A/N...Since I split the chapter, I got this done pretty quick. There is a lot of new material here, different from the original version. As I've said, the heart of this story will remain the same as it was first written, but I'm diving right into all of the ideas I had before that just didn't get into this the first time. Including much more time with certain characters so a full understanding of everything happening around Lucy can really come through. I am so grateful of every review you all take the time to leave. Thank you!...DESNA
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It was in the belly of the stadium that Hestor had been dropped with Rowan, a Century class green mage, Beck, a beastmastery mage, Gaza, a fire mage, and of course...Kittar, who was charged with keeping tabs on Hestors group, and...Lucys. Hestor ran through the tunnels under the stadium, he'd barely convinced Kaleb to let him do this. Had stood before the man he'd called his friend most of his life...the man he was in love with, and had watched him pace worried about...that woman.
"It's a KEY Kaleb, and one I need desperately for the set, you know I struggle...do not make me beg." He'd said, proud his voice hadn't wavered. He'd spent the last several days planning, had worked with people he'd never have spoken to before, made deals that the Hestor who loved Kaleb Pradesh would never have considered. But he wasn't that man anymore. Now he was a man who had lost the person his magic had embraced, the tenuous bond he'd been building for years, shattered before he could open that final door.
It was all HER fault, her and Kalebs. Kaleb who never seemed to catch the hints, whose lips had hovered over Hestors so close he could almost taste them, more than once, who had held him, slept beside him after one of the times he'd been kidnapped (Which was a damned bane that seemed to come with his fucking magic.)
He needed Kaleb to give him a team, needed the key in the belly of the stadium...needed BOTH of the keys in the belly of the stadium but he wouldn't tell Kaleb there were two….no, he only needed to know about the one because it was part of the Hall… Lethe, he had to find her, knew she was there but he'd been hesitant to get her. His research showed getting her too soon in the accumulation of the set had...led to mages going mad, turning dark but Kek-T and Abraxis had assured him with them, he would be fine..better than ever...that his pain would ease so he could think again. He was struggling with that lately, dark ideas popping into his head way more than usual…
He had another Key to get after these two, then he'd be ready, getting the third wasn't going to be easy, he'd be making nice with people he'd despised his whole life, but it was something he had to do, and...Farron Pradesh was on the ship right now, the handsome blonde had already spent the last few nights warming Hestors bed nicely, and he had Farron convinced to arrange passage for him where he needed to go...Farron just didn't know how much he was going to personally sacrifice so Hestor GOT that passage and the help he needed. He couldn't think about that though, Farron was precious to him yes, always had been...but the deal had to be made and he'd made certain Farron wouldn't loose...too much. He'd survive.
The celestial mage ran, Rowan right by him, the green mage had been his friend since...well...since he'd joined White Sea. Easy going, the handsome redhead was always there when Hestor had need someone to just...onload on. Rowan never betrayed trusts, the man ran playrooms at the Guildhall where he worked when he wasn't in the guilds gardens or on a mission with Kalebs team, as a Dom. He was the best too, and while Hestor certainly didn't look like he would enjoy such things, there were days that handing everything over into the hands of someone as capable as Rowan, and just drowning in the pleasures of that freedom were what he'd needed to get through a day.
Now the green mage was handling guards, vines snaking along faster than the men could run slamming guards into walls, sometimes through them, whatever Abraxis, who ran ahead toward the keys missed. Not that Hestor was a slouch, the shortsword in his hand had plenty of blood on it.
As they ran they reached a section labelled "Reconditioning" and Hestor would have normally cringed. The sounds...the smells...made it clear what it was for and with the noise above the work being done there hadn't stopped. They rounded a curve and both men skid to a stop, Hestor almost running into Abraxis, looking around the big spirits shoulder to glare then gasp. A white tiger was chained down, sides bleeding from whip lashes, that in itself wasn't shocking considering where they were, what WAS shocking was the distinct brand on the tigers back, the golden dragon of Seven.
