Shattered Spells, page 16
“Oh gods,” he said, arching his neck as he let out a bark of pleasure. As I began to bob up and down on his penis, he held my waist so tight that I couldn’t free myself if I wanted to. I ground against him, driving against his lap as he thrust so deeply that there was nowhere to go.
As I sucked in more chi, he rolled, flipping me over. He began to ride me, thrusting with slow, hard movements, withdrawing till he was almost out and then plunging deeply again, so hard and fast I began to writhe beneath him. And then, as I drained the chi out of him, he picked up the pace, holding me down by my wrists. I wrapped my legs around his waist, lifting my ass off the ground until I was in the bridge position as he pounded into me.
Topped off, I wanted more—more sex, more passion. I wanted to possess him, and I wanted to be possessed. He seemed to feel my need and slowly pulled out, running his finger down through my snatch as he landed it on my ass.
“Let me fuck you here,” he whispered.
I gasped as he touched me, every nerve aflame.
“Wait.” I held up my hand and leaned over the side of my bed, opening the bottom drawer of my nightstand. I pulled out a huge dildo, almost two inches around, which was affixed in a harness to hold it inside. I handed it to him, along with a bottle of lube. “Only if you fill me up both ways.”
Then I turned over onto my hands and knees and began to rub my clit, moaning as the sensations spread throughout my body. I was close to coming, but not quite there.
He changed condoms, then slathered his cock in lube, along with the dildo, and then with one hard thrust, shoved the dildo into my vaj, snapping shut the lacing that kept it in place. I moaned as the girthy rod stretched me wide. It had a vibrator inside of it, and he flicked the switch so the dildo began to pulse, throbbing away, pulsating as it kneaded against me. Already on an overload of sensation, I gasped as he growled behind me, then felt the tip of his cock at the ring of my ass. I shivered, waiting, the rhythmic pulsing of the dildo working its magic on me.
“You’re mine,” Yutani said, his voice low and savage, but he didn’t scare me. Right now, I was his, all his, his toy, his partner, his favorite. He held my hips as he began to inch inward, the head of his rock-hard cock slowly easing into my ass. I was used to it hurting, but this—this was a delicious warmth that spread through me in circles as he slowly worked his way in, keeping a steady, even pressure as he inched in until he was up to the hilt.
He began to move—slow and easy, growling with each thrust. I reached between my legs and rubbed my clit, furiously circling the nub, driving myself into a fury. And then, my fingers, the dildo, his cock, all combined to kick me over the edge. I hovered on the edge for a few seconds, then unable to keep control, I shrieked as I came. Yutani thrust hard—one final plunge, deep as he could without hurting me, and his voice mingled with mine as he milked his all into me. Spent, he collapsed on my back, kissing my spine before gently withdrawing. As he pulled out, he unsnapped the still-pulsating dildo and slid it out of me, turning it off before tossing it on the bed.
I toppled over on my side, thoroughly fucked, exhausted and exhilarated. Every part of my nether regions felt swollen and engorged, yet oddly depleted. I felt raw and hyper-sensual, and yet more fulfilled than I ever had.
“Are you all right?” Yutani asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m just…every fear over seeing Kilnakarn seems to have exorcised itself from my body. I’m oddly calm.”
He grunted and, with a laugh, said, “Are you calling my cock a priest?”
“Kind of,” I said, rolling up onto my elbows. “And you fucked me into an exorcism. You fucked away the demons.”
“Not possible. We just have them on the run. Now, get into the shower, woman. We’re both so sweaty we’d better rinse off before meeting Herne. We’re late as it is.” Yutani slapped my ass as I bounced off the bed and headed for the shower. “You want to shower alone?”
“Join me,” I said.
Without a word, he padded behind me, into the bathroom.
We were clean, dressed, and half an hour late as we pulled in to the driveway at Herne’s old house. I had texted ahead that we’d been caught in traffic—it seemed the most expedient excuse—and Herne, Wendy, and Wager were there, waiting. Along with them, several of Herne’s guards from Annwn had portaled over to help manage the prisoners, who were already waiting in Annwn, in the dungeons of Cernunnos.
