Illusions: Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (The Seekers Book 1) (17 page)

And so they gave way to the sensation, both cocks spraying her insides with heat even as they continued to take her, even as she cried out again in ecstasy while they pounded her, punished her beautiful body.

It seemed like several minutes had passed before the three collapsed on top of one another: hot, spent, and perfectly happy.

The Ritual was complete. But this was only the first: there would, if fate allowed, be many more.

T
he morning brought uncertainty
, and Serafina was the first to rise, reluctant as she was to do so. The men were so warm, so comforting. Somehow, for a few precious hours, she’d managed to forget about Circe’s imprisonment.

Her sister would want this for her, she knew. Circe was generous and kind, and her greatest wish tended to be for the happiness of others. Where the Bonding had felt initially like a sacrifice, the Ritual was a gift that Serafina had given herself: the gift of two lovers, two protectors, and whatever strength and love may grow with them.

She rose, picking up her damp dress from the ground and stretching as she looked upon their sleeping bodies, her chest swelling with emotion as she confessed to herself that she really was attached to these men in more ways than one. For a moment she allowed herself the luxury of a smile.

And then she remembered Nyx. Where was he? She was so accustomed to having him attached to her—he’d kindly left her alone for the Ritual, but she would have expected to wake up with him. She slipped her dress on and dashed about, calling his name softly.

“Nyx, where are you?” she asked, rifling through shrubs and long grass. Perhaps he was hunting.

Panic began to set in. He was all right; he had to be. She would know if he wasn’t. But this wasn’t right. They’d never been separated, in all the years since he’d become her Familiar. He had grown with her. Like her two new mates, he was linked, bonded with her. His empathy, his affection, had kept her going through many a difficult day.

Finally she ceased to worry about waking the men.

“Nyx!” she called, her face turned towards the woods.

Behind Serafina, Rohan stirred.

“Are you all right?” he asked, rising to his feet. For an instant his naked form was enough to distract Sera.

“Nyx is gone,” she said. “I’ve lost him, somehow. I don’t know if the Ritual upset him, or…”

Rohan looked initially concerned, but after a moment he smiled.

“It’s not funny,” said Serafina. “I can’t lose him. I
can’t.”

“I know,” he said. “And you haven’t lost him. Look.” He pointed to a tree branch over her head where the ferret sat, perched above his Magistress.

Relieved, she allowed herself a laugh. “You scamp,” she said. “Don’t do that to me.”

She reached up and let him crawl down her hand and arm to her shoulder. As she stroked him, her face took on a serious expression again. “You’re shaking,” she said. “What is it?”

“He’s likely cold,” said Rohan, approaching. “He’s used to spending the night with you. I feel for him—I’d hate to be deprived of such a thing.”

Sera smiled. “We never discussed it, but would you hate it if he curled up by my head at night?”

“Only if he prevented me kissing those lips,” said Rohan. “Or any other part of you.”

“I think we’ll be all right.”

“Serafina—you should know that the Ritual works in funny ways. When Paxx wakes up, for instance, he may find himself feeling ill. You yourself may feel strange symptoms. Be prepared.”

“I don’t feel anything yet,” she said. “I’m not sure quite how to discover what it may have done to me.”

“Well, you’re no shifter,” he said. “Special though you are. My hope is that your skills will be enhanced. As for our friend over there,” he turned to Paxx, whose eyes were still closed, “He is certainly one. I believe it’s only been a generation or two since his family members shifted, so it shouldn’t hit him too hard.” Rohan was thinking of Lily’s mate, Conor. It had been centuries since anyone in his bloodline had performed a Ritual, and the rite had nearly killed him.

As though on cue, Paxx opened his eyes and looked at his two mates. For a moment he seemed to forget where he was, but then he smiled, recalling the previous night’s events.

He too rose, gathering clothing off the ground.

“What heaven am I in?” Serafina asked herself, imagining a palace in which she could simply watch these two men walk around naked all day.

“Are you all right, Paxx?” asked Rohan, studying the man for signs of illness.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll admit that I feel a little funny, but I’ve seen others post-Ritual. I know how it goes.”

“You will change,” said Rohan. “Sometime soon you’ll feel it come upon you, and you must learn to control it.”

“What do you suppose I am?” asked Paxx, rubbing his head, his light hair sticking up in every direction which only served to give him a more rugged appearance.