"It's a shifter." Rowan snarled and before Hestor could move vines ripped up through the bloody dirt floor and the men who were whipping the Tiger were suddenly being torn apart. The Tiger, as skinny as it was...as beaten as it was didn't miss a chance when one man was flung into its reach, claws digging in and pulling the screaming man to eager jaws.
"I don't have time for this…" Hestor hissed and Rowan glanced at him "Bullshit, that's a Sevenese shifter, their King is an ally of Bosco..we MAKE time." Rowan returned. Hestor grit his teeth "You handle this then." He told Rowan and he ran through the little training ring, agily dodging the vines and dying men and the pissed off shapeshifter to head down the hall on the other side. Rowan cursed, more vines rising as Beck came in and Gaza slid to a stop. "Go with Hes Gaza, Beck...chill the shifter out so it knows we're here to help." Rowan said
Beck nodded, the big man walking into the ring straight to the raging tiger whose glowing eyes calmed the moment they met the beastmasters and as Gaza ran after Hestor, the beast almost fell into Becks arms, pressing its head into Becks chest with a mournful sound as Rowan started looking for keys on bodies to free it.
Hestor smiled, on a knee working a lock open while Abraxis finished killing some unfortunate employees of the stadium. He got the bolt locks open and stepped aside as Abraxis' large boot hit the door and kicked it in, Hestor then rushing into the room.
Weapons, shields, armor clothing...these were the personal effects of people who had been brought here to be put into the pits, waiting for whoever owned each person to come collect whatever it was, and by the looks of things...some items had been down here for a very long time, wealthy slave owners never bothering to come down and guards and employees knowing better than to steal from nobility.
He moved quickly, he could FEEL his goal and found the cabinet, pried open the lock and pulled out a grey velvet wrapped box with a grin before his eyes lifted to seek the other.
"Nuh uh...no Easter Egg key in a bag bullshit...that ain't how I operate." Came a voice and he and Abraxis both turned, sitting on a chest across the room was a lithe man with all black eyes, wearing a tight black shirt that revealed some muscle, black leather pants and boots and had leather straps across his chest holding scabbards for large vicious looking swords. His most distinguishing feature though...the black duster with glossy black feathers over the shoulders. His long black hair hung loose around those feathers and Hestor smiled "Corvus."
"That's right...and I don't leave a key laying around for any Celestial Jackwagon with a power trip up their ass to find. I hold my own fucking key...thank you very much." The spirit said.
"Yet I felt you here, I've known you were here for years." Hestor said narrowing his eyes and Corvus shrugged "Job...was keeping an eye on something."
Hestor raised a brow but didn't press, he knew better, spirits kept secrets, and Corvus...a plane walking messenger to Gods...probably kept more than most.
The spirit cocked his head "Go ahead, get the lady, survive adding her to your ring and I'll put my key in your hand."
Hestor smirked, Abraxis and Kek-T had told him he'd be fine and he believed them, so he opened the velvet wrapped box, grinning at the beautiful dark key within it, grasping it immediately and was unsurprised when his breathing caught and agony curled through him as the spirit appeared.
"A short skinny little Stellan...really, why must the Hall serve this line?" The spirit sighed as she appeared. Hestor felt his grip on his own control over the darker edges of his magic slip more, more black running in to cover the light he held. He ignored that though, gritting his teeth and forcing his eyes open and on the emotionless spirit.
"I am not skinny...and I seek your contract." He snapped, raising his chin.
Corvus smiled where he sat watching Abraxis smirk, watching the black edges of Hestors magic grow as Lethe bowed her head.
"I am compelled to accept a Takida keyholder...so...you have me...little Stellan...though we'll see how long your mind stays in tact now that you do." Lethe said in a serene tone.
Corvus waited only long enough for Hestor to seal the key into its contract before his own appeared in the mans hand, the magic of the Lord of Ravens affording Hestors soul a sudden buffer against the dark bleeding into it, the buffer he himself held to keep him from becoming an evil spirit of the heavens. He saw Abraxis narrow his eyes on him and met the demon general turned spirits gaze cold. Watching Abraxis as he spoke to Hestor "You now hold my key as well...master. I am a scout, eyes...a messenger and walker of the planes across all universes. Ask of me what you will but do not expect me to always give you what you ask." he said and Hestor grinned, steel blue eyes churning a bit with the magic coming into him.
