"Nnngh! Shit….Gods…" Bickslow let out a breath but sucked it right back in, pressed down shoulder digging into the carpet, his arms burning from pushing on the wall by his head to keep himself from being pushed into and probably through it. He still managed to push back into the powerful thrusts of the Poison Slayers hips though, smiling…thoroughly enjoying himself.
Twisting his head to the side he thanked the gods again Laxus had gotten him to install the mirrored closet door, watching as Erik gripped his hips and thrust himself in and out of his body, seeing that hard muscle move, the dimples on the tops of his ass cheeks, holy shit that perfect ass he had... how his flanks hollowed with each drive forward, dear Gods was his new mate sexy as hell…
He felt so damn good…
It hadn't been easy getting to where they were now, Erik was almost afraid to start, awkward was the big word of that first day when the Poison Slayer had come and found him at the guild hall and they had left, walked to the house.
"I..I want you...my dragon wants you...fuck Bix you're the best fucking thing thats ever happened to me, you got me into the Raijinshuu, you're sense of humor is just...fucking perfect, I feel...like I'm at home when I'm with you…" Cobra had managed to say.
Bickslow wasn't really a romantic, not like Cristoff, wooing him often was as simple as "Your hot, wanna fuck?" that line had actually worked on him more than once truthfully, he'd even used it himself with some success. Still, hearing Cobra stumbling over those words about made his throat close.
"You're gonna make me fucking cry...you asking me to be your mate then?" He demanded through the tight throat, it came out in a semi husky almost croak and Cobras eyes narrowed on him, sparking.
"Asshole...I don't know...you're such a shit sometimes I don't know if I am or not, just cause you make my dick hard and my dragon get all bitchy doesn't mean you don't piss me right the fuck off." He snarled.
Bickslow smirked "Fuck you're sexy when you get mad...you know you want to...you totally want to pin me to the floor and fuck me raw don't you?"
Cobras cheeks reddened and his eyes flew wide at that mental image, shoving Bickslow face first to the floor in the entry by the front door, ripping his pants off and banging his brains out right there…
Bickslow grinned "Oh my God that blush, you're too much! You do! You totally want to, then what? Once you've fucked me till I can barely breathe...till I'm screaming your name and I cum...you sink those sexy fangs into me right?" He leaned in, his hot tongue running up Cobras ear "I want that...I want you...I want all of it!" He growled. "Shit you melted an airship for me…" he purred then, heart clenching as much as his dick hardened when Cobras eyes closed and he moaned.
So, by the time they arrived at the house, the Dragon slayer was already growling with every breath and Bickslow was admittedly no longer teasing, he couldn't, his own desire had run so high even he didn't know how to deal with it.
They had stumbled into the house and clothes had been shredded from bodies, Bickslow finally slammed against the wall so hard he'd seen stars then his eyes had rolled back as Cobras lips had latched onto his neck and one clawed hand had started fondling his rock hard erection, the sensation of those razor sharp claws along with Cobras greedy grip had made him groan.
"You have no idea...how long...I've wanted this…"Cobra growled. Bickslow thrust himself into Cobras grip
"So show me damn it...Fuck, you're amazing…already love you, you poisonous fuck…" Bickslow growled and Cobra pressed his own hardness right into the smooth firmness of one side of Bickslows taut ass, growling when the Seith pushed back into him.
"I don't know...how much control I'm gonna have…" Cobra admitted already fumbling with his own pants. Bickslow laughed, rolling his body against the slayer drawing out a low growl from him.
"I don't want any...not for this...this is mating...I'm a kinky shit…I wanna feel like I'm getting fucked by a dragon…" Bickslow managed to rasp out.
Cobra groaned as long fingered hands slid up the outside of his flanks, Bickslow reaching back to touch him was driving him insane. He wrenched the Seith around to face him, wanting to kiss his mouth but got caught by stunning ruby eyes hazy with lust, the flushed face, parted lips, heavy breathing…
"Mine…" He growled and Bickslow smirked at him.
"Forever if you ever get around to mating with me…" He husked, hands sliding over Cobras chest and he gripped the dragon slayers hard length, stroking it while he teased him, his own erection rubbing along the inside of Cobras thigh, teasing his balls and making the poison slayers eyes roll back, his hips thrusting into Bickslows ministrations.
"Bedroom Erik…" He purred, kissing along the slayers jaw and Cobra snarled, in one smooth move he tossed the taller mage cackling over his shoulder and carried him down the hall to the bedroom, almost throwing him on the bed. Bickslow landed face down on the bed and started to push himself up but Cobra was on him in an instant and their wrestling began. Bickslow somehow sensed a little tousle for supremacy might just push his uncertain slayer over the edge he needed him to cross, where his hesitation born of bad experiences gave way to his lust for his mate.
