Chapter Seven

Two in the morning, and her body was alive with energy. The quietness of outside changed to low rolling thunder then the sound of rain as a storm came in. Iarl and Skard stood as a bolt of lightning cut through the sky and illuminated the bedroom. Daphne gasped, seeing them standing there with erect cocks and muscled bodies waiting to please her. The twins moved slowly toward the bed and together they removed her clothes with eager hands.

“By the gods, you are breathtaking,” Iarl said almost reverently.

Skard cupped her full breasts and a low growl escaped him. “I can scent your arousal, your excitement. It is more intoxicating that any mead drink on Paladin.”

“I love both your hands on me, please touch me more,” Daphne begged.

Iarl stood in front of her as she knelt in the bed, while Skard was behind her, and she could feel the heat of his naked skin against her back. They reached out to touch her and ran their hands down her body.

“Your skin is like satin.” Iarl’s voice was husky and filled with reverence.

He leaned in to kiss her, and Skard cupped her breasts and massaged them in his big hands. He caressed her nipples until they were beaded hard, and she arched at the delicious sensations. As Iarl’s tongue twined lazily in her mouth, his large hand ran down her stomach and cupped her sex. He moved his palm against the soft hair of her mound, and she spread her knees wider on the bed. It was a silent plea for him to take more, and she whimpered when he accepted the gift. His fingers probed between the soft slit of her pussy, a groan escaped him when he found her wet. It was echoed by Skard behind her at the same time. The fact that they shared a reaction at each touch of her body was more titillating than Daphne realized. Iarl slowly circled her clit, and Daphne whimpered as the sensations coursed through her body.

Iarl lifted his head from her and looked at her essence on his fingers. He held out his hand to his brother and said, “Taste her.”

Both she and Iarl watched as Skard hungrily licked her juices from his brother’s fingers. The savage noises of desire he made was like fuel on the fire for Daphne.

“Do you like watching him immerse himself in your flavor?” Iarl’s voice was laced with need.

“Oh yes,” Daphne licked her lips. “I wish it was me, feeling his lips.”

“Then it is your turn, brother,” Iarl said. “Give her what she craves.”

Skard took Daphne’s lips in a kiss that seared her senses while their tongues dueled and mated. She stroked her hand down each man’s corded thighs and reached between their legs. Instinct drove her as she stroked along the hard length of their cocks until she felt them both shudder and push themselves deeper into her grasp.

Daphne pulled away from Skard’s kiss to push him flat against the bed. She bent over him and took his hard length in her hand and kissed the tip. His eager moan filled the air, and she licked the tip of his shaft gently before taking the head into her mouth and tantalizing him with her tongue. She teased him until the muscles of his thighs were corded tight before she engulfed him in her mouth. A low hiss escaped both brothers, and Iarl rubbed her clit from behind. Her hips bucked, and she moaned around the mouthful of Skard’s cock.

“Daphne.”

Skard said her name in a ragged whisper, and she was delighted she could cause him such pleasure. Daphne trailed her tongue down the shaft and cupped his balls in her hand and scraped them lightly with her fingertips. She kissed the tip one last time before she turned quickly to Iarl, knelt on the bed, and gave him the same decadent treatment with her mouth as she did his brother. She loved him with her mouth, even more wanton as Skard caressing her body upward to her breasts. Iarl’s primitive moans sent heated waves across her skin. Daphne had never experienced anything this hot and wild in her life.

“I don’t want my seed to spill in your mouth.” Iarl pulled away suddenly.

He lifted her body against him and kissed her savagely, and Skard came up behind her, and she was once again sandwiched between their large bodies. She could feel Skard’s erection, and she undulated her hips against him suggestively while he played at the chocolate globes of her breasts.

“We want you so much,” Skard said from behind her. “I can share every sensation he has as he kisses you, and it makes us ache to have you.”

“Then take me, please,” Daphne begged when she tore her mouth away from Iarl’s.

“I’m going to take you first, until you scream my name,” Iarl said hungrily as he kissed his way down to her breasts.

“Then it is my turn to have you clenched around my shaft.” Skard’s hand ran down her torso, and he slipped his hand between her legs.

The thought of it made her knees turn to jelly, and she wanted them just as much. The ache they had started needed to be quenched, and soon. Daphne knew that in the arms of her twin lovers she would climb the heights of pleasure.

“More, please,” she whispered urgently.

“Skard tasted your essence on my fingers, now it is my turn,” Iarl said and helped her lie back on the bed.

