A/N Many thanks again to those taking the time to leave reviews and PM me. Life has been busy, hectic, and making time to work on this isn't easy but knowing people want to read it and want to see more of it motivates me to keep at it even when I'd like to just curl up with some cocoa and work on other projects. This rewrite is really a labor of love for this story, so it can be more of what I wanted it to be. I know it's hard to like some of the characters (Hestor in particular) But villains should never just be simple, and so little of what's wrong in life is uncomplex. I do read all the reviews, I do take what everyone says into consideration (With the exception of the trolls, I just laugh at them).
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Starblessed Island was a sacred protected place, a large island that floated the Grass Sea. It was where many ceremonies were held and all clans agreed there was no fighting upon it no matter the circumstances.
There were two temples on the island, one, atop a mesa, the highest point on the island, was dedicated to the constellations, to the Spirit King himself, there was even a great white stone throne. Lucy was beside herself as the hovership was tied into place on the small dock and she and her friends,her new family, all disembarked and she was almost bouncing as she walked, clinging to Kalebs hand so she could keep herself grounded, so excited yet anxious to see her oldest friend again, nervous about what Aquarius would say, how their reunion would go.
Kaleb walked along with her smiling trying not to look as indulging and proud and excited as he was, Lucys whole mood was washing over him like waves of the sea and she looked radiant, in a flowing pink and blue halter dress that came to mid-thigh on her, laced up sandals and her hair was pulled up into high set pigtails held in place by pink and blue bows.
She looked beautiful, young, and he smiled as she twirled in front of him, happily chatting with a grinning Cana who was not releasing Cristoffs hand any more willingly than Lucy was his.
Both women had their reasons, both knew they had come close to losing their loves and now, both were deeply bonded to those partners.
Kaleb had lost count of how many times Lucy had placed kisses and idly started tracing her fingers over or holding her hand against where he'd been stabbed. Gods the things she had done to him too, she was becoming incredibly inventive in the bedroom and getting bolder and more adventurous by the day.
He still got her every morning though, a personal goal of his,to see her face flushed with pleasure and ecstasy with every new day he could manage. She would never start a day wondering if she was wanted, unsure about whether or not he loved her, she was why he understood love, she was why he knew it himself and she certainly never let him wonder at all if she loved him, she told him and showed him, every day.
That was why he was taking her to the Stargazer mountains, to the secluded hotspring that overlooked the sea...to make her official, so she bore his name and would be the true Mistress of White Sea...his wife. She'd say yes...she loved him, they were mated, promised...so why he was still nervous as hell he had no idea...but he was. He was going to propose to her and he was nervous.
They walked up stairs, about a million of them but Lucy wasn't counting, it just felt like it took forever. Once at the Spirit Kings throne they all waited, watching as the stars started to show themselves against the darkening sky.
The sea lit up, its colors dancing over the white stone of the prayer temple and the throne and Lucy smiled, hugging Kaleb tightly as she felt the familiar shift that she knew heralded the arrival of the King of the Spirit realm.
"Lucy, welcome, I see you have brought your family and friends...…" He noted shifting a bit on the throne..
Kaleb bowed when the King appeared, didn't even think to do it, just did, and wings emerged in his presence unbidden as well, Lucy grinning as Kalebs curled around them some, he had better control of them, had been training tirelessly to achieve that.
It showed as the one on her side of him stroked over her as she walked a few steps from Kalebs arms to smile up at the King.
"Stacheface...Zen has been rescued." She said "He is safe in Stella, training there. The king nodded
"Yes well, he is in fact safe, and through your deeds as well the Morning Star was brought to his full magic, to become your mate and hopefully soon, to father children.." He smirked at Lucy who didn't react with the blush he expected instead she narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips "You know...about that…" She started and the King cleared his throat loudly reaching down and extending his hand toward Lucy.
"SO! in recognition of your deeds, I am proud to restore the bond you have had with one of my constellations since your earliest childhood, the key to Aquarius is yours Lucy." He said hastily.
Lucy let it go...for the moment, not wanting to risk this in any way, and stepped forward and took the gleaming key from the kings hand, holding it to her chest tightly, feeling it warm in her hand as tears fell down her face.
"I suggest you not waste time my girl, go down to the Sea and call her, she is anxious to see you." The king prompted and Lucy nodded, unable to speak so Kaleb put an arm around her and smiled, bowing again before the King "I'll take her down myself. Thank you." He said and the king nodded as Kaleb lifted his wings and pulled Lucy to him, like he'd practiced so much over the last few days he thrust the wings down and smiled as they shot into the sky and he banked, taking them down from the mesa to the beach, landing on his own damn feet and setting Lucy on hers with a victorious smile.
Once there Lucy exchanged a long look with him, then kissed the key and took it to the glowing waters of the Grass Sea. Moments later a familiar mermaid was looking at her smiling in spite of herself.
"Bout time." She said and Lucy grinned at her.
"I'm so happy to have you back...please Aquarius...seal our contract." She said and Aquarius smiled, waving her hand and the key in Lucys hand turned the deeper darker gold like Lokes that signified Aquarius was now sealed to Lucy like Loke was.