He was internally fangirling...just a bit...having wanted the key of the Raven since he was a boy, the story of all Corvus had endured, how he was dark yet walked in the light...had always appealed to him on many levels so holding his key was a personal achievement he felt very good about.
Corvus' key on his ring he turned, heading for the door, eyes glowing a little as he felt something pulling at him.
"What…" He breathed, it was like a warm breeze, sweet and fantastically enticing, like his own magic reaching out to caress his face.
Abraxis smirked "That...is the feel of an Archangel Mage." He looked up "He must be out of his cell…"
Hestor frowned "You mean...Zen, Kalebs brother...that's what I feel?"
"Cassiopeia, when the magic was created, built in compulsions to assure Archangel Mages would join with Celestial, Holy or Light mages, it's crucial they bond...for you...it's crucial to MATE. Mated to an Archangel Mage your third origin would open, it's the only way a Celestial Summoner can open that, using the magic reserves of the Archangel to avoid the backlash drain as that third origin opens up. No other type of mage can feed someone else their magic in a way it can be used like an Archangel mage...they were made to protect and strengthen their Mates, their Bonds." Abraxis explained.
"So..that's why it feels like...my own magic touching me." Hestor asked vaguely, licking his lips and Abraxis smiled like a cat.
"It is. You can use an Archangel Mages magic as your own, during the Holy Wars it was what made Summoners the best fighters against the Demon armies. They're like batteries, and they have huge magic reserves and the highest regeneration speed of almost any type of mage just so they can be that for their partners. Add in the fact each of three types brings wonderful protection to you, freeing you to fight as you will, freeing you to call many spirits at once and just setting their magic drain to come from the Archangel mage? Well...it's no wonder at all they were so hunted, so fought over, and that one up there? 6'5" 260lbs of pure bulging muscle…" Abraxis grinned as Hestor whimpered.
"He makes Kaleb look SMALL my Master." Abraxis purred "and if you take him...bond him...maybe even Mate him...you would become something...truly powerful, and once Mated, he would never leave you, never fail to stand by you...would love you with all he was, never a lonely moment in a bay window...ever again."
Hestor let out a breath eyes closing for a moment as he savored that idea "Let's go…"
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Fuck these protections! Lucy mentally snarled in frustration and just then she hit one that hit back, a lance of magic hitting her right in the stomach, almost knocking her out and sending her flying back off the wall they were standing on, cursing Emzadi flashed to the ground, caught her, and had her back on the tall wall out of reach of scrambling confused guards before they were even sure what they had just seen.
Kittar immediately ported them to their next position while Lucy fought not to pass out.
Lucy!...Lucy!... Kalebs worried voice resonated through the group, and moments later, Skysreach was shaking on its foundation, people were screeching, and a magical pressure unlike anything Lucy had experienced before filled the air around them.
"Shit…" Presca fell to a knee, his steel eyes flaring with magic as he shielded them, eased the pulsing impact of it until it finally eased on its own, Lucy drawing a deep breath as it seemed to almost caress her, flowing over and through her and leaving her even more lightheaded.
"Wha...what was that…" Lucy breathed, still trying to clear her spotty vision. Emzadi gave her a fanged grin. "My brother...you're promised, Lucy, I'm surprised his magic isn't familiar to you. Guess you've only enjoyed his physical strength huh?" The tall blonde chuckled. She glanced around at all the serious expressions and rolled her blazing orange eyes, shoving Presca so he actually fell over.
