins to the point he couldn't get drunk on alcohol anymore, at least not mundane drinks, and Cristoff was one of the most powerful healers in Bosco. So she had resorted to illegal drugs, succubus venoms, injected into them that forced their bodies to perform against their will.
It took a LOT of succubus venom to overpower Kaleb, the three large bags of it administered through a thick needle right into his neck was how she'd gotten him this last time, and even then, his blood had started purging it and he'd gone soft on her before she'd wanted him to. He was unconscious by then though, the blow to his head knocking him out. He still didn't know if that had been intentional or not.
Thane had said Kurino was beating the hell out of one of her handmaids when he'd been let in to take Kaleb to the infirmary. So he doubted Kurino had wanted that injury inflicted on him, but with Kurino it was really hard to tell.
As it stood now though, he was worried about Cristoff and Bickslow. Vander was now mated,and their father would eventually convince Erik marriage was a great idea, either way, mated to a Dragon Slayer was as good as married as far as Boscan law was concerned, so Vander was safe, but Cristoff and Bickslow were not, he himself, now Promised to Lucy, the paperwork pushed through by his impatient father, was safe, Kurino would never be able to touch him again, well...as long as he and Lucy stayed together anyway.
Just thinking about her made his lips lift even as he was talking to his father and Arman didn't miss it.
"You miss her." He said softly and Kaleb looked at him, sighing in resignation.
"Yes...tremendously...more than I'd even thought I would...we Promised the night before she left Dad, only had one night together as a couple, Gods I put the ring on her the morning she left, we didn't even get to enjoy celebrating that. Of course I miss her." He growled.
Arman smiled "Son, I love you, and I have a deep pride and respect for all you have accomplished and how well you shoulder your responsibilities, even Grenlow says White Sea has never shined as bright as it has since you took over, but darling boy...delegate, Gaza is remarkable, so is Beck, and Thane, I'd trade you all the aids I have in my office for that man, White Sea will stand strong in their hands my son, think hard about that, trust your people and love your promised enough to sacrifice for her...I know you already are to an extent with this mission, Bickslow and Vander are too observant for you to pretend anyone but you is footing the tab for this and you can expect your brothers to refuse payment of their rewards for this or I'll kick both their asses, but you should find a way to join her Kaleb...get out there to her and help her with this, you know how important it is,and you just became promised, get off your butt my boy and treat your woman right." His father said and Kaleb blinked.
Love….Love her enough...the word hadn't really entered his mind much, he'd been too busy thinking of so many other things, and Lucy was so complex, she was...so many things to him because of that. He'd wanted her, was so incredibly drawn to her, the more he was with her the more he wanted to be with her, he couldn't seem to get enough, and he'd never met anyone before who made him feel that way. Like the air wasn't as good without her nearby, the hours were too long when she was gone…
He was too well educated, had read far too many books and seen into way too many minds not to know what love was...he'd just never thought he would find it. He hoped for it, all people did, well, most anyway, there really were people so self absorbed love was nothing more to them than a word they applied to their stronger desired things or most prized possessions, Yuril, his last lover had been like that, what was strange was...he'd been ok with that, with being something she prized, he was intellectual enough, a purely intellectual value assigned to him had been enough for him to have a relationship with a woman who saw him as nothing more than a valuable possession, a tool she could use to advance her career and notariety.
Now...looking back, he couldn't believe he'd let it happen, that he'd been so accepting of it. How could he want a woman like that when Lucy existed? Warm, bright, brimming with kindness, genuine tenderness and affection...real...love.
It was a word Lucys mind went to alot, she loved her spirits, loved her nakama, and….where did he stand...he wasn't sure, but Gods did he want her to love him, and...in doing so...guide him, teach him the one thing he couldn't seem to learn...romantic love. Gods Cristoff about dripped it, Vander knew how to play with it, Bickslow was as bad as Cristoff and Farron, Farron was pining over someone and wouldn't even tell their father who it was. He made trips back though and Kaleb had thought to ask Hestor some time, since every time Farron came home he seemed to drink scotch and play chess with Hestor a lot.