His instincts were right, Cobra snarled and pinned Bickslow to the bed, wrenching his hips up, he had just enough presence of mind to snatch the tube from the nightstand he knew Bickslow had, and after a single prod as the only warning, thrust into the Seith with a lusty snarl, stopping there…mind about blown by how it felt…the sheer immensity of the fact he had Fairy Tails Seith mage underneath him, Bickslow Pradesh…was his best friend and about to become his lifelong mate…and dear Gods his body…the tight heat of him was about consuming him.
Bickslow couldn't breathe at the sudden intrusion, he was no virgin, and far from new to this kind of sex, but this was Erik, a man he'd wanted more than anyone for a long time now and feeling their bodies join was absolutely soul deep pleasure.
He rocked back into the slayer, and Cobra took up a steadily increasing pace until the bed was ramming the wall and Bickslow was gripping the headboard to keep from being slammed through it, sucking ragged breathes between guttural moans and cries of pleasure, meeting Cobras rhythm, sweat covering his body with the efforts of his movement to match the power of the dragon Slayer driving into him.
"Mine..Bix…" Cobra managed and Bickslow moaned, his arms burning from keeping himself from hitting the headboard, he spread his legs more and angled his hips and groaned as Cobra sank deeper into him with the next thrust, it was all he could take,
"Erik!" He gasped out as he came and his body ripped with jolting pleasure he still felt the sharp fangs sink into the back of his neck, felt the burn of the magic Cobra pushed into him, felt Cobra cum inside of him and his body was just ablaze with so much sensation, pain married pleasure and turned his bones to jelly, if not for Cobra gripping his hips he'd have collapsed completely into the mattress.
They both finally did collapse to their side, Bickslow pulled quickly into Eriks chest, the slayers shaking arms tight around him.
"You ok?" He asked almost timidly and Bickslow chuckled breathlessly.
"Better than ok...I was just fucked by a dragon...shit that feels weird...your magic...I can feel it moving all through me…" He managed.
Cobras warm lips pressed into the back of his shoulder and he smiled. "Just the first bite Bixy...there's gonna be another in a few days." He said.
Bickslow pushed back into his slayers arms "We get to have lots of sex between now and then though right? Because after I catch my breath? I'm gonna ride you till your eyes cross." He growled and Cobra laughed, running his tongue over the faint mark spreading from the back of Bickslow's neck where the bite was. Bickslow stiffened and moaned under the touch.
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Shopping, Hestor would adamantly defend, and fashion, were a way of life. This was no exception at all. After everything, the kidnappings in his life, he had a very good danger sense and he paused looking at a set of shoes, feeling that tingling and looked around the shop before slapping a hand away from a pair that he wanted and picking them up.
He arched a brow at the woman that had attempted to take them and then moved away, nose up a bit as he slid past a group of women and eyed boxes…watching them fighting over one pair of boots…and then leaning in…grabbing a set in his size before he was moving away before they turned on him. It was a well practiced song and dance he'd learned for any sale at any fashion house. Watch the 'competition', wait until they were distracted and slide in to grab it in his size while they were fighting each other, and fight women and men over hot items would, for such was the way of fashion.
It was a little while, and he'd given the 'danger sense tingle' over to women and men trying to get the same shoes as he was going after. He stared at the blonde as she came up behind him at the till while his own purchases were being settled. He put a hand on one of the boxes, "i'll wear these out…"
"The only bench to safely put them on while sitting on is in the back," The clerk said…warily.
Hestor waved a hand, "That's fine, ring it all up, let me pay and then i'll go change them." he stared the clerk down, making him fidget uncomfortably for a moment before settling his bill and moving off with the bags of shoe boxes to go sit and change into a new set of boots. Gods knew he needed them, his shoes had suffered immensely through the fighting, he'd lost 5 very good pairs of Ling boots, two pair of ankle boots…his best heels and with men like Kaleb standing beside him, if he didn't want to be staring at chests (NOT that he minded that…just he preferred if he was to go eye to pec Kaleb was naked and he could get his teeth involved) for day to day life he preferred at least a 6 inch heel and he was comfortable in them, had started wearing heels when he was 13 and had never looked back, training in them forced him to work on proper ball of the foot force and balance, forced him to keep his center of gravity in mind and…made his ass look amazing.
The Danger sense was still tingling…but he didn't discount just buying the shoes as the danger being passed, until they got out of the store with their purchases? He would be on edge. He half looked at Lucy as she sat down on the next bench over to change shoes as well.