"Oh for the lights sake, it's a joke, shit, I can't have fun while I raze a city? ...who knew? You all make me wish I'd crashed Vanders group, HE would laugh." The solar slayer said and turned opening her hand again and a column of light bigger than a building hit the wards again, this time though it was backed up by that magical pressure that had walls, parts of the stadiums very structure cracking and shattering as the wards started to collapse. From their vantage point atop a wall on the side of the coliseum, they could see finally as the wards fell, down in the arena three men stood, gladiators, each wearing almost nothing, and Emzadi stilled, her blazing eyes locking on the tallest one, whose sunkissed skin, long mahogany hair and black eagle all down his right side made him as unmistakable as his familiar facial features.
"Gods...Dad...he looks so much like you…" Emzadi breathed. The stadium shook again, thousands of people screaming as they tried frantically to escape but an entire section of grandstands just exploded, then collapsing as that incredible magic power pulsed and flexed and Lucy blinked trying to see though the dust and rubble, seeing a steadily intensifying glow, feeling him...knowing it had to be Kaleb.
The Guildmaster walked, hands held low to his sides and open, eyes glowing, his long cloak billowing around him, his hair flowing out with it, any Pregrandian unfortunate enough to get anywhere near him fell dead, some not even getting the time to scream and grab at their heads, just falling as Kaleb, with Arman at his side, Cristoff a short bit to his other side followed by Bickslow made their way into the arena . The men strode unimpeded, rubble moving out of their way shoved aside by the pulsing field of magic around the tall blonde dressed all in white.
"Kaleb…" Lucy breathed.
"Prepare for extraction." Came the resonating boom of Kalebs voice into every head.
Everyone waited.
Zen stared in shock as the coliseum gave way, hundreds of people crushed as it collapsed, then the rubble just...moved, cleared, crushing aside the structures to either side. He stood by Bacchus, both men too astounded to move as a white clad man led others into the arena. The magic...the sheer pressure of it radiating from him sent Bacchus, groaning, to his knees and Cellis passed out a few feet away, falling over with a thud but Zen narrowed his eyes, flexing his own magic, and when his wings snapped out there was a deafening clap, a pulse that shook the entire city and sent Zen staggering almost to his knees, Bacchus collapsed, the men around the man in white staggered, and even the man in white took a step back then forward again, glowing lavender eyes locking on Zen.
It struck him then...he knew this man...he knew him...he'd killed a man for masterbating while looking at his picture…"Kaleb…" He breathed and the Lavender eyes blinked, a smile lifting full lips, beside him, a man in an impeccable suit, with silver here and there in his otherwise jet black hair and warm familiar jade colored eyes staggered forward, holding out his hand.
"Zen...my son…oh sweet Gods…" He said and memories slammed into Zen, of hugs and bedtime stories, cuddles by a fire, in an office, playing in the water under those same jade eyes, ...his sword fell to the ground, a hand coming up unbidden to his mouth.
"Papa…." He breathed in disbelief, tears filling eyes that hadn't shed any in years.
"Zen...my son...my angel…" Arman was running then, and Zen ran right to him, falling into his fathers arms suddenly too weak to stand, sobs ripping through his whole being as the familiar scent of the the sea...the Grass Sea, came over him in his fathers arms. He hadn't smelled it since he was a tiny child, but he would know it anywhere, like he knew the feel of the silky silver streaked black hair. His father had felt like a mountain when he was a boy, now he stood taller and far more muscular himself, but it didn't change the fact...in his fathers arms...he was a boy crying.
Beside her, Lucy saw Emzadi fall to her knees, tears streaming down her face…"Oh Zen...oh Daddy…" She whispered, a shaking hand coming to her mouth.
Bickslow staggered, leaning on Cristoff whose mouth hung open, both men staring through watery eyes as their father sobbed and held...their brother...their long thought dead brother, who was sobbing as hard as their father the two tall men sinking to their knees holding each other.
Kaleb drew a shaking breath, sending the order to his mages to start withdrawing, to return to the ships hovering far above the city and magical bombs set all over the city started exploding.
"Well...job well done, city is fucked, people screaming, nice body count...how bout we take our brother, and Canas friend and get the fuck out of here hmm?" Vanders voice drew his fathers hard glare and the youngest Pradesh had the grace to duck his head and hold up his hands but looked hard at Kaleb who nodded, drawing a deep breath.
