Chapter 14

Chapter

Fourteen

Cerran touched down on the high reaches, gripping at the rock beneath him with his claws, folding his wings on his back. He was on patrol, not because it was his job, but because it was part of his calling. He refused to leave his people unprotected in any way he could provide.

Triton was at home with their child and their omega, defending the nest and assuring that Elowyn and Leilani were safe and happy.

It wasn't a difficult job—Elowyn was joyous and peaceful, and their kaiinaa was fierce and beginning to crawl. She was so determined to catch up to those she viewed as her playmates, determined not to be left behind.

Cerran understood. He'd felt that way as a child. As if he would miss out if he didn't grow up faster. He'd been so worried…

Triton, he thought, had never been on the back end of the curve. He'd always forged ahead.

He wasn't sure what Elowyn had been like as a fledgling, but he was curious to know. He should ask. Tonight at supper…

Scanning the horizon, Cerran searched for any activity that was out of keeping with wildlife or the occasional human hiker or mountain biker.

A shadow crossed his path, huge wings casting darkness over the valley.

He gasped and glanced up, scanning the skies.

Then he laughed to himself, because he knew that big red shape. That was Reno, who was actually assigned patrol today, no doubt checking him out to make sure he was known.

He blew a puff of steam, welcoming his friend, and he got a dip of a wing, flick of the tail that invited him to come and fly.

Cerran leaped into the sky, his wings lifting him, his tail acting as a rudder as he wheeled toward Reno. He loved to play in the clouds.

Reno blew out a little line of fire, then zoomed off, giving him something to chase.

Joy lanced through him, and he zipped along behind his friend, steam billowing from him. Pursuit was the best game ever.

Soon Orion and Durango joined them, and the chase was on. He swooped and spun, the exercise making him feel powerful. Spreading his wings always worked out his shit.

He wondered what Elowyn looked like when he flew.

The thought gave him a full-body shiver, and he found himself panting. That could be a deadly distraction when flying, and Durango proved it by almost singeing his nose.

Then the big bastard chuffed and winged off.

Ass.

He adored the guy.

He gave chase again, this time nipping at Durango's tail in a burst of speed.

Durango roared, the sound pure happiness. It was amazing, how they all managed to fill the sky above the bowl of the mountains without colliding. And finally, they circled back down to the keep, landing in the courtyard to the applause of the outdoor kitchen crew.

Then those amazing folks passed out hamburgers.

Dozens and dozens of hamburgers.

Cerran wolfed down three before he stopped to breathe, and even though it was getting chillier outside, there were firepits and lots of laughing, and soon Triton and Elowyn appeared, Leilani in her carrier, wrapped in a blanket.

"Someone was playing," Triton teased.

You were beautiful. Elowyn's eyes gleamed.

"Ah, you saw us?" His cheeks heated. "We were having fun, yes. Do you fly, Elowyn?"

"I haven't in a very long time, but I know how. I'm wet for you." Elowyn slapped his hand over his lips. I didn't mean to say that out loud…

Cerran blinked. "I—are you?"

"You can't smell him?" Triton asked, voice a low growl. You did though.

I know. I'm sorry. Elowyn's cheeks went bright red. "I?—"

Oh no. No shame.

"I want to. Let me move closer." He sidled up next to Elowyn, eyebrows lifting as he mock-leered.

Elowyn ducked his head, hair hiding his face.

Triton rumbled. "Shall we go play at home after we eat?"

"Gods yes." He'd go now, but he wouldn't deprive his mates of this lovely food. He could wait. Barely.

He couldn't believe that Elowyn had dared to say that, to be so needy, right out in the open. It made him proud, and it also hardened his cock. Made him need. He wanted to give Elowyn everything he needed.

"Eat your burgers," he growled. He wanted to get upstairs before Leilani woke up.

Triton took a big bite, and Elowyn nibbled.

"Ah, brother. There you are. Shall I take little Lei?" Rowan came to grab the baby. "She and I need some bonding time."

"Do you mind?" Triton asked. "We could use a few minutes."

"Hours," Cerran interrupted.

Elowyn peeped, the sound so adorable. But Cerran meant it. It was his turn, and he was taking his time.

"Absolutely. We'll be fine. I'll keep her until after supper. I do know about babies, remember."

"Thank you, brother," Elowyn whispered, and Rowan winked over.

"Of course." Rowan took the diaper bag and headed off, singing to Leilani.

"Should we take the food to go?" Elowyn suggested.

"Yes. To go and straight home." He wasn't going to argue. He needed their omega.

