A/N I am sorry everyone, there was a numeric sequence...thing...that happened and I posted chapters in the wrong order so...you get 2 chapters today. This one was meant to post in a couple of days but...well...thank you Doc Manager for being weird about one chapter being capitalized and one wasn't... THANK you to Shana who let me know something was "off" so I went and looked and realized what had happened. Thank you also, HUGELY to those leaving reviews and sending me PMs, they help, like today especially! So I know things are coming across ok and when things are "off"!...DESNA
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Lucy whirled, dodging the green glowing blast Bickslow had sent at her and the snaking electricity on the ground Laxus had sent to trip her up, reaching she smiled faintly, pulling on the massive well of power that was her mate a few yards behind her. He held back, though this was a test pushing their team work, to see how much they had learned and how far they had come over the last few weeks, Kaleb still let Lucy take the lead.
It wasn't his confidence that faltered now and then. It was just every now and then his wings acted up and set him on his ass….
So he waited, until Freed got a trap under her she hadn't seen that rooted her and Laxus was sending a fairly strong jolt her way, then he moved, a shield snapping into place and blocking Laxus' attack causing it to veer off, toward Freed who gasped and tried to jump clear, caught nicely in stream of runes as Rominos array flared and blocked the lightning again. Bickslow was the only one who felt Kaleb further engage in time to get mental shields up to keep himself from being grabbed, but Freed and Laxus weren't so lucky.
The next thing Lucys teammates knew, Freeds long hair was almost standing on end as Laxus' electricity pumped through him and Laxus was slammed to the ground by a gravity trap and was sputtering on a face full of dirt.
Laxus snarled, eyes flashing, a nasty smile lifting his lips as he leveled his blue eyes on Kaleb, he tapped into his dragon soul, letting it take the reins, a trick Emzadi had taught him, Kaleb couldn't read a dragon souls thoughts, so letting the dragon choose the moves removed Kalebs biggest advantage, his ability to know what his opponent was thinking about doing.
His dragon wasn't pulling punches though, but in this case, taking on Kaleb and Lucy, that was for the best. His wing attack bounced uselessly off one of Kalebs shimmering white wings that snapped out to protect Lucy from the attack, it got the Wizard Saint to lift his wings though and Laxus sent bolts down to hit them, wondering how much those pretty things could take.
He found out quickly, when Kaleb slammed the tips down into the ground, grounding himself and the wings and making the attack so weak it barely stirred Kalebs long hair, unfortunately, he'd focused too much on Kaleb, Lucy was now in her Virgo stardress and with a yelp, Laxus vanished down a hole almost crushing Freed who was already at the bottom of it.
Lucy popped up out of the ground beside Kaleb, flinging her arms around him giggling and bouncing overjoyed as her friends groaned in the hole and Bickslow writhed around on the ground wrapped in her whip from his shoulders to his knees.
Kaleb grinned, spinning her around, his wings curling around them mimicking his arms, something they still did often. He still hadn't flown, well...not without Zen holding on to him anyway, but he really wanted to, watching his brother wheel and flip and soar through the sky and feeling how he calmed, how content flight made him, how it relaxed him almost as much as his sudehpah sessions did made Kaleb really eager to try it himself.
More than that, Lucy really wanted him to take her up, and he had a plan forming. Cristoff had visited a hot spring in the Stargazer mountains with his mother Nurem several times during his training and Kaleb, through his brothers memories, knew just where it was. It was a gorgeous spot, with an amazing view overlooking the Grass Sea with a partially concealed cave behind a small waterfall at the back of the spring that according to Cristoff was a wonderful place to sleep and relax.
Kaleb wanted to take Lucy up there, it could only be reached with flight, so once he felt stable with his wings, he planned to take Lucy up there...and propose.
His father had suggested it but he'd already been thinking about it from the moment Loke had told them they were mated. Archangels, being extinct until now, weren't covered by the laws but Dragon Slayers and a few other kinds of mages that achieved the same sorts of bonds with others were, so his father assured him a minor change in the laws could be done. Either way, they were legally promised still, he just...wanted to make it all official, wanted Lucy to truly be his, his love, his mate, his wife, Mistress of White Sea, as she was his light, his sunrise, she would become that for White Sea, she already had ideas too, about improvements to their school for mage children, how to work with both the University in Pelerno and the Academe Celestine to help those children progress throughout their development, but also exchange programs so the children of White Sea could get the very best educations possible, to help them become the best mages and people they could be.
They had laid in bed, Kaleb listening while she talked and laid out her ideas and hopes, him painting her toenails a shade of pink it almost hurt to look at but that she thought looked "cute" so he was dealing with it, giving her just an arched brow when she'd insisted it was the color she wanted.
He listened, Lucy dreamed and planned and come hell or highwater, he'd see her dreams and plans made into reality, he had the resources, White Sea was massive and successful, the guild could do what she wanted to do and investing in the children had always been something White Sea had strongly supported.