"Cristoff...Thane...take us up." He commanded and Thane and Cristoff both moved, though both were wiping tears from their faces, and, just as he felt himself pulled, his eyes met Lucys on the wall on the far side of the coliseum, and he watched Kittar teleport her and her group from the wall, vanishing moments before he was pulled from the dirt of the arena himself.
The Aisipal wasted no time, and Arman, Farron and Kalebs planning had wasted no lives. All 227 mages were aboard, Cristoff forced to leave the deck shortly behind Xally to see to a few, but he didn't complain, he paused only to avoid being knocked over by a crying woman flinging herself into his arms, peppering his face with kisses as he hugged her tight against him and nuzzled into her, burying his face in her shoulder. They stood a moment, Cana whispering into Cristoffs ear in a shaky voice about how she was going to fuck him unconscious for making her worry and he chuckled, nipping the skin where her neck met her shoulder and dropping a hand to give her ass a hard enough squeeze she yelped before he set her on her feet. "Lets go see to your friend, Love." He smiled at her and released her, heading for the stairs Cana close behind him.
As the city far below was rocked by explosions, the Aisipal and Saberfox shifted to flank speed. The trip home wouldn't be a quick one, they had to get away from Pergrandian soil and fast, magic users, scientists in Pergrand had trackers that could find them even a mile above the ground as long as they were over Pergrandian soil, so, they headed for the Bay of Esprendiss that would let them out over the southern ocean and they could flank the coastline, cut in across Minstrel and return to Bosco safely, they just had to get to the bay before Romell and the Pergrandian military recovered and mobilized.
Stealth technology was good, it would buy them time even once Pergrand was looking for them, but only so much, they just couldn't risk crossing Pergrand to get to Iceburg.
Lucy hung back, quietly crying into her hands watching the Pradesh family gather around their brother, who was finally able to stand on his own, though his father didn't fully let go of him, one hand on his sons back as if to reassure himself Zen was really there, standing on the deck before him. She didn't notice the silver haired man watching her, his narrow eyed glare...she felt something...a pull on her that was like a fresh breeze of her own magic...and when she closed her eyes frowning a bit taking it in, the silver haired man hissed and stalked over to her. "You stay away from him...you've next to no actual formal training in your magic and you could harm him." He snapped in a nasty whisper as he moved, shifting over to stand by Kalebs team of mages.
One by one Zen met his brothers, a watery smile brightening his handsome face as each hugged him tightly before releasing him, Kaleb giving them a warning that for Zen, the deeply affectionate family prone to hugs and cuddles would be a bit much right now. It wasn't until he'd hugged his brother himself though that Kaleb was almost jolted, the moment Zen was fully in his arms something happened, both of them shuddering at the feeling neither having any idea what it was, both of them dismissing it as part of the overwhelming reunion, their immersion in massive emotions, Kaleb pulled away looking for Lucy...suddenly profoundly needing to find her, see her... looking for her and she gave him a watery smile when their eyes met, watching the reunion had left not a dry eye on the whole ship she suspected and she'd been able to forget...how the silver haired mage had snarled at her.
He held his arms out to her and she instantly dropped all pretenses, all of her restraint, and ran to him, startled when she threw herself into his arms and he actually staggered and fell, the moment she made contact with him his whole being just lost its balance, both of them crashing to the deck, Kaleb groaning lightly as Lucy whimpered and started a tirade of mental and verbal apologies, kissing his forehead, his cheeks until he finally grabbed her and caught her overly swift mouth.
It's ok...I'm just tired...I used the hell out of my magic is all… He told her, grateful, deeply, that he'd trained like he had in Lucys absence because it had made a difference that had probably saved some lives. "Lucy...Gods...I...Mmm..missed...you.." He managed to say in between deep kisses.
They didn't even notice the people standing watching them.
"She starts sucking him off I'm not turning away." Vander said his mate snorting alongside him "I'll film it.' Cobra added getting a quick peck on the cheek from Vander.
