Rogue's Rage

A Total-E-Bound Publication

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Rogue’s Rage ISBN # 978-0-85715-330-2 ©Copyright Lacey Thorn 2010 Cover Art by Natalie Winters ©Copyright November 2010 Edited by Andrea Grimm Total-E-Bound Publishing This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing. Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution. The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork. Published in 2010 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content, which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated Total-e-burning.

Blood Magic

ROGUE’S RAGE Lacey Thorn

Dedication This is for all the people who continue to dream of another time, another place, another life…imagination is a beautiful escape.

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Prologue

Raven lay in the cage praying for death. How long had she been here? What more did he have planned for her? Surely he could not hurt her more than he already had. She had never known a man so hungry for power. It was easy to see now that he craved the crown and would do his best to remove anyone that stood in his way. She had overheard Wilhelm speaking of how his brother, the Queen’s husband, had been killed. The Queen’s brother, who ruled as king at her side, had left to search but already Wilhelm plotted the man’s demise. It was apparent that he did not plan for Raven to ever leave this room alive or he would not speak thus in front of her. She had come to speak with the Queen, to tell Ona of the whispers the wind carried of a great evil that threatened all. Instead she had met the evil head on and alone. There were six of them who approached while she was bathing in the stream. But she had not shown any fear. She was native and her weapons were always available to her. Rising from the water, she had broadened her stance and held her hands to the side. “You are trespassing,” one of them stated but she could scent the lust on them in the air. “I thought that the land belonged to any and all,” was her soft reply. In all honesty the land belonged more to her and her people than to any other. They were the natives, the ones who had been here since the beginning and would remain here always. “Trespassing is a very serious and punishable offence,” one of the others said and licked his lips. Goddess spare her from men who thought themselves gods among men. “Then I will just dress and be on my way,” she said softly and sighed as snickers filled the air. This would not be pleasant, at least not for them. “Out of the water now,” was the only reply she received. Slowly she moved forward her mind already planning what course she would take once aground. She could feel the shift of the dragon under her skin, the protector of those of native royalty. Did these men have no idea of the power she could wield? For a native, weapons were always within reach lying just under their skin. If you glanced at her back you would see her sword. The hilt descended from the back of her neck

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and squared off so that it spread out to her shoulder blades before stopping just beneath them. The long blade trailed down her spine ending in a sharp point at the small of her back where a small dragon curled around the tip. Both dragon and sword could be pulled from her skin and used in defence unless she was rendered unconscious. Then both would return to the skin until called forth once more. She stepped from the water and slipped her hand high then lowered it behind her neck. One more chance was all they would get before she drew it from her skin and prepared for battle. One of the group stepped forward and his leer was like a psychic caress over her flesh. One meaty paw reached out and his filthy fingers pinched her nipple and tugged at it. “Perhaps we should punish you ourselves,” he breathed, stepping closer to her. And Raven kicked into fight mode. Her knee lifted into the hardened flesh of his cock while one palm flashed out and connected with his nose sending his body in two different directions. The knee made him want to curl forward while the palm sent his head snapping back. The result was him at her feet, fingers hugging his knees to his chest while his nose gushed blood. She stood at the ready, one hand returning to hover behind her neck though she had yet to call forth the blade or the dragon. A tingle under the skin, like a premonition cautioned her to wait, to be careful in revealing all she held. The men paused around her as if her actions had given them pause in their plans. Then there was a tremble in the air and everything seemed to still. Her hand hovered and fell as a scream was ripped from her lips and she landed in a heap on the ground. Her hands slapped at her flesh that suddenly felt as if it were afire with flames. She tried in vain to use her hands to put the flames out and rolled about fighting what she could not see. Then the pain overtook her and mercifully she passed out. When she awoke, she was tied down and unable to move or access her weapons. A man stood before her and she knew beyond a shadow of doubt that this was the Wilhelm that had been spoken of and that he was the great evil. He stood over her taking in the shape of her body, the curves and dips, but she could not feel lust on him. A shadow moved and her glance was pulled towards another. A woman. Danuja and obviously the source of the flames she had felt before. She stood behind Wilhelm and said nothing.

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“So you are finally awake,” he said, grabbing her attention back. “I was wondering how long you would deny me.” “I did not trespass,” she stated and yet she knew that had nothing to do with why she was here. “Ahhh, yes,” he sighed and moved closer to her, placing a hand at her foot and trailing it up her skin as he moved towards her head. “But then we both know that is not why you are here.” “Then why?” she demanded. “You have something I desire,” he said. The hand stopped at her shoulder and moved to her breast. Soft fingers ran over her flesh circling and touching and she shuddered with disgust. “Take it then and be done,” she growled. He laughed. “Tis not your body I crave,” he sneered. “But the magic that lies beneath.” Now it was her turn to laugh. “My magic belongs to none but me.” His touch became brutal, pinching and slapping at her. He moved back down her body until he stood between her spread thighs and dropped the robe he wore to the ground. “You will give it to me,” he swore. “One way or another.” With that he mounted and took her. Raven receded inside to a place that sheltered her mind though not her body. The fool did not seem to understand that a native’s magic was hers alone. It could not be taken. It could not be given. Raven shook her head, coming back to the present. She had no idea how many times he had taken her since her captivity, or even how long she had been here. Always the flames to incapacitate her and awaking to being tied down with him atop her telling her it would all end if she just gave him what he desired. Then awaking once more to her cage. What she did know was that her body was changing. Already she could feel the seed of life blooming inside. She must get away. She could not allow a child to be born and held at the mercy of so evil a man. She must either escape or ensure that the child was never born. There were no other viable options for either of them. She was brought from her thoughts by the constant opening and shutting of Wilhelm’s door. Something was going on. Something big. Wilhelm seemed agitated as he paced back

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and forth ignoring her presence completely. She focused on what was being said to him only catching the end. “to your chamber,” the man stated. “She will head this way as soon as the twins are down for the night. She only awaits Lydia’s arrival.” “Lydia is of no concern,” Wilhelm stated. “The woman fancies herself in love with me. She will do as she is told. The children will be dealt with as well.” “Of course, sir,” the man stated and bowed before leaving the room. “So the queen will meet your demand?” the Danuja woman said as she stepped from the shadows. “Of course she will,” Wilhelm said. “Her husband has been declared dead and she will feel compelled to turn to me for comfort. There is much that I will offer her.” “But she is Queen, ruler with or without her mate,” the Danuja stated. He cut her off with a harsh slap to the face that had her crying out. “I will rule,” he stated and Raven shook her head. He was so power hungry that he just assumed all would eventually bow to his will. But Raven knew better. After all, the sword the queen wielded had originated from a native. None would hold that sword but the queen and eventually the queen’s newborn daughter. Wilhelm and the Danuja left taking exit through a secret panel in the wall. She knew well the torture chamber it led to. She’d been there too many times. All was silent but she could feel the energy in the air. Then the door was opening again and it was with awe that she watched the queen enter the room. Queen Ona was as beautiful as her portraits. Regal and calm. The woman looked about the room and seeing that they were alone she headed immediately for the cage Raven was in. “We do not have much time.” The queen slipped her hand through the bars. “Here is the key to your release. Guard it well until the time is right for your escape.” Raven took the key and slipped it under her hip. She had no clothing to hide it in as Wilhelm kept her naked in the cage. “Until the time is right,” she stated with a sigh. Hopefully that time would come before she was knocked out and moved once more. “Be ready,” Queen Ona said, squeezing her hand. “The time will be soon. When Wilhelm and his paramour are engaged with me, you must make your escape.” Raven nodded.

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“You must not fear what you see,” Queen Ona said. “Death comes for us all. Destiny waits for none. Mine lies in one path and yours in another.” Raven caught her breath as she looked at the queen. “Flee. Return to the people from whence you came. Guard the child you carry for her destiny will help unite a nation and through her the chosen will fall and the curse will lift.” Raven nodded but was unable to say anything as the wall opened and Wilhelm entered once more. She watched and listened knowing that she must give witness to the sacrifice made. And when the time was right she used the key and fled stopping neither for clothing nor supply. And long before she made her way home she heard on the wind that she was wanted for the death of Queen Ona.

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Chapter One

Rory walked in shadow and craved the light. Her people were nomadic, never staying in one place long enough to call anywhere home. If you asked the elders they would say that the entire island was home. It wasn’t the existence that Rory wanted or dreamed of but it was the hand she’d been dealt by fate. At this point most inhabitants on the island knew the legend behind the sword of the ruling queen. A native woman betrayed by her people, her mate killed while she lay dying. It had been her wish to heal the wound her family felt when she’d walked away from them for the life of a mated woman. She had bucked tradition and married a newcomer to the island and together they had formed the people now known as the warriors. She had also been among the first to forgo the triad mating and instead mated to one man and only one. And history spoke of her happiness. But that wasn’t the story that haunted Rory. She was a direct descendant of the younger daughter born to older parents and sheltered from life. Those were the journals passed from generation to generation, mother to daughter. The younger sister had been Ramie and her journals spoke of a woman never truly allowed to live. Always in shadow, always sheltered, always watched. She trained, she fought, and eventually she was mated to two brothers that her family chose for her. She gave birth to two daughters and loved them deeply. Her words spoke of a woman alone, one who felt unloved by her mates. One who felt more like an object than a person. She personified the hope that the curse would be lifted and that hope passed on to the first daughter of each new generation. Until Rory. She was the first daughter but not one of pure blood, not one of love. Her mother had been captured, tortured and raped before escaping. Broken inside and out Raven had made her way home using shadow to hide from the guards that followed. Murderess was how they called her. But her people knew better. Raven, the first daughter of the royal line was welcomed home and nursed back to health. And when it was announced that she was with child, they accepted Rory as well. Her

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mother married well and was loved by her mates. In their defence they had loved Rory as well. It was she who had always felt different especially since the birth of her sister Raine. Raine was the first daughter of the first daughter of the people. Her blood was pure and true. Raine was the most beautiful woman that Rory had ever seen. Inside and out. Rory would give anything to be rid of her greenish yellow cat like eyes and have the warm brown of her sister. But she wasn’t pure native and everyone knew that. And that little fact of fate had changed her entire life. Rory had been allowed to live, to explore within reason, and to fight to her heart’s content. She had trained as a rogue. She was grouped with two friends, Theron and Thaden, and it was expected that they would all mate. Truth was that none of them felt romantically about each other. Theron and Thedan were known to share but Rory had never been with them. They were close friends, almost like brothers. And the three of them were Raine’s personal guard. Fate had left Rory free and yet forced her into playing the role of protector, guarding and sheltering her sister. She would trade places if she could even for a day but that wasn’t an option. Raine was the hope and Rory was the one given the job to ensure that hope was not lost. “She is not here,” Theron stated, breaking her from thought. “She is okay?” Rory asked. She had worried for Aurora since last she had seen her. She had tried to convey her concern to her friend, but Aurora had laughed it off. So Rory had made a point of coming back to check on her. When last she had been to the shifter village, there had been something in the air around Aurora, a danger that was uncertain. “A note was left by the younger sister, Lynx, that they were going for a bit but they have not returned,” Thaden spoke next. “So both are gone?” Rory shook her head. She did not have a good feeling about this. “It gets more complex,” Theron stated. “Lydia has not been seen since last eve.” “Now their mother is gone as well?” Rory let her gaze search through the village searching for any trace of foul play. “They are all gone,” Thaden acknowledged.

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“Did you feel anything? See anything?” Rory asked. A rogue was trained to trust their senses, to feel the very air for vibrations of past events. Traces were always left behind for those with the sense to see them. “Something was here and gone,” Theron said. “Someone taken and some followed behind. Then there is an echo of power, unlike any I have seen before. And yet I sense no evil in its intent.” “But they are two different events,” Thaden added. “The taken and those who followed forge one trail while the power leaves in a different direction.” “One towards the castle,” Theron said, “and one towards the temple.” “Hmmmm,” Rory said, her mind trying to sort and figure what had transpired in the few days since her last visit. The castle was where the king was and the vile evil man Wilhelm. He was an enforcer of the laws or at least that was what his minions said when they wreaked havoc upon the people outside of the castle. King Aslan wasn’t always seen and usually only when Wilhelm was with him so none spoke of what happened with their king. Those who attempted had a way of disappearing. Some feared Wilhelm. Some hated him. But none knew of his evil deeds so well as Rory. None had the foulness of his blood within their body as she did. None could hate him more than the daughter formed through an act of violence. Rage consumed her when she thought of Wilhelm. Her mother’s rapist. Her sworn enemy and the man she vowed to kill. Her mother had told her where she came from, what she came from. And despite what Raven had suffered, Rory never once knew a day without her mother’s love. Raven often said that Rory was proof that good could come from evil, that incredible beauty could come from the depths of true ugliness. Her mother. She missed her more every day. Soon she would see to her mother’s vengeance and quiet the rage she held inside. “The time will come,” Theron said and reached out to cup her face, breaking her from thought once more. Thaden stepped into her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and hugging her to his side. Her brothers. Her best friends. And the only true confidants she’d ever had.

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She nodded, knowing that these two men would help her find the justice her mother deserved. But that goal had to be cast aside until her sister married and her mates took over the roles of protector. Until then that was their job and they took it very seriously. Even now Raine stood just off to the side of where they were surrounded by groups of unmated natives eager to woo the princess for their own. Rory caught her sister’s gaze and knew her sister was weary of the attention. Rory was always introduced as the leader of her people though that title belonged to Raine. It was yet another form of protection. Even those who wooed Raine did not know that she was the true leader. They just knew she was of royal blood. As Raven had been mated upon her return, only a chosen few knew that Rory was not of pure native blood. Though many might question her eyes, so different from others, none would do so aloud. And her fathers had always treated her as their daughter. They had loved her and accepted her as much for herself as she grew, as out of love for her mother. And that more than anything was why none would question anything about her. “Yes, it will come,” Rory agreed, letting her arm slip around Thaden. “It will come.” Theron lifted his head and his eyes seemed not to focus for a moment. “Someone comes bearing news that we must hear. They will arrive by nightfall. A new journey awaits us. I see blood and death and a glimmer of something that will separate and yet forge us closer than ever.” He seemed to pull back into himself and shook his head. Rogues could be taught to read the air but none were so talented as those blessed by the goddess as Theron was. While others looked, he saw. And she and Thaden never doubted his sight. “Nightfall?” she queried. “Yes,” Theron said. “There is more but it is hidden from my view. Change. I see great change for us all.” “We will be separated?” Thaden asked, looking at his best friend with a lifted brow. Theron shook his head but more it seemed in frustration then answer. “Yes and no. It is there but unclear.” “So we will stay and see what answers the night will bring us,” Rory said. “I will go let Raine know what is going on. You two let the others know that we will be staying for a bit.”

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As she turned and headed towards her sister she couldn’t contain the smile. It amused her that Raine did not enjoy the male attention that was showered on her. Raine would far rather be reading or fighting, a trait they both shared. “Gentlemen, if you will excuse us, I have need of my sister for the moment,” Rory said and watched the men turn and grudgingly walk away. “It took you long enough,” Raine said. “Twould be a shame if any found out that you, Theron and Thaden are not promised.” Rory laughed. It was a constant threat her sister used but they both knew she would never use. “And give up all this attention?” Rory said. Now it was Raine’s turn to laugh. “In a heartbeat,” she swore. “Just once I’d like to meet a man that did not try to bed me with his eyes.” “Perhaps if you wore a sack over your head,” Rory stated. “They cannot help themselves I am sure. You are truly the most beautiful of us all.” Raine laughed. “None is as beautiful as my sister.” The odd thing was that Raine meant those words. She never saw her beauty but gloried in what she saw as her sister’s beauty. Raine loved the eyes that Rory hated. Raine loved the gold of Rory’s hair while Rory craved the ebony tresses of her sister. It seemed that they were always telling the other how beautiful they were. “I saw Theron,” Raine said. “What did he see?” It did not surprise her that Raine had noticed Theron. Raine fancied herself in love with her sister’s friends but Rory knew that they were not for Raine. They saw her as another sister and eventually Raine would fall in love for real. “Something comes here with the fall of night,” Rory replied. “We will wait and see what it brings.” Raine nodded, automatically accepting. “Then we had best prepare to meet it.” Rory nodded and together they turned towards where Theron and Thaden spoke with the others. Change was in the wind and Rory couldn’t help but wonder if it brought good or bad things for the ones she loved.