"I'll be right back," Triton murmured. He moved off to grab a bag of food, and Cerran only had time to press a quick kiss to Elowyn's lips before he was back. The kitchen was really turning it out.

"Come along," Triton commanded. "I want to watch as you knot him."

The picture that conjured up in his head made Cerran moan, and he had to adjust himself. It would take maybe two seconds for his knot to rise. He knew it. He'd been waiting so patiently.

Now he didn't have to wait.

In fact, their omega was ready for them. Eager.

He took Elowyn's hand, following Triton, who set a brisk pace.

Elowyn was buzzing, the hand in his holding on tight. I need you, Cerran.

I'm glad, hailee. I've been ready.

I know. I can feel how eager you are. He got a shy sideways smile.

I'm so proud of you, for letting us know what you need. He thought it was important.

I'm proud of the two of you for letting Rowan take care of the baby.

He's your brother. And a good man. We're learning. Hard as it was.

Elowyn squeezed his hand and nodded. "We all are."

Triton nodded, putting his feet down fast. "We are. It is a difficult thing for us old warriors."

"I understand." Elowyn smiled. "It's a little easier for we healers. We tend to know others' hearts better."

"I would think that would make it worse." Cerran sighed, trying not to let thoughts of his old keep intrude.

Elowyn squeezed his hand, and he felt the glow of healing steal up his arm and into the rest of his body. So sweet.

Thank you, hailee.

I would do anything I could to help you.

I know. I love you for it.

"Are we still walking?" Triton growled.

"Whatever should we do otherwise?" Cerran asked innocently.

Elowyn laughed, his joy infectious, the sound of his voice like a little copper bell. Not silver. Everything about Elowyn was red and warm.

"We could fly."

"You might drop our food, xokkan."

"Don't you call you me old man, you turd," Triton called back.

He and Elowyn laughed harder, the set of Triton's shoulders easing as he listened to them. Clearly, he was in a good mood, even if his need was riding him hard.

"I'm so happy," Elowyn whispered. "I never thought I'd be so happy."

"So am I, hailee." He and Triton had discussed it more than once in the last week or so, and neither of them had ever felt as though anything had been missing. But once they'd met Elowyn, they knew what they could have together, how full their lives could be.

It felt so right.

And they were happier than they could ever recall being.

"Yes. Happy happy. Great. Moving. Walking faster." Triton's voice was pure need.

"Here." He picked Elowyn up. "Run, old man."

Triton cheated a little, he thought, using his lightning to propel him, but they made it back to their place in record time. Triton yanked them into the apartment, then sat down the food so he could start undressing both Cerran and Elowyn.

His need was so impressive. And arousing.

Today, though, Elowyn had asked for him.

For his cock.

For his knot.

And he was going to give it.

Cerran kissed Triton hard, then pulled Elowyn into his arms to kiss him too. Deeply.

Elowyn moaned, wrapping both arms around his neck and pressing against him. That sleek cock pushed against his belly, and Elowyn rocked against him, need obvious and breathtaking.

"Love." He reached for Triton, who came to lift Elowyn against him, and that was perfect. He could use his hands to pet and touch and stroke, and make Elowyn nuts. And all the while, Triton held their omega against him, Elowyn's feet dangling off the floor.

Elowyn leaned back against Triton's chest, gaze resting on him and making him feel ten thousand feet tall.

He hummed, licking at Elowyn's lower lip. The flavor there was a little salty, a lot hot, and he breathed a tiny bit of steam, which made Elowyn's tongue flick out to meet his. So damn sweet.

He grabbed both their cocks as Triton lowered Elowyn a little, stroking nice and easy, and their hailee gasped.

"Bed?"

"Please."

"Good. Come on, you two. Come to bed." Triton carried Elowyn, rumbling about silly mates and lovely hailees and how horizontal was so much better for his knees.

Cerran chuckled, following along behind, his cock bobbing happily as he did. He did just love the sight of Triton's naked ass, of his mates together, all hard and sleek, rough and sweet.

How do you want to do this, mate? he asked Triton. Did Triton want Elowyn draped over him? Did he want to watch from one side?

"I want to hold him. I want to sit up against the headboard with him straddling my lap so I can see both your faces as you take him from behind."

Triton had given this some thought. He liked it, though, and he let Triton pile up the pillows, then ease down with Elowyn on his lap. It was an erotic vision.

Elowyn's back was long and lean, and Cerran's hands landed on the taut ass, thumbs slipping into Elowyn's crack to spread him.

So wet already, and he made a happy noise, which caused Triton to chuckle, the sound deep and husky.

