Chapter Forty-One

A week later, I woke up in Aranren's arms. It still felt like a dream. But every morning, the sun shone on a world free of Death. Well, not death as in the end of life or the magic. Those still existed. But the Consciousness of Death was imprisoned in a box of elements and spirit, guarded by the Goddess herself. She even visited the Emperor in a dream to assure him that it was truly over this time.

The Wraith Lords had been reassigned as a new type of soldier. They helped the Emperor's army keep the peace, specifically assigned to the more dangerous situations. They still wore their pendants and answered summons, but they didn't use their wraiths anymore. There were no Corrupted to free. Now, they were simply the Lords. But I didn't think they'd be summoned often. No one wanted to fuck with them.

I say “them” because I was no longer a lord of any sort.

My lovers and I had happily retired. Together, we had enough money saved to live comfortably for a very long time. When that ran out, we'd figure out what we wanted to do. But for now, we were focused on settling into a new life. Starting with forming a routine.

So far, I had spent a day with each of my lovers in our new homes—two with Rath and Xae since they were sharing. I had begun with Ara and now was back to him. So far, so good. Although we were just starting and would test it out before deciding on something to stick with for a while. The men were still bonded, so they wanted to spend time together as well. We were thinking of making day seven into a combined visit. Ara had offered his fortress for our use.

Everyone had made a face at that, but now that Death was gone, the fortress wasn't so gloomy. The taint and heaviness had left with that evil consciousness, and Ara was quickly using elemental magic to revive the place. Our bedroom, for instance, was an airy space with three walls full of windows, sheer curtains that billowed in the sweet air, and a huge, plush bed canopied in climbing—thornless—roses.

I sighed and squinted.

“What's that look about?” Aranren asked.

I turned to find him awake and smiling softly at me, his pale hair glowing in the sunlight.

“This room is amazing, but I think we need darker curtains,” I said.

“Fuck, yes,” Xaedren groaned and pulled a pillow over his head.

Oh, did I fail to mention that we had just had our first combined visit? Things had gone spectacularly. Since the war was over, Aranren didn't have to bond with the other men, but he decided to anyway. That's what we had done the night before. Bond. And bond. And bond until we were too tired to bond anymore.

Aranren chuckled and sat up. “Sunshine is good for you, Xaedren. It keeps you from lazing away in bed all day.”

“What's wrong with that?” Keltyr asked, pushing his dark curls out of his face before he rubbed his horns against my back. Then he rubbed something just as stiff against my ass.

I murmured happily and wriggled against him.

“Have I told you that I love you?” Keltyr asked as he slipped his shaft between my ass cheeks.

“Not this morning,” I said.

“Well, I do.” He groaned as I angled back onto him. “I love every piece of you.”

Then I groaned as Kel pushed forward, slipping easily into my oiled entrance. He started pumping, and I reached over my shoulder to grab one of his horns.

“There is nothing wrong with that,” Ara said as he eased back down beside me before Xae could move into his place. He took my cock in hand and stroked it before kissing his way down my chest. “If this is what you're staying in bed for. But then, sunshine will be a help, not a hindrance.” His last words were muffled by my shaft.

I sighed and pumped into his mouth gently, driven there by Keltyr.

“Mmm, are we starting again?” Taroc asked sleepily. He sat up and peered over Xae's shoulder. “I want to watch you fuck him again. Aranren?”

Ara made a happy sound around my shaft, then sucked off me with a pop. “I'm eager for that as well.” He rolled onto his side, facing away from me.

“I could go for a little of that this morning too,” Vexen said.

Yes, it had come out that Vexen liked to switch things up just like Ara and me. The other men were great with it. It turned out that they not only enjoyed watching me get dominated, but they also liked to see me top other men. And they really enjoyed fucking me as I did.

“Oh, fuck yeah,” Keltyr said. “Get on your knees, love. Then Ara and Vex can go on all-fours in front of you and you can take turns with them.”

“Vex?” Ara called to him.

“I'm here.” Vex crawled over Rath, who took it well, turning toward us to watch along with Xae and Taroc.

Thank the Goddess Ara had made the bed so large. It gave us enough room to line him up beside Vex and still have space for the others to sprawl around us. And I did enjoy putting on a show.

“There you go, baby,” Keltyr said as he slid back into me. “Fuck those pretty asses.”

I spread Ara's pale cheeks, even paler next to Vexen's dark body, and gently nudged his hole. The pink ring clenched and then relaxed for me, drawing me into his tight channel. As I plumbed Aranren's depths, Kel pulled out. Back and forth I went, impaling myself on Keltyr's cock and then working deeper into Ara. Finally, I got a good rhythm going and as I did, Vex reached over and started stroking Ara's shaft.