Daphne spread her legs eagerly as Iarl settled between them. Skard sat next to them, his eyes wild with need watching his brother while he slowly ran his hand over her torso. Skard sucked her nipple into his mouth, making her cry out, and she felt Iarl’s hot breath on her sex before he languidly licked at her sex. He flicked at the lips of her pussy before tunneling his tongue between the thick folds of flesh. Daphne moaned his name at the sensation and spread her legs wider. She tunneled her fingers through his thick, red hair, and her hips bucked as he sucked at her clit. With Skard’s attention on her breasts and Iarl’s mouth at her pussy, the pleasure was twofold. He penetrated her sex with his, and it was pure ecstasy. Daphne arched and cried out as need filled her, together they made her body come alive.

“Your taste will forever be in my memory,” Iarl said from between her legs. “I want to see your release and taste it on my tongue.”

“Yes.” Skard’s voice was harsh with need.

Skard moved up just enough so she could reach his cock, and Daphne wrapped her hand around his thick length and stroked. Her hand stroked in rhythm to Iarl’s tongue licking at her clit. He upped the ante and slipped his finger inside her while he tasted her. With each retreat of his finger, he sent the lone digit deeper into her wet sex. The sensations assaulted her, and Daphne closed her eyes as the heat rose within her. She lifted her hips to meet his tongue and finger, striving for release that was so very close.

“Oh, God, yes,” she cried out, “please, please!”

“Let yourself go,” Skard whispered in her ear. “Feel our touch, our need, and find your release.”

Two digits were inside her now, and Iarl pistoned them in and out of her faster while his tongue lashed at Daphne’s clit. She felt wave after wave of pure delight wash over her. Her nipples tightened under Skard’s ministrations, and with Iarl pleasing her with his mouth, the tight band of need snapped, and the pleasure of her orgasm made her scream. A rush of fluid left her body, and Iarl growled in gratification as he tasted her essence. Skard moved quickly, taking Iarl’s place and lapping eagerly at her sex sending her into another blinding release.

Daphne was still trying to catch her breath when Iarl bent her legs at the knees and settled himself between them. She met his gaze, the emerald green of his eyes glittering in the dim light. “Oh yes,” her words fell away into a moan as Iarl slid his thick cock into her slowly, inch by inch, until he was buried within her depth. He withdrew and thrust into her again, harder this time, and Daphne arched her neck, biting her lip to keep from crying out for the sweet pleasure of it.

It felt so good, so fucking good, she never knew that sex could be so raw and carnal with two men pleasing her. She could sense Skard watching them, Daphne opened her eyes and a mask of need was on his face as he watched his brother fuck her. His cock jumped between his legs and he closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. She knew that while he was not inside her, she shared his brother’s pleasure as fiercely as if it was he inside her. A low growl left Iarl’s lips, and he grabbed her hips, pulling her into his thrusts in fast repetition. She called out his name in delight.

“Touch me,” Daphne begged Skard. “I want you to touch me everywhere.”

Skard kissed her hungrily, and while he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, he ran his hand down her stomach and rubbed her clit. Hands touched, caressed, hot lips tasted her skin and combined with the steady deep thrusts. It all sent her spiraling again to new heights of pleasure. Iarl’s groan was filled with agonized need as he began to pump into her faster. His body was taut and the guttural sounds that emanated from him blended with hers.

“Oh my god!”

The words left her lips, and Daphne was sent soaring off the edge and into the abyss of her release. The sensations that ran across her body gave her gooseflesh even though the heat left her gasping. She looked up to see Iarl throw his head back, and she heard his deep low groan as his hot seed filled her. His body shuddered, and he pumped into her, prolonging the enjoyment as long as he could. Iarl moved away and a long, contended sigh escaped him. He laced his fingers with hers as Skard kissed her long, slow, and deep.

The fire she thought had been doused with her orgasm burst to life again as he settled between her legs. Skard buried his fingers inside her, and his thumb slowly circled the tiny bug of pleasure hidden between her labia. Daphne’s hips arched, and she whimpered as he used them to stoke the fire within her again. The fact that his fingers were coated with her essence and his brother’s seed only seem to fuel her desire. Her inhibitions were lost in the submission to the brothers.

Skard leaned over to kiss her before he murmured, “My turn dear one, are you ready.”

Daphne reached up and cupped his cheek. “I want to feel you inside me.”

Skard lay flat on the bed and pulled her to him. Daphne straddled his body eagerly and undulated her hips sensuously on his cock trapped between them. He groaned and positioned his cock at the entrance of her sex. She moved down slowly biting her lips as his hard length slipped within her and the muscles of her pussy clenched around him. Skard made a sound of need in the back of his throat, letting her take the lead so her body could accept him. Finally, she had taken every inch of him and stilled for a moment, trembling with desire.

