Zen lay back in the bed and sighed, almost a week aboard a Boscan airship and he still wasn't comfortable in the soft bed he was supposed to sleep in. His father had come in and found him asleep on the floor a few times now and while he said little, it was clear it upset him so Zen was trying his best to use an actual bed.
He'd never had one growing up, cold hard floors, occasionally thin mats and ratty blankets, but never something as opulent as the king sized four poster bed he was laying in with its soft sheets and plush blankets.
He'd gotten a little lucky, his brother Kaleb had mated with Lucy, a good thing, very good, since Zen had, when he'd first seen the beautiful blonde, been almost painfully attracted to her, watching her tackle his brother that first day, seeing them kissing and so affectionate with each other had stirred real jealousy in him that he'd rejected immediately and forced aside. His father telling him Kaleb and Lucy were promised had further driven him to crush the strange desire, the powerful pull toward the woman but it had been hard…until a couple of hours after he had gone with his father and Kaleb and Lucy had retired to their room.
Then, then he'd felt a massive surge of magic, the removal of the manacles he'd worn for years already leaving him lightheaded as his constantly suppressed and drained magic suddenly was allowed to rush through him, his magic containers allowed to fill for the first time, Cristoff, had come, his mate at his side, or would-be mate, he was noting it all, memorizing who was who and who they were mated to, promised too, whatever was significant to his family was important to him and he wanted to learn it, understand it all.
Through it all Hestor was there, at his side, quiet, calm, patient. Hestor never judged him, was even quietly teaching Zen to read and write, how to speak proper Boscan too and he really couldn't thank the man enough for his generosity and...his discretion. It was humiliating how...uneducated he was.
Seeing the woman he'd gotten out of Skysreach safe and putting weight on added to the overwhelming feelings he was dealing with, he was emotionally overdone, so happy, relieved, and at the same time unnerved, worried he would do something wrong, anger his family and they wouldn't…want him.
He knew that was unlikely, the logical side of his mind told him his family had just risked everything, pulled on every resource they had to get him back, were there any part of them that wasn't sure, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths and risk, still, he didn't want to disappoint them.
His attraction to his brothers promised had alarmed him, but, that had waned, after that surge of magic, which according to Kaleb had been him mating with Lucy and opening up his own Archangel magic, Zen hadn't felt it as strongly. Now it was almost like what he felt toward the rest of his family, a strong desire to protect them, to make sure they were well and happy.
So he dismissed it, deciding to attribute the odd sensations and compulsions to being just overwhelmed by being reunited with his family and freed from a lifetime of slavery.
He'd gratefully jumped at the chance to help Kaleb with his wings, his poor brother had no clue how to handle the new magic he had and, adding to that, Kaleb was already hugely powerful, with three massive origins open and magic pathways laced through with light. Cristoff had spent a couple of hours going over both of them with Xally, marveling at them both.
"Your containers were always big Kaleb and your pathways handled moving your magic on the same level as a healer, just large flow, but this new stuff, the old ones are light soaked, the new ones? I can barely look into they're so bright, you have MORE immaculate light in you now than you did and now it's carrying the golden tint of Celestial magic." He observed. Xally going over them both had agreed.
"Zen has as much capacity, the difference is his pathways are disused, so will need to be worked, that's not a bad thing, he just won't have the output you will Kaleb, at first anyway, but you're both…beyond what most mages are. Lucy…Lucy has changed some too…" Cristoff added, looking over to the wide eyed blonde who was sitting beside Cana watching and listening.
"Yeah, Cosplayers soul…it's all wrapped up with yours now Kaleb." Bickslow said, eyes glowing green as he'd also been asked to check over the pair. Arman stood by the infirmary bed Zen was sitting on looking between his sons uncertainly. He wasn't sure whether to be completely elated that Kaleb had, for the second time in his young life, gone through a large change in his magic that was this time bringing with it the happy fact that he was now mated to the sweet girl he'd liked from the moment he'd met her, and in doing greatly improved Armans chances of becoming a grandfather sooner rather than later. Or, if he should be worried about such a major thing happening right alongside them rescuing his beloved second born son who he'd thought dead for more than 20 years.
There was also the fact that now, there were two Archangel mages, Zen, who had grown up with the magic mostly realized because of, Cristoff guessed, his exposure to the powerful magic bomb that had killed his mother but that his wings had protected him from, Cristoff and Xally both believed that his magic having to surge that strongly in order to protect him from the release of dark magic that had turned everything organic in the embassy building to dust but Zen, had blown his magic wide open so Zen had grown up with most of it there, certainly with his wings at his command.
Then Kaleb who had apparently spent most of his life to this point using just the major line of his full host of magic abilities. Though, Zen could not read minds or alter thoughts or any of the things Kaleb could do, his magic seemed based around combat, and while Kalebs certainly worked in that capacity, Kalebs wasn't as lethal as Zens was, or at least…it wasn't before. He could certainly kill with it, Arman had seen that for the first time personally at Skysreach, he and Kalebs brothers hadn't needed to do anything, Kaleb had just levelled people, he was upset about Lucy getting hurt at the time but still, seeing his sons power at work had been eye opening. He had never doubted the magic councils decision to make Kaleb a Wizard Saint, he'd always been magically the most disciplined and powerful of Armans children, but seeing what that level of power could do…
Now, he was stronger because of his bond with Lucy, and she was too, and she was hearing strong thoughts, those tied to strong emotions, somethings that came across painfully loud to Kaleb were still whispers to her but, she could mentally talk to Kaleb now without expending any effort, and her spirits, they were linked with both of them, could hear and speak with Kaleb as easily as they could Lucy.