As he pulled back from a kiss that left him a little light headed, he spotted Cristoff leaning on the rail that marked off the large practice ring they were in and pushed a little, finding his brothers walls down.
Can you help her? Help Bacchus? Physically, they're both fine, Bacchus has the feeling back in his leg and that will continue to improve as he works out, but they've both stalled...mentally, and Kaleb...I can't keep going like this, watching her suffer...please… Cristoffs mental voice, just like his physical, rang in Kalebs head as soon as he touched his brothers mind and Kaleb met Cristoffs dark eyes for a moment before looking at Cana and snapping a tie in place.
It wasn't hard, she was mentally beyond frail right now, he'd just been waiting for Cristoff and Xally to agree she was physically healthy.
Lucy felt him doing something, even sensed his focus was on Cana, and looked over and waved to her friend, who was smiling thinly, leaning against Cristoffs side. The couple hadn't returned to sharing a room again, and the dark bags under Canas eyes had been slow to go away but Cristoff was keeping his distance for the most part, and had admitted when Lucy had questioned him about it that his dragon had gone silent about Cana...the womans rejection of the mating had likely...severed the bond completely but it hadn't stopped either of the pair from feeling what they had. Cristoff stayed by her still, and it showed, She looked good, but she was still forgetful, jumpy, anxious and prone to randomly bursting into tears, often not even knowing herself why.
She knew Kaleb hadn't tried anything to help her or Bacchus, wanting to give them some time to work through things on their own and also waiting for Cristoff and Xally to give them clean bills of health physically, because until the physical parts were healed, the mental parts would always struggle.
Cristoff must have given him the go ahead, because he kissed her forehead and met her eyes.
I'm going to get started working with Cana, tell the others for me? He asked mentally and she smiled up at him and nodded, grabbing him and pulling him to her for one more firm kiss and a smile when she let him go.
Thank you… the little mental statement carried with it hefty emotions that brought a little pink even to Kalebs face, the simple act of stepping up to help her friend had made his beautiful mate just get filled up with love and appreciation toward him...more so than him helping her, doing things for her ever seemed to, it was the sort of person he was mated to, his beautiful Lucy, who cared about others more than herself...he would fight hard to make sure that never came back to hurt her again.
You make me realize how lucky I am...that you accepted me, that you didn't run from me even though all of this scared you, alarmed you, that you let...Us...happen. I love you Lucy… I'll do all I can to help Cana … He responded and she was about to let him go, head over to help Freed climb out of the hole but stopped again to hug him, to press her face into his strong shoulder and cover herself in the scent of apples and let how much she felt flow into him before finally turning.
She was the lucky one...that Kaleb had ever wanted her at all amazed her, a short time ago she had been on her knees staring at the rubble in Magnolia that was all that was left of Fairy Tail, her life, her family. She had wished she had died there on her knees, wished Jackal had achieved his goal and killed her because she couldn't imagine life without all she had lost.
Now...now she was mated...to a strong and caring man, an Archangel...a real Archangel, and he was one...in part...because of her, she had been part of what had awakened it in him, and it made her feel...so incredibly good, it wasn't her blood, her last name, her type of magic that had made this happen...it was her strength, because she really WAS strong, Kaleb Suraday Pradesh...was now an Archangel mage, and...he was HER Archangel. She reached down and caught Freeds outstretched hand, helping to pull him up as she waved a hand and her whip released Bickslow.
"Yeah...thanks for leaving me wrapped up like a damn turkey while you and Kaleb sucked face there Cosplayer...loved the show." He called and she flicked her wrist making the whip snap on his ass as it left him to return to her, drawing a yelp from the Seith mage and bringing a smirk to her lips.
Kaleb headed for Cana, who now had the blank stare that came with him taking over a mind. He nodded to Cristoff as he strode from the practice ring and Cristoff scooped Cana up in his arms and followed him back into the house and to Cristoffs bedroom upstairs.
Bickslow was about to make another snarky comment at Lucy when Kalebs rather firm voice snapped in his head.
Come on Bix, Cana is your friend too, come help me, I need to know what her soul is doing while I sift through her memories and start easing some of the trauma she's carrying….and leave MY mate alone, one more snide comment I'll let her kick your ass...again….
That had the Seith scrambling to his feet and hurrying after his brothers.
"Fuck I hate this…" Cristoff said quietly as he laid Cana down on the bed and started propping pillows up behind her so she was sitting up some.
"You hate not being able to mate with her more, if she's ever going to get to the other side of this, Kalebs her best bet." Bickslow commented as Kaleb sat beside Cana facing her on the edge of the bed, making sure to angle himself so Bickslow had a clear view. Cristoff nodded, moving to the other side of the bed and climbing onto it so he could kneel beside her on the bed and be close if her body reacted too badly to the memories Kaleb was about to pull to the surface.
