Chapter 27
The first thing Lucy was aware of was pain…everywhere. It wasn't sharp like a stab wound, muscle tear or a bone break – the fact that she knew the difference in types of pain was a startling realization for the once noble Fioren heiress – but of overworked exhaustion. Her whole body just throbbed like she'd been tossed around by a monster, which she was also very familiar with, and she knew if she moved at all the pain would only be that much worse.
The second thing she felt was a gripping panic so sudden she couldn't breathe as her hand instinctively settled protectively on the barely visible baby bump she had grown. Finding it still there and feeling the slight flutterings now that she could focus her mind had the overwrought blonde slumping in relief and groaning in the accustomed pain. She took a deep breath and let the gentle a wash of her mates soothing healing magic envelope her protectively. As much as she loved Zen and all her mate's family, had she known what she was going to do would trigger that much magical backlash and pain she would have waited until after the little ones were born and done much more research into the problem first.
Life could be a bitch and fucking hindsight was 20/20.
The events that happened right before the beautiful reprieve of oblivion took her in its comforting embrace played through her mind again as she tried to figure out what the hell went wrong sending her efforts sideways. Most likely fucking Casseopia's interference and parting shot no doubt, Lucy thought silently feeling the righteous indignation welling up in her once again no matter her mate's influence.
She liked to think all of the spirits in the Celestial plane were like her quirky crazy extended family. Even though she butted heads with some; that was normal. She still loved them all, could understand their point of view and their actions even if she didn't agree with them. Even now she could understand why Stache Face had let Cassiopeia wrap her influencing magic around the Archangel magic he'd created.
They were all immortal spirits and the mortal condition just didn't often work into their plans but after seeing just what happened to those mages before because of what she did, you'd think they'd learned and have corrected it themselves right when Zen was born. The fact that she'd been able to release Zen of Cassiopeia's influence herself was a testament that on some level the Spirit King agreed with her – there just wasn't a possible way she could have done what she did if he hadn't wanted her to.
Why the hell did he order her spirits to be silent though? That was just a confusing thought and her mind hurt too much right now to sort through possible answers.
Turning into the large warm body of her mate she pulled him closer as involuntary tears started to leak from her eyes. She could have lost her babies because some spirit was a fucking suborn bitch who couldn't accept she'd been wrong over a millennia ago!
That was one spirit she had a feeling it would be long time before she was able to forgive completely, if ever.
"Love," Cristoff's voice rumbled in his chest as he tried harder to calm Lucy's chaotic emotions as she trembled in his arms. Their bond could barely keep up with everything she was feeling and her thoughts were so scattered nothing was coherent enough for him to follow.
Pulling her closer to his body the lunar dragon slayer stroked her hair and just waited for her to calm down. Lucy had always had volatile emotions switching from angry to happy in a moment and the pregnancy hormones on top of that only seemed to intensify the experience. Cristoff knew he was probably the only man alive with the patience and mild enough manner that could handle this beauty at her worst. Just another example of how perfect they were for each other.
The fear was back with guilt, devastation and loathing – the last emotion more surprising and disconcerting than any of the rest. He'd never felt that come from her before, not even when she shared stories of abusive celestial spirit mages or the Duke that forced a marriage contract with her father when she was only 16.
"Love, what happened?" he whispered into her hair letting a low growl rumble in his chest to soothe his mate.
"Oh Cris, it was awful and she could have hurt our babies!"
The exclamation only further confused the lunar slayer but now he knew what happened between Lucy and Zen had been forced by a third party. Gin and Safra hadn't mentioned anyone else being in the room when he'd cornered them a couple hours ago. Even Zen was clueless about what had happened and he'd been involved in the whole thing.
The poor man had been so worked up right when he woke up desperately trying to find Lucy in his weakened state and it wasn't until he had brought his brother quietly in to see Lucy sleeping comfortably that his brother finally settled.
"Who Lucy? Do you know what happened?"