“You are like a tight glove around me,” Skard whispered harshly.

She began to move, riding him slowly, teasing them both with her movements. Skard let her play and temper her speed from slow to hard and pulsing until he groaned and pulled her down for a searing kiss. Daphne gasped as the kiss was broken so he could kiss her neck and nip at her shoulder with his teeth. Skard’s large hands were at her hips, and he grabbed her tight as he thrust upward. There was no more play, only raw need, and he took her hard. He was wild, driving them both toward the finish line in a pounding rhythm while Iarl watched. She cried out as Iarl moved from his position to suck at her nipples while she rode Skard’s thick cock. He took her body with a primal force until she was calling out her pleasure, and guttural sounds left him from between gritted teeth.

“Daphne,” Skard’s voice took on an urgent harsh tone.

“Skard, yes, oh yes,” she cried out.

The heat, my god! Sweat ran down her back, but yet again goose bumps played on her flesh and passion flowed hot like lava through her body to her core. Daphne’s body bucked as she came, a silent scream left her, and she threw her head back in delight. Skard’s release was hard with a shudder that reverberated from him through her. Daphne heard his groan, and it melded with that of his brother. His seed filled her and ran down, making her thighs wet as he continued to move. The aftermath was the three of them lying in a contented heap of twined limbs.

“I have never been so complete.” Iarl laid back on the bed with a heavy, contented sigh as he finally moved.

She was curled against Skard listening to his heartbeat return to normal in his chest. His voice was a deep rumble. “I agree with you, brother. She is the one.”

“The one?” Daphne lifted her head to look at him.

Iarl rolled from the bed only to return with two warm washcloths. He handed one to his brother and as they cleaned her skin, even between her legs without a hint of embarrassment.

It was Iarl who spoke up gently. “It’s not just about the act of coupling. We want you, Daphne, to be our mate, to be one for life.”

“If you’ll have us,” Skard added. “The three of us as a whole, together. We can show you our home in Paladin. One we built with our own hands, but it has sat empty waiting for the day we found our mate.”

“You want me to come to Paladin with you?” Daphne could hardly believe what she was hearing.

Her heart leapt in excitement. What was keeping her here? Nothing. Her parents wouldn’t care, her peers had distanced themselves from her and would only breathe a sigh of relief if she fell off the map. Bit with the twins, a whole new world was offered to her, along with happiness, passion, and so much more.

“Will you?” Iarl asked hesitantly. “Accept us, Daphne?”

“I very much accept you both.” Daphne’s smile was wide. “Something would be missing if it was one without the other. You are my dragon pair.”

She pulled them next to her, and they tossed the washcloths in their hands on the floor. They curled together, Iarl and Skard’s body making her feel warm and protected under the blankets. Without a doubt, she knew she was making the right choice. She had spent all her life searching for the pieces from the past to explain the present. And here she was sleeping between two mythical creatures. Whatever force sent them to her, she sent up a mental thank you and vowed to protect the twins as best she could while her eyes closed as sleep took over.

* * * *

“You two are the best trackers of the realm. You have to go follow this up,” Raul said over breakfast that morning.

That was hours ago, after Raven had found unusual geological information in the mountains. They had set off to search out the source, leaving Daphne at the safe house with Raven and Raul and a very interested Gaerar. Iarl was none too pleased at the idea of leaving her unattended, and his brother shared the feeling. But as warriors, they needed to deal with the threat of the Shen.

“There should be no seismic activity in this area,” Raven pointed out on the map. “It’s not close to any fault lines in the earth’s crust to cause an earthquake. Yet the USGS has picked up activity for the past four days.”

“The USGS?” Skard asked.

“The United States Geological Survey. They’re like the police of trying to predict when earthquakes will happen and record each one, no matter how small,” Daphne explained. “Raven, what made you think to check their information?”

“Years of tracking the Shen,” Raven replied. “They like to live underground, and the mines that litter this entire area are a golden sanctuary for these things. I assumed if they are looking for you, the king will be close by or they’re prepping for him that means they need a large nest. The way they burrow to make his chamber should register on the monitors the USGS have all over this state.”

“That’s genius,” Daphne said. “But wait—how big is their king?”

“He’s the biggest we have ever encountered,” Skard answered.

“This information needs to be followed up, and you two are better than any of us to scent them out...” Gaerar let the words slide away.

“We understand, Gaerar,” Iarl answered. “We leave the task of protecting Daphne to you, Raul, and Raven.”

“I’ll watch every inch of her,” Gaerar teased.