Body Mind and Soul, their father called them his beloved trinity when they worked together like this, it had been a long time since Bickslow had been home to do this sort of thing, usually it was Farron or their Father in Bickslows place, using their powerful sound and listening magic to help. Bickslow though was able to actually mend souls, work with them, so this was the ideal combination they could hope for, the three of them would work to help Cana fight her demons.
Kaleb reached in, entering someone's mind farther than just a surface visit was something that had to be done delicately unless he was in a fight, in fights he'd rip right through them like tissue paper with no remorse but Cana was precious to his family, Lucys friend and while it looked now like she would not be Cristoffs mate, his brother still loved the woman. So he had to be delicate, cautious, and his magic wasn't prone to being gentle.
It didn't take much, Canas demons were everywhere and they flooded in on Kaleb overwhelmingly as he started to prompt her mind into motion, he knew where the fear centers were, he'd learned young how to trigger them in others, fear could be used to weaken a foe and was one of the most powerful weapons in his arsenal. Stirring Canas was easy.
The realization that she and Bacchus were going to lose, that the Berserker fully meant to tear Baccuhus' clothes off and rape him, the thing was massive, the picture of the nightmares Pergrands laboratories produced for its military, well over 8 feet tall, a human mixed with other things, warped with the use of magic and science and like most Berserkers, close to mindless. It wanted one thing, release, and its massive body would destroy Bacchus, there was no doubt about that.
But Bacchus was good looking, and once the clothes had partially been torn away and that was clear, the soldiers had forced their berserker from him, heavily using their control collar, and Cana, she had known, if she ran, in spite of Bacchus screaming at her to do so, the Berserker would run her down and kill her and the soldiers would let it while they took their pleasure from Bacchus.
The horror of that, the realization they were through, they were captured, where they were, what it all meant, it had hit her hard and with it, guilt, misery and pain as Bacchus had looked at her, as their eyes had met and he almost looked at her like she'd betrayed him, failed him as he was being held down and violated, as he bit back screams and a soldier sauntered over and backhanded her, ordering her to her knees because no woman stood up straight in the presence of a man.
She'd been dragged over, forced on her hands and knees in front of Bacchus as the soldiers took turns on him, Bacchus forced to look at Cana, Cana forced to watch or they were beaten until they did.
More than once Bacchus tried to fight, struggled, Cana did too, but they used them against each other and when Bacchus had become enraged, and his magic had roared to full power, he'd beaten the soldiers back, stood bleeding, clothes gone, the evidence of what had already been done running down his legs but he'd fought, and Cana had fought with him, right until the Berserker grabbed her, right until it had cracked her jaw by shoving it's member into her mouth, the sound of bone giving was enough, Bacchus had screamed for the soldiers to call it off and they had done so, leaving Cana laying with blood running out of her mouth, torn muscle, tendons and a broken jaw making her vision swim from the pain.
The soldiers delighted in hitting her face then as it swelled up, loved shoving their dicks in her mouth and more than once she passed out from the pain when they did it, it had still been bad when she'd been sold to the men from Skysreach.
The other women used it, to keep her from food, water and from getting chosen when Gladiators won to be given to them, especially the good ones, and there were a few...Gods...Zen was actually fought over, he had a reputation in the dank filthy pits the women were kept in, they all whispered about him, he fed them, cleaned them, would let them sleep on his mat with him and, he never harmed any of them, if they had sex with him, he was a gentle lover and they all wanted chances at him since he was the top Gladiator there and getting pregnant by him was a certain pass right out of Skysreach.
Canas days and nights were misery, hearing Bacchus screaming, catching glimpses of him out in the exercise yard through the slats that allowed air circulation, getting attacked, endlessly tormented, raped when he couldn't fend them off well enough….
It ate at her until she started praying to die, begging the Gods to just take her, she hurt all the time, was so thin her bones stuck out and hurt when she tried to lay down to sleep. Her jaw mended but slowly and other injuries came from being beaten, thrown into pens with gladiators, punched and kicked while she bathed gladiators.
The things she'd seen...the torment and misery in the bowels of Skysreach were haunting. Bit by bit Kaleb took them in and started sorting through the things that tormented her the worst, Bickslow watching, wincing as Canas soul twisted in pain, struggled with fear and anguish, his reactions and his own empathic strengths conveying to Cristoff all too well just how much Cana was dealing with.
He reached out, almost touching her, wanting to soothe her but Kalebs hand slapped his away "Not yet, your touch will confuse her." He snapped out loud.
Cristoff growled low, but withdrew, sitting impatiently, resigned, though, to his unhappy wait.