Zen was happy for them, but some of what they had said had worried him. Kaleb had been drawn to Lucy from the beginning, that wasn't bad, but, when the mating had started, Kaleb had been utterly unable to control himself, he'd laid himself open for Lucy to take, handed himself over completely with no reservations and hadn't, in spite of being the one of Zens siblings his father said was the most thoughtful, responsible and cautious, in spite of a personality not prone to it at all, he hadn't hesitated, had just done it, gone with everything and held no part of himself back, saying:
"I couldn't…it didn't even occur to me, I…need her like air, since we met it's been more and more, stronger and stronger and once the link was in place…it sped toward what it became. I don't regret it, I'm happy with her…we'll be alright." Lucy had stood then, tears in her eyes and slid right into his lap and wrapped her arms around him and Zen had never seen so much…desire, so much…love…as he saw pass between his brother and Lucy before Kaleb had finally leaned up and kissed her. It staggered him, and knowing he himself was…destined for that, could have that…that staggered him more. It had him lying in the soft bed now crossing over Boscan lands toward Pelerno, the place of his birth, forgetting all about how badly he'd always yearned to see the Grass Sea and only thinking about someday…someday he would have someone like Kaleb had Lucy, he prayed she would be as kind, as beautiful a person as he already knew Lucy was.
He felt that pull still...toward Hestor, it was undeniable, and Hestor said he felt it too, it was their magic pulling them toward each other, wanting a union, that was what Hestor believed and Zen was inclined to agree. With countless hours on the long flight home spent with the Celestial Summoner though, he trusted Hestor, and had come to even rely on him for candid, blunt, honest insight into things.
A soft knock on his door had his sharp eyes snapping into focus and looking to it.
"Zen? We're over the sea now, you had mentioned wanting to see it, I thought we could have breakfast on the deck." His fathers voice came and he smiled, his father was all he'd ever dreamed he'd be, warm, loving, strong and patient, he'd already started arranging classes for him in everything from language to sex, since he'd not had the benefit of a sudehpah as a youth, he'd be working with one now and he'd admit freely he was looking forward to it. The things he'd learned in the pits were hardly romantic or artful, he knew how to please a woman, or he hoped he did, his father assured him Sudehpah did not judge, they taught, and his would help him learn how to be a lover on a Boscan level. So when he did mate, that mate would be kept as happy as Kaleb kept Lucy.
He pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, he just couldn't sleep with any sort of clothing on yet, though the silk sleep pants Kaleb had given him were comfortable, the blankets were already more than he was used to. His brothers had all gotten together and made sure he had clothes to wear, he and Bickslow were pretty much the same size, so what he pulled on now, while tight because Bickslow didn't have as much muscle mass as a lifetime in the pits had put onto Zens frame, fit him and he didn't mind the snug fit, when he'd worn leather armor, and for a while he'd been put in skin tight leather for his battles, he'd been comfortable in it, and it didn't inhibit his ability to move, the fabric had good give to it, so while he'd worn very little clothing in his life, he was adjusting well to this.
He bound his long hair back, smiling faintly at the feel of it since Lucys spirit had trimmed it for him to the same length as Kalebs, it had been well past his waist, the guards refusing to cut it or give Zen anything to use to do it himself. Now it was longer than modern lengths like Cristoff and Vander kept theirs in, but still traditional for a Boscan man.
His father smiled at him when he opened his door. "Ready? The sea is still bright, the sun hasn't fully risen yet." He said, leading Zen out onto the ships deck and Zen forgot about mates and languages and all the things troubling him, his lips lifting in a smile that had his father consciously struggling not to start crying again as his son rushed to the rail of the ship, gripping it while he drew in deep breaths of the fragrant air and the lights of the Grass Sea danced over him casting soft tints of color through the blonde highlights in his mahogany colored hair.
Zen was finally home.
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The family home had been set up to house the mages Arman was raising, and the practice ring beyond the deck behind the house was heavily warded to contain the powerhouses that were Armans children as they sparred with each other growing up.
Freed had re-enforced it further, and shared a chaise lounge with Romino and Farron on the deck watching Zen teaching Kaleb how to summon and control his wings. It had taken two full days but finally, with Zen smiling faintly at his brothers frustrated sigh, Zen had swung at him and Kalebs wings had finally emerged.
It was a blessing Zen was as skilled as he was, because the ex-gladiator had to use it to avoid Kalebs wings as they slashed forward to block Zens swing and slammed his black wing back sending him spinning to the dirt then a deadly sharp tip had rammed down right where Zen had fallen.
A black wing deflected it, but not before several shouts and Lucys scream of alarm had Kaleb reeling back wide eyed.
Zen rolled to his feet, his own wings curled to each side a smirk on his face, of everyone, he was the only one not upset and he'd been the one Kalebs wing had tried to impale.
Now they curled like Zens, at the ready. Like Zens but not, Kalebs gleamed, shimmering faintly golden white they almost glowed where Zens were black as night and glossy.
"It's ok…they respond to threats, and that time, I meant you harm, your wings will protect you on their own, even if you're not conscious, mine prevented more than a few rape attempts while I was growing up. I figured they would strike at the threat, it was the best way to bring them out." Zen said and Kaleb frowned.
"I don't like not having control of them…I did NOT want to strike at you…just block the swing." He said unhappily and Zen shrugged, his left wing curling in so he could stroke over the dark feathers thoughtfully.
"Then control them, it's mind over reflex, your most base reactions and instincts will drive your wings, it's why their reactions will be faster than your decisions, so they strike faster, block better than you can because they will react faster than you can think to command them, but you have to sort of…train your own reflexes. You've trained yourself to react with deadly retaliation to a malicious attack, so…that's what your wings did."
