Guardian's Flame [Guardian City 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (6 page)

Jason peered at the circular pathway that held six different pathways. D hadn’t moved, but Jason could feel the magic building through their bond. Nathan’s concern radiated through the bond and mixed with the magic, tainting it with worry. Elvin magic felt like the magic that Phoenixes used to shift. The only difference was the types of magic, but the Phoenix shifting was in there somewhere, calling to his bird like a song.

It’s the fire magic,
D explained, but went back to concentrating on what he was doing.

Jason eyed the vines above, watching for anything that might snap down and grab his mates. Nathan seemed to have the same idea. The Swamp was cursed. Jason knew that by the look of the place. As a child he had been hatched in a haunted house. Unlike most Shifters, Phoenixes rarely hung around to help their offspring. They laid the egg, and their duty was fulfilled. Jason had spent his early childhood in a house that creaked with the wind, sang to him at night, and clattered in the day. He hadn’t been a fan of creepy places since.

“Two of these lead to a place like this. So one of the two are right, which one?” D asked as he pointed to two separate ways. One led away from the entrance, and the other led toward it. Jason pointed to the one that lead toward the entrance. It would make sense that most people would pick the one that would move closer to the other side of The Swamp. Since most people died who came here, Jason went with the less chosen course.

D nodded and walked down the path that Jason had chosen. Jason’s stomach tightened into a gem of nerves. Now, he just had to hope he chose right. They followed the path’s twists and turns. Vines snapped out at D as he passed, but his swords sliced through the vines cleanly. The parts that dropped to the ground wiggled and followed their small group much like a snake slithering after its prey. Nathan had to pick one off his hiking boot and throw it a distance away. They hurried through The Swamp’s tunnels as the little light they had disappeared. Jason was sure they hadn’t been here that long, and it was a trick of The Swamp, but the fear still rode him. The vines in the trees weren’t as thick as they rounded the bend, instead being replaced by holes of blackness. Jason stared at the blackened area, swearing when he saw things moving just behind the light.

He stared at D’s back as D pushed through the overhanging leaves that had replaced the feely vines. A soft, sweet voice called from above, but fear kept Jason from seeing what was above them. D swung around, pushing Jason behind his slightly larger back in protection. Whatever had called was not in sight, but fear rode through their bond from D. That scared Jason more than the voice had.
It’s a Succubus. We need to move,
D ordered.

Jason had no qualms about that and quickly jogged down the path. Leaves slapped his face, smearing thick ooze on anything it touched. Jason wiped the smudge away and continued to follow the path’s twists and turns. He skidded to a stop as the pathway opened into another circular opening. D pulled his gun from his leg holster and handed it to Jason. Jason looked at the weapon like an item at Victoria’s Secret. What the hell was he supposed to do with this? Throw it at the creepy black hole?

The safety’s on the side. Flip it, point, and pull the trigger. It’s a rather simple weapon, and you may need it,
D said.

Jason rolled his eyes at his mate. He wasn’t a shooter either. Actually, this was the first time he had ever held a gun. The thing seemed vile, just slightly less revolting than the singing blackness that hung overhead. D’s magic came in a rush and flared in a spider web design. Jason was surprised at how much he could feel of the magic being used through his mate. It didn’t take long before the magic recoiled and slammed back into D with a shuddering sound that resonated through their bond. D pointed to three paths. One was brighter than the other two, with flowers growing along the vines. Another one was creepy, with the moving vines and black holes. The last of the choices was covered with fog. Jason knew the fog was the right choice, because that was the last path he would want to go down. He pointed to the eerie path that was filled with the thick air. D nodded and crept through the fog.