Raven slapped his head. “Stop baiting them. I will be here with Daphne. Gaerar and Raul have to go to the police station and watch Detective Montenegro for a bit. We got word from Hawke and Daisye that she has been sniffing around quite a bit looking into our rich playboy twins.”

“I could tell she wasn’t going to give up easy,” Daphne murmured.

“There’s going to come a point where we may either have to pull her in or get her reassigned to something,” Raven said with a sigh.

“You have that kind of clout?” Daphne asked.

“Hawke apparently does,” Raul answered. “In any case, you’ll be safe with Raven here, and the house has a panic room.

“Trust me, I’m not worried about me, but they are hunting a nest, and that doesn’t sound safe.” Daphne cast both Iarl and his brother a look of concern.

Iarl felt warmth flow through him knowing that she was worried over their safety. She stayed with them in the room as they dressed to go out hunting the Shen and kissed them goodbye. The sun had moved steadily through the sky as the day past. He and Skard caught their scents then lost it, then picked it up again stronger and moving steadily west. It was strongest in an old mining town that was littered with dilapidated buildings. The sun was going down as they moved to an outcropping of rocks overlooking the town.

“Their stench is everywhere,” Skard murmured.

Iarl pointed to an opening in the hills that was boarded over. “One entrance, which means there have to be others.”

“Raven and Daphne say these tunnels are like mazes,” Skard said. “They’re going in from somewhere else.”

It felt like the ground began to vibrate beneath their feet, and they stopped talking and used the bond that connected their minds.

We need to go higher, Skard gave his brother a look.

The trees,Iarl answered telepathically. There are many of them to make the ground shake as it is.

They climbed nimbly and waited, neither saying a word. The Shen poured out like a flood of black scales and slithering skin. Their shrill calls and screams filled the night air in the old deserted mining town. One of the Hybrids broke the rotted wood covering the entrance of the mine with one swipe of its sharp-clawed hand.

Several hybrids,Skard said mentally. I count at least fifteen.

Thousands of the lesser Shen,Iarl added. They are all here for a reason, they are making ready for the king.

We cannot go in, they would smell us in seconds. We need all the brethren here, now,Skard’s voice sounded grim even in Iarl’s mind. They are planning something.

Let’s take one of the stragglers from the back. Not all will enter the tunnels, they’ll want to feed. We can swipe him easily enough, Iarl suggested.

We are trackers for a reason, and that one there looks especially juicy.Skard shot him a grin. A pity we cannot kill a few dozen of them.

Iarl followed Skard’s gaze. At least they won’t miss this one.

In a matter of minutes they had their quarry and without it even making a sound. The stench of it in the sack was disgusting, and it took hours for them to make it back to the safe house. It was well past midnight, and yet the lights blazed in the house as they approached. Making sure the lesser Shen they captured was secured in the garage of the safe house, they entered, and everyone in the kitchen jumped up firing questions all at once. But like Skard, he and his brother only had eyes for Daphne. A look of relief crossed her face, and Iarl inhaled deeply of her scent. It was amazing compared to the stench of the Shen they had carried for hours.

“You were long gone, brothers, how goes the hunt?” Gaerar asked.

“Where were you, why didn’t you call?” Daphne demanded.

“How far did you track, did you find the Shen?” Raul asked.

“Do we need the maps, was the seismic activity correct?” Raven shot out another question.

Daphne ran up to them and stopped short. “You stink.”

Skard held up his hands. “We’ll answer all your questions.”

“Raven, your information was correct. There were thousands of them,” Iarl answered. “It took us hours, and it led to a deserted town. We’ll show you on the map.”

“They are planning something, the numbers were too large not to mean the king is or will be there,” Skard spoke up next. “We procured one of the lesser Shen to interrogate.”

“Our sweet mate,” Iarl said with a smile. “We smell of Shen because we carried it back all the way here and... no cell phone. We’ve never had to use or needed them. Also, there are no electronics on Paladin, so you may need to get accustomed to months without your technology when we go there.”

“Mate?” Raul looked shocked. “She’s mated with the two of you? How does that work exactly?”

“None of your business,” Daphne said sweetly.

A muffled screech came from the garage and all eyes turned to the door.

“We should go see what it knows,” Raul said, a bit too eagerly in Iarl’s opinion.

“You are right, the sooner we know the sooner we can tell the others.” Iarl flexed his arms. “Daphne, you do not need to be part of this.”

She stepped forward boldly. “I’m a part of this, and you’re not hiding anything from me now.”

She’s magnificent when she’s mad and determined to face her fears, Skard sent the mental message.

I know,Iarl responded.

“Eh.” Daphne held up her hand. “Remember, no telepathy when we are in a group.”

“Yes, our apologies.” Skard nodded.