“Not a dragon, at any rate,” said Rohan. “Apart from that I couldn’t tell you. You haven’t got the changeable eyes of a shape-changer, so your déor will be one creature only.”

“Pity,” said Paxx. “I’ll leave that up to fate then, shall I? Well, whatever happens, I hope it’s soon. We need to get Circe back. And then we’re going to have to take on the Guild.”

“The Crones are no doubt in discussion about that,” said Serafina. “Maybe we should find them this morning.”

“We will follow you, my lovely, lovely lady,” said Paxx, taking her hand and kissing it softly.

“You two will be the death of me,” she laughed. “Doting on me, doing all the things…that you did last night.”

“That was only the beginning,” Rohan offered, kissing her neck, much to Nyx’s chagrin. “Sorry, Nyx old friend. It’s all yours.”

“Come, get dressed properly.” Sera’s voice had gone a little serious, and her hand went to her head.

“Are you all right?” asked Rohan.

“Fine. Just a little dizzy.”

“Come, sit.” He guided her to a nearby log where she sat down hard, Nyx crawling off her shoulder to land next to her. He too looked a little disoriented.

And then Serafina seemed to stare into the distance, her eyes fogging over, the blue disappearing in favour of a translucent white film.

“Serafina?” said Paxx. “What’s happening? Talk to us.”

She couldn’t, however. Once again she’d transferred, switched her own vision to Nyx’s. He bounded off, running towards the woods as Sera struggled to control him. In a flash he’d disappeared from sight into the thicket.

“Strange,” said Rohan, who seemed to be observing dispassionately.

“Strange? It’s like she’s possessed,” said Paxx, agitated.

“Give it a moment.”

And, seconds later, Nyx had run into the clearing again. But now he seemed to grow, to change, and a moment later he was a fox: black as night, sleek, trotting towards the men, his eyes fixed on their faces.

“Serafina,” said Rohan quietly, bending to address the fox. “Is that you?”

The animal nodded awkwardly, his head bobbing as though he hadn’t quite figured out how his neck worked.

“My God,” said Paxx. “What’s happened?”

“Her Familiar has become a shifter,” said Rohan. “And she is seeing us through his eyes. Her powers are growing, and so are his.”

Nyx changed once again, into a small, sleek panther. His eyes remained black, shining. At night he would be all but invisible.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Rohan, stroking the panther’s neck. “It’s fantastic.”

“It really is,” said Paxx, his eyes veering to the woman on the stump. “Though a little disconcerting. Serafina, can you re-enter your body? You’re frightening me a little.”

And then she was grasping her chest, breathing heavily, Nyx bounding back in ferret form, leaping onto her lap as though to say, “Did you just see what I did?”

She stroked him, laughing. “Yes, you’re a fine boy, aren’t you?”

“Glad to have you back,” said Paxx. “That’s an impressive skill you have.”

“Thanks. I made passionate love with two men in order to refine it. The sacrifices we women make.”

“Those men must have been exceptional specimens,” laughed Rohan.

“Indeed.” Sera picked Nyx up and rose. “This is only the beginning, isn’t it?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Rohan. “Only the beginning.”

“
T
oday
,” Melina said, turning to her mates in their large living room. “We need to select the candidates this morning, and Circe’s Ritual must occur soon. No waiting around.”

“Very well,” Crow replied. “We’ll do what you think is best. But the Crones will be unhappy.”

“Do you actually think that I care for a second what the Crones think? They are nothing. They have not the powers that I possess,” said Melina, spitting the words. “They are weak. Posers.”

“Of course, my love. But do you not think…” began Crow as Mace looked on, submissive as always.

“When we have the sisters on our side—Circe and Serafina—we will be able to take on the Crones.”

“What makes you think they’ll be on our side? Those women have nothing but disdain for us.”

“They haven’t realized yet that their beloved Sisterhood pulled a veil over their eyes. Hid the truth from them for years. Once they learn, they will come to us.”

“I suppose it’s possible.”

Melina ground her jaw and left the room, making her way out of the house towards the compound. There, she found a guard.

“Fetch the woman Circe for me.”

“Yes, Magistress,” the man said.

Behind him on the ground stood a very tiny creature, huddled against the stone foundation of the building, who had heard every word.