Kaleb frowned but nodded, glancing side to side and concentrating on the magic signature he felt, it was like growing another set of arms when they had come out and his whole system was struggling to adapt, it was a little overwhelming.
"Ok, so...now we have them out, make them move. When I was learning I got them to follow the movements of my arms, it's awkward at first, but you'll get better and better and soon won't need to involve your arms to get them to do what you want them to." Zen suggested and Kaleb pressed his lips together, grateful they had agreed to do this training at home, far from prying eyes, he didn't need his people seeing him awkward like this.
He concentrated, relaxed and let his magic flow through the wings then moved his arms and, like Zen had said, his wings followed them, he smiled faintly, focusing on the feel of it, trying to find the separate feel of the wings themselves, if he could isolate them, he could focus on them and move them independently.
"Move with me." Zen called and Kaleb looked up, watching his brother start working similar movements to Tai Chi, something Kaleb was very familiar with, and he smiled.
"How did you learn all of this there?" He asked quietly.
Zen shrugged "I had to, it was master the use of my wings or get raped to death, the nobles had already decided I was too dangerous to be a pleasure slave, and had I not started mastering my wings, which of all my magic, take the least amount to use and amplify my overall magic while they're out, then if the nobles hadn't killed me, eventually the guards and other Gladiators would have, I was "pretty", and Boscan, and in Pergrand...Boscan male slaves are extremely valued because of how well skilled they are in pleasure." Zen replied.
"You've grown strong, and I'm deeply grateful you're helping me." Kaleb said.
Zen smiled "I'm the grateful one...Dad says you are willing to admit me to White Sea...give me a place in the guild, my own apartment at any of the branches or in the main guild itself, I'd like that, to be part of the guild that fought so hard to save me."
Kaleb raised a brow and smiled at him "Even if your little brother is your Guildmaster?" He asked, Zen laughed. They had discovered Kaleb was a month younger than Zen and Zen had been chuckling about being his "Big" brother. He and Cristoff were both big men, Zen wasn't small, he was actually taller than both of them by a little bit, nearly as tall as Bickslow, but Kaleb and Cristoff worked on their muscle mass, trained it, Zens build was purely created by how hard he worked his body to fight,his muscle was hard earned, so was his speed and agility, and his skill with weapons, something he'd found only Vander could challenge him in.
His baby brother was...intense, Vander was fast, possessed a magic he'd never even dreamed existed, and on top of his blazing speed and skill, had a sharp tongue and didn't hold back teasing comments and jokes while he fought, he would have driven the crowds insane back in Pergrand.
Of his brothers he really couldn't say any one of them was easier than another to get along with, they were all so different, yet each one, adopted or blood, loved him, he'd felt that immediately, truth was something he always knew, nobody had ever successfully lied to him, he always knew. Bit by bit, Hestor, Farron, Freed and the others were helping him to learn just like he was helping Kaleb.
He'd had his first lesson with a Sudehpah too, the day after arriving home, since he'd freely admitted being eager for it his father had felt getting him engaged in Boscan culture, history and society studies with a Sudehpah would be wise.
The woman was beautiful, soft spoken, graceful and sweet Gods had she felt amazing. What had started as a simple lesson in Boscan culture had turned into a heavily passionate session of sex and he'd so needed it, to feel alive, like he was free, like he wasn't in a cell with a terrified brutally abused slave for once. He'd been able to give Sindal one hell of a work out, she'd lost herself, came before he did and had been embarrassed by that, admitting she worked with few men his age and fewer still that were fit, healthy and also a mage.
"Mages are always much more...passionate, emotion is part of the magic they use so they are much more in tune with it, they're...stronger, more powerful in bed, lusty and always have more stamina...I admit...I've not had a student like...you before." She'd said, panting heavily laying beside him on his bed.
Her embarrassment hadn't stopped her from encouraging another round though, she'd left on wobbly legs too and Zen had relaxed in a hot bath and slept well that night.
Now he stood showing Kaleb how to make his wings follow his commands, remembering how hard it had been for him to learn himself how to control the things, there had been times he'd hated them, wished he hadn't been saved by them, that he'd died the happy child he'd been.
Indigo eyes watched the pair of mages working, Cobra leaning on his hands, elbows propped on the ledge of the balcony off Vanders bedroom on the second floor of the Pradesh home. His mind was turning over all that had happened since their arrival in Pelerno a few days ago, and he was just...uneasy.
Kaleb and Lucy were happy, very much so, and Zen was too, the whole family was in this state of euphoria over all of their recent blessings. Romino and Freed had promised to each other and if possible the Rune mage was even more dreamy eyed and lovey around his handsome lover. Farron was his ever collected and cool exterior self, the man had a smoldering heat under that smooth surface though, Cobra knew how much the blonde lusted after a certain Celestial mage, but Hestor seemed...oblivious, the man dedicated to seeing Zen through lessons and tutoring him quietly after his classes and helping him with homework. He and Vander had even taken a wicked little sneaky trip into the shadows and seen just how much Farron and Hestor enjoyed each other once the doors were closed and had ended up falling out of Vanders shadows onto the beach in a frenzy all over each other after only a short time watching the pair. Farron...he was a beautiful man, elegant and poised but once he was alone with Hestor that flew right out the window.
Hestor surprised him a little too, the man was cool as ice most of the time, haughty, and had a dislike toward Lucy that had growls rising in Cobras throat now and then Vander was quick to soothe. "He's ok...I know he doesn't seem like it, he holds these dark as fuck keys and his magic gets rocky at times, but we've known him since he was a kid babe, the heart in that chest is gold...even if he'll lead you to think it's black." Vander assured him.