It was more than chess too, he smiled faintly, Farron and Hestor had slept together more than once now though Hestor had just smiled one of his little smiles when Kaleb had asked about it.
"Whoever wins gets to choose what they want to do next, sometimes Farron wins, sometimes I do." He'd shrugged. Which led Kaleb to believe it was simply sharing pleasure and nothing serious, since Hestor had been so dismissive of it.
That was where he was, he realized, nearing the third week Lucy had been gone he knew, he wanted her love, needed it, would do anything for it, and he started planning how he was going to get his sorry ass from White Sea all the way across Pergrande...then Lucy called out to him and through the link he saw what was happening and recoiled.
Lucy was reading...hearing...the thoughts of someone she knew, picking them up because the person was reaching out in desperate need screaming into the cosmos for salvation, deliverance from their suffering, and those kinds of mental screams were, to him, deafening, but Lucy heard them only faintly, because their link was stretched, he'd been pouring more of his magic into it to maintain it, such was the nature of his need for her.
But now, now she was using a variation of his magic, hearing the cry of anguish, the light of Lucys magic marrying his own light and making Lucy capable of drawing on Kalebs strength through their link, using his magic so she would hear and be able to respond to a desperate call. It figured Lucys need to protect all she loved would make the light in her shine so well that even Immaculate Light rose to her aid and brought with it, his magic so she could answer a call for help from someone she cared about.
It staggered him, and terrified him, his magic wasn't easy to control, an angry thought could be physically dangerous and Lucy was prone to them, her murderous musings often amused the hell out of him, she'd thought all sorts of terrible things about their waitress the morning they had gotten their rings and eaten at the cafe by the jewelers. While those thoughts were funny restricted to the confines of a person who couldn't give them form and substance outside their head, if she was tapping his magic that meant if she did it more, she could hurt someone without meaning to, and, knowing Lucy, if she did, it would devastate her.
So, until he could get to her, get his eyes on the magic, find out how exactly she was using it,accessing it, and, was able to help guide her in managing it, he cut her right the hell off as soon as he told her Vander was getting her friend.
Severing that link was physically painful for him too, it had become like a lifeline, his connection to the woman who had become so important to him he'd Promised with her the first time she'd let him know she wanted more from him than friendship, because he was so keen to protect that feeling with her, so determined to make it work, to protect her and see her happy.
He sensed the light that was missing in her when he'd met her, known that beautiful woman was meant to just radiate it, and he wanted to see it, wanted her to have all of herself back, no matter what he had to do...even giving himself over to her without much thought. Him...not thinking something through completely before acting….the Wizard Saint Mindbender….He could almost laugh at himself but he was just too damn happy with the results to consider poking fun at it.
When Lucys spirit reached out to him soon after the rescue of her friend, his news had the Guildmaster rendered immobile for a few moments…
Say that again...and Loke...if you're teasing me I swear to the Gods I will strip you naked and tie you down and let Cobra and Vander have you. He had growled.
I would never tease about something like this Kaleb, your brother, the second born son of Arman Pradesh, Zen Pradesh, the Archangel Mage is alive, he's been kept by Pergrande as a slave his whole life, he's currently a gladiator at Skysreach Coliseum in Romell. Lucy and the group up here want to know what you want them to do, your brothers are ready to storm Romell. Loke told him.
SO AM I….Kaleb snarled back but softened, it wasn't Lokes fault this had happened to his brother, Gods...his brother was alive...he had to reach his father immediately.
Tell them I'll be in touch in minutes and to wait where they are until I contact them…
His first inclination was to mobilize his entire guild and ram White Sea down Romells throat until it coughed up his brother, but he knew better, his fathers reaction though...that nearly had him doing exactly that.
Never again did he want to watch his father break down like he did in the moments after Kaleb told him what he had learned.
Arman Pradesh,always together, always so strong, the pillar of their family, the love that they all had grown so strong from, fell to his knees sobbing.
