OK, shorter chapter, more of a fille, I'm sorry, please keep the maiming to a minimum, life, holidays, and this one fought me tooth and nail, but hopefully the next chapter will come out more smoothly, and thus have an update sooner! Hope you enjoy!
True to his word, Kaleb was there in less than an hour, Lucy flying into his arms the moment he came through the door. The three months Zen had been gone, she had gotten very close to Kaleb and Erik, the two men were now her closest friends and next to Zen, her greatest comforts.
"You have to help Wendy, she's blaming herself for what happened…" She whispered into Kalebs ear and he kissed her forehead, smiling at her and pulling back to let Erik pull her into a hug while he walked back to his father.
Armans usual barriers and such that normally kept Kaleb at bay were frayed and Kaleb sensed it immediately, the stress of everything, of what had been happening for almost a year now and what had just happened was telling on the King.
"I'll see where Farron is, Bickslow should be back here soon, he's just getting his mates settled in their chambers, we're all going to stay here in the Palace Dad, everyone came, even Emzadi waddled her pregnant self through the teleporter, slapping Laxus when he said he didn't want her to risk travel." He chuckled and Arman smiled in spite of himself, standing.
"I...I need to go see her." He looked toward the bedroom and Kaleb reached out, pulling his father to him, pressing their foreheads together.
"Dad...for once, let your children help, go to Emzadi before she has to beat Laxus back and come here herself, she shouldn't be using stairs." He said and Arman nodded, kissing his sons temple, Kaleb had always been so strong, he and Farron were the pillars of his children.
Kaleb went to the bedroom, Erik and Lucy not far behind him, finding Wendy curled around Farron quietly sobbing. Her pain lanced through him, what she had seen almost bringing him to his knees, he reached out and stabilized himself with the beds footboard.
He forced Wendys immense anguish aside and reached into his brother, smiling faintly, Farron was strong, his will firmly in tact, consciousness was being held at bay so his body could recover, use the healing magic, regain its balance. The worst thing Farron was struggling with was Wendy, how she had reacted as he was tortured, how she was right now was taxing his brothers spirit.
Kaleb turned his attention to Wendy then, sliding onto the bed beside her and pressing his hand gently against her back.
He could ease the sharpness of her memories, take them completely from her if he had to, Bickslow could then purge them from her soul so nothing could dredge them up and as turbulent and drenched in anguish as she was, it seemed he'd need to do that.
He looked to Erik, who was standing at the foot of the bed frowning, pain in his indigo gaze.
You have to...she can't handle it and she's weakening Farron, Farron can deal with it but she can't...Wendy has always had a soft heart, this shit will ruin her. Eriks voice came and Kaleb nodded, moving his hand to the back of Wendys head he let his magic flow and Wendys body relaxed, her crying stopped and she slid down, her head resting on Farrons shoulder, sleep taking her at Kalebs command.
It wasn't a pleasant task, to remove the memories he had to experience them, pull them cleanly out of Wendys mind and memories and gently weave new ones. He kept it simple, putting into her uncomfortable blackness, she would remember only she wasn't conscious, that her ability to wake was kept from her. Bickslow was the only one who could remove what she remembered coming through her bond with Farron.
Bickslow actually came into the room while Kaleb was working, frowning as his eyes flared with his magic, taking in his brothers condition and Wendys but smiling faintly as Wendys soul lightened as his brother worked, pulling away the memories, the pain.
It was the finest thing in Kalebs magic, he felt, it's ability to heal a shattered mind, to ease trauma, take pain away. Mindbenders were rare, a Mindbender of Kalebs caliber hadn't been seen in centuries. Erik watched it happen, felt his mate work, shared the experience with him of taking in Wendys horrific experience.
They would ease Farron too, remove the memory of Wendy being brought in, and how much her reactions had hurt him. Bickslow slid up beside Kaleb, his brother holding Wendy and making her eyes open so Bickslow could gain access, then putting a hand on his brothers shoulder as Bickslow, just like he had, went through the experience Wendy had gone through.
