Honeysuckle

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Honeysuckle ISBN 9781419914096 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Honeysuckle Copyright © 2008 Anny Cook Edited by Helen Woodall. Photography and cover art by Les Byerley. Electronic book Publication January 2008 With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/) This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

HONEYSUCKLE

Anny Cook

Dedication For Jane, who loves the Flowers of Camelot.

Honeysuckle

Chapter One

In which the Sisters and their Swains go to Came-a-lot Night fell as the LeFleur family reached the inn and the three young women breathed silent sighs of relief. It had been a long day of traveling with very few breaks and no conversation. Florian, their father, was less than pleased that he had to make the trip at all but when their mother had run away with an acrobatic troupe it was clear that he needed to marry his girls off as quickly as possible so he could return to his duties as King Arthur’s Guardian of the Wardrobe. With permission from the king to bring the three young ladies to Came-a-lot, Florian posted down to the moldering old estate at once to fetch them. What he found there on his arrival simply strengthened his resolve. Obviously, it was none too soon. He discovered Raulf the butler in the castle dungeon—which he had turned into a private playroom—with whimpering, squealing Daffodil blindfolded and chained to the wall. Her petite body was damp with arousal and the faint sheen of perspiration as she slowly writhed helplessly from the joint stimulation provided by an ingenious device with a vibrating dildo and butt plug while Raulf tapped her pert, blushing ass with his purple flogger. With a faint shudder, Florian slammed the door shut and went in search of his other daughters. He located Honeysuckle out in the barn enthusiastically sucking off Timid Timmy, one of the three stablemen remaining once the rest had been fired by Florian’s errant wife. Florian didn’t particularly object to her sucking cocks as that was one of the few reasons to keep a woman handy in his jaded opinion but he did object to the other two stablemen fucking her in the hay in an empty stall while she was so occupied. It seemed to him that the least they could do was show enough respect for him to provide a blanket or a bed if they were going to fuck his daughter.

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Chrysanthemum he found sitting alone in the musty library, spectacles perched on her nose, reading a heavy, moldy old book on the history of Avalon. Her zipsuit was the most demure drab fabric imaginable with ugly gray pinstripes and fastened all the way up to her determined chin. Her dark hair was twisted in a tight bun and she had on no makeup. It was enough to make a father weep and wring his hands. When he saw how difficult it was going to be to find her a man his heart fell in despair. She even wore a bandeau confining her breasts! Who would he find to take her off his hands? With private determination to get them married off as quickly as possible, Florian swept through the old manor, barking out orders right and left. He had plans for the manor that didn’t include three extraneous daughters. Two days later, the manor house was empty except for Raulf, the three stablemen and the extremely fat cook, Mildred, who was clearly fond of her own cooking. The young women were not happy about traveling to Came-a-lot. Chrysanthemum determinedly clutched at the faint hope that there would be a library available where she might continue her studies. Daffodil trembled with uncertainty and separation anxiety from her beloved Master Raulf. Who would tell her what to do? Heart and soul, she rebelled at the idea of a new master. Honeysuckle simply wondered wearily if Raulf was correct when he said she would never find two men on Avalon who would willingly share her the way she needed to be loved. Discouraged and lonely, she considered her dim future. As they traveled the gloomy outskirts of the Dread Forest, she came to a decision. No more quickies in the barn or stable though the men were good friends. She would devote her stay in Came-a-lot to her search for the husbands she longed for. If she didn’t find them there, then they probably weren’t anywhere on Avalon and she would have to settle for the occasional liaison with trusted friends in the butler’s pantry. When they arrived at last at the Flying Fuck Inn, they were too tired to care about eating the cold, skimpy meal, though Florian warned them that the early start the next morning would probably preclude more than a hasty breakfast. Daffodil, still mourning

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for Raulf, and Chrysanthemum, irritated and impatient with her younger sister’s neverending tears, tromped up the narrow stairs to the room they shared and crawled into the cold lumpy bed after hasty, sketchy sponge baths. Honeysuckle chose to sacrifice a little sleep and take a bath. The bathroom was freezing with gray-green mold in the corners but the water was hot and plentiful. She scrubbed out the tub and filled it with steaming water before scanning the skimpy selection of soaps, salts and oils the inn provided. Finally making her choice, she dropped in most of a jar of rose-scented bath salts and climbed in. In five ecstatic minutes she was as limp as a noodle and whimpering with relief as her stiff muscles slowly relaxed from riding all day on a jerky, vibrating powerbike. Once the girls were settled, Florian stumbled down the steep stairs to the taproom for a comforting flagon or two of ale to bury his growing suspicions that he was in far more trouble that he had anticipated. The girls were not going to fit into his plans as neatly as he hoped. Of course, he hadn’t seen his girls since he had shaken the dust of his crumbling estate from his aching feet and traveled to the capital at Came-a-lot, seeking work. As he sat swigging his ale he realized that the last time he’d seen the girls Daffodil had only been six. And the last memory he had of Honeysuckle was her standing forlornly in the driveway, crying as if her heart was broken while he walked away. Edgily, he pushed that uncomfortable memory away and gulped another healthy swallow. Preoccupied with dark plans of how best to rid himself of the responsibility of three marriageable daughters, he was so busy drowning his sorrows that he failed to notice the two distinctive men lounging in a dimly lit corner over a desultory game of cards. If he had not been so distracted by his frantic scramble to rescue his ruined plans, things might have turned out differently. As Florian perched on the high stool at the bar drinking, the young men speculated about the women upstairs who had arrived with him. As members of the royal family, they instantly recognized Florian when he shoved the wide inn door open and entered,

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trailed by the three weary young women. Most of the royal household was aware of Florian’s intentions to arrange marriages for his daughters as soon as possible so the young men studied the girls with idle interest. They instantly rejected the tall darkhaired one who had whipped out her horn-rimmed spectacles to consult the heavy book she carried. Nor did the young blonde with the endless supply of tears attract them. But the goddess with the flaming red-gold hair brought their cocks to immediate rigid attention. That was rare enough that they took a second—and then a third—look. She was breathtaking. From the time they were old enough to understand the differences between women and men, their futures as husbands of a shared wife was simply something they accepted. Finding her had proved to be an entirely different matter. But finally what their bodies and minds were screaming in unison told them she was the one. Mine! Mine! Mine! She was the one they determined to claim for their own. She was the one who would bear their children. Eventually they finished their own drinks and silently stalked up the narrow stairs in search of the curvy little lady who moved like sin and gave them insistent uncomfortable hard-ons that bulged the fronts of their tight dark zipsuits. On the second floor, they found themselves facing six blank doors with no hint of their goddess’s location. Short of knocking on each door they saw no easy way to find their lady. Then they heard feminine whimpering and groaning behind door number five. With a sharp nod at each other, they softly paced down the hall and tried the door, pleased to discover that she had neglected to lock it in her rush to take her bath. Dick eased the door open far enough for them to peek inside and to their delight they found their fiery-haired nymph moaning and sighing through a bout of bathtub pleasure. It seemed to them that it would be rude to leave her lonely and unfulfilled

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when they were so ready and available so they quietly went inside to join her, shutting and silently locking the door securely behind them. With her eyes squeezed shut, Honeysuckle squirmed in frustration in the slippery tub. She didn’t have enough fingers to touch all the places she needed to be touched and her toys were packed away in her bag in the bedroom. She had two fingers stuffed in her slick pussy while her thumb slithered around her clit but try as she might she couldn’t quite reach the sensitive little entrance to her ass. With her other hand she frantically strummed and pinched her tight nipples. As another little moan escaped, a hard, warm male body with an exceedingly rigid cock slid into the tub between her legs. She let out a shriek which was cut off abruptly by a firm set of lips covering her mouth and a possessive tongue filling her mouth. Behind her, another hard body gently shifted her forward and slipped into the tub, dragging his equally stiff cock down her back. Her eyes flew open and she stared into the intent, dark glittering eyes of the man exploring her mouth with devastating thoroughness. Whoa, was he a god or what? Sharp high cheekbones and slightly tilted almond-shaped eyes gave him a decidedly exotic look. A wealth of silky black hair tumbled down past his wide shoulders and smooth dusky cinnamon skin covered a muscled chest and strong arms. With a last lingering taste, he sat back on his heels, holding her glance with compelling eyes as his hand slipped down over her mound, gently nudging her fingers away from the red-gold curls until he found her swollen pussy. Two thick fingers plunged inside, firm and deep. Her head fell back on the warm shoulder of the man behind her and she moaned as her pussy clutched those hard fingers steadily moving in and out. The man behind her embraced her, cupping her breasts in his huge hands. He firmly pinched her nipples between his long fingers and tugged rhythmically in time to the fingers working her pussy. With a gasp and a short cry, her climax arrived as a searing sharp wave. Her lovers rode it out with her until at last she relaxed in a slack bundle of satisfied woman.

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Her breasts still trembling with her struggle for air, she opened her eyes and demanded, “Who are you? And why are you in my bath?” The man in front of her smiled tenderly as he slid his hand beneath her hips and pulled her forward until his thick cock was seated at the entrance of her still-pulsing pussy. “I am Peter,” he replied as he thrust his cock inside her, “and he is my brother, Dick. We are here to claim you as our woman.” Instinctively, she tried to wriggle away but he held her close in his strong arms, filling her until she didn’t know where he ended and she began as he whispered close to her ear, “You’re exactly the woman we’ve been searching for our entire lives. Don’t worry about a thing. We will spend our lives making you a happy, happy woman.” Dick’s warm calloused hands smoothed gently down her back and over her ass until he reached the valley separating them. With one finger, he investigated the tight rose of her anus, pressing in with firm pressure. She jerked and then pressed her hips back as though begging for more. But she was tight—very tight and he certainly didn’t want to cause her any pain. He withdrew and smiled when his eyes lighted on the bottle of bath oil on the shelf. Leaning against the side of the tub, he snagged the bottle in his big hand and squeezed out a few drops on his fingers. Setting it back on the shelf next to the tub, he went back to his original target, sliding in this time without hindrance. Honey groaned at the welcome thick intrusion of his finger. There was a sudden rough pounding on the door. Dick clapped his free hand over her mouth and growled in her ear, “Quiet!” while he gently rubbed his finger against the cock pounding in her sheath. In the dimly lit hallway outside the bathroom door Florian was pacing impatiently, desperately in need of the toilet. The ale he’d consumed for solace was now making his overfull bladder extremely uncomfortable. He pounded on the door again. “Hurry up and finish, Honeysuckle!” he shouted. “I have to piss!”

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The door across the hall opened and a portly, irritated man stuck his bald head out. “Go outside and find a bush,” he snarled. “There are people trying to sleep up here!” Then he slammed the door. Florian moaned and grabbed his crotch. Abruptly, he turned around and raced down the hall to the steep stairs, crashing and bouncing as he bounded back to the first floor, rushing across the taproom to the front door. Flinging it open with frenzied strength, he pounded down the rickety steps and headed for the bushes, all while wondering why Honey was taking so long in the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, Honeysuckle’s eyes widened in pleased surprise when Dick slid another thick finger in her ass. He removed his hand from her mouth and grabbed his rigid cock, stroking it roughly as his need to bury his cock deep in their woman’s channel and triumphantly claim her overwhelmed him. Dick’s eyes met his brother’s, communicating his rising urgency. Abruptly Peter lifted up on his knees, helping Honey wrap her legs around his waist and slipped his palms down to separate her butt cheeks to ease Dick’s entry. Dick didn’t wait for him to draw a picture. He doused his cock with the bath oil and lined up the dark flushed head with the entrance his fingers were filling. In one smooth movement, he pulled his fingers free and lodged the smooth, round head of his cock inside her ass while Peter silenced her shriek by thrusting his tongue back in her mouth. Water sloshed and rippled. Peter cuddled Honey close to his broad chest as his painfully rigid penis pulsed in her tight, clasping pussy while Dick rocked his hard cock deeper inside with gentle determination. Peter shuddered with pleasure at the sensations of Dick’s cock rubbing against his, separated only by the thin barrier between them. When Dick’s belly was finally rubbing the smooth, soft cheeks of her ass, he inhaled sharply and slid his hands around to cup her breasts, tweaking and tugging on her tight

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nipples. “Now that’s better, isn’t it? A Hieney brothers sandwich with Honey in the middle,” he declared roughly as his heaving chest rested against her back.

***** Dawn was barely a promise when Florian roused the girls before stumbling downstairs to secure the packed breakfast and lunch the innkeeper had promised him the night before. Sleepily, Chrysanthemum and Daffodil stared with disbelief as Honeysuckle stretched like a satisfied cat and hummed as though she had not a care in the world. There was something very odd about her behavior. Daffy watched Honey flounce smugly out of their room and she turned to Chrys with suspicious blue eyes still puffy from her crying jag and observed, “She’s up to something, Chrys. Yesterday she whined all day long about leaving her stupid stable guys. This morning she’s happy as a frog in a pond. She’s slinking around like a satisfied cat after an all-nighter with Timmy and the boys!” As Chrysanthemum twisted her dark hair up in a tight knot she muttered, “We’ll just have to keep an eye on her. Come on, Papa’s waiting on us.” They slung their packs over their shoulders and barreled downstairs to join their father in the dim, chilly taproom. Florian groused at their dawdling and led them out to the waiting powerbikes. Honey mounted hers without delay and used the time it took her sisters to get settled to study her surroundings. There was no sign of her two lovers though they had assured her that they would be keeping an eye on her and her sisters. She squinted up at the weathered sign swinging from the pole that listed precariously to one side in front of the inn. The Flying Fuck. That couldn’t be right, she thought and took a closer look. Dimly she made out the peeling outlines of a duck in flight. Ahhh. The Flying Duck! Well, that certainly made more sense.

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Her discovery was interrupted by the roar of the other powerbikes so she pressed the starter on her own with a shrug. Peter and Dick had promised they would be close by. She would have to take them at their word for now. Honey had an idea that Florian wasn’t going to be nearly as thrilled about her new liaisons as they seemed to think he would be but maybe they knew something she didn’t know. A yawn ambushed her. No wonder. It was the wee hours of the morning before Dick and Peter finally allowed her to creep into the bedroom where Chrys and Daffy were sleeping. They had put up considerable resistance to her leaving them for any reason. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if her papa didn’t agree. Suddenly, she grinned when she remembered the way they had taken charge the evening before while ensuring her incredible pleasure. The brothers were in for a big surprise if they thought she was always going to be as complaisant as she’d been the night before. Once she reached Came-a-lot and located her contact Nathan, she would thoroughly investigate the Hieney brothers. Seeking out secrets was nothing new to her. When she was a girl, she would hide in one of her secret havens observing the odd goings-on around the estate, which is why she knew fairly early on that her mother had a penchant for young male servants in multiple combinations. And Raulf the butler liked to tie his women up and flog them. And Mildred the fat cook had a liaison with Michael the huge blacksmith from the village. When Honeysuckle saw the size of his cock, even she was impressed though she shuddered at the thought of that huge pole pounding into her own pussy. No wonder Mildred was always smiling. With a faint shiver, she brought her attention back to their surroundings and watched the edges of the Dread Forest whiz by. According to her papa, they would be at Came-a-lot Castle before dinnertime. It couldn’t be any too soon for her. She was tired, hungry and surprisingly anxious to be reunited with Peter and Dick. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what she found so attractive and compelling about her

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unexpected lovers but there was no doubt that they had certainly removed all thoughts of the stablemen at home.

***** Dick and Peter were silently trailing Florian and the girls on their quiet air bikes which were newer and far more powerful but made very little sound. Once Honeysuckle had retired the evening before, they had briefly discussed the difficulties of keeping a woman while carrying out their duties as undercover agents for the Crown. It was going to necessitate some adjustments but both men were determined that Honeysuckle was going to be theirs. And though tri-marriage was rare, it wasn’t unheard of, merely requiring the approval of the king. They were sure that their Uncle Arthur would gladly sign the necessary papers for them. There were occasional perks for the nephews of the king and an official signature of approval for a tri-marriage was one of them. Fortunately for them, King Arthur and their mother, Ling–Ling, shared a mother though they did have different fathers. Privately, from the stories Dick and Peter heard about old King Uther, they felt they were lucky to have inherited the genes of twin Warlords Khan instead of Uther’s. When Florian and his daughters arrived safely at the towering white walls of Came-a-lot, the Hieney brothers peeled off and approached the castle from a private route so they could report to their superior officer, Nathan the Sneak. They weren’t on duty, having taken several weeks’ vacation to visit their mother but everywhere they went in the backcountry surrounding Hieney Manor and the small village of Hieney Hamlet, there were faintly disturbing hints of a planned coup. With their professional backgrounds they couldn’t ignore the rumors. Their annoyance at the interruption of their vacation had vanished the moment they met Honeysuckle. That life-changing event made up for everything. Peter gave Nathan a verbal report while Dick labored over the written one. Then while Peter scanned the written report and made any additions necessary, Dick added his own observations in the discussion with Nathan. It was a process that worked well 14

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with them. Nathan eyed them both thoughtfully and finally asked, “So what are you leaving out?” An uncomfortable silence fell over the small cold room next to the dungeon. Then Dick blew out a deep breath and admitted, “We’ve found our woman. We’re trying to work out the logistics of marriage while continuing our undercover work.” “Who is she?” Nathan’s cool expression gave nothing away about his real feelings regarding this new twist. Clearing his throat, Peter replied softly, “Honeysuckle LeFleur. She’s old Florian’s middle daughter.” “One of the girls he went to fetch up to the castle?” “Yeah. One of them,” Dick confirmed. Nathan shuffled the papers on his desk until he found the one he was looking for. He tilted it so he could skim the information and as he read, they noticed a faint but growing grin tugging at his lips. Finally as he let the paper fall back to the desktop he began to laugh. It started out as a chuckle that grew into a great rolling belly laugh. “What’s so funny?” Dick demanded in a growl. “If you tried, you couldn’t have picked a more perfect woman for the two of you,” Nathan declared with a gasp. “I look forward to watching the show. It should be most entertaining.” “Oh, yeah? Well, enlighten us.” “No, no. I think you’ll have to make your own discoveries.” “It seems our little flower’s been holding out on us,” Peter observed with a thoughtful smile. “We might even have to punish her.” Dick met his eyes with a gleam of anticipation and quirked a brow. “Definitely.” “First you’re going to have to get your hands on her and that may not be so easy now that she’s in the castle,” Nathan pointed out with a secret glint in his sharp gray eyes.