Hestor liked his sex and he was...rough, yanking Farrons hair, biting him, drawing breathy gasps from the tall blonde but Farron never backed off, just adjusted his approach and while their nightly trysts sometimes had them both bleeding, Cobra couldn't say it wasn't consentual, because it clearly was. Far be it from him to judge...he rather enjoyed tying Vander up and doing some pretty Kinky things with his sexy mate...just...there was something deep in Hestor...something his keys shielded, he understood the Hall keys blocked Hestor off, even Kaleb couldn't read the mans thoughts, and Cobra knew he often felt uncomfortable around Bickslow because Bixys magic blocked him off too and being unable to hear a soul always made him uneasy, just...there were things...dark looks, these small savage smiles the silver haired man got that left Cobra feeling...like something wasn't ok. He shook it as best he could though...Vander, Arman, Kaleb...everyone who knew Hestor assured him he was a good man...even Farron, who knew he and Vander had snuck in to watch he and Hestor a few times… even he made a point of telling Cobra, Hestor was fine, this was how he was and not to worry.
He was worried about Cristoff and Cana though, they had gone through some serious shit recently. Bacchus was staying at the Pradesh home too, he was having some issues with nerve damage and Cristoff had been slowly mending them, but Cobra had watched the big slayer get locked into a fucking jail cell in the bowels of that airship, to ride out a rough three nights as a full moon had happened and only Cobra and Kaleb...well...Lucy too to a lesser degree, knew just how much that man had suffered for those three days and nights.
"You're brooding. Should I alert the military?" His mate asked and he smiled a little in spite of himself.
"I'm just not happy with how the drunk is treating your brother." He said.
Vander stepped up beside him, leaning on the railing with him. "She's scared, Cristoff knows it, said he won't rush her and she's still got this...weird idea that she doesn't deserve him and can't really be his mate, now that she understands exactly what a mate is."
That explanation had Cana reeling , her whole being had tipped off its axis at the concept that what Cristoff meant, what she was to be, was more than just a lover, more than even a girlfriend, promised or wife, that once they were mated, that was it, they would be together, possibly for centuries since Dragon Slayers had no set lifespan just like Dragons. The idea had about shut Canas brain down. The woman wasn't really into commitment in the first place, never had been, too much of her father in her probably.
Now, Cobra would have thought the idea of being bound through an unbreakable bond to someone elses very soul, someone perfect for you, who would understand you, be all you needed, love you, be a lover, friend, everything for good, to have that with a man like Cristoff, who was one of few people Cobra had ever met that he had truly liked immediately, Cristoff was a good person, he was sexy as hell, if Vander hadn't shown up Cobra had already planned to tap that brawny hunk at his first opportunity himself. Really...it did surprise him Cana wasn't falling over herself to make it happen.
Cana had always been quick to jump into the sack with anything good looking, now he knew Cristoff had been keeping his mate satisfied, but, he also knew Cana wasn't really doing much to return that favor, in spite of her bet with Vander before, since recovering Bacchus and seeing how badly torn up he'd been, she'd just, shut that part of herself off though.
So now, Cristoff, to save his sanity, was staying in the city at his apartment at the guild branch, coming in the mornings to work on Bacchus then leaving again, avoiding Cana so she could have her space and take the time she needed to get over it all, thing was...Cristoff was fucking suffering, and so was the drunk, she was just directing her misery into guilt, thinking she was feeling so bad because she deserved to, not because the bond with Cristoff was being ruined before it had even fully taken hold.
So Cobra was indeed brooding on that, and he was also a little unsure about Sorranos sudden interest in White Sea. She had never been too into the idea of being in a light guild, Sabertooth had offered her a home with Yukino and that was her sister, who she honestly loved at that guild as an incentive, and she'd walked away, remained a solo mage who walked the thin line between light and dark.
There was more to what Sorrano was doing, he was sure of it, he just wasn't sure what her deal was. That she had Yukino with her just confused him more. Yukino was in a perfectly successful guild, why couldn't Sorrano work with her? Why come all the way to Bosco?
"All this concern I see and feel coming from you...won't lie...it's good to see, I just happen to know it all makes your ass twitch." Vander commented and Cobra smiled at him, moving behind the taller mage and wrapping his arms around him, burying his nose in Vanders neck and just, breathing, let himself just soak up the presence of his mate.
Vander didn't tease him, just turned his head and stayed as he was, letting Cobra hold him, nuzzle into him, he was an ass, and knew Cobra was fine with that, but he was also in love with Erik, very much so, and because he'd so fully accepted their bond now, knew when Erik needed him to be calm..quiet...solid. Of the two of them, Vander was the most stable, the best adjusted, he'd grown up with a loving family that had always been there for him, that gave him a solid foundation in himself he knew Erik didn't have, and sometimes, Erik needed to lean on him, sit and cuddle him and have him just be supportive, like now.
"Never thought I needed someone, never thought it mattered or would make a difference, never thought of myself as incomplete until your ass got in my fucking way when Tink was trying to land a kick on me...now I know better, the shit with Cris is bugging me, the shit with that friend of mine I told you about, that's bugging me too." He admitted.
Vander drew a breath, comfort and wisdom weren't really his thing, if you wanted someone eliminated, scared shitless or beaten to within an inch of their lives? He was the one in his family that dished that shit out, he took the hard actions behind the scenes to make things fucking happen. Cristoff, and Kaleb, they were who you went to for Comfort and Wisdom. But, this was his mate, and he wanted Erik reaching out to him, needed it, cared deeply about how his mate was and how he could help him, so he sighed.