“I’m sorry we’re late,” I said, bouncing out of Yutani’s car. “We hit a lot of—”
“Save it. By the look on your face, I can tell you weren’t caught in traffic,” Herne said, rolling his eyes. “But you’re here now. Let’s get moving.”
We followed Herne through the portal to Annwn, ending up near a magnificent tree palace. By the number of Elves around and the majesty of the palace, my guess was that we were at the heart of Cernunnos’s realm. The early evening dusk was broken by balls of light that floated around. They reminded me of will-o’-the-wisps but I knew they were lightning flits, jagged shards of lightning embodied in small globes, created by the Lord of the Forest.
As we approached the palace, a band of Cernunnos’s guards joined us, flanking Herne’s guards. They escorted us to a tree elevator, hoisting us up floor after floor until we came out on a wide ledge surrounded by a sturdy railing. Steps spiraled around the tree from top to bottom, circling the mighty oak, but to reach the upper levels took time.
Most of the Elves went about their business, silent as they moved, or speaking softly in pairs. I turned to look over the railing, out at the expansive lands and forests ruled by Cernunnos.
“It’s so beautiful,” I said, glancing over at Herne, who was watching me. “You grew up here?”
“I spent most of my time divided between my mother’s palace by the sea, and here, yes.”
“So, Morgana lived away from here?” I wasn’t sure about Herne’s parents—they seemed fairly unified to me, but looks could be deceiving.
“Immortality is a long, long time. After centuries, my mother found she missed being by the water, so she built a palace by the sea and spends a lot of her time there. She and my father are still in love, they still act as a couple, but they don’t need to be together every moment when they have an eternity to spend as husband and wife. If they choose to remain married. A lot of the gods eventually break up, you know. And sometimes they come back together.”
“Immortality is a long time,” I said, thinking about it. “I can’t imagine spending my entire life with one person, like some humans or Otherkin.”
Yutani’s gaze was even. “It does present challenges.”
Herne paused, then said, “You have to have a deep connection to make that promise, mortal or immortal. Ember and I clicked—we clicked in every way. I’m surprised my cousin Kipa made that connection, though. You know, he and Raven are engaged.”
“I didn’t realize he was your cousin,” I said. “Isn’t he from the Finnish realm?”
“Yes, but we’re cousins in a roundabout way—we’re connected by nature, not so much by blood. All of the forest gods are connected in a way very much like family, and the same with all the goddesses of Fae and all of the gods of war—there are two kinds of families on the divine level. One is by blood, the other by traits and nature.” Herne jerked his head. “Come, we mustn’t keep my father waiting or he’ll grumble.”
We followed him into the depths of the massive tree palace. The inside décor was far less wild than the outer, and the lights were low and soothing as we made our way through the hallways. It felt like we could be in any regular building. In fact, if I had never seen the outside, and you told me I was inside a tree palace, I wouldn’t have believed it.
We followed the guards through the hallways, to a large conference room. As one of them opened the door and announced us, Herne stepped in, followed by the rest of us. At the head of the table, Cernunnos held council. He was a massive specimen of a man, a giant, with a bare chest that gleamed, and skin the color of bark. His hair was long, sweeping across his back in a flurry of braids and dreads, held back by a jeweled hairclip on either side. He had on blue jeans that barely contained his thighs that were the size of hewn tree trunks, and a green cloak that fastened round his neck with a silver brooch.
As we entered the room, he stood, giving Herne a slow nod. He motioned to the chairs around the table and bade us to sit with him. The table was laden with plates containing fruits and cheese, breads and sliced meats. The smell of yeast and cheese woke up my tastebuds and I stared hungrily at the repast.
“Well, go ahead and eat, girl. You look like you’re starving,” Cernunnos rumbled.