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Chapter Two

Lake was ready to reach their destination. He and his brother Lincoln had been travelling for the better part of the day at the wishes of their queen. It was Queen Aurora’s wish that the woman who had reared her was brought to the castle to fill them in on exactly what had happened that day so long ago. The day when the entire kingdom had been torn asunder with the murder of Queen Ona, mother to the current king and queen, Aslan and Aurora. “Not much further now,” Lincoln stated, breaking Lake out of his thoughts. “The shifter village should be just a few more miles ahead.” “How long do you think before we can get Lydia to go with us?” Lake asked. “I’m sure as soon as she knows that both of her daughters are safe and well within the castle walls, she will be happy to return with us,” Lincoln said confidently. “And what of the history that remains within those walls for her?” Lake brought to light the questions that they all had been wondering. “What of not being able to reassure her that Wilhelm cannot get to her?” “What of not being able to assure her that he won’t be able to get to Lynx or Aurora?” Lincoln looked his brother in the eye. “It is that uncertainty that will have her rushing us to get back.” “You are right,” Lake conceded. “It comes with being the older, wiser brother,” Lincoln said, and there was an engaging grin on his face that made Lake laugh. “Well, older anyway,” Lake agreed. Lincoln was exactly one year older, to the day and hour even. Their mother had always sworn that was why they were as close as if they had been born as twins. And they were. Often they knew what the other was thinking before it was spoken and that enabled them to be the warriors of reckoning that they were. In battle that awareness of each other served them well. “I can see the outline of the camp ahead,” Lincoln said. “Something is off,” Lake stated his thought. “They are expecting us.”

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“Or someone,” Lincoln agreed. “We go in with caution.” Both slowed their mounts and checked that weapons were in easy reach. They carried two swords and multiple daggers of various shapes and sizes. They were quick and agile with the blades. Shifters could transform quickly and if they were unwilling to listen first then Lake and Lincoln would have to do their best to impair and not maim. Queen Aurora and Lynx both would kill them if anything happened to the shifter people. Not to mention the queen’s mates who were both panther shifters. They were met at the outskirts of the village by two shifter males. Long and lanky both men stood at ease as they should, confident in the knowledge that harm would not befall them. Lake and Lincoln were both sure to keep their hands in sight though it would be nothing for them to reach whatever weapon they might need. “State your business here, strangers,” one of the men called as they stopped just far enough away. “I am Lincoln and this is my brother Lake. We come in peace seeking council with the shifter Lydia,” Lincoln called. “What is your business with her?” the same man asked again. “That is between us and Lydia,” Lincoln stated again. “Lydia is unavailable,” the other man said. “Tell her we have news of her daughters,” Lake said and the two men before them tensed. “What news do you have? Tell us now.” It was the first one who had spoken who made this demand. Lincoln held up his hand. “Both daughters are well and happy,” he stated. “We come to speak with Lydia on their behalf and to request she come with us to see her daughters.” “You expect us to just believe you warriors?” a new voice came from the side and as if appearing out of nowhere a vision of pure beauty stepped up. She was the most beautiful woman that either of them had ever seen before. It was easy to tell by her clothing that she was native. Yet she did not appear pure native. She stood slightly taller than most native women, maybe hitting the five foot eight mark. Her hair was long but instead of ebony, it was a golden brown that seemed to glow around her. Her eyes were green and yet when she turned her head they looked yellow.

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Lake wanted to dismount and take a better look at her but knew that look would have to wait. At least for the moment. “Ahhh, so the natives are back for another visit,” Lincoln said. “Lynx told us that you had just left camp before she and Aurora left.” The woman before them narrowed her eyes but said nothing. Though she appeared to stand alone both Lake and Lincoln knew enough about the natives to doubt what their eyes told them. She would have protectors with her, somewhere in the shadow around her more than likely. It had always amazed them how the natives could just disappear. “Do you know where Lydia has gone?” Lincoln spoke again. “Or when she might return?” “My sister has gone and we know not when she will return.” The words came from another woman who stepped forward. “You are welcome to come in and enjoy the evening meal with us. We will find accommodations for you so that you may rest here through the night.” “We thank you,” Lake spoke and dismounted from his horse. It was easy to see that neither the native woman nor the two shifter males were happy with this woman’s interference but it was also evident that they could do nothing about it. She walked up to Lake and nodded her head to him. “You speak of my nieces,” she said. “What news can you tell me of them?” “Both of them are safe and well at the castle,” Lincoln said. It had been discussed beforehand not to reveal that the queen was the queen, and Lynx had asked that they not mention her mating before she had the chance to talk to her mom first. “Yes, you have mentioned that,” she said with a smile as she led them further into the village. “Why do they tarry there? Why did they not return with you?” “Both daughters are the honoured guests of King Aslan,” Lake said. “Aslan or Wilhelm?” It was the native woman and now that he was closer to her he could see that her eyes were indeed a unique combination of greenish yellow. And she was even more beautiful up close. “Wilhelm has been declared a threat to the crown,” Lincoln said, stopping and letting his gaze move over everyone that he could.

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Lake merely looked at the native woman and so he caught the flash of surprise and something else in her eyes. “You must use extreme caution if he or his men are encountered.” “So the villain is finally seen for what he really is,” the native spoke again. “What is your name?” Lake asked, not able to contain his desire to know about her any longer. She looked surprised and he swore her elbow went back as if to hit someone standing near her. “I am called Rory.” He stepped to her. He had been right. She was exactly the height he‘d thought, which made her the perfect complement to his and Lincoln’s six foot one frames. He held his hand out to her but when she would have moved to grip his elbow as was her peoples’ custom he took her hand in his instead. He slowly brought the back of her fingers to his lips and holding her eyes brushed his mouth across the digits. Then he lifted so that her palm was to him and placed his lips in the centre. It was a warrior custom. Lincoln gasped and her gaze moved to his brother. Lake knew that only Lincoln knew for sure what it meant to place your lips on the palm of an unmated woman. It meant that Lake was planning to court her and the look in Lincoln’s eyes told him that his brother more than agreed. That was important since it was common for them to form triads. But then Lake was assuming that she was single and unmated. “Are your mates here for me to show my respect to as well?” Lake backpedalled. He had no idea what he would do if she were truly mated to others. “I have no mates,” the woman said, though he doubted if she would have volunteered that information if she’d known that his thoughts were of getting between her thighs and tasting her sweet cream with his tongue. He smiled at her and wasn’t surprised when Lincoln stepped forward and took her hand from his, placing the same kisses to her fingers and palm. But his brother let his tongue slip out and touch her skin, tasting her. Lake was jealous that he had not done the same. Rory pulled her hand back quickly and her eyes narrowed at Lincoln but his brother just grinned at her. “I believe that there is more to what you know than what you are saying,” Rory said.

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“Perhaps we could speak privately later,” Lincoln said. “Without your guard hidden around you,” he leaned in and whispered the last so that only the three of them could hear him. Well, the three of them and whoever stood around her in shadow. Her gaze narrowed on him again and she said nothing. The shifter matriarch spoke again claiming their attention. “Food will be ready soon. There is a tent on the edge of the camp that you may use this eve. Please make yourselves comfortable and know that you are welcome guests.” Both Lake and Lincoln bowed to the woman as they turned from Rory to her. “We thank you, ma’am.” Lake said. “We appreciate your hospitality.” “You must tell me more of what is going on with Wilhelm,” she said. “I will need to inform all my people to be on their guard.” “I’m sure that like many, you always have been,” Lincoln spoke, his gaze holding the woman’s until she nodded her head. “Well, I would wish to know what has finally led to the warriors seeing his true colours,” she stated. “A man can only be claimed as traitor to the crown once it can be proven that he is a threat,” Lincoln said. “Evidence. Undisputable.” “And the evidence that was found?” the matriarch asked. “A threat against the life of the king and queen,” Lake said. “The murder of the old king and” Lake trailed off. He’d said too much already. “And?” Rory prompted. “The king and queen?” the matriarch interrupted. “The queen has been found? She is alive and well?” “She lives,” Lake said, not revealing the queen’s identity just yet. Word would spread soon enough but he and Lincoln were to speak with Lydia and get her to return with them. “Praise the goddess,” the matriarch said. “The daughter has returned and claimed the throne. May the goddess protect and watch over her so that the same fate of her mother does not await her.” “Awww, but the natives are no longer welcome at the castle so that should not be a problem,” Rory said with a sneer.

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Lake laughed. At the flare of anger in Rory’s eyes, he tried to rein it in. “King Aslan has lifted the ban placed so long ago when he was a babe. It has come to light that some things are not as they seem.” “What?” Rory started to ask something else but Lincoln reached out and placed his finger to her lips. “If you wish to know more, then you are welcome to come to our tent at any point and speak privately with us,” he told the fuming native. Lake could feel his dick grow hard at the thought of having her alone with them. He was dying for a taste of her. Glancing at his brother, he knew that Lincoln felt the same way. Lincoln turned back to their host and engaged her in conversation about the food they could now smell. Lake kept his eyes on Rory. He couldn’t seem to stop himself. Her eyes left Lincoln and came to rest on him. She let her gaze slide over his body and he knew by the catch of her breath that she saw how hard he was for her. She stepped close to him, her body almost brushing his. “So you wish to see me privately later,” she whispered to him. Her fingers reached across and brushed the bulge in his pants. He clenched his jaw to keep from moaning. “A little romp with the native? Is that what you’re after?” “Oh, we want more than a little romp,” Lake assured her. “One moment with you wouldn’t be enough for either of us.” “Warriors don’t like natives,” she said, shaking her head. “What kind of game are the two of you playing?” “No games.” He shook his head. “Unless you like them.” He grinned as her eyes narrowed on him once more. He lifted his hand and stroked his fingers down her cheek. “You are the most beautiful woman we’ve ever seen. We ask for the chance to know you better, for you to know us better. That is all.” “You wish to court me?” she said with surprise both on her face and in her voice. Lake nodded. “If you come to us this evening, then we will take that as your agreement to the courtship.” With that he turned and walked away, following the path that his brother had taken. He had told her what they were after. The choice lay with her now.

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Chapter Three

Rory whipped the hood over her head again as the golden warrior walked away to follow the other one. She needed to hide in the shadow while she gathered her thoughts. They had to be brothers. They looked too much alike to be anything less. There was no essence of evil to them. Theron had whispered his reading of them to her while he and Thaden stood in shadow beside her. What had surprised her was that the warriors had known that Theron and Thaden were there. She knew her friends followed her now as she stepped from the camp and headed towards the river. Her sister Raine walked quietly at her side. Too quietly. It made Rory wonder what thoughts were going through her sister’s head. When they reached the water, Rory took a look around before removing her hood and stepping back into the light of the world around them. Raine followed suit as did Theron and Thaden. She wasted no time. “Well, what do you think?” Rory asked. “You could do a lot worse when it comes to mates,” Theron said. “They seem as if they will be very attentive of you,” Thaden added. “They are absolutely gorgeous,” Raine stated. “Not them, you fools,” Rory almost shouted. “I don’t care about that. I mean about the newly found queen. The claim of traitor now on Wilhelm’s head. Has the time finally arrived?” “The pieces are aligning,” Thaden stated. “But is it a trap?” Rory asked. “You must go to them and speak privately as they ask,” Raine said and all three heads whipped towards her. “All joking aside that is a decision that only Rory can make,” Theron said. “No, it isn’t,” Raine said and for the first time Rory saw the royalty in her sister. “It is a decision that the Princess can and will make.” Raine turned to Rory and Rory felt as if her life

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were changing in this one moment. Long had she been the protector, the leader. Now it was as if she could see Raine coming into her own and finally claiming what was rightfully hers. “I love you Rory,” Raine said holding her sister’s gaze and reaching out to link their hands. “But you must go to them and find out the information that we need to know. This is what our people have been waiting for since before our births. This is the chance needed to clear the taint from our mother’s name. The time could be upon us to show all that Queen Ona did not die by the hand of a native, by the hand of our mother.” Rory nodded her head. “You cannot ask this of her,” Thaden exploded next to them. “If she goes they will see it as an agreement to courtship. She will be bound to that. It is practically an agreement to mate with them. Warriors don’t court. They mate.” Raine nodded her head. “I know what I ask and I do not ask lightly or with ill purpose. I ask for all of us. A chance to right a wrong done so many years ago.” Rory saw the purpose in her sister’s eyes. To be honest she had never been so proud of Raine before in her life. “You must go to them, return with them and seek audience with the queen.” “No!” It was Theron who roared this time. “She cannot go in alone. If she goes then we must go with her.” “No,” Rory spoke softly. “You said yourself that we would be separated,” she reminded him. “This is the chance we have waited for. This is the fate I have known awaited me. This is my wrong to right.” “You cannot be held accountable for the actions of” Thaden trailed off. “My father?” Rory questioned. “Don’t ever refer to that vile man as such,” Theron spoke harshly. “This is my quest,” Rory said. “I will go to them this evening and agree to the courtship.” “They will see it as agreement to mating them,” Theron stated. “I cannot control their views, only my reactions to them. I will return with them and if opportunity is there, I will seek audience with the queen. As for mating them,” Rory sighed, “I don’t know what fate has in store. Just know that I go into this with my eyes wide open to the possibility of what could be.” “I will go with you,” Thaden vowed but Rory shook her head.

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“You will stay with Raine as you are supposed to,” she said. “The true leader must be guarded at all times.” “And how will we explain this to the people?” Theron asked. “How will we explain your leaving, alone, when you are purported to be the leader?” “I am going on a peace mission,” she said. “One queen to another. The people will not question my royal quest. And they will respect me all the more for leaving my best rogues behind to guard my sister.” “I love you,” Raine said as she stepped into Rory, embracing her and whispering to her. “I pray the great guardian upon your skin will watch over and protect you. I pray you find the happiness that you so deserve.” “I love you also,” Rory said. She wondered if this would be the last time that she would hold her sister in her arms. Theron had stated that they would be separated but not whether they would be united or not. How could they be separate yet closer than ever? Death maybe? Perhaps her fate was to watch over them from the spirit world. “I will go to them with the rise of the moon. And with the dawn I will leave with them.” Rory turned so that her sister was at her side and they both faced Theron and Thaden. “Watch over and protect Raine. Guard her well. I will return when I can.” “Rory,” Theron started to say, but she shook her head stopping the words. “This is the choice I have made,” Rory stated. “I love you both. You are the greatest friends that a girl could ever have.” Both men stepped closer and embraced her, holding her tightly between them. They were like brothers to her. She would miss them so much. But if fate declared it, they would cross paths again. If she were honest with herself, then she would admit that she was looking forward to what the night held for her. The golden warriors did make her blood hum. If nothing else then she might enjoy some great sex before meeting with the returned queen. A grin pulled at her lips. The one had felt absolutely wonderful when she ran her fingers across his bulging cock. She glanced to the sky over head. The night couldn’t fall fast enough.

“Do you think she will come?” Lake asked and Lincoln just smiled again. Lake sighed. That was all he had been able to get from his brother every time he asked. Then again while

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Lake still sat up on his bedroll fully dressed, Lincoln was already stripped and lying flat inside the cover. “Just rest, Lake,” Lincoln finally said. “If she comes she will come. If not then we move on with the morning sun.” “What did you find?” Lake asked. Lincoln had slipped out earlier while Lake kept their hostess busy. “There is another trail leading from here towards where the goddess’ temple lies,” Lincoln said. “It seems that maybe Lydia has gone to pay them a visit.” “Willingly?” Lake queried. “That I cannot tell for sure,” Lincoln said. “No trace of struggle in the area but I cannot guarantee.” “So now we go back and tell Lynx what?” Lake asked. “That her mother is no longer there and we are not sure if she is well or not. That will go over well.” “We will tell them that we suspect Lydia has gone to the temple and let them weigh the next course of action,” Lincoln said. “The queen will decide what to do with the information given.” “She is amazing isn’t she?” Lake said and grinned. “She is the perfect complement to Aslan.” “It is hard not to feel sorrow for all that Aslan lost out on in life,” Lincoln began. “His father, his mother, his uncle, and even his own twin taken from him. But fate has a way of doing what is best even though we cannot see how.” “Fate can be a cruel and vicious bitch,” Lake replied hotly. “Aslan is but one card to them. What of Piers and Seer who found their father only to watch him die? What of all those whose bodies were carried out to the courtyard? For what purpose was it their fate to die in such cruelty?” “That is not for me to decide,” Lincoln offered. “Or for you. Some day the meaning will be made clear to those it matters most to.” “I’ve never understood how you could believe in all this shit,” Lake stated. “Ahhh, perhaps it is my age that brings such wisdom and understanding,” Lincoln said and grinned again. Lake laughed. His brother was always making him laugh.