It was a small prick…a sting to the back of his neck…he'd felt similar…years ago he'd been darted like this…and tried to snatch his hand up, say something…summon a key…reach through his bond with Kaleb and yank the man to him…but it was less than a moment…he didn't get a breath out before he slumped over.
Nearby, slender men in dark clothes were already collecting a limp Lucy, two more moved silently, catching Hestor as he fell, lifting him carefully, lacrima lighting before they vanished with their quarry, leaving nothing, not a thing behind while the clerk watched, putting the purchases in their bags away in a cabinet where they wouldn't be found…and went back to his place at the cash register once it was done.
At the Cafe both Zen and Kaleb stiffened, going still…both feeling the other ends of the bonds they both cherished…suddenly go empty.
Kalebs reaction was his eyes lit up…instantly he was seeking Hestors mind…Zens was…he bolted to his feet, threw a table out of his way as his wings spread and slammed down shattering chairs as he took to the sky, streaking toward the last place he had felt Lucy…
Bulane tilted his head, the mans white hair falling over intent dark eyes as he went over the silver haired summoner on his table.
"Stellan, Takida bloodline, he has a mark of Anubis but it's not realized so…not fully ordained maybe?" He noted the faint mark that could only be seen with magic, continuing to go over the man and then scowling at the hunters that were shifting uncomfortably nearby. Pergrandian hunters…and Bulane was detaining them because they had been given clear orders not to put so much as a bruise on the quarry…the Silver haired man hadn't been requested. He wasn't unhappy they'd brought him in…Stellan Summoners…especially males…were just painfully rare and the bloodline before him…well…they would be collecting samples for their banks.
"You…let him regain consciousness." He observed, sharp eyes taking in bruises, clear indications the man on his table had put up a fight…and…that he'd been raped…very much something Bulane and Michealis never condoned… and the hunters eyes widened, all 5 of them going still. Bulane stared them down, anger filling his eyes.
"Well…he was there with the woman, and…he's really pretty…look, he wasn't on your order, he's OURS, fair catch, so what we did with him? Up to us, beauty like that? Perk of the trade we get a good taste before we sell them." The leader said angrily and Bulane sneered.
"You used MY darts..MY drugs…MY ship and MY equipment and took him on a job your King had laid out very clearly as only a run to capture that woman…no risks trying for anyone else…so you risked the whole mission…and you think I'll let you keep him? Our captures are always clean…you let him regain consciousness on the flight…you raped him…there's semen on his legs and I am very much certain it's NOT his. We do NOT operate this way…we do NOT tolerate sloppy violent captures!" Bulane accused, now leaving the table and starting toward the hunters.
The hunters, except for their leader, stepped back as Bulane approached. He was a scientist, a refined Lord, but he was also a decent sized man who exuded power and plenty of it…add in his magic…and they all knew what it was, Bulane wasn't just a Blood Mage…Bulane could alter blood…the man had his magic so refined he could alter the DNA within blood…every one of them had ample reason to fear Bulane and Michaelis, Bulane having his lethally powerful blood magic and Michealis was a time mage…who could age a human from newborn to adult in a matter of hours. No…they hadn't been happy to be assigned to these men to do this hunt…but nobody turned down the King of Pergrand.
"You were all enhanced…in the labs of Pergrand. Toxicalls I think your King called you. Your magics are all toxin related and I…could use a couple such mages…working here, helping with the development of chemicals for our use…I've a division working on beauty products for women…wouldn't you all love to work for the benefits of women?" He smiled, watching them all pale and the leader look ill.
"No…Pergrandian…will ever serve a filthy female." The leader hissed. Bulane smirked at him and the man froze…unable to move as the man cupped his chin.
"You will." He said softly "Until I feel you have atoned for touching that man…you will." the door to the lab opened and two men, each over 7 feet tall with scales up their arms and decidedly draconian features came in.
"Take them to the re-education lab…I'll work on them later." Bulane said before he turned to go back to the silver haired mage, ignoring the cries of protest that were cut off when the guards magics came to bear. Paralysis magic in Draconian shifters…Bulane hadn't taken risks when he'd created their security forces.
He sighed looking the summoner over. Bruises…a split lip…torn finger nails, he was certain he'd find plenty of marks on the hunters when he handled them, the man had not made anything easy for his captors. He frowned when he saw the faint wing markings on the mans chest…another mark visible only with magic.
"You're bound…magically bound…to…shit." He hissed, snatching up his com.
"Michaelis, we have a problem. The idiots captured a summoner…and he's bound to another mage magically, wing markings on the chest, a smaller version of the markings we found on the Dark Eagles back…so…highly likely bound to an Archangel Mage. I think this is…Hestor…Hestor Kedanza…and if it is…" Bulane grumbled into the com to his brother.