-DTRE-
Lucy sat fidgeting in her mate's lap. After discussing everything that had happened 2 days ago with her mate about most their recently recovered family member Cristoff suggested she tell Zen, for obvious reasons, as well as his father to help them sort it all out. She'd also had a private little sit down with Loke who had finally been allowed to answer some of her more pressing questions about what exactly happened. So here she was, wrapped up in her mate in Arman's home office, still too tired to walk confidently ready to enlighten their curiosity.
"When Zen was brought home by Vander that night and we realized what most likely happened with Hestor… I was upset, really upset. I'd blame my hormones or the little ones," she smiled faintly as she rubbed her stomach subconsciously, "but it was mostly the disgust and anger I felt from Cristoff and his dragon soul that destroyed the rest of my patience."
Cristoff's arms tightened around her slightly and she could feel him bury his nose in her hair giving her the strength to continue.
"I decided since I couldn't get answers from my spirits I would borrow Grampa Crux' magic to research his library for anything I could find on Archangel magic for myself. It was created by the Spirit King near the beginning of the Holy Wars, did you guys know that? Up until then Fairies had been charged to maintain the magical balance on Earthland thus securing the borders of the underworld and celestial realm, the mortal world acting as balance. Since humans started hunting down Fairies as well as other magical creatures for magic the beings of the underworld took the opportunity to use those human's greed to start making deals with them so they could access our world, tip the scales. With Spinx, Nymphs, Satyrs and other magical species already nearing total elimination the Fairies decided to disappear. Now we all know from Safra and Gin about all of that, but their removal left the boundaries between the planes completely unguarded. The celestial gate keys were soon created and given to wizards who proved trustworthy to fight the ever strengthening tide of darkness overwhelming Earthland. It soon proved that they weren't enough because a celestial spirit's magic is limited by the mage they are contracted to so the Spirit King then created archangels – their ultimate defense, a human spirit hybrid.
Because of their magical nature any children from an archangel mage can only inherit that parent's magic if the other parent was also a celestial based magic user. Not trusting the humans to do what was best Cassiopeia convinced the Spirit King to let her weave her compulsion magic around the archangel mages' magic so that they would be drawn forcefully to the only people that could grow their mortal army down here, celestial mages." Lucy sneered just thinking about it and the sentiment was easily reflected by the men in the room.
"It worked at first, archangel magic flourished and finally balance between worlds was restored. As time passed celestial mages started to hunt down and magically bind archangel mages to themselves with an artificial bond so they could have near immortality, a super magical power boost and a personal body guard that would cater to all of their wants and desires. That's why, Zen, your magic became extinct and lost. Galasfriel, the last Archangel, refused to mate with anyone and kept moving so it wasn't forced on him before he just disappeared. Those celestial mages perverted what was supposed to be a mating bond so even if their souls weren't compatible they could still have most of the benefits real mates would have only it was onesided enslaving the Archangel. It was probably due to the buildup of celestial mages marrying into the Pradesh line that allowed you to inherit Archangel magic from a long since pasted relative."
"So am I bound to you Lucy?" Zen controlled his tone but it was a near thing. He had only just gained his freedom after decades of his life of being a slave. To have a magic that would do the same… Was he ever meant to be free?
Ever since waking up he'd felt a connection to the blonde but she was already mated to his brother so that would mean the perverted bond? He couldn't imagine sweet and considerate Lucy doing something like that to him though.
"No! Oh stars no! At least not like that! You see, with Crux' magic flowing through me I could see how Casseiopeia's magic tainted you and I knew if I got you free any children you had if they inherited your magic would be free too so I started unraveling her influence from you. I didn't think about anything else other than saving you, I was so angry, but that bitch spirit whammied us right as I broke her spell triggering a true mating bond to initiate since our souls were compatible," she hurried to explain.
The room went silent. She'd not told that little bit to Cris, hadn't known until she'd spoken to Loke and hadn't had a chance to, and that was probably a mistake…
"She mated you to my brother?" The tone was controlled but with a deadly icy edge that was not a good sign.
