Authors: Dakota Trace
She nodded and rose shakily from the seat, as another of
Bilé’s
personal guard strode into the room. Just as they left the room, the Lord of the Underworld stopped them.
“
Braelyn
?”
She froze, then turned, looking over her shoulder at him.
“Don’t fail me. I expect you back here tomorrow evening and carrying his child.”
She gave him a brief nod, following the guard out of the room.
Chapter Four
“I want
Dragos
and
Severa
placed on the outer perimeter and have
Lanston
and
Gervios
patrol the inner courtyard. The next rotation will relieve you in two hours.” Standing in the foyer, Flannery gave the orders to his men on auto-pilot. He performed the duties which
Bilé
had tasked him with, while ignoring his hunger caused by the little banshee’s arousal. He was here for one purpose tonight, to assure the safety of not only
Bilé
but his guests as well.
The chorus of acknowledgment before his hand-picked squad left barely registered as another but different scent reached his sensitive faerie nose.
“What is it, Jansen?” He shifted to the left to allow the small ruby hued, fire demon to leap from the outcrop jutting out of the brimstone wall and onto his shoulder. Jansen’s golden eyes flickered with knowledge as his sharp talons picked at Flannery’s shirt as the mite scrambled towards his ear.
“A plot against you, Ma-
ssster
.” Jansen’s forked tongue teased his ear even as the heat rolling off it warmed Flannery’s skin.
Bloodlust boiled in his blood. His fists clenched as his berserker side tried to wrestle control away from him. “Explain.”
“The ban-
ssshee’s
mother and the High Lord plot to have Ma-
sster
impregnate the girl. They want Ma-
ssster
’-
sss
sss-eed
to further
Bile’-sss
armie-sss
.
Sss-omething
about a mating ritual...that Ma-
ssster
ha-
sss
to participate or die…”
A low rumble of thunder echoed through the foyer. “How?”
“By having Ma-
ssster
’-
sss
own brother poi-
ssson
Ma-
ssster
. Jan-
sssen
heard
thi-sss
after Ma-
asster
left the High
Lord’-sss
office.”
He closed his eyes as pain consumed his fury. He’d know of
Bilé’s
desire for his seed to strength his army, but the idea
Kennet
would poison him to help his father-in-law shook Flannery to his core.
There’s no way he’d do it. He may be a prank loving fool, but he’d never hurt me. There has to be another explanation for this.
“Tell me exactly what was said, Jansen. You know my brother. Does he seem like he wants to hurt me?”
Jansen tongue flicked forward as he shook his head, the only show of his nervousness. “The High Lord
sss
-aid he’d given Flannery an
aphordi-sssaic
to place in your wine
sss
-kin to trigger the ritual.”
Flannery immediately grabbed the flask at his hip, pulling it up to for the fire demon to see. “This one, Jansen?”
“Ye-
sss
, Ma-
ssster
.”
Quick like the little lizard he resembled, Jansen scurried down Flannery’s arm to knock the flask from his hand. Catching the demon by his long tail, he stopped him. “Whoa, wait a second.” He sat down on the bench. “Let me show you something, Jansen.” Cupping his palm, he poured a bit into hand. “Smell.”
Jansen peered up at him before placing one of his very small hands in the puddle. Bringing it to his nose, he smelled before lapping at it.
“What do you smell? Taste?”
His tongue flickered out, his eyes dilating as the ambrosia hit his system. He began to tremble. “Wine and
ambro-sssa
, Ma-
ssster
.”
Smiling at Jansen, Flannery nodded. “Exactly. If my brother had laced this with anything harmful to me, I would’ve smelled it before I drank it. Besides you don’t to worry about the ritual, Jansen. The
assero
vel’abeo
is nothing more than a made up excuse men give their women to get in their pants. I’m not going to die because of hard cock.”
A frown furrowed Jansen’s tiny brow. “But, Ma-
ssster
isss
not
effected by
ambro-sssia
like Jan-
sssen
?”
“No. I’m quite immune to it, other than the obvious erection which it gives me. Which my brother knows, so this plan of
Bilé’s
and
Aislinn’s
is moot. I control my dick, not the other way around.”
The little fire demon’s shoulders sank with relief despite the tremors racking his frame. “
Thi-sss
i-sss
good, Ma-
ssster
.”
Flannery nodded, “Yes, it is.” He rubbed his finger over the top of Jansen’s head.
Not that I won’t pay my brother back for attempting something as stupid as this. He knows better than to rile the berserker.
As Jansen continued to tremble, concern for his little demon had him reaching into his pocket. Fishing out a small piece of hard anise candy, he offered it to Jansen, knowing that his reward would also counteract the ambrosia.
Jansen grasped it with greedy paws, his talons clinging as the sound of his sharp teeth munching on it filled the foyer. Setting the fire demon back on the outcropping, he headed for the portal room. With his orders being followed it was time for him to head home. His men were the best and he’d had more than enough drama tonight.
* * * * *
Standing outside the dimly lit caretaker’s cottage which sat less than a thousand yards from
Camulos’s
main house,
Braelyn
pulled her wrap tighter around her. She hadn’t realized she’d be this close to the God of War’s home when she’d agree to this. It made her feel even more uncomfortable.