Hours ticked by, Lucy came into the room, bringing a teapot and forcing her mate to rest a few minutes, allowing Cristoff to gather Cana into his arms after Kaleb gave him a resigned nod while He dropped into one of the large chairs by the balcony, Lucy immediately in his lap, sliding her fingers through his hair, kissing his furrowed brow as she pushed him to drink and started rubbing his shoulders.
Bickslow reclined in his own chair, drinking down some tea and deciding he really needed to get himself a girlfriend or something because watching his brothers snuggling was making him ache a little for some of the affection he was seeing.
Granted, Cana was still comatose because Kaleb hadn't released her mind yet, but Lucy was cuddling Kaleb shamelessly, coaxing the frown from his face and finally getting him smiling faintly as she kissed along his jaw then nipped at his lips until he finally wrapped his arms around her and kissed her until she giggled.
"Thank you." He said softly, resting his forehead against hers and she smiled, holding his face in her hands and kissing him again.
"You were getting too serious, you needed a break, so did Bixy, and be nicer to Cris." she chided and he smiled at her.
"Ok...I'll be nicer...it's hard honey, I'm angry about what she went through..I feel like we shouldn't have left any of Romell fucking standing, like we should go back...make sure Karadin is as dead as he needs to be." He said and Lucy nodded, in full agreement.
She slid from his lap, gathering cups and setting them back on the tray as Kaleb stood and headed back to the bed. She caught Bickslow, a hand on his cheek turning the tall mage to look at her in surprise. Theirs had always been a playful relationship, all about laughing and joking and teasing each other and she'd always liked the Seith mage, had always admired his undying indomitable sense of humor.
"Thank you Bixy." She said softly and the Seith grinned at her.
"Can't let my drinking buddy suffer right? Cana and I have thrown back our share of booze, one of my favorite drinking buddies...I wanna see her smiling and playing again." He admitted.
She leaned up and kissed him, a soft chaste little kiss, she'd learned they were normal, welcome, this was a Boscan family, and she'd now gotten to place little kisses on all of the brothers but this one, it fit, showing him she appreciated him, and he smiled when she pulled back.
"Careful Cosplayer, I'm a better kisser than Kaleb, don't want you feeling like you settled for second best." He winked at her. Kaleb rolled his eyes.
"Maybe the best at kissing her feet since she puts you there so well, get your ass over here Bix before I compel you to." Kaleb said and Bickslow snorted.
"Hey I'm not the one laying at her feet every day big brother, that would be you, and I only got put down once." He returned.
"Twice Bixy, and the first time I was in a cheerleader costume, second time I trussed you up like a turkey remember?" Lucy called as she left the room and Cristoff and Kalebs laughter followed her out.
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"She'll sleep as long as she sleeps, it all has to settle, but I dulled everything, made the memories harder to reach so she won't be plagued by them or have constant flashbacks and crap, she was dealing with...a lot." Kaleb said as they soaked in the hot baths of the guild.
"It was always hardest on people not raised in it, the ones that broke the fastest were the recent captures." Zen said from where he was leaning back against the edge of the bath.
Cristoff sighed, smiling faintly as an attendant slid up to Zen and started "helping" to bathe him. Their brother fascinated the guild, and more than one member had wanted to meet him, he was endlessly being invited to share pleasure and, surprisingly, he accepted a lot of the offers, eager to try all the things he was learning with his Sudehpah.
The beautiful woman had long shining purple hair and vivid green eyes and bore the clan tattoos of the Endassi, a prominent merchant clan that raised Grass Runners, the elegant predators adorned the womans right side and Zens hand glided over them as the woman moved into his lap.
Kaleb smiled at the sight, watching Zen pull the woman into a long kiss as she dropped her bathing cloth to bury her hands in his hair. "Oh please share pleasure with me…" She breathed and Zen smiled, not taking his eyes off her now lust ridden green gaze.
"Absolutely…" He growled and she grinned before lunging in to kiss him again.
"I know she needs time, I remember you doing it with Vander, It's been almost a week though, she needs to eat. Xally has been keeping her hydrated but she was still a little on the thin side going in." Cristoff grumbled, sparing the scene with their brother and the bath attendant a brief glance, too lost in his thoughts and concerns for Cana to really take much interest in their brother having sex in the guild bath, it wasn't like there weren't other couples in the massive bath area doing the same thing here and there, hell, Freed and Romino had stumbled into one of the massage rooms off the main bath area and not even bothered closing the door, Romino was clearly visible clutching the massage table bent across it with Freeds deep green hair falling over his shoulder as he was rhythmically being pressed into the table by the Rune Mages thrusts.
Laxus was also otherwise engaged, his paler complexion and short blonde hair drew attention and the lightning mage liked basking in it, as the months had gone by being in Bosco, he had settled nicely into Boscos more relaxed and open culture.