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“No problem. We’ll take her out tonight while she’s sleeping.” Peter nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, that’s what we’ll do.” “Tomorrow night,” Dick amended. “When Arthur and Florian have left the castle.” “Well,” Nathan interrupted, “I suggest you make the rest of your plans somewhere out of my hearing as I will no doubt be given the task of tracking down the dastardly kidnappers when they realize she’s missing. And for the goddess’ sake, be imaginative in your hiding place. Don’t make it too easy for me to find you!” Immediately Dick and Peter left the dungeon office, determined to complete their plans and secure a place to keep their wayward woman. It wasn’t easy. They were too well-known in Came-a-lot and their faces with the dark, exotic tilted eyes and beautiful bronzed skin were too distinctive to blend in. Usually that worked in their favor when they were working as none of their targets believed that the Hieney brothers had anything on their mind more serious than their next fuck. But in this case they certainly didn’t want to attract attention. In exasperation Dick suggested that they look farther afield since it soon became obvious that no place in Came-a-lot City would be suitable. They headed for the southern coastal marshland, which was the opposite direction from any ties that they or Honeysuckle had. Deep in the marshes they found the perfect hideout. It was a deserted, reputedly haunted, tall three-level tower that was shunned by all of the nearby villagers. They spent some hours cleaning their new acquisition, obtaining supplies and furnishings from farther down the coast at the port city of Tenz. Faced with delivery difficulties they rented a sturdy boat, loaded their new purchases and returned to the tower. The next evening as darkness cloaked the capital they returned to Came-a-lot to kidnap their bride.

***** Unbeknown to them, they were not the last ones traveling on the road from the LeFleur estate to Came-a-lot. While Dick and Peter zipped along behind Florian and the

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girls, they were in turn followed by Raulf the butler and his new assistant, Timid Timmy. Not long after Florian left with the girls, Raulf had discovered his entire collections of cock rings and floggers were missing. At first, he had accused Timmy of hiding them out of pique and jealousy but with some intensive interrogation using his cock as a lie detector, Raulf had to concede that Timmy was telling the truth. He was also a very accomplished cock-sucker, much to Raulf’s surprise, hence his promotion to dungeon assistant. When they limped into Came-a-lot two days later on the smoking, dilapidated powerbikes at their disposal, they were dismayed to find that lodging was scarce and expensive. Finally, they repaired to a small tavern where they glumly weighed their options while consuming tepid bowls of stew containing mystery meat they were careful not to look at too closely. While Raulf pondered ways to retrieve his property, Timmy daydreamed of caressing Daffodil’s lushly curved ass with the purple flogger. They were unaware that their lucky night had arrived. Before the evening was over they would have a comfortable room and the information they needed. By the time the Dick and Peter returned to Came-a-lot rumors were already rife in the castle that Prince Gareth had staked his claim on Chrysanthemum. They couldn’t have cared less as long as no one tried to stake a claim on Honeysuckle. Dick sauntered up the back stairs to confirm the location of the girls’ suite and was taken aback at the small guard force that blocked the corridor. No story he came up with to account for his presence on that floor impressed them so he went back downstairs to the main hall to meet Peter who reported the same problem existed in the garden. They retired to the local tavern to ponder on a new approach. “Nathan’s in charge of security,” Dick muttered gloomily while staring into his ale. “He’ll have thought of every possible way to get to her.” “That’s true,” Peter agreed thoughtfully. “But I might have an idea.” Dick straightened up with an interested look. “What?”

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“Well.” Peter paused for another swallow and shot a swift glance around the tavern before leaning closer to his brother’s ear. “Gareth’s rigged things so that the girls are working as maids in the castle. I heard he wanted to get to know Chrysanthemum before he springs the news of her claiming on her. Now the same maids who clean the castle clean our guesthouse. Why don’t we ask Susan to send Honey out to clean our place?” “What if they send guards with her?” “I don’t think they will. They’re guarding Chrys and preventing her abduction while she’s sleeping. During the day, she’s with Gary. Virgins are scarce so they’ll keep a sharp eye on her but I bet they let Honey and her little sister wander the castle at will during the day.” Peter tilted his mug, allowing the last drop to plop on his outstretched tongue. “If we are properly prepared we should have no problem taking her straight out the main gate.” Dick gulped down his ale and slammed his mug down on the heavy bar. “Let’s do it!” “Quiet,” Peter hissed. “Do you want the entire city to be on our tails?” “Sorry.” Hopping down from the high barstool, Dick turned toward the door and promptly barreled into a tall conservatively dressed man with short curly gray hair. His dark brown zipsuit and lightly scuffed boots practically shouted “country bumpkin”. With a quick nod, Dick muttered, “Pardon!” “I say,” the man replied. “Perhaps you can help me. I’m looking for lodging close by Came-a-lot Castle. My man and I have arrived only this afternoon.” “What’s your business at the castle?” Peter demanded curiously. “The king is away on the annual Dragon and Virgin Roundup.” “Good, good,” the man said with a predatory gleam in his gray eyes. “That will make it easier to retrieve my property.” “Who are you?” Dick asked in sudden alarm.

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“I am Raulf, the butler for the LeFleur estate. And property of mine was taken by the youngest LeFleur daughter, Daffodil. I am here to retrieve what belongs to me.” Raulf’s firm reply left no doubt that he was a determined man. “How do you plan to accomplish that?” Peter inquired with lively interest. “The LeFleur ladies are under the protection of the castle guard. As a matter of fact, they even have guards in the garden below their windows.” “Surely, there is someone I can lodge my complaint with?” Raulf protested. Dick rubbed his stubbled chin slowly while he considered. “Make an appointment with Prince Gareth,” he suggested abruptly. “It will take a couple of days, probably. In the meantime, you might want to check at the Green Man Inn. They’re a little more costly than most but you’ll be more comfortable there if they have a room.” Raulf nodded his agreement. “Thank you.” He turned and made his way back to his mousy companion who waited at a table in the far corner. Peter ruthlessly dragged Dick out the back door and down the dark alley behind the tavern. “What the hell were you thinking?” he demanded in a fierce whisper. “The Green Man? That’s a hotbed of sedition if the rumors are true!” “Yep. And Nathan will be keeping an eye on it for that very reason. If this Raulf character isn’t who he says he is Nathan will dig out the truth. Daffodil is Honey’s sister and Honey would be upset if anything bad happened to her sister. In the meantime, he’ll take some of the heat off us.” Dick dug his heels in and yanked his arm free. “Now, if you don’t mind, I want to go home.” Peter stared at him for a moment in the darkness while he sorted out Dick’s reasoning. Then he grinned. “Good job. I like it.” “Can we go home then?” Dick asked impatiently. “Yeah. We have a lot of planning ahead of us. It’s going to be another late night, I think.”

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Chapter Two

In which the Hieney Brothers are all tied up The next morning when Susan handed out the daily assignments, Honeysuckle was faintly uneasy when informed that she would be cleaning the Hunting Knight guesthouse. The other maids all looked at each other with sly glances and promptly began to giggle. That didn’t reassure her at all but she gathered the necessary supplies and set off across the Queen’s Garden in search of the guesthouse. Susan’s directions had been sketchy to say the least. By the time she battled her way past knee-high weeds and thorny brambles, she was hot, dirty and annoyed. Who was in charge of this disaster of a garden, anyway? She reached the far side of the garden and approached the Hunting Knight guesthouse cautiously. While she loved the thrill and pleasure of fucking two—or three—men, she was actually quite picky about whom she shared her body with. Her impromptu bathtub party with the Hieney brothers was the first time she had ever been with total strangers. And she was determined it would be the last time she was caught so unaware. She didn’t want to walk into an ambush like the ones she’d avoided in the castle so far. First she walked around the guesthouse, noting the positions of doors and windows. Then she approached the back door with her basket of cleaning supplies, still uneasy but unable to put her finger on what was causing her unsettled feelings. The door swung open under her light touch and she stepped into a huge sunny kitchen. It was a huge sunny spotless kitchen. Immediately she stopped and surveyed her surroundings. Either no one used the kitchen or a maid had already been here to clean the guesthouse. In which case, what was she doing here? Honey deposited her basket on the table and tiptoed to the door to

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peek down the hall. It appeared that no one was at home. And yet the silence didn’t have the same quality that an empty house had. Someone was waiting…for her. With a resigned sigh, she crept down the hall. Then anger rose within her. Whoever waited for her at the other end was in for a surprise. Nothing pissed her off more than being stalked like prey. Raulf might be an asshole butler but he’d been determined that the sisters would never have to submit to a man unless that was their choice and he spent hours training them accordingly. Let the games begin. She passed the game room and Peter stepped out into the hall, positioned perfectly for her attack. One sharp chop to the base of the skull and he slithered toward the floor. She spun him toward her and folded his slack body over her shoulder. As quietly as possible, she carted him into the game room and dumped him on the billiard table. Then she assumed his previous position next to the door and patiently waited for Dick to arrive. While she waited her anger heated to a towering rage as she thought of their planned ambush. In the guest hall, Dick heard a faint thud and then silence stretched out unbearably. Something was not right. Exiting the guest hall through the wide garden doors, he circled the house until he reached the kitchen door. Silently he entered, noting the basket of cleaning supplies on the table. Then with an annoyed shake of his head, he stalked down the hall toward the game room. Obviously Peter was starting without him. When he trotted through the door and saw Peter stretched out on the billiard table, Dick knew he’d made a stupid strategic error. That was his last thought for a while as Honey brought the handle end of a cue stick down on his unprotected head. When Dick woke, he and Peter were cuffed back-to-back with two pairs of lovely padded cuffs Honey had located in one of the cupboards. Unfortunately, they weren’t the quick-release cuffs. It wasn’t called the game room just because you could play billiards in it. As a matter of fact, while heaving Peter onto the table Honeysuckle had immediately suspected that the billiard table was seldom used to actually play billiards.

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Blearily Dick noted that their ankles were tied together with soft bindings. And they were naked. Valiantly ignoring his pounding head, Dick observed the ripped bits and pieces of clothing strewn about the room on his side of the billiard table. Honeysuckle had been a busy, busy girl. His nipples pinched and pulsed. He craned his neck until he could see his chest. Tiny silver nipple rings pierced each nipple. Farther down, his cock jutted out from his body hard as a rock. He would have cursed but a ball gag was stuffed in his mouth. Oh, yeah. Honey had been a busy naughty girl. On his side of the table, Peter was staring at Honey with appalled fascination in his dark eyes. He had the same accoutrements as his brother and Honey was in the process of fastening a stretchy band of rubber around the base of his cock and under his balls. Peter moaned. When it was arranged to her satisfaction she leaned forward and slipped his cock into her mouth for a few minutes, sucking and licking with fierce enjoyment before reluctantly releasing him with a little pop. Peter groaned. Then she moved up and lightly flicked the new nipple rings with her tongue. Behind the ball gag filling his mouth, he howled. She moved away from the table and slowly stripped off her clothing with teasing glances before climbing up onto the billiards table. Pulling and shoving and pushing with tiny grunts, she finally had them sitting upright back-to-back with their long legs hanging over the sides. She released the bindings on their ankles and both men silently groaned when they realized she held silk scarves in her hands…the very silk scarves that had been tucked in Dick’s back pocket. In a quick move, she was straddling Dick’s thighs. She snuggled close so her pussy dripped cream on his balls and his cock pulsed clear drops of pre-cum between their

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bellies. She brushed her breasts against his warm, smooth chest and kissed his jawline from ear to ear, nibbling and nipping before soothing the small bruises with openmouthed kisses. Her mouth brushed against his ear and she whispered, “How does it feel to be taken against your will, lover? You’re hard as a wooden staff. I could take your cock in my pussy and fuck you until you came whether you wanted it or not.” His entire body stiffened when he realized what she was saying and she nipped his earlobe sharply, letting him feel her teeth. “Not so fun, huh? I don’t like being stalked, Dick. Can you tell?” He growled behind the ball gag. “Hmm.” She licked a trail down to his hard little nipples, now tiny points standing up proudly with the plain, little silver rings dangling. A light flick on the nearest one elicited a louder growl. Honeysuckle reached up behind his head, loosened the gag and removed it. “You were saying?” He wiggled his jaw to loosen the stretched muscles and then grated out, “You made your point! Next time trying talking.” She quirked an innocent, inquiring eyebrow. “Like you did?” He stared into her angry sparkling green eyes for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Fair enough. No more games.” “Oh, I wouldn’t go that far,” she protested with a small grin. “All right. Let us have this agreement,” he suggested soberly. “No games unless we all agree on the parameters.” Smiling with relief, she brushed his mouth with her lips, slipped her tongue inside to tangle with his and rubbed her nipples gently against his chest. Tilting her head back, she softly admitted, “I’ve missed you guys. Now sit still. I need to go discuss this with Peter. We want to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

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Honey slipped off his lap and crawled over to nestle in Peter’s lap. Since he’d already heard her discussion with Dick, he’d had time to think it over and understand her concerns. When she removed his gag he was ready. He covered her mouth with his, kissing her with hungry abandon. In reflex she clutched his shoulders and hung on while their tongues fought a fluid, silky duel. When he lifted his mouth away from hers, he said, “I agree totally. No more stalking games. Now please! Release us so we can make love to you properly. I need you. I want you. It’s been too long.” When his cock pulsed against her belly she reached down to lightly stroke it. “Too long? It was only two nights ago that you and Dick nearly fucked me blind.” On his side of the table, Dick’s teeth snapped together in frustration. “Not even close. When we get you near a bed again, we’ll make sure that you know exactly who you belong to. You’re our mate. Now are you going to unlock the cuffs?” With an impish grin she leaned over and picked up the key which was on the ledge of the billiard table. Standing up on the tabletop, she bent over, placed it in Dick’s hand and patted his fingers. “I’ll leave you guys to work it out. I’m going to find the bathroom. After wading through that patch of weeds that passes for the Queen’s Garden, I need a shower,” she observed before she hopped down, gathered up her clothes and whisked out the door. Dick grunted as he struggled to fit the key in the cuff around Peter’s wrist. “I’ll say one thing,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “She’s a hell of a woman. I think that Nathan was holding out on us.” Peter snarled. “What was your first clue?” “I think it was the vision of you sprawled on top of this table. What happened?” “Me? I was following the plan. When I stepped out in the hall, she was wedged in that little alcove next to the door. Blam! Right in the back of the neck.” He felt the cuff spring open. “Great, I’m loose. Give me a minute to turn around and I’ll get us out of these. What happened to you?”

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Dick huffed out a deep breath. “Stupidity. I heard a thud. When you didn’t call me, I thought maybe one of Nathan’s boys had come to visit so I walked around the house and came in the kitchen door. I saw Honey’s basket on the table so then I decided that the two of you were getting started without me. As I came in the door, she whacked me with a cue stick.” “She’s creative when she’s pissed off.” Peter finished unlocking the cuff and in a few moments the men were free. While Peter gingerly peeled off the cock ring, Dick poked one of his new nipple rings with a tentative finger. “I’m sore,” he observed, “but not nearly as tender as I should be. Even as fast as we heal, there should be more pain.” The men stared at each other in dawning awareness. “Nathan. A healer would have speed-healed the piercings. And there’s no way that she wrestled us up onto that table by herself.” Peter stroked his abused cock gently. “I think that our Honey needs to be punished for calling in outside help.” “Actually,” Gareth interrupted as he climbed through the open window behind them, “she was doing quite well when I showed up. Peter, you were already on the billiard table. And Dick, she was in the process of heaving your worthless carcass up next to him. If I hadn’t helped, you would have had more bruises.” “Thanks, cousin,” Dick said dryly. “We really appreciate your assistance. Whose idea was it to use the cuffs?” “Mine,” Gareth said modestly. “She was going to use that silver tape we import from Earth—duct tape?” The brothers shuddered. “I helped her locate the cuffs instead. And she found the new speed-piercing gun you stashed in the bottom drawer under the blindfolds. It heals as it pierces, though that wouldn’t have made much difference to her in the long run as ticked off as she was. You guys owe me. She had plans to pierce your nuts. I talked her into waiting until the wedding… There is going to be a wedding, right?”

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“Oh, yeah. Right after we paddle her sweet bottom and fuck the darling blind. Tell your father she’s claimed.” Dick strode determinedly toward the door. “Are you coming, Peter?” “I’m right behind you. Don’t start without me.” He turned to Gareth. “We’re taking her out of Came-a-lot. Too many weird things are going on here.” “Wise decision. You know some guy named Raulf?” “We met him last night at the Lusty Ale. Why?” he asked curiously. Gareth grinned. “He showed up this morning at the Castle and claimed Daffodil. They’re on their way back to Florian’s estate even as we speak. So all of them are settled. I think I did better than my father expected.” Peter laughed. “Chrysanthemum and you? Congratulations!” “Thank you!” Gareth turned and locked the window. “Make sure you lock up the rest of the guesthouse.” Belatedly it occurred to Peter to ask, “Why did you come through the window?” “Because she tricked me into leaving and locked me out. It will take two of you to keep her in line,” Gareth muttered grimly. “May you have a lot of fun trying.” Peter picked up the silk scarves and smoothed the wrinkles with his palm. “No problem. We have a plan.” Gareth shook his head and laughed. “Famous last words, Peter. Famous last words. I’ll talk to you later!” he called as he walked out. Fisting the scarves in his hand, Peter went to find Dick and Honeysuckle. They were still in the shower. Honeysuckle was curled on her knees, eagerly sucking Dick’s cock while Dick leaned against the wall with his legs spread. Peter stepped into the wide steamy stall and knelt down behind her. His chest tightened as he watched Dick’s cock shuttle in and out, gripped in the lush grasp of her wet mouth. He rested his head on her shoulder as he reached around to cup the soft round weight of her breasts in his hands. Unable to resist the lure of her

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tight, crinkled nipples, he gently pinched and rolled them, squeezing and playing with them until they stood up proudly. He longed to see them pierced with the silver mating rings he and Dick had purchased. Honey’s ass wriggled as she pressed against his belly. He slipped one hand down between her legs, checking her readiness for his cock. Then he nuzzled her wet hair aside with his nose before nudging her ear with his tongue. “Spread your knees, Honey,” he murmured in her ear. When she complied, he slid between her legs, fit the weeping head of his cock at her entrance and pulled her down into his lap, thrusting deep and filling her completely. Her incredible heat and warmth enveloped him with the wonderful sense of homecoming. He groaned with the heavy pleasure of knowing that this small loving woman was theirs. When Peter’s cock filled her empty pussy Honey’s moan vibrated around the thick cock filling her mouth. The scents of musky male arousal mingled with the pungent mint soap. The fat, bulbous head of Dick’s cock dragged across her tongue and the roof of her mouth. Honey bounced on Peter’s rigid cock, reveling in the sensations of being filled to the hilt while Peter gripped her hips with his strong fingers. Dick groaned and rolled his hips as he grasped her head in gentle hands. Steaming water poured down from the waterfall fixture in the ceiling, filling the stall with warm fog. Abruptly the water cut off and the sound of dripping was loud in the silence. As their orgasms inexorably approached it was a race to completion. Dick leaned over her head and braced his hands on the stall wall behind her as he urged in the steamy heat, “That’s the way, Honey. Suck it harder. Harder!” Suddenly, he pulsed against her tongue and jets of hot, creamy fluid filled her mouth. Rippling contractions raced through her belly as her pussy frantically milked Peter’s cock, setting off his roaring climax. Slippery cream bathed his balls as she shuddered and leaned back against his chest. Dick’s cock slid from her mouth and he hunched over to cover her soft lips with a loving kiss.