Farron was far easier to deal with, their eldest brother was strong, so much more so than anyone ever realized, like their father Farron was stable, a rock that could weather almost anything. He likely would have been able to deal with all of his memories, but just because they could, because it would help and ease his burden, they took those few away that were the worst.
Almost before Bickslow and Kaleb had slid from the bed Farrons eyes opened and sat up in a sudden jerk, whipping his head over to look at Wendy, bending over her, running his hands over her sleeping face and kissing her over and over before he acknowledged his brothers.
Kaleb and Bickslow both being present made him frown and pull Wendy into his arms, she stirred a little, her arms winding around him as she nuzzled her cheek against his bare chest, purring softly.
"If you're both here...it was bad...worse than I remember…" He said quietly, frowning at them.
Kaleb shrugged. "Bad enough, Dad's with Emzadi, she's here, we're all here, it's time the Pradesh family took this on full force." He replied.
Farron nodded, cupping Wendys chin, it alarmed him his brothers were both in here with them, what he remembered was horrific, if they were here...it meant the experience was worse than he would ever be able to recall because Kaleb and Bickslow had worked together to remove memories from both mind and soul.
Judging by the diminished magic energy he felt from them both...the work had been heavy. His pale blue eyes snapped up to Kaleb fierce demand in them. "Did they rape her? Is that what you took?" He hissed.
Kaleb shook his head. "No...thankfully, all they did to her was take her blood, you were the one they hurt the worst Farron and Wendy couldn't deal with that, she won't remember much, you we only barely touched, I figured...you're strong enough to deal with it." Kaleb said.
Farron nodded, pulling Wendy more closely to him. "Thank you...where is Dad...I should…" He started to lay Wendy down and Erik growled, the sound making him stop and look up in surprise.
"Your ass will stay here, get some sleep, cuddle the hell out of her, whatever, but stay with Wendy, you can help tomorrow." Erik snapped. Kaleb smiled sliding up behind his mate and wrapping his arms around him, resting his chin on Erik shoulder as he stared Farron down.
His older brother sighed and slid down into the bed, drawing Wendy fully against him.
"Fine, then get the hell out of our bedroom so we have some privacy." He growled and Erik smirked, turning into Kaleb and humming when his mates lips pressed into his.
I love it when your forceful...sexy as hell you got my brother to back down… Kaleb purred in his head and Cobra growled at him, letting Kaleb pull him from the room behind Bickslow and Lucy.
I'll be forceful...I'll force you to your knees later… He teased and Kalebs eyes met his, darkening, a wicked smile lifting his lips.
You can try...who says I might not want to tie that commanding body down and have my way with it? Kaleb returned.
Oh you'll have to get me before I get you for that… Cobra waited until Kaleb had sat down then slid his hand into the mans silken hair and wrenched his head back, kissing him hard enough to make him moan.
Bickslow snickered shaking his head and hugging Lucy. "I think I'm going back to my mates, fill them in on how everyone's doing and maybe get some of what they're up to…" He said nodding toward the pair now making out on the couch.
Lucy giggled. "Yeah, good idea, I'll wait here and um...try to keep them clothed or maybe shove them into the office over there since Arman and Zen should be back soon to check on Farron and Wendy." She said lightly.
Bickslow nodded. "See ya in the morning cosplayer." He smirked, looking at Kaleb and Cobra. Cobra had his brother pinned on his back on the couch now, a knee holding one of the mans arms down as the Poison Slayer straddling him, hand still fisted in the back of Kalebs hair, lips locked.
"Kaleb...Cobra...Arman has a bed set up in the office…" Lucy tried tentatively
Erik and Kaleb stilled, breathing hard pulling away from each other. Kaleb looked at her, face flushed, eyes dark. "Sorry Lucy...seeing…" Kalebs voice failed when Erik moved to get off of him and ground his hips down into Kalebs before he did it with a wicked smirk.