Kaleb gave Cristoff a serious look
"Remember where impatience took you last time? She'll wake up once her mind is done mending, I ripped open some horrific things for her Cris, things she was carrying that happened before everything in Pergrand too, the woman is a nest of insecurity and doubts we're going to have to be patient with. I know you care, even love her, I can hear that inside you, but do not try to encourage or prod her into waking one second before she's ready to. Besides...she AND you are going to have to face the fact, her rejection severed the bond, your dragon won't accept her now, she's no longer your potential mate."
Cristoff winced, shoulders slumping a little as he settled back against the edge of the bath again. He knew Kaleb was right, and he'd give Cana the time, he was just dealing with his own pain and the agonizing process of watching as Kaleb took Cana through her worst memories and nightmares so he could isolate which ones were messing with her and help her by distancing them, making them harder for her mind to pluck out when she was tired or stressed and taking away her triggers.
While Cristoff brooded, Kaleb got distracted by three young guild members hoping to draw their young master into a private room for fun and when he held up his ring was then bombarded with excited questions about who his promised was, as well as some eager ones about the new tattoos on his back and what they meant.
Kaleb hadn't hidden his advancement in his magic, he'd sat down with Farron and Thane and issued a statement to the guild, that he had opened up a new part of his magic during becoming mated to Lucy, and in that announcement, also letting the guild know he was mated and who their new Mistress was going to be.
Lucy was currently out in the city in the fashion district with Emzadi, Xally and about 20 other White Sea women and men all determined to get to know their Guildmasters new mate through a day of shopping, spa time and finally a trip to the Central Bath House in the heart of Pelerno for an evening soak before returning to the guild and him. They had chosen to spend tonight in the Guildmaster quarters on top of the Guild Hall so that Kaleb could catch up on some work and Lucy could satisfy the guilds growing curiosity about their Guildmasters new woman.
She was handling it all beautifully too, better than Kaleb had hoped she would, her childhood and difficult upbringing had given her a grace in leadership that few possessed, and her kind nature and open heart made her instantly favored by his perceptive guild.
He was talking with Thane about how they were going to handle an upcoming interview with Sorcerers Weekly while Cristoff was brooding about he and Canas situation and simply did not notice Zen being lured from the pool by his beautiful partner.
The woman had seemed to simply want to feel him better, sex in the water sounded fun but in practice it was actually awkward and uncomfortable, so she just wanted her partner on the edge of the bath so she could fully enjoy his body and he could fully enjoy hers, the silver haired man who somehow managed to get both Zen and his lovely attendant to move into one of the private rooms was hardly noticed by anyone, and Zen was plenty eager to be with the woman already, she was kissing him and her hair was covering his eyes, her perfume dulling his sense of smell.
Zen was at first startled when the purple haired woman in his lap was replaced by a familiar silver haired man, his initial instinct with any overture from a male was to reject them, violently if he needed to, he preferred female companionship, he always had. This was only the fifth time since his return to Bosco he'd even been in the guild, and he now proudly bore its mark over his left pectoral muscle, every time here he'd been approached by both women and men, seeking time with the recently rescued brother of the Guildmaster.
Word had travelled fast, leaked by the crew of the Aisipal who should have known better, and Zen was a minor celebrity now, a symbol for a movement growing in Bosco to finally end King Karadins rein in Pergrand.
He was learning to be polite in his turn downs, but...this was Hestor...when this man slid against him and pressed his lips against his...Zen didn't stop him, suddenly...flooded with feelings of need, a powerful drive to satisfy this man...to give him anything he asked...he smelled and felt suddenly intensely good and shimmering gold magic flowed from the silver haired mans hands over Zens skin, making him moan and wrap his arms around the man.
"Fuck you're gorgeous…this magic..." Hestor breathed, a long fingered hand sliding between Zens legs and making him gasp. Hestor hadn't expected actually giving in to the pulls would effect him so damned much, it was almost mind numbing how intense the need suddenly was, resonating through his body and his magic and his control was already so damned shaky...
"He really is...damn Hestor...you weren't kidding...you're gonna share right?" Someone asked
"Lets find out just how agreeable you get when covered in celestial magic huh sexy?" Another woman purred, her hands glowing and trailing over Zens skin, the Archangel arched, moaning, mind hazing further as need for the woman started to encroach on his need for Hestor.
Hestor slapped the womans hand away "No..you have his older brother...fuck him." he snapped and the woman smirked, retreating to where Farron was...the blonde mans eyes glassy, as a woman rode him just a few feet away. Hestor turned his gaze from Farron, ignoring the twisting in his chest at seeing the man like that, watching the woman shrug and go over, straddling the young Ambassadors face and moaning when his mouth responded to her demands.
Zens mind was in a haze, lust was overcoming his thoughts, his senses, he was swimming in this golden euphoria and all he wanted was for Hestor to touch him, to let him have him, he'd give...anything…he didn't even notice his older brother a few feet away...was just eagerly reaching for Hestor.