Jason grabbed onto D’s shirt, and Nathan latched onto Jason’s hand as they snuck through the path. Strange, silky textures caressed their skin, and Jason felt himself get hard at the tingling sensation left behind in its wake. Desire rolled through their three-way bond with an intensity that turned Jason’s desire to a fire. Jason let go of his mates, reaching his hand beneath his shirt to feel the skin beneath. The touch sent his body into flames, and his cock dripped pre-cum. The thick fog that had seemed scary now provided a level of comfort with its wet thickness. Jason rubbed against the air in need, a small whimper escaping his lips. Though he could no longer physically feel his mates, the bond shined through the mist, filled with a savage need. Jason untied his pants, easing his hand around his aching cock. He pushed his pants down, freeing his thick cock. He licked his free hand’s fingers before searching out his throbbing hole. He pushed a finger inside and moaned at the intrusion.

His skin flamed, and the fog pressed against him heavily with the same need that rode Jason. Jason pushed the second finger inside, stretching himself open for whatever the fog promised. Whimpers clawed out his throat. His skin shivered with the intensity of the building, and Jason easily pushed a third finger inside his hole, twisting it slightly to find the nub inside that would bring release.

Feel the bond, Jace. Look past the desire, it’s a trick of the mind. They want us to stop here and have sex until we die,
D said, but Jason didn’t want to leave the fog.

The desire begged him to stay, and Jason found himself nodding his head in agreement as his cock throbbed with a life of its own. D grabbed Jason, and a protesting yelp escaped. Jason felt those solid arms wrap around him, and his feet left the ground. His fingers escaped the hole they had been pleasuring, and he couldn’t get enough room to stroke the thickness of his cock. He could feel D moving, but all Jason could do was rub against his stronger mate. Jason felt D move, and he was forced to open his eyes as his feet touched the ground. Nathan was already lying in the dirt, and Jason whimpered at the sight. His pants were lying next to him in a crumpled mess, with his legs in the air as he fingered himself vigorously. Jason tried to take a step, but forgot about his pants, which slid to his ankles, tripping him. He hit the ground at a crawl, struggling to reach the cock that leaked its need.

Jason didn’t wait, but licked the head as he assumed a position on his knees that his pants would allow. Nathan had rolled over, positioning himself behind Jason. Jason moaned as the thick head pressed his stretched hole. The need burned inside, and Jason slammed his ass onto the stiff cock, hearing a curse from D. Nathan hammered at Jason’s ass, rubbing the nub inside with each stroke. Jason met each stroke, feeling their balls slap together, spurning the burning throughout his body. Nathan stilled for a moment, and Jason whimpered, rotating his hips for more. D groaned against Nathan, and the bond flared to cover them completely. The Swamp echoed with the sounds of slapping flesh. Jason was moving against the length, struggling against the hands that held his hips in place.

D slapped his hips against Nathan’s, pushing into Jason, pulling sounds from his throat he hadn’t ever heard before. His cock leaked pre-cum, and Jason felt the tingling fire building in the base of his spine. He grabbed his cock, stroking it harshly, rubbing the skin raw. The pain and pleasure mixed and Jason screamed his release. The sounds of his mate’s moans drove him further over the edge. Jason’s body fell to the ground, but inside he was still falling. Nathan’s weight pinned him to the ground, and Jason felt sated. Cum leaked from his ass, even with Nathan locked inside. Soft hands caressed his skin, and murmured words were spoken. Jason floated between heaven and earth as Nathan pulled free from his sore ass.

“That was sexy,” a voice said, but Jason couldn’t find it in himself to care. Nathan tapped him on the ass, and helped him into a sitting position. Together they were able to get Jason’s pants up and tied. Nathan quickly got dressed, while D was speaking with the man, though what was said Jason could care less.

Nathan shuddered, fighting the chill that swept his body from the earlier sex. Demend had told them they had been rolled, an Incubus’s way of stealing energy without the person’s awareness. It had left him feeling violated in a way, and he was glad Demend had respected his mates enough to not do that. He wasn’t even sure if Demend could do that, but the chill was soaked into his soul.

It will go away, eventually. It’s your body reacting to the loss of life magic. But, no I can’t do that kind of magic without some serious help,
Demend informed, and Jason sighed in relief. Nathan had to agree, it wasn’t the sex. The sex was wonderful, and the orgasm felt everlasting. It was the aftereffects, and Nathan felt like he had just taken a pill to find out the side effects were worse than the original problem.