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Just then there was a shift at the tent flap and something moved inside. Lake glanced at his brother but Lincoln just stayed reclined. “It is often considered rude to enter a man’s tent unannounced,” Lincoln said. Lake heard a sigh and Rory appeared out of thin air again. “How do you do that?” he asked her. “Native secret,” she replied, taking position just inside so that she could keep them both in sight. “We weren’t sure if you would be coming to visit or not,” Lincoln said. “You said that if I wanted to know more that I should come and speak with you privately,” she reminded them. “Ahhh, but we also told you what it would mean if you showed up here,” Lincoln reminded her, finally sitting up. “Are you prepared to follow through with that?” She let her gaze roam over both of them and Lake swore he felt it as if a touch of flame licked over his skin. His cock grew long and thick and his balls throbbed with the need to spill his seed within her, to mark her as his. “I agree to get to know one another, to explore the possibility,” she stated. “Explore would be a good choice of words,” Lake said and her eyes fell to his lap again. He almost groaned when her tongue flicked out to wet her lips. He wanted to feel that tongue on his skin wanted to feel her lips and the softness of her skin against his. Damn, he had it bad. “So what can you tell me about the new queen? What evidence did you find on Wilhelm? How did King Aslan react and why was he agreeable to lifting the ban?” Rory seemed to have a million questions for them. “All in good time,” Lincoln said. “But first things first.” He reached across the distance and held his hand out to Rory. She looked at it before finally placing her hand in his. Lincoln used it to tug her to them so that she landed sprawled half on Lincoln and half across Lake’s bedroll. “I believe my brother and I would like a kiss.” Her head lifted and her gaze darted back and forth between the two of them. She pulled herself up to her knees and sat just between Lincoln’s sprawled thighs. Lake wondered if she realised that his brother was completely naked beneath the covers. She would soon enough.

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Lincoln leaned closer to her, his hands coming up to trace over her skin and hair. Lake could see the desire smouldering in his brother’s eyes. He desired and yet he waited and soothed which was so like Lincoln. Lake had always admired his brother’s ability to maintain control in any situation. While Lake wanted to pounce and possess, Lincoln would soothe and seduce. Lake watched as Rory shuddered at his brother’s touch. While Lincoln let his fingers softly explore, Lake watched her face and saw the pleasure she felt reflected there. “I thought it was a kiss you desired,” she said and Lake wondered if she realised just how breathless she sounded. “As soon as you wish to give it to me,” Lincoln whispered, “I will gladly receive it.” Lake watched as his brother’s fingers grazed her nipples, saw her catch her breath, the flare of her nostrils and the drooping of her eyelids. When she leaned into Lincoln for that first kiss, Lake felt a jolt of hot passion under his skin. It was just as big a turn on to watch her with his brother as it would be to have her leaning in to kiss him. He wondered if she was as turned on as they were.

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Chapter Four

Rory had never been so hot and turned on in her life. It was hard to stay focussed on the questions filling her mind when they had her body tingling with anticipation with just looks and the brush of fingers. Lincoln was a powerful seducer. More so for the fact that he seemed sincere in every word and action. He had asked for a kiss and yet he never once leaned in to take it from her. He touched her softly, gliding his fingers over her skin, across the taunt points of her nipples, anywhere his fingers could reach. And he waited for her to lean in and give him the kiss he desired. It built her desire for the kiss as well. She wondered if that was his intention. She was completely seduced. She could try to fight, try to demand the answers she wanted but the outcome would be the same. They would not tell her what she wanted until after the sex. She was not a shy, naive girl. She was a woman grown and fully capable of feeding her carnal side. She dropped her hands to the tops of Lincoln’s muscular thighs. She felt the shift and bulge of muscle there, heard the indrawn breath and knew that he was as entranced as she was. Slowly she walked her palms up his thighs using them to balance her as she leaned in. When her lips were but a breath from his face, she closed her eyes and inhaled, filling her nose with the unique smell of him. Each palm rested on the very top of his thighs and she could feel the flex of his cover as his hard cock pulsed. It would be so easy to slip a hand over and rub against his cock to grip him and stroke over him with only the cover between them. But she denied them both, knowing that it only drove the desire higher. She fluttered her eyes open and found his on her face watching. His arms were to his sides now and she could feel the tension in his body as he held himself in check allowing her to make the next move. Slowly she leaned in just a bit further and let her lips graze his skin just a mere inch from his mouth. She pressed them there much as he had to her palm and slowly she let her tongue peak out and trace lightly over the skin beneath her lips.

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He groaned and she let her gaze drop to see him clench his hands into tight fists on top of the bedding. She hid her smile. She wasn’t so bad with seduction either. She eased back from him letting her hands slide back down his thighs being careful to allow the knuckles of one hand to brush the hard length of his cock. He felt like stone and she was anticipating how he would feel pumping inside the wet sheath of her cunt. He would fill her and then some. She finally rested back on her knees between his thighs. She let her gaze drop once more to the covered cock he did nothing to hide from her. He wanted her and he wanted her to know just how much. “I have heard that a warrior can wield any weapon with a skill unattainable by others,” she whispered, her voice thick with desire. Her words had the desired effect. Lincoln looked up and his gaze smouldered with heat and promise. His lips tilted up into a grin but he didn’t answer her. Instead it was Lake’s laugh that filled the air just seconds before he reached towards her and tugged her his way. “We’ll let you decide that for yourself when the dawn comes,” he said just before he leaned in and placed his lips on hers. No seduction here. Just heat and flames. His teeth nipped at her lower lip and his tongue came out to rub erotically against the smarting flesh. He nipped again and she let her lips open on a low moan. Lake took that moment and slipped his tongue inside plundering the depths of her mouth and rubbing his tongue along hers. She lifted one knee so that she was astride one of Lincoln’s legs now and closer to Lake. Her hands came up and clenched onto his shoulders as she met him thrust for thrust with her tongue pressing into his mouth and doing a little exploring of her own. He moved closer and she angled so that their chests met, her arms slipping around so that her fingers could tunnel into the golden hair atop his head. She felt the brush of fingers and a tug. Then her cape was gone and with it her ability to disappear into the shadow. She had no intention of disappearing, not just yet anyways. Lincoln shifted closer, his knee disappearing from between hers and she felt the heat of him at her back. His hands came around and cupped her breasts through the material of her shirt. Palms cupped while fingers pinched and tugged at her nipples.

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She moaned and her head fell away from Lake to rest on the shoulder of Lincoln. She arched her back pressing her breasts higher into Lincoln’s hands. She felt hands at the hem of her shirt; then it was being lifted up. Lincoln eased up so that there was a breath of space between them, just enough so that Lake could pull the shirt over her breasts. She lifted her hands above her head helping as Lake continued until the shirt was completely off. Lincoln’s hands returned and the feel of his fingers on her bare skin was more than she’d anticipated. His hands were rough against the softness of her flesh. His mouth warm as he bent and let his tongue trace patterns on her bare shoulder. Her nipples were so hard from Lincoln’s touch. Her pussy was so wet and ready for more. Lake watched her, his glance falling to her breasts in his brother’s hands. She watched as he lifted his shirt and slid it off over his head. His chest was broad and strong with a sprinkling of golden hair. With the shirt gone he moved into her, his mouth dropping towards one reddened nipple. She felt the heat of his breath first, then the moist stroke of his tongue. She groaned and one hand reached out to wrap in his hair once more, tugging him closer to her nipple. His mouth closed over the distended bud and he sucked gently at it giving a slight pressure. She tightened her fingers in his hair and pressed her breast closer, wanting more. And he gave her what she wanted. She cried out as his mouth tightened and he used both teeth and tongue to torture her nipple. Then with a sharp tug he sucked her nipple harder until she felt it press against the roof of his mouth. His hands gripped her waist and she felt him slip to the waistband and dip beneath. Lincoln had moved from her shoulder to trace the column of her throat, leaving nipping bites as he worked his way up to her jaw and farther to the shell of her ear. He took her earlobe in between his teeth and tugged at it before licking over it with his tongue. Then his lips wrapped around it and sucked gently. One hand still held the breast Lake wasn’t devouring while the other had slipped down to cradle her ass. She was on fire. She couldn’t compare it to any other sensation. Heat seared her veins and had her body thrumming with need. When Lincoln lifted her ass she went with the motion and felt Lake easing her pants over her hips. He pulled away from her nipple with a pop and stood, pulling her with him.

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Lincoln stayed on his knees behind her and she felt him pull her pants down to her feet where he slipped her shoes and pants from her so that she was naked between them. Lake smiled and stepped back from her, his hands going to his pants and as she watched he pushed them down and stepped free of them. She had felt him earlier but that had not prepared her for the cock she saw. He was perfection, long and thick and perfectly made. His cock head flared, crowning the shaft and making her mouth water to taste him. He placed his hand around the shaft and moved his palm slowly up and down the flesh. Her gaze followed the motion and she reached one hand out to trace the tip taking the small drop of pre-cum onto her finger and bringing it slowly to her mouth. He tasted spicy against her tongue. She slipped her tongue out to lick over her finger torturing them both before sucking the digit into her mouth and groaning. Hands tugged at her, Lincoln’s, and she slipped to her knees willingly eager to taste more of Lake’s cock. But she didn’t stay on her knees. Instead she was pressed so that she lay on her back on one of the covers. Lake knelt beside her and before he could move, she leaned in and ran her tongue over the head of his cock. He groaned and slid a hand behind her head cradling and supporting her neck but not tugging or demanding. He was leaving it entirely up to her. She went over to her belly then came up to her hands and knees so that his cock was just where she wanted it, bobbing in front of her mouth. She felt hands pressing her knees further apart and shoulders moving in between them. She was stretched wide and hands pulled her hips lower until she felt Lincoln’s hot breath on her cunt. Dripping with juice, she knew that he could smell the scent of her desire. She leaned in to lick across Lake’s cock for another taste and felt Lincoln slip his tongue between her folds and run it up to circle her clit. Who knew a tongue could be a weapon as well? Back and forth he ran it, torturing her as he dipped and explored, tracing her pussy. She took Lake’s cock into her mouth, wrapping her lips around the head and sucking at it. Her hands would have to stay on the covers bracing her weight as her legs were already shaking. So she would have to depend on Lake to guide her head to the rhythm he liked.

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Lake had both hands in her hair, cradling her head. He moaned as she let her tongue explore the head, dipping into the slit atop that gave way to the spicy cum she’d tasted before. Then she ran it around finding the ridge that lay just on the underside and rubbed her tongue against it. That seemed to be enough as his hips pressed in and slowly he began fucking her mouth. Lincoln was still exploring her, but this time when he came to her clit, he flattened his tongue and rubbed it over the distended bud. She cried out around Lake’s thrusting cock and pressed down into Lincoln’s face. That must have been what he was waiting for. His hands slid to the inside of her legs and he used his fingers to separate her folds and hold her open. His tongue eased up and traced around her clit before his lips finally wrapped around it and sucked. She tightened her lips around Lake and sucked harder. She could feel her nipples peak and harden again as the duel pleasure filled her body. Lake’s cock gave her another drop of pre-cum and she sucked greedily at it, letting the taste explode on her tongue before dipping into his slit again searching for more. His hips pumped now, his fingers tighter as he rode her mouth, his cock pressing almost to the back of her throat with each stroke. He kept one hand around the base preventing her from choking on him and she let her tongue slip out to lick his fingers with each thrust. He was groaning and grunting, his eyes never leaving her face as he watched her suck him. It was becoming harder to concentrate on pleasuring Lake as Lincoln pressed a finger into her pussy and pumped in and out as he kept his mouth on her clit, sucking, nipping and teasing. She could feel her orgasm building with every press of his finger and tongue. She moaned, releasing some of the grip of her mouth as one finger became two. Lincoln thrust deep, rubbing his fingers along the walls of her cunt driving her wild. She was so close to coming, so close to exploding around those fingers. Lake rotated his hips and she managed to tighten her mouth again. His cock rewarded her with another small taste of cum; then he was pumping hard and fast into her mouth. She could tell that he was as close to release as she was. Lincoln sucked her clit and didn’t let up this time. He thrust his tongue against it and sucked hard while his fingers fucked her cunt so hard that she could feel the slam of his

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knuckles against her opening. She felt her entire body tighten and knew that when her orgasm came it would tear her apart. She sucked harder at Lake’s cock knowing that when she came she might not be able to focus on his pleasure. She felt the first splash of his cum and swallowed it down. Spicy heat that only intensified the flames already inside her. A second splash and she shuddered, swallowed and knew she wouldn’t last much longer. A third splash and she could already feel him softening in her mouth. She gave one final suck and let him slip from her lips as he pulled back and she exploded with a cry. She could feel how her pussy tightened around Lincoln’s fingers and thought she might break them but he didn’t let up. He kept fucking her, the juices flowing from her pussy easing his way. His mouth released her clit and he moved it down to her opening so that when he finally pulled his fingers free it was only to replace them with his tongue. He speared it inside her probing her with it as he licked her juices from her. Her hands were clenched in the covers, her eyes squeezed tight as she rode wave after wave of pleasure. She felt Lincoln’s lips press around her opening and he sucked lightly as his tongue continued to rub inside her. She bit her bottom lip and moaned low and long as she continued to shudder through the orgasm. She felt him ease up and finally pull away moving from beneath her. She collapsed onto her belly still shuddering and gasping for air. She could still taste Lake on her tongue and still feel Lincoln’s tongue at her cunt. Neither was still there but the sensations were. She felt hands at her shoulders and another set at her hips and she was rolled over onto her back. Lincoln moved between her thighs and she got her first glimpse of his cock. It looked almost exactly the same as Lake’s. Long, thick and with the head slightly bigger than the shaft like a crown atop. In fact she couldn’t see any difference in size and shape between the two brothers. She wondered if he would taste different. She wasn’t going to get a chance to find out this time. “My turn,” he rasped and leant down to place his cock at her opening. She knew his tongue was a masterful weapon. Now she could see how well he wielded that gorgeous cock of his. She sighed and shifted her thighs further apart more than ready for what was next.