"Please…" He breathed and Hestor smiled at him, kissing him again, more golden magic flowing over Zens overstimulated body.
"Oh I'm gonna give you all you want all that we've both wanted, just gotta make sure you're all happy through and through so your brothers out there don't catch wind anything but pure pleasure is happening in here." He purred and his hand kept stroking Zens throbbing member.
"Let me Hestor…" Someone said and a mouth enveloped him, wet heat and a nimble tongue sliding over the head of his cock and making him moan while Hestor pulled him forward until he was forced to put his hands out to support himself, vaguely noting the woman laying partly beneath him, that was sucking on him, completely unaware of the smiling brunette woman moving behind him, his eyes riveted on Hestors as Hestor sat on the bench before him and spread his legs...Zen didn't even hesitate, couldn't imagine denying this invitation to please this beautiful man with his golden magic.
He focused on pleasuring Hestor, blind to the magic flowing over him, moaning and gasping as the woman beneath him vigorously worked his own length and when he felt someone prodding him, gripping his hips and pushing into his body, a scream of protest sounded but it was far and deep in his mind, buried under the presence of the man he was pleasing, who was writhing and bucking his hips into Zens movements, pushing his cock down Zens throat and even then the screams remained so distant, so far pushed away he couldn't stop his eager participation.
All that mattered was Hestor...his friend, with his golden magic and soft hands, who smelled of sea sage and stardust, he trusted Hestor...would give him anything...even this, this sex with others...these had to be Hestors friends...people he cared about...so Zen would do this, let himself be part of it all, take his friendship with Hestor deeper because this feeling...this powerful draw...this endless need to unite with the golden magic shimmering in Hestors hands as they gripped Zens hair...it was all consuming and...glorious...his issues with being handled this way became distant...and stayed there.
Cristoff frowned, Kaleb was completely surrounded now. Zen had retreated to that room and had he seen a man join him and that attendant? He frowned again, looking around, nobody seemed to have noticed, and there were no violent noises coming from the room they had gone into but Cristoff was still concerned.
Maybe he was being overprotective...his frustration over Canas situation and his own might be making him that way, but still...Zen still reacted badly to men handling him and if that man tried to work out a three-way that involved him in anyway handling Zen much they might have an injured guild member on their hands.
Given how much Zen wanted acceptance, and worried about offending and upsetting people, it might be wise to step in...if he had to...he could send the guildy right into bliss with a few magically driven touches then get him aside and explain he should not try to touch Zen much.
So, deciding Kaleb was too busy, and so was everyone else, Cristoff climbed from the water and made his way to the room, opening the door and testing the knob, it was unlocked but a womans voice asked him to wait a moment. The one Zen had started with and she didn't sound upset. She wore a heavy perfume, he'd smelled it before, it seemed to be popular among the younger women of the guild, it dulled his sense of smell, but he didn't think twice about that.
The door abruptly opened and he was yanked inside and slammed against the wall, the woman right in his face kissing him murmuring about gorgeous brothers and Cristoff was trying to catch her hands and explain he wasn't here for that but a flash of green light from the womans eyes froze him...he knew this magic...knew it well...even knew the sensation of his own soul being gripped and his will being slammed aside as another's superseded it.
A Seith mage...the purple haired woman was a Seith...but why? He was in here willingly...then his eyes snapped to the scene before him. Zen on his hands and knees, a woman beneath him sucking on his cock while a brunette woman with a damned strap on was on a knee behind him….fucking him while Hestor, his friend...Kalebs closest friend...the man who had been teaching Zen to read and write, had become the person Zen trusted most...was gripping Zens hair thrusting into his mouth. Gods not far from that Farron lay, a woman riding his face while another rode his cock and BOTH bore the seals of the High Warqueen of Joya on their hips!
Cristoff though didn't even get the time to register his own outrage though, as his will was slammed back and the woman along with two others took him to the ground, magic cancelling cuffs snapped over his wrists as needles were jammed into his arms and while his dragon soul was giving the Seith mage absolute hell, blood running from her nose and ears as she fought to keep him and his dragon contained long enough...the drugs overwhelmed him and took consciousness from him.
Hestor groaned as he came, falling back against the wall behind him panting and stroking the hair of the beautiful man between his legs.
"Easy handsome...it's all ok...your brother is perfectly fine...look at him enjoying Castias attention…" He said soothingly when the man tensed a little, looking over toward where Castia, his wonderful friend from Emerald Eye was greedily kissing the Dragon Slayer.
"Both of them are fine...enjoying themselves, and i know you've tried so hard in your sudehpah sessions to relax, to embrace your Boscan blood and enjoy men as well as women, I'm helping you...we're going to get you through that in the best way." Hestor purred and Zen smiled faintly up at him.