Zen blinked at them all and Arman smiled, hugging his son to his side. "Zen, several of your brothers have rather recently been finding their way into good relationships, Vander of course has Erik beside him, his mate..., Kaleb, obviously, is promised to the lovely Lucy who just tackled him to the deck...and Cristoff, when he returns...is with his mate….who you already know...Cana."
Zens smile widened "Cana? The Cana who…" He trailed off, figuring saying he'd fucked her to save her probably wouldn't sound like as much of an act of kindness as it really had been.
"The Cana you saved, Lucy there found her in a small town as she was passing through Pergrand and Cana both let us know you were alive and led us to you, enabling our assault on the colosseum." Arman said.
Zen searched and Kaleb pulled back from Lucys eager lips for a moment, hugging her to him as he sat up. "Cristoff is a healer Zen, he's below decks with Xally seeing to the wounded, they'll both be up soon, Cana with Cristoff." Kaleb explained and Zen nodded, looking around at everyone, still just...overwhelmed.
He looked at his father. "What is a "mate" anyway?" He asked quietly and Arman laughed, pulling him along to head to the room he planned to share with his son, after getting him back...he wasn't keen on letting him get far out of his sight for a while.
Lucy shifted out of Kalebs lap so he could stand but didn't let him regain his full height, catching him into a long kiss that had them both gasping for air, grinning like fools at each other.
"I missed you...so much...I, I don't know what happened, I'm sorry if I did something I shouldn't have…" She said but Kaleb stopped her, caught her, his lips slanting over hers, an arm pulling her into him.
"You saved Cana, brought Cristoff his mate and brought my brother back to us...you're my hero Lucy." He breathed and she blushed, shifting a little in his arms.
"I was far from alone in all of that…" She reminded him.
"You were why it all happened and don't you think for a second any of us will forget that….come on...remember how I said I planned to have you in a bed for a while? Well...I meant it…" He grinned wickedly at her and she squeeked as he swept her up, half carrying her half letting her get her toes down over to the staircase, stopping several times on the way down it to let her have her feet under her, turning on a stair a few down from her so they were eye to eye and kissing her until her toes curled in her boots, until she forgot about everything but how much she'd missed him, the tie in his hair was pulled out by her fingers threading into his long hair, then her shirt was undone, pulled open enough the top of her bra was showing so he could kiss over the swelling of her breasts.
Hestor watched the couple, eyes brimming with dulled pain. Before anyone else could say something to him, he turned on his heel and headed below decks using a different access well.
When they finally fell into the room Lucy landed laughing on the bed, it was such a happy sound, joined with his own, and their smiling lips still wouldn't stop seeking each other, Lucy whimpering as the clasps of his cloak refused to cooperate with her, and wizard saint pins flew through the air, clattering to the floor the cloak sliding away to join them followed shortly by the rest of their clothes. Kaleb stilled for a few moments and Lucy stopped, feeling him shudder, she cupped his face in her hands, making him look at her and was shocked to find tears on his sooty lashes.
"Kaleb…" She breathed and she shook her head.
You're my angel...Lucy...you fought for our guild today, and for my family I was so proud of you...and so terrified at the same time something might happen..when that ward struck you.. He was actually trembling in her arms, her hands sliding over his back, and she was kissing him , suddenly taking on his usual role as the soothing one.
I'm tougher than I look...she tried lightly and he growled, tongue plunging into her mouth a hand sliding to her hip to pull her into him and she felt him, long a firm pressing into her thigh.
Stronger than anyone I know...oh Lucy...my Sunrise...I need to feel you...hear you...he purred in her head as their tongues slid over each other, as he moved between her legs and suddenly pulled her up with him as he sat back on his heels, bringing her legs around him as gravity made his hard length spear up inside of her as she came down and settled for a moment, only a moment,the position gave her more control and she started moving, eager to have him, desperate to have him.
The feel of him, of their bodies uniting, connecting, of a skilled finger moving to toy with her where he entered her while his mouth nibbled along her neck.