There was a very long pause on the other end, before Michaelis finally spoke, "Then the rumors are he's the lover of Kaleb Pradesh and we do not need White Sea coming here…quickly harvest and get them out of there. Between archangels and possibly Children of Apep? We do not want that on our doorstep." he let out a hum, "...and just take the woman's ovaries. That will technically sterilize her and we'll have her eggs to work with."
Bulane sighed "Yes…" he agreed and looked at his team, nurses and doctors rushing forward.
Usually they took their time…usually they were very careful…but when Bulane found another magical binding mark on the chest of the blonde woman….he decided there was no time for the refined approach. It was Karadins people who had fucked up…and he would simply point that out if the King had an issue.
It was less than 2 hours later that the Pergrandian strike ship was leaving the spa, flying away with Hestor and Lucy inside, Bulane standing wiping his brow watching it fly away and grumbling under his breath about overconfident slave hunters, Pergrandian arrogance and needing a strong drink.
"Alright…now…lets use her eggs…get back to what we do best instead of…cleaning up after fucking idiots…they're Pergrands problem now…move it people." He prodded his staff and his teams headed back into the facility. They had an heir to create…
The ship flew for nearly an hour before reaching the large estate Karadin had purchased. This was where Pergrandian nobility came when they were using the services of the Spa, when the simple labs of Pergrand could not quite manage what the artists here could do with genetic material. The estate was luxurious, and guarded well. Beneath it was a state of the art slave holding area that would have rivaled the best that Damascus, the city of slaves in Pergrand itself had to offer.
The Kings brother watched as the blonde was brought off the ship…the Spa did not harm people, and while the King preferred the woman die…this solution would work. She was supposed to have been sterilized once harvested, so she could not produce more children, thus securing Pergrands ownership of her bloodline going forward. She was connected well…two powerful guilds that were still very active in spite of the war would be looking for her…handing her back would keep that trouble from Pergrands doorstep, and away from the Spa as well…not that anyone would be able to trace anything to the Spa. The Brothers kept that place neutral…never involving themselves in any matter outside their walls.
Urum didn't want to be here…he especially did not want to be here with his children and such in tow…but, Karadin had insisted, his ability to get along with Summoners had apparently doomed him to being the one who dealt with them when they weren't in a harem.
He blinked when the men unloaded the silver haired male.
"Hang on…there was just supposed to be the woman…who is this?" He demanded looking at the pilot who shook his head.
"Sorry my Prince, the Hunters apparently captured him with the woman…Lord Bulane wasn't happy about it…he's keeping the hunting team as compensation for the trouble." The pilot said and Uram blinked, staring at him.
He looked at the man on the stretcher, he was…stunning…the silver hair, the pale skin…
"That is Hestor Kedanza, Priest of Anubis, Senior Summoner of White Sea…sir…both Stella and White Sea will…rip the world in half to get to him…White Sea destroyed the Black Tide guild rescuing him a few years back…and they defied their own King and crossed three borders to do it…" Xavier said not far away, standing with Uram's two sons. He didn't add in the rest of what he knew…that Hestor was bound to Kaleb, the Guildmaster of White Sea…the Morning Star of the newly emerged Triad of Archangels…5th wizard saint of Bosco…he glanced around without loosing his bland expression…no…the security here would be nowhere close to enough to even slow Kaleb down…and Lucy…well…Xavier knew who she was bound to…and the Dark Eagle would deeply enjoy spilling every drop of pergrandian blood possible to get to her…
"Sir…there isn't much time. If you hand them over to the mages coming for them…it will prevent a horrible battle here." Xavier said quietly, a hand on the shoulder of one of Uram's young sons.
Uram looked at Xavier sharply, about to protest that they had almost a hundred men here…but…Xaviers knowing expression reminded him just who Xavier was.
"You know what's coming." He said quietly and Xavier nodded once.
"Send a communication…the Boscan warship…the Seastar…it's on it's way here and fast…tell them you rescued their mages…the hunters who took them fled you do not know where…you can not speak lies before the Dark Eagle…and he's among those coming." Xavier said simply and Uram paled.
"Th…the…the Dark Eagle…" He managed, feeling sick, looking at his sons…he'd seen the Eagle fight…fight when he had no easy access to his magic…when he was shackled…sometimes with an ankle chained to the center of the ring to handicap him further…he looked at men around them.
"We can't win a fight…" he agreed.
"Settle them, have the doctor check her quickly, make sure she's been sterilized…I…I was going to send her back to them anyway." He said firmly and Xavier smiled faintly.