Kaleb squeezed Cobras ass hard enough the man hissed and cleared his throat "...Seeing a bond tested like that sort of…" He shrugged, sitting back up, not bothering to hide how much he and Cobras little bonding session had affected him.
Lucy smirked, she'd been around the pair enough she knew they always struggled with keeping their hands off each other. They dealt with helping others alot and seeing pain always made them desperate for each other, stirring memories of when it was them that had endured through a tremendous ordeal before they were mated.
"It's ok, I almost jumped Zen in front of your Dad for the same reason." She admitted and both men smiled at that.
"Well you can jump me now...Dad's not here." Zen's voice slightly preceded his appearance in a soft flash of gold and Lucy grinned, lunging into his arms. He kissed her back, arms wrapped tightly around her, taking his fill and giving her hers before he pulled back and gave his brother any attention.
"Teleport mages took the lacrimas we found to their ends and they were random locations, though the three we took all went to Fiore. So it's likeliest they retreated there but Beck is using dolphins to check every single underwater cave that could possibly be used like this for any sign of activity. We broke everything down in the place they took Wendy and Farron, cleared it and collapsed the fucking thing so if they try to teleport in again, they'll do so into either rock or water." He told them. "Becks search will likely take the rest of the night so I came back to check in and get some rest..." He stalled a moment, eyes unfocused and a smile curled his lips.
"So uh...Farron and Wendy are awake and apparently well enough for some pretty warm cuddling I hear…" He smirked and Cobra and Kaleb both grinned nodding.
"Well, we'll retire to my rooms then, White Sea had already gone over the palace again, laying new runes and wards since Nightmare got through what was in place.." Kaleb said.
"Did...did Farron recall anything helpful?" Zen asked.
Kaleb frowned. "Two things. The handmaiden from Bosco, who once served in the palace that disappeared months ago?" Realizing Zen wouldn't be familiar with that Kaleb sighed. "One of Princess Kurinos handmaids vanished a few months ago, it was all over the news, there was a huge search for her, Kurino was half crazed, almost started a war with Stella over it, anyway, the woman, Lula, was one of the people who captured Farron, her and Rotbull were in charge of it. Also...It was Nightmares guildmaster who first assaulted Farron in that cave, tormented Wendy mercilessly too, memories we had to wipe because they were going to destroy her. Anyway, Nightmares Guildmaster is a woman who wears the jawless skull mask that's the guild emblem." Kaleb said.
Zen nodded and was about to open his mouth when the door opened and Arman came in.
"We'll have a meeting in the morning to discuss what our next course of action will be, I've spoken with Makarov of Fairy Tail and of course we have you here Kaleb but I don't plan to wait to find out what that dark guild is up to, or for them to do to Lucy and Zen what they did to too many others in this family." Arman said with a dark look in his usually merry eyes.
He looked at his children and their spouses. "Go to bed, breakfast and the family meeting will be at 8. Have a good night, I'm staying here with Draco tonight...I just...won't be able to sleep anywhere else." He said, though his eyes warmed when he heard the soft sounds coming from Farron and Wendys room.
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The moment Wendy woke she was all over Farron, her hands lighting up with her pale green magic so she could thoroughly go over him and he smiled, letting her do it because he knew she needed to. "You're going to need a few days rest, so the work the magic did can settle and balance well. I…" Her eyes slid over his bare chest, her fingers trailing over the eagle on his chest, it and the one on his hip got a lot of attention from her, they were like targets.
"I'm tired love, but not dead, and I want your touch...you have no idea how badly I want it...you can make it all go away...just touch me...kiss me…" Farron breathed, reaching out a hand and trailing it down the side of her neck over the front of her shoulder then lightly lingering on her breast until her eyes closed and she moved closer to his touch.