"I want you both so much."

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, hailee. It's natural. We're mated, and your body is making itself ready for me."

"Mmmhmm. I want you in me. Your knot."

"Yes. It's my turn."

"Make him open, Cerran. Then I will hold him that way for you."

He swallowed hard. "I can do that." And he slid a finger into Elowyn's body.

Elowyn rocked back toward his touch, his toes curling as Cerran gave Elowyn everything he could.

"Oh." Elowyn arched, his head falling back, and Cerran kissed him as well as he could, the angle off, but it worked well enough. He loved how Elowyn felt against him. That skin, so hot with its tiny diamond-like scales, made him moan. They fit so perfectly.

And then Triton reached behind Elowyn to hold his cheeks apart while Cerran sank two fingers deep inside him, opening him up.

"More. I don't need fingers," Elowyn said. "I need your knot."

"I won't hurt you."

"You can't. Just take me."

"I'll help ease the way," Triton ground out. "Go."

Cerran grunted as he pushed home, his cock sliding deep inside Elowyn with one thrust. Between Triton helping hold him open and Elowyn's natural wetness, it went quickly.

Elowyn groaned, that sound filling the air and making his eyes cross. That tight body clamped down on him, and he moaned, his muscles tightened up, making him sway.

"Hailee. So good." Was that his voice?

It was absolutely his voice.

He ducked his chin, swallowing hard as his knot tried to swell.

"I feel you," Elowyn whispered it. "I feel how hard you are, and how your knot is rising."

"Does he feel so good, hailee? Is he making you pant?" Triton leaned in to nibble Elowyn's neck. "You're so flushed. Your skin is all hot. I love how you look against him."

"Oh." Elowyn shivered, his whole body moving with it, shifting his weight on Cerran's cock.

"Mmhmm…sweet hailee. You are heaven around me."

"Full. Oh, braaken…"

He chuckled, breathless as hell. He swelled harder. Longer. His knot started to engage, so he pushed deep.

Elowyn took him in, deeper and deeper, body seeming to tighten around him. He could barely breathe, awe filling him as he moved, pulling back before plunging in.

Triton's eyes glowed as his mate stared over at him, the light like lasers. The crackle of lightning lit up the room, and Elowyn arched against him, that gasp loud and sharp.

He felt the flood of their hailee's need like it was his own, like it was born within him. And he wanted to feed the flames, wanted Elowyn to have more pleasure than he ever had in his life.

A line of steam blew from his nostrils, leaving him dizzy.

"I see you, mate. I see how happy you are. He makes me the same way." Triton's smile was so happy, so sexual.

"Yes." He was over the moon, and he wanted his lovers to be with him, all the way.

"Kiss me again?" Elowyn was asking one of them. He had a feeling it didn't matter which one. This time, it was Triton who gave it, kissing Elowyn hard.

Elowyn's body clamped down on him, making his knot swell damn near unbearably.

He panted, his hips rocking back and forth. He needed more. So much more.

Take it. Take all of me. I'm yours. Both of yours. All of me.

They grinned at each other over Elowyn's head, and Triton moved their hailee on him, which was both of them taking what they needed.

Steam poured out, filling the air, and Cerran could see lightning flashing through it, the warm glow of their hailee making him gasp. Elowyn's light was red, like the healing energy of the heart, and it surrounded them and made Cerran feel as if he could do this forever.

Or maybe for only a few more moments.

Either way, it was bliss.

Utter fucking bliss.

"Come for me, my loves," Triton groaned. "I want to see you knot him so good, Cerran."

He tried to smile for Triton, but he was so very close that it felt like a grimace. "Hailee."

"Yes. Fill me."

He gave in and let his knot fully engaged. Cerran jerked, dancing into Elowyn, reaching past him to complete the circle by touching Triton.

Lightning snapped, and Elowyn's body milked him as their hailee came.

His knot engaged, and he grunted, coming hard, great jets of heat leaving him. He was staking his claim, just as Triton had.

"Yes, mates." Triton snarled, his head falling back as he rubbed off against Elowyn's belly.

"Touch him, Elowyn." Cerran reached around to help, but he knew Elowyn's hands probably felt as fumbly as his.

"Forever." Elowyn grabbed, and Triton roared, and they all jerked, their need too much to handle.

When Triton came, it was as if the entire room was on fire, but there was no flame. Just a white-hot glow.

There was something about this, a magic that he'd never once dared to hope for. But now that they had it, he was going to hold onto it as hard as he could and keep his whole family safe.