"Yes sir…but this way you are a hero before Bosco…returning her and…Stella will not send their assassins to collect Hestor…"
"Yes…right." Uram agreed and pressed his lips together. "Please, take my sons inside Xavier, I don't want any of you seen…I want you safe in case…they get angry."
Xavier nodded, knowing that wouldn't happen, Kaleb was rational, shrewd, he wouldn't fight Pergrandians if he didn't have to. He headed inside, holding the boys hands and leading them indoors and smiling at Giermo who was sitting in the library of the estate reading. They would stay away…this was in fact a possible rescue moment for himself and Giermo, if they were seen, White Sea would try to rescue them…but…it would endanger the children, and Uram would die fighting to keep them and he didn't want that to happen. Since coming into Uram's hands nobody had touched him, he had clothes, good food, and spent his days chatting with Giermo and the children, teaching. He wanted to get back to his grandson…but that would wait just a little longer…his return to Seven did not need to include the death of Uram Karadin and his children.
-
It had been 6 days. It had taken them 6 days to get to where they were now. Zen had wanted to just…fly on his own damned wings…but Kaleb had stopped him.
"There's too much happening…the world is still a jumbled mess, the war is still being fought on countless fronts, we have no idea where we're going or what we will find there…if we rush in blind and unprepared with no back up we could land ourselves in chains alongside them if that shop clerk was right and those were Pergrand hunters…Zen…we have to do this right." Kaleb had insisted and Zen had grudgingly accepted that, had waited while Kaleb arranged to get them aboard a high speed military airship, a gunship called the Seastar. It wasn't terribly big, crew of 25, but it boasted an eclipse cannon on its front bow and several disrupters, it was a nasty ship and it was very very fast. Add in Kaleb snatching up one of White Seas Archive mages…Romino…and they hadn't wasted time.
An Archive mage could tie into the navigation system of a ship, merge with the lacrima drives…and "Phase jump" the ship to pinpointed locations instead of the ship just flying there. The trouble they had was the world was a mess because of Universe One, and while they had maps now…they only had a map of Ishgar…and Hestor and Lucy had been taken out of Ishgar…far out of Ishgar. So, once they had gotten out of the mapped territory, phase jumping to gain on the hunters hadn't been possible, and the hunters had a hefty head start by the time they'd gotten the ship.
6 days he hadn't felt Lucy stir…Kaleb had suffered…badly…because unlike Lucy…the slave hunters hadn't kept Hestor asleep…Hestor had been awake within a short amount of time…his magic cut off but the bond still let Kaleb feel some of what was happening to the Celestial Summoner…and then…then Cristoff and Zen both had needed to step in…to pin Kaleb down…Cristoff had knocked their brother out..because Kalebs magic had about gone out of control in his desperate rage to get to Hestor, to protect him, to stop what was being done to him.
When Kaleb had come to…he'd held it together better…but when Hestor started to suffer…so did Kaleb, and he'd have to go sit down…Cristoff would have to sedate him..he couldn't reach Hestor with his magic…something was warding him off of that…only the bond worked, he knew where Hestor was…like Zen knew where Lucy was…but neither man could reach their bonded mages and it was maddening.
As they got closer, they had disappeared altogether, and several hours had been spent in a panic because it was like Lucy and Hestor had stepped off Earthland for a bit…but they had suddenly come back…and Kaleb had gotten them on course again…and now…now they were close and Zens hands were in fists at his side…glancing at Kaleb he saw his usually composed and calm brother glaring ahead at a point in the distance…showing as much rage as he himself felt…he wanted blood…he wanted to kill who had hurt Lucy and Hestor…he wanted to see them suffer as they died…both men stood…about desperate for a fight. Watching that lacrima at Kalebs throat flicker…aside from the hate filled expression on his normally calm face…it was the indication that the Wizard Saint was just barely holding onto his composure…and Cristoff was watching…Kaleb loosing control could kill…and could kill on a massive scale…it had happened during the Clan war…over 700 dead in less than a heartbeat…and Kaleb was older now, more powerful than he had been then.
Cristoff pursed his lips and glanced at the tall redhead at his side. Rowan Drayke was the top green mage of White Sea, a member of Kalebs personal team and an officer of White Sea. He'd rejoined them in Bosco as they had been getting ready to make this rescue mission happen and…since he'd been on the missions to rescue Hestor in the past…it only made sense he should be there.