Zens eyes were too hazed for him to register that Cristoff wasn't moving, that his lips weren't kissing back, besides, Farron was actively moving, very much giving the two women on him his best, and was even moaning and making highly satisfied sounds. He was struggling with his lessons and he hated it...hated his own damned fears, he could trust Hestor, Hestor was teaching him...Hestor helped him, was his friend...and now he would help with this. He was grateful, looking up into those warm steel blue eyes. Then his eyes rolled back as Hestor kissed him and golden magic washed over him again from Hestors hands.
"Fuck...bathe you in magic and you're as easy to handle as a kitten…" Hestor chuckled, smiling as Zen groaned, finally cuming for the woman beneath him, the woman behind him hissing and letting go as well.
"Shit...shit he's….fucking...amazing…" Ginji groaned out, collapsing to the side while Kenpi emerged from beneath the Archangel.
Hestor looked into the glazed over amethyst eyes of his prize. "Gods...if I could mate with you myself I would...you're just...beautiful….Denba, a cocktail for my angel hmm?" He called and the woman kneeling by the unconscious Dragon Slayer smiled, moving toward Zen, her fingers turning into long needles that he slid into the Archangels neck. For an instant Zens eyes started to clear, right before they closed and he collapsed to the floor unconscious.
"Tall dark and sexy is a bonus...Cristoff if I remember from the games two years ago, he put my brother to sleep during the match...you don't need him do you Hestor?" Castia asked hopefully, sitting on the Dragon Slayers thighs, sliding a hand over his well muscled body.
Hestor smirked at her. "I could get a couple billion jewel for him, selling him to Joya, but if you'd like him, considering you bagged him...we can work something out." He said, only mildly surprised how easily he was handing him over, Cristoff had been his friend since he was 11, like all of the Pradesh family. Yet...a few feet away Farron was arching, groaning out another orgasm into a grinning gasping Joyan. Farron who had shared his bed intermittently for years, who for the last few weeks had willingly been the tool Hestor had released his fury, frustration, sorrow and misery into. He'd tied him up, done all manner of things to Farron, utterly enjoyed every inch of the handsome young Ambassadors body, even moaned and smiled as Farron had whispered endearments...professed his love.
He stared a moment, watching the Joyans start preparing Farron to leave as well, Farron loved him, wanted him...it should have made him happy, he felt the same draw to Farron he'd always felt for Kaleb, but the bond hadn't been as deep and now...now he just...couldn't care around the black void inside him. A part of him was crying, screaming in the distance to stop what he was doing, let the blonde love him, he so wanted that love...was desperate for it...but he'd wanted it from Kaleb...and Kaleb had all but forgotten him, so wrapped up in his pretty little blonde he didn't notice Hestor at all anymore.
Well, Hestor had made new friends...was following the path his keys laid out before him toward the power he would need to get his revenge, to destroy the King of Pergrand, to lay waste to the Temple of Anubis in Stella where a gilded cage had his family for generations because of their ties to the keys he held.
His own cousin was there in his place right now, added his pleas to those of Stellas leadership that he give up his life as a mage of White Sea and take his birthright as the High Priest of Anubis for Stella. He sneered faintly, hundreds of concubines...he knew his cousin Manuke, who like him preferred male company, was required to "bless" at least 4 concubines a week, that he drank special teas to make him more fertile as Stella bred their powerful priests, nurtured the Celestial Bloodlines, tried to preserve what was dying out. His homeland was the center of Celestial Magic for the continent, and was immersed and rich in the religions and histories surrounding the Celestial Magics. Their leader, the Seer Lady Hishoko, was ruthless in her pursuit of the preservation of the Celestial bloodlines.
Hestor was one of three males left of the Takida line, which held the genetics not only to control the keys of the Hall of two Truths...but also of the Starblade, one of the 12 points of humanity that gifted their species with a seat at the council of the Makers. Hishoko, like those before her, sought to restore the 12 points to humanity, to restore human kinds place at the Council, and to do that...took drastic measures trying to restore those titles...the 12 points...and Hestors blood had held the Starblade and the Starbinder titles almost exclusively through the centuries.
Now, there was only Hestor, and his two cousins, Manuke, who sat at the Temple of Anubis where Hestor should have been, and Tenshi, who served as High Priest of the Three Gods of the Heavens. Of them, only Hestor was born a Celestial Summoner, only Hestor could collect the Keys and claim the title of Starblade, so...Stella wanted him...relentlessly pursued him.
He hated it...did not want to live in a temple adorned in gold and silks and forced to sleep with concubines. Yes he would have his keys, his whole country would see he completed the set for the Hall, would stand by him, protect his mind from the set until it could be completed, but to hell with them...he wanted to be free, wanted to be with his ONE. The One he was destined for, who could love him like no other...who he could speak any secret Celestial or other to and share his life, heart and soul with. But...the man he'd wanted to fill that role...was out of reach now… and the darkness had made a void where his pain had been, his only pleasure now came from the way an Archangels magic curled back along his own when he touched them...an Archangel like Kaleb would feel even better...and he could challenge Lucy for her possession of the man...he just had to get strong enough that he could crush her absolutely...had to be set up so White Sea and the Pradesh family wouldn't be able to touch him after he'd done it...