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Peter held her tightly wedged against him as they slowly came down from the spiraling heights of orgasm. He lightly nipped her neck and then soothed the hurt with his kiss. “Can you tell that we missed you?” he teased. “Never again,” Dick vowed. “You aren’t going to leave us again for any reason.” With a groan, he straightened up and stretched. “Is that so?” she inquired tiredly with a sleepy sigh as she cuddled in Peter’s embrace. “Shouldn’t the king have something to say about that?” Dick laughed and turned the shower back on. He pulled Honey up from Peter’s lap and began to gently spread the soft minty soap over her body. “He’ll sign the papers. No problem.” Peter slowly climbed to his feet and readily agreed. “He’s already agreed to sign them whenever we find the woman we want. And we want you. Definitely. For life.” “Funny,” she observed with a faint hint of disappointment. “I don’t recall hearing a proposal from anyone. Perhaps I’m going deaf? Maybe I missed it?” “Don’t be a smart-ass.” Peter slid his hands between her legs and soaped her swollen folds tenderly. “You know you belong to us.” “Not without a proposal,” she replied firmly but adamantly. “Until then, we’re just friendly lovers.” With that, she rinsed off and left the shower while the brothers contemplated her demand.

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Chapter Three

In which Honeysuckle visits a Haunted Tower Leaving the castle at Came-a-lot proved to be depressingly easy. Honeysuckle wasn’t happy about the outfit Dick presented for her use but her lover assured her that they would provide new clothing at the first big town they came to. Of course he didn’t volunteer the information that there were no big towns between Came-a-lot and the tower that was their destination. If he had, she might not have been quite so quick to accept the short, narrow skirt that barely covered essentials and a peekaboo top with no back. The sun was hot when they left Came-a-lot with Honey riding behind Peter on his powerful little bike. Almost immediately she discovered a major disadvantage to riding pantyless on a powerbike. It was breezy. The powerbike’s fine pulsations excited her clit and soon her warm pussy was vibrating on a slick, damp leather seat. Her tensed legs desperately clutched Peter’s firm thighs. She plastered her chest against his broad back and wound her arms around his waist…accidentally resting her hands on his rigid cock. Oh, yeah, that was good. She shivered in the cool air and squeezed his cock. The powerbike took a quick dive to the left, heading for a huge oak tree. Peter yanked it back to the center of the path and bellowed, “Get your hands off my cock!” With a tiny shrug, she slid her hands up until she reached the hard contours of his chest. His nipples were tiny points against the slick zipsuit fabric. She rubbed slow circles around them, nudging the new nipple rings on each trip around. This time the bike veered off to the right, clipped some weeds on the edge of the path and abruptly rose three feet in the air. Peter wrestled with the controls until the

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bike returned to the path, cursing loud enough for her to hear every blistering word over the rush of the wind. She trailed her hands down his ribs until they were waist level and demurely wound them around his waist. With her breasts rubbing against Peter’s back her nipples stood at attention in no time. It was a good thing she was generating so much internal heat because her clothing certainly didn’t provide much protection on the back of a powerbike. Once they entered the southern woods, it wasn’t long before they made a quick stop at Honey’s insistence so that Peter could stuff her into his leather coat. Dick fished a pair of heavy wool socks out of his bag and slipped them over her bare feet and chuckled when they were long enough to reach her knees. Their sophomoric joke was going to backfire big-time. Clearly a miniskirt with no panties and a skimpy halter top weren’t the best choices for a woman riding on a powerbike. He shuddered at the thought of her reaction when she found out he had more appropriate clothing for her in his bag, especially after they had solemnly promised to straighten up. With the new additions to her wardrobe, she settled back in her place against Peter’s warm back on the powerbike and they resumed their journey to the tower, arriving early in the afternoon. The tower’s grim silhouette was stark against the storm clouds billowing out to sea. A freshening breeze tossed the trees like so many dancing ladies while the waves at the edge of the marshland crashed on the rocky shore with a muted roar. She shivered in the damp wind. Huddled in Peter’s coat, Honey was still staring up at the deserted stone tower in astonished fascination when he soberly plucked her from the back of the bike and carried her inside. Her wet pussy was throbbing and vibrating from the bike ride so her attention centered on getting the two men naked as quickly as possible. She had only vague impressions of the interior as Peter trotted up the stairs that wound around and around the outer wall until they reached the top floor. When he reached the final landing, he carried her across the icy open room and deposited her on the wide bed

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beneath a tall, skinny window. He draped a heavy blanket around her and went to start a fire in the hearth. Dick arrived right behind them with the bags they had lashed on the back of his bike. Dumping them down on the big refectory table in the center of the room, he immediately pounded back down the steps to fetch more firewood. Once the fire was snapping and crackling in the fireplace, Peter returned to the bed and pulled the covers down. “Get under the covers, Honey, until the fire warms the room. And please give me my coat back.” Annoyed at the delay in her private plans, she tartly pointed out, “If I had adequate clothing, I wouldn’t need to keep warm in bed. I would be able to help out!” “Shh. Just do as I ask for now,” Peter said patiently. He shivered in the cool air and his nipples tightened, reminding him of the rings she’d given him and Dick. “Be happy we don’t warm your ass for piercing our nipples!” She rapidly stripped off his coat and her two inadequate pieces of clothing and the heavy socks and crawled naked under the blankets, howling when her body brushed the icy sheets. “Stars of Avalon! These sheets are cold!” Goose bumps roughened her skin as she shivered. “Stay covered up! As soon as we get things settled, we’ll get in bed with you and warm you up. In the meantime I have some bed bricks heating by the fire. When they’re hot enough, I’ll slip them under the covers to warm your feet.” Peter shrugged his coat on and grabbed a pitcher from the sideboard. He disappeared into the bathroom and she heard water running before he reappeared, depositing the pitcher on the table. Humming tunelessly, he moved around the room, rooting out a huge cast-iron pot from the cupboard which he filled with water from the pitcher and set on the edge of hearth near the crackling flames. While she watched, he added a chunk of ham, onions cut in half and two scoops of dried purple nagah beans from the food safe. By the time he finished with that, Dick reappeared with an armload of wood and a burlap bag which he set on the table. 31

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“Great! Just in time. Are the bikes hidden?” When Dick tilted his head back and yawned like a great lazy cat, his dark, tangled hair slithered down his spine. Honey’s palms itched with the need to feel the black silk running through her hands. He gathered the mass up with impatient hands and nodded as he tied it back with a leather string. “Everything is closed up. Shall I bring up more wood? It’s freezing in here.” “Yeah. We’ll need to fill the wood box. I’ll help you as soon as I finish getting the soup started.” Peter rummaged in the burlap bag, producing half a dozen carrots, a clove of garlic and two yellow peppers. He wielded the knife with confident grace. Reflections glittered in the firelight as the silvery blade danced and the mounds of diced vegetables filled a waiting plate. By the time he chopped and added them to the soup, the water was gently steaming. Gathering up the wet peels and papery scraps he deposited them in the refuse basket and carried them downstairs. Several more trips up and down the stairs were necessary before the wood box was filled to the top. When the bed bricks were warm, Peter paused to slide them in their wrappers and slip them between the sheets. Immediately, Honey snuggled her numb toes on the warm brick at her feet. The men peeled off their coats and hung them on the hooks by the door. Dick carefully closed and barred the door with the heavy wood plank. Honey’s eyes flickered open. She silently admired the taut swell of muscle in his back as he quietly settled the bar in place before turning to face the bed. “We need more coverings for the bed,” he pointed out quietly. “And don’t we have a light?” “Lanterns are in the chest. Blankets are in that trunk at the foot of the bed. While you’re in there, get some towels for the bathroom.” Peter went to the hearth, added two more heavy chunks of wood to the fire and checked the pot of soup. He sniffed delicately. “This will be ready in time for dinner.” “Smells good. I’m starving. Do we have some bread to eat with the soup?” Peter laughed and shook his head. “If you think I’m making bread tonight…” 32

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“Ooh. Hot bread sounds delicious,” Honey muttered sleepily from beneath her mound of blankets. “Hot bread with butter and honey.” “No bread,” Peter said firmly. “It’s too cold in here for it to rise. I can make some dumplings to drop in the soup, if you’d like.” “I could go for that,” Dick teased as he came out of the bathroom after piling fresh towels on the bench next to the deep tub. “I started a fire in the bathroom heater. It’s so cold in there Honey would freeze to the seat if she had to use it. Damn! Why is it so cold in here?” “Someone, who shall remain nameless, left the windows open the last time we were here.” Peter’s wry tone stopped Dick in his tracks. “Oh shit! I opened them because of the fumes from that cleaner we used.” He snuffled noisily. “I think the fumes are gone.” “So is the heat. It’ll probably take a week to get it warm in here.” Dick shot a curious look at his brother. “I don’t know about you but that’s okay with me. I’ll be happy to keep warm by staying in bed with Honey.” “Somehow I knew you would say that.” Peter carefully covered the pot on the hearth and swiftly cleaned up the rest of his cooking mess as Dick methodically went from window to window, making sure they were all tightly closed and locked. By the time they began peeling their clothing off, Honey was dozing in the warm bed. Peter slipped in on one side and Dick slid in on the other. Honey’s eyes flicked open as she complained, “Hey, what’s going on? You guys have cold feet. Did I tell you to get in here with your cold bodies?” “I told you we’d warm you up,” Peter reminded her as his hands found and cupped her soft breasts. He tugged at her tight nipples and she whimpered. “I just didn’t say how. Mmmm. You’re so soft and sexy, Honey.” Dick tilted her hips back so that her ass was cradled against him and his cock was snug between her legs. Then he draped an arm over her hip and slid his hand down to

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cover her pussy. The ball of his hand lightly ground against her clit while he leisurely found her wet, wet entrance and thrust two fingers inside. “This is the way it will be for the rest of our lives,” he muttered in her ear. “The three of us sleeping together, loving together, living together. You’re ours whether we marry or not.” She moaned. “What if I say no? So far, nearly all of our time has been spent in bed. Someday we’ll have to do more than eat and fuck,” she pointed out bluntly. Pulling his fingers free from her pussy, Dick sat up and stuffed a pillow behind his back. “All right. What would you like to do?” “Talk.” “Talk. Any particular subject?” “For two days you’ve been saying that we’re going to be together for the rest of our lives. Well,” she swallowed before demanding, “what do you think our life will be like? What are your plans? As much as you might like it, we can’t spend our lives in bed!” Peter rolled her so that they both faced Dick with her head tucked in the crook of Peter’s neck. “I would like to hear this answer too, Honey.” “Children,” Dick replied abruptly. “We want children.” Honey’s brows went up and she frowned. “How many?” He shrugged and nervously tugged the leather tie from his hair. “As many as we can. Usually our kind don’t have more than four but I would like to try anyway.” “Our kind.” Thoughtfully, she stared at Dick’s stoic expression. “Care to explain that phrase?” He shook his head, setting the black silky mass free. “Not at this time. Maybe later.” Tilting her head so she could see Peter’s face, she asked, “Do you have anything to add to this sparkling conversation?” He looked away, avoiding her eyes. “We haven’t ever claimed another woman.”

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“Now that’s a lie,” she declared fiercely. “I might have only been in Came-a-lot for two days but there were plenty of women who were anxious to tell me all about the Hieney brothers!” Dick reached over to touch her face with a gentle finger. “We’ve never declared there were no other women before you. But claiming…” He deliberated for a moment before continuing, “Claiming means there will be no other women from our first time at the inn. Ever. Until we die, you are our only woman. For us, claiming is an assertion of intent much as it is for Gareth.” “That sounds suspiciously like a proposal.” “Not yet.” He sat back and pursed his lips, obviously trying to come to a difficult decision about something. Finally, he tilted his head and admitted, “Peter and I must complete an assignment before we are free to take on the responsibilities of a wife and family. We beg your patience and indulgence.” “And if I say no?” she asked, repeating her earlier question. “Well,” Peter replied between alternating delicate nibbles on the taut, corded muscle of her neck, “I suppose we’ll have to keep you here until we convince you. Personally, I’m in no hurry to return to Came-a-lot. Are you, Dick?” “Nope. No hurry at all. We still have quite a bit of vacation due. We gave Nathan our report and he knows he can reach us on our communicators. There’s plenty of wood and food in the lower tower. I would say that we’re set.” Dick slid down in the bed and burrowed his face in the hollow of her throat, carefully nipping the soft, vulnerable skin to emphasize his point. He laved the little stinging nip with his tongue, savoring her taste. Honeysuckle shuddered. “Why me?” Peter nuzzled her ear and whispered, “Because you’re the only woman we’ve found that we need more than life. You’re ours. We knew from the minute we saw you in that inn that you belonged to us.” He nipped her earlobe. “Don’t you?”

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Honey struggled to think. For certain, her parents hadn’t been good role models for marriage. Florian had taken off as soon as he could, leaving his wife Fauna to keep the estate together. And Fauna hadn’t let any grass grow under her feet when it came time to take a lover or two or three. Once she knew Daffodil had taken Raulf for a lover Fauna had shaken the dust of the estate from her dainty feet and joined a group of traveling acrobats. What if a marriage with Dick and Peter didn’t last? What if they decided they wanted someone else? Forlornly, she admitted, “I don’t know. I don’t think I can belong to anyone.” Peter grazed her shoulder with his teeth before brushing her hair away so he could bite the nape of her neck, not hard enough to break the skin but with enough pressure that she knew he was there. “Maybe we’ll have to punish you for doubting us, sweetheart. Would you like that?” he asked just as he lightly spanked her ass. Honey shuddered and the scent of her arousal filled the cozy confines of the bed. “We still haven’t punished her for piercing our nipples without permission. And when we finish with that, I think we should return the favor and pierce her nipples for her. We have those pretty silver mating rings we bought at the fair in Ship Town.” Dick slid a thick finger down to circle her needy clit. “What? No, no, no,” Honey muttered while rocking her hips between the two men. “You can’t do that.” “Why not? You pierced ours after you knocked us out. Not nice, Honey.” Peter lightly smacked her ass again before gently smoothing his hands over it. He grunted in irritation when his communicator buzzed and he reluctantly rolled from the bed to retrieve it from his blue zipsuit’s pouch. When he read the message, he cursed and told his bed partners, “Fuck. Our playtime’s over. That was Gareth. Uncle Arthur’s been kidnapped.” “What?” Dick frowned at Peter. “Maybe he’s pulling our legs?” “Uncle Arthur?” Honey demanded.