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Chapter Five

Lincoln could still taste her on his tongue, could still feel the flex and tug of her pussy as she gripped his fingers and tongue. He couldn’t wait to feel that same grip on his dick. It would be heaven to forge inside her tight sheath, to wallow in the wet heat of her juicy cunt. He couldn’t deprive himself any longer and by the look in her eyes she was ready for what he wanted to give her. All of him, deep inside of her. He leaned closer, letting the head of his cock brush her wet folds until it lodged at the opening of her pussy. He reached down to hold it steady as he pressed his hips in, pushing his cock just a bit inside her. Just that bit and he was groaning. Her cunt wrapped him in a lover’s caress and urged him deeper. He was happy to comply. He struggled to hold on enough to be slow and easy with her. “Hurry,” she urged him. “Hard and fast,” she demanded, her hands slipping from his shoulders to his hips and urging him. Her hips lifted and clasped along the outside of his lifting her higher into him. He needed no further encouragement. He tensed his muscles and thrust forward, filling her cunt hard and fast until his balls slapped against her ass. He held steady for one long moment enjoying the way she squeezed around him, the sound of pleasure that slipped from her lips. He knew that he was echoing that sound. Then he was pulling back until only the head remained, her pussy hugging him, demanding he not leave her unfilled. It was sheer pleasure as he surged forward again feeling her pussy walls ripple and flex around him. One look and he had just known that it would be this good between them, that the three of them would be right. He pressed in and out again. Each thrust was hard like she wanted but he couldn’t force himself to take her fast. He wanted to enjoy every moment he spent between her thighs, wanted to make the most of every thrust and retreat. She felt so good around his cock. Too good. He never wanted to leave her tight grip. She moaned and used her hands to try and urge him faster but Lincoln held steady. Slow and steady but hard and deep. He already felt the tingle in his balls and the ripple

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along his spine as the pleasure built. He wouldn’t be able to keep it slow for much longer. His body would take over, urging him to reach orgasm. But for now he was steady. She moaned and thrashed beneath him and he could feel her juice flowing, making her sheath slicker with each thrust. She was going to come again, this time around his cock. He moaned and slammed deep then rotated his hips moving his cock around inside her. Her back hit the covers again and he watched her arch up as pleasure showed on her face. Lake appeared then and Lincoln wasn’t surprised when his brother bent his head and latched onto one of Rory’s reddened nipples. He could see his brother’s cheeks hallowing out as he sucked greedily at her flesh. The sight of his brother there, the look of flushed pleasure on Rory’s face only made Lincoln hotter, harder. If everything worked out, if the fates were kind, then this would just be the first of many nights to come. His pace picked up and Rory’s groan filled the tent. Each thrust was quicker though still not as fast as she seemed to want. She still moaned for “more”, for “faster” but he wasn’t ready just yet. He was close though, way too close to losing his control. He watched Lake move from her nipple up her throat to her mouth. His brother took her mouth and Lincoln could tell how much she liked it by the way one hand came up and wrapped around his head, anchoring him to her. He wanted that kiss, wanted that touch but he was a patient man and knew that his turn was coming. He had no doubt that his brother was hard again and ready to take Lincoln’s place between her thighs. He hoped she could handle them. Her legs slipped higher and she lifted her hips up into his thrusts. That tiny shift of position drove him over the edge. He was stroking deeper now with every thrust. Her cunt was rippling, gripping him tighter and he knew that she was close to coming. He had felt those same ripples around his fingers and his tongue. He moved his hands down to cup her ass and hold her in place while he finally let his body have what it wanted. Her body was ready for him. His brother swallowed her cries but Lincoln could still hear the echo of them. Hard, fast and deep he fucked her pussy with his cock, gritting his teeth as his orgasm slammed through him. He kept thrusting even as the first jet of cum pulsed from the tip of his cock. Kept fucking through the next two spurts that left him to spill inside her wet heat. It was primal

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the way he felt as if he had just marked his mate in the most carnal of ways. He knew that was just pleasure talking. They needed to talk, needed to get to know each other more than just physically. But as far as he was concerned, this was a really good place to start.

Lake knew the moment his brother came, drank the pleasure from Rory’s lips as she joined him. His dick was so hard that he knew when he finally felt the clutch of her pussy he wouldn’t last long. He didn’t have Lincoln’s control, not by a long shot. Instead he felt a need he was sure that Lincoln had as well, a need to mark his mate in the most primal of ways. By filling her hot little pussy with his cum. Lincoln was still breathing heavy but finally his brother shifted from between her thighs and rolled to her other side. Lake wanted to mount and fuck her, fast and hard, forging just as deep as he could possibly go. But he held himself in check just a moment longer, just until Rory looked up at him. He could still see the pleasure in her eyes. She smiled at him and let her gaze run over him until she stopped at his hard cock jutting up from his lap. A hand reached for him and he almost lost it when she wrapped those fingers around his girth and gave him a firm squeeze. “I hope you don’t plan to just sit there,” Rory said, and he groaned as he pulled from her hand and moved between her thighs. Lincoln was still breathing heavy at her side but Rory seemed to have already recovered. She would be the perfect mate. They were lucky to have found her. He only hoped they got to keep her, and she didn’t decide to leave when the night was over. Lake slipped a hand down to grasp his cock by the base and placed the head at her opening. With a smooth thrust he slid inside and moaned at the ripple of her inner walls around his shaft. She was tight, so incredibly tight that it felt like his dick was going to suffocate. But what a sensation to feel. He began moving but it wasn’t the fast, hard fuck that he had planned. It was a slow easy glide in and out. It was exactly what they needed, what she deserved. He wanted to treasure her, to drown himself in her and give her a piece of himself that he’d never shared before.

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Lincoln was up on an elbow on his side now with one hand tracing patterns on Rory’s skin, her arm, shoulder, and the breast closest to him. Lake let his gaze slip back to her face and was caught in her eyes. There was just something so erotic about this moment. His cock buried in her pussy. Lincoln’s hands on her flesh. And the look in her eyes as she enjoyed both of them. She was not a woman who cowered from pleasure. She not only embraced it but the look in her eyes said that she claimed it as hers. It was incredible. “Lake,” she breathed his name and he loved the sound of it on her tongue. “Yes,” he whispered. “I need you to do something for me,” she said softly. “Anything,” he answered and meant it in that moment. “Fuck me,” she said and he swore his cock jerked inside her. He groaned and moved more firmly over her, placing one hand at the shoulder opposite of his brother and using it to brace his weight. He slipped the other hand down to rub over her clit. Her legs came up to grip the outside of his and she moaned, the husky sound stroking over his skin. He powered in now, slamming his cock deep and hard with every thrust. Each stroke rubbed his dick against her walls, stretching her around him. He felt those strokes all the way to his toes, felt the ripple in her body and knew she felt a pleasure similar to his. Faster, harder, deeper. She was panting, giving little cries as he rode her body. He felt primal, on a high that usually only came after a good fight. He felt the tingle at the base of his spine, felt the tug at his balls as they tightened, ready to give up the semen they held. He was ready too. He rubbed a little harder at her clit, pressing his thumb flat and moving it in a circle. He felt her come around him. Her pussy clenched down on him while at the same time more juice slicked her channel. She bit her bottom lip and arched her neck back, giving a low groan as she shuddered under him. He moved his thumb and placed that hand at her hip holding on to her as he thrust. Four more strokes and he was coming with her. It centred on his cock, his balls, but exploded out so that he felt the heat of pleasure from his head to his toes. Never had it been this good. He held still, his cock buried to the balls in her pussy while his seed spilled inside her. He let his eyes slip closed while every muscle in his body clenched to hold him in position.

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He was shuddering, the arm bracing him shaking from the exertion. He didn’t want to move, didn’t want to pull from the heaven her body provided. But his body couldn’t hold him up much longer. Giving in, he slid from her clasp moving to her side and collapsing to his back, sucking air into his lungs as he tried to regain the ability to breathe. He was satisfied to hear her doing the same thing. He was too tired to do anything when he felt the blanket thrown over him, over them. “Let’s rest for now,” Lincoln’s voice floated from the other side of Rory. “We can talk in the morning.” “Ummm” Rory groaned between them and that was more than he could give. Reaching out one hand so that he could feel her beside him, he closed his eyes. He could still feel the pleasure tingling through him. Exhausted. Sated. That was how he felt. He hoped that they would be able to persuade her to travel back with them tomorrow, to really embrace the possibility of forming a triad with them. They would talk in the morning. He could already tell there were things she knew about Wilhelm, perhaps things they didn’t know, things that would shed more light on the man they now hunted. And no matter the promises that had been made to Queen Aurora, there were things that he and Lincoln were going to have to share as well. If they truly wanted to make a triad with Rory, and he knew they did, then they would have to be honest with her. A relationship begun without honesty was doomed to always being filled with doubt. So they would tell her all that transpired and pull her into the circle of those who knew. Already he knew that the queen and her sister Lynx trusted and called Rory friend. He doubted that either woman would be angered by Lake and Lincoln bringing her back with them or for sharing what was going on with her. Word would spread soon anyway, about Queen Aurora, about Lynx and her Danuja mates, about Wilhelm. He had little doubt that most of the people would rejoice. In the discovery of Queen Aurora and the discovery of the things Wilhelm had done. Aslan would suffer a backlash from some for not seeing before but none would blame him as much as he would blame himself. And it would be up to all of them to remind their king, their friend, that title or no

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he was still just a man—a man who had been devastated by the murder of his mother and the kidnapping of his twin sister when he was just an infant. Tomorrow. They would talk tomorrow and persuade Rory to travel back with them. Somehow he just felt like it was meant to be.

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Chapter Six

Rory awoke before the warriors and slipped easily from between them. Lake groaned and shifted towards her but she soothed him with a touch before moving away to pull her clothes back on. Dropping her hood over her head she disappeared from sight and moved from the tent towards the shifter side of camp. Emotions tore through her, confusing her. She needed to see Theron and Thaden, to check on her sister once more before heading out with her warriors. The thought should have startled her but it didn’t. After last night she knew in her bones that they were fated to be together. Her guardian had practically purred in contentment. That was what cinched it for her, what left her with no doubt of the road that lay ahead for her. She felt them before she saw them and pulling her hood from her head she turned to watch as they did the same and appeared before her. Thedan took her in his arms. “Are you okay?” he asked and she wondered what emotion still showed on her face. “She is in love,” Theron said before she could speak and she looked at him and sighed. “It can’t be love,” she said instead. “Not yet.” “Your guardian is happy,” Theron added and she shook her head. It seemed he had visions of her as well. “My guardian is content,” she agreed and when he just looked at her, she finally smiled and agreed. “The dragon is happy.” All members of the royal family had dragons as guardians. Some lay dormant in the skin but hers never had. Even from a young age Rory had been able to relate to hers, which had intrigued her mother. Most only felt a tingle when the guardian sensed something and awaited the call to come forth and protect. At that point it would leave the skin of the native and take form, providing protection. Rory could actually hear her guardian and converse with it in her head. Her mother said the gift must come from the magic her birth father held within himself combined with the magic of a native. She had taught Rory to embrace it, to trust in what her guardian told

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her. And last night her guardian had purred in contentment. Rory might not be in love yet but her guardian was. “You will go with them,” Thaden said and it was not a question. “I suspect we will leave with the rise of the sun.” She nodded. Theron took her hand in his while Thaden held her other. “You have only to whisper our names on the air and we will come to you,” Thaden said. “We will meet again,” Theron said and Rory had no doubt in his word. Theron always knew. “I wanted to see you once more alone before I left,” she said and there was no hiding the tears that filled her eyes. “I want to thank you, for being my brothers, for loving and accepting me.” Thaden pulled her to him and hugged her tight. “When the heart loves, it knows nothing but the truth of what it feels.” Theron pulled her to him and held her tight. “One day, you will learn to embrace the blood in your veins and not feel shame for it. You are a woman of worth, a woman of honour. You have no need to pay for the crimes that existed before you were part of this world or the ones that came after. They are not yours no matter the blood in your veins.” Tears slipped from her eyes. Part of her knew that he spoke the truth and part of her could not let go. She would never forget the shadows in her mother’s eyes, never forget the horrors of what her mother had gone through at the hands of the man whose blood she shared. Her mother had warned them never to go out unarmed, to never let their guard down. But Rory could not get past the fact that the same man who had given her life had basically taken her mothers. Always in shadow. Always hidden. Her mother had been a wanted woman and thus shielded and hidden at all times by her people. And finally all these years later Rory might be able to clear her mother’s name and finally give her people peace. She couldn’t speak as her best friends held her. Love like they shared was hard to find and she would miss them. Family wasn’t always formed from birth. Sometimes it came in the form of friendship that exceeded the bond of blood. “Rory?” Raine spoke behind her and Rory caught her breath trying to still her tears before she turned. “Are you okay?”

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When Rory turned she knew that tears stained her cheeks but she didn’t expect the reaction her sister gave. “What have I done?” Raine cried, going to Rory and pulling her close. “I’m so sorry. I never should have asked you to do this for us. I’m so sorry.” Raine pulled from her and her hand slipped behind her back and the sword that lay along her spine appeared in her hand. Fire filled her eyes. “I will kill them for hurting you.” Rory’s guardian roared in her head and it only confirmed that they were indeed her mates, for only her true mates would receive the protection of her dragon. She placed her hand on Raine’s shoulder and shook her head. “No. They have done nothing to hurt me,” Rory said. “I am just coming to say good bye and it is harder than I thought.” Raine seemed to shudder before her but she took a deep breath and placing her hand back behind her neck the sword disappeared once more to rest in her skin within easy access. Twas the gift of the goddess to every native. “I worried for you all eve,” Raine admitted and Rory took her sister in her arms and held her close. Sometimes we were blessed with a familial bond that went beyond blood to the very heart. Raine was more than just her sister. She was a part of her soul. Leaving her sister would tear her apart. “I was fine,” she said and laughed and cried at the same time. “I was wonderful.” Raine smiled as tears streaked from her eyes as well. “They are your mates?” she asked and there was awe and excitement in her voice. Rory nodded unable to speak at the moment. Her eyes traced her sister, memorising every little thing she could. Since Raine’s birth Rory had guarded her, watched over her. And she had never stopped. Now she must leave her and though she knew that Theron and Thedan would guard her with their lives, it was hard. “I love you,” she said instead and Raine’s tears came faster. Rory squeezed her close again and just held her. “I love you,” Raine whispered. Theron and Thaden joined them, wrapping strong arms around both of them. “This is not goodbye forever,” Theron vowed. “It is only a moment of our lives. Our journeys will bring us full circle until we are together again.”

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Had anyone else said it Rory would have doubted, but Theron was gifted by the goddess herself and his word was always true. “Then I won’t say goodbye,” Rory stated, pulling from them and stepping back to drown her eyes in the sight of the three of them. Theron and Thaden stood with Raine between them. Strong. Proud. Native. “I will just say until we meet again.” Theron held his hand out and Rory took it like a lifeline. “Until we meet again,” he agreed. “Until we meet again,” Thaden said and placed his hand with theirs. “May the goddess watch over and keep you safe,” Raine said, reaching out to rest her hand atop. “May you find the truth you search for and the justice we all hope for. May you immerse yourself in the love of attention of your mates and know no more uncertainty. May the blood of our mother remind you of who you are and drown out the fear of where you come from. Until we meet again, my sister.” Rory felt her tears and knew they mirrored the ones her sister still shed. Raine. Her sister was embracing her role as leader whether she realised it or not. And Rory couldn’t be prouder of her. She spoke with the wisdom and grace of a leader born, not one created by circumstance. Stepping back she took one final glance before slipping her hood on and slipping into shadow. It was time to get back to Lincoln and Lake and begin the journey that lay before them. Time to speak and share with her mates the secrets she held from all but those she loved and trusted. You could not build forever with lies and secrets. Only the truth would allow them to build a foundation to last forever.

Lincoln watched Rory from hooded eyes as she slipped into her clothes and flipped the hood up, disappearing from sight. So that was how they did it. Such a trick would be handy in battle. He waited until the tent flap settled before tugging his clothes on and heading after her. He could not disappear but he did know how to blend. It was easy to follow her. It was as if some part of her called to him, allowing him to know where she was even without seeing. He watched the hood disappear and felt jealousy fill him as she was embraced by not one, but two men who appeared beside her. He fought to hold steady and not intrude on her private moment.

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Their words carried to him and he felt relief to realise that they were not lovers but family, friends. He felt joy inside when one of them stated with confidence that she was in love. Even though her voice denied it, his soul knew the truth. He watched another join them and felt his heart break at the tears that fell from his woman’s eyes. He would give his life to prevent those from spilling again. Her sister. That was who the other woman was. He pondered the words spoken and wondered at them. He was certain he knew what justice they sought but not what truth Rory searched for. What intrigued him was what fear Rory held inside herself. She exuded such strength that it was hard for him to accept that she held fear as well. He would make sure that this wasn’t goodbye for her. He would make sure that she did meet those that were so important to her again. He would give her the moon and stars if they were his to command. He came to his feet as she passed beside him, startling her. Reaching out he pulled her hidden form to him and hugged her close. It gave his heart a jerk when she relaxed against him and sort of melted into his chest. He moved his hand and pushed the hood from her head revealing her beauty to his eyes. “I am sorry for the pain you feel,” Lincoln said. “You heard?” she said and he was happy that there was no note of anger in her voice. He nodded and she sighed. “Then you know that I have accepted the possibility that we could be mates,” Rory said and he wanted to laugh. She’d done more than that but he wouldn’t call her on it. “We have much to talk about it seems,” he said instead. She gave another sigh but nodded. “Yes, we do.” He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze as they turned and headed back towards the tent. He knew Lake was awake, had been since Rory and Lincoln had left. But his brother had left this to Lincoln. Lake would have packed and have them ready to leave as soon as they returned. He was right as they reached the tent and saw Lake in front of it with their gear packed. Lake looked at him and Lincoln nodded, relieving his brother’s concerns. “Is there gear you need to take with you?” Lake asked Rory and she nodded.