“Isn’t that something new,” Gaerar murmured as he walked by. “You two do smell horrendous.”

They all made their way to the garage where Iarl cut the binding around the lesser Shen’s mouth.

“Show us your human guise or I’ll peel away your serpent flesh until you do.” Skard unsheathed one of his smaller blades to make a point.

They watched as the thing looked at them for a moment, and its black eyes darted back and forth. Iarl heard the sound of disgust coming from Daphne as the serpent thing’s body shuddered and writhed to bring to its human form. Finally, there it was, the smaller man with dirt and grime all over his naked body.

“Speak,” Iarl demanded.

“What would you have me speak of, dragon?” Its voice was like the slime that covered its body, and it ended in a hiss.

“Why are so many of you assembled in the old mining town?” Skard demanded.

The lesser Shen’s laugh was wet. “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough. You think Paladin is the only place my king covets?”

It was Iarl who took the blade from its sheath on his leg and without a word drove it through the hand of the Shen serpent that was flat against the cement floor. Its scream gave him immense satisfaction, and he felt the metal of his blade embedded into the concrete floor.

“This would be less painful for you, if you just answer the questions,” Iarl said simply.

“You are going to kill me anyway,” the lesser Shen shrieked.

“Yes, we will,” Iarl said solemnly. “But it could be a very slow process, especially with four dragons in the mix. Besides, you and your kin die for a king who uses you like cannon fodder. He sends you out to do his bidding and less of you come back each time. What loyalty do you owe to a ruler who cares not if you live or die? They haven’t even missed your presence.”

Iarl saw the lesser Shen consider his words before it spoke.

“We will swarm, we will cover this place and drown it in blood,” the thing hissed. “Then, as we move across the land, until we find the portal to your world and use it. Thousands upon thousands of our people will be in both Paladin and this realm and our king will take both.”

“So this is the last stand?” Raul snarled. “Speak, damn you!”

The lesser Shen smiled. “He is tired of hiding, tired of living in the shadows and waiting for the opening he seeks. He plans to take it all, and you will be unable to stop him and his hybrids. You kill us, yet each day more are bred. When we attack, this land will give us many, many more breeders. More of us than you can ever kill. Now kill me, because my words are done, and I have spoken our prophecy into existence.”

“Is your king in the mines?” Skard asked.

“He is closer than you think.” It looked past them to Daphne. “He comes for her and his Queen.”

“He will have neither.” Iarl crouched low. “Know this: before your end, this plan, this decimation of world you think will happen, will not succeed. We will kill you all and save your king for last.”

Iarl nodded and with a swift movement Skard took the lesser shen’s head clean off. Daphne made a small sound of disgust, and Iarl saw Raven rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.

“I don’t want to be anywhere near those things.” Daphne shuddered.

“You can be assured they’ll have to go through us, and that will be hell on earth,” Skard replied firmly.

“We need to get everyone here because the time has come to face our adversary.” Iarl looked at Raul and Raven. “It’s time to put the precautions in place for Paladin, and the dragon court must come together to wage war for all our lives.”

“I’ll get on the phone with Hawke. Raven, you need to confer with Daisye,” Raul said.

“Gaerar.” Raven looked at him. “I think we may need that detective on board, if Hawke gives the okay. On the small chance they get into the populated areas, we need an inside woman along with Michelle’s crew and Kiara. Are you good with approaching her?”

Gaerar nodded. “I can do this.”

Raul, Raven, and Gaerar stepped inside leaving Iarl and Skard in the garage. Daphne stood with them.

“This is really happening, isn’t it,” she said.

Iarl looked at her and saw the fear in her eyes. “I’m sorry love, but yes it is.”

Daphne moved quickly until she was in his arms and her face pressed against his chest. She reached out blindly with her hand until she caught Skard’s shirt and tugged him closer until she was smothered between them.

“You pointed out we needed a bath,” Iarl said gently.

“I don’t care, I’ll bathe with you,” she said. “I just needed my men close, to reassure me it will be okay.”

Skard kissed her neck. “On our lives, nothing will happen to you.”

“I know, but I’m worried about you.” Daphne looked from one brother to the next. “I don’t want to lose either of you.”

Iarl met Skard’s gaze, and neither said a word, not even in their minds. He wanted to say that wouldn’t happen, but by the gods he knew he that making promises that couldn’t be kept was not something he did In this war many lives had been lost, people loved from both the earth realm and Paladin. They’d finally found their mate, and Iarl knew his brother’s feelings as well as his own. They would cherish her until their last breath, whether it be hours, days, or a thousand years from now. Iarl knew he and his brother had found their love.