“Thank you, Vex,” Ara gasped. “I'll gladly return the favor soon.”

“You'd better,” Vex growled as he angled his head to watch me thrust into Ara. “How is that feeling? Never mind. I feel it now. Fuck.” He closed his eyes and moaned.

“Now fuck Vex,” Keltyr said and pulled out.

I moved over to Vex, who had already released Ara to reach behind himself and spread his ass for me. It meant his face was pressed into the mattress, all that dark hair spread around him, and his tan ass lifted. I rubbed his puckered ring. It, like Ara's and mine, was still oiled from the night before so my finger slid easily inside him.

“Oh, yes,” Vex said. “Now, your cock. Shove it deep, mate.”

Keltyr let me get into position first this time, licking his lips and twitching his tail as I worked my dick into Vexen. In and out, in and out. I stretched him open, then slammed in as far as I could go. Just as he liked it.

“Yes!” Vex cried out.

And then Ara took his cock in hand.

“Oh, fuck, yes!” Vexen moaned.

As the last lovers to unite with me, Ara and Vex had a special bond and the fact that they were both into changing roles made them even closer. It felt like another aspect of fate that the man Ara had once asked to end his life was now his best friend. But this intimate touching thing was new and made me lift my brows. It also sent thrills up my spine, so I didn't say anything. Xae and Rath did it for each other on occasion and I was hoping Ara and Vex would become as close as those two. Then maybe we could have a visit with just the three of us.

The future had unlimited possibilities now. And Death wasn't a part of any of them.

Keltyr cried out, his hands clenched on my hips, and he came with his head pressed into my neck, his horns a reassuring pressure on my face. The sensations of it sent me over, and I cried out next. Since I was inside Vex, Keltyr thoughtfully slipped his tail into Aranren. With our orgasms circling the group, that pumping tail was all Ara needed, and Vexen was right there with him. The three of us came together in a beautiful, roaring delight of trembling flesh and locked muscles. I loved the way their heads arched back when they came and how Vex pushed against me to take every inch and every drop.

When it was over, I eased out of Vex. He rolled to the side as Ara did the same, giving me room to lie between them. I started to fall forward but was caught in Xaedren's arms.

“Xae,” I whispered adoringly as I stared up at my wolf. Then Rath's hand swept up my belly to play with my nipples. “I love you.” I didn't have to specify. My men knew that when I said those words, I meant all of them. They could feel it.

Xae growled as he lowered his head to kiss me, his pale, wild hair falling around us. I gripped a hank of it and pulled, bringing more growling from him. Meanwhile, someone spread my thighs and positioned themselves between them. I thought it was Rath, but the cock that slipped into me was too thick. Taroc then. Mmmm. I sighed into Xae's kiss.

Ratharin kissed me too, his lips brushing my nipples before sucking at each one. The attention mixed with Taroc's slow pumping to send zings through my shaft, summoning another erection. When Xae eased back, I glanced to the side to see a new group of watchers sprawled across the bed.

Ara grinned at me brilliantly. “I didn't think this would make me so happy.” He looked around at the other men. “But I love you all.”

“We love you too, Aranren,” Vexen said without hesitation. He stroked Ara's thigh and glanced at Kel.

“Of course we do,” Keltyr said. “We're better than brothers now.”

The men currently making love to me paused to look at Ara, and I wasn't surprised to see love in their expressions too. Taroc and Xae made sounds similar to grunts but softer—their versions of agreement. Rath was more clear.

“You are a part of us now,” Rath said. “As we are all a part of each other. United in love by our Ember.” Rath stroked my face. “Our love for him is paramount—the love of eternal mates.” He looked around again. “But our love for each other is that of soul brothers. We are more than a pack now.” He looked at Xae and smiled. “We are family.”

My heart thudded rapidly, so full of love that it felt as if it couldn't hold it all. But then it grew. Expanded. It stretched to fill again and again until it seemed to be the size of Varr. This was my destiny all along. Yes, I was meant to end the war, and that helped the world. But my fate, my future, has always been this. These men. Our love. A shared life like no other.

“Burn bright, little spark,” the Goddess spoke into my mind and heart. “Burn bright forever. You've earned it.”

A tear slipped out of my eye, but it was full of joy and love like the rest of me. And, above all, gratitude. “Thank you,” I whispered.

My world had been burned down to the bones, but among the ashes, I found an ember. A little spark that was now burning brightly. And, with that blessing resounding inside me, I knew that I would burn in this happiness forever.

The End.

(Yes, this is the conclusion of the Wraith Lords Series. But don't fret. There will be more Gay Romance to come.)