Castia smiled at him "We'd better work something out then, if you want into Emerald Eye you need to keep me smiling, and after whisking away two of Kalebs brothers, I'm not thinking you'll want to get anywhere near the Mindbender again, at least not without that necklace you borrowed from my Master. Or you're going to have a pissed off Wizard Saint blowing your mind to hell."
Hestor waved a hand airily. "Tsk...I'm not worried too much, your Master has a knack for planning, and not only will this bring the Guildmaster of White Sea and his family to their knees, I'll finally have the final key to complete my darling Ammit, once that bitch Sorrano or her weakling sister mates with him that is….such a shame really...had I known Kaleb himself could be pushed into becoming an Archangel I'd have him laying where his brother is and be keeping gorgeous here for myself, I'm going to hate handing him over to those two hags from Fiore. But...sacrifices must be made...I'll take what I need from him and seal these deals."
The man pulling himself from the floor reached over and yanked a robe from the bench. "So, teleport us to your place the plan?" He asked and Hestor nodded, taking his own robe and wrapping it around himself.
"Yes lets get these three to my playroom under my house, I need to get the Archangel set up for the two Celestial mages from Fiore, they're arriving tonight." He said.
Castia smiled "Can I put blue eyes here on the rack? I'd love to teach the dragon some manners after how nasty it was to me." She said as she washed the blood from her face in one of the heated basins in the room.
"Good idea...since we can't really play with the Archangel anymore without risking making him defensive, it'll be nice having his brothers to play with while we wait. Kenpi my dear, leave a parting gift for my former guild and Grindi...if you please." Hestor smiled at his friend who grinned, gathering her magic and in the blink of an eye, the room was empty.
Kaleb stilled, in the middle of arguing with Thane and his father about his upcoming interview and whether or not he'd be announcing more than just being mated and promised with Lucy.
"Dad...I have PLANS I promise, don't rush me, I want this to be special damn it." He'd snapped and Arman had sighed.
"I'm fine with special son, in fact, Lucy deserves special, but sooner rather than later ok? You've always been so careful before moving forward, here I thought your whirlwind romance with Lucy had opened you up a little to being a bit more spontaneous." Arman said.
"I'm not rushing my plans so I can talk about it in the interview." Kaleb had said firmly.
Now he looked back toward where Cristoff had been, he hadn't even noticed his brother leaving….or Zen either...a brief reach to Zen a few minutes ago had sent back so much lust he'd withdrawn quickly so he didn't embarrass himself, Zen was probably curled up in some post coital cuddling with that pretty attendant, he'd never seen her before...but then he'd not been to this branch in a while so that wasn't totally surprising.
When he reached for Cristoff he frowned...unable to touch his mind. That could only mean one thing...he was unconscious...had he been wrapped up in talking with Thane, the young people and his father long enough for Cristoff to retreat to his room or office for a nap?
It seemed odd, as unhappy as Cristoff was he hadn't been sleeping well...maybe that was catching up to him enough he'd been able to get the nap he'd been wishing he could take that had prompted them to all go relax in the bath in the first place after some much needed time in the guilds gym.
"Yo...big bro...I need to talk to you." Kaleb turned, seeing Vander fully dressed crouching at the edge of the water looking serious, Cobra was standing behind him frowning, looking around.
"Where's Zen?" The Poison slayer demanded. Kaleb reached for his brother and froze, eyes widening...he wasn't here...a quick sweep of the minds nearby didn't return him memories of him leaving or of anyone….Kalebs Lavender eyes locked on an Earth mage sitting on the edge of the bath dangling her legs in the water, she had seen Zen led into the side room across from where he was standing by an unmistakable silver haired man and the purple haired woman….but they hadn't come out...she had also seen Cristoff, who she'd thought was gorgeous and had wanted to go talk to him until he'd stepped into that same room, neither had come back out...yet...nothing, Kaleb sensed not a thought coming from that room…..
Cobra followed Kaleb, it wasn't fucking easy, the Mindbenders magic was fast as hell, but he caught the gist of it and jumped, leaping from oneside of the large steaming bath to the other, Vander shadow stepping there a moment later while Kaleb rushed after them.
Just as Cobra was about to pull the door open Vanders eyes flew wide and he threw himself into his mate "NO!"...too late...Cobra pulled the door as Vander hit him and half the city of Pelerno stilled as an explosion rocked the massive Guild…
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A/N Don't worry, I never leave long spans of time between these sorts of chapters…..For those following the artwork of the Pradesh Family being done by Approvesport, she just finished a beautiful piece of Farron and it's up on tumblr, my desnadog account.