"So...this the boyfriend?" She asked eyeing Kaleb who stood smiling behind Lucy on the beach.
Lucy smiled back at him, waving at him to bring him to her side and wrapping her arms around his waist when he did.
"Kaleb...this is Aquarius...Aquarius...this is my Mate...Kaleb Pradesh." Lucy introduced and Kaleb bowed before the mermaid.
"A true pleasure." He said and Aquarius smirked.
"I'm sure, you had better keep our Princess happy, we watch, and now that I have access again? I'll be making sure." She said, narrowing her eyes on the tall Boscan.
"Make her cry and I'll drown you." She said with a chilling smile. "I watched her father all but torture her mother through her last days...I promise, on my key and my stars, if you hurt her like Jude did Layla, you will not outlive her."
Kaleb smiled at the spirit. "If I ever hurt her, I'll drown myself." He said and meant it, never, not ever would he willingly cause Lucy sadness or pain.
Their family was reaching the beach now and Aquarius looked over them, looking at Lucy.
"There are faces missing here that never should have left your side, if they want to return? Remember that these are the faces of the people who loved you when you weren't easy to love." The mermaid said and Lucy nodded vigorously.
"I...missed you...thank you...so much." She said and Aquarius smiled again.
"Yeah, well, don't get all weepy on me, and it's about damn time you summoned me in water fitting of my beauty, I've been waiting to see Scorpio again...and your man there looks ready to take you somewhere, so, lets both get to our men, don't summon me for a few days either brat, Scorpio and I have some catching up to do." The mermaid said and was gone.
"She never really was a chatty one was she?" Bickslow observed and Lucy smiled at him, kissing Aquarius' key before sending it to her requip storage.
Her friends and family gathered around her, hugging and congratulating her before everyone headed back for the ship that would take them back to White Sea and Kaleb held Lucy back, pulling her to him,smiling down at her.
"Congratulations, beautiful, Aquarius was very happy to be back with you." He said softly,trapped in his mates bright happy eyes, this was what he had started working toward, what he had used every resource for, to get them to this point, when Lucys smile could fill her beautiful eyes and she was radiant with the inner glow that was so unique to her. He'd known from the start it was supposed to be there, that the dull sad, withdrawn woman he'd met wasn't who she really was, and now...now he saw and felt it and realized, he'd underestimated her. She was so much more amazing than he'd ever dreamed.
Gods help him...if he loved her more his chest would burst. She looked up narrowing her eyes a little on the stars and he smiled, he knew she was still angry about how the spirit king was trying to hasten them into starting a family. Knew Lucys spirits had been ordered not to assist her in any form of birth control so she'd been unable to get the potions Virgo usually gave her and they absolutely had not been abstinent.
"I just...I didn't want to argue...I wanted this to be about Aquarius...but still…" She sighed and Kaleb tipped her chin up, a gentle finger under her jaw.
"You know you aren't the only one in this relationship, and I know since we found out about my magic and how important our children will be you've been worried." He said and she nodded.
"It's not that I don't want children...I do...I even want a big family...it's just...I want time to be settled, to really enjoy...us, is it selfish Kaleb? I want time for us, just you and me, I want ...our fun, to travel, to go on jobs together, to get really comfortable with your whole family…." visions flashed through her head that were not as noble and he chuckled.
"You still want to be able to tie me to the bed and ride me till I can't breathe.…" He smirked and Lucys breath hitched as a wave of pure lust washed over her at those words...sweet Gods had she enjoyed that….Yes she wanted to be able to do that…
"So...since you want to keep the freedom to explore the physical pleasures with me, and I am completely behind that idea, I've taken measures myself to make sure we don't get pregnant before we're ready." He said softly and Lucys eyes widened. It hadn't even occurred to her to have Kaleb do anything preventative, she'd just assumed the responsibility was all hers.
"It's not all yours, it takes us both to make a baby, it takes us both to prevent babies from coming before we're ready, Lucy...I love you, protecting your happiness is the most important job I have, and I share the responsibility of making sure I don't get you pregnant too soon." He said, his hands slid down her body then, a wicked glint in his lavender gaze.
"I DO, want to make babies with you...see this gorgeous belly grow with our children, I want a big family...you're going to be an incredible mother." He purred at her and Lucys heart skipped in her chest as he pulled her hips into him and shifted his thigh so he rubbed right into her and made her breath flutter.
"Just not yet...so we can travel, have sex ten times a day and twice more than that at night if we want to, explore all the delicious imaginative things you keep dreaming up...and while I don't think it's possible...fall more in love than we already are, before we start bringing grandchildren home for my father to spoil." He said and she grabbed him pushed her hands into his silky hair and pulled him into a long hard hungry kiss.
Was it possible to be desperately in love with someone? To need them more every day, want them more, love them more every day? So far...she had, she was...and knowing he was thinking about it all, that he paid attention, realized what she wanted and took actions without being asked for her benefit...that he was silently just...there for her, supporting her at every turn. Kaleb empowered her, held her up and never held her back, and this was just one more thing she could add to all the proof she had of that, of how he didn't just tell her he loved her and wanted her happy, he did whatever he could to make certain of it.