"I can have them found, wherever they are on their route to Pelerno...I still have extensive contacts, might take me a day but I can tell you where they are, who they're with and how they're getting here before nightfall if you want." He said quietly.
Cobra smiled, pressing a kiss to Vanders shoulder and slipping a hand down to grab a firm ass cheek and give it a hard squeeze that made his mate growl at him. "Do it for me Babe." Erik said and Vander turned in his arms, pressed a firm kiss against his lips and vanished leaving Erik licking his lips and adjusting himself before he leaned on the rail again, watching Kaleb get a wing tangled in his own hair and jerk himself right off his own feet with a yelp. A smirk twisted the slayers lips and he struggled to slam up walls so Kaleb wouldn't know his ass was about to dive back into his room and laugh itself silly because that mental image? Oh fucking gold and just what he'd fucking needed.
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Cana watched Xally go over Bacchus' left leg again, the man was laying on his stomach in nothing but some boxers while Xally worked his numb leg, Cristoff had restored full function to it but the nerve damage was such that regenerating everything so the palm mage got back sensation was taking time. Bacchus was frustrated, Cana was because he was, Cristoff was on edge because Cana hadn't touched him in days because she felt so horrid about it all and Xally? Xally seemed to be the only one in the mix not miserable.
She slid her slender fingers over Bacchus' left ass cheek and pinched him, the palm mage turning his head and looking back over his shoulder at her. "I felt that, and my ass isn't the problem…" He grumbled.
Xally smirked at him "It's distracting me, thought I'd indulge myself so get over it." She quipped. Bacchus frowned at her "You know, I've spent the last several months being raped every damn day, sexual advances aren't really on my list of shit I want right now." He snapped.
Cana winced, Bacchus had been snappy and nasty and totally unlike himself, had been since Cristoff had awakened him after he'd healed enough the Lunar Slayer was sure he wouldn't wake up in agony. It was her fault, her fucking fault, and seeing him snap at Xally, a beautiful woman he'd have been all over trying to woo into his bed before, left the card mage chewing her lower lip because while it was fine when he directed his anger at her, he shouldn't have been snapping at Xally, who was just trying to lighten the heavy dark mood in the room.
"You know, if you hadn't taken a job into Pergrand with just one person that called for a fucking team maybe you wouldn't have. Now I'm sorry about what you went through, I really am, I killed quite a few people getting that good looking ass out of that shit hole Karadin calls a country and I've spent a fuck ton of time helping you heal, Cana over there is beating herself up with every one of your self absorbed fucking pouts to the point she's pushing my brother away, the only person who has helped HER to heal after what YOU drug her into, so get your shit straight pretty boy and lighten up a little!" Xally snapped back, she'd stood up, not terribly impressive because she wasn't her blonde sister who stood 6 feet tall, but hands on hips, brilliant aquamarine eyes flashing, full pink lips set in a hard line, Xally Pradesh still looked like she could knock Bacchus down a peg or two.
The palm mage glared at her. "Fuck you, and fuck your brother too, and Fuck Cana, if she hadn't come all pouting about Fairy tail disbanding and how she needed money so bad I wouldn't have even LOOKED at that mission, I'd have had Goldmine send it to a bigger guild with more s-class mages, but because Cana over there has been bitching about how she should have made S-class by now for the last few YEARS I really thought she could fucking cut it! Instead when the shit hits the fan miss thing over there freezes up and starts screaming, standing there fucking screaming like a damn idiot while I'm getting gang raped! She could have run, gone for help, Gods know I had the group of soldiers occupied!" He yelled back, moving and swinging his body so he got to his feet so he could glare down at Xally who was a little shorter than Cana so a good head shorter than Bacchus.
It sure didn't bother Xally though, while Cana recoiled and cringed over Bacchus' words Xally poked a finger in his chest.
"Then what happened huh? She got captured right along with you, what, you think those soldiers wouldn't have unchained that berserker and let it run her down? If she'd run she'd be DEAD right now you fucking moron! You BOTH made a stupid decision and it landed you in hell, you can both sit around whining about it like idiots and let it ruin your damn lives or you can get the fuck back on your feet and move the hell on! Don't you DARE blame anyone else though for your choice Bacchus Groh and don't you dare say anything negative about my brother, he's suffering every fucking day because of you two being fucking assholes about this all. Nobody thinks you should be all smiles and shit, but everyone needs you to at least act like functioning human beings, and feeling in that leg or not, it works, you have it, you can use and walk with it, you could have died in that place but you didn't! Be grateful for what you have, quit wallowing in what you went through!" When Xally was done Bacchus narrowed his eyes on her and Cana half expected him to hit her, he looked like her was thinking about it, but instead, he grabbed Xally by the shoulders and lunged in, kissing the startled water mage.
Cana mouth fell open in shock. Bacchus pulled back a moment later, breathing hard and Xally, again the only one in the room not lost, laughed.
"What was that about sexual advances again?" She asked, arching a brow at the palm mage who blushed a little, pink staining his cheeks, the gorgeous little water mage had been making his heart race from the moment he'd seen her, but he was just….messed up, his body didn't feel like it was his anymore and he didn't know how to deal with it all.
"I'm sor..mmm" He hummed then when Xally kissed him back, sweet and gentle, her full lips were wonderful after all that time he'd spent in misery certain he was going to die and his hands settled on smooth rounded hips as she stepped into him, her arms wrapping around him and it was just...a good feeling, strangely not arousing, there was more comfort in it, Xally just had that air about her, like her brother who Bacchus did regret snapping about.
