Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
Sierra
As I watched my love, my heart, transform from man to bird, I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that Demos was… an owl. Not just any owl, but my owl. The one Lucius, ironically, had gifted me that day in Port Minerva. The fact had me reeling, especially seeing it happen right in front of me. It was so shocking to my mind, that I simply put it in a box of things I didn’t have time to examine.
“After you,” Phobius said. I had forgotten he was there, and I startled. He had his arm extended, gesturing for me to move ahead of him and start our trek toward Lucius.
I shook myself and put one foot in front of the other, wincing at the cold ground that wasn’t smooth by any stretch of the imagination. It was only thanks to my super healing that blisters or worse hadn’t torn my frozen feet to bloody pieces already.
“Phobius…” I wasn’t sure how to word what I wanted to ask him.
“Yes, my lady?”
When I looked up at him beside me, his expression was indulgent. He wore that smugness of his like a cloak. I could never read him well, whether he was humoring me or mocking me. Taking him in now, I tried to see Demos in him. They weren’t remotely alike.
“I want this over,” I replied. “Tell me what I need to do.”
For once, his expression seemed serious. “What are you saying, exactly?”
We stopped walking and turned to face each other. “I may not know the specifics or even the general gist, but I know war is coming. I know an elemental that resides over winter is trapped in some kind of painful mental loop, and I know the Owl needs to be held accountable for whatever it is they’ve been doing. I want it to stop. What do I need to do? And don’t you dare tell me that I just need to sit pretty and watch as the Ongahri and my men walk into danger, leaving me behind, coddled and protected.”
His blue eyes studied me, starting with my hairline all the way to the lift of my chin. I felt like he was reading me like a book, assessing me, taking my measure. Finally he said, “Aren’t you a surprise. I’ve pegged you wrong, madame. I think the more appropriate question is what are you willing to do?”
“I have no idea until I learn what it is that can be done.” I was growing irritated, once again, at people who had more information than me. “Do I need to go straight to the Basilica and demand answers from their Supreme? Do I need to travel to Providence and speak with my father, implore him to arrange a meeting with the leaders of Titus? The Constants? Gods, I’ll do that and more, even going back to that—that desolate frozen forest and pour hot water on that frozen mound the elemental is trapped in. What. Can. I. Do?”
He said nothing, only stared at me with wide eyes.
“Look, I know you don’t like me.” I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “I don’t care, Phobius. But I know you well enough to know you’re direct. Softness is not in you, and I need to be told as bluntly as can be.”
An owl hooted and screeched above us somewhere in the sky. The call seemed to wake Phobius from his trance, because he took my arm and we resumed walking.
“He’s watching us, and unless you want to end this conversation, I suggest you and I keep moving.”
“What’s wrong with him?” I asked. Demos’ cries sounded pained, and I realized with a shock that, just like with Lucius, Demos and I shared a visceral bond that went beyond feelings. Through it I could feel desperation, a struggle…
“He’s newly mated. I’m sure you have experience with that, seeing that your Lucius is a True Alpha. Nothing more savage and manic as a newly mated male.”
Stupidly, I wondered if Phobius had a mate somewhere out there. If so, gods helped the man or woman who bonded to him.
“Is that all that’s wrong with him?” I asked, dreading more bad news.
“Just ignore him. He’ll grow accustomed. Now, to answer your question: right now, the only thing to do is find the others, regroup, and get you fed and clothed more decently.”
Rolling my eyes, I tripped on a deep-seated root in the ground. Phobius righted me and I murmured a thanks. “And then?”
“And then, when the time is right, I’ll find you. I have an idea. But you’ll need to secure your hounds in order for me to implement it.”
“Hounds?”
“Yes. Starting with him.” He pointed straight ahead. I saw nothing, but now I could hear the clapping of horses tearing their way through pines and brush. “They’ve arrived.”
Phobius pulled me aside and out of harm’s way as we waited until the cloud of dust settled around us in a shriek and clamor of neighing.
Before I could take a breath, Lucius had dismounted and was in front of me. His fists were clenched, his eyes wild. Gods, he looked as if at any moment he’d erupt. His mouth moved but no words came out. Seeing him come apart, the anguish in his expression…
I opened the bond for the first time since I’d seen him last, and what came at me had me swaying and stepping back. He noted the movement and paled, his face falling as if I’d gutted him. He thought I was retreating from him, no doubt, and that pained me more than learning he’d lied to me.
“Sierra…” His throat bobbed, and I could take it no longer. I had to touch him, had to let me hold him.
I threw myself into his arms, and his scent wrapped around as he held me tight.
“Thank the gods,” he breathed. He showered my head and face with kisses, his hands gripping my waist. “I’m sorry. Ongar, I’m so sorry.”
True agony poured from him, and I took mercy on him. “I’m here now. We’ll talk about it later. Right now I’m cold and I want shoes.”
His chuckle warmed my heart, even if it held a note of relief that I’d forgiven him. “Okay, little dove.” Then he took my face in his hands. He looked at me as if I were a falling star he’d found lying on the ground. Awe and love reflected back from his sterling silver eyes. Tucking me into his side, we faced the others, Ongahri I hadn’t even paid attention to who stood watching us, some with smiles, others with indifference.