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“No, he’s asking us to return to the castle immediately. And yes, Honey, he’s our uncle.” Dick’s communicator buzzed and he sat up and caught the green zipsuit that Peter tossed to him. His message was from Nathan and it reiterated Gareth’s information. “Return to castle ASAP. Arthur abducted by Blue Knight.” He tapped Honeysuckle’s butt. “Come on, Honey. Time to go back to work.” Loath to leave the warm bed, nevertheless he crawled from under the heavy blankets, reluctantly went to his bag, pulled out a pale golden zipsuit and tossed it on the bed. “Get dressed.” When she held it up and realized the full extent of their duplicity she stormed out of bed, howling at the top of her lungs, “You let me freeze to death riding down here on that damned powerbike and you had this in your bag? Have you lost your minds?” Peter pursed his lips before neatly inserting his giant foot in his mouth, “Payback is a—” “Don’t even say it,” she panted furiously. “You better have shoes or boots in one of those bags or you’ll find out exactly how bitchy I can be!” “Oooh. Now I’m scared.” Dick shook his head at her. “Nathan wouldn’t confirm it for us but clearly you are part of his team. Start acting like it. This isn’t about us now. This is about the king.” She snorted in disgust. “Remember this! I get mad and I also get even.” Yanking the suit on, she smoothed the fastening shut and stalked barefoot over to Dick’s bags. “Shoes?” He rummaged in the bag and pulled out a wrapped bundle. Dropping it at her feet, he said, “Boots and socks.” “Coat? It will be dark before we get back,” she observed with a shiver. “Winter’s coming fast this year.” Peter pulled a lightweight thermal coat from his bag. “Coat.” With regret he looked at his pot of soup on the hearth. “We’re going to have to throw out the soup. I was really looking forward to it too.” 37

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Dick frowned at a flickering memory and then said, “Wait a minute, Peter. When I was putting the bikes away, I saw a couple of youngsters checking their traps. Maybe they would like to take it home with them. I’ll go see if I can track them down.” “Don’t take too long,” Peter warned him. “Honey and I will finish shutting up the tower and get the bikes ready.” By the time Dick pounded up the winding steps with two thin, shivering young teen boys, Peter had pulled the pot from the fire so it could cool and Honey had the bed made. Everything was put away and the bikes were waiting at the foot of the tower. Dick introduced his two scrawny companions, Squirrel and Buzzard, and indicated the pot. “Let it cool completely and then you can carry it home. Remember our deal— return the pot clean and lock the door behind you. Right?” Both boys nodded emphatically. “All right. We’re going now. I trust you to take care of things.” Dick turned and headed down the stairs with Honeysuckle and Peter on his heels. “Where did you find our young friends?” Peter muttered. “They were trying to catch a rabbit without success. Their father was hurt in an accident and food’s getting scarce at home without any income. I paid them to watch the tower while we’re gone.” “How much?” Peter asked with a slight grin. “Enough to keep the family in food until their father’s back on his feet.” Honey and Peter chuckled at Dick’s curt defensive reply. “Good,” Honey said with a reluctant smile. “I’m glad you found a way for them to take the help without damaging their pride.” She hugged Dick and kissed him with gentle approval. Peter nodded. “How many in the family?” he asked with professional interest. “Seven. Squirrel gave me the lowdown on the area residents. I think he might prove to be a very useful informant.” Dick flashed him a smile. “He’s a very bright observant young man. On the other hand Buzzard appears to be a case of quiet waters hiding a

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raging whirlpool. Nathan’s arranging a transfer of funds today.” He mounted his bike and pressed the starter and it purred quietly. “Ready?” Peter waited until Honey was settled firmly against his back and nodded. “Ready.” As Honey predicted they didn’t arrive back at Came-a-lot until well after dark. Down in his dungeon office, Nathan had a hot meal waiting so that they could eat while he briefed them. “Any word on why the Blue Knight abducted the king?” Peter asked curiously. “Information is sketchy at the moment but a page named Stinky was apparently hiding nearby when the king was taken. As he reported the conversation the abduction had something to do with a dragon named Percival.” Nathan scratched the pale brown cropped hair on his head. “It doesn’t sound right to me. What would a dragon have to do with a coup? Dragons don’t get involved in politics.” “Maybe we should go up there and find this dragon?” Dick suggested idly. “See what he wants?” “No. I want you to stay here in the castle with Gareth and Chrysanthemum. Gareth’s arranged for you to have the suite next to his. We’ve sent word to all of his brothers to be on guard and we also notified that fellow Raulf who claimed Daffodil. He’s taking her to a safe place until we know what this is all about. In the meantime, get some rest because I believe things are going to get very interesting very quickly.”

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Chapter Four

In which Honeysuckle meets a Unicorn The castle was very quiet for the next two days. Peter and Dick went out to the taverns and inns, collecting intelligence while Honeysuckle roamed the lower levels of the castle, gossiping with the maids and footmen. Much to her amusement she found that her new status as the Hieney brothers’ woman kept the footmen at arm’s length. They were very, very respectful now that she was no longer available. Though her attempt to make friends with Queen Vivian’s maid Madelyn was unsuccessful, she did garner a few interesting tidbits. Apparently, Vivian had a brother who was seeking a royal wife. And Vivian herself had a new gentleman friend who was no gentleman according to the other maids. Many had bruises on their butts as souvenirs. When she reported her news to Nathan, his face turned black with fury. His daughter was one of the maids. Rumors flew thick and furious about a possible coup but no one came up with a name. Clearly, none of Arthur’s sons was involved but no coup would succeed without someone to replace the king. In the midst of the flurry of activity, Chrysanthemum and Gareth disappeared in a well engineered escape with Nathan’s help. Honeysuckle knew, of course, that they were headed for the Solomon’s Choice Abbey to get married but the rest of the castle inhabitants were in the dark, including Queen Vivian. Once their disappearance was made public that seemed to be the signal for the changing of the guard. Men in black zipsuits overpowered the castle troops and spread throughout the castle and city, seeking out anyone who was loyal to Arthur. The castle servants were rounded up and herded down to the dungeon. Honeysuckle hadn’t been idle during her service as a maid. When she realized the coup was in progress she slipped into one of the linen closets that had a dumbwaiter and hid in it between floors until she was certain the searchers had moved on. She had no difficulty in slipping 40

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down the hidden passages to the secret Round Dungeon of the Knights to meet Nathan. He destroyed his communications center and then led her through the narrow, dark tunnels that wound out under the walls to the river where they met with all the Crown agents who escaped. Three of them reported that proclamations from Vivian’s new lover were already posted, declaring Nathan and all of his agents outlaws. Huge rewards were listed, especially for Nathan, Dick and Peter. With great relief, Honey greeted Dick and then a few moments later Peter when they arrived. The men discussed arrangements with Nathan while Honey simply nestled in Peter’s arms, pondering how she could have become attached to her men so quickly and completely. Her mind drifted back to their time at the tower. It had been far too short with mere hints to show what their lives could be like. Suddenly, their discussion finished, Dick led as the trio moved away, heading upriver for the next crossing, leaving Nathan and his group behind. “Where are we going?” Honey asked softly, aware of the possibility of listening ears even out in the open. “We’re heading north,” Dick replied in a low growl. “We may go all the way up to the northern coast. We’ll see what happens as we travel.” “Where is Nathan going?” Peter took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. “We offered the tower as a temporary headquarters for him. That’s one reason we’re going the opposite direction.” She shook her head and wondered why she always seemed to be dressed inappropriately for an escape. “Walking? Again? I don’t suppose it will be possible to get some more practical clothing and shoes?” At her long-suffering tone, Dick laughed. “Actually, we have a small cabin about an hour from here with supplies and powerbikes. We added clothing and other things specifically for you before we traveled down to the tower. We’ll spend the night there and move on tomorrow.”

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She stared at him for a moment before a huge yawn suddenly overcame her. “It’s lucky for you, I’m too tired to get seriously annoyed at your presumption,” she observed through another yawn. “An hour, huh? This would have been much easier if you and Peter had allowed me to actually sleep last night.” “Don’t worry, darling. You’ll make it. And when we get there Peter will gladly make something for supper while you take a nap.” Dick turned onto a path that led down along the riverbank which was lined with soft grass and much easier on her bare feet. “Tell me something,” she muttered as they trod along the narrow bank. “Why is it always Peter who cooks?” Peter snorted and replied, “Because his food is inedible and smells awful. I cook out of self-preservation. Anyway it’s not so bad. He hauls in the firewood and puts the bikes away.” “Do a perimeter check. Fetch fresh ale and eggs from the village,” Dick added with droll humor. “Believe me, he has the better part of the chores by cooking. Don’t feel too sorry for him.” She had to wonder what they planned for her to do while they were cooking and shopping. “So what will I be doing while you’re cooking and shopping?” she asked curiously. “You rest.” Dick and Peter’s firm retort in unison left no room for doubt about their feelings. Something wasn’t right about the situation. While she would be happy to rest and give her aching feet a chance to recover, she wasn’t a slacker by nature. “So I’m supposed to lounge around and watch you work? Like some sort of kept woman?” “You rest so that when we’re through working, you’re ready for us to fuck you until none of us can move,” Peter said bluntly. “Ah. Exactly like a kept woman. Well, that’s certainly clear. It’s nice to know that I’m just a piece of meat to you guys.” She pulled her hand from Peter’s clasp and 42

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crossed her arms defensively as she stalked away from them, her heart a chunk of lead weight in her chest. Stupid woman. Did she really think they wanted more than a bed partner? Dick grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face him. “You don’t understand, do you?” She shrugged his hand away. “What’s to understand? Peter’s statement was certainly clear enough.” When she would have turned back to the trail, they bracketed her and held her still. Peter tugged her back against his chest and hugged her gently, cupping her breasts in his big, warm hands while Dick leaned into her, covering her trembling lips with his. Peter whispered in her ear, “Don’t you know that we can barely hold two thoughts together when you’re near us? I’m sorry if I was too blunt, sweetheart. You’re everything to us. Everything. If we could do what we wanted, what we needed, we would never let you out of bed. As it is, it’s a struggle to not take you here on the trail. We need you constantly. Do you think there’s ever been another woman that had us in this constant state of arousal?” He nipped her ear. “Not likely.” Dick lifted his head and stared into her eyes. “We love you. We want you. We need you.” He rubbed a gentle thumb across her cheeks, swiping the slow, rolling tears from her face. Then he slipped a hand beneath her skirt, covering her mound while burying one thick finger in her slick pussy. “We need to touch you constantly, Honey. It’s a deep, gnawing ache in us. Do you understand?” In emphatic emphasis, he added another finger and pumped them in and out in a decadent rhythm while Peter pulled her blouse down beneath her breasts and gently pinched her hard nipples, rolling them between his calloused fingers. “No.” She knuckled the tears from her eyes and shook her head. “I don’t understand but that’s better than thinking I’m only a sex toy. What I feel for you is too important for me to allow you to use me like that. I won’t let you use me like that. I need to be something other than your bedmate.”

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“You’re not a toy. You’re our woman.” Peter growled low in her ear. “Our only woman. Dick has the papers for Uncle Arthur to sign once this mess is cleared up. You’re our mate as long as we live.” He released her breasts and gently tugged her blouse back into place while Dick pulled his fingers from her hungry pussy and cleaned them off with long, leisurely strokes of his tongue. With a sudden weight lifted from her heart, she couldn’t resist teasing though her pussy still throbbed with slow pulses and her nipples still tingled, “Proposal? Do I hear a proposal here?” Peter smacked her ass lightly. “We’ll get to that when we arrive at the cottage. Now walk!” By early afternoon they had reached the cottage, a small one-roomed shabby hut deep in the woods. Honey eyed it in misgiving as she followed them inside. As usual with anything that was connected to her lovers, the inside of the cottage was snug and clean with plain, sturdy furnishings. A heavy quilt covered the wide bed in the corner. The scarred table with three wooden chairs was situated near the hearth. And there was a tiny bathroom with a toilet, a miniscule sink and skinny shower stall. She eyed the shower while she sat on the commode and decided there would be no sexy games in there. Not even all of their creativity together would find a way to fit two of them in that stall, let alone three. That left the bed, which was fine with her. She yawned as she washed her hands and face and then went out into the main room. A nap was beginning to sound like a fine idea to her. Peter had a chair situated in front of the hearth with a shallow tub of steaming water in front of it. “Come sit down here, Honey.” “I thought I was going to take a nap?” Another yawn had her eyes watering. “First I’m going to clean your feet after they soak a bit. I bet you have bruises on top of bruises.” Peter led her to the chair and waited until she was comfortable. When her feet were soaking in the tub, he draped a fuzzy knit blanket over her shoulders. “Rest. I’ll be back to take care of your feet as soon as I finish starting our meal.” 44

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She yawned again. “How long can we stay here? I am so tired.” “Unfortunately, we’ll need to leave first thing in the morning but at least we won’t have to walk. Dick and I were discussing our options. We think the only safe place for us will be Sher Wood.” “Sher Wood?” “Uh-hmm. Robin has a permanent camp up there that’s well hidden. We’re pretty sure he’ll loan us a cottage until it’s safe. In the meantime Dick went into the nearest village to see what the locals know.” Peter chopped vegetables and finely minced meat before scraping it all into a big iron pot to brown in a bit of butter. When it was nicely browned, he added water, a generous scoop of the purple nagah beans and three chopped tomatoes to the mix and covered it. “Sher Wood. You’re trying to convince me Robin Hood is a real person?” She jerked the blanket tighter around her shoulders and frowned at him. “He’s a real person. You’ll meet him and his band tomorrow.” He knelt at her feet, dipped a soft cloth into the water and added a small dollop of fragrant minty soap. The scent was one she already associated with them. She sniffed and caught the scent of his arousal. The combined scents of musky male and mint were so ingrained in her senses now that her body came to instant attention. Shifting restlessly on the hard seat, she gave into the urge to spread her legs a tiny bit to ease the wet, swollen folds. Her clit pulsed to the rhythm of his hands stroking her feet and silky cream slowly leaked from her pussy. With a knowing grin, he moved his hand higher up to stroke her heel and ankle. She squirmed, pressing down hard against the wooden seat. “Problem?” he inquired softly. “No, no problem,” she replied with grim determination. “Your nipples are trying to poke through your blouse. Are you sure?” “I’m sure.”

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“Maybe you would be more comfortable without that skirt and blouse.” He stood up and lifted the blanket away, draping it over the chair behind her. “Let me help you undress.” “Aren’t we going to wait for Dick?” she burst out curiously as he slipped her blouse over her head, revealing her flushed breasts with tightly furled rosy nipples. “I thought you came as a pair?” He helped her to her feet and eased her skirt up over her head. Tsking at the damp spot on the fabric, he carefully folded it into a soft pad for the chair seat and he gently nudged her back down. “Now there. Isn’t that more comfortable? Spread your legs, Honey, so I can see your pretty, wet pussy.” “What about Dick?” she demanded. “Oh, he’s keeping busy so that we can have time alone,” he replied absently. “Now where was I?” “Washing my feet?” Her voice squeaked embarrassingly as she blushed with heat. He chuckled wickedly. “Hmm. I think we’re finished with that part of the program.” He stood once more and spread the blanket on the table. Then without warning, he lifted her up and settled her on the table with her ass close to the edge and her feet on a towel-covered chair. “I’ll dry your feet and then we’ll move on to the next stage.” With brisk movements, he dried her feet and legs before moving to the other side of the table. “Lie down, Honey.” Slowly she complied and before she could ask what he had planned, he’d swiftly cuffed each hand in prepared cuffs before covering her mouth in a hard kiss of possession and ownership emphasized by the thrust of his tongue. When he lifted his head, his eyes glittered with heat. “I’ve been dying to taste you. Then I’m going to fuck you until you plead for mercy,” he whispered. “And then tonight I’m going to watch while Dick fucks you deaf and blind. Any problem with that?” “No,” she whimpered.

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“Then put your feet up next to your ass and spread your legs for me, sweetheart. I’m looking forward to my feast.” He moved to help her position her feet, then turned the chair around so that he could straddle it and study the glistening pink petals that swelled and fluttered under his gaze. “You’re beautiful, Honey. All pink and pretty and wet. Is that for me?” “Yes,” she groaned as she rocked her hips. “Are you going to lick me or tease me?” “Hmm. Both have real possibilities,” he observed. “I wonder if we still have those goose feathers?” Honey glared at him. “I’ll kill you, Peter. Dead.” “Dead, huh? Well, we’ll have to save those for another day. Maybe when we get back home to Hieney Hamlet. Dick and I have a wonderful dungeon there filled with all sorts of toys for your pleasure.” He leaned forward and lightly blew on her clit, watching as it hardened and stood taller. “Hmm. You liked that. Let’s see…what about this?” Flattening his tongue, he slowly dragged it across her slit, over the puffy lips and around her clit. She howled and curled her legs up in reflex. “Am I going to have to tie your legs down?” he asked sternly, hiding the twinkle in his eyes. “I still have those silk scarves.” “Nooo.” “Hmph. Drape your legs over my shoulders, sweetheart,” he directed before he lowered his head and feasted. Honey squeezed his head between her thighs and lifted her hips, fighting to get his mouth positioned exactly where she needed it. Perversely, he licked and nibbled everywhere but her swollen clit until she was close to screaming in frustration. Then he pressed his mouth over the sensitive little nub and sucked hard as he thrust two thick fingers inside her pussy.

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She exploded into orgasm, shaking and moaning as Dick opened the cottage door. “I see you started with dessert,” he observed with a grin. “How does she taste?” “Delicious. And this was just the appetizer. Dessert is for later.” Peter stood, kicked the chair out of the way and ripped his zipsuit open, shoving the fabric down until his cock was free. Without further ado, he thrust in balls-deep, filling Honey to the hilt. They groaned in unison. He pumped in and out furiously while she wound her legs around his waist and heaved to meet him. The clash of bodies and slap of wet flesh filled the small cabin. Dick toed his boots off and peeled his zipsuit down before tossing it on the floor. Then he threw himself on the bed and stroked his cock in time to the frantic movements of Honey and Peter. Amid moans and whimpers the three came together, panting with exhaustion and hard-fought completion. Peter slowly bent over, collapsing on Honey, who kissed his chin, his neck, any part of him she could reach, fervently. Dick crawled from the bed and went to find a towel to clean up before he came back and gently released Honey’s arms from the cuffs that held them. Finally, reluctantly, Peter stood and carefully separated from Honey. He stretched with a hearty groan before sitting down to finish removing his zipsuit and boots. With a soft mutter he headed for the bathroom while Dick cleaned between Honey’s tender thighs with a warm cloth. Abruptly, she yawned and then smiled at Dick sleepily. “Like the show?” “Uh-hmm. You’re beautiful when you let go.” She flinched when he separated her soft folds. “Sore?” “A little,” she admitted. “Tired. Hungry.”