What are they saying?
Nathan asked Demend, who was speaking with what appeared to be the leader. Demend didn’t answer right away, so Nathan looked around the small campfire that had been built as the sun lowered. The invading Incubi had been nice so far, even giving Jason and Nathan a blanket to share. The sun had disappeared now, and the surrounding area was lit up by the glow from the flame. Nathan still knew that less than three feet away was the aphrodisiac swamp that almost killed them. It was a good thing Demend had carried both himself and Jason out of Spanish Fly fog.

They are going to allow us to enter the city. They are even giving us permission to find our mate. We can find our mate, but we can’t take them. I have no rights here, according to Mufasa
, Demend vented, and Jason stomped his foot in annoyance. Nathan peered at the small mate with a smirk. It was becoming cute the way he did that when things didn’t go as he planned. Nathan had a feeling they would be seeing more of the foot stomping from Jason in the future.

You’re an Alpha, and a Prince. What more can they want?
Nathan asked curiously. If they could find their mate but not remove him, then what was the point? It was a dangling gold carrot hanging just out of reach from a poor person.

At least a half-breed Incubus. I’m only a fourth Incubus
, Demend answered.

So how are we going to get our mate to be able to leave with us?
Jason asked as he stamped his foot again, making Nathan smile wider.

We have to answer a challenge issued by the leader of the establishment we are headed to,
Demend answered before leaving the man’s conversation. Nathan smiled as Demend captured his lips in a soft kiss. The soft lips kissed slowly, taking the time to enjoy the moment, before breaking away. Nathan smiled at his mate, which turned into a yawn. Jason received his kiss, and Nathan pulled him closer to the fire, snuggling each on the earth. Nathan let his eyes drift shut, and it wasn’t long before he was snoring softly underneath the wool blanket.

Nathan opened his eyes to the bright lights of the morning sun. He sat up, amazed he had slept the entire night, even after his flight nap he had taken on the way here. Jason grumbled and tried to roll over, but Nathan nudged him awake. Demend wasn’t with them, and Nathan struggled to escape the blanket that had curled around him in the night. Jason was up quickly, joining him in the search of their wayward mate. Nathan used their bond and located Demend shortly later, eating a piece of fruit from a makeshift tree-stump table.

Did you sleep any?
Nathan asked at the sight of his tired mate.

No. Did you two sleep well?

We would sleep better if our mate would kindly join us from now on,
Jason stated with a stomp of his foot.

“I was about to wake you. We are leaving soon. We are going to a place called Fusion,” Demend informed them out loud.

Nathan nodded his head and showed his neck to Demend before going to collect the small bag they had brought with them. Nathan found it next to the blanket, which he folded and handed back to the Incubus that had loaned it to them the night before. He joined his mates, who had cleared the makeshift table quickly. Jason handed Nathan a few pieces of fruit, which Nathan was grateful for. He ate the fruit and licked the sticky juice from his fingers. By the time he was done eating, it appeared everyone was ready to go.

We are going to run it, but they are basically human in their running speeds and stamina. You shouldn’t have trouble keeping up, but you could always shift if you wanted to.
Demend shrugged.

Nathan decided to run, surprised to see Jason was willing to jog with him. Jason loved flying, so Nathan thought he would take to the air at first notice. It seemed that they all wanted to stay together after their ordeal in The Swamp. The pace the group started at was a jog, and they had no trouble keeping up. The Swamp slowly faded from view, and Nathan was excited to be away from the dreadful place.
How are we going to get home? Do we have to go back through The Swamp?
Nathan asked.

If we have permission to leave, no. I’ll be able to open a portal from inside according to Mufasa here. If we have to run for our lives then yes,
Demend answered, earning a string of cuss words from Jason. Nathan had to agree, it would be best to get a nice way out, but they could always go back through it if they had to. The morning passed by slowly as the group had to stop and walk for a bit, and then run a little. Nathan was surprised at the slow pace that Incubi had to take and was grateful to be a Shape-Shifter. It would take forever for a pack to cross their territory at this speed.