Feeling her own loathing well up again at the memory of what she'd first thought too Lucy's hands fisted as she turned to face her mate. His eyes were glowing bright silver but were focused fortunately not on anyone in the room but outside at the night sky. Relaxing her hands she cupped his cheeks and forced him to look at her.
"No, but she sure as hell tried to ensure at least a next generation for his magic. A mating bond with Zen would have severed our bond completely but fortunately," Lucy's eyes went soft as she turned to meet her brother's gaze, "Zen refused to break your claim and instead protected it with his magic." Tears were now welling up in her eyes with so much love and gratitude for this man who would even unknowingly protect the most sacred and cherished thing she had. Cristoff had become her world.
"A bonding happened, it couldn't be stopped, but as far as my spirits and I figure it's something completely new. Without the compulsion spell you should be free to do and be whatever you choose be and you should still be able to take a mate because that is based off of the soul. What you and I share in a combination of magic; they're linked to each other. Their mixing is what forced my third origin to open and why your magic was so dramatically drained as well. You can feel it right?" Lucy asked hand near her heart. She could feel that warm foreign magic still protecting that small piece of Cristoff's soul nestled in her own. With her magic level as low as it was it was hard to recognize but she could feel it.
"It would explain why it is taking so long for both of your magic levels to recover. Neither of your bodies are used to your changed magic and it will take time for them to acclimate. And Zen? Thank you. Thank you so fucking much." The lunar slayer was openly weeping in relief and gratitude for his older brother he was only starting to get to know. Having Lucy ripped from him would have been a fate worse than death. They could figure out the implications of this new connection tying them all together later.
Unable to hold himself back anymore he practically threw himself at Zen's taller frame squishing his mate lightly between them and just held on as the tears continued to flow. It didn't take long before he felt Zen's returning embrace as well as his father's strong arms around their small group.
All three of their lives had changed that night Hestor had decided to share Zen's body with his moral-less friends and in ways no one could have foreseen and known.
-DTRE-
Karadin sat on his throne a wild almost insane smile spread over his face as he looked at images some of his spies had taken. It was of a blonde woman said to be the strongest celestial spirit summoner currently known on Earthland and she was a perfect candidate to fuel his plans. Plus, since she was so magically powerful with great wide birthing hips she would make a great breeder for his potential offspring.
The best part of it all was the hulking hunk of pure gorgeous sex on legs standing with her. He was a dragon slayer and they were mated, so he'd have to keep them together, but that would definitely not stop him from taking his pleasure from the powerful male. Hell he'd even let the slayer impregnate the female so he could claim any of those children – they would likely be male and very powerful.
Yes, he'd have to make sure Nuryev only did a controlled magical drain on them both so they were only weakened not killed.
"Sire, it might also interest you to know that the man in the picture is Cristoff Pradesh," the aid who'd brought in the report added.
If at all possible Karadin's smile grew wider. What wonderful luck! He'd be able to strike down Arman Pradesh and his simpering disgusting country again all while furthering his cause.
"Start making plans immediately to bring the pair in. We'll need to create special chambers to hold them in. Bring me Nuryev and our specialist on dragon slayer magic. I don't want any surprises."
Today was a good day.
-DTRE-
Vander was bored. The only good thing about being a Bloodhunter of the Steel Council was that he always had so much to do. He had almost always been travelling out on a job either for them or his family but with both his father and Farron not taking any foreign assignments to stick close to Zen and a pregnant Lucy, being an officially retired Bloodhunter and with Safra grounded to Pelerno for a year, travelling for long periods just wasn't an option.
He could take Gin out on a job with him, spend the time bonding with at least one of his mates, but that would leave Safra alone and he didn't like that. Someone needed to keep near her and keep a close eye on her so she didn't just disappear one day. He'd seen the looks on a few Steel Council member's faces and he didn't trust it, made his ass twitch and not in a good way.
With most of the family was busy with the drama that happened between Cris, Lucy and Zen or all the way back in Magnolia Vander didn't really have anyone he could trust to watch out for her.