"Alive...oh Gods...and a slave all this time...what sort of Father wouldn't know...why did I believe them?!" He had sobbed but it hadn't lasted, Arman Pradesh was too strong, too shrewd, and now, far too pissed off to stay down for long.
"They will pay for this…" He growled and Kaleb had drawn a slow breath seeing the fire in his fathers usually loving green eyes.
"Contact Farron, tell him to get down to the lobby of the consulate building, I'll have him picked up in a few minutes." He'd said "And prepare yourself to depart and assemble your team, I know Gaza will need to stay behind, but I expect power Kaleb, Give me powerhouse mages who can and will kill and lay waste in whatever direction I point them without reservation. I will call Emzadi myself once I speak to the King."
He said and Kaleb had bowed his head and the second the com shut off Thane had run as fast as his feet could carry him for the door,flinging it open as Kalebs power flexed, cracking windows and blasting the door off its hinges to fly across the hall and imbed in the wall, Thane sighing and shaking his head for a moment before turning and hurrying back, and the mages Kaleb wanted ducked their heads, stopped what they were doing and ran to answer their Guildmasters call, leaving friends, teammates, spouses, staring gaping in confusion after them because no matter where they were or what they had been doing, when Kalebs voice rang in their heads, they responded without question. He almost never called them this way, and all he called were his most powerful, most loyal.
White Sea had mobilized like this before, during the former Guildmasters assault against the deadly seith guild that had ultimately resulted in Kaleb finding Bickslow when they were children. Kaleb had brought the guild to bear against other threats before, but this precision mobilization rapidly became, for all who were called, clear evidence that their Guildmaster wasn't the weak man the Master of Emerald Eye claimed he was.
Teleportation mages were sent to meeting points to gather the people Kaleb needed, and, before Arman had Farron at his side on their way to the skyport where the Kings own ship, the Aisipal, awaited them, the captain of the ship was already watching in wonder as teleport mages brought White Sea mages to the deck of her ship where the tall Guildmaster stood beside his aid, greeting them all and sending them to their quarters. All told Kaleb was bringing just over 200 mages and the captain of the Aisipal recognized many as they came aboard, she had to more than once remind her crew not to act like idiot fangirls as some of the most famous mages in Bosco appeared on their ship.
Cidalise, the Tiger shifter and metal mage from Sevens deadly shifter core. Kittar,a Panther shifter displacer mage also from Sevens military experiments back before Nuryev had overthrown his mother and taken the throne. Ariss, the shy but powerful Tomic Dragonslayer whose Draconic father, Dullieruth, called the massive library complex at White Sea Headquarters his lair. Romino, White Seas young Archive mage who would be able to help move the ship and handle navigation with pin point accuracy.
When Arman strode aboard, Farron at his side he smiled faintly as Thane came to him, placing a lacrima tablet in his hand with the list of mages, their abilities and pictures that Kaleb had summoned and were already aboard. He'd meant what he'd said before, Kalebs aid was incredible, if Arman could lure the man to work for him he wouldn't even feel guilty stealing him from his son, but while Thane would work with Arman, his loyalty was completely Kalebs, Thanes love of the guild was soul deep.
"Excellent has Emza…" He was cut off by strong arms wrapping around him and though Arman rivalled his sons in his stature and his physique, he was still lifted off the ground, a deep growling purr filling his ears and making him smile.
"Papa, ohhh tell me this is true...he's alive and I get to melt the capital of Pergrande!" Emzadi said, her orange eyes fiery with a mixture of both affection for her father and the burning fury she'd been struggling to contain since her father had called for her.
Like Cristoff, Emzadi could teleport, anywhere the sun could touch, so the 6 foot blonde had arrived on the deck of the Aisipal before Kaleb had and had already crushed her older brother in one of her typical dragoness hugs. Cristoff would be the one she'd go all out on though and Kaleb fully expected to see the massive slayer winded and drug to the ground when their little sister was reunited with her favorite brother.