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“I will need to stop by and pick up my pack on the way out,” she said. “I must speak with my people about the journey we make before I leave.” Lincoln and Lake both nodded. “We can finish up here if you wish to go ahead and speak with them now,” Lincoln said and Rory smiled at him. “I’d appreciate that,” she said. She turned to walk away from them then turned back. She seemed uncertain for but a moment before stepping to them and giving each a chaste kiss on the lips. “I’ll meet you at the edge of camp where you arrived.” “We’ll be there,” Lake said and Lincoln nodded. It was time to head home and introduce Rory to their family and friends.

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Chapter Seven

They were waiting for her at the edge of camp with the two horses they had arrived on all ready to go. Rory could feel the gazes on her back as she headed towards them and knew that Theron and Thaden watched over her this one last time. They worried for her. Always had and always would. But they trusted her and believed her heart to already be bonding with these two warriors. Lincoln stepped to her and took her pack from her, tying it on his horse with his. Turning back to her, he let his smile touch her, ran his fingers over the curve of her cheek and bent to place a soft kiss on her lips. “We will watch over and protect her with our lives,” he whispered and she knew those words weren’t meant for her. Once more he seemed to know that Theron and Thaden were nearby. “We will kill to protect her,” Lake added, stepping to them and letting his hand smooth down her spine. “But most importantly, we will die for her.” She was humbled by the truth in their eyes. These were not just words offered to mollify her friends, they were meant. “Your lives are more than I could ever ask for,” Rory said. Lincoln smiled at her. Lake turned her to him to hug her close, so close that she could feel his erection against her. “And yet they are ours to give,” Lake said. Lincoln nodded and reached for her hand, tugging her from Lake’s embrace and turning to lead his horse down the path. “I thought perhaps we would walk for a bit,” Lincoln said. “It would allow us time to speak of the things we need to.” She nodded and walked beside him. Lake led his horse beside them. They walked a ways in silence before Lincoln spoke again. “There are things you need to know before we arrive at the castle,” he said. “Things we do not want you surprised by.” She nodded.

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“And I am hoping that there are things you will want to share with us as well,” he added when she said nothing. “Perhaps secrets you have a need to tell us?” She nodded again. How did she tell them that though she hated Wilhelm and vowed to end his miserable life that she was also his flesh and blood daughter? Would they hate her? Send her away? She needed to go, to see Aurora and find out what had happened. No matter what she knew in her heart, Aurora would not judge her. Aurora never had. “Yes,” she finally said when he remained quiet. “There are things that I must share as well. I just ask that you listen with an open mind.” Lincoln and Lake both stopped and she took two more steps before realising and turning to face them. “We have told you that we desire to claim you as mate, to spend our lives joined with you,” Lincoln said. “These are not pretty words offered to pave the way between your thighs. If so, we would have left without you.” “I know that,” she sighed, realising that she had offended them. She had not meant to. “But there are things that you don’t know, things that might change everything.” “So tell us of them right now,” Lake said. “Before we take one more step further from your people. Tell us now so that you may see our acceptance of you before you are truly alone.” “How do you know that we are not alone already?” she asked. Rory knew that Theron and Thaden were following. Knew that they would only go so far before leaving her to return to camp. “No more delays,” Lincoln said. “Tell us this secret that you fear will make us not want you and let’s be done with it.” “Fine,” she said and didn’t care how hard her voice now was. “My mother was Raven, the woman said to have killed Queen Ona,” she said. “Was?” Lake asked and shook his head. “We are so sorry for your loss.” “We already have told you that not everything is as it seems,” Lincoln added. “Many never believed that your mother was a murderer.” “And yet our people were banned from the castle,” she said. “We were often hunted by the king’s men. Captured, tortured and murdered.”

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“And you were not the only ones,” Lincoln said and there was fire in his eyes. Rage. She wanted to take a step back but refused to give in to the desire. “Those were no men of King Aslan. They were the men of Wilhelm. But he guarded his secrets well and it was impossible to catch him. People disappeared and were reported killed. The king was one of them and as Aslan was so young it was easy for Wilhelm to step in. With Queen Ona murdered and her brother King Marcus missing and presumed dead, it was easy for him to isolate Aslan.” “Aslan? Don’t you mean King Aslan?” she queried, suddenly realising that these weren’t just any warriors sent to find Lydia. Lincoln sighed but it was Lake who answered. “We have known King Aslan since we were all boys,” he said. “And because we were just children we were allowed to play together, to train together. As we grew older Wilhelm tried to separate us but on that one thing, King Aslan put his foot down. We, along with two others, were appointed as his personal guard and to be with him always.” “You are friends with the king?” Rory asked. “Yes,” Lincoln agreed. “And Aslan is a good man, a loving person who would never have condoned the things Wilhelm did.” “Then how did he let them go on?” she demanded. “Why did he not stop them?” “Because he didn’t know of them,” Lincoln said. “And that is our fault more than his.” “You protected him?” She shook her head. “Why? Why did you not tell him and let him put a stop to Wilhelm?” “Queen Ona was dead. King Marcus too as far as we knew,” Lake said. “Until we could prove beyond a doubt that Wilhelm was more than he seemed, it was more important that we guard Aslan. His twin, the queen was missing, and that left him as the only remaining member of the royal family. It was our job to guard and protect him, to keep him alive.” And they felt tormented by that; she could see it in their faces. But she knew they would do it again to protect both their friend and king. So King Aslan hadn’t known. He had been protected by those who feared if he knew too much he might wind up dead or missing as well. She understood that. “I would have done the same,” she offered. “So how did the truth play out? How did Wilhelm come to be proclaimed a traitor to the crown?”

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Lincoln closed his eyes for a moment then began walking again. Lake followed and she turned to join them, walking between them once more. “We were in the meadow training and laughing when all hell seemed to break loose,” Lake said. “A wagon had entered driven by Wilhelm’s men and King Aslan had stopped them to see what they transported.” “This woman, this amazing vision, catapulted out of the back and pulled the sword,” Lincoln said. “She had no idea what she had done, who she was. But she was amazing to look upon.” “This woman pulled the sword from hiding?” Rory was awed. Everyone knew that the sword had disappeared when Queen Ona had been murdered. At first it was said that the natives must have stolen it back to try and reclaim what was theirs. But that was just ridiculous. Then another rumour had floated on the wind, this one coming from the temple of the goddess herself and therefore believed. The sword had been taken and hidden so that only the true queen would see it and pull it from beyond the veil. “This woman was Aurora,” Lincoln said and Rory stumbled a few steps. Aurora? Her friend was the true queen? They had known each other since they were young girls. Raven had once told her that Aurora and Lynx were like the sisters of Rory’s heart. They had always been close, that was part of the reason why she continued to stop into the shifter camp so many times a year. “Aurora is queen,” she breathed it out. Not a question though both men nodded to her. “She and her mates are at the castle now planning battle,” Lake said. “And what of Lynx?” Rory asked. Lynx was so much a part of Aurora that it was hard to imagine the two separated. “When Queen Aurora was captured, Lynx came with her sister’s mates to find her,” Lincoln said. “The queen was not alone though. There was a Danuja in the wagon with her.” “The Danuja are here?” she queried. Her people had not known that. It shouldn’t surprise her as the Danuja magic was even more powerful than that of the natives. There were none as powerful as Danuja. “Micah travelled on a duel mission,” Lincoln said. “They had sent another with a message for King Aslan of a plot to kill him but that messenger never arrived or returned.” “Wilhelm,” she said and both men nodded again.

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“This man was Micah’s twin brother and Damikan of his people,” Lake said. “The king of the Danuja came to relate this news?” she asked with amazement. Why would the king come himself? “According to him, who better to speak with a king than a king?” Lincoln said with a laugh. “So how does all this relate?” Rory asked, her head spinning. “Merced was being held by Wilhelm,” Lake said. “Micah brought us news that we could not keep from King Aslan,” Lincoln said. “Plus the queen had returned with information as well.” “There were more people around, more ability to protect the king,” Lake added. “The return of the queen was like a door opening for us, enabling us to allow King Aslan to learn some of what we feared Wilhelm was doing,” Lincoln said. “And how did the king react?” Rory wanted to know. “He was devastated,” Lake said quietly. “He is such a good man that learning what might have been happening almost brought him to his knees.” “He spoke of renouncing his role as king since his sister was returned,” Lincoln said. “He felt that he had failed them.” “If he is like his sister than I can see that,” Rory said. “They are so alike,” Lincoln said with a smile. “She is the one who held him to task and wouldn’t allow him to renounce.” “With information coming in now from people who had been afraid to approach before, we garnered that there was a secret chamber under the castle that Wilhelm used to hold prisoners,” Lake said and his voice was hard. “We found it and though we were able to save the Damikan, Merced, we were not soon enough to save the others,” Lincoln said. “Men and women held and tortured right below our very noses,” Lake said. “One of them was King Marcus,” he added. “It almost killed Aslan to see his uncle there, to know that he had been so close all along,” Lincoln said. She noticed that when his emotions were fully engaged he often forgot to use the title and just thought of his friend, the man.

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“There were only two guards down there when we arrived, only one when all was said and done,” Lake said. “The queen made him carry everybody up to the courtyard so that families could claim their kin. Then she nailed him to the outside wall for everyone to see what became of traitors.” Rory nodded. It was something that she would have done as well. “So it was declared that Wilhelm was responsible for this?” “We were able to get enough information from the remaining guard to know that Wilhelm had been in charge of all that had taken place there, only he had told some of the men that it was at the king’s command,” Lincoln said. “So Aurora is queen, King Aslan’s eyes are finally opened,” Rory began listing things. “The Danuja are safe and Wilhelm is finally revealed. Is that pretty much what has happened?” “There are a few other things,” Lake said, thinking of how Lynx had mated with both Danuja males but he did not feel it was his place to tell her of that. Let Lynx share that with her friend. “But those are the important ones for you to know before we arrive.” “So why were you here to speak with Lydia and I presume to bring her back with you?” Rory asked. “It was urged by the queen in hopes that Lydia would be able to shed more light on what had happened all those long years ago on the night when Queen Ona was killed and Queen Aurora was taken.” “I see,” Rory nodded. Her heart was both light and heavy. Finally her mother’s name would be cleared in truth. It was what they had always prayed for, especially she and her sister Raine. Yet she knew that now it was her turn to share the secret she held, the secret that only a few others knew and guarded as well. “There is one thing that you must know before we arrive at the castle, one thing that I must tell you.” Both men stopped, forcing her to stop and turn to face them. Somehow it was harder to say with them both looking at her. “My mother was pregnant when she escaped,” Rory said softly. “With me.” She looked up so that she could see both of their faces before adding her final words. “I am Wilhelm’s daughter.”

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Chapter Eight

She stood waiting and watching to see what they would do, what they would say. Lincoln stepped to her and pulled her into his arms, stroking his hands up and down her spine. She felt Lake at her back then his arms were wrapping around her as well so that she was held between them. “And you think that we will want you less because of that?” Lincoln finally asked. “I am his blood,” she said, feeling the weight of those words on her soul. “Yet you are not him,” Lake said. “I would garner that there is more of your mother in you.” She felt tears welling and realised how important it was to her that they accept her as she was, flawed blood and all. “He captured my mother and held her captive, trying to get her to give him her magic, trying to steal it from her. He raped her many times to try and break her.” She took a shuddering breath as she told her mother’s tale and felt the first tear fall when they only held her tighter. “She was pregnant with me on the night that Queen Ona slipped her the key to the cage she was being held in and bid her to leave when the time was right.” “Your mother was there on the night that Queen Ona was killed? Right there with her?” Lake asked stepping back from her. “Yes, my mother spoke with the queen, was in the room with her when she was attacked,” Rory said. “Did she tell you of this moment? Of what was said? What she saw?” Lincoln asked. “Yes,” Rory shuddered. “I know it is hard for you to think of what your mother went through but it is important that you share what you know with all of us when we get to the castle,” Lincoln said. “I promise that Lake and I will remain at your side.” She nodded her head. Finally she would be able to share her mother’s story and clear her name.

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“You do not wish to withdraw your offer of courtship?” she asked just to be certain. She would not blame them if knowing she shared blood with Wilhelm had them changing their minds. “You think that little of us?” Lake said, shaking his head and stalking off angrily. “You do not know us just yet and so I have to not take offence at that.” “We care not of such things,” Lincoln said. “Wilhelm is the brother of the king and queen’s father, so a blood relative of theirs as well. It does not change who they are any more than it does who you are.” By the goddess, she had never thought of that, of the blood relation that the king and queen shared with Wilhelm. How could she have not considered that? Because she was too wrapped up in the fact that she was his daughter by blood that she had forgotten that hers wasn’t the only one linked to his. She looked up at them and smiled a genuine face splitting smile. “Thank you,” she said and never had those two words meant so much coming from her. Once more she found herself held between them. Lincoln tilted her head up and lowered his mouth to hers. His lips met hers and his breath washed over her. She felt the tip of his tongue against her bottom lip before his teeth nipped there making her gasp and open to his tongue play. He explored her mouth touching and tasting every inch that he could. She played her tongue along his, wrapping and stroking along it. “Your friends are gone,” he breathed as he pulled back slowly from their kiss. She could feel Lake’s lips and teeth along her neck and shoulder. “Yes,” she agreed with Lincoln. Theron and Thaden had left as soon as they had seen that she had nothing to fear, that she was truly accepted by these two warriors. “Then we need to be ready,” Lake breathed quietly into her ear as he nipped along the fold of it. “Ready?” she asked, her body humming with the desire they were awakening inside her. “Someone is coming up on us in the woods to the right,” Lincoln said against her lips. “How long do we have?” he asked her and Rory zoned in on what was happening around her.

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Lake and Lincoln had the ability to wrap her senses totally in them. She’d never had that happen before. Now she opened them to the world outside of the three of them. “They are probably within two hundred feet of us,” she whispered. “We’ll give them the illusion of taking us by surprise,” Lake said. Lincoln nodded as did Rory. She could feel the blood pumping in her veins. Were they friend or foe? Within the next few minutes they’d find out. “Well, well, well,” a voice sneered. “Look what we have here. Looks like our friends found a playmate.” “You guys going to share that prime piece?” another voice asked. “We don’t share,” Lake said and finally pulled his mouth from her neck. Lincoln stayed in front of her but they could see the others now. Four men of the warrior class stood loosely grouped around them. From the look on both her warriors’ faces, she had little doubt of who had sent them. “What business do you have here?” Lincoln asked them. “We’re about on the king’s business,” the one apparently in charge sneered again. “No need to concern yourselves with that. You sure you don’t want to share the woman? I’d hate to see anyone get hurt over pussy.” “We don’t share,” Lake said again. “Sure about that?” the man asked one more time. “There are four of us here and only two of you.” “Three of us,” Lincoln said and smiled. “You are not here on the king’s business either. You do realise that Wilhelm has been declared a traitor to the crown and is wanted, as are all of his men.” The men shifted and looked uncomfortable now. No time like the present to make them even more uncomfortable. Rory turned fully to face them and smiled just before flipping her hood up and disappearing into shadow. “What the fuck just happened?” one of the men yelled. “Where did she go?” another yelled. They all tensed and weapons were reached for and drawn. She wanted to laugh. In shadow form they would never be able to see her, which gave her all the advantage. Not to

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mention she had Lake and Lincoln on her side. She glanced at them and noticed that while the four men now held weapons of various kinds in their hands, her men did not. “I’d worry too if I were you,” Lincoln said softly. “You’ve heard the story of the native fighter, right?” “Sure,” the leader said his voice not so sure anymore. “But that is all myth. People can’t just disappear.” “Then where do you think she went?” Lake asked with a grin. She was behind the four men now. Time for a little fun. Reaching out she caught one behind the knee with her foot sending him sprawling forward onto his knees. He yelled and scrambled away on hands and knees from where his buddies now stood looking around. “Call her off,” a new voice spoke from the edge of the woods. A man stepped forward just a bit and he held a crossbow in his hands already notched and ready to fire straight at Lincoln. Before Rory could do more than think of throwing back her cape, Lake and Lincoln moved. Two men were taken down quickly and what appeared effortlessly. The notched arrow flew and Rory cried out as she watched it hit Lincoln in the upper arm. It kept flying even as he swung around a knife in his hand. She watched the knife fly and embed in the shoulder of the man with the bow. He grunted and more men stepped from the woods. How many men had Wilhelm sent? And had they been sent to follow Lake and Lincoln or for some other purpose? “The king only sends two men,” the one with the knife still in his shoulder spoke. “It appears Wilhelm was smarter on this mission.” “And what mission would that be?” Lake said. Both Lake and Lincoln still held their swords. Lincoln’s arm dripped blood. “Where is the woman that you were sent to get?” the man asked as he pulled the knife free. He wiped it on his pants leg and tucked it into his belt. “The only woman we went to meet was our mate,” Lincoln said. “Warriors mated to a native,” the man said. “How stupid do you think we are?” “Do you really want us to answer that?” Lake said.