It might be a while before he thought about getting into bed with someone again, his whole head was just too messed up for that, but when he did...he sort of hoped Xally might be willing.
"Well...I was going to ask how he was doing but...yeah…" A deep voice crossed the room and all eyes snapped to the large raven haired slayer who was smirking, leaning against the door frame.
Canas heart skipped a beat at seeing him, every part of her instantly alive and aching as her eyes travelled over him, in his snug dark blue slacks tucked into soft looking dark brown boots, a white button down with the sleeves rolled up straining at the shoulders, biceps and chest to cover Cristoffs muscle.
His hair was loose, damp, he had to be fresh out of the bath and Cana pressed her lips together, remembering how, just a short time ago, he'd carried her into the steaming bath on board the Boscan ship and bathed her, his hands gliding over her body, making her writhe and moan and whimper as he'd lavished pleasures on her.
Now she hadn't been wrapped in those arms in days, he wasn't even sleeping in the house, travelling back and forth into the city and it was all her fault...she'd rejected him…
When they had reached the Pradesh home they'd spent hours talking, the whole family and their friends, then Cristoff had taken her to his room, fully intending to end their waiting, they were safe, Zen was safe, Bacchus was going to get better, there was no need to wait anymore and she'd given him no reason to think she didn't want him as much as he wanted her.
But as they'd kissed, as she'd groaned in pure lust as he'd finally covered her body with his and started removing their clothes while he'd kissed her, murmured sweet things to her, been all she'd ever hoped he'd be.
Her mind had started reminding her she was a whore, a failure, weak, dirty, prone to drinking too much and being reckless and stupid and too loose in her morals. Cristoff was handsome, young, successful...kind...clean...he'd not done the things she'd done...not faltered when it mattered…
She didn't deserve him, he was wrong, she wasn't his mate, he just felt sorry for her, just wanted to fix her, his dedication to seeing others healed was blinding him.
Greedily she'd still yanked his belt open, his pants, reached in and grasped her prize and whimpered when he'd moaned, when his hips had bucked into her grasp making that impressive length drag over her still covered core and sending stars firing behind her eyes.
He deserved a good fuck, she could be that for him, it would be ok...if it weren't for the mating he promised her would happen, he'd explained it, how it would work, that when they reached orgasm, his soul would fracture, and if she accepted him, hers would too, and his piece would come into her to heal the wound made, and hers would do the same for him, they would each then carry a part of the others very being inside of them.
The bond would last forever, their souls joined, and Cristoff being a Dragon Slayer had a very long life ahead of him, so too would his mate since the mate would live as long as their slayer and vice versa. That word still made Canas stomach twist...forever.
Lucy was newly mated to Kaleb, and told Cana enthusiastically that she loved it, that it felt amazingly good, that she'd never known happiness like she had now, knowing Kaleb was hers and she was his and nothing could sever that bond.
Cana couldn't believe she'd ever have something like that, she just wasn't that lucky, nothing that good had ever happened to her or could happen to her, life just wasn't that kind, not to her. She was trouble, she knew she was, and Cristoff didn't deserve that, but she wanted him...Gods she burned for him, had to have him, so she had shoved his pants down while he'd shed his shirt, kneeling finally naked on his bed, smiling down at her as her eyes had taken him in, she'd committed every gorgeous part of him to memory, because she knew this wouldn't last.
He'd helped her out of her clothes, kissing her, his hands so certain and finding places on her to massage and caress, his soft lips closing over the peak of a breast then working his way back up, he'd driven her out of her mind, sent her screaming to a body raking orgasm with just his hands and kisses then he's hooked her leg over his hip and finally hovered over her smiling.
"Mine...you will be mine and I will be yours...my beautiful...sweet mate…" He'd whispered between long kisses and finally, he'd entered her, that heavy thick length pushing into her body and stretching her and making her feel just...amazing, he'd pushed in so deep, nobody had ever hit her where he did and she thought she'd never feel anything so wonderful ever again, this was it, the finest sensations she would ever know.
Then he started moving.
She'd had a couple of Boscan lovers, only a couple, and they instantly fell from the best experiences of her life to bland as Cristoff made love to her. Everything he did, every sound he made, the heat of his body, the smoothness of his skin, the bulk and weight of his body, how his hair fell around them in a silky black curtain, the way he tasted faintly of mint and dew, it drove her wild, she was writhing under him, legs wrapped tight around his trim hips, heels dug into a taut ass as she met his thrusts, her nails raked over those hard bulging muscles and she was scarcely able to breathe.
"Ahh...Oh Cana…." He growled as she'd rolled her hips up into him. Her eyes had finally opened, meeting those midnight blues flecked with silver, she could feel him, how much he cared about her, the depth of it, that he did...truly...love her. It terrified her, and as their skin met, as the sounds of their bodies colliding filled the room with his grunts and growls and her panting mewls, she came, as fear flooded her, the certainty she wasn't good enough, that she'd let him down, that she'd never be the woman he needed, the woman he deserved.
"No!...Cana...Nnnngh…" He gasped, and she jerked herself out of his arms screaming as she saw his eyes roll up, his body seize, felt something try to reach into her but she ran from it.
She cowered by the headboard, watching as his body bowed, every muscle straining, pain evident in every sinew of him, blood started running from his ears and mouth and she screamed again as he gasped "Cana…"
The door flew open and green light flooded the room followed by blue and cana, clutching her knees to her chest pressed against the headboard hid her face.
"Cris! Holy SHIT! What the fuck!" It was Bickslows voice "KALEB!" He shouted as he and Xally had jumped onto the bed, Xally grasping Cristoffs face between her hands while Bickslow tried to hold his thrashing brother down.