He hummed into her kiss, fisting his hands in the dress she wore and pulling her harder against him. "You're going to be such a good Dad." Lucy said breathlessly when they finally pulled apart, he grinned at her, "When were ready Lucy...we will start making those babies and find out for sure...you ready to go?" He asked, it was late November and the air was chilling as the night settled in, the flight he was taking her on would take a couple of hours and he wanted them to be able to get settled at the hot spring before it got too late.
She nodded and he turned her around so her back was against his chest, wrapped his arms around her and she smiled as his wings spread out, then slammed down and took them into the cool night sky.
Arman nudged Cristoff as they were boarding the hovership and his son followed his gaze to see Kaleb carrying Lucy off into the sky. Both men smiled.
"You know he left Laxus in charge right?" Cris pointed out and Arman chuckled nodding.
"Try not to wreck the Guild Hall."
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Yukino stood looking from the balcony, watching the hovership return that had taken Lucys friends and family out to the island for the wasn't with them, she knew he wasn't, she'd not seen him….could feel his proximity to her as surely as when she sensed a nearby celestial key when the man was near, so the absence of that feeling was like a chasm.
Her eyes were red and swollen from crying more tears than she'd ever thought she could. She was not allowed to leave White Sea, there was an investigation going on, the woman, Castia, who was somewhere here in this massive guild complex, who had helped her own sister orchestrate the kidnapping of the Archangel...she had yet to be interrogated, still recovering from head injuries inflicted by a very angry card mage it seemed.
Yukino couldn't blame her...she'd met Cana a few times...seen her at parties...Castia had been raping the Lunar Dragon Slayer, Yukino had seen her doing it...she didn't remember everything, it was so hazed over, but she did remember some things…
The feel of warm pliant lips, the scent of cinnamon, beautiful amethyst eyes, and her sister telling her it was consensual...that the Archangel wanted them...it had been lies, Sorrano had lied to her.
Zen Pradesh was a good man who had been through hell, he was used, drugged, and in chains when she had...lost control of herself and all but attacked him. Gods she had wanted him so very badly….and while they had not completed what Sorrano had wanted them to do, they had not mated...Yukino had still lost her virginity...she'd stripped down and started...fucking the Archangel, she was so ashamed of herself, of her sister...of what Sorrano had done…it had been her...Zen had barely responded, he certainly hadn't forced himself on her….she cringed thinking about it.
Kaleb, the Guildmaster of White Sea, Zens brother and her friend Lucys mate, had told her she would have to make peace with it all, find a way to come to terms with it and use it all to build the strength she clearly lacked as a person.
Sting and Rogue were on their way to Bosco, her young Guildmaster determined to be there through her hearing. Arman Pradesh, Zens father, had told her it was more a formality than anything now, they knew she had not acted intentionally, Kaleb and two other military mind mages had confirmed she wasn't lying, that she had gone in believing Zen wanted to be mated to Sorrano, wanted to be bound to Yukino….and that her sister had betrayed her...had meant to mate her to Zen all along.
She still had no idea why, why Sorrano would do the horrible things she had done, but it was too late now. Sorrano was gone, had escaped and they hadn't been able to trace her teleportation. Hestor too, the Celestial mage who had helped Sorrano orchestrate the whole thing, who had captured Cristoff, the Lunar Dragon Slayer and been part of a group raping that mage when she had walked in….
Gods she hadn't had the strength...she'd been mindless, drowned in lust by then, had even been tempted to go climb onto that raven haired adonis herself and the realization disgusted her.
Out there on the beautiful Grass Sea somewhere was Lucy Heartfillia, her friend, the most powerful Celestial mage Yukino had ever met, and the beautiful blonde was strong, stood up for herself, her beliefs, protected her family and friends...was mated now to Kaleb who was one of the most beautifully handsome men Yukino had ever seen, and Lucy was recovering a key, a zodiac, was being gifted the key by the Spirit King himself because she had been instrumental in saving Zen from slavery and what had Yukino done? Been wrapped up in an effort to strip that man of his freedom again, turn him into nothing more than a toy, a pawn for her sister to exploit.
She needed to be...more like Lucy, less like Sorrano if she ever wanted to be happy, she had to distance herself from her sister, and if Sorrano ever came near her, ever contacted her again...she would see her sister in chains herself...never again, she would never trust Sorrano ever again.
A whimper escaped her, more tears coming, she prayed Sting and Rogue would hurry, she needed them...she wasn't treated badly here at all, but she knew everyone here knew what she had done, what she'd been a part of and she refused all the offers to join Lucy for lunch, had refused the invitation to attend this ceremony tonight, terrified the spirit king would have taken her keys, her magic, everything...it was what she deserved.
Her spirits assured her she was wrong, Libra insisted she was not at fault for anything but trusting her sister...but she'd seen Zen since...watched an odd looking woman with silver near white hair appear on the Guild lawn and wrap her arms around him, comfort him, she had seen them spar...seen them stand close to each other, watched Zen reach out to brush a finger over the small womans cheek, and even though she knew she had no right...she'd felt jealous.