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The man glared at them and told his men to spread out. Two of the original four were dead but more had replaced them. “Show yourself,” he commanded and she was happy to comply. Lifting her hood, she revealed where she stood, just behind Lake and Lincoln not allowing the three of them to be separated. His men formed a semi-circle in front of them. Rory smiled. Her skin itched as her dragon moved along her skin eager for her words to set him free. “Have you ever fought a native?” she asked him. “Keep your arms to your sides,” he ordered her. “I know that your weapons are in your skin.” “Yes, they are,” she said. “But you do realise that I have more at my disposal than mere weapons, don’t you?” “What are you talking about?” he said. “Perhaps I should tell you that I am of royal blood,” she said. “A royal?” the man backed up a step but kept his gaze glued to her. “Yes, and my guardian is just itching to come out and play,” Rory assured him. “We just want the mother of the shifter, the one who stole the queen,” he told them. “Hand her over and we will be on our way.” “Back to Wilhelm?” she asked. “Now what would he want with Lydia?” “He only wishes to discover why she stole the queen and kept her hidden all this time,” the man stated. She honestly didn’t know if he believed it or just used the lie he’d been told. “Lydia has gone,” Rory said. “She was not in the village,” Lake said. “Disappeared in the night,” Lincoln added. The man let his gaze go back and forth between the three of them before replying. “Then we will just be on our way.” “Back to Wilhelm? Or to try and attack the shifter village seeking answers?” Lake asked. “Neither are of concern to you,” the man replied. “Ahhh,” Rory said. “But it is. Lydia is a dear family friend.” Her dragon trembled now and she could feel his desire to be free. She pictured the leader of Wilhelm’s men in her mind,

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letting her dragon know that he was to be spared. She had plans for him. “I’m afraid that I can’t allow you to hurt those most important to her.” “This Lydia is a kidnapper and the true threat to the crown,” the man said. She let her gaze slip to Lake and Lincoln. Both men nodded and keeping her hands at her sides as she had been ordered, she spoke the words needed. “Fresia avar,” she murmured and her dragon took form in the space around them. For this encounter he chose to be large. His hind legs were directly in front of her with his tail winding around her so that she was completely concealed by his form. No matter what, her guardian would always protect her first. His body curved between Lake and Lincoln with his front paws in front of them. His neck was extended so that his head was even with Wilhelm’s men. Three of the men bolted immediately for the woods. One passed out cold while those remaining trembled, their weapons shaking in their hands. The only one who remained steady was the leader who held his ground, his weapon firm in his grip. “There is no need for further bloodshed,” the man spoke softly. “We will be on our way and you on yours.” “According to Queen Aurora, how many men does it take to send a message?” Lincoln asked sweetly. “I believe that was to answer questions,” Lincoln said. “And she stated only one.” “I think it is safe to say that she would feel that only one was needed to send a message too,” Lake said. “I agree,” Lincoln offered. Rory nodded though none could see her and gave the command to her dragon. Within mere moments there was only one man standing before them. She almost respected him when she saw that he still did not tremble in fear. Not even when he saw her dragon take out all of his men, even those who had sought to find safety in the trees just beyond. “Fresia avat,” she murmured and her dragon disappeared in thin air returning to rest along the tip of her sword at the base of her spine. “Before you go, there is a message that I would appreciate you giving Wilhelm for me,” she said, moving up to stand between Lake and Lincoln. “What would that be?” the man asked, quirking a brow at her.

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“Tell him that Raven’s daughter is here,” she said. “His daughter. Tell him that if it is the last thing I do, I will see him die.” For the first time the man looked startled. He let his gaze take her in from head to toe. Then he threw his head back and actually laughed. “I will see that he is informed of his daughter’s arrival.”

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Chapter Nine

“Are you sure it was wise to send that message to Wilhelm?” Lake asked as Rory took a look at Lincoln’s arm. It was just a flesh wound, the arrow having nicked the upper arm, but still she wanted to bandage it to prevent infection. “He would find out soon enough,” she said. “Besides this will split his focus.” “She is right,” Lincoln agreed and Lake nodded as well. “That dragon was incredible,” Lake said with a grin. “And very sexy,” Lincoln added, tugging her head down and taking her mouth with his. His tongue thrust and possessed, tasting and mating with hers. He tugged her closer still and she could feel the bulge of his cock. This she understood. They had been denied a good fight so the adrenaline was still thick in their bloodstream. The only other way to release it was through a good hard fucking. She was more than happy to participate. They were off the road just inside the tree line, so hopefully, relatively hidden from view. “Should we be doing this out here when we just encountered Wilhelm’s men?” she moaned as their hands stroked over her body, easing clothing away. “Exactly,” Lake said and went back to sucking up the back of her neck, nipping her flesh with his teeth while his hands tugged and pinched her nipples. Lincoln laughed against her inner thigh as he removed her pants. “What he means is that we have already faced Wilhelm and sent one man back to him. None of our men will be out this far,” he breathed the last as he inhaled the scent of her uncovered pussy. She knew she was hot and wet with desire for them. “Plus, we have a dragon to protect us,” Lake said and Rory laughed as she felt said dragon preen under her skin. Oh, yes, her guardian was so in love with these two warriors. Lincoln parted her folds and blew a breath across her clit making it pulse and throb. Lake bit down on the line of muscle at the base of her neck and followed it with sucking bites across the top of her shoulder. Her body was falling in love too or perhaps just deep into lust.

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Lincoln moved one of her legs so that her foot rested on his broad shoulder. She leant back more into Lake and he wrapped her in his embrace. “You are the perfect mate, Rory,” Lake said and she turned her neck so that she could see his eyes. He was sincere. For them this wasn’t just about sex and releasing adrenaline. “Yes,” she moaned as Lincoln worked his tongue between her folds. One circle around her clit then he was licking back down to her opening and thrusting just the tip inside to wiggle around before starting back up again. She could feel her cream running down to coat the insides of her thighs. Lake worked her nipples so that every tug and pinch trailed heat straight to her cunt. She was on fire with desire for them. Never had sex been this intense, this magical. She could feel the thick length of Lake’s cock along her spine at the small of her back where her guardian rested. She wanted it, and him, in any way imaginable. Lincoln pulled back from her pussy and she looked down at him on his knees in front of her. His face was wet from her juices and he was licking her taste from his lips. As she watched his hands slipped down and within seconds his cock was released and straining up towards her. With a smile he put her leg down from his shoulder and lay back on the grass. “Why don’t you come down here and go for a ride?” he asked with a smile, one big hand curled around the base of his cock holding it up for her. She didn’t have to be asked twice. Giving Lake one more kiss, she eased from him so that she was kneeling around Lincoln’s legs and walking up his body until that perfect cock was just below her cunt. She lowered herself so that the head butted against her opening and just stopped and moaned. So good. It felt so incredibly good and he wasn’t even inside yet. “Have you ever taken two men at once?” Lake asked, his voice strained with need. She nodded. “Yes, once,” she breathed as she began to slowly lower herself onto Lincoln’s rigid cock. “There is oil in my pack.” “Already have some,” Lake said and she glanced back once more to see him stroking the length of his cock with an oil-slicked hand. Finally she sat on Lincoln, his cock buried deep inside her pussy. Her sheath rippled and flexed around his girth and they were both breathing heavy. “Hurry,” Lincoln told his brother and reached up to pull her torso down over his.

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She shifted her legs, opening herself wider allowing Lincoln to open his legs more to make room for Lake to join them. Her palms braced on Lincoln’s shoulders and with a smile she demanded a kiss. Her lips covered his and her tongue slipped out to trace and explore until his mouth opened for her. Inside she tasted his unique flavour and explored every corner of his mouth that she could reach. She would pull back to nip his full bottom lip with her teeth before pressing her tongue in again and tasting more. His cock flexed and jumped inside her cunt making her pussy tense and grip it for fear he would pull free. Then finally she felt Lake’s slick fingers rimming her puckered anus just before he began to work them inside. She moaned and pushed back towards him, letting Lincoln’s cock slip out just a bit. Then she slid back onto Lincoln and off of Lake’s probing fingers. All of them groaned. “I’m ready, Lake,” she urged him. She was so excited. She wanted to have this with her warriors, wanted them all to be together at the same time. His fingers pulled free and she felt the heat of his body at her back as he moved closer. Then his hands were at her hips tilting her ass just a bit higher. His hands slid to her buttocks and he spread the cheeks so that his cock could rub along the seam. He brushed over her anus once, twice, before one hand slipped to hold it against her tight pucker. “Ready?” he asked her and she nodded her head, unable to breath as sensation tore through her. Slowly he pressed in. First was the sharp sting as her flesh was forced to widen for his cock. A tug as he pressed past that first ring of muscle then the slow burn as he kept going forcing his cock into the dark tunnel of her ass. She breathed through it as the burn became erotic flames licking at her womb. Finally he was fully inside her and she had never felt so stretched so filled to overflowing. They all moaned. Lake’s hands gripped her hips while Lincoln’s were wrapped around her waist. She wiggled a bit, adjusting to their intrusion into her body and they both groaned again. “Now,” Lincoln breathed out roughly and she didn’t have to wonder what he meant for very long.

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He and Lake began a perfect rhythm so that one of them thrust hard into her while the other pulled back so that only his cock head remained inside her. Their grips were tight keeping her in place between them and unable to move. So she flexed her internal muscles giving them each a squeeze every few seconds as they fucked her. She lowered her upper body onto Lincoln’s chest and rubbed against him like a cat in heat. It was fitting to how she felt—her body on fire, burning with the need to come and come and come. She licked along his throat sucking and nipping the sweat from his skin. She moved to his chest tasting him there and finally came to one flat red disc on his chest, the nipple a hard bud tight to his chest. She took it into her mouth sucking it much as they did hers and it had Lincoln crying out and increasing their pace. She bit down on it then scraped her teeth over it before licking across to the other one and giving it equal treatment. Apparently he liked it as much as she did. She wasn’t as rough with him as she liked for them to be with her. “I’m going to come,” Lincoln groaned and one hand slipped from her waist to tunnel between them and found her clit. He pressed against it and starting rubbing a circular path against her. She groaned burying her face in his chest and trying in vain to arch her hips up away from his tormenting finger. But he kept it up, sending her flying over the edge as her orgasm screamed through her. She bit his chest to hold back her screams and he retaliated by pinching her clit, sending her even higher. She heard his cry and felt the heat of his seed as he joined her, his cock spurting splash after splash of his cum into her pussy. He finally eased his fingers away from her clit and she shuddered against him. Lake was still fucking her ass, riding her hard and fast. Lincoln was still hard, his cock fully inside her as he held her hips tight to his while Lake plunged faster and faster towards joining them. She felt her body shudder as her orgasm built higher. She wouldn’t survive it if she came again so soon but they weren’t giving her a choice. She released her teeth from Lincoln’s chest and cried out as she came again, her body shaking so hard she was afraid she just might come apart this time. She could feel every inch of Lincoln inside her pussy, every stroke of Lake forcing her to keep riding the blistering

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edge of a pleasure so consuming she felt lost in pure sensation untethered to the earth beneath them. Lake gave a harsh yell and pressed so deep that he lifted her a few inches off of Lincoln so that just the head remained inside her pussy. She rippled and flexed around them both as her body shuddered under the force of the continuous pleasure. She felt the heat of Lake’s cum as he filled her ass with his release. Felt the sweat drip from his body to hers even as hers dripped onto Lincoln. She had never known pleasure such as this even existed. She was a mass of pure sensation. Everything in and around her was centred on the wash of euphoria that rampaged through her system. With a shudder she collapsed once more onto Lincoln’s chest and shut her eyes. She just needed to rest a moment before they dressed and continued. Just for a moment. “I have never felt so boneless in my life,” Lake panted as he slid from her body and moved to lie beside Lincoln on the grass. “I’m not sure if my legs will ever be able to hold me up again.” “I hear you,” Lincoln panted, but she felt the caress of his hand along her spine as he stroked her. His cock was softening but still remained in the cradle of her pussy. She liked that, liked having him there even when the sex was complete. “Ummmm,” was about all she could manage as she agreed with them. She doubted she could move at the moment if she needed to. Heaven help them if Wilhelm sent another group of men and they came upon the three of them now. She wasn’t sure she even had the strength to call forth her dragon. “Fresia avar,” Lincoln murmured, and Rory slammed back into reality as her dragon left her skin and took form around them protecting them from whatever might come. “I thought that was what you said to call your guardian,” Lincoln continued unaware of what he had just done. “Now we can all rest for just a bit.” She heard him and Lake both settle and drift into sleep but she was unable to. He had no idea what he had just done, what he had just shown her. No one could call forth the guardian but the person it belonged to. That should mean only her. She’d never heard of a mate even being able to call it forth and yet that was what Lincoln had done. Rory had known that her dragon accepted them as mates but still this surprised her.

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How were you able to come forth when he called you? Rory asked her guardian, speaking in her mind as if she were talking to herself. They are the ones we have been waiting for. What do you mean? Waiting for? Rory asked. Your mother knew love but never her true mates of the heart and soul. When soul mates meet and bond, then the guardian not only protects them but also answers their call as well as the one whose body she resides in. Rory had never known that, never known such a thing existed. She wondered for just a moment who her mother’s soul mates had been but shrugged it off quickly. It didn’t matter. Her mother was gone and she had never known anything but love from the men she had mated with. “They are my soul mates,” she whispered, giving voice to what her guardian was telling her as if by saying it out loud, it would not be so mind boggling to hear. Our soul mates. Rest. I am here. Rory hoped she would see her sister and friends again to tell them of this soul mate thing. No, Rory. You must never share this with the others. You will only cause pain and uncertainty if they do not find it with the mates they choose. Rory nodded. She understood that. Perhaps that was why no one she knew spoke of it. You never knew it existed unless you found it. She snuggled closer to Lincoln and let one hand reach over to rub Lake’s chest. Though both were sleeping, each returned her touch. Lake’s hands came up to capture hers and hold it while Lincoln kissed the top of her head where it rested. Soul mates. Perhaps it wasn’t just her dragon that was already in love.

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Chapter Ten

Rory didn’t need to worry about how she would speak with Aurora or Lynx, or how she would be treated by the others, namely the king. They all met them as soon as they entered the courtyard and so there was no waiting game. “Where is my mother?” was the first statement that greeted them delivered by Lynx. Rory turned to look at her and noticed that she stood just between two very tall Danuja. She could tell with one look that the three were already mated or soon intended to be. Knowing Lynx the way she did, she would say already. Lynx was not one to wait for what she wanted. Aurora stepped forward and greeted her. “Rory,” Aurora said as she reached out and grabbed arms as was custom. “It is so good to see you. Is everything okay?” “Aurora,” Rory started then shook her head and stepped back to bow her head in deference to her friend’s new title. “Queen Aurora, it is good to see you.” Aurora smiled at her. “So news reached the village then?” “No, just myself so far,” Rory answered as Lake and Lincoln finally finished gathering packs and stepped up on either side of her. Lake took her hand while Lincoln placed a hand around her waist. “Do I see a newly formed triad?” Aurora asked and her smile was a full-blown grin now. Rory took a deep breath. “Yes,” she answered and both of her mates seemed to relax beside her. They were her mates and there was absolutely no reason to deny it to anyone, even herself. “Welcome aboard,” Aurora said and Lynx finally stepped forward. No one-arm greeting for her. Lynx just barrelled in and took Rory in a hug. Lynx had never been one for protocol. “I’m so glad that you are here. Is Raine all right? Where are Theron and Thaden?” Lynx stepped back to glare at Lake and Lincoln. “And where the hell is my mother?”