She started touching him then, and his smile was warm as he put his hands of hers, guiding them over his body where he wanted her touch. The baby blue eyes heated, his lips parting in soft sighs and Wendy licked her lips, climbing over him, straddling his lap where he sat with his back against the headboard.
Her lips started following her hands and she was surprised when her dragon all but took over, guiding her. In Dragons, females could steal each others mates, it did happen, a powerful Queen could lay her mark over a weaker ones, sway the weaker queens mate from her against his will, use him to help her attack and kill the weaker queen then the stolen mate, of course, died. Farron had been attacked, used by another female, and Wendy had to reaffirm her claim on him, take him back, he sensed it, didn't fully understand but knew he was in deep need of what she was doing, he ached for it, every touch, kiss, caress was bringing him back to her, clearing things between them, forgiving him and her at the same time for not being able to stop what had happened.
It was so much more than sex, more than even lovemaking, the tender nuzzling, cuddling, caressing and gentle loving they lavished on each other they both needed so much.
"I love you." Farron breathed as she moved on top of him.
"I love you too Farron...more than anything in this world…" Wendy whispered back, drowning in him, in their contact, closeness, their unified bodies, the pleasure less significant than the intimacy this time.
She trailed her nose up his neck, nuzzling into his hair while he ran his hands up her back and kissed her shoulder, her purrs making his eyes roll back as their bodies maintained a slow gentle rhythm, when he rolled her to her back and settled between her legs she wrapped them around him moaning out her end with whimpered endearments and he came moments behind her breathing out her name and something soft and sweet in Boscan.
They wrapped themselves around each other before finally falling asleep, Wendys face buried in Farrons neck, his in her hair. He would trust his family tonight, to keep them safe, to handle what needed to be done, and bask in his love for the woman he held who was the center of his world, and he wanted it no other way.
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"So everyone is on the same page." Kaleb said standing and looking over his family at the table. "The dark Guild Nightmare began doing blood draws on our family with Bickslow almost a year ago. They lured him, drugged him...abused him. Gajeel got him out of it, Levy was hit next, followed by Cobra, Gajeel and myself. They are known best for human trafficking, with trade agreements into Pergrande, Bellum and the Southern kingdoms, though most of what they do is with Pergrande, selling to their laboratories. We know from the recon work Vander did after Levy was taken that they also have a deal with Seven primarily for female mages with uncommon magic." Kaleb lifted the report folder he had assembled.
"They have avoided setting foot in Bosco or taking Boscans so they've been off White Seas radar until this year. I've worked with my co-master Gaza and the Boscan and Archipelago branches of White Sea are now sistered with Fairy Tail, with a teleportation pad linking Archipelago branch with Fairy Tail, Fairy Tail has adopted the guild hall on Aigne as it's branch and is sharing the hall with White Sea. Laxus and myself will run the Archipelago branches...at least until Laxus takes over the main one in Magnolia. From Cobra, Gajeel and I they became erratic, seizing opportunities that made it clear we have all been under serious observation. This morning, Zens hounds, under Vanders direction swept the palace and found over 200 listening lacrima beads hidden around within all our private chambers…" Kaleb looked around at the wide eyes all down the table.
"Fuck…" Cristoff snarled, the spoon he'd been flipping around his fingers snapped in half, Arman giving him a dark look for wrecking expensive silverware.
"A similar sweep was conducted in Fairy Tail with runes sent throughout by Freed, 150 listening beads were recovered. New wards have been laid, new runic defenses and rules implanted into the existing system for the palace and all of the island estates. Fairy Tail and White Sea have sent mages who are "on vacation" here increasing security, right now, the islands are secure, probably the most secure place we can all be but Archipelago and Aigne because of the Guild Hall are the safest." He nodded to Vander who stood.