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“I’ll help you down. When you’re finished in the bathroom, get in bed and take a nap. We’ll wake you when supper is ready.” He lifted her down from the table as Peter opened the bathroom door. She went across the room on wobbly legs into the bathroom and firmly shut the door. After using the commode, she couldn’t resist the lure of the shower. Moments later, standing under the flow of hot water pounding on sore muscles, she knew she’d made the right decision. Her men were certainly enthusiastic lovers, she admitted with a wry smile. As much as she resisted finalizing their relationship with a formal ceremony, she knew in her heart that she didn’t want to be with any other men. Peter and Dick had wormed their way into her body and soul. It didn’t take long to wash her hair and body and it made her feel so much better. When she had finished showering and drying off, she opened the door to let the steam escape. Something wasn’t right. The cabin was empty. She froze inside the doorway as all of her instincts kicked into overdrive. The bed was straightened. The fire was dead. The cabin looked as though no one had ever been there. Even her blouse and skirt were gone. And most importantly, Dick and Peter were no where in sight. Snatching up a dry towel, she shook it out and wrapped it around her body, tucking in the fold over her breasts. Dick had mentioned some clothing and essentials for her were at the cottage. It was time to find out if there was anything she could use. She went to the chest in the corner and tossed back the lid. Inside were neatly folded piles of clothing, boots, shoes and toiletries. “Ah, I see you’re out of the shower!” a bass voice growled behind her. She spun around, wishing she had thought to arm herself before looking for the clothes. The silver-haired man who faced her was enormous—even bigger than Michael the blacksmith at the LeFleur estate—and stark naked. “Who are you?” she demanded, “and what have you done with Dick and Peter?” 49

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“Why do you think I did anything with them?” he asked curiously. “They would never have left me alone unless they had no choice. You’re here and they’re not.” She eased one hand behind her and groped in the chest for the zipsuit she remembered seeing on top of the piled clothing. “You won’t need the zipsuit,” he informed her gently. “Where we’re going you would be overdressed.” “Yeah, well, if it’s all the same to you, I’ll get dressed anyway. I’ll feel more comfortable with clothes on. Aren’t you cold?” she observed edgily. His cock lengthened and rose under her startled gaze. “Do I look cold?” Stars of Avalon! He was better hung than Michael! Her eyes flew to his face as she struggled to determine his intentions. “What do you want?” “I will take you to my home where we will wait for your men to reclaim you. I’m sure they’ll be along as soon as they free themselves from their captors. Come.” He stalked over to her, grasped her arm gently in one big hand and in the blink of an eye transported them to a small sunny glade filled with frolicking horses. Honeysuckle swayed and collapsed on the rich green grass. She squeezed her eyes shut, shook her head and then opened them to stare at the beautiful surroundings. This time her eyes widened in shock when she realized the horses were actually unicorns. Unlike the unicorns in stories she’d read as a child, these were every possible shade from pale blue and purple to pink and green. It was like watching a swirling rainbow. “Put your head down between your knees if you still feel faint,” her abductor suggested. “I’m fine!” she protested curtly. “Who are you and where are we?” Heads snapped up alertly as his hearty laugh boomed out across the clearing. “I am Dazhdbog, Prince of the Unicorns. You may call me Prince Daz. And this is White Hound Island.” He snorted in disgust. “Drunken sailors can’t tell a hound from a

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unicorn but in the long run they did us a great service. Not too many hunters are going to search for an elusive hound.” She crossed her arms over her chest and shivered. “All right,” she said, struggling for civility. “Why are we here? How will Peter and Dick find me here?” He shrugged his mighty shoulders. “I owe your men a boon for a service they did me. When they were taken, they called on me to rescue you.” He chuckled at her sour expression. “I’m sure it didn’t seem like a rescue at the time but I assure you that the men who took Peter and Dick had plans for you that you would not have liked at all. They had a perfect view from the woods of Peter fucking you. When they captured your men their boasting about their intentions enraged Dick and Peter such that it required all of their captors to remove them so they had to leave you behind.” “If that’s true, who cleaned the cabin?” she demanded suspiciously. “I did. No need to burn the place down.” He shrugged arrogantly. “I suppose I could have taken you out of the shower instead but I allowed you to finish.” “How will I get home?” Honeysuckle buried her face in her hands and moaned. She knew nothing about White Hound Island. She had never heard of anyone who had visited and returned to tell about it. “Why do you worry? They’re just your lovers, after all. Isn’t that what you said? Easily replaced. I was informed that you refuse to acknowledge them as your mates. I would be happy to fuck you and if you require a second or third it will be no problem to find volunteers,” he assured her with a merry twinkle in his silver eyes. Two stallions joined him and before Honeysuckle’s startled eyes shifted into tall, attractive men with heavy, rigid cocks. “See, here are Arri and Dennac eager to please you.” She shuddered and shook her head. “No! I don’t want them!” “So choosy?” He frowned at her while gently stroking his cock. “Is it because we’re unicorns?”

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“No! It’s because you’re not Dick or Peter!” she yelled before clapping her hand over her mouth in surprise. Then she mumbled behind her hand. “I want my men, not someone else.” “Oh, so now they’re yours?” he teased. “Very well.” He gestured for Arri and Dennac to leave them and she barely took notice of them shifting back to their unicorn forms and trotting away. “Can you do that?” she asked curiously. “Change like that?” “Of course.” Instantly, he shifted to a large silvery gray unicorn. She noted the single spiraling horn’s colors that shifted constantly while his tail and mane were pearly white. He shifted back to human form and stared into her eyes with a quirked eyebrow. “Satisfied?” “I thought unicorns only were attracted to virgins,” she blurted in puzzlement. “No, that’s not true,” he replied with a shake of his head. His long silvery hair blew in the light breeze, prompting him to brush it back with one hand. “Like the dragon, we require a virgin to mate and once mated, we’re monogamous. But until we choose a mate, we are free to fuck anyone we wish.” He frowned heavily before adding, “Except a virgin. No one would deflower a virgin.” “I see. From your explanation, I suppose that it’s okay for the males to frisk around waving their cocks and having fun but females don’t have the same privileges. Isn’t that a bit unfair? Besides, if every filly is a virgin then who do you fuck?” she asked bluntly. “Humans, of course.” “And if they get pregnant?” she queried with a curious frown. What if there were herds of half unicorns on Avalon mainland? Daz shrugged. “Only mates can get pregnant and they’re immediately brought to the island. The others merely enjoy our big cocks. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to try me on for size? My cock is bigger than either of your men’s.”

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“I believe that there’s an expression on Earth—‘size isn’t everything’,” she replied primly. “Yet another Earth expression is ‘size matters’,” he countered with a grin and a twinkle in his silvery gray eyes. “Which will it be?” She shook her head at his naughty grin. He really was incorrigible. “It doesn’t really matter because you’re neither Peter nor Dick. Sorry.” “Very well. If that is your final word, then I will show you a place you may rest in safety until your men come to retrieve you. Come with me,” he said, leading the way to the edge of the glade.

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Chapter Five

In which the Hieney Brothers meet the Sorceress Morgana In the depths of the Dread Forest, Dick and Peter were having a few troubles of their own. The men who had dragged them away from their cottage had deposited them in a drafty cobwebby tower that was surrounded by shooting thorn bushes and dreamtime flowers. They were occupied with picking the tiny thorns from their hides. It was a fortunate circumstance indeed that the thorns’ poison did not affect them because the same was not true for the dreamtime flowers. The flowers sprayed unwary wanderers with a heavy scented mist that created a hallucinogenic state far worse than drunkenness. It usually led to a raging state of horniness that demanded appeasement with whatever or whoever was handy, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. It was not a fortunate combination under any circumstances. Peter plucked another tiny thorn from his leg and cursed. “What do you suppose Morgana wants with us?” he asked gloomily. “We haven’t seen her since we were little boys. Do you think she knows what we are?” “I hope not,” Dick said dryly without looking up from his task. Absorbed in picking thorns from the tender tops of his feet, he wasn’t exactly ignoring Peter. He was just pondering the next best course of action. First, they had to rid themselves of the thorns. “If she found out what we were our lives wouldn’t be worth the time it took her to ride in on her broom. And she would only be the first in line.” Peter nodded. “That’s true. At least Honey is safe for the time being. Prince Daz said she’s sleeping, finally.” “I bet he tried to fuck her.” Dick’s matter-of-fact statement masked his anger at having to ask Daz for help.

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“He might have tried but she loves us. She refused him.” Peter plucked the last thorn from his right leg and began on the left which had far fewer. Fortunately, the thorns had missed the vital areas like their cocks and balls. He shuddered when he thought of dealing with tiny thorns in that sensitive flesh. “How do you know she refused him?” Dick asked softly, wondering if Peter was getting the same emotions from Honey that he was. “I can feel her,” Peter admitted. “She’s not aroused—she never was. She was angry and scared and curious but never aroused. Now all I feel is peace.” Dick heaved a heavy sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. I thought for a while I was going crazy. What’s happening to us?” Peter chuckled under his breath. “You dope. She’s our heart mate. Don’t you remember the stuff our granddas told us when we reached our fledging? They explained all the signs back then. They even told us about what happened when they found Grandmother Ygraine.” “But Peter, that means she could be pregnant! And we haven’t warned her!” Dick dropped his head onto his bent knee. “She’ll kill us,” he warned. “We’re so dead.” “You mean we’ll be in more danger than now? I don’t think so.” He plucked the last thorn from his leg and clambered to his feet to explore their prison. “Honey will forgive us eventually. Morgana will hold us hostage until she gets what she wants. And you know very well if Honey finds her way back to the mainland she’ll find us.” Dick pulled one last thorn from his ankle and stood up. “Then we have to get out of here before she does that. The dreamtime flowers would kill her. And if they didn’t she would lose the eleyahs.” Peter turned to face him. “Do you care which of us is the firstborn’s father?” he asked with an anxious frown. “Don’t be stupid. Of course not. Either way they will both be ours.” Dick went to the window and peeked over the high ledge. For as far as he could see there were only

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trees. He slowly studied the open tower room. Five high windows too narrow for them to squeeze through. No doors except the door that led to a skinny balcony. “Have you tried to blink out of here?” Dick inquired absently as he peered out another window to see more of the same—trees, trees and more trees. “To echo your own reply, don’t be stupid. Of course I tried to blink out,” Peter replied with a disgusted snort. “I would guess that the tower has been spelled to prevent creatures with teleporting powers from doing exactly that. We’re not the only ones capable of blinking. And Morgana has no reason to believe that we have that capability. It’s probably a very old spell.” “Then how will we escape? I have to admit that I’m not thrilled with the idea of wading through thorn bushes and dreamtime flowers to reach freedom. What do you suggest?” Dick prowled from window to window in increasing agitation. “Maybe we should change and fly out of here.” “Hah. Hah. Very funny. I already tried to shift. No go. And if someone caught sight of us flying, we would spend the rest of our lives hiding over on White Hound Island with the unicorns. Of course, I can’t say that would bother me but Honey might get a little restless. That’s only if she doesn’t kill us off first.” Peter methodically checked the three trunks lined up along the wall. Empty, empty and empty. He went through the two cabinets that stood on each side of the balcony doors. One dead bug. Two stale crackers and a withered, mummified apple. Great. “Okay, if we jumped off the balcony, could we change fast enough to prevent our gory deaths on the ground below? I always hated the idea of a gory death.” “Messy and painful too,” Dick agreed. “Even if we could change fast enough, I don’t think we could avoid the dreamtime flowers. That doesn’t even bear thinking about.” Before Peter could reply, there was a rushing, windy roar and the balcony doors blew open, banging against the heavy cabinets. Morgana stalked through the door, her wild black curls fluttering in the breeze. “Well, well. Hello, boys. I set a trap for Nathan 56

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the Sneak and I captured you instead. Aack! What am I going to do with you? I’m not really into ménages. I like my hunks one at a time.” “Well, shucks. I guess you’ll have to let us go.” Dick leaned against the wall and studied his fingernails. “Wait a minute, wait a minute,” she said, her black eyes narrowed in thought. “Why aren’t you writhing on the floor in agony? My men said your legs were covered in thorns. They’re very fine legs, mind you…” she trailed off as she studied their bare bodies. Then with a hitch in her breath, “Yes, very fine. Nice yummy cocks too, I see. Good abs. Manly pecs. You’ve aged very well. But that doesn’t explain why you’re conscious!” Peter sat down on the lumpy cot and shrugged. “For some reason, the thorn poison doesn’t affect us. Never has. But those little suckers sting like fire.” “And they’re a pain in the ass to pull out,” Dick added laconically. “What now, Morgana?” “Maybe Nathan will come to rescue you.” She stared at them in calculation. “That son of a bitch owes me big-time. He captured my trolls and shipped them off to the mines at Glass Tower. I’ve had to do my own laundry for the last year!” “Hire some new trolls,” Dick muttered under his breath. “You listen to me, you little twerp! Trolls aren’t easy to come by!” “Twerp! Who are you calling twerp? I thought we had good abs and manly pecs? What’s with the twerp shit?” Peter snarled. “Get us out of here and get a life! I can’t believe this is about you having to do your own laundry!” “It takes a long time to do laundry! My undies have to be washed by hand and my robes have to be ironed and my—” “Get a maid,” Dick interrupted with weary boredom. “Hire two maids. Just get us out of this rattrap. It’s cold and damp and I’m hungry.” “What will you give me in exchange?” she asked craftily.

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The two men stared at each other before Dick finally nodded. “We’ll give you an intro to the head of Troll Maids Inc. After that, you’re on your own. But Amarila should be able to help you…if you’re nice to her. Bribes help too,” he added thoughtfully. “Done.” She wrapped her cloak snugly around her body and strode out onto the balcony. “Well? What are you waiting for?” The men followed her out onto the balcony and waited for her next move. With a quick swirl of her hand, she sent them flying out across the clearing, straight into a large clump of dreamtime flowers. “You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you? Arthur’s finished and so are you!” she screeched before she popped out of sight, laughing maniacally. Peter groaned and called out to Dazhdbog in a silent cry for help while Dick dragged him from the bush and desperately worked to orient himself and determine how far they were from shelter. When his search revealed an empty cave nearby they blinked to the small area in front of the cave. A few endless moments later Daz, Honey and three other unicorns bearing supplies appeared in the clearing. While Peter and Dick fought to quell the overwhelming need to drag Honey into the cave and fuck her on the bare ground, Daz supervised the men as they built a fire, arranged bedding and deposited bags of clothing and food on the cold floor of the cave. “This is the best we can do for you, my friends. We’ve provided enough firewood to keep you warm for two days. Surely by then, you will be past the worst of the effects of the flowers.” “Let us hope so. Thank you for caring for Honey.” Dick smiled edgily and struggled not to gasp in agony. “Now please go!” Daz’s lips twitched but he didn’t allow the smile to escape. The effects of the dreamtime flowers were well-known. “I have not warned your woman. There was no time. You would do well to do so before the flowers take your reason.”

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Dick nodded sharply and moved to join Peter and Honey as Daz and his men disappeared from sight. Peter was muttering in Honey’s ear all while he clutched her tightly against his shivering body. “Did you tell her?” Dick asked with a breathless groan. “Yes, he told me. What are we waiting for?” Honey snapped impatiently. “And did he tell you this could last for hours?” “Yes, yes, yes.” She moved to lie down on the thick mattress Daz had provided. Holding her arms up, she motioned for them to join her. “Get down here. You’re hurting and I’ve missed you.” The men flopped down on each side of her, hungrily reaching for their woman. “I hope you remember those words tomorrow,” Peter warned, “because we won’t be able to spare you until the last of the dreamtime poison has worn off.” Those were the last coherent words uttered until late the next day as they struggled to slake their passions without harming Honey. It was a powerful strain as their bodies’ needs warred with their minds but both men were determined that she would not pay for her generosity. To Honey, it was a never-ending stream of sex. Her body was constantly occupied by their rigid cocks which seemed to be in a perpetual state of readiness. When Peter explained the effects of the dreamtime flower she’d expected a frenzied orgy but that was not the case. Once sheathed in the wet heat of her body, they seemed content to hold her close, touching and caressing her to an endless string of orgasms until they could no longer stave off the need to fill her with their hot, jetting streams of seed. Something about their restraint seemed a little off but they kept her so aroused that her mind refused to work. She absently made a mental note in one of the five-second stretches of coherency to thank Daz for thinking to provide a large vial of scented oil. Without it, things would have been very uncomfortable indeed. She went to sleep, stuffed with hard cocks. And when they could no longer bear waiting, they woke her in the same state. 59

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Late the next day as the effects of the flowers finally wore off they all fell into an exhausted sleep. The next morning Honey woke alone. The fire was flickering briskly and a small pot of tea was simmering on the edge of the fire. But her men seemed to have disappeared. Gingerly she stretched aching muscles and struggled to sit up in the rumpled bed. She was sitting cross-legged in the tangled bedding when Dick walked into the cave with a dark leather bag over each shoulder. Honey squinted at him and frowned because she recognized those bags. They were exactly like the bags he normally carried on his powerbike. “Where have you been?” she queried calmly. “Came-a-lot City,” he replied readily. “Peter and I have a small secret apartment on the edge of the city. We needed supplies and powerbikes and information. You needed clothes.” “You actually took the chance of going to the city? Are you both crazy?” She shifted position, wrapped her arms around her bent knees and regarded her wayward man curiously. “Ahhh. Now I need clothes, eh? What’s the hurry? And where is Peter?” “He stopped to get fresh bread for breakfast.” Dick shrugged the bags from his shoulders and set them with the other packs Daz had left. “How are you feeling this morning?” “Sore, a little. Hungry. Starving actually. In the last three days I’ve eaten twice.” Her stomach growled. “My tummy believes my throat’s been cut. When do we eat?” “Now. I picked up eggs, some ham and two fresh loaves of bread,” Peter announced as he trotted in loaded down with several paper-wrapped bundles tied with string plus a basket filled with straw and a string bag of oranges. He set the basket down carefully against the wall, dumped the rest of the packages and oranges on the bed next to Honey and with a flourish produced a towel that was tucked inside his zipsuit. “For you, madam. Dick will show you the heated waterfall and spring we located. By the time you have your shower breakfast will be ready.” “A shower?” 60

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Dick lifted her from the tousled covers and carried her from the cave. Peter tossed the towel over her shoulder as they passed him before he turned back to his selfimposed cooking chores. The trip along a dim trail which led down to the hot pool and waterfall was surprisingly brief. Honey snuggled her face against the sturdy column of Dick’s neck and inhaled his scent. Her body reacted as it always did when they touched. There was a rush of feminine moisture and a sharp ache in her pussy. Dick’s arms tightened around her and he shook his head. “Don’t even think about it. We’re not touching you until you’ve had time to recover so just calm down.” “Did I say anything?” she demanded. “Not verbally but your sexy little body howled.” When she burrowed closer, he groaned. “Enough, beloved. Save it for later.” Honey had a lot of questions and she intended to receive answers before they embarked on any more journeys but before she could begin her interrogation they were at the waterfall where Dick set her on her feet before moving on into the forest. “Where are you going?” she called nervously. “To find a bush,” he informed her wryly. “Preferably one without thorns or flowers. Showers notwithstanding, we still are in the woods. Some things just require privacy. I’ll be right back.” By the time he reappeared, she was wrapped in her towel and ready to return to the cave. Questions still bubbled in her brain but her need for sustenance became a far more pressing problem so she put her curiosity aside until they were finished with breakfast. By then, the rush to vacate the cave took precedence over her need to know. It was much later that day before Honey learned the truth.