"Cris! Look at me! Look in my eyes!" Bickslow screamed as Kaleb rushed into the room, the big blonde slamming a hand down on Cristoffs forehead and helping Bickslow pin the Dragon Slayer down, Lavender eyes flashing and adding their light to the room as magic pressure flooded the house making it groan on its foundation, long built in protection runes and wards flaring to life to keep the house together.
"His souls shredded! FUCK!" Bickslow shouted.
"Mend it Bix! Put it back together or he's going to DIE!" Kaleb shouted back.
"Get him to look at me, I need to get his eyes open!" Bickslow cried and Cristoffs eyes opened and flashed green as Bickslows magic flooded into him.
Lucy had appeared, gathering Cana and pulling her from the bed, wrapping a blanket around her as she quietly sobbed, "It was me...I did this...I'm not good enough…" She whimpered.
Arman had come into the room and Cana had hidden her face in Lucys shoulder, Gods Arman would destroy her...he loved his children so much and she'd just...killed Cristoff.
"He's not dead...shhh, stop that, Cana, Cana you're ok...Bix and Kaleb will get him back, Xally will help heal what damage there is...you'll see...he'll be ok...you are good enough, Gods Cana, he loves you, he wants you, do you...not...want him?" Lucy asked quietly as the family worked to recover Cristoff, the bleeding had stopped, and Cristoffs body had relaxed, sagging into the bed.
"I don't deserve him...nothing good like him ever works out for me...Lu...I'm so sorry...I...I fuck everything up...he's going to hate me now...I...I should go…I just...forever...it's a long fucking time and I just can't hold my shit together that long...I'm going to fuck up and bad!" She whispered and Lucy tightened her hold on her shaking her head.
"Where? Cana...you belong here, you belong with Cristoff, you're his mate...he is not going to hate you for this…" Lucy assured her but looked up with worried eyes toward Kaleb and the others.
Kaleb met her gaze
She rejected the mating...I...I don't know what that will do...but it almost killed him...he wont hate her, I don't think Cris is even capable of hating somebody, but..I don't know Sunshine...this is...serious, she used him...I got his memories of what happened...when his soul split and the mating started, she pushed him away and rejected him, if Bickslow hadn't felt the whole thing start and gotten nosy...she really would have killed Cristoff…
Lucys eyes flew wide, watching as Xallys glowing hands slid over her brothers face and chest, Bickslows still glowing brilliantly, sweat forming on his face as he worked to mend his brothers torn soul.
She looked at Cana, shaking and crying softly in her arms in disbelief, Cristoff was everything Cana had ever wanted and ten times more, Cana had been all about the whole thing until Bacchus was rescued, she just couldn't understand...she'd seen them in the woods outside Romell that day, how Cana had been so happy, Gods she'd given the big Boscan a blowjob right in front of everyone and even made a bet with Vander she could please her dragon more than Vander could his.
"Cana…" Lucy whispered.
"I think some space is needed...time for you to think...Cristoff needs to recover, and Cana...you clearly have a lot of recovering to do yourself...Vander! I know you're here…" Arman had come over, and it was a testament to the mans generous nature that he wasn't throwing Cana out of his home for what she'd just done to his son. The jade eyes that fell on the cowering Card mage though held no anger, just sympathy.
"I...I'll just go...I'm so sorry…" Cana whimpered and Arman crouched before her.
"No...you will not do this to my son and keep running, my dear lady, you've run enough, beaten yourself up enough...Cristoff…" He looked back at the group on the bed, Bickslows eyes had finally returned to normal and the Seith fell over on the bed groaning "It's good...got it back together...holy fuck…"
Arman breathed out a relieved sigh and looked back at Cana. "Cristoff will recover, he's a very strong young man, and his magic won't leave him weak for long, I have a feeling in his desire, he rushed you, he's wanted a mate for most of his life my dear, dreamed about finding his mate, he's...the romantic of this family even more so than myself or Xally there, and I think he rushed things...but do not believe he won't still want you, you have been his most cherished dream for far too long for him to give up, and...in light of all of this...I think we need to take helping you recover enough that this can work more seriously. Clearly you need more than just my sons love…" Arman had sighed and Cana had whimpered and burst into tears again, apologizing over and over but Arman had Vander pick her up and Lucy and Arman settled her in a spare room downstairs near Armans office.
Kaleb sent Cana to sleep, plucking her consciousness from her mind, his magic wasn't as gentle as Cristoffs, or as pleasing to experience in that way, but it worked and the family had settled Cristoff in his bed, Bickslow doing what he'd done countless times when they were children and crawling into the Dragon Slayers bed, this time, he would protect his brother, like Cristoff had done so many times for him when they were all growing up, and make sure his brother was safe from the nightmares he was sure to have.
That had been right after they had arrived...and now, now Cristoff was recovered, the picture of a healthy Dragon Slayer again, but his eyes had a soft pain in them they hadn't had before, and his voice lacked the vibrant confidence it had had when he'd talked with her before.