I jerked my head up to find him staring at me. Suddenly shy, I blushed and stammered out, “Oh, I’m sorry—it just…smells…”
“Eat. No guest in my palace ever goes hungry or my servants will hear about it. There are plates on the sideboard, along with serving utensils and napkins.” He motioned to the heavy console tables lining the back of the room, where a stack of dishes, napkins, goblets, and silverware sat.
Actually hungry enough to ignore decorum, I made my way to the back of the room. “Anybody else want plates?”
“They can get their own, girl. Sit down and eat.” Cernunnos turned to Herne. “How is my daughter-in-law? I miss seeing her here.”
“She’s so pregnant she’s not leaving home again till she gives birth. Ferosyn has put her on bedrest. Triplets aren’t a walk in the park, even for a goddess.” Herne shrugged. “I thought I’d pop back home for a visit before going back to the other side.”
I assumed “other side” meant Earth, but I was too hungry to ask. I carried my plate and silverware back to my place and began loading up on roast beef, rolls, cheddar, grapes, and strawberries. Everything looked fresh and smelled so good I couldn’t wait to dive in.
“So, you have captured Kilnakarn?” Cernunnos asked, even though he fully knew the answer.
My appetite abruptly vanishing, I pushed my plate back.
“Yes, he was trying to carry off Lyrical again. He’s got a bug up his butt about Mother saving her, and frankly, I’d like to see him roast for some of the things he said about her.” Herne’s eyes flashed with a dark light.
Cernunnos grumbled. “We have to walk cautiously with this one. The Kelpies are a vocal people and they’re also retaliatory. Do you know for certain that you got every one of his men off those boats?”
Herne nodded. “Yes, we checked the roster and those who aren’t dead are in the dungeons. And Kilnakarn’s main boat was busted up by an elemental this afternoon and dragged below the water. Before we left, I called in a crew to make certain there’s nothing left of it.”
I stiffened. “You did?”
“Yes, and his other boat too—the one they used to bring you over from the Eastside. They’ll be gone and we’ve fed the rumor mill that Kilnakarn set out in the water today, so if people notice the boat not coming back, they’ll assume he either sailed for home, or that something happened out in the waterways.” Herne glanced at his father. “When do we get this shitshow started? I want them put away, for good.”
Cernunnos paused, then said, “I’ll meet you in the throne room. Lyrical, please wait with me for a moment.”
Wondering what he wanted, I waited as the rest of them filed out. I wondered what Cernunnos had in mind. Judging from the way he was looking at me, it was serious. I took a big bite of my makeshift sandwich and chewed quickly.
Once the room cleared, with Wendy shutting the door behind her, I turned to the massive god. He was gorgeous and I found myself attracted to him, but I instantly squashed that thought.
His wife had saved my life and I didn’t go in for homewrecking—even if I could possibly compete against a goddess like Morgana. Cernunnos was Herne’s father and that was far more problematic than fucking Herne’s friend. And even though I had a libido that wouldn’t quit, trying to match a god like him would lead to sore thighs and a sore everything else.
He sat on the edge of the heavy wooden table, watching me, his arms crossed across his chest. Every muscle in his chest shimmered, and I forced my eyes up to meet his. I waited.
After a moment, he spoke—his velveteen baritone echoing in the empty room. “So, what do you want me to do?”
I froze, unsure of what he was asking. For a moment, I thought he’d been reading my mind. “I’m—I think you’re gorgeous but…”
His lips curved into a lazy smile. “I’m flattered, but I was asking about Kilnakarn.” His molten eyes twinkled.
I stammered, trying to dig myself out of that hole. “Oh, of course that’s what you meant! I knew that…” I paused, gathering my wits about me. “I thought you might be coming on to me. And I had no clue how to answer. I’m relieved you’re not.”
He snorted. “You’re an attractive woman, and my Lady and I are open to other trysts, but we both have to agree, and never with one of my or her priestesses. No foul, no harm. What I want to know is whether you want Kilnakarn executed. You’re the one he wronged, and if I’m not mistaken, you’re merely one among many. If you like I’ll send him to the executioner, on one condition. You must be there to stand watch.”
I stared at him, all thoughts of sex gone. “You’re offering me his head.”