“We’ll set camp here for the time being. My mate needs to rest.”
Two men pushed their way to us, and I felt Lucius tense.
“Sierra, thank Ongar. Are you hurt?” Fadon barreled over, Ander at his side. The two Trajans looked ready to do battle.
Ignoring Lucius, Ander pulled me to him and hugged me. “Woman, you scared us to death. Don’t ever do that again!” He kissed the top of my head, and strong hands grabbed me by the waist, turning me around only to bump into a hard chest that smelled of hickory with a hint of cloves, like his sister’s scent.
“Meleera.” One large hand cupped my jaw and tilted it up. Black eyes full of night gazed down at me. “Answer me. Are you hurt?”
“No—no. Just cold and hungry.” The pull I had toward him was as strong as ever, but a throat cleared behind me, and through the bond I felt another pull. Two, in fact.
Lucius and, now, my new mate, Demos.
Thankfully, the large group of men had dispersed, leaving just my new inner circle, which included, oddly enough, Phobius.
The tension was palpable as Fadon released me, and for a minute I didn’t know which person to go to.
Whomever growled the loudest?
“Unbelievable.” Phobius’ dry laugh was echoed by Ander, who winked at me as if he knew my dilemma and found it funny.
Ander held out a hand, which I gratefully accepted. “Come on, Miss Popular, let’s find you some shoes and warmer clothes.” He marched forward before anyone could steal me away. Brave man.
Gods, two True Alphas and an owl-shifting Seraph… what had I gotten myself into?
We had just finished a supper of wild boar, which the Ortega Tribe had hunted down after an hour of our settling camp. The meat was something I’d never had before, and I had to admit, it was the best thing I’d eaten in years.
Content, full, and more importantly, warm, my eyelids drooped, struggling to remain open. We were in Lucius’ tent, and I was currently leaning on Demos, who sat glued to me on a pile of furs on the tent floor.
Phobius, Ander, Fadon, and Lucius were in deep conversation about what our next plan was. I was so beyond exhausted I had stopped trying to keep up hours ago.
“Melos, let me take you somewhere so you can sleep.” Demos petted my hair, and I practically purred. “Trust me. They will still be at it for hours yet.”
I agreed with him. If it wasn’t Lucius arguing one point, then it was Fadon, followed by Phobius. The three of them created a tornado of words and commands and accusations, but nothing had devolved into insults or personal attacks. Yet.
I mumbled a “yes,” and Demos carried me out of the tent. Snow had started falling not too long after the tents had been set up, and the fluffy white mass dampened all sound the further we went away from Lucius’ tent.
The Ongahri had set up camp to resemble a circle, and in the middle, a huge fire still burned. Tents wrapped around it, and not too far outside of that, the horses were kept.
The tent Demos brought me to now was a quarter of the size of the one we’d left but was still cozy inside. He laid me down on a pile of soft bedding and squatted down to light a small camp lantern, just enough to make out the shape of things around us. Just enough for me to watch him remove his cloak, his tunic, and boots. His golden skin looked like warm silk, the tattoos a study in arcane beauty.
Fatigue forgotten, I reached out a hand and touched his calf. I ran my hand up and down in slow, hard strokes. I heard him grunt, a sound I’d never heard come from him before.
When his fingers went to the top of his breeches, I sat up and pulled my thick cotton gown over my head and tossed it beside me. My body was hot, filled with need, filled with desire.
He came to me then, leaning over me, so warm, and quite naked. I felt his cock against my inner thigh, and I raked my fingers through his blond hair, pulling him to my mouth. He tasted like honey, and I moaned. He kissed me like he was starved.
Gods, the man could kiss.
Lost in a dance of tongues and lips, he forced my legs apart and speared through me. I gasped at such sweet pressure, such fullness. He swallowed my gasp, his pelvis pressed skin to skin with mine. Yet he didn’t move.
“Melos, you have no idea how—” he pulled back, then slammed home “—much I imagined this.”
“I love you, Demos. Forever.” Our breaths were hot between us, creating their own steam. His hands were everywhere, and my mouth couldn’t stop kissing him—his lips, his cheeks, his chin and neck. He rode me hard and so deliciously deep, and the sounds of our pleasure cocooned us. I couldn’t count how many times I’d reached that glorious peak of carnal bliss. Demos was insatiable. I was his treasure he sought, his thirst to quench, his prey to catch. Before, Demos had always been gentle, keeping a part of himself from me, even during those long days and nights during my first heat.
But now he gave me all of him, and each touch, each slide of his hard length inside me was enough to bring down the stars and moon. All of him was unbound and given to me, and I prayed he could feel me do the same.
When at last he’d found his release, we rested only a moment before he took me again.
Now, lying in his strong arms, cuddled in warmth and the lazy languor that making love produced, I fell blissfully asleep with him by my side, where my dreams were of blue skies and white feathers whispering in a summer wind.
Morning came. Demos was gone when I finally opened my eyes. It was cold, and I could hear the hush of snowflakes fall on the tent and the ground outside. I pulled on my thick gown, laced up my boots, and put on my cloak, ready to bear the brunt of winter. When I opened the tent flap to step outside, I was greeted by a very morose and mournful face.
Lucius.