W
hen Rohan returned
to Serafina and Paxx in his forest cabin, he found the latter looking less well than he had when they’d woken that morning. Phist was offering him a damp cloth, which he used to dab his forehead.

“I’m all right,” he insisted. “A little nauseated, that’s all.”

“It’s happening,” said Rohan. “That’s good. Once you’ve changed, you’ll feel better.”

“That’s reassuring,” laughed Paxx weakly. “And seeing as Nyx took it so well, I figure that I should keep my chin up.”

“That’s the spirit. Listen, are you well enough to hear what’s happening at the Guild?”

“Of course,” said Paxx.

Rohan explained what he’d seen: the conversation between Melina and her mates, the demand that Circe be brought to her.

“We don’t have a lot of time,” said Serafina. “I wonder what she was talking about, saying the Sisterhood had pulled a veil over our eyes.”

“I assume that she was referring to the Ritual,” said Rohan. “She feels, I think, that you were deprived of a certain amount of power by being limited to the Bonding.”

Their conversation was interrupted by Paxx, whose body seized for a moment.

“Are you all right?” asked Phist, taking his brother’s arm.

“Fine,” he said, his fingers digging into Phist’s hand. “Fine. I just need a little air.” He stood and walked to the door. Phist followed, keeping an eye on him.

Serafina leaned towards Nyx’s face and spoke softly, then the ferret scampered out the door after the two men.

“Are you keeping an eye on him?” asked Rohan.

Serafina nodded. “Rohan,” she said. “What are
you
to gain from this Ritual?”

“I don’t know yet, honestly. Perhaps nothing; that is, if you don’t include getting to be with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known and having an honourable, dependable man at our side. But in all likelihood I will derive some skills from each of you. What they are remains to be seen. These things can take days, weeks, years to develop.”

“Well, I hope for your sake that you gain strength.”

“I already have.”

O
utside
, Paxx wandered aimlessly, his stride uneven as he went. His brother watched, frightened, though he’d seen this before among Guild members. There were those among their numbers who had been through the Ritual, who had exhibited similar symptoms; usually as their first shift was approaching.

He didn’t speak, but watched his brother even as Nyx perched on a stump and observed.

After a moment Phist stepped forward, running to his brother, who seemed to be…disappearing. For seconds at a time, Phist could see the outlines of trees through his very body, as though Paxx had gone transparent. But then he would return to opacity, as though it were only a trick of the light.

“What’s happening?” asked Phist, but there was no reply.

Serafina and Rohan ran outside to witness it, and they saw it too: Paxx, flashing off and on, the forest visible through his outline.

“It can’t be,” said Sera.

“What is it? I’ve not seen anything like this,” said Rohan. “Dragons and gryphons, yes. But this?”

Then Paxx was gone, the pale white outline of a large wolf in his place. He too seemed translucent, to be made up of light, reflecting all the shades of the forest. Only when he moved could they read his outline.

And a second later he was bounding around, having regained stability. His form had become more opaque, more visible, and he seemed to control his level of visibility.

“His déor is that of a ghost wolf. The rarest of creatures,” said Serafina. Paxx’s eyes glowed light blue as his head turned to them. “They can hide from sight as easily as your mouse form. Stealthy, quick creatures. They’re considered to be infused with white magic.”

“This comes from you,” said Rohan, smiling.

“This comes from
us
.” She took his hand in hers and squeezed.

The wolf approached them and sat, its light eyes staring up at theirs before he shifted.

“Instinct,” laughed Rohan. “A shifter comes into his own, sometimes, like a newborn foal stands on all four legs.”

Paxx laughed. “I suppose you’re right. That felt remarkably…natural.”

“That was amazing,” said Phist, who’d been watching in silence. “Could you feel what you looked like?”

“Not exactly,” his brother replied. “But somehow I knew when I was visible and not. As though I were masking myself from view when I didn’t want to be seen.”

“Cloaking,” said Serafina. “It’s a property of the ghost wolf. As though your fur takes on the traits of everything around it, so that you camouflage yourself perfectly.”

“This could be handy,” said Paxx. “And here I thought that I was useless.”

“Not at all,” Rohan assured him. “And we’ll be needing your skills later, I think. We need to get Circe back.”

Serafina turned his way. “What about me?” she said. “What’s my part in this?”