“On a platter, if you like. Morgana told me what he did to you. So I offer you the option: I will either keep him in the depths of my dungeons—alone, in the dark, in solitary confinement until the end of his life. Or I will end his life now, and you will stand witness.”
All I had wanted in the years Kilnakarn had kept me captive was to see him dead. And now, his fate was in my hands, as my fate had been in his. I stared at Cernunnos, a million thoughts racing through my head.
“I need to think,” I said.
“Then think, but make it quick. I have a number of pressing tasks to attend to.” He stood, towering over me. As he pointed toward the door, I silently turned, my thoughts churning. But as I passed him, he reached out and took me by the wrist. “Be cautious of the coyote. Be sure you’re ready to take on that energy because once you hook him, he’s yours.”
And then, without another word, Cernunnos opened the door and escorted me out, as we headed toward the throne room.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
My nerves were jangling as we approached the throne room. Cernunnos’s fingers on my wrist had set me ablaze with a flame brighter than the sun and I understood the difference in power between a demigod like Yutani and the strength of one of the elder gods. Intermingled with the effects of being in Cernunnos’s presence was the thought that I was going to be the one pronouncing sentence on Kilnakarn.
I could spare his life, unlike what he had done to hundreds—maybe thousands—over the years. I could spare him for a horrendous, isolated existence. But what if he didn’t care? What if he took it in stride? What if life—any life—was better to him than the thought of death? Because when it came down to it, I wanted him to suffer. I wanted him to know fear. I wanted…and then I knew what I wanted. I wanted to see the fear in his eyes as he realized that his fate was in my hands.
As we entered the throne room, I stopped in my tracks. The room extended so far and wide that I could barely see the ceiling. The walls were a labyrinth of boughs and branches and tree roots, all lignified till they looked petrified.
Marble benches lined the room, gleaming white and black, with tables here and there that were covered with trays of fruit and flowers. The room was illuminated from several sources—and as my eyes adjusted, I noticed the stalactites jutting down from the ceiling, glowing with quartz crystals. The lights jumped from crystal to crystal, growing stronger as crystal after crystal picked up the spark.
Herne and the others were sitting on benches in front of a massive throne that emerged from the center of the floor. Like the walls, the throne was formed from a mass of roots and branches, entwining to form Cernunnos’s seat. Crystals glimmered from nooks and crannies hiding all over the giant chair. As I sat beside Herne, Cernunnos approached the throne and lightly ascended the steps leading up to it, turning with a flourish to settle himself in the seat. He looked perfectly at home and I once again found my heart—and other body parts—doing flipflops as I stared at him.
As we waited, Herne whispered, “My father making you hot?”
I blushed, jerking around to face him. But Herne was grinning, and he winked at me.
“He has that effect on most women,” he said. “What did he want to talk to you about?”
“Not sex, if that’s what you’re thinking,” I blurted out.
“I wasn’t, but good to know.” He paused, then—his smile slipping away—he said, “I think I know. He gave you a choice, didn’t he?”
I worried my lip. “Yeah, he did. I get to decide Kilnakarn’s fate. Tell me, is it a test? Or do you think your father is serious?”
Herne paused again, then turned to face me full on. He took my hands in his. “Lyrical, my father was perfectly serious. Whatever you decide, he’ll do—except for freeing him. Know this about Cernunnos: the Lord of the Forest is often compassionate, but never merciful to those he deems have crossed the lines. And he hates those who abuse others. He’s a harsh master, but fair, and while his servants fear him because of who he is, they never fear that he’ll treat them unfairly. But he has no compunctions when it comes to delivering justice. My father has a deep love for humanity, and it shows. My mother was magic-born, before she ascended to goddesshood.”
I felt every word that Herne said. And every word he said rang true. I murmured a thank-you and then turned back to stare at the god on the throne. Oddly, I felt more in common with Cernunnos than the others, though I couldn’t pinpoint how. There was a wildness in him that spoke to my own nature. An untamed streak that had seen too much reality, that allowed him to be harsh when he needed to be.
