Chapter 7 Feray
Feray
The glass that contains Easton's feather melts away in his palm, leaving an ornate golden feather in his hand.
It reminds me of a peacock feather as I stare at it.
He smiles, looking at it, then up at me.
"I need to plant it where it's visible. Where would you like it?
I suggest your hairline so it's visible in wolf form.
" A soft smile plays at the corners of his lips as he gazes up at me.
Reaching over, I take the towel and dry my hands, then reach up into my hair. The most logical place to me is my widow's peak, so I point there. "Will here do? It's very visible in both forms."
He smiles broadly and touches it. "In your wolf's form, you've chosen the ajna chakra position.
It will increase your wolf's intuition and make visible things not able to be perceived with normal vision.
Its placement will also open your mind to information beyond the material world and the five senses. "
He reaches up and starts speaking in a language I cannot understand.
For a brief moment, there's pressure, then a burning sensation where I feel the feather being pushed into my skin.
Gently, his hand moves over where it was placed, and he soothes the pain away.
"You look exquisite with your feather, my flame. "
Smiling softly, I lean forward and brush my lips over his. "Why do you call me your flame?" Gripping the tub on either side of him, I rise onto my knees and slide from his lap to over his groin. His thickened member rests against my folds as I rock slightly, waiting for my answer.
"A phoenix is nothing without its fire. A fire is nothing without its flame. Therefore, I am nothing without you." His eyes blaze to life, and in my mind, I hear his phoenix whispering its adoration for me.
"Do you hear that?" I tilt my head to the side and close my eyes as I angle my hips to line the tip of his cock with my core.
"Hear what, my flame?" His hands move from the tub to my hips, guiding me down to impale myself on him.
"Your shift. He's talking to me. Telling me how long he's waited for me.
" Tears well up in my eyes, listening to his bird's words of love and eternity.
I feel the heat and stretch from Easton's cock but remain still, listening intently to his shift's words.
His love washes over me as if his bird is worshiping me, wrapping me up in its wings of fire.
"He speaks the truth and always will. A phoenix cannot lie. We cannot bend or twist the truth." Slowly, Easton thrusts up into me, and I feel as if every nerve ending in my body has ignited. This is so very different from my other mates. This feels different.
I open my eyes and stare down at the beautiful man below me, and my hindbrain finally engages. Flames begin to gently flicker over his flesh like he said they would. Easton has made me his on a spiritual level. Now it's time to make him mine on a physical level.
My wolf wants to be in the driver's seat, and I cannot allow it.
Her intentions are good, but she's strong and her claws are sharp.
I don't wish to harm my mate unintentionally.
As much as I want to touch him, I feel my claws break through my fingertips.
I grip the tub as I press myself down onto him harder, meeting him thrust for thrust. Water sloshes everywhere, and I don't care.
His hands roam all over my body as he props himself up and draws my nipple into his hot mouth.
A single flick of his tongue, and my orgasm rips through me.
Without hesitation, I release the tub and wrap him up in my arms. Lowering my head, I kiss where I intend to bite him. Easton knows what's coming and tilts his head to the side, allowing me access. Swiftly, I strike and sink my teeth deep into his flesh and muscle.
A surge of power rips through both of us, and I hear what sounds like crackling as Easton follows me over the edge into oblivion.
The copper tang of his blood is tinged with something else I cannot describe—sweet, yet with a sour note on the back end.
I feel my core finally stop pulsing around him as we slowly come down from our high.
Withdrawing my canines, I lave my tongue over the wounds like I have with my other mates.
His bird is still whispering its love for me, telling me we have forever now.
He thanks me repeatedly for not giving up on his human side, and it makes me chuckle.
"What's so funny, my flame?" Easton caresses my cheek as he looks up into my eyes.
"You didn't hear your bird?"
"No, what did he say that was so funny?" He leans forward and kisses my lips, sipping from them softly.
Both of my eyebrows shoot up, amazed he didn't hear his shift talking to me. "He thanked me for not giving up on your stubborn ass." Smiling broadly, I giggle again. "He's quite the romantic."
"Ah, I see..." He smiles, then looks around.
"It appears we made a mess." Easton helps me to stand, making sure I'm steady before he exits the tub first. Offering me a hand, he assists me out and wraps me up in a towel.
I get ready to head toward the door, and he stops me, holding out the bottle of water.
"I do agree with Diaval. You need to drink your water, then eat. I will dry up the water, then join you." He kisses me once more and waits for me to drink some of the water.
I walk out of the bathroom in my towel, thankfully with half the bottle of water gone. Diaval's eyes go to the bottle, then look me over. He nods. "Nice feather."
I reach up and touch where it is. It's no longer as short as it was in the vial—instead, it matches the length of my hair.
Gently pulling it forward, I smile looking at it.
Its color matches my red hair perfectly.
Tiny wisps of fire dance over the edges of the feather's vanes and barbs, making me squeal in excitement.
Torben moves closer and examines the feather mixed in my hair. "You look very regal with your adornment, little wolf." He kisses my forehead and hands me a plate of cured meats and cheeses to snack on.
Blushing, I look over at Khal, and he motions for me to approach. I take the snack plate from Torben, along with my water, over to the window seat. Khal moves, giving me room to sit down. "It's a very becoming look on you, Precious."
"Thank you." I glance out the window, then back up at Khal. "Guard duty?"
"Yeah, after our most recent adventure, I'll probably be going back to being nocturnal." He looks down, saddened by that fact.