"What about Xally?" Emi asked looking between Arman and Farron.
"She's in Iceburg, we'll slow down so Thane can teleport down and bring her to the ship when we get close to Leesbren where she's been doing some work for her thesis." Farron replied.
Emzadi smiled "Our brother...oh Papa...who found him?" She asked.
Arman looked at Kaleb who smiled "My Promised...Lucy found a friend of hers, made her team leave their path to rescue the woman and it turned out...our brother had saved her life and got her out of Skysreach where he's been a gladiator for….years." He said quieting.
Emzadi snarled, the air around her heating "I've never been to Pegrand, someone won't let me take missions into that country." She said leveling a fiery glare on her brother.
"You would never, not in a million years, be able to avoid standing out in Pergrand little sister, women are worth less than dirt in that country so I would never put you at risk by sending you there. No...but I think if any women can give Pegrand a true feel of what their vile beliefs deny them, you and my Lucy will do that." Kaleb said and Emzadi quirked an elegant brow.
"YOUR Lucy? And just who is this Lucy?" She demanded and Kaleb almost blanched realizing he hadn't spoken to Emzadi for more than a few minutes here and there as she'd been on a mission since before Lucy had arrived, they had talked a good bit about Bickslows return but Kaleb hadn't mentioned Lucy to her.
Farron looked seriously at Kaleb
"Kaleb, where is Hestor? I was looking for him when I got into White Sea City and he hasn't been around, hasn't returned any of my calls and that's...really unlike him." He asked.
Kaleb blinked, realizing he hadn't seen Hestor either for a while, sometimes Hestor would leave, go to the Academe, or key hunting, but he usually let Kaleb know.
"We need to know where he is...Thane? Could you find out where Hestor is? He had to have gotten my summons to report to the ship for this mission…" Kaleb frowned. Thane nodded
"Yes of course Master Kaleb." His aid responded frowning as well.
Arman rolled his eyes, marching past his son and patting his shoulder leaving him to handle his sister while Arman headed for the bridge of the ship, he wanted to be in the sky travelling at the best speed the huge gunship could make about 5 minutes ago, his son was waiting to be returned to him and he meant to make Pergrande regret what they had done, for every ounce of suffering his son had gone through, for the death of his beloved wife...he would make them pay.
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Lucy turned slightly, smiling a little as she watched Cana wrap her arms around Cristoffs waist, the big Dragon Slayer having stood up from where he'd been bent finishing packing a tent, he handed it to Virgo as Cana leaned against him. She was sure now, two more weeks of travel and Cana had put some weight on and become more herself, which had translated into her getting into some blush inspiring conversations with Cobra and Vander and, she had slept every night in Cristoffs tent with him. The first couple of nights Lucy was in there two, the two women sandwiching the big Boscan between them, but Lucy had watched one night as Cristoff, in his sleep had turned to Cana and just enfolded the woman, burying his face in her still short hair and purring.
Cana had wrapped herself around the big slayer too, nestling under his chin and wrapping a leg over his hip. She didn't have nightmares when she was with Cristoff, so, after she woke screaming the one night she and Lucy had tried to share a tent without Cristoff, Lucy had started sleeping with Laxus and Cana had slept with Cristoff.
The card mage had started blushing, actually blushing around the big dragon Slayer too, and they had become inseparable, like Vander and Cobra were when Vander wasn't off scouting solo, he'd started taking Cobra with him though, the Poison slayer becoming more comfortable with travelling in his mates shadows and through the voids and not wanting to be separated from him all day anymore.
Cristoff turned in Canas arms, smiling down at her and running a hand through her short hair before pulling her in for a proper hug. Lucy didn't doubt anymore what she'd started suspecting, Cana had to be Cristoffs mate and when she had come to that conclusion Cobra had caught her eye and nodded, giving her a confirming wink and proud look she had smiled under. She'd gotten after him a little later about not telling her but he'd fended her off.
"You were on it Tink, far be it from me to deny you your meddling. Now, we just need to get the musclehead to tell Cana." He'd said as they had walked along one day.