"Ok, so, we know Nightmares Guildmaster has been in prison in Pergrande, pissed off the wrong people there and will likely die there. About a month after he went in, someone took over in his absence, we know there are 4 underlings that support the new boss and enforce HER rule over the guild, and yes, after Farron and Wendys abduction yesterday we know it's a woman leading that fucking guild. We also know Lula, the Handmaid who disappeared from Bosco a few months ago has turned up working with Nightmare, her and Rotbull are really friendly." He said and levelled his wine colored eyes on Zen.
"Of the royal family only Zen hasn't been collected by Nightmare and Rottbull told Farron they want him...bad. Some research into return logs and Wendys healing records back at Fairy Tail showed Lucy returned from a mission where she was recovered by Bickslow and Cristoff when Bix was out with Natsu, Lucy had to have a deep puncture wound on her arm healed consistent with the fucking needles they use, so they have her blood, they have the blood of nearly every female in Fairy tail. Odds are they wanted to cover bases, and may have multiple reasons for doing it. Rottbull did say they were and I quote "hunting Fairies" when they took Rogue and after that Fairy Tail has seen 47 false job requests submitting that would have drawn members to isolated abandoned places." Vander slid a hand into Rogues hair when he mentioned him, picking up the bloody file he'd taken when he had recovered Rogue right before they had mated.
"This file contains information on every single member of Fairy Tail, and the Pradesh family, it has the matings of Bickslow, Levy, Gajeel, Cobra and Kaleb listed as well as information on Emzadi and Laxus, Sting and Xally. Their habits, where they live, and what mages would be most effective against them. It mentions a Guildmaster referred to as "Queen" and a plan to use the royal family and their mates blood to access something. We haven't figured out just what yet, but the blood of royals, dragons, rare magic users of high power….it's all there and there are thousands of rituals it could be used for…" He said, boot on the seat of his chair, Rogues hand resting on his thigh Vander looked at Arman.
"I've pulled every favor I've ever had owed me, I have agents from Fiore to fucking Pergrande sniffing at ghosts of ideas. I believe our best bet is to recover one of the 4 underlings...I don't know about everyone else, but I'd fucking LOVE to bring in Rottbull and not so nicely interrogate him...to fucking death. But we'd have to find a way to get him out in the open, flush him out ya know?" He sighed and shoved a hand through his thick black hair, eyes on Rogues and he smiled faintly, Rogues ruby eyes warm on his, burning with the same blood lust Vander felt, the desire to hunt down their enemy, and make them pay.
"Bait…" Kaleb said calmly and Cobra growled, looking sharply at his mate. Kaleb met his mates burning gaze, sliding a hand to his face and Cobra immediately snapped a hand over his and held it there against his cheek.
"No, way the fuck too dangerous." He said firmly.
Everyone looked confused except for Farron, it was his memory Kaleb had gotten the idea from. "He wants Kaleb, really bad he wants him. Pure sex, doesn't need anything from him for any part of work, says he'd beg for it, will do whatever he has to to have him again…"
"No. Kaleb, they've already gotten their hands on you, there's one left. There's only one that is more tempting than you, and I...I don't know what it is, there's something here. I can see the dots, and I know they're connected, but how is just beyond my fingertips." Lucy spoke up, her voice firm as she lifted from her chair, grabbing the folder from Vanders hand to thumb through it. "They've been collecting blood from alot of guild mages, but the Pradesh family are the big tickets one that they want. There's something that they're wanting outside of us."
"Maybe...maybe it has something more to do with the family directly?" Levy said absently. She had been quiet the entire time, taking notes in the leather bound book that she had been given when Bix and Gajeel had proposed to her. She didn't know what exactly it was, but her instincts had been screaming for her to bring the book with. Sitting back, Levy tapped her pen against her lips, brows drawing together as she fought to connect the dots like Lucy was.
There was something, she knew there was. She was now a part of the strongest family on all of Earthland, whose power was hidden in plain sight. Looking at the family gathered around the long table, Levy let her mind lose some focus as it played over the information she already knew.
She knew it had something to do with the original family from years ago. It had something to do with Zen and Lucy as well. Where did they fit in all of this?