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Chapter Six

In which Honeysuckle receives a Ring Late afternoon sunlight pierced the window of the small hut in a tiny clearing in Sher Wood. Honey stirred restlessly between the two men who shared her bed. Peter absently patted her back and she relaxed back into slumber, curled against his chest. Dick snored lightly into the curve where her soft shoulder met her neck. Outside the hut, aside from the furtive rustles and chirps of the invisible wildlife, there was little to hint at the thriving camp hidden in the forest. Immediately on their arrival at Sher Wood they had all tumbled into bed, sliding into the depths of sleep almost before their heads touched the pillows. A heavy fist beat on the door, startling them all wide awake with hearts pounding and bleary headaches. Dick groaned and rolled to his feet. Yawning mightily and scrubbing his face with his fist, he stomped butt naked over to the door. “What the hell is it?” he demanded, flinging the door open. “It’d better be important!” “It is.” Dick stood staring at his cousin Undain in disbelief. “What are you doing here? I thought you were on assignment on Earth!” With a wry smile, Undain agreed, “I was. But when Dad was abducted by the Blue Knight, I was recalled. Since Gareth’s been declared outlaw, the recall was a good thing.” Peter crawled out of bed and joined them in the doorway, pushing his tangled black hair back from his face. “Why would Gary be declared an outlaw?” he demanded in puzzlement. Without waiting for Undain’s answer he went to fetch clean zipsuits for Dick and himself.

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Grumbling and muttering, Honey yanked the sheet over her head and burrowed in the tangled bedding, trying to ignore the low masculine conversation. It had been a very long three days with too many shocks and adjustments. The last thing she wanted to do was get out of bed. Well, she conceded to herself, maybe she would be willing to get up and dressed if someone was offering food. On the other hand, she would just as happily accept dinner served in bed. While Peter and Dick hurriedly dressed, Undain explained his errand. “Gareth and Chrys arrived a little while ago. Gareth asked for Honeysuckle to come help Chrys dress for their wedding tonight.” “Tonight? What’s the rush?” Honey demanded, shoving the sheet down until it barely covered her breasts. “Anyway, who’s going to serve as witness?” “I am.” Undain’s eyes danced with mirth as he watched the dawn of understanding on Honey’s face. “Oh, I see. I’m going to get stuck explaining the birds and bees to her?” Honey sat up, wrapped the sheet around her and struggled out of bed. Shooting Undain an annoyed glance, she headed for the bathroom. “You owe me, Undain Pendragon. Bigtime.” “And I’m sure that I’ll pay big-time too,” Undain mocked. Dick lightly punched his cousin on the shoulder. “Pull the eyes back in your head, cousin. She’s taken.” Shifting so that his cousin’s view was blocked, Dick viciously brushed his long hair into some semblance of order before pulling it back into a simple tail tied with a black leather string. “That way?” Undain asked with a peculiar smile. “That way,” Peter confirmed as he joined them with two steaming cups of chocolate. “She’s our heart mate,” he announced in an edgy growl. “Stay away from her.” “Oooh, somebody’s cranky,” Undain teased. “Could it be because she doesn’t know what you are yet?” 63

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“Could it be that you need your butt singed?” Dick threatened in retaliation. “That can be arranged.” “Not nice to threaten a prince,” Undain said coolly. “Not nice to threaten a firebird,” Peter countered immediately. “Especially one with possible eleyahs on the way.” “The hell you say,” Undain declared with a shocked smile. “Congratulations!” Still wrapped in her sheet, Honey opened the bathroom door in time to hear his declaration. “Why are you offering him congratulations?” “They shared the good news that you’ll soon be my cousin-in-law,” Undain replied smoothly. “So one new sister and one new cousin from the LeFleur family.” He strode across the room and kissed her gently on the cheek. “Welcome, Honeysuckle. And thank you for agreeing to companion Chrys. I’ll go now. After you break your fast, find Delphie and she’ll tell you where Chrys is dressing.” When he was gone, Dick firmly shut the door and turned to face Honey. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked shortly. “It isn’t your responsibility, you know.” “I know,” she agreed as she slowly pulled a brush through her red-gold tangles. “But she’s my sister and she’ll probably take the explanations better from me than anyone else at this point. Did Undain explain what the rush is?” Peter laughed quietly. “It seems that Uncle Arthur was kidnapped as a hostage until Chrys is delivered to the dragon Percival because he’s demanding a virgin. So, the obvious solution is to make sure she no longer qualifies for the position. Of course, because Gareth is a royal she has to remain a virgin until they’re married. In the meantime, while they were at the Solomon’s Choice Abbey, Gareth killed His Eminence the Abbot so they’ve declared him outlaw. Gareth told Undain that the abbey is part of the coup conspiracy.” “The dragon wasn’t part of the conspiracy?”

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“Nope. It seems that the coup group took advantage of events as they happened,” Peter replied absently as he watched her pull on a full red skirt and smooth, soft cotton, sheer white blouse. “You need some nipple decorations,” he observed. “I don’t want any man to think you’re not taken.” “I’m not taken,” she replied loftily. “I’m still waiting for that proposal.” Dick swooped on her from behind, lifted her in his strong arms and carried her to the table where he sat down on one of the rough wooden chairs with her draped across his lap. “We need to have a serious conversation with you. Originally, we had planned to talk to you today but obviously this isn’t the time. There are a lot of men in the camp,” he pointed out gravely. “Will you wear our rings in the meantime, if we promise there will be a formal proposal after your sister’s wedding?” She could feel Dick’s swelling cock against her ass as she squirmed on his lap. Standing in front of her, Peter stroked his tightly confined cock while waiting for her answer. Something about their tense stance informed her that this was a truly complex issue for them. With a murmur of tentative acceptance, she finally nodded her head. “I’ll get the healer,” Peter announced abruptly as he wheeled to face the door. “Now?” Honey’s voice skittered up an octave in alarm. “I’ll be too sore to enjoy the wedding!” “Now.” Dick firmly held her in place while Peter went out the door. “Honey, the healer will speed-heal you. This is very important to us.” She froze and listened to the underlying message. This was more than an arbitrary claiming. There was more to their anxious rush to stake a visual claim than some vague masculine alpha posturing. She sensed Dick’s barely leashed need to claim her in the most basic of ways. She worried her bottom lip with her teeth before twisting in his lap so that she straddled his muscular thighs. Brushing her lips across his mouth, she whispered, “This time I’ll let you have your way but don’t think it will always be this easy.”

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“Easy! You think you’re easy?” he snorted. “Not likely. Dealing with you is like crossing a volcano with a hurricane during an earthquake.” He burrowed his hands down the front of her blouse and cupped her breasts, squeezing them very gently. “Peter and I have no idea whether we’re in hot lava, blowing rain or just jerking off.” Suddenly, with unbearable urgency she didn’t understand, she needed him to fuck her hard and fast. With greedy hands she ripped his zipsuit open, freed his cock and in a heated frenzy struggled to fit the fat, bulbous head in her empty pussy. “Now, now, now,” she chanted with rising drive. Dick jerked her hips down, thrusting hard and deep until his cock was buried to the hilt. “Put your legs around my hips. We’re taking this to the bed,” he warned. Twining her legs around him as tightly as she could, she bore down and squeezed his cock with her muscles clamping the hard length stuffed inside her. Honey moaned and clung to his neck as he stood and carried her to the bed, thrusting a little farther inside with every step. Before they reached the bed, her body clenched in a wild paroxysm of orgasm as bold waves of fiery convulsions flowed through her pussy. She groaned and gasped as he fell onto the rumpled bed with her and began to pound his cock inside mercilessly. There was no finesse, no gentle lovemaking. It was sheer brutal fucking that ended with shattering joint climaxes leaving them exhausted and winded. While their pounding hearts slowed and their lungs struggled to find air, Peter leaned against the door and whistled in amazement. “That was quite a show.” “When did you get back?” Dick inquired as he slowly rolled to the side so he wouldn’t squash Honey. “Oh, you were occupied fucking the brains out of our wife. Good job too.” Peter shook his head slowly. “I’ll have to punish the two of you for exciting me when I can’t do anything about it. The healer should be arriving any minute.” Reluctantly, Dick crawled out of bed and headed for the bathroom. When he returned his zipsuit was fastened and he had a steaming cloth to clean Honey, who still 66

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sprawled boneless on the bed with her legs spread in abandon. He carefully wiped the outward traces of their encounter from her soft feminine petals before helping her sit up as a quiet knock sounded at the door. Peter cracked the door and then opened it wide when he recognized Jane, the camp healer. She came in with her basket of supplies over her arm and smiled brightly at Honey, tactfully ignoring the heavy musky scent of sex in the air. “Are you ready?” she asked, requiring confirmation from Honey herself. Honey nodded. “Yes. If you can speed-heal me,” she qualified. “I’m attending my sister’s wedding tonight.” “I can do that,” Jane agreed with a brisk nod. “Do you want to be awake? Or shall I arrange a little nap for you while I work?” Honey laughed and then yawned. “Nap. Definitely. And as tired as I am, that shouldn’t be difficult at all.” “Fine, then. Remove your blouse and make yourself comfortable while I get set up.” She glanced at the men. “You can carry the table over here so that I can use it for my surgical kit.” With a nod, they cleared a space next to the bed, moved the chairs out of the way and placed the table where she had indicated. By the time Jane was ready, Honey was stretched out on the bed topless, sleeping soundly. With her healer’s talent, Jane nudged her into a heavier sleep so that Honey would stay unconscious until the healer was done. Then with competent skill, she pierced both nipples and inserted the heavy engraved silver rings the men provided. A thick silver chain swung between the rings and two fine chains with ruby stones dangled from each ring. “Lovely workmanship,” Jane commented as she sealed the rings shut. “Do you have the matching clit ring?” “I have it,” Peter replied softly.

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“Shall I do it now?” she inquired gently. “Yes.” Dick’s voice was sure and firm. “No,” Peter objected at the same time. “Well, which is it to be?” Peter turned to Dick. “Already, she doesn’t trust us,” he argued hotly. “What will she think when she wakes up with that done?” “She’ll deal with it,” Dick replied impatiently. “Sometime she must trust us. Trust us without explanation because we love her and would never harm her! Do it now, Jane, while she’s asleep.” The healer waited for Peter’s answer. Finally he swore and nodded. “Yeah, do it now. And if she’s pissed off, I’m going to tell her it’s your fault, Dick.” With a hearty laugh his brother shook his head. “It’s always my fault. Next time around you get to be born first. Now give Jane the ring.” Peter handed it over and walked away so that he couldn’t see Jane work on Honey. He found that he was surprisingly squeamish when it came to their wife. Childbirth was likely to be an interesting experience for him. Nothing ever seemed to bother Dick so Peter suspected he would be the one that comforted their wife when the eleyahs arrived. Honey drifted awake from her surgical nap. Peter dozed in a chair next to the bed and she could hear the shower running so she supposed that Dick was in the bathroom. The table was back in the center of the room and Jane didn’t seem to be present in the cottage. With a bit of uncertainty, Honey stared down at the rings and chain that hung from her nipples. There was a tiny bit of swelling but no pain. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, startled when she felt movement of a foreign object across her bare pussy lips.

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She lifted her skirt and peered down between her legs. The red curls were gone and she had a clit ring! Trust a man, she thought. Give them a tiny inch and they would push and shove until they had a yard. Ooh, they were in so much trouble! Not now, she decided, but later when they were least expecting it. She looked over at Peter and smiled. Yeah, when they thought she’d forgotten. She stood and stretched gingerly, realized that there were no bad effects from the piercing and made a mental note to send Jane a little something extra in appreciation. The roar of the shower stopped. Then Peter stirred and yawned before smiling at her tentatively. Honey smiled back. Later. Dick meandered out into the main room, dressed in a smile and nothing else. He was dragging a comb through his wet dark hair. The smile dimmed noticeably when he saw her. “Honey! You’re awake!” “Uh-hmm. Are you finished with the bathroom? I need to take a quick shower before I find Chrys.” She headed for the steamy little room but halted just outside. “By the way, you need to find something suitable for me to wear to a wedding.” Then she whisked inside and shut the door. A few seconds later the sound of lock was loud in the outer room. “What did she say?” Dick asked his brother. “Anything?” “Not a thing,” Peter answered glumly. “She smiled. We are in such deep shit. I know her now. She’ll wait until we’re least expecting it and wham-oh! We’re going to get it.” “Where are we going to find her clothing for the wedding?” “Ask Delphie.” Peter stood up and carried the chair back to the table. “I’ll go ask since I’m actually dressed. You can change the bedding. If she comes out before I get back, you can explain about the clit ring. Although,” he admitted sheepishly, “I would give last month’s credits to see her face when you do.” “You do realize we sound like a couple of henpecked husbands? What happened to us? We used to be macho alpha males!”

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Peter chuckled suddenly. “Hurricane Honeysuckle happened to us. No wonder Nathan said it would take two of us to keep her in line.” Dick studied him intently for a moment and then asked, “Do you mind that she’s the one?” “Hell, no. And neither do you. She’ll keep us on our toes until we’re old and gray. Now get dressed. When you’re facing a devious woman it’s always better to have your clothes on.” “Or not.” Dick’s impish smile promised wicked, wicked consequences if Honey failed to accept his explanation. Two—or three—could play that game. “Peter, I think she’s pregnant. She’s already exhibiting the increased spikes in libido. We didn’t end up in bed because I suggested it.” “But you certainly didn’t fight it either.” With a faint shake of his head, Peter went in search of Delphie.

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Chapter Seven

In which Honey is reunited with Chrysanthemum When Peter finally returned with a suitable wedding outfit, Honey was still in the shower and Dick was pacing to and fro. “Still not out of there?” Peter’s eyebrows flew up in consternation. “She needs to hurry. Delphie’s waiting for her and Chrys is nearly finished with her shower.” “Good! You tell her to hurry up.” Peter banged on the door with his fist. “Honey!” he bellowed. “Open up!” Abruptly the shower cut off and a few seconds later a dripping naked Honey unlocked the door. “You yelled?” she asked in dulcet tones. Oh shit! Peter watched the glittering nipple rings and chain swinging gently between her breasts and he smiled sweetly and patiently reported, “Delphie’s waiting and Chrys is nearly ready for you. I laid your clothes on the bed.” “Thank you. I’ll be right out!” Then she slammed the door and relocked it. Oh, yeah, she was pissed. Peter shook his head and went to empty the basket of food he’d also collected while he was out. As he set out slices of cold roast beef, hearty oat bread and pungent cheese, he muttered, “I told you we should wait.” Dick turned a chair around and straddled it. “Nah. She’s not really mad. If she was mad, she’d be out here throwing things. This will give her something to pick at us about. It’s better that she’s picking about something we understand than something we can’t figure out.” He slapped together a sandwich, slathered on some spicy mustard and chowed down. After the first couple bites, he swallowed and added, “Besides, this will add a little spice to the mix. I know you wouldn’t want to be bored.” Peter choked and coughed. “Bored? That’ll never happen.” “Well, then. There you are.” 71

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Honey opened the door and strolled out, splendidly naked. Her hair was arranged in an intricate knot perched on the crown of her head and in that indefinable way of a woman who knows she looks attractive and sexy her posture was queenly and dignified. She went to the bed, studied the clothing there and with a nod of approval began to dress. The pale turquoise and cream skirt and blouse were delicately beautiful and extremely feminine. “Shoes?” Peter found another bag he’d dropped next to the door, extracted a pair of dainty sandals and brought them to her. He knelt and slipped them on her feet and fastened the fancy little buckles. Then he joined Dick at the door. Honey turned to face them and quirked an eyebrow at her husbands. “Well? Will I do?” “Beautiful,” Dick breathed softly. “Absolutely beautiful.” In her soft creamy embroidered blouse and pale turquoise skirt she resembled a lovely spring flower. “Gorgeous.” Peter stepped closer and carefully arranged the soft folds of her blouse so that her pert breasts with their nipple rings and chain were proudly displayed. Then he leaned down and suckled each nipple until they were both tight and pouting. With a rough breath, he stepped back. “Let’s go before we toss you on the bed and forget why we’re dressed up.” “I already forgot,” Dick groaned. “Remind me. Why are we doing this?” “Because your cousin asked us too,” she said primly, hiding the smile that struggled to escape. “My sister is waiting.” “Yeah. Your sister.” With a shrug, Peter led the way to the small hut where Delphie waited. Delphie shooed them out and turned to survey Honeysuckle. “You look lovely, dear,” she pronounced with satisfaction. “Wait here and I’ll go pry your sister away from those naughty boys, Gareth and Undain. If she isn’t dressed by now, we’ll help her finish up.”

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She was back in a few minutes with a sputtering Chrys, who tried vainly to get a word in edgewise. Delphie propelled her into the hut, pushed her into a chair and told her not to move while they worked on her heavy, damp hair. When they stood back at last and declared themselves finished, Chrys took a steadying breath and demanded, “Why are both of you ignoring the fact that my boobs are hanging out? And Honey’s?” Delphie fluttered her hands in agitation and murmured, “Oh, no, dear. They’re lovely. Why would you want to cover them up?” Honeysuckle snarled in derision. “I told Mama you didn’t have a clue! I told her she needed to have the talk with you before she ran off with those acrobats but noooo, she was sure you would know everything because of all those books you read!” “What talk?” Chrys asked in frustration. “What are you talking about?” Honeysuckle tapped her foot in annoyance. “You know that Undain will be with you and Gareth tonight, right? That’s he’s going to be your witness?” Chrys frowned and slowly nodded, waiting for the other shoe to drop. “You do understand that I mean he’s going to fuck you with Gary?” “What?” Chrys yelled. “I thought he was only going to be in the room!” Honeysuckle turned to Delphie in pure disgust. “See? What did I tell you? She doesn’t know anything!” Planting her hands on Chrys’ shoulders, she bent so she could stare her in the eye. “Listen up. Every royal bride presents their nipple chain and rings to the priests and witnesses for inspection prior to the wedding. If they wish, any of the wedding guests are permitted to touch or suck your breasts, though they may not touch you anywhere else.” Chrys’ mouth dropped open in shock. “After the ceremony, you will retire to your privacy cottage with Gareth and Undain. As your witness, he is expected to take part in your deflowering. Actually, most witnesses spend the entire honeymonth with the newly married couple.”