"If we have to camp somewhere, can I sleep in your coils?" I search his stony features, and the carefree, soft, lovable Khal surfaces.
"Anytime you don't feel safe, anywhere we are, I will shift so you feel safe enough to sleep." He leans forward and draws me back to sit between his legs while I eat. My eyes drift over to Diaval. He looks over at me and nods. I want to believe he feels the same way.
The click of the bathroom door draws my attention to Easton as he emerges fully dressed. I watch him head over to our bags and dig through mine. He pulls out a colorful sundress and a matching bra and panty set, then brings it over to me.
"Let's get you dressed. As much as I enjoy you in a towel and nothing else, it's not proper in case we have company.
" He holds his hand out to me, and I accept it.
Easton walks me over to the closest room and closes us in it.
He smiles as he holds the clothing out to me.
Looking it over, I take it from him and lay it out on the bed.
"Are you sharing a bed with me tonight, or should I climb in with Torben?" I turn to watch Easton as I get dressed in the outfit he picked out for me.
"I will share a bed with you." He reaches up and rubs over where I bit him.
"Does it hurt?" I'm anxious that I harmed him with my bite.
"No, it seems to pulse in your presence though. It's quite interesting." He furrows his brows. "I have nothing in my memories about a wolf's mating mark reacting to its owner's presence." He shrugs, matter-of-fact.
"Hmm, that is interesting. Let's go ask the others if theirs do the same thing." I shrug my shoulders slightly. None of my other mates mentioned the bites pulsing. Maybe it's because he's a mythic, and it's different for them.
We leave the bedroom Easton has claimed as his and return to the main sitting room.
Torben and Diaval are looking at the maps, and Khal is still sitting in the window box.
I move to stand beside him and wait until he turns to look at me.
"Does my mate mark pulse in my presence?
" Reaching out, I rest my fingertips on where I bit him.
Khal tilts his head, looking at me curiously. "No, should it?" Furrowing his brows, he glances from me to Torben, who shakes his head.
"Why would you ask if it pulses?" Diaval tilts his head slightly, and I can see the bone plates moving under his skin.
"Because mine pulses in her presence. I have nothing in my memories about a mate mark pulsing. Do you?" Easton answers before I have the chance.
Diaval strokes his chin as he paces the room, deep in thought. He suddenly stops and stares at Easton and me, puzzled. "Nothing in my memory to suggest it's happened before. Perhaps Dezi or Revelin would have an answer. Summon your pixie and have her inquire of the others, Feray."
Nodding, I move away from the group and draw in a deep breath. "Ro, I need you." My eyes scan the room until the pixie manifests before me. She looks like she recently came off tour with a punk rock band from the eighties.
"Yes, oh fluffy one?" She flits around, then her hands fly up to her face. Her hand slowly raises and points to the feather blended into the hair on my widow's peak. "Do you know there's a feather stuck in your hair?" She whispers like it's the biggest secret in the world.
"Actually, that's why I called for you. Can you ask Prince Revelin and Dezi if they know why my phoenix mate's mark pulses when I'm near him?" I extend my hand and offer her a place to land.
Ro lands and proceeds to sit on my palm, kicking her feet, watching me. "So, Mr. Drama Llama Picky Pants finally admitted his feelings, huh?" She leans forward, putting her elbows on her knees and her hands under her chin, smiling up at me.
Khal mutters in the corner that it took me almost getting eaten by a Wendigo to do it. He slaps his hands over his mouth and whips his head in our direction. Ro's jaw drops, then she vanishes from sight.
"Wonderful. Fi is going to have the mother of all fits." My emotions spiral out of control until Torben grabs hold of me and crushes me to his chest.
"Breathe, little wolf. You are safe. Nothing is going to happen."
I feel the moment Easton and Khal lay a hand on me. My nerves almost instantly settle, and I can breathe again. Torben has me turned so I can see Diaval watching us intently. Slowly, my nerves settle, and the guys release me.
"We should probably get some sleep. I want to get up early and leave before most of the guests here awaken." Diaval turns and heads to the room he claimed as his.
Khal steps forward and presses his lips to my forehead, breathing in deeply. "Sleep, Precious. I'll keep watch over everyone." Reluctantly, he releases me, and Torben takes over.
"I'm right over there if you need me." He points to his door on the other side of the bathroom, on the same side as Easton's room. His large hand caresses my jaw, and he tilts my head back and kisses me softly before heading to bed.
I watch him leave, then look at Easton, who suddenly seems uncomfortable.
Reaching out, I take his hand and lead him back to his room.
Without asking, I dig through his clothing bag and pull out an undershirt, laying it out for me to sleep in.
I strip out of the sundress and lay it over the chair before slipping into his shirt.
"Are you going to sleep or stand there watching me sleep?
" Tilting my head, I watch him remain frozen for a few moments.
Easton bites his bottom lip and looks sheepish. "I don't normally sleep in my human form. This will be a first for me."
"Oh? Should we purchase a perch for you? I mean, I don't want you uncomfortable." I look around the room—there's nothing here that would withstand his fire.
"If you're wondering, I'm not always on fire.
So that helps with finding a place for me to sleep.
If I can't sleep in my skin, I'll wait until you're sleeping before shifting and leaving the bed.
" He forces a smile and leaves only his boxers on when he climbs into bed with me.
Easton curls his body around me, and I almost instantly fall asleep, wrapped up in his warm embrace.