“Relax. Don’t worry about how close Dad’s house is. Unless something drastic happens and he thinks either Flan’s or my life’s could possibly be in danger, he leaves us alone, no matter what he hears.”
She glanced at
Kennet
, the last man she’d expected
Bilé
to choose as her escort, she shivered. The night air wasn’t cold but after spending the evening in the Underworld even one hundred degree weather would feel cool.
“Are you sure about this?” She tried to keep her apprehension from bleeding through her calm veneer. The last thing she needed was for Flannery’s brother to realize how uncertain she felt, especially after he’d told her he knew of her true purpose.
Kennet
gave her a reassuring smile. “Of course. Don’t let my brother’s bite fool you. He’s a man like any other.” He quirked an eyebrow, “He’s almost as handsome as me.”
A reluctant smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Almost?”
“Yeah. Everyone knows I’m the charming, handsome one.” He shoved away from the tree he’d been leaning against. “Just ask me, I’ll tell you.” He leaned forward as if confiding in her. “My wife even agrees with me.”
She couldn’t help it. A bubble of laughter burst free. “You’re unbelievable,
Kennet
Baghadur
.”
Chuckling, he guided her towards the cottage with a hand at her waist. “You have no idea.” Pausing outside the cottage, he stopped her. “Let me go in first. I’ll get the old man riled up for you.”
A nervous tremor shook her at the idea of
Kennet
stirring up his brother. “Are you sure it’s a good idea? He can be…” she paused, trying to think of a word to describe the seeming pleasure Flannery had gotten from his fight with Ramses. “…rather intense when he’s riled.”
A roar of laughter spilled from
Kennet
. Doubled-over, he shook until she moved forward to make sure he was okay. Straightening, he wiped his eyes. “Intense is a new one. My brother gets a good old-fashioned case of berserker rage every time he fights.”
She shrugged and shifted. “Still, angering him can’t be wise.” Stepping farther back into the shadows, she was tempted to flee. “Maybe I should come back later…”
When I’m more in control of my feelings.
Kennet
placed a comforting arm around her. “Hell no! He’s going to need a woman tonight, despite his protests. More importantly he’s going to need
you
.”
Frowning she shrugged off his arm. “Why do you say that?”
“A small gift from
Bilé
will assure that he’ll be quite ready to jump your bones, so to speak.” He flashed her a set of blinding white teeth. “
Cantharis
has been known to work wonders on human men. Imagine what it will do to someone like me or my brother?” Releasing her, he bounded up the porch steps. He threw a shit-eating grin over his shoulder. “I’d say you’re going to get the ride of your life. Now move your ass— I’ve got a hot woman waiting at home for me. It’s time to piss off the brother, so I can get home to her.”
Shaking her head, she trudged up the steps, holding the sheer shawl closely around her dress. She hadn’t even had time to change out of her party gown.
“Knock-knock, brother!”
Kennet
called out in a voice so mischievous, she was ready to deck him for Flannery. The man took too much pleasure in his brother’s discomfort. Opening the door without waiting for Flannery to answer, he boldly strode into the empty front room. “
Yo
, Flan! I brought you a gift!”
Stepping over the threshold, she took in the dark leather furniture in the center of the room. Set adjacent to the fireplace along one wall, two heavy wing-backed chairs were offset by an equally massive couch done in the same material. Behind the couch she saw a narrow pathway leading to a darkened hall, which she assumed led to the bedrooms.
Definitely a bachelor’s pad. Nary a woman’s touch in sight.
Shutting the door behind her, she turned when she heard the muffled tread of feet. A half-naked man strode out of the hallway. Even with his shirt gone, it wasn’t Flannery’s heavily muscled chest that caught her attention and held it.
It was the dark pants he’d worn at the banquet. Undone and gaping at the waist, she could see the thick outline of his cock. But it was the exposed, glistening head nearly reaching his tattooed navel that had her breath coming fast from her throat.
My gods, he’s huge. What have I gotten myself into?
A low growl accompanied a flash of lightning as Flannery crossed the room. A reciprocating boom of thunder came from
Kennet
. Evidently their father wasn’t the only one who could control thunder and lightning. The boys were showing off to each other, and frankly she wasn’t sure who would be the winner.
“You have two seconds to tell me what the hell you thought you were doing when you slipped ambrosia in my drink, asshole, before I make
Jasmyn
a widow.” Flannery’s fist shot out to gather up a handful of
Kennet’s
shirt. “I’ve had a fucking hard-on for the past two hours, ever since I saw that damn banshee and your stunt hasn’t helped matters…”
“Aw, poor Flan.”
Kennet
patted his brother’s shoulder. “No worries, I brought you the woman of your dreams—she’s even a banshee. I’m sure she’ll be able to satisfy you before the twenty-four hours are up.” He tipped his head before taking a quick glance down at his brother’s cock. “But then again judging by the size of that hard-on, the ambrosia is having a stronger interaction with the
cantharis
Bilé
gave me than I expected. But if you’re still hard after fucking her for a couple of hours, I’d call Dr…”
“
Cantharis!
You actually added Spanish Fly to my wine?” Flannery’s voice boomed through the room.
Braelyn
gasped when Flannery drew his free arm back.
Kennet’s
head straightened up just in time to catch his brother’s fist square in the chin.