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Chrys tried to surge to her feet, but Honeysuckle shoved her back down in the chair. “Grow up. If you hadn’t been so all-fired anxious to keep your virginity, you wouldn’t be in this fix!” When Delphie nodded her head in emphatic agreement her gray corkscrew curls wildly bobbed. “It was bound to happen. Either a royal or a dragon would snap you up. Lucky for you Gareth found you first.” “But this is preposterous! Who came up with this stuff?” Patting her on the cheek, Honeysuckle said, “Chryssie, baby. It’s been this way hundreds of years. If you pulled your nose out of your books long enough to pay attention you would have known all about it. Every time one of the royals gets married, there’s endless speculation about what goes on during their honeymonth. There’s always a detailed list in the news of all the men who inspected their nipple chains…although that one girl was also inspected by a couple of women,” she added thoughtfully. “Never mind that! This is just the way it is. Thank goodness most of the royals in this generation are married!” Chrys sat up straight and determinedly asked, “Is there anything else I’m supposed to know about?” Delphie tilted her head and looked down at her in speculation. “I suppose you know about the collar and cuffs?” Chrys’ baffled irritation was enough of an answer. “Oh lord, if I ever meet your mother, I’ll smack her myself!” Delphie planted both hands on her ample hips and said, “After the ceremony, Gareth will fasten a collar around your neck and cuffs on your wrists and ankles. They’re a symbol that you accept him as your master. They never come off. Or rather,” she amended sadly, “if he takes them off, it means that he’s repudiated you. You don’t want that to happen.” “Vivian wasn’t wearing any collar when I saw her,” Chrys objected. “Exactly,” Honeysuckle said dryly. “Arthur caught her with half a dozen stablemen up in the barn loft. It wasn’t pretty from all of the reports.”

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Chrys’ startled expression was priceless. “Half a dozen? As in six? What the hell do you do with six men at once?” “Keep moving.” Chrys sat up straight and looked Honeysuckle in the eye. “Tell me about it. Is it hard taking two men at once?” she demanded. Honeysuckle rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I would think hard would be the operative word, big sister. Now if you want to know if it’s difficult, then that’s something different. I love it when Peter and Dick make love to me. It mostly depends on your men, how skilled and patient they are and how prepared you are. If you’re hot and you really want it, then there’s nothing you can compare it to. If you don’t want it, if they’re in a hurry, then it’s the pits.” Delphie chuckled quietly. “From what I’ve heard, Gareth and Undain are both very skilled and patient and to my way of thinking, you’re more than a little curious, Chrys.” There was a soft knock at the door and Delphie went to see who had the nerve to disturb them. Honey was surprised when Delphie opened the door and let Gareth in. “Honeysuckle, it’s time for us to go find a seat. Gary, don’t take too long. Everyone is waiting.” Dick and Peter were standing next to the small porch when the women left the hut, ready to escort them to the center of the camp where Robin’s men had carried an assortment of chairs from the surrounding homes. Father Averill and Undain waited near the fire close to a bower with flowers and ivy the camp women had arranged. Honeysuckle and Delphie sat nearby idly chatting while Peter stood next to them, protectively shielding Honey from the line of men waiting to inspect Chrys’ nipple rings and chain. Honey bit her lip to hold back her chuckle. Her men didn’t know what to do with themselves. Impossibly, they wanted to proclaim their possession while keeping her assets hidden.

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Dick arrived with heavy pottery mugs of ale for Delphie and Honey. After handing them over, he shifted so that he stood behind them, preventing any of the men from approaching them. Undain watched the play with raised eyebrows. The family had long hoped for a mate for his cousins so he was happy for them but he couldn’t help speculating about what would happen when they revealed their true nature to their mate. Honey was nothing like her sister Chrysanthemum. She would never be complaisant and submissive, which was fortunate as that wasn’t what his cousins needed in a mate. They required a strong-willed confident woman and Honey certainly fit the bill. Abruptly, Gareth and Chrys arrived and Honey joined them as the ceremony began. It seemed to only take minutes for the priest to declare them master and mate. In a whirl of action, Chrys was collared, cuffed and then snatched up in Gareth’s arms and carried off into the woods with Undain strolling behind them. Honey wondered what kind of lovers Gareth and Undain would be. She hoped that they would be loving and patient for her sister’s sake. And she privately in her heart admitted a tiny bit of envy, remembering her own rough deflowering at fourteen in the barn loft by a totally inexperienced footman. At the time she had been under the delusion that it was romantic but if she had it to do over again she would ask Raulf to see to it. At least he would have been competent and experienced—and not shot off all over her in the first two seconds. With a grim little smile she conceded that it was a miracle that Johnson had accomplished the deed at all. When she felt the warm weight of Dick’s hand on her shoulder, she covered his hand with hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. Too bad she hadn’t known her men back then. After being with them she couldn’t envision any other men. Stubborn and irritating as they were, they belonged to her. Suddenly she knew she didn’t want to stay for the celebrations and food. She turned to Delphie and said, “I hope you won’t be insulted but I really want to go back to our cottage and rest.”

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A roguish twinkle in her eyes, Delphie nodded understandingly. “If I had two gorgeous men like yours I would want to go rest too. We will talk tomorrow. You take your men home and love them well, dear.” With a sigh and an envious shake of her head she stood up and went off to supervise the meal. Honeysuckle set off for their cottage, knowing with complete certainty that Peter and Dick were right behind her.

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Chapter Eight

In which the Hieney Brothers reveal all They were barely into the dark woods surrounding the camp when Dick swept her off her feet and covered her mouth in a hard, possessive kiss, thrusting his tongue in and out in a clear foretaste of his plans for her. She kissed him back in wild abandon, desperate for the touch of his hands and the hard thrust of his cock. Peter kept a careful eye on them as he led the way. The way they were going Honey would end up on her backside on the forest floor. Just as they arrived at the tiny clearing surrounding their cottage, Peter’s communicator chirped. With a heavy groan he held it up in the faint light to read the message out loud. “Dragon found mate. Arthur free. ETA your location early a.m.” Dick lifted his head and met Peter’s eyes. “Good. As soon as he signs the papers Father Averill can perform the ceremony. The sooner the better.” “After the proposal.” Honey pulled his face back down so she could kiss him. “Later.” Her desperation fueled their arousal which was further fanned by the idea of her possible pregnancy. Hurrying into the cottage, Dick placed her on the bed and began peeling his zipsuit off. Honey wriggled on the bed, struggling with her clothes but she fortunately kept enough sense to toss her borrowed blouse and skirt over the high bedposts. When Dick joined her she pounced on him, pushing him down on his back. Seconds later she was sitting astride him, trying desperately to fit his cock in her dripping pussy. He grasped her hips and helped her move up and down until he was completely seated with the fat, round head of his rigid cock against her cervix. They moaned and went still enjoying the tight sensation of his heavy cock in her snug, hot,

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silky depths. He felt the tiny undulations of her inner contractions and shuddered as he struggled to hold still. She collapsed on Dick’s chest, sprawled with her eyes closed, savoring the intense pleasure his thick cock gave her and the sensuous feel of damp skin sliding against skin. Her nipple rings brushed against his with a tiny tug and she stifled the surprised gasp as the small pleasure-pain was echoed in her clit. She tilted her hips, trying to get closer, bearing down, needing more as her smooth passage squeezed his flesh in a tight, greedy grasp. An abrupt fear swept over him. What if she was too small to carry their eleyahs? What if it was too dangerous for her? What if she died? He wrapped his arms around her, holding her so tightly that she whimpered in protest. Immediately he loosened his grip, smoothing his hands down her back in gentle apology. Peter joined them after a quick side trip to the bathroom to fetch a small bottle of scented oil which he placed on the small round bedside table before crawling on the bed next to Dick. Honey’s eyes flickered open as she smiled at him. “Peter,” she murmured drowsily. “I wondered where you were.” “Just a little side trip. Is Dick making you happy, sweetheart?” “Uh-hmm.” Her eyes fluttered closed as Dick thrust up, unable to keep still any longer. “But we need you too. Are you going to make me wait?” she asked with a faint gasp. “Ahh, Honey. We’re not going to rush anything. We have all night.” He grabbed the bottle and dribbled a few drops on the tiny puckered entrance to her ass. With one long thick finger he worked the oil inside, carefully spreading it all around the entrance. Her sphincter clamped down on his finger as he toyed with her, thrusting in and out with leisurely strokes, rubbing his finger along Dick’s cock. Dick cuddled her tightly in his arms and thrust up with all his strength, working his cock along the sensitive nerves that lined her pussy. She whimpered and pressed down,

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rubbing her clit against his pubic bone. Her clit ring caught in the soft, dark curly nest surrounding his cock, shooting glittering sparks of heat up her spine. “Peter!” she pleaded. “Now…” He withdrew his finger and moved to his knees behind her. She felt the touch of his tongue as he kissed and nipped the smooth skin. With shocking abruptness, he struck her right ass cheek a stinging blow. Heat flowed out from the blow followed by a rush of cream bathing Dick’s cock. Dick’s hips jerked up as he grated out, “Again. She liked that.” Peter smoothed his rough palm over the soft skin and then struck her left cheek. More cream flowed as the heat scoured up her spine. Then he thrust his freshly oiled finger deep inside her. She cried out as the rush of climax flashed through her. As her muscles relaxed Peter lined the head of his cock up with her anus and gently but firmly pressed forward until he was completely sheathed. He could feel Dick’s cock through the thin membrane separating them. He leaned forward, settling his chest against her back, savoring the tug of his nipple rings against her damp skin. Her hot, tight walls compressed and squeezed around his cock and he groaned as he settled into a smooth counter-rhythm with Dick. Honey wallowed in the overwhelming sensations she always experienced when they took her this way. It was heat and a stuffed, stretched fullness that completed her in a fashion that was never reached any other way. She reveled in the slick slide of damp bare skin against her breasts and back. The nipple chain dragged and pulled until her nipples were so tight it was a sweet pain. The touch of their hands and mouths was urgent and hot. Peter clamped his teeth in the padded muscles of her shoulder and bit down, holding her in place. The tiny pain tipped her over the edge of climax and she shuddered as waves of fiery contractions swamped her. “Again,” Dick cried out with fierce demand. “Again! I want to feel you clutching my cock when you come again.” He thrust his tongue in her ear before drawing back and nipping her earlobe. 80

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She shuddered again in orgasm, chanting their names like a prayer. Unable to withstand the tight, milking contractions that rippled around their cocks they joined her with heavy groans, pulsing and filling her with hot, jetting streams of seed. A hidden part of her heart blossomed with the knowledge that they were sharing their most private selves with her and triggered another slower, more complete climax. She shivered and slumped on Dick’s hard chest, struggling to catch her breath. With a shuddering sigh of contentment, Peter bent over her, allowing his chest to cover her back. The men cuddled her between them as the euphoria slowly faded. A faint snore elicited tender chuckles from them. Then Peter took a deep breath and slowly moved away, gently withdrawing his softening cock. Reluctantly, as he climbed down from the bed and staggered into the bathroom he initiated the silent conversation he knew they needed to have. Stars of Avalon, but she’s ravenous! It’s just as the granddas told us it would be! Then you agree? Dick asked eagerly. She’s pregnant? What else could it be? She wasn’t like this two days ago! Peter hunched his shoulders in dismay. Even eighteen hours drunk on dreamtime flowers in a cave wouldn’t do this. Unless we got her pregnant during that time. I don’t remember every little detail about those hours but one thing I remember vividly. We spent most of those hours with our cocks in her. It would be a shock if she wasn’t pregnant after that. We need to take her back to the estate so that we can keep her safe. Mama and Nanny Anny will know what to do. Peter came back from the bathroom and sat down next to her. He helped Dick gently roll her on her side and then while Dick went to get cleaned up Peter shook her until she moaned and waved an aimless hand at him. “Go ‘way!” she muttered irritably.

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Taking her hand in his, Peter soberly explained, “We have something we have to show you before we can propose. It’s important that you know all our secrets before we ask you to accept us as your husbands.” Dick brought a hot washcloth and carefully cleansed Honey’s pussy and ass. “You see,” he added seriously, “we’re a little different from your average guys.” Honey reluctantly opened her eyes. “This is a newsflash? Instead of beating around the bush, why don’t you break down and tell me?” Peter nodded. “Okay. Stay here on the bed.” He moved to the center of the room and Dick joined him. Naked, they stood side by side, regarding her somberly. Obviously, their secret was a very big deal to them, she thought. She sat up in the rumpled bed and faced them with a sober expression on her face. If it was this important to them, then she would let them see that she was taking them seriously. “I’m ready.” There was a glittering flash of white light. Then before Honey’s astonished wideeyed gaze two enormous scarlet firebirds appeared. Their crested heads nearly brushed the peaked ceiling. Glittering silver-tipped feathers covered their bodies and wings and tiny showers of sparks fell around them when they rustled and settled their feathers. “Holy stars of Avalon,” she breathed softly. “What the hell are you?” With another flash of light they changed back to the Peter and Dick she was familiar with. Dick searched her face for signs of rejection or fear but saw only curiosity. “We’re firebirds. Some call us phoenixes. We’re not nearly old enough to seek the flames and rebirth, though.” “How old?” she demanded. “Now? We’re seventy-three.” Peter scratched his head. “We’re twins though most people outside the family don’t know that. We won’t be old enough for the flames until we’re five hundred at least.”

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She stared at them intently, trying to understand her part in their future. “Don’t you have to mate with another firebird?” “No,” Dick replied bluntly. “For one thing, there aren’t very many of us. For another thing, firebirds only mate with their heart mate.” “Heart mate?” Honey looked at him blankly. “What in Avalon is a heart mate?” Peter joined her on the bed and slowly tugged her into his embrace. “A heart mate is the destined mate of a firebird pair. Without our heart mate we can never have children.” He kissed her tenderly. “We’ve looked for you for a very long time, Honey.” “Me? Me?” She pulled away and wrapped her arms around her bent knees. “I can’t be your heart mate. I’m just me. An ordinary woman. A heart mate would be someone really special and extraordinary.” Dick sat down on her other side. “You have no idea how special you are. You have a big heart and strength and character.” “You’re so beautiful it makes my eyes ache to look at you,” Peter whispered. “Won’t you please marry us? Give us babies? Live with us until we’re old?” She hid her face against her knees and shook her head. “I won’t live that long,” she muttered. “You should find someone else.” Gently, Dick tilted her head back until they could see the tears streaming down her cheeks. With the corner of the sheet he wiped her face. “First of all, there is no one else. Only one heart mate per pair is allowed. Some pairs never find their heart mate. When you bear our children, your body will change. Barring some catastrophic event, you’ll live as long as we do. Secondly, we don’t want someone else. We want and love you. Third—and I hesitate to mention this—you are probably already carrying our eleyahs.” Peter took one hand and kissed the center of her palm. “We’re already mated. A wedding would be a formality for the rest of the world…the ones that don’t know about us. In our eyes you’re already our wife.”

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With a watery laugh, she brushed the tears from her hot, flushed face. “So tell me, husbands, why the clit ring?” They groaned in unison. Gotcha! “It’s traditional,” Dick admitted. “It’s sexy,” Peter added. “If it’s so sexy and traditional, why don’t you have rings on your cocks like Gareth?” she countered, not quite ready to let them off the hook. “I think I would like that.” Both of them reflexively shielded their cocks with their hands. Peter frowned at her. “Are you going to insist on that before you’ll marry us?” “Nope. I wanted you to understand how I felt when I woke up with rubies dangling from my clit. Do you?” she asked soberly. “I think we’re more than even now, don’t you?” “Yes. For the record, I’m the one who told Jane to do it,” Dick confessed in a rush. “I’m not sorry you have the ring but we should have waited until we could ask you.” A little sexy smile played across her lips. “The ring does keep me hot. Good thing there’s two of you because I’ll be aroused all the time now with those little rubies tugging and pulling on me. By the way, who decided I needed to be bare?” “Me.” Peter raised his hand in the air. “I love to eat bare pussy.” He wriggled his eyebrows at her. “And you love us to eat your pussy, don’t you?” She laughed. They were incorrigible. And she loved them so much she was nearly sick with it. The idea of leaving them was unbearable. She wasn’t sure about babies and such but she knew without a doubt that she didn’t want to live without them. With a sudden frown she blurted out, “I don’t lay eggs or anything like that, right?”

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“Babies,” Dick assured her firmly. “Regular peeing, pooping, puking babies. Firebirds don’t shift for the first time until they’re fully mature. Usually around their twenties.” A huge yawn crept up and took her by surprise. “Wow! I didn’t realize I was so tired! Can we sleep now?” “When you answer us,” Peter reminded her agreeably. “A simple ‘yes’ will do. Say it, Honey.” She slipped from the bed and knelt between them and took their hands in hers. “I would love to marry you. I look forward to having your babies. I long to grow old with you because I love you. I love you, Peter Hieney. And I love you, Dick Hieney.” Peter tugged her up until she was sandwiched between them. He kissed her soundly and announced, “Tomorrow we’ll have Father Averill say the words.” “And which words would those be?” she teased lovingly. “Master. Masters and mate. I can’t wait to slap a collar and cuffs on you,” Dick said with satisfaction. “Oh yeah, I’m looking forward to that. Silver with rubies to match your nipple and clit rings.” “What? Since when?” she objected just for form. “It’s traditional,” they said in unison. “Fuck traditional.” “That too,” Peter agreed.