Bacchus looked between the two and internally grimaced, this was partly his doing...he'd said some cruel things to Cana as she'd sat by his bed before Cristoff had gotten his leg working again. Things he was sure had added to her misery and it hadn't been fair or right of him, they were just so...broken...he had no idea how Zen walked around smiling like he did, so happy, there was no doubt Zen had endured more, he'd lived in those pits for most of his life, Bacchus and Cana had only been there a short time by comparison...he needed to talk with Zen, wanted to anyway, he still hadn't thanked him for saving his life, for saving Canas too...and maybe the Archangel who had grown up a slave could teach the mages who hadn't...how to live again after seeing just a small sample of the horrors Zen had grown up in…
"I'd like to talk to Zen...if that's ok? I...I need to thank him, before you all showed up he saved me from that other Gladiator...I would have been cut in half if not for him…" Bacchus said quietly and Xally shoved him, keeping a grip on his belt just in case his leg didn't hold him, but it did, and he gave her an arched brow that she laughed at, pushing the taller mage ahead of her from the room, leaving Cristoff standing in the doorway watching them retreat down the hall and Cana sitting on the overstuffed chair across from Bacchus' bed.
She was afraid to look at him, afraid to meet those dark eyes and see that sadness in them, betrayal...a lack of the warmth and affection she'd gloried in for a short time. Still, she couldn't seem to avoid it, her eyes sought his and when they met her breath caught.
Warmth...affection...yes the sad edge was there, but no anger, betrayal...he even smiled a little, it was an odd look on him, the shy smile, she'd only ever seen the cocky confidence, the smooth calm certainty.
"I should thank Zen too…" She said quietly.
"You'll get a chance, Zen's not going anywhere." He replied.
She looked down, biting her lip "I...are you ok?" She asked in a rush suddenly and he smiled more, nodding.
"I am...it aches...and I haven't heard a peep out of my dragon since it happened, but Bickslow says I'm healing." He said quietly.
Her heart stuttered, Lucy had told her a hundred times now Cristoff didn't hate her, wasn't mad, that he didn't blame her, but she could still hear his strangled cry to her...when she closed her eyes she could see him on that bed dying again while she cowered...didn't even go to him...too terrified she'd make it worse if she got near him.
"I...miss you." She admitted, and it was painfully true. She'd had no clue how much she had grown to depend on and just love sleeping safely tucked against his body, wrapped in his arms until she had started sleeping alone again.
In the comfort of the Pradesh home, surrounded by powerful wards and protections and mages she knew could because they had storm a city, she knew she was safe but didn't feel that way unless Cristoff was close, knowing he wasn't, knowing he was miles away sleeping alone like her because of what she had done, because of her fears, her insecurities...it had been eating at her and she didn't know what to do.
Kaleb had suggested she visit White Sea, go to the guild hall, it was always bustling with activity 24/7 and Lucy had told her it was beautiful, but Cana had felt like that wasn't fair, Cristoff had retreated to the guild, she couldn't follow him.
"I miss you too...are you sleeping alright?" He asked and she almost jumped at the sound of his voice she was so lost in her thoughts.
She laughed a little weak laugh and shook her head "You already know the answer to that." She accused with a smile, he was a healer, he knew all about how her health was holding up or faltering. The bags under her eyes were a pretty obvious indication too.
"Kaleb can help you...please don't suffer silently Cana, say something, speak up, everyone here cares about you and wants you to be ok...I'm sorry...I pushed...I really shouldn't have…" He sighed and Cana stood up, eyes wide, rushing him suddenly "NO! No, I pushed, Gods Cris I threw you into a damn closet on the ship, I...I almost tore your clothes off...I pushed too! I just…" Her eyes drifted over that tall body again, Gods he was a raven haired Adonis, he really was, the tight pants let the definition of his thighs show, even the dip in the side of his flawless ass above that sexy thigh could be made out...she wanted to run her hands over him, feel the curve of those muscles, the hard edges, smooth skin…
Her arousal hit Cristoff like a fist to the face too, the smell of it...but nothing...his dragon remained utterly silent, no call to mate, no growling to get closer to her, if anything, he felt like...he should move farther from her. He was worn, ached, had woken up to Bickslow holding him and had sobbed in his brothers arms like a damn fool. Yes he hurt, yes Cana had nearly killed him, but he felt like he'd done this, he'd frightened her, by letting it all happen before she was really ready, he knew how messed up she still was, how Bacchus had said hurtful things and made it all worse, he knew, and in his arrogance, he'd thought mating would help, forming a deep bond with him would help her, she could draw on his strength, his spirit could keep her head above water.
"You can't fix something when it's not done breaking." His father had told him once and that was what he'd tried to do, tried to use mating as a fix, and while yes, Cana was all over him anymore, he understood why, she'd always used sex as an escape, it only made sense she would turn to it as she struggled through all of this and with him right there, eager and willing...he'd been unfair, let it go too far, he knew he could sate her, he'd done it...and if he needed to spend every night with his face between her legs, well...he really didn't mind that at all anyway, it wasn't like she couldn't handle turning him into a heated mess, Gods watching her take him into that lovely mouth of hers was heaven.
Now she was right in front of him, smelling so good, eyes bright and hopeful...Gods help him...he wanted to help so badly.
"I could stay here tonight…" Cristoff said softly after a few minutes, he didn't want to leave again, the drive back to Pelerno wasn't terrible but every mile he put between him and Cana made him hurt.
Cana almost cried nodding vigorously "Please...please stay…" She whimpered and he smiled faintly, bending and kissing her temple, then her nose, then finally tipping her chin up and kissing her lips. They both leaned into each other, neither trying to take the kiss too far, just savoring it, for what it was, a confirmation for them both that they hadn't lost everything...that they could get through this…
As Cris let Cana wrap her arms around him though he had a sinking feeling...how many lovers had he so desperately wanted, how many times had he fallen in love and his dragon had remained silent...uninterested. What was worse...this time he had heard it, loud and clear for a long while, demanding her, wanting to touch her, be close to her, needing her...and now...after she had rejected him...nothing. His dragon was stone cold silent...like it had been with every lover before her.