Those lips had felt so good, that body...everything about the Archangel had called to her and she could have sworn more than once that odd looking woman had looked up and right at her as she had worked with Zen during their visit. She hated herself for wanting him so bad, that even now she did, watching him out in front of the guild the celebration party for Lucy was in full swing even though Lucy wasn't there, her mate she'd said was taking her away for a week, just the two of them.
But White Sea, like so many guilds, embraced any good reason to have a party, and their lovely light, the mate of their Master, being gifted a key by the Spirit King himself, Zen and Cristoff rescued, was cause to party. She didn't know about Hestor, wasn't sure why Zen was being watched so closely by Stellans, escorted around by the pretty little silver haired woman, she had no right to ask, but she wondered...and it all ate at her.
Out on the grass before the main guildhall, people were dancing, drinking, enjoying the music of a live band, and Zen was among them, wearing an elegant suit, with the odd looking woman in his arms dancing. If only it were her...if only her sister hadn't been lying...Gods what would it be like to be mated to such a man? She could only imagine…
Sniffling she turned away from the scene when the woman slid her hands up Zens chest,grabbed the lapels of his jacket and smiled up at him, Zen returning that smile. No man would ever look at her like that...she was weak...foolish...she slammed her hand against the marble banister of the balcony she was on.
She had to stop being this way, stop being so...Yukino...and start being more...Lucy….then maybe she would get stronger, collect more keys...have more friends...have a man look at her the way Zen was looking at the silver haired woman who kept sliding her hands over him and pressing her body against his...She had to find a way to change, or she would forever be the crying lonely woman watching others live happy lives…
"Sorrano...you bitch...I'll never forgive you for this…" She whispered angrily before slumping forward, resting her chin on her hands and watching the silver haired woman turn around and laugh at something Zen had said, watched the man grin and follow her from the dance floor to where the Stellans were.
Someday...someday that would be her...Yukino made the vow to herself, she would be happy, carefree like that, brave like that...have someone look at her that way...but first she had to get home…
"Oh Sting...Rogue...Please hurry…." she whimpered.
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Amidst the crowds the twin slayers were closer than Yukino knew, Sting grinning as he was pulled into the arms of a gorgeous brunette who slid her hands into his pale blonde hair "You're not from White Sea...are you a friend of Lucys from Fiore?" She asked and Sting grinned at her.
"Matter of fact I am...me and Lucy go way back." He said, hands sliding to the womans curvy hips. Sweet Gods since they had arrived in Bosco yesterday he'd been propositioned more than a dozen times. Now Rogue kept stepping in and killing his fun, insisting they hurry to Yukino, but damn if he wasn't enjoying Bosco so far.
He knew they needed to get to Yukino, he'd had a bad feeling about Yuki ditching them to run off when her sister called her, but Yukino had this weird relationship with her sister he couldn't understand, even Rogue admitted it baffled him and Rogue was super smart.
So this whole thing, it pissed him right the fuck off, and he was going to give Sorrano hell when he caught up to her, but first he and Rogue had to get Yukino back to Fiore safe and sound….then they would run her sister down and beat her ass.
"Share pleasure with me...there's a booth free just inside the hall…" The beautiful woman he was suddenly dancing with whispered in his ear and he beamed, starting to nod eagerly until he felt a cool hand grip his shoulder and he rolled his eyes.
"Gods I want to sweetheart, but my brother and I have a friend to help...save some for me? I'm gonna try to get back down here!" He offered and the woman grinned, leaning in and kissing him and Gods could she kiss.
When she pulled back she smiled at Rogue "I would be happy to share with both of you...when you're through helping your friend...I'll still be down here." She purred,trailing a finger along Rogues jaw and the Shadow slayer swallowed hard, unable to resist watching the buxom brunette sway and dance her way back into a thicker part of the crowd.
"Ya know...an hour maybe two would not kill Yuki, she's the Guildmasters guest here, in some big suite, safe and sound, we could so just...have a little fun then go find her!" Sting offered.
Rogue growled, grabbing Sting's shirt and pulling the complaining blonde with him to go find Yukino.
Not far away Cobra was closing on the stage set up outside, raptly watching his mate. Vander had been torn from his side and dragged to the stage as soon as the first guildmembers spotted him and he was now singing with a slender little blue haired mage, looking right at Cobra, knowing what his voice did to the Poison Slayer, and just how much Cobra enjoyed when Vander would put on private little "shows" for him, Vander had spent three months with Cristoff and Presca undercover as a stripper in Bayslip, a town dedicated to dance clubs and pleasure houses, home of the Sudehpah order.
The once Sudehpah prodigy enjoyed giving his mate tastes of the skills he'd acquired, lapdances and stripping among them and Cobra really...deeply...enjoyed sitting in the overstuffed chair in Vanders apartment here in White Sea while his mate gave him plenty to get him worked up.
Fuck the shadowy little tease was agile, flexible...and way too damn creative with sex, Cobra figured his stamina and control had probably tripled since he had mated with Vander and he still sometimes wondered if he'd ever manage to sate the lusty beast.
Vander never seemed to be left wanting...and Cobra sure as hell never was, there was little in the world that could match watching Vander Pradesh peel black shadowleather off his chiseled body while he danced and sang like a filthy mouthed angel.
Watching him now, rolling his body, hands sliding up into his thick black hair while the little bluenette danced around him...sweet Gods...this was Bosco...would anyone care if he bent the Shadowquip over one of the large speakers and fucked him raw on the stage?
The song was...too much...and Vanders wine colored eyes locked right onto him as he sang…
Hold me up against the wall
Give it to me big
Give me some more
Make me bleed I like it raw
Push up to my body
Sink your teeth into my flesh
Cobra groaned, the dark red pants he wore rapidly way too tight as he stalked closer to the stage, eyes locked with his mates who was smirking as he undulated that gorgeous body and the Bluenette ran her nails across his chest.
Oh hell no...that wouldn't do at all...every inch of that 6'2" of heaven was HIS territory, his lips tongue and teeth knew every inch of it and he didn't care if it was just for fun...his hands were going to be on that body, his claws would scrape over that bare chest…
He jumped onto the stage and Vander turned right to him, still singing…
Hold my hands above my head
And push my face into the bed
Cause I'm a screamer baby make me a mute
You put your hand upon my neck and feel the pulse beat beat beat beat
Its like a trigger get me ready to shoot.
Wanna wrestle with me baby here's a sneak little peak
You can dominate the game cause I'm tough
I dont play around that often when I do I'm a freak
And you better believe I like it ROUGH
Cobra was almost panting as Vander started dancing against him now, the crowd screaming them on.
Hold me down and make me scream
Lay me on the floor
Tuuuurn me on
And take me out
Make me beg for moooore
That was it, all Cobra could take, he yanked the microphone from Vanders hand and tossed it to the bluenette who picked up the chorus while he threw Vander over his shoulder and carried him off the stage, up the stairs into the guild hall and into the nearest privacy booth, slapping the curtain closed and slamming his mate down on the floor just like he'd asked.
Vander hissed but his magic flared and the shadow leather melted away from his body at his command, leaving him naked for Cobras hungry mouth to ravage as he tore his own pants open and flipped Vander to his stomach, yanking him by his hips while pressing his face into the pillows that covered the floor of the booth before finally freeing his throbbing length and, without preamble or any more play, gripped his mates hip and thrust himself into his tight body.
"Ffffuuck….yes...Gods yes…" Vander gasped out as Cobra took up a brutal pace, his thighs slapping against the back of Vanders.
"Shit...fucking...tease...scream for me…" Cobra snarled and Vander did...his mates name ripped from him over and over as Cobra fisted his hand in Vanders hair and wrenched him up, slamming him into the bench in the booth and yanking one of his legs up, propping Vanders knee up on the edge of the bench while he hammered into his tight heat,clenching his teeth at the sounds of the shadowquips moans.
"More...come on baby...nnngh! Harder!" Vander gasped out, barely able to suck in air Cobra was pistoning into him so hard but Gods it felt good and he loved this side of his mate right now, this raw vicious passion...it was exactly what he wanted tonight, just what he was seeking when he'd started singing that song.
"Fuck...you ….nnngh...nobody touches you but ME!" Cobra snarled and Vander groaned as Cobra gripped the back of the bench with one hand to give him more leverage, his thrusts plunging deeper and harder until Vander was gripping at the front of the bench so he could meet them at all his end barreling at him as Cobras clawed hand gripped his hip and adjusted him, hitting that perfect spot hard enough Vanders breathing seized and he screamed out his end, Cobra snarled, dropping forward and sinking his teeth into the back of Vanders shoulder while he came, emptying himself into Vanders body, his own jerking with the force of his orgasm.
Moment later the pair sank to the pillows gasping for air.
"Want me to sing another?" Vander offered breathlessly and Cobra growled, pulling the shadowmage into his arms and curling around him.
"I want your ass right where it is so I can get my fucking cuddles...you scared the fuck out of me recently….just let me...hold you…" Cobra growled and Vander smiled, wriggling until he was facing his mate and wrapping a leg over Cobras hips so he could press in tight against him, smirking when their sensitive cocks pressed against each other but the kiss he pressed to Cobras mouth was a gentle one.
They had been through a lot recently...for once...the youngest Pradesh would chose to be obedient...and indulge his mate, because while he loved to party...he loved Erik more.
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Lucy spent two hours breathless, entranced by the beauty of the sea, the amazing feeling of flying in Kalebs arms, his long wings reflecting the lights of the bioluminescent plants below them. They came to the base of the mountains and he angled upward, carrying her up a few hundred feet along the face of one of the mountains until finally a wooded area came into view and he turned inward, skimming over the treetops a short distance then bringing them down, following a stream until it spilled over a waterfall into a steaming pool and Lucys breath caught.
The steaming pool ran right to the edge of the cliff they had just flown up, steamy water spilling over the edge to tumble a hundred feet or so before filling another larger pool below them. Kaleb let her go and Lucy walked wide eyed to the pool, looking out over the Grass Sea.