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Chapter Nine

In which One of the Conspirators is revealed By the time King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Dungeon finally straggled into Robin’s camp dawn was an early promise on the horizon. Sleepy birds twittered in the trees while Delphie served hot tea and coffee to the newest visitors. Undain rousted Peter and Dick out of their warm bed so the three could confer with the king over hearty breakfasts. Eventually, they concluded that the only viable solution to ensure Gareth’s and Chrysanthemum’s safety was exile to the dragon sanctuary of Chrystal Isle. When Dick took the opportunity to present the petition for tri-marriage, Arthur shot him a hard stare and barked, “You told her what to expect?” “Everything,” Dick confirmed. “Complete with demonstrations. She’s still willing.” “Well, I must say old Florian did better with his girls than he had any right to expect. When’s the wedding?” “This morning.” Peter’s firm answer left no room for argument. “Father Averill was waiting for the petition. Will you give her away since Florian’s gone back to his estate?” “I’ll be honored. I always wanted to check out her nipples,” he confessed slyly. “You’re a dirty old man, Uncle Arthur, so it gives me great pleasure to inform you that won’t be part of the ceremony,” Dick said severely. “Fortunately that’s not required for our wedding. Peter and I have limits and we’ve not only reached them but zoomed past them. No nipple chain inspections.” “Give the petition back,” the king demanded with a twinkle in his eyes. “Not a chance.” Dick stuffed it inside his zipsuit and went in search of Father Averill while Peter went to wake Honey.

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“Aren’t they going to wait for Gareth and Chrysanthemum?” Arthur asked Undain in puzzlement. “No time. If what they suspect is true, they’ve waited too long already. In any case Honey will be safer away from here. And Gareth and Chrys might not appear until afternoon. An impatient firebird is a dangerous firebird,” he muttered to his father. “No need to burn down the forest around us. Besides, the sooner everyone leaves Sher Wood, the better.” “No doubt you’re correct. Well, what new intelligence has Nathan accumulated?” “Nothing that will make you rejoice,” Undain warned his father and proceeded with his debriefing. By the time he finished, Peter and Honey strolled into the clearing with the limited baggage they owned. Delphie and Aonghus, the Horse Knight, arranged the chairs so there was a small area near the fire. Dick returned, dragging a sleepy, yawning Father Averill with him. The wedding party quickly arranged themselves in the clearing while the knights and others in the area quietly settled in a ragged circle to witness the impromptu wedding. It was a fortunate coincidence that Father Averill was one of the few priests who had actually officiated at several tri-marriages so he was comfortable with the additional necessary intricacies. When it was time for the formal collaring and cuffing, Undain stepped forward and presented a lovely set of silver and ruby cuffs and matching narrow collar. With a faint gleam in her eyes, Honey placidly accepted the collar and cuffs though she had certainly teased and threatened to refuse them. She would never have embarrassed them in such a way of course. And ultimately she wanted her relationship with her husbands declared as publicly as possible. Unlike Gareth and Chrysanthemum, Honey and her husbands were not required to have a witness or formal bedding. After a brief congratulatory party, the trio packed up

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and departed for the Hieney estate, leaving Undain and the king to deal with secreting Gareth and Chrysanthemum away. The newly married trio cleared the edge of Sher Wood within the hour and was zipping along the narrow road leading to Hieney Manor on the outskirts of Hieney Hamlet when large nets suddenly fluttered down out of the trees lining the road. The powerbikes crashed to the ground, pinning Peter and Dick under them but Honey rolled free, landing on her feet and dashed back the way they’d traveled before the last tinkling sound came from the broken mirrors. Several men barreled down the road in pursuit while the remainder swarmed over their two prisoners. Dick grunted and passed out when they lifted the bike. Held tightly in the burly arms of a huge ugly outlaw Peter wildly fought to get free so he could see to his brother. “Here, you! Be still or I’ll have to mess up that pretty face!” “Dru!” one of the other men bellowed. “No need to threaten my future son-in-law!” Peter went still and stared at the man with sheer incredulity. “Florian LeFleur. What the hell are you doing, man? Have you lost your mind?” “Michael, get up here and see to his brother,” Florian commanded before stomping over to stand in front of Peter. “Well, well. I see that she snagged you both. I truly didn’t believe she could do it.” “Honey?” Peter asked while rapidly assessing the strange turn of events. “Oh, she’s quite a girl, our Honey. You wouldn’t believe what an accomplished lover she is.” Florian calmly punched him in the face, watching the blood spurt from his nose with cold detachment. “You will not talk about Honeysuckle that way.” “Really.” Peter ignored the blood dribbling down his chin as his eyes flickered over the controlled chaos in the road. Clearly there was more to Florian than met the eye but nothing would convince him that Honeysuckle was part of the plot to overthrow the king. Nothing. “Maybe you wouldn’t mind finding out how seriously my brother is hurt?”

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“That will depend on how much trouble you are for me. When my men return with Honey, we will move to your estate where I am led to believe there is a very comfortable dungeon.” Florian stalked over to where the healer was working on Dick. “Well?” Michael shook his head. “Broken leg. Something strange about him, though. It’s healing without any intervention from me.” Choosing his words carefully for Florian was known for a quick temper, he suggested, “Maybe he’s descended from one of the shifter races. It would account for the fast healing.” “Maybe. We’ll have to explore that possibility more thoroughly once we’re situated at the Hieney estate. In the meantime, immobilize it and ready him for transport.” Florian turned to face Peter. “According to my latest information your mother isn’t living at your estate. Would you care to share her present location with me?” “No, I don’t think so.” Peter shook his head regretfully. “Ah well, no doubt you will change your mind eventually even if I have to hurt your brother a little to make you talk.” Dick? Are you awake enough to understand me? Yeah. What now? The burning pain in Dick’s leg flowed over their link. This stretch of road is part of our inheritance. How attached are you to the trees? Not at all. But if you’re planning what I think you’re planning, don’t forget our wife is out there somewhere. I was thinking of a very small fire…something I can snuff out. Peter calmly waited for the perfect opportunity to use his secret abilities. He needed to wait for the smallest possible target before he unleashed the flames. Maybe he could just singe them a bit. Though Florian—yeah, Florian he would gladly toast a little more. He wished he knew exactly where their fiery little wife was hiding. He wasn’t capable of finding her without meshing minds with Dick and that wasn’t possible if they weren’t physically touching. Fervently hoping that she stayed out of his line of fire,

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he watched for his chance. Suddenly the opportunity arrived with blinding speed. Honey’s pursuers ran down the road toward them, howling in pain. Florian and his alarmed men rushed to meet them, leaving Dick and Peter alone with Dru. Peter called on his inner fire and sent flames flickering over his weary bruised body. Dru roared in anguish and leaped back, beating at his smoldering zipsuit. Peter loped over to Dick, squatted down and wrapped him in his arms and blinked them out of the little clearing on the road to a small hut on the outskirts of their estate. Blearily Dick raised his head and looked around. Gardening implements were jumbled in one corner. In another, dusty camping gear was piled next to a rusty cobweb-covered wheelbarrow. “Where the hell are we?” “The north garden and storage shed. Ah, good! I thought this was where we stored the camping gear!” Peter dragged an old cot from the corner over to Dick. He grabbed a torn rag from the top of the potting bench, cleared the cobwebs and dust from it and helped his brother stretch out. “Stay here and rest while I check the manor and find out what’s going on. If I can get into the house unseen, I’ll get our weapons from the dungeon. From the garbage Florian was spewing, he’s certainly planning to take the estate. If Mama isn’t here, then there’s a reason. You know she never leaves on her own.” Dick groaned and cursed under his breath. “What about Honey?” “I hope that our escape will draw Florian back to the estate. As soon as you’re on your feet, I’ll go back to find her.” Peter’s rage was so great that Dick marveled at his control. The shed could have been a pile of cinders. “Until then, we can only hope that her reputation was well earned.” “Oh, God, I hope so.”

***** Honey shivered in the depths of an enormous bushy pine tree as she watched the angry men pelt back down the road. Stupid men! Her refuge was surrounded by

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shooting thorn bushes. Even in the breathless rush of her escape, she had thought quickly enough to seize a fallen limb and heave it into the bushes to disarm them. Then before they rearmed, she had pushed through them to the base of the tree and wriggled up the limbs in the tiny space near the trunk until she was well above thorn level. Her huffing, puffing overweight moronic pursuers barreled straight into the bushes and received a thorough blanket of thorns in their privates and behinds for their stupidity. Suddenly, she giggled. Appalled, she slapped her hand over her mouth but that didn’t seem to help. The laughter flowed through her. Soon she was shaking so hard she nearly peed her pants. Squeezing her legs together, she clung to the rough trunk and fought for control. As abruptly as the wild laughter had bloomed, it died and she burst into tears. It occurred to her that she was suffering from a massive adrenaline rush and that eased her fears. Calmly, she cried until there didn’t seem to be any more tears. Then she searched in the gathering darkness until she found a wide comfortable branch to sit on and made herself as secure as she could under the circumstances. Drawing a shaky breath, she settled down and began the painful process of analyzing what had happened in the ambush. In a blinding flash Honey realized that her father clearly wasn’t the man she’d remembered from her childhood. Her pursuers revealed alarming bits and pieces of information while bitterly cursing her and her husbands. There were muttered threats and nasty hints of terrible retribution. Her new knowledge about Peter and Dick’s true natures gave her confidence that they would escape and find her. With a small sour smile she conceded that the attackers might not fare very well but that wasn’t of any great concern to her. They had made their own choices and as the old saying went, “If you’re not my friend, you’re my enemy.” For the moment, she was as safe as she could be. In the smothering blackness of a forest during the dark of the moon, it was highly unlikely that her pursuers would

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return until morning. Shooting thorn bushes were not the only dangers in the woods. She shifted until her back was against the sturdy tree trunk and leaned her head back with her eyes closed. She had a long, uncomfortable night ahead of her.

***** Peter crept across the wide lawn, dashing from the round bushes that lined the stone wall to the bushy pine trees that dotted the lawn. From there he worked his way through the various statues Ling–Ling ordered the gardeners to place in the garden. When he reached the kitchen garden, he zigged across the open ground until he reached the shelter of the stone-walled house. Slowly he inched his way past the windows until he rounded a huge bush and found the small cellar door just where he remembered it. He and his brother as teenagers often sneaked back into the house late at night using the little cellar door. Easing it open, he breathed a silent sigh of relief that no one had remembered the door and barred it shut. In the dank, smelly darkness he stood listening intently, waiting for any tiny sound that would reveal the presence of a watcher or guard. After several minutes that stretched endlessly, he concluded that he was alone. With a thread of thought he lit the small lamp he carried. Green moldy water covered the floor and soaked into his boots. Grimly, he looked around. All the signs were there for anyone to see. Something catastrophic happened in the few days since he and Dick had left. In his entire lifetime the cellar had never flooded. With a disgusted shake of his head he splashed across the room and trod up the stairs to the kitchen door. He put his light out and cracked the door enough to peek into the kitchen where disaster reigned. Piles of dirty dishes and pots cluttered the tables and preparation counters. Trash and gnawed bones littered the filthy floor. Maggots teemed and seethed on the rotting food scattered on the table. Peter’s stomach lurched from the incredible stench. He thoroughly understood why there were no human occupants in the room. Slipping into the kitchen, he quietly walked to the door that led to the main hall. The 92

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big house echoed with silence. Everyone was gone. The servants and their families who should have been safely sleeping in their beds were absent. A sudden horrible thought sent him racing up the stairs to the servants’ quarters. His heart pounded with relief when he found all of the rooms empty. As dawn broke he retraced his steps, stopping to peek in open doorways in the main area of the house. The destruction was appalling. Even in the pale gray light of dawn the vandalism was heartbreaking. Slashed and broken furniture thrown into careless piles in the center of each room told the story. Smeared dung defaced walls formerly covered with delicate silk wallpaper. Torn and charred antique tapestries lay wadded in the sooty fireplaces. Ripped damask draperies hung in tatters next to the tall, cracked and broken windows. In the library, precious rare books—some with shredded covers—were tumbled on the floor, leaving the heavy wooden bookcases empty. He tugged on one bookcase until it swung out into the room, revealing a narrow passage which led down to the dungeon. Pulling it closed behind him, he relit his lamp and trod down the stairs to the weapons room. Evidently the dungeon and weapons room were the only untouched areas of the manor. Quickly he rummaged through the weapons, making his selections almost at random but when he finished, he carried enough weapons to arm both Dick and Honeysuckle as well as himself. With a grim little smile, he went back upstairs, carefully shut the bookcase entrance and went back through the kitchen to the garden door. The sun was washing over the horizon, sending shafts of bright light across the wide lawn. As he picked his way through the garden he witnessed the desecration of the ancient herb garden, plants hacked to the ground. Making his way back to the shed where Dick was sleeping, he wrestled with his escalating anger at the extent of the destruction. Who hated them so? It rankled to admit it but he really didn’t believe the vandalism was the work of Florian and his men.

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Reining in his anger, he hurried across the lawn. Burning the manor down wasn’t a solution. Retrieving Honeysuckle, finding Ling–Ling and the servants and healing Dick’s leg were the priorities. Staying out of Florian’s clutches was a priority. Replacing the communicators that Florian’s men had confiscated was a priority. Sending messages to Raulf, Undain and Nathan—those were priorities. The house would have to wait. When he opened the shed door Dick was waiting with a shovel cocked over his shoulder, ready to whack whoever came through the door. He uttered a curse and lowered the shovel when he realized it was Peter. Peter berated himself for forgetting to notify his brother that he was coming. Too many distractions… “What did you find?” Dick asked reluctantly. The vibrating emanations of Peter’s rage were all around them. Of the two of them, Peter was usually the calmer twin so his anger wasn’t a good sign at all. Peter tilted his head back and looked away. “It’s a mess, brother. Mama and the servants are all gone so at least they weren’t here but that’s little comfort. The place is destroyed.” He rested a gentle hand on Dick’s shoulder. “We’ll take care of the manor house later. Right now we need to find Honeysuckle and Mama. Are you recovered enough to help me?” Dick nodded. “Certainly I have enough strength to help you with that. First Honey. Then Mama.” Peter sat down on the cot next to him and they joined hands. Then when their spirits meshed, Peter sent out the query. Honey? Well! It’s about time! Are you all right? she demanded curtly. We’re safe. Tell me where you are and I’ll come to get you. Peter devoutly hoped that Honey was somewhere that would make it easy to retrieve her. It was a hope that died an instant death. I’m in a tree. It’s a very tall pine tree surrounded by shooting thorn bushes.

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Peter groaned. Honey, can you see a tower to the east of you? he asked her, praying that she would say no. Yes. It’s a tall green tower with a red roof. Both men cursed fluently for several moments. She was trapped close to Ninian’s territory. The queen’s brother was a nasty cruel pervert with a taste for rape. Peter calmed down enough to instruct her, Wait there. I’ll come to get you. Whatever you do, don’t get near the thorns. There are people in the woods. I hear shouting and screaming. How high in the tree are you? About halfway. Her frown was so heavy they could feel the pressure of her anxiety. What are you going to do? Peter blinked and landed on the branch next to her. It bounced wildly under their combined weight. Immediately he grabbed her and blinked them back to the garden shed. A stuttering shriek of tearing fabric filled the shed. Cool air washed over Honey’s backside. She clapped her hands over her bare ass and squealed. Dick gingerly spread his legs and tugged her against his chest into a tight embrace. “Honey!” Peter rubbed her back as they spent a few precious moments in pure silent communication. Finally he straightened, stretching his spine with a groan. “We’re going to have to get moving. All of us are hungry. Honey’s stomach is growling again. She needs a new zipsuit. And we’re going to have to find a healer to look at Dick’s leg.” “What happened? I didn’t see anything except my father standing by the side of the road, roaring,” Honey admitted. “And then I ran—” “We’re very proud of you too. You did exactly the right thing,” Dick assured her with a swift kiss. “They took away our communicators so we need to acquire new ones. And we still need to locate Mama and the missing residents of the estate. If the damage is as bad as Peter said, then it will be uninhabitable until it’s thoroughly cleaned.”

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“What is the plan?” Honey asked soberly. “We’ll go to Nanny Anny’s cottage. She lives in a hidden clearing in the woods so I doubt that the raiders found her. If anyone knows what happened here, it will be her.” Peter moved over to the door, opened it a bare crack and peeked out. “It’s clear. Time to leave, Dick.” Dick grabbed a heavy walking stick someone had stashed with the camping gear and stood up. Though his bones were knitted back together, it would be a while before he could put his full weight on them. Taking up his sword, he slipped it into the scabbard on his back. Walking to Nanny Anny’s cottage wasn’t going to be easy but it was their only option for the present. So with the walking stick in one hand and his other arm flung across Honey’s shoulder, he shuffled over to the door. Peter simply shook his head. “This will never do. Do you have enough strength to blink to Nanny’s?” “Do I have a choice?” he groused. “I think so but I won’t be able to help you locate Mama then.” “Nanny will know where she is. You go first. Honey and I will be right behind you with the rest of the weaponry,” Peter suggested, ignoring his crankiness. “The sooner we leave the estate, the better. I expected Florian and his men to show up by now.” Dick blinked out of the tiny hut and seconds later Peter followed with Honey. They reappeared in a small woodland clearing outside the fence that surrounded an enchanting fairytale cottage. When Peter reached out to unlatch the gate, a female giant with snow white hair and an eye-searing orange zipsuit opened the cottage door and stomped down the steps to the gravel path that led to the gate. Silently she marched up to Dick, lifted him in her strong arms as though he was a small child and carried him into the cottage. Honey’s mouth dropped open as she watched them in astonishment. “That’s your nanny?”

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Peter pursed his lips and nodded. “That’s our nanny. It requires a special person to nanny two firebirds, even if they can’t shift yet. We were a real handful.” “I bet,” she muttered as her stomach growled and gurgled. “Shall we go in now?” Peter laughed. “Yes, we’ll go in now. I expect Nanny Anny already has breakfast ready. She always seems to know when we’re going to arrive.” Taking her hand, he led her through the gate and up the path to Nanny Anny’s cottage. Honey flashed a quick look at their surroundings, wondering what could possibly happen next.

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Chapter Ten

In which Honey meets Ling–Ling and Merlin If the outside of Nanny Anny’s cottage was pure fairytale with gingerbread trim and fancy clapboards, the interior was an industrial fantasy crossed with starship modern. Stainless steel and glittering glass and ceramic tiles covered every surface. The single large room was prevented from appearing cold and sterile because spectacular hand-sewn quilts that boasted a rich riot of colors covered every available wall space. More quilts covered the bed, were draped over the sturdy bench that served as a couch and were piled on a huge carved wooden trunk that sat between two windows. