“Fifty years ago, the blood witches and the fire witches lived very closely; almost as neighbors.” Astrid started, not knowing that.
“One day, twenty years ago, a small band of fire and blood witches went off to the mountains, wanting to spy on the Overlord.”
“Insane,” Kieran whispered, and even Benedict looked grudgingly impressed.
“Insane, and stupid.” Farran muttered “They were immediately caught, and we never saw them again. Except...except—”
One of the other witches put her hand on Farran’s shoulder, brushing her fiery hair out of the way.
“One day, there was an explosion from the mountain. It shook the forest and the very earth, and there was an aftershock of white magick so powerful it knocked us out.”
Kieran stood.
“I remember that!” He grabbed Benedict’s shoulder. “Remember? The mountain shook and groaned for days afterwards. We thought it was an earthquake!”
Farran shook her head.
“When we awoke, we crawled to the edge of the forest and plains and found her. This young witchling, burning with unquenchable black fire yet unhurt. She had all the fire of our coven, but her hair and eyes were black like the demons. She reeked of white magick; it was terrifying. We tried to take her in, but she was too destructive.”
“My coven managed just fine!”
“SHE KILLED A QUARTER OF MINE!”
Our group went dead silent as Farran and Astrid’s noses almost touched, each of them panting heavily. Farran broke away, her face crumbling as tears fell down her eyes.
“I... I don’t understand.” Astrid managed weakly, unable to come to terms with the Luci she knew, and the one Farran knew.
“We called the Overlord to us, to take her. She was sick with fear, but what else was I supposed to do? None of us could control her power, so I figured they would help her! When they came, she exploded the village and ran. Then you found her.”
Astrid shook her head.
“The Overlord killed the rest of the coven, though a hundred or so managed to get away. That is what your little half-breed did to us.”
Astrid drew in a shuddering breath and let it out.
“Why didn’t you ask us for help? We could have helped.”
Astrid’s eyes shot to Meruse, to the fire witches, and then finally rested on Benedict.
“We should have all helped.”
Night fell, but I was in no mood to sleep despite my exhaustion. I couldn’t imagine that what Farran said was true; that the small child who had saved my life, and now resided at Lyoness was some sort of demon half-breed.
“It makes sense,” Benedict murmured to Kieran. Both lay a few feet from the fire, my body wedged protectively between them. I certainly wasn’t complaining. Kieran sighed.
“I’m sure they realize the implications as well; they just don’t want to admit it.”
“Admit what?” I interjected, annoyed. Kieran ran a hand through my hand, and I was too slow to repress the satisfied purr that curled from my throat.
“Get some rest.”
My body quivered with indignation, and Benedict pulled me tighter against him, one hand gripping my hip bone with my back pressed hard against his chest.
“As if,” I hissed back, and he shared a look with Kieran, “I would just go to sleep while you two plot?”
“Go to sleep, siren.” Benedict repeated, though it was the first time the word held any endearment. I narrowed my eyes.
“Make me.”
He shot another look to Kieran, and a growl rumbled in my chest.
“If you insist,” Kieran said, and then his hands were running through my hair and stroking my wings. Benedict’s fingers drifted to my breasts, caressing the skin but staying away from where I truly wanted to be touched. My surprised yelp was covered by Kieran’s mouth on mine, our bodies covered as they both flared their wings to give us privacy. I heard a grumble, and then footsteps retreating. Benedict’s chest rumbled with mirth, then I gasped quietly as his fingers trailed a light path down my body. Kieran followed suit, his lips leaving mine to lick and nip along my neck and collarbone.
“This is doing the opposite of making me tired.”
Kieran bit down on my neck, effectively silencing me. Benedict’s hand paused right above the juncture between my legs, and I made a sound of impatience.
“Siren…” he breathed into my ear, and I melted into his body as he grinded his own erection against my behind. He teased me for a few moments, Kieran’s fangs trailing along my skin. Then, then, his fingers dipped below the waistband of my trousers, stroking the lightest of touches against my center. I froze, forgetting to breathe.
“Relax…”
Both of their mouths on either ear undid me faster than I thought possible. Benedicts fingers worked a dangerous rhythm, in and out, in and out. My body moved with him, all thoughts in my head gone as I rode his hands, Kieran’s teeth continuing to nip along my collarbone. They worked me like a precise machine, and it didn’t take long for the pressure to build, to become nearly unbearable. The moment I came Kieran crashed his mouth harder against mine, muffling the sound of my cry as every muscle in my body tensed. Benedict grinded himself against me, groaning as my inner walls clamped down on his fingers, spasming as I rode out the wave of my own release.
Both rubbed gentle circles on my back and wings, my body so relaxed afterwards that my eyes drifted closed. There was something I had wanted them to tell me, but it hardly seemed important now. I yawned and snuggled deeper into them warm bodies. I was asleep so fast that I missed the smug, victorious grin Benedict shot Kieran.