Rowan was also a cool head…calm, rational, on a battlefield of thousands during the Clan wars, you never saw the man get upset, he was level headed, able to plan, able to act in a calculated way regardless of what was happening around him…and Rowan was lethal, vicious and completely merciless when he fought. He never hesitated on kills, fighting dark mage guilds, and some of the other things Kalebs team had to face, had tempered all of the mages on the team into dangerous fighters, but Cris had seen some of what Rowan was capable of, in a fight, you wanted the man on your side and Rowan was…arguably…one of the deadliest mages in White Sea…one of an elite few, who could bring Vander down in a fight…and he did on a regular basis in training and spars...before patting the Shadowquip on the back and sitting and laughing over beers, never a hurt feeling or trace of ill intent anywhere in the man.
"Relax…you both look ready to either blow up or…shit yourselves…so chill alright? You're making me nervous." Rowan said in his faintly accented voice and drew both Kaleb and Zens hostile glares…neither of which bothered him as he finished rolling a short cigarette, composed of herbs he grew himself. Smoke helped his magic, taking in the carbon and such was good for him…and Cris had to remember to not breathe in the smoke…because Rowan leaned toward growing some potent stuff…
"Don't make me get a paddle…" he smirked and Kaleb blinked…a little derailed by the reference. Zen snorted "Fuck off Rowan."
"Get your shit together, you two can't fly off half cocked you might hurt Hes or Lucy with the bullshit you'd kick around. We're White Sea…we don't fight like animals." Rowan snapped back.
Kaleb drew a breath and let it out…Rowan was right…"He's right.." he said looking at Zen who sneered at him but grudgingly huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
Kaleb stilled then, reaching with his magic as they got close enough to the estate they were heading for that he was catching thoughts.
"They know we're coming…" He whispered and jumped when his com vibrated, cursing under his breath…he was wound too tight…too upset…days of Hestor suffering in the hands of the hunters had left him frazzled. He read the message and stared at it.
"This…Uram Karadin…he's a younger brother of King Karadin…he says he has them, Lucy and Hestor, that the hunters who took them are rogues and have fled north he believes…we…we can have Lucy and Hestor…they're alright…still sedated by what the hunters did…but he wants no trouble…" Kaleb said
Zen stared at him "Fuck that….I want to break necks…"
"Zen he's giving them back to us." Kaleb said frowning at Zen "We can't attack them…they might hurt Lucy and Hestor…feel forced to use them as leverage…they are OFFERING to give them over with no fight."
"It's a trick…they're up to something…they're Pergrandian…so shit stains with a pulse." Zen snapped
Kaleb sighed "Zen…we're not fighting…if we can get them back without anyone getting hurt more than Hestor already has been…"
"Lucy may have been hurt too Kaleb…just because they didn't wake her up doesn't mean they didn't hurt her…" Zen growled and Kaleb nodded, unable to argue that.
"Agreed, we don't know what's happened to them…that's why Cris is here…to make sure they're alright…to heal any injuries…" Kaleb said firmly
The ship came to the estate…and Kalebs eyes narrowed seeing two stretchers, with Uram Karadin standing by them with a team of massive berserkers.
Zen stilled…that man…he'd never seen him abuse his slaves, he hadn't…but he was the Kings brother…and he had seen him around over the years. As the ship came to a stop above the estate…the canons moved, positioning and lighting up. Zen jumped and Kaleb hissed as the big mans black wings spread and he started down.
"Fuck…ZEN!" He jumped after him, white wings spreading…he was so far from mastering his new wings it was insane he did it but even men like Kaleb had their moments…
Zen landed before Uram, who took an involuntary step back. Zen glaring at the man.
"You think 5 Berserkers scares me? You think they could save you from me?!" He snarled.
A few feet away Kaleb tried to land and….failed. Wings not coming in well and tripping him he tumbled and landed on his face with a curse.
Zen blinked…turning his head from glaring hatefully at the prince and looking in surprise at his brother picking himself up off the ground. Everyone was still…staring…shocked by…the 5th wizard saint of Bosco, Guildmaster of White Sea…in a dusty heap on the ground cussing in Boscan instead of landing as gracefully as his brother just had. There were snorts from a couple of the berserkers, and Zen pressed his lips together refusing to smile…feeling maybe a hint of guilt in that moment because…he knew Kaleb had not had any time to practice using those wings yet…and it hadn't been easy for him to learn and he'd been flying a shit ton longer than Kaleb…so…making Kaleb chase him down had maybe not been the best idea…so much for an overall image of intimidation.
He moved and helped Kaleb to his feet, avoiding Kalebs incriminating scowl.
"I…yes…I am not trying to scare anyone…I just, I don't know what you were expecting and I had no intention of letting myself be attacked without protection of some sort had you reacted badly. The hunters went north…I think…I'm not really certain which direction…and you may take your mages…we've done nothing to them here." Uram was careful with his words…if he lied…Zens magic would hit him like a train…he'd been warned and he knew how to manipulate speech…he worked in the senate.