The whole area couldn't be more than half the size of the grand courtyard back at the Guild, lush grass, tall trees and the steaming pool faintly glowing from familiar bioluminescent plants was far removed from everything...only accessible by flight she realized...it was beautiful…
"Kaleb…" She breathed and the tall mage smiled at her, nodding toward the trees across the pool from them and Lucys breath caught. There was a small cottage, nestled back in the trees a little ways.
"Nurem showed Cristoff this place while we were children, after she had to leave, for a time, she would meet him here every few months until she said it was too dangerous for her to even be doing that anymore...but all of us know this place...Cristoff and Farron and I, we built that cottage when we were teenagers, Dad helped, but we did the work ourselves, did a damn good job too. We keep it up...retreat here sometimes...I wanted to show it to you...this is a private place...nobody can reach it or find it easily unless they know its here, We warded it, Vander put in security that would make this place safe enough for the king too...do you like it?" He asked and Lucy nodded vigorously.
"It's...gorgeous...oh Kaleb are we staying here? Is this where we're taking our little vacation?! Please say yes!" She said excitedly and he grinned, relieved she liked it, it was a bit rustic, but comfortable, and he'd come out here with Cristoff several times over the last few days bringing food and supplies and getting it ready for this.
At his nod she ran into his arms and hugged him then skipped to the waters edge, bending and trailing her fingers in the steamy water and jerking her head around giving him a wide eyed look.
"A natural hot spring...all to ourselves...in a secluded little spot on the side of a mountain overlooking the sea? Gods….I love this...so...what's a girl gotta do to talk the big responsible Guildmaster into skinny dipping with her in a hot spring?" She asked and Kaleb grinned at her.
"Get naked." He replied and Lucy grinned, starting to strip slowly out of her clothes in front of him. When she dropped the dress to pool at her feet Kalebs tongue slid over his lower lip and he started undoing the buttons of his shirt, when he pulled it open to slide down his arms it was Lucys turn to lick her lips.
The white tattoos were always impressive, but the ones on his forearm...that matched hers except his also bore HER name, proclaiming boldly that he was hers...those always drew her eye and made her chest warm.
When he undid his pants though the warmth moved decidedly south.
Teasing she hooked her fingers in her pale blue lacy panties and twirled her hips to start them sliding down, smirking when Kaleb sucked in a breath at the sight, her breasts swaying as she wriggled suggestively then raised her arms and undulated a little to get them to fall to the grass, standing naked before him by the edge of the hot spring.
It was unlikely he would ever reach a point that she didn't take his breath away.
Two could play the teasing game though, he hooked his thumbs into the waist of his pants and pushed them down until the bulge there was just about to come free but stopped, sliding his hands back up his body and once his hands were behind his head, he tensed his body and rolled it, turning slowly in a circle and letting his movement work his pants down his legs until he was free of them, standing in nothing but one of his silk g-strings.
Lucy was biting her lower lip...Gods she loved that he prefered that kind of underwear...it was like she had her very own built and gorgeous stripper all to herself. He thought it was funny she called them stripper undies but really, most men wore boxers or boxer briefs, maybe briefs...the silk g-strings Kaleb prefered, and he had a perfectly rational reason for preferring them in that he was almost always in leather pants and they were just cooler and more comfortable than other underwear, but still...sweet gods, there he stood in nothing but a white g-string that he very amply filled and...that did little to hide his arousal.
She crooked a finger at him and backed down into the hot springs water, pressing her lips together at hot good it felt because bless the stars the water was perfect…
Minutes later she was braced up against the water smoothed surface of a rock with her legs hooked over Kalebs thickly muscled arms while he thrust powerfully into her body. Neither lasted long that way either, gasping out their ends and sinking into the water,slowing into long humming kisses and sliding their hands over each others bodies reminding themselves of every sweet spot, every contour and curve.
It was a while later they emerged from the water to lay back on a thick quilt on the soft grass and star gaze wrapped in a second quilt. Lucy smiled, humming softly in approval as Kaleb nuzzled into her neck, placed long warm kisses on her smooth skin and murmuring sweet things in her ear.
She ran her fingers absently through his long hair, eyes on the stars until he pulled back and reached above her, riffling through his clothes that were in a pile there next to hers.
He stilled, looking down into her eyes and with the starlight behind him, shimmering in his platinum hair, he barely looked real.
Kaleb drew a breath, searching Lucys warm eyes and finding only happiness...love...filling them and he smiled, heart in his throat as he started.
"I love you...I never want you to wonder if I do, to feel I love you less than I did...or that loving you less is even possible for me...you…" He said firmly, looking deep into her eyes "are everything to me...and I want to make it all...official...so…." He drew a breath, watching her eyes widen as he shifted so he could hold a dove gray velvet covered box up then set it beside her and opened it, Lucys eyes flew wide at way lay on a bed of dark blue satin.
"I Kaleb Suraday Pradesh ask to take you, Lucy Heartfillia, to wife, to share my life, my challenges, my bed and my body, to be the mother of my children and my equal partner at my side for all time...do you accept?" He asked.
Lucy had tears in her eyes when she flung her arms around him, kissing him hard before pulling back and whispering raspily, voice choked by emotion "YES...Gods YES!"