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“She wasn’t there,” Lake said but was interrupted before he could say anything else. “What do you mean she wasn’t there?” Lynx almost yelled. “Perhaps we should continue this discussion inside and in private,” a new voice said and Rory knew before she glanced over that it would be King Aslan. She knew protocol, knew that she should bow but it was hard. She looked him straight in the eye and without thought spoke the first words that came to her mind. “My mother did not kill your mother.” As she watched his eyes seemed to grow sad and weary. But his shoulders remained a firm line and only his face showed the emotion weighing him down. “I am deeply sorry for the wrong done to your mother, to your people, to you. I cannot change what was, only promise a new tomorrow and every day afterwards.” He was not what she expected. For one he looked a lot like Aurora. There would be no denying that the two were related. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why the king had not been seen as much. Not just for his protection but for his sister’s as well. It would be interesting to find out. “You have declared Wilhelm a traitor,” Rory stated and King Aslan nodded but she saw that even more sadness filled his eyes. For the first time she thought of how he must feel to realise that one of his most trusted people had betrayed him. She honestly felt sorrow for the king. She knew what it was like to have an entire people depend on you, even though the right wasn’t truly hers but her sister’s. “I have,” King Aslan spoke again. “However I cannot say for sure that all of his influence has left these walls so I must insist that we adjourn inside and find a private spot to continue speaking.” Rory nodded and soon they were all moving into the castle and into a chamber within the king’s private office. The walls were decorated with all kinds of weapons and it was interesting to see them hanging there. She had already noticed Aurora’s sword and would ask to see it soon. It was a legend in her culture, the sword that left the skin for good and became the property of another. She learned the Danuja were Micah and Merced, the king and holy man of their tribe. It was a given that they were in a triad with Lynx. That was interesting. Aurora was there with Domi and Nado, her panther shifter mates. Rory was happy to see the three of them finally

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together. Next to King Aslan were two other warriors Piers and Seer. Apparently they were the children of his uncle, the former king. Lake and Lincoln stayed right at her sides. “Our council is growing,” King Aslan said. “This is a good thing.” “Indeed,” Aurora agreed. “Now tell us what news you have of the village and Lydia.” “Lydia was not there when we arrived,” Lincoln stated. “They were not sure where she had gone, but then they were not sure of where the two of you were either.” He glanced between Aurora and Lynx when stating the last. “Lydia travelled in the opposite direction of you towards the temple,” Rory said. “She was escorted there but Theron sensed no evil in the intent.” “Why would she go to the temple?” Aurora asked. “She had never gone to the temple,” Lynx added. “It is said that the priestess, who served here when our mother and Lydia were here, fled to the temple when our mother was murdered,” Aslan said. “I believe her name was Serena.” “The Priestess Serena is still at the temple,” Rory said. “We travelled there only weeks ago and saw her.” “So Mom must have known the priestess then,” Lynx said. “She must have gone there for some reason.” “With things coming to light,” Rory said, “with Wilhelm being declared a traitor, perhaps the priestess sought to protect her friend. They were both here. They must both know or have a very good idea of what really happened the night Queen Ona was murdered.” “And your mother was here too,” King Aslan said. “Would she be willing to speak with us of that night?” Rory had to remind herself that her mother’s fate was not the king’s fault. Yet still she felt anger for the fact her mother had died with the taint of murderess still attached to her name, no matter that most had never believed it. “My mother is no longer with us,” Rory said. “I am truly sorry for your loss,” King Aslan said and Rory believed him. “However, I can share with you what she told me,” she offered and at his nod she told them of her mother’s capture and treatment at Wilhelm’s hand.

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“The woman was helping him,” Merced, the king of the Danuja, asked her when she spoke of the Danuja woman. “You are sure?” “According to what my mother said, it was how he kept her from attacking him,” Rory said. “The woman would grip her with flames until she passed out. My mother figured her for his consort.” “I knew it was a trick,” he murmured. “When I was being held prisoner, he had a Danuja woman try to break me. She wielded flames. When I didn’t break, he had her dragged off to service his men.” Rory looked at him. “Being his consort might not protect her from such a fate.” “Perhaps not,” Merced agreed. “But knowing she was his willing participant eases my guilt somewhat.” “So our mother slipped your mother a key on the night she was murdered?” Aurora asked. “Yes,” Rory said, “and told her that she would know when the time was right to flee. She also told my mother to guard her child well.” “Your mother was pregnant?” Aurora asked but King Aslan only nodded. “She was pregnant with you,” he said. “But was she pregnant before or after her capture?” Rory let her gaze bounce around the room before settling on the king’s face. “After. I am the blood daughter of Wilhelm.” No one said anything. The room was completely silent before the king himself nodded. “We are not defined by our blood. My sister and I share that blood as well. Wilhelm is our father’s brother. He was here when our father went missing and when he was declared dead. I strive to believe that he was not always as I am seeing he is now. I want to believe that the man, who basically raised me from the time of my mother’s death, cared for me. And yet it seems each day shows me deeper depths to his depravity. I am sorry for what your mother was put through, sorry that it was at the hands of someone I trusted.” “You were only a newborn when my mother was here,” Rory said. “And only Wilhelm can be held accountable for his actions. I just wanted you to know that I am his daughter, if only by blood.” “Does he know this?” King Aslan said.

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“He will soon,” Lake said and shook his head. “We ran into some of Wilhelm’s men on our way back,” Lincoln said. “Rory sent one of them back with a message that his daughter was here and intended to kill him.” “Only one of them?” the king asked. “It only takes one to deliver a message,” Aurora said and Rory nodded at her. “So much bloodshed,” the king murmured and Rory saw how that tormented him before he shuttered his gaze and emotion left. “What did they want?” “Lydia,” Lake said. “They knew we were sent for her and meant to take her from us and bring her to Wilhelm.” “Perhaps that is why the priestess sent for her,” Rory said. “She might have known that Lydia was in danger from Wilhelm.” King Aslan nodded. “Queen Ona, Lydia, Priestess Serena, and Rory’s mother Raven, four women all here with Wilhelm on that faithful night. The queen was murdered. Raven escaped with the queen’s help, already pregnant with child. Lydia ran taking Aurora with her. And the priestess fled to the temple. What secret do they all hold? What really happened that night?” “We’ll find out,” Aurora said. “We will find out what happened that night.” “First we must capture Wilhelm,” King Aslan said. “He has a lot to answer for.” “Capture will not be enough for me,” Rory swore. “I want to see him struggle to draw a last breath of air. I want to look in his eyes and see in them the knowledge that his daughter killed him.” “I’m sorry,” King Aslan said. “I’m not sure that I can give you that. There are too many of us who desire the same wish. He tortured and killed King Marcus, mine and Aurora’s uncle, Piers and Seer’s father. He tortured and tried to kill Merced. He had Aurora kidnapped as well as Micah. With each new day it seems that he was the one who killed Queen Ona. All my life has been filled with one lie after another. So although I can promise you that he will be captured and killed. I cannot promise you that it will be by your hand.” With that, the king turned and left the room. With a brief nod to the rest of them, Piers and Seer followed.

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“We will return shortly,” Lincoln said and gave Rory a chaste kiss on the lips. Lake followed suit but pulled away with a nip at her bottom lip. Both men followed their friends out of the room. Micah gave a sigh as he and Merced bent to kiss Lynx. Nothing chaste about their kiss. Watching them kiss her friend made Rory hot. “We had best follow as well,” Micah said. “They might have need of a healer.” Aurora laughed and Lynx shook her head. Domi and Nado stood as well and after kissing their mate the four men headed out the door. “So how long do you think they’ll be fighting?” Rory asked with a sigh as she moved over to sit between the other two women. “Why is it that men always feel the need to fight to take out their emotions?” Lynx sighed. “Because men are always little boys no matter how big they grow,” Aurora stated. “But boy, is the sex great when they come back in.” The three of them looked at each other then broke into laughter. It was good to be amongst friends. Leaning close together, they began to talk like old times. About things they’d done, their mates, and Wilhelm. While the men were gone, letting off steam with the king, the women were discussing possibilities and strategy. It was late when they headed to their rooms, Aurora having called someone to show Rory to a room where she, Lake and Lincoln would stay. She didn’t know where they usually slept but this room was just fine with her. The bed was huge and comfy and she was suddenly exhausted. Her men were still out and Rory gladly stripped and fell onto the big bed. She would save them all time and be naked when they found her. In the meantime she planned to get all the rest she could.

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Chapter Eleven

Rory awoke to the gentle stroke of fingers along her spine. One warm mouth was at her shoulder while another was licking along the arch of her foot. Heaven. She had gone to sleep and woke up to a taste of heaven. She could already tell that it was Lincoln at her shoulder and Lake at her foot. Both men might look similar but they were very different. Lincoln’s touch was softer, more sensual, while Lake claimed and owned. They were both what she needed. “Ummm,” she groaned, arching under their touches. “Well, look who finally woke up to join us,” Lincoln murmured as she rolled to her back to look up at him. “Is everything okay with your friend? King Aslan?” she asked softly as Lincoln continued to nip and lick along her shoulder moving ever closer to her throat and hopefully her mouth. Lake was working his way up between her thighs leaving a wet, hot trail up her legs. “He is as well as he can be,” Lincoln said and gave a sigh. “It is not easy for him. To know that the person who raised him is also the one who destroyed his life and the lives of those he loved the most. Aslan takes these acts personally and no matter what we say he sees it as his responsibility to make amends for all the wrongs that Wilhelm has done.” “But those are not his fault,” she exclaimed. “Only Wilhelm can be held responsible.” “This from the woman who thought we might not want her around once she told us that she was Wilhelm’s blood daughter?” Lincoln said. He was right. She had wondered that, so apparently she had much in common with the king. “You’re right. The king and I are both wrong and we are lucky to have people like you in our corner to tell us differently.” Lake had made it so that he laid between her sprawled thighs his mouth just over her cunt. “Why don’t we quit talking for a bit and show you just how lucky we are to have you?” he murmured before dipping his head down to lick over her slit.

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She moaned and arched her neck back. Lincoln chuckled and bent to nip his way up her neck to her earlobe. “That’s right,” Lincoln whispered. “Lake and I are the lucky ones.” After that there was no need for words. One hand reached down to cradle the back of Lake’s head as he lifted her leg up to open her wide for his tongue play. Lincoln moved down her cheek to her mouth and took her under with a heated kiss. Their tongues tangled and caressed seeking and searching for more. “I can’t get enough of you,” Lincoln murmured. “Ummmm,” Lake agreed as he continued to suck and lick at the lips of her sex. He had her pussy drenched and had yet to touch more than the tip of his tongue to her opening or her clit. “I need to feel you inside me,” Rory moaned. She was desperate for that touch. Lincoln chuckled and moved down to her chest moving so that he had equal access to both breasts. He took one nipple between his fingers and pinched and tugged at it. He put his mouth to the turgid peak of her other nipple and placed a closed mouth kiss there. Her hand found his head and she ran her fingers through his hair before trying to tug him closer. Lake slid his tongue back up her slit to circle her clit once more. This time he gave her more. Locking his lips around the distended bud, he sucked gently at it making her moan and thrash beneath them. He sucked a little harder before moving down her slit once more and thrusting his tongue deep within her pussy. She cried out this time as her pussy contracted, trying to get a grip on his tongue and hold it inside. Lincoln took her nipple in his mouth and sucked hard, forcing it against the roof of his mouth. Her fingers clenched in his hair and she arched her back, pressing more of her breast into his mouth. He took it, sucking and nipping at her while is brother did the same to her cunt. They had her thrashing and moaning between them and she could feel her orgasm building inside. Lake slipped two fingers into her channel and moved his mouth back to suck at her clit then probe it with his tongue before sucking once more. Lincoln moved his mouth back to hers while his fingers continued pinching and tugging at her nipples. All of her nerves seemed to be on fire burning out of control. Wave after wave of heat crashed over her as she

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exploded into orgasm. She could feel the gush of juice from her cunt and the flutter of Lake’s tongue as he tried to lick it all up. Lincoln pulled from her mouth, his fingers leaving her nipples as he moved from the bed. Her eyes fluttered shut as she panted for air. Lake moved his mouth from her cunt and she felt the bed dip as he moved up to lie beside her. Her eyes opened as he touched her cheek. Looking down the length of his body, she took in the hard cock standing at attention and her mouth watered. She wanted to taste him as well, wanted to run her tongue all around that broad head and along the shaft. She turned and took his mouth with hers, giving him a kiss that had her blood humming. She could taste her juices on his tongue and lips and it made her even hungrier to taste him. She moved from his lips down over his chest until she hovered over the bobbing head of his cock. Pursing her lips, she blew over the top of it and bit her bottom lip as Lake groaned and lifted his hips up towards her. Taking a firm grip of the base of his cock, she leaned lower and flicked her tongue over the head before flattening it and running it over the entire surface. Lake groaned and both hands came up to clench in her hair as if he needed that grip to hold himself tethered to the bed. She grinned and took the entire tip into her mouth, wrapping her lips just under the head and sucking on him. Lake moaned and this time when he thrust his hips up, she let him move his shaft into her mouth, sucking as he surged and retreated. He tasted so good, felt so good in her mouth. She had moved so that she was on her hands and knees over Lake her hips arched into the air as she bent low to enjoy him with her mouth. She felt hands behind her as she sucked, hands slick with oil separating her ass cheeks and probing at her anus. One finger slipped inside rimming and thrusting making her slick with the oil that coated it. A second finger joined and it made it so hard to concentrate on sucking Lake when Lincoln was driving her crazy. When a third finger joined she clamped her lips down on Lake’s cock and sucked hard while Lincoln fucked her ass with his oilslicked fingers. Lake tugged her head up from his cock. “That’s enough,” he panted out. “I want my cock inside that tight pussy when I come.

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She moaned. She wanted the same thing. She wanted both of them inside of her, their cocks thrusting and claiming as they took her to another orgasm. Maybe more than one. The fingers were pulled free of her anus and Lake moved his arms to help her move up his body until her pussy hovered just over his cock. Gripping her hips, he let her guide his cock to her pussy and sink slowly down onto it. Rory closed her eyes and moaned as she slid along the length of Lake’s cock, taking him slowly into her body until he filled her pussy. She looked into his eyes and leaned closer at his urging so that he could kiss her. His tongue rubbed along hers thrusting in and out as his cock soon would be doing to her pussy. More of her flavour filled her mouth as he shared it with her. She felt Lincoln move onto the bed behind them, felt him move so that she could feel his heat at her back. His palms caressed her ass cheeks before pulling them apart so that she could feel his slick cock run along the groove there. She wanted him inside and tried her best to move back against him as she was locked in Lake’s kiss. But Lincoln took his time teasing them both as he continued letting his cock lodge against her anus before moving it over and back down. “Please,” she moaned, pulling from Lake’s kiss, wanting him to fill her ass as Lake filled her pussy. “Yes,” Lincoln moaned as he pressed his cock against her anus and kept pushing until the head slid inside and encountered the first tight ring of muscle. He kept pressing, popping through that ring and continuing until he was flush against her ass, his cock buried to the hilt. She was full, so full that she felt as if she might explode. She felt his hand stroking over the small of her back and felt the preening of her dragon. It awed her that he was so in tune with her guardian spirit, so attune that he could even call the dragon from her skin. But then she was finally accepting that they were indeed her mates. There was no more denying it at this point. Her guardian could not be fooled. Slowly they began to move, thrusting and retreating within her body. She loved the way they worked so well together, one of them always inside her as the other pulled back. Then returning while the other retreated. It was a perfect rhythm for their love play, a rhythm that had her fast approaching a second orgasm. She moaned and moved between

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them thrusting into whoever was filling her at the time. It was sheer pleasure the way their cocks tugged and pulled at her tight flesh, stroking over her nerves pressing her higher and higher towards the explosive orgasm that hovered over them all. When she broke it was with a harsh gasp as her body gripped their cocks tight trying to keep them in place as she shattered. They kept moving, kept thrusting as she broke and shuddered between them. Lake took a nipple in his mouth and sucked greedily at it as he fucked hard and fast up into her pussy. Lincoln leaned close and licked and sucked at the base of her neck where it met her shoulder. As he came he bit her, his teeth just gripping her skin and holding her in place as his cock spilled into her ass. The heated spurts of his semen caused little tremors to go off inside her, keeping her in the throes of her orgasm and not letting up on the pleasure crashing through her. Lake joined them after a few more thrusts. He moved his hands to her hips holding her firm on his cock as he exploded inside her pussy. With both men buried in her body their cocks flexing as they filled her with their cum, it was more than she could take. Rory felt her body float higher until it was as if she floated somewhere above where the three of them were still entwined on the bed. They were everything she had ever dreamed of when it came to the men she would love and mate with. She only wished that her mother were here to meet them, to know them. Hopefully she would meet with her sister Raine and with Theron and Thaden again so that they could truly see how happy she was with her warrior mates. “You okay?” Lincoln asked as they turned so that they all lay on their sides on the bed. Their cocks slipped free of her body and she groaned at the loss. “I’m wonderful,” she assured him. “So what thoughts are weighing on your mind right now to bring that furrow to your brow?” Lincoln asked and Lake nodded as he ran a finger over her brow. “Did you not enjoy something?” Lake asked. “No, you both know that I enjoyed every moment of our loving,” she said as she rolled to her back between them. “I was just wishing that my mother was still alive to meet you both. She would love you.” “From what you have said, she was an incredible woman,” Lake said.