"He's probably waiting for her to get stronger, and...besides that...we're not exactly in a place where it's safe for him to claim her…" She observed and Cobra had hugged her into his side and ruffled her hair.
"Yep, those are his reasons, the drunk though is starting to find her inner lecher again and the dragon magic is just feeding it, she's gonna pin the guy down some time soon whether he's ready or not if he doesn't tell her." Cobra sai quietly and Lucy sighed, smiling, watching Cana reach up and pull some of Cristoffs long black hair over his shoulder so she could play with it, Cristoff smiling and kissing her forehead before turning to go help Bix with the final tent.
Cana caught Lucy watching and grinned, moving over to her. "That man…" She made a frustrated sound and Lucy grinned.
"You like him." She observed and Cana rolled her eyes.
"Lu, nobody "likes" men like that, they lust full throttle, soak their panties and daydream about sinking their teeth into them." She said in a rush then smiled at Lucys giggle.
"He's such a good person...I...I've never been so attracted to a "good" man before, I usually just take my tumbles in the sheets with badasses like Bacchus and call it good…" She said wistfully.
"Cristoff IS a Badass Cana, double S Century class mage, a knight and a Dragon Slayer, that's pretty Badass." Lucy said with an arched brow and Cana smirked.
"So, what you're saying is I should get down on my knees and take what has to be a very fine thick long dick in my mouth and worship him with the appropriate deep throated enthusiasm men like that deserve?" She asked, gratified when her friend blushed but also impressed that was all she did, the Lucy she had known before Fairy Tail disbanded would have been red as a tomato, not just a little pink and screaming at her to shut up after a comment like that.
"What I'm saying is, don't discount Cristoff just because he doesn't treat you like shit, I know you Cana, you've always gone after guys that didn't care about you, even Bacchus, he's just, as you have said so often, " A frenemy with hefty fuck benefits", Cristoff...a man like him...he'd be good to you, treat you right, with respect...and he'd fuck you till your legs didn't work right." She added with a wicked wag of her eyebrows.
Canas mouth fell open, eyes wide on her usually prudish friend.
"Who are you and what have you done with Lucy Heartfilia? Because the Lucy I know does NOT talk about sex or say the word "fuck" in reference to sex!" She laughed.
Lucy smiled "I am embracing being Boscan." Lucy declared proudly and Cana smiled, her mirth fading.
"I...I hope I can...Cristoff offered me a place in White Sea….said as second in command of the guild he could even place the seal on me…" She looked at the ground and Lucy stepped up and hugged her.
"White Sea had been strong for more than 400 years Cana, the guild has more than 4000 members and has a young powerful master that would never, ever even consider shutting it down, if you join White Sea, we'll be guildmates again...and you'll never have to worry about whether or not your guild will still be there when you come home from protecting it." Lucy said, the note of bitterness and resentment in her voice not lost on Cana, she'd felt it too, badly.
"I hate that the old man did that, I hate that MY old man shrugged it off like it was nothing, took up a long mission for the council and disappeared again….I really didn't have anywhere to go Lu, Fairy Hills was destroyed, they weren't going to rebuild it, I lost everything, Bacchus called, said he'd take me on a big money mission and I'd have enough jewel I could find another place to live and I jumped on it...I...I didn't have a choice…" Cana whimpered and Lucy hugged her harder.
"I know...I came back after sacrificing Aquarius and found the guild gone, Mira told me it was disbanded, I watched Gajeel scoop Levy up, promising to stay with her and make sure she was ok, he took her to go work for the runeknights, and I went home and Natsu had left a note on my bed...all it said was "Going to train, be gone a year maybe more….see ya" that was it...my supposed best friend...all he cared to do, Erza and Gray just...vanished, went wherever the fuck they went. Cobra says Erza hooked up with Crime Sorciere and is travelling with and frequently fucking Jellal, and I'm happy for her but she hasn't called me...not even once...neither has Levy or Gray…." She growled and Cana pulled back, wide eyed and shaking her head.