Kaleb kissed her wildly, almost delirious with excitement and relief. Yes they were mated, and yes that was eternal, but Kaleb and Lucy had both grown up with marriage, becoming Husband and Wife meaning something tremendously important to both of them, getting married wouldn't make their bond stronger, but it would make it better, make it mean all that much more to them.
Kaleb pulled back, smiling as he slid the ring on Lucys finger and lifted the hammered gold Choker from the box, his family name engraved inside it, a lacrima like the one he always wore resting in the center. He settled it around her neck and closed the clasp, laughing when Lucy shoved him over onto his back and and started ravishing his mouth, showering him with kisses.
She pulled back finally when they were both laughing, and smiled down at him, tears bright in her eyes.
"I love you...you...you loved me when I wasn't lovable….when I wasn't bright and happy and easy to get along with...you're always...so good to me…" She breathed, a tear stealing down her face and he wiped it away smiling up at her.
"You have always been easy to love Lucy...you taught me what love was...how to feel it...how to accept it. My Lucy...soon to be..my wife." He said and she grinned cuddling into his side and turning a bit so she could look up at the stars and start thanking all of them for the man in her arms.
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Sorrano narrowed her eyes over the wood of the desk, holding the glare of the large Joyan woman sitting across from her. She handed over the chain in her hand and the woman smiled, jerking on it so the silver haired man on the other end staggered into the arms of the guard standing beside the woman seated across from Sorrano.
Tenshis eyes were blank, hazed over by the drugs in his system, the beautiful young high priest of the Three hadn't been easy for Sorrano to get her hands on, but she'd managed, when the guards pulled him into the open room off the main one his moans soon filtered in as the women started enjoying their new plaything.
"I am pleased to be working with a woman who deals like a Joyan, my first guards will get a lot of pleasure out of him, we very much like Stellans here.. Your last name also pleases me Evangelique is an old Joyan family...you should be proud to come from the line." the Warqueen smiled.
Sorrano returned the smile "I am...do we have a deal?" She demanded.
"We do, frankly I am surprised, the male had been clear that the Archangel mages were too valuable to trade, but Kaleb….Kaleb I have wanted since he was small, I was promised he would grow into a beautiful specimen to be kept as a breeder for myself, I am deeply pleased those promises were true...he is….breathtaking, and you're certain you can capture him? I want him and one of the Dragon Slayers, I do not care which, just an unmated one I can use for breeding." The warqueen said firmly. She reached down, trailing her fingers along the body of the Ambassador who lay chained to floor by his neck next to her throne and Sorrano licked her lips looking over the man. Still, after all this time in the hands of the Joyans, Farron Pradesh remained stunning, golden tanned skin still smooth stretched over hard muscle, honey gold hair falling around his broad shoulders. Only the vacant heavily drugged daze in the baby blue eyes was out of character.
"You help me bind myself to both of the Archangels and I'll give you a big blonde one,about the same size and build as Kaleb." Sorrano said, tossing down a picture of Laxus Dreyar.
The warqueen grinned "Stunning...yes...we have a deal, my agents will be prepared and moved into place so they can play their parts, all of my women have been warned not to fuck the darker haired Archangel or...Kaleb...he's mine...completely mine...you may bind him but that beautiful creature was always meant to live chained to my bed."
Sorrano smirked "He's well endowed, I've seen him at the baths, you won't be disappointed in him." She said.
"Farron…" Another voice snapped and Sorrano looked over pressing her lips together.
"Not like you haven't had plenty of him, we'll use his brothers as leverage in such a way he will agree to anything, including a marriage contract for you….Princess." Sorano dipped her head to the woman standing a few feet away watching through the door as the Joyan guards were fucking the wind out of the Stellan priest Sorano had brought in as a bargaining piece.
"Will he be used for any breeding since you have an Archangel coming?" She asked in a bored tone.
"Yes, three of my first guards want to go ahead and have children by him, those right now are just trying him out to see if they might like to as well, I plan at least four, I need successors for my line, and Kaleb was always my choice to sire them." The Joyan Warqueen replied. "Once I have them, they will breed with any male offspring produced by the Holy Mage you've brought me on my guards. And an ongoing breeding plan will be put into place to hopefully ensure a higher birth rate of such magic users in the future."
"A fine plan Warqueen, now...I must take my leave, I have a great deal of work to do." Sorano said,rising and heading for the door after bowing to both women. She had to retrieve her sister, so Yukino could still mate with the Archangel, she knew he had not mated yet even though he was in Stellan hands and had been seen with a silver haired Priestess of Heset. The plans she had would take some time to bring together, but they would work... There was still a chance and she was damn well going to take it, no matter how many men she had to sell into slavery. Kaleb would be sold for two reasons, so she got her deal, and...to hurt Lucy Heartfillia.
She would send the woman videos of her precious mate being fucked by the Joyan Warqueen, of him being drugged, conditioned so he was just the mindless sex toy that Tenshi Takida was becomming now. And she would make sure somehow she got to watch the bitches reactions to all of her perfect little life and happiness being taken away. She would break Lucy Heartfillia, just like Lucy broke her…..