There was a silver flash and Cristoff appeared with Rowan beside him, Uram nodded to the man, he knew who he was…his brother had files on every one of the Pradesh siblings…and Cristoff was…stunning, big, heavily muscled, a dragonslayer and healer…Gods the man worked in his free time as a model…there were people in Pergrand who would have sold their souls to have the man…so he stepped back, waving the Berserkers to do the same, moving away from the two mages on stretchers still unconscious.
Cristoffs eyes glowed "Nothing life threatening…" he said and suddenly…in a flash…Cristoff, Lucy, Hestor and Rowan vanished again, re-apearing on the deck of the ship high above.
Kaleb cursed mentally "Couldn't take Zen and I…" he snapped mentally at his brother.
"No…Zen wants to cover the departure and I'm letting him so he doesn't scowl at me for the next few days." Cris returned lightly.
"You just want to watch me try and land on the fucking deck." Kaleb responded
"That too." Cris snickered
"This isn't done…you tell your brother…I PLAN to be the one that ends his disgusting life." Zen growled.
Kaleb touched his arm and Zen cursed, turning and grabbing his brother, throwing him into the air…knowing he couldn't manage a take off on his own yet, Kalebs wings slammed down…catching him, the wings would always work to protect the Archangel, so Kaleb was able to get moving once they started, flying upward as Zen gave Uram one more hostile glare before his black wings launched him into the air to follow his brother.
Uram watched them go, letting out a sigh of relief as they disappeared onto the ship above and he saw the weapons power down…the ship turning and starting away, gaining speed and soon out of sight.
Zen was at Lucys side within moments, looking sharply at Cristoff who was currently working on Hestor.
"Hestor has injuries…we know he was raped Zen…give me a minute." Cris said firmly and Zens frown deepened, "I'm not asking you to stop…Hestors my closest friend Cris…I want him ok as much as I want Lucy ok." he said, barely looking over as Kaleb crashed to the deck, cursing and muttering about Cristoff being in violation of his healing oaths by making him hurt himself to get onto the ship.
Cris just smiled faintly as he worked, the silver haired mage stirring as Cristoff purged his system of the drugs keeping him under.
"You're doing that all wrong…" Hestor mumbled, waving fingers toward Kaleb who sighed as he came to Hestors side.
"Not like I've had any practice…" Kaleb grumbled and looked at Cris who smiled "He'll be alright…they didn't do much physical damage…no sex that way for a couple of days though." Cris said lightly, ignoring Hestors indignant sound.
"Wasn't sex…they were pathetic at best…typical Pergrandian men…hung like 2 year olds." He grumbled but he sat up, and reached for Kaleb, tucking himself in against Kaleb snuggly and not relaxing until Kalebs arms were around him. They hadn't discussed anything yet…hadn't had time to…but the bond they shared now had made it clear to both of them exactly where they stood with each other, so he curled into Kalebs arms without reservation.
Cris went over to Lucy, expecting to just be waking her up, Pergrandian slavers never raped females, it was considered a deviation and they would loose all respect from other men of Pergrand if they did, so he expected Lucy to be untouched, just drugged.
His eyes lit and he started going over her, purging the drugs as he went until he stopped, went completely still, the mild glow of his eyes intensifying and he sucked in a shocked breath.
Zen had been waiting, smoothing Lucys bangs from her face, expecting to see those brown eyes soon and intending to be holding her just like Kaleb was holding Hestor…he wanted to curl around her protectively…he was furious she'd been taken…and that he'd been able to do nothing but break the nose of the clerk at the shoe store who had been involved. Collecting she and Hestors purchases…because when they got them back, he and Kaleb both were certain their bonded mages would want the shoes they had spent the day fighting for…Kaleb had insisted.
"Hestor will hurt us both if we don't get everything…and you damn well know it." Kaleb had said when Zen had objected to taking the time to gather up the bags and boxes.
"Yeah no…Lucy would murder for good boots…you were smart." Bickslow had said when they had come back to start arranging the rescue mission.
"What…" Zen demanded at Cristoffs reaction.
"I…she…" Cristoff drew a breath, now becoming meticulous, hands hovering over Lucys abdomen and silver magic shimmering over her now.
"Cris…" Zen growled
"She's been…it had to be the hunters…fuck…it explains why they took her…Zen…" He looked up at Zen then, sadness in his eyes because he knew how hard Zen had been trying with Lucy, how much the couple was working toward their future together and he knew his brother wanted children, knew Lucy did too.