He had no idea what was happening to him, how she had consumed him so completely, he'd been so drawn to her from the very beginning and now, now it was out of his control and he didn't care, he was always so controlled, so well disciplined, and he didn't want to be, not with her, he wanted her to have it all, all he was, and as their bodies moved more, as he drove harder into her and she rode him, becoming steadily more and more demanding he come deeper into her and he heard that demand. He started letting that discipline go. What had started with their link was growing,...
More...Gods..yes...yes...deeper...I need you...need you in so deep...take me...all of me...I want all of you...she begged and her was right with her, gripping her ass, helping her lift up and helping bring her down so he plunged deep into her, hooking his arms under her knees to spread her wider, rising up, his powerful thighs flexing, all the muscle in his back working, Lucy shifted her grip to his shoulders, tilting her head back as he drove into her harder and harder she was frenzied for more and so was he.
Take it...take me...all of me...oh Gods Lucy...you feel so good...my light...my everything...all of me, all that I am...all I will ever be...for you...his mind was spinning, wrapped up in her, her light, she was his sunrise, finer than the morning star against his skin, more precious than starlight filtering through the heavens, it happened then, more powerfully than before when he had been making their link, there was a searing burn across the back of his shoulders but he was too consumed, too lost in Lucy and she was crying his name over and over, mentally pleading for him to never stop, to give her all he had.
Neither one saw the light flood the room,their eyes squeezed shut as they were consumed by their passion , both though lost all sense of time, of anything but each other, Kalebs whole being opening up for her and hers wrapping lovingly around him, neither knew when they reached their ends, it just happened, blinding them both, sending fire licking all over their bodies, through them, deep inside of Lucy he filled her with far more than just his seed and they both collapsed to the bed Kaleb still buried inside her, their arms still tight around each other.
The room dimmed back to normal and Loke appeared in a shower of Gold, tentatively moving forward to the naked couple laying, panting on the bed. They were out cold but their bodies were still trying to recover, he smirked as his eyes roved over his beautiful Princess, and then her equally beautiful "promised".
Reaching out her ran his fingers across the back of Kalebs shoulders,shaking his head in wonder.
"The King will be very pleased…" Virgo said softly.
"So will Aquarius." Loke smirked, he stilled again as his hand slid lower down Kalebs side, Virgo frowned,slapping his hand away.
"Princess would kick you through the side of the ship if she caught you fondling her mate." Virgo said. Loke frowned "I am not fondling him. I've never watched one...be born like this...our Princess...she is so amazing...and now…" His voice trailed off as he shook his head,grinning at Virgo, eyes running across Kalebs back again as he pushed the heavy silk of Kalebs platinum hair aside a little more.
"Now we know this can work…" He said.
"Only with him, there isn't another human mage alive who could have done this...there has never been one before." Virgo replied.
"Mostly because there was never a need, when there were more of them, and we just haven't had mages like Zen when someone like Lucy was alive at the same time both their magic had to be present, if they hadn't recovered Zen this wouldn't have worked, Kaleb would have remained as he was, not in more than 800 years have we had someone like Zen in the mix…" He shook his head again, grinning "Our Princess is going to love this though…" His voice trailed off as his eyes followed Virgos fingers trailing over Lucys left arm where stars had appeared in her skin, shimmering white and over her heart, white wings, Kalebs arm close to Lucys, his right by her left held the same symbols in the same shimmering white as the rest of his tattoos.
Loke and Virgo carefully arranged the room, made it comfortable, and covered up their Princess and Kaleb before they both vanished in a shower of golden magic.
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It was late, the ship long underway, Zen had talked with his father until Arman had finally fallen asleep and now the big man stood on the deck of the Aisipal, leaning on the railing and staring at the sky. For the first time in his life he could feel the light of the stars, the moon, unimpeded on his skin. The magic cancelling cuffs had been removed, all but the two on his wrists and those were still there because the sudden access to his magic had left Zens head spinning.