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Hestor paced, glaring at Manuke and then at Zen who just narrowed his eyes. "It's the best option." Manuke said calmly and Hestor hissed, baring his teeth "I...KNOW...but I don't like this, it's bad enough the bitch has Tenshi...I need that fucking KEY!" Hestor screamed gripping at his hair and bending over a minute his steel blue eyes turning dark for a few moments and Zen growled, Manuke put a hand on the mans chest "Let him work through it…" the priest said and Zen glanced at the man then back toward Shimako.
Shimako was now his bonded. The Heavenly Body mage was a priestess of Heset, with a fiery temper hidden in a calm serene package. Bonded, his magic had settled, evened out, and he had far better control over it and the compulsions it held. It had been Xiao's idea, and Zen had almost decked the man for suggesting it, thinking he meant to somehow enslave him, but...once he'd calmed down, and Manuke and Hestor (when he was lucid enough) had explained. He'd agreed.
His training in Stella was going incredibly well, and he'd been allowed time to be there when Lucy had been given Aquarius. He liked Shimako, enjoyed her company, and he trusted her, so when she gave him a faint smile and nod he let out a sigh and didn't move to try to help Hestor.
He understood now...Celestial Summoners were connected to their keys, mental/emotional bonds happened with them and some keys were just...dark...and hestor held several of them, some that were seriously messing with how the man functioned, thought...felt...and once he had this key he was after, all of that would settle tremendously and Hestor would be the aloof, semi-asshole he normally was again, the one who had been teaching Zen to read and write...who had become his first real friend.
Loyalty was something Zen understood, and now that he knew what Hestor was dealing with, the crimes against himself, Cristoff...Farron...well, he couldn't speak for his brothers but Cristoff had forgiven Hestor and Farron, when they had last been able to speak, had firmly stood by Hestor even as he'd sat in chains on the other end of the fucking com.
Loyalty. So Zen would stand by his friend, see him through this, ride the risks out, and...assure Farron came home safe along with Tenshi and...Manuke.
Manuke was the final bargaining chip that was being used to assure Hestor got his key and Farron was returned to them. The elegant man stood beside Zen as Hestor fought to regain his composure after another maniacal push from his keys. They wanted him to take Zen, force a mating on him...and Zen had watched Hestor fight his own magic for days now, to the point blood would run from his nose and his eyes would turn black and he'd curl into a ball on the floor in pain...but he fought, did not give in. He'd given in and hurt people he cared about already, and the man was bent on that not happening anymore.
Hestor stood upright again, wiping blood from his face and composing himself, eyes not meeting anyone else's as his chin tipped up regally. "I'm...fine. It's passed for now." he said and moved to his com to call Sydelle...Manuke letting out a breath as Shimako readied the chains he would be delivered in. It was temporary, that was the deal, the promise...4 women each for him and Tenshi to be with along with what Farron had done would buy that key and save Hestor…
Zen grit his teeth glancing at his friend, reminding himself again...it was not Hestors choice to be this...it was not what he'd wanted, but the man was fighting for all he was worth to keep himself lucid, to get Farron free, the keep his cousins safe...to not become the Dark mage his keys would make him into if he failed.
A short ways off, Xiao stood, the high priest of Set watching his charge carefully. Zen was now Stellas to defend and protect, with the emergence of the Archangel magic the importance of each Celestial Summoner had grown tremendously.
Stella was a country that protected all things Celestial. They held Stellarium, had mines that boasted actual Celestium too. The country had fought hard to maintain records, histories, to preserve all they could of the celestial bloodlines so that the magics of that nature would not perish from Earthland. Now, now there were fewer than 50 Celestial Summoners world wide, and while there were other types of Celestial magic, the Summoners were the gateways fo the magic, what kept it so firmly planted in Earthland.
The return of Archangel magic meant Celestial Summoners could flourish more than they had since the last of the Archangel mages had disappeared a thousand years ago. It meant that the magic could grow, protected, expanded by its symbiotic relationship with Archangel magic. So...each and every Celestial Summoner was precious, and Hestor Kedanza was half Stellan by blood, Takida bloodline, keeper of the Hall, and Stella would go to huge lengths...take tremendous risks...to preserve the man.
All the way to allowing a corrupted Celestial Summoner who had abandoned her keys for demonic coins to come onto their lands, walk into a temple of the Three, and believe she had through her own skill, kidnapped a High Priest of the Three Gods of the Heavens. Tenshi Takida had been prepared for his abduction...the Mother Seer of Stella had seen it coming weeks earlier, and Tenshi had been prepared, briefed thoroughly on what was expected, and even medically prepared to be under Joyan drugs. Sorrano believed herself resourceful..skilled, but she had nothing on the Stellans who watched the moves of every Celestial Mage so carefully.
This had to unfold this way...the Mother Seer had foreseen it all, Xiao reminded himself, watching as Hestor negotiated with Sydelle to hand Manuke over in order to get the Key of Ma'at and, Ambassador Pradesh free. The man narrowed his dark eyes. Everything was moving as the Mother Seer had seen it...and they had to follow the plan...