"Her ovaries are gone…fallopian tubes…they harvested her…I…I've seen it before in women who survived getting taken by Pergrand slavers…sometimes they don't even bother to take them all the way to Pergrand, they just…take their ovaries and…dump them…" Cris said as gently as he could.
Zen stared at him, then sucked in a breath as he felt…grief and shock and looked down…Lucy had woken up and was staring at Cristoff in horror.
"Wh…what did you say?" She demanded, hoping she'd heard that wrong, she was groggy, her whole body ached, she felt sick…and…she really had to have heard that wrong.
"I'm so sorry, I can't heal this…they took everything, there's nothing there to work with…" Cristoff said softly shaking his head.
"We…we can have Xally look when we get back to Pelerno, she's a specialist…far better than me with mage reproduction, but…your ovaries are gone Lucy, you and Hestor were kidnapped by Pergrandian Slave Hunters…and…they did what those always do…they harvested your ovaries…I…I can't fix this."
Lucy stared, pain filling her…she looked at Zen and a sob came…she was just rebuilding…things were getting better…she and Zen had been spending so much time together, she'd heard him…heard him tell Mira he wanted children and now…now…on top of all that had happened, all they had been through…now…
"I can't have children…" she whispered.
Cristoff pressed his lips together "Your uterus is still there…you could…still carry a child but…" he shook his head and another sob ripped through Lucy as it hit her fully and Zen frowned but gathered her to him. Lucy pushed at his chest,
"No…no…Gods you don't want me…you can't, I hurt you so fucking much and…now I can't…I can't even give you children someday…" She weakened though, couldn't fight him…dissolved into sobs of grief and after a few more weak pushes at his chest she let Zen pull her into his lap and hold her, turned her face into his shoulder and wailed.
This was devastating, she'd been raised in Fioran nobility, and while she had hated it…part of her self worth, because of how she was raised, was in her ability to have children someday, it had been…a huge thing with her father, with the men who had wanted her…and…she WANTED to be a mother, Gods she'd even daydreamed a few times recently about she and Zen raising a family…how their children would look, how strong they would be..she had stolen his freedom for a time…made him miserable, wronged him so much…but some day, she could turn it all around, give him all of her love and make him a father. It had been there in her dreams and hopes for the future…and now….now it was gone.
What did she have to offer now? Just her love, the love of the woman who had hurt him so much, what was that worth with no hope for a family…
"Let Xally look…don't despair so fast…Lucy…LUCY." Hestor shouted her name and made her stop, hiccuping she looked at him and Hestor lifted his chin, eyes fierce.
"Do NOT despair before you have sought every avenue…Xally is a specialist, mage reproduction…she is heralded as one of the best on Earthland, don't fall into grief and take Zen with you so fast." Hestor said firmly. "You are a Celestial Summoner, the Starbringer, a member of the Six Points of humanity…do not give up and curl up into a mess over this." Lucy stared at him, watching his hand tighten in Kalebs shirt.
"Think hard…do I look like I can give birth?" Hestor said, raising a brow as a hand slid possessively into Kalebs hair.
"Yet Kaleb and I…" he glanced toward the mindbender, they hadn't discussed a thing yet…hadn't had time…but he was trying to talk a grieving woman down off a damn ledge here and Kaleb was going to have to adapt…
"We will have a family." He said raising his chin and Kaleb choked, coughing a couple of times in surprise.
"Hestor I…" Kaleb started then winced when Hestor sharply tugged his hair
"Hush, she's hurting, she needs hope and to know she's not alone…we'll talk, you know I love you so shut up and help me with this." Hestor snapped mentally and Kaleb smiled, dropping his head to hide his face in the man's hair so his smile didn't show…he was…overjoyed about what Hestor had just said, confessed to…but it absolutely was not the right moment to be happy given the news Lucy had just gotten. "So, if we can, you two can. Hope is the one thing that Pandora did not let out of her box."
Hestor was about to say more, but it was Zen who cupped Lucy's face and kissed her, rested his forehead against hers.
"I want you no less…I love you no less for this than I did before." He whispered and Lucy pulled back, looking up into his eyes, her whole being stalling at those words.
"You…love me?" She whispered hoarsely and Zen smiled at her
"My magic didn't hit me…think I'm lying?" he kissed her forehead.
"Lucy…we've gotten through so damned much together…we can overcome this too."
She searched his eyes for a moment…but felt it in their bond more than she saw it in those amethyst eyes and lunged against him, crying into his chest as he rubbed her back and held her.
He looked at Cristoff…carefully keeping his disappointment down…he really had been looking forward to one day…cuddling little blonde babies…but if that wasn't to be…it wasn't. He wouldn't give up Lucy over this, he really did love her too much already to even consider it.