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“I did not think it was possible to hate Wilhelm more but after hearing what he put your mother through,” Lincoln shuddered beside her and closed his eyes. “There are no words to express the sorrow I feel for that.” “But if it had not happened then I would not be here, with you both,” Rory said. “My mother always said that every event in life happened for a reason. For some reason she had to go through what she did to have me and she never wished me away. She always said that I was proof that good could come from bad. She never loved me any less than my sister.” “How could she?” Lincoln said. “You are an incredible woman,” Lake stated. “We are so lucky to have found you.” “I am lucky as well,” Rory said. “So what is on the agenda for the morning?” “Aslan will speak with the queen and her sister about sending someone to the temple in search of their mother Lydia. Then we need to discuss our plans to find where Wilhelm is hiding. We have yet to find him. You have added to what we do know about the night Queen Ona was murdered and Queen Aurora was taken. There is much we still need to know though,” Lincoln said. “We will have a council meeting to discuss all of this and see what direction we take from there,” Lake added. “Wherever Lincoln and I are needed, we hope that you will want to be there with us.” “I can see myself nowhere else than by your sides,” Rory stated. “You are my mates and I shall forever be at your sides.” Both men smiled and she felt it all the way to her soul. Joy filled her and if their expressions were anything to go by, then it was filling them as well. No matter what the future held she knew that she could handle whatever came her way as long as she had her warriors at her side. And if Wilhelm tried to interfere in any way, then she would make sure he suffered cruelly before she killed him. “We are indeed lucky men,” Lincoln said, breaking her out of her thoughts. “Feel up for another round,” Lake queried as he turned so that his hard cock brushed her side. “Always,” she murmured as Lincoln bent to take her mouth while Lake bent to pay worship at her breasts. She was the lucky one.

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Chapter Twelve

Everyone was already there when they arrived at the council chamber the next morning. As they took their seats with Lake and Lincoln on either side of her, King Aslan gave a nod and they started. “We’ve decided against sending anyone after Lydia again, just yet,” King Aslan began. “There has to be a reason why Lydia has journeyed there,” Queen Aurora added. “Lynx and I have never known Lydia to leave the shifter’s village for the temple. And to have done so at this time, with all that is going on…” “There has to be a reason for it,” Lynx finished. “So how long do we wait?” Rory asked. She was not one to sit silently and nod. She was a member of this council and she would voice her questions and concerns. “How long do we think it is safe to wait? How long before Wilhelm discovers where she is? He will not honour the temple as we will.” “The magic of the temple is strong,” King Aslan stated. “I do not fear for any directly under the goddess’ protection.” “But will Wilhelm not strive to make that magic his own?” this from the Danuja Merced. “He has not as of yet,” Lincoln said. “We can only watch and wait. There is rumour that there is a mage there of great power. Perhaps the greatest that has ever been known.” “A mage,” the other Danuja pondered. “Word has not reached us of this mage.” “We have only heard rumour,” Piers said. “No one has ever seen this mage.” “So we leave Lydia for now,” Rory said. “Then are we focusing on Wilhelm?” “Yes,” King Aslan said. “Piers and Seer have been looking over maps for any possible locations that Wilhelm could be hiding.” Seer stood and unfolded several maps on the table. “As you can see we’ve marked several possible locations. The terrain allows for Wilhelm to have set something up that can remain hidden.”

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“The best way is to send teams out to these sectors with someone who has a strong ability to read magic in the air,” Piers added. “We have Lynx, Domi and Nado who have that ability as shifters,” King Aslan began. “We have Micah and Merced as Danuja. And now we have Rory, who I am certain as a native rogue has the ability as well.” The king turned to look her way and Rory nodded. “We will have to split up so that we are in units with one of you,” Seer said. “Warriors can often feel magic in the air but we are not usually able to discern what or who it is from.” The warriors in the room all nodded, including her mates Lake and Lincoln. “There are six notable sites,” King Aslan said. “So we will need to split into groups of two. I can pull other warriors in to go with us but at this point even I cannot vouch for any outside this room.” “As we are strictly going to feel out the magic at this point and not to engage,” Aurora said. “It should be no problem to go in groups of two. Two will have an easier time using stealth and remaining hidden.” “I have taken the task upon myself to split the groups,” King Aslan said. “Aurora and I have. We apologise in advance but this is the best we could come up with.” Before he could start naming groups, there was a loud knock on the door and an urgent voice calling from the other side. “M’lord, M’lady, come quickly. Quickly.” Piers and Seer were around the table with weapons drawn almost immediately. Aurora and her mates stood, the sword already in the palm of the queen’s hand. Rory came to her feet and as her mates drew their weapons, she let her hands lay loosely at her side. Her weapon was easily accessible as was her guardian. The king had weapons in hand as well. She was surprised to see the king with swords in both hands but then shook her head. He was a warrior as well as the others in the room. Why wouldn’t he have a weapon? The walls were covered with them and obviously from the glance she threw his way he was more than comfortable with them. Piers opened the door and a man was there wringing his hands. A piece of paper was crumbled in his hands, by the looks of it, still folded and sealed. “Darkness, m’lord, darkness everywhere,” the man mumbled. He held the paper out and his hand visibly shook.

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“What is this?” King Aslan stepped forward and the letter was passed to him. Aurora stood by his shoulder as he opened it. They both looked at one another then glanced towards Rory. “What?” she immediately asked. Lake and Lincoln both tensed beside her. “What does it say?” “We will go check out this darkness and work to calm the people,” Piers said and he and Seer headed out the door, the still trembling man between them. “We will go as well,” Merced stated and he and Micah stood and after each giving Lynx a kiss and touch headed out of the room. “We will be better able to see within the darkness,” Domi said as he and Nado stood. Shifters were known to have excellent night vision. Both men casually dropped a kiss onto Aurora’s upturned face and left as well, pulling the door shut behind them. Now all that remained were her, her mates, the king, the queen and Lynx. King Aslan laid the letter out on the table and they all leaned close to take a look. It was from Wilhelm. That was the first thing that Rory saw. The flourish of his signature at the bottom drew her eyes. Finally she focused on what the gist of the letter said. “He has cast a spell of darkness on the land?” she said, her gaze going up to meet that of the others. “How is that even possible? How can he have that power?” “Perhaps the power is not his alone,” Lynx said. “We already know that he had at least one Danuja at his side. I would have to speak with Merced and Micah but perhaps her power could aid in that.” “He wants me,” Rory said, reading the rest of the document. “He won’t be getting you,” Lincoln’s voice was hard at her side. “No, he will not,” King Aslan agreed. Aurora and Lynx nodded. “He wants me to go to him. Then he will lift the veil of darkness,” Rory said. “I will have my weapons, my guardian, my—” “Absolutely not,” Lake said and his voice was just as hard as Lincoln’s had been. “But if it will—” Rory tried again but this time it was the queen that interrupted. “It will not,” Aurora said and when Rory opened her mouth again Aurora just shook her head. “It will not. Wilhelm is not to be trusted or given in to. There is no truth to his lies.”

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“He will take you and the darkness will remain,” Lynx said. “I will not go quietly,” Rory said, her voice rising. “I am a native and I have magic of my own.” “But you will go quietly,” Lynx said. “You will be struck unconscious before you even know it. I know this as I have seen how both my mates Merced and Micah were taken.” “Both of your mates were prisoners?” Rory asked. “No, thankfully Micah was with Aurora when she was taken and he never made it to Wilhelm. He was lucky. Merced was held and tortured. Tortured in ways you can’t even fathom,” Lynx said and her breath caught. Rory watched as both the king and Aurora stepped to Lynx and touched her, the king placing his hand on her shoulder while Aurora took her hand. “I saw. I felt what they did to him and I thank the goddess every day for saving my mate. Wilhelm will not release the darkness. He will care little that you are his daughter. He will render you unable to fight before you even realise that he is there.” “Why do you think we are still here discussing how to approach him, how to find and capture him instead of just going and doing?” King Aslan said. “Wilhelm has several people with unknown power at his side. At least one of which is a Danuja.” “We don’t know how many others there are, how much power he has of his own,” Aurora stated. “We must stop and think. Not rush in and make targets of ourselves. We will not give in to his wishes.” Lake and Lincoln both looked at her and Rory finally nodded. “I would never do anything stupid to endanger myself,” she looked at her warriors and reached out to touch them with a hand on each of their arms. “Or my mates. I know that where I go, they follow. It was but an instinctual reaction.” “We have only just found one another,” Lincoln said, pulling her so that she was against his chest. “We will not lose you.” “There is no longer just a you,” Lake said at her back his hands squeezing her shoulders. “There is an us.” “I know that,” she turned so that her back was to Lincoln his hand wrapped around her waist. “I promise you that I know that.”

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Lake nodded and leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips. She felt Lincoln’s lips on her head and shuddered between them. They all glanced to the door as Nado entered. “It is sheer blackness out there,” he said, going to stand by his mate. Aurora immediately turned to him and wrapped an arm around him, hugging him to her. “No one will be travelling anywhere for a while. At least not until we can figure out a way to penetrate the darkness.” “It is that thick?” King Aslan questioned. “It is more than just darkness,” Nado said. “There is something more to it, a magic within that fills the air.” He shook his head as if he was trying to decide how to describe it accurately. “It is as if the darkness is alive. It weighs on your shoulders and disorients. Merced and Micah are probing at it now with their abilities. But we think it is best for now if everyone stays inside and out of the darkness until we have more to go on.” “Is there no end to what he will do?” Lynx said and her voice betrayed her anger. Aurora took her hand in her free one and gave it a squeeze. “No,” she stated and Rory saw the sadness in the king’s eyes. “Wilhelm will never stop. Not willingly.” “We should go calm the people and urge them to stay inside,” King Aslan said and his voice was weary. Rory could see that he took the weight of Wilhelm’s actions on his shoulders. “Yes,” Aurora agreed. “I know one person who will be able to see through this darkness,” Rory said before anyone could leave. “And I can guarantee that he will head this way soon to assure that I am well.” “One of your friends?” Lincoln asked and Rory was relieved to see no jealousy in his or Lake’s eyes. “Yes, Theron is gifted by the goddess herself and will not be stopped by this darkness,” Rory said. “They were in the shifter village when we headed here and I doubt if they have left as of yet. So they will be close. It might take longer in the darkness but they will arrive within days I would think.”

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She wondered if they would be able to leave her sister behind. She doubted it. Raine would demand they take her with them. She was so lost in her thoughts that it took her a minute to realise that she stood alone in the room with her mates. “We will get him, Rory,” Lake vowed. “We will get Wilhelm and make him pay for all the lives he has taken.” “We will do it together,” Lincoln added and she nodded. “I know,” she agreed. “We will all do it together.” She realised that she wasn’t alone in her need for vengeance, her need for justice. The king and queen had lost their mother. Piers and Seer had lost their father. Merced and Micah both had almost lost their lives. They all had a reason to want Wilhelm dead. And she had to believe that it would happen. Her mother’s image filled her mind. She remembered the sound of her laughter, the way it seemed to reach inside and make Rory want to laugh as well. She thought of the warmth of her mother’s smile and how a soft touch could ease any pain. And she longed for it, wanted to feel that caress with everything she had. She wanted Raven to know her mates and see how happy they made her. She wanted Raven to know the strength that Raine held within. Rory looked into the dark and craved the light. She felt the strong love of the men beside her and finally understood that the light she craved was right beside her. It was something her mother had always said and Rory had not really understood. Light, true light, comes in many forms, but the greatest of all is love. Her mother had always known the love of her mates, her people, and her daughters. She took her mates’ hands in her own and smiled. She had more to lose now. Wilhelm would not take any more from them. The darkness would not last nor would Wilhelm. She could feel the change in the air. “I love you,” she told Lake and Lincoln, and that love was the light she’d always desired. “Love you,” Lake said leaning in for a quick kiss. “Always and forever,” Lincoln added giving her hand a squeeze. Together they left the room to go and find the others. It was time to put an end to Wilhelm once and for all.

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Epilogue

The mage paced in front of the window, in waiting for the presence of the priestess. It was time. Time to leave and head to the castle and Wilhelm. Time for justice to begin. Time for truth to be known. “You are not to leave this temple,” the priestess began as soon as she entered the room. The mage continued to pace, a robe pulled firm over head. “I will not have you out in this,” Priestess Serena exclaimed. “On this, you will listen and obey.” They were interrupted before the mage could answer. Interrupted by the new guest in the temple, a shifter named Lydia. “Serena, have you seen the darkness outside?” Lydia exclaimed as she entered. “I must get to my girls. I can’t keep hiding here.” “So you will allow Wilhelm to capture you? To take you and do as he will?” Priestess Serena queried. “How will your girls deal with that?” “Well, there must be something we can do,” Lydia said. “You are a priestess.” “And I walk in the light,” Priestess Serena said softly. “I cannot do what is required to diffuse this spell.” “But I can,” the mage said, turning and letting her hood fall around her shoulders. She heard the gasp of the shifter. She knew what the woman was seeing. She looked exactly as her mother had looked when she was her age, when Serena had been friends with Lydia and they had both fallen for the same man. “I can and I will,” Serenity said. It was often a joke. Her name. Her mother had named her Serenity but that was the last thing that she felt, serene. “Enough is enough. It stops now.” “You will not leave,” Priestess Serena stated as if her word was law, which with anyone else in the temple it would be. “The truth has been kept long enough,” Serenity stated just as firmly. “I do not walk in the light. I do not walk in the dark. I walk within the shadow between. I can and will undo

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this darkness. I can and will bring the knowledge to the castle of how to defeat Wilhelm.” She crossed to her mother and sighed. “You mean well. I will always love you. But I cannot be you. I don’t want to be. It is time I met my brother and sisters and let them know of our connection and how we can use that connection to defeat Wilhelm.” “You cannot…” her mother began but Serenity put her finger to her mother’s lips and shook her head. “I must,” she said. “No more secrets. They only add to his power. It is time to end what began before we were born. It is time.” Serenity pulled the hood over her head again and with a final glance to her mother left the room. Armed with nothing but the magic in her veins and the knowledge in her mind, she stepped out and was swallowed by the darkness.

About the Author Lacey Thorn spends her days in small town Indiana the proud mother of three. When she is not busy with one of them she can be found typing away on her computer keyboard or burying her nose in a good book. Like every woman she knows just how chaotic life can be and how appealing that great escape can look. So toss aside the stress and tension of the never ending to do list. For now sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride with Lacey. It’s your world…unlaced. Email: [email protected] Lacey loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.

Also by Lacey Thorn The Debtor’s Daughters: Faithful Beginnings The Debtor’s Daughters: Claiming Charity The Debtor’s Daughters: Having Prudence Lottery Brides: Saving Sarah Lottery Brides: Discovering Daisy Finding Home Blood Magic: Warrior’s Dawn Blood Magic: Shifter’s Delight Legend Anthology: The Debtor’s Daughters: Gaining Hope Brit Party: Maggie’s Ménage

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