Kaleb was still in town but even he was super busy not only working with the Holy Order to make sure all the new changes were implemented but also still doing his work as White Sea's Guild Master. Sure she was going to be his brother's mate so he'd look after her if Vander and Gin took off for a week. Hell he probably already was since they had been magically adopted by the same immortal and could be considered siblings anyway. That was fucking weird and made thinking about it more complicated. Was he going to be mated to his sister?...
It was even weirder than that because after coming out of the True Light Kaleb looked a whole hell of a lot more like Safra and that had the whole family reeling at the possibility of the pair maybe being siblings by blood. No one knew where Kaleb was actually born. He'd been found by Farron among a slaver's shipment bound for Joya where he was supposed to have been sold to one of their war queens.
Safra had been "adopted" by Apollo the day she'd been born so only her parents knew what she'd originally looked like and since they were lost to her only hours later there was no way to ask them if she'd had a brother.
It had been common practice years ago in Iceberg for a struggling village to take and sell their special children to slavers to support the village as a whole even against their own parents' wishes so it was possible. As beautiful as Kaleb had been even as a small child he would have fetched a handsome price feeding many mouths while also reducing the number of people that needed to be fed; a win win if you weren't the child or a loving parent.
The pair hesitated to do a DNA test because the Boscan legal implications were a little fuzzy in this case. Would Safra be considered a Pradesh because her older sibling had been legally adopted by Arman all those years ago? It was a well-established law that if you wanted to adopt a child in Bosco you had to adopt any siblings as well in order to keep the children together, but did apply to unknown siblings as well?
Would her adoption to Pefko be recognized here since Kaleb's had happened first?
It was anybody's guess but if Bosco decided it wouldn't that meant legally Safra was Boscan and Vander would not be allowed to marry his one of his mates because they were legally siblings. How truly bizarre was that?
All that aside, the shadowquip mage was, for the first time in his life, essentially grounded and in a way he couldn't just get out of.
He was bored.
Moving around Safra's skini looking at her "dragon horde", something their whole family got a kick out of when Gin had explained her learned behavior, the short black staff that they'd taken from the temple months ago caught his eye. It didn't look all that powerful, couldn't even be used effectively as a normal weapon because the staff was so short.
Picking it up Vander twirled it about. It was abnormally warm to the touch which only made him even more curious. Slipping into the voids so he could quickly travel to a practice ring, he wasn't stupid enough to mess with unknown magic just anywhere, the youngest Pradesh got the surprise of his life.
Instead of feeling the pressing cold of the voids or hearing the dark disturbing whispers of the shades that made it their home Vander heard nothing and was oddly…warm. Pausing right where he was, something he'd rarely done because of the threat of being caught and overwhelmed, he actually took a minute to look around completely confused as to why he wasn't being chased.
What he saw surprised the hell out of him with and inspired not a little fear. Hundreds if not thousands of shades, life sucking breasties, surrounded him unmoving, silent. There were more than he'd ever seen in one place before and all of their hollowed eyes were focused on him. Then, they bowed.
"Master," was echoed by countless voices making his very skin crawl.
"Who?" The question was out before he could stop himself.
"You whose soul entices yet burns us control our Master," the multitude answered saying the same thing over and over and it was enough that Vander finally decided to leave the voids first, then have a good long hard think about the implications of what just happened.
Pulling out at his initial destination Vander looked closely at the staff again. The shades called it their master and since he had it…could he actually control the shades in the voids with it instead of just opening a hole for them to pass through so they could pass through and mindlessly attack the closest living thing?
Wine colored eyes lit at the possibilities. He'd have to setup an even more secure place to mess with this staff if he was going to be playing with the creatures of the voids. It just wouldn't do to have any escape to go and kill indiscriminately.
No longer bored as his mind started establishing the protocols he'd need to put in place Vander strolled into the Pelerno branch of White Sea causally spinning the staff between his tapered fingers. What in interesting day this turned out to be.
-End of Chapter-
*Breathes a sigh of relief* I updated guys, are you excited? I am! Let me know what you think. - Blas