He wore simple jeans and a t-shirt that was probably a little small for him, Cristoffs clothes since Kaleb had not emerged and everyone knew why. No shoes, none fit him, but his father promised as soon as they got into safe territory he'd get Zen some clothes that fit him. Zen didn't really care...he was free...and he'd spent most of his life naked so clothes were a bit...uncomfortable...anyway.
He pulled the T-shirt off, moaning softly as more starlight touched his bared skin. He was a mage of the Celestial magics according to his father…
"You'll catch cold like that." A voice admonished and Zen narrowed his eyes, turning his head to look and recognized the silver haired mage...part of Kalebs private team…"Hestor...right?"
Hestor smiled faintly "Yes...Hestor Kedanza…" He looked to where Zen had been looking before and smiled faintly, closing his eyes as the breeze blew over him, moving his shimmering silver hair. When he opened his eyes they were slightly backlit and Zens breath caught as he...felt...something he'd never felt before.
Attraction...powerful and pure...to a male...no, not to that...to a mage, to a magic...Hestor felt...like safety, like warmth and wonder and his mother had felt that way. The big man turned a little, deep amethyst eyes flecked with gold on Hestors lit a little "I...why do you…" he couldn't really put into words what he was feeling but Hestor smiled and stepped closer a hand sliding to Zens face and both of them sucked in a sharp breath at the contact making the feeling stronger.
"I'm a Celestial Summoner...you are an Archangel Mage...our magics were made to work together, to keep each other safe...to protect the people we care about." Hestor said softly and Gods Abraxis was so right…
Hestor kept the little distance he had with no small effort, the pull was powerful, and Hestor so deeply loved men, big powerfully built men like this one...Zen was absolutely stunning, long silky dark hair, gorgeous eyes, bulging muscle under tanned smooth skin and those full pouting lips just begged for his but he held back. The man was still in some of his shackles after all but the temptation was palpable and he could see the raw need in the mans eyes...Zen felt it too.
"Safe…" Zen repeated quietly and Hestor nodded, smiling "Yes...you know Kaleb is one of my dearest friends...I would be honored to help you any way I can Zen." he pulled his hand away, suppressing his elation at the disappointment that came to those beautiful purple eyes.
"We'll need to be careful with you...your magic...Celestial Summoners with less training than me could be a serious threat to you without even meaning to be." Hestor said and Zen frowned at that "Why?" he demanded.
"Archangel Mages can be taken Zen, forced to bond and even mate themselves to a Celestial Summoner, light mage or Holy mage. There are compulsions built into the very fiber of the magics that would make people lose their self control around you." Hestor said and Zen frowned.
"But not you." He observed.
Hestor chuckled and shrugged "Oh I feel it...I'd love to bury my hands in that dark hair, wrap myself around you and keep you for myself…" He almost choked as that all spilled out, a little alarmed that he'd not been able to alter the words to what he'd planned to say.
Zen snorted "Yeah...well...with how this feels I'd damn near go along with that." he admitted.
He blinked several times, startled he'd said that, and even more shocked he'd meant it. He took a step back.
"I have been a slave since I was small...a mans...property...I will NOT hand myself over to the first...pretty thing...that smiles at me right!" He growled.
Hestor nodded "Of course not...I'm your brothers friend Zen, I am a mage of White Sea, Gods I play chess with your father during the holidays. I will NOT harm you!" he said vehemently.
Zen blinked at him frowning again "I...I know...and...I'm not accustomed to people being...nice unless they want something." He admitted and Hestor smiled. Kek-T and Abraxis all but purring in his head, his keys all singing to him about how good it would be to have this man as theirs….
Hestor tilted his head, eyes soft as he touched the mans arm, a little thrill shooting through him when his fingers felt rock hard muscle under smooth skin and he inwardly purred,
"I'd like to be your friend Zen...to help you in every way I can." He said
Zen stared at him, brow furrowing a bit as conflicting emotions rolled over the dark eyes and a shaky smile tipped up his lips
"I've...never had a friend before."