"You know what?" She said and Lucy looked at her, angrily brushing the couple of tears she'd shed thinking of her "friends" away, upset with herself that she still cried over it, Gods knew it was obvious none of her friends missed her much.
"Fuck them, fuck all of em. You know I would have called but...pfft...being enslaved and shit really fucks with your social life let me tell you! Fuck them Lucy...you and me...still sisters, and I know you've been wrapping those legs around the sexy Guildmaster of White Sea...you wicked bitch...I'd like to wrap mine around a certain Dragon Slayer…" She said turning to watch Cristoff lift the last packed tent up and hand it to Virgo.
"Fuck...do they all wear tight clothes? I mean...Is it a thing in White Sea that men with bodies like gods wear tight clothes...like a rule? Because holly shit, Cristoff and Vander both…I'm almost willing to take Cobra on for a little taste of that smirking sex on a stick he's mated with…" Cana groaned.
"You keep your cunt in your pants Drunk, that tight ass is mine, go fuck tall dark and muscled, and while you're at it, ask his ass to tell you about Dragon Slayer mates, maybe ask him where his is." Cobra suddenly appeared wrapping his arms around Cana and Lucys shoulders.
Lucy elbowed him in the ribs, they had agreed, MOSTLY because Cobra had said they should, to let Cristoff handle things his own way and stay out of it, but Cobras comment was almost shoving the pair.
He grunted and leaned over and kissed her cheek with a chuckle
ERIK, you, YOU are the one who said we needed to butt out and here you are practically dropping it in Canas lap! She mentally yelled, gratified when the Poison slayer winced, her ability to shout into his head was new, had come along with the whole revelation something had changed in her because of Kaleb and Erik had found his mental ears were as delicate as his physical ones.
He squeezed her to him as Cana tilted her head.
"Do you guys even know where your mates are? I mean...did you know Vander was here in Bosco?" Cana asked and Cobra sighed, fuck him up the ass sideways Lucy was right, he should have kept his yap shut. Cana was just getting on his nerves admiring Vanders body whenever she wasn't leering at Cristoffs and while he loved seeing his mate in that skin tight shadowcrafted black leather he was always in, he had almost asked him to make something a little looser so Cana didn't have such a fine view of Vanders fine ass hugged by tight black leather, or his nice package equally well wrapped. He almost started drooling, glancing around to find his mate smirking at him, having felt Cobras thoughts turning wicked.
"No, didn't know he was mine until I touched his skin for the first time...you know...when you and Cristoff touched the first time you were unconscious drunk...I gotta go, I need to pin a certain smirking shadowmage to a tree before we set out today…" He said swiftly moving away, Vanders laugh carrying across the camp.
"Oh you can try little Dragon...but we'll see who pins who!" He called back and Cobras smile tilted into a smirk with a low growl and Vander vanished with another laugh, the Poison slayer veering away from the camp while several sets of eyes rolled.
Cana was staring at Cristoff, watching him lift his pack and it vanish into requip storage then feeling her mouth go dry when he reached up to pull his long black hair back into a low tail, wrapping a beautiful silver wire clasp around it as he walked alongside Bickslow toward her and Lucy.
She'd been unconscious when he'd first touched her so he could heal her, what if….she shook her head, dismissing the idea before letting it form, no...she had never ever been that lucky. Cristoff had a mate out there somewhere, the best she could hope for would be to get into those tight pants before he found that mate, maybe they could be lovers for a while...watching his thighs stretching the fabric of the dark blue pants he wore tucked into knee high black boots, catching a glimpse of tanned skin and a ripped belly and abs as he worked his hair into cooperating with being held in the clasp he'd chosen, bulging biceps straining the black long sleeve shirt sleeves, heavy pecs stretching the fabric over his broad chest, sweet Gods he was delicious and to think she'd just spent the last several nights wrapped in those arms and hadn't tried once to get to that tanned skin...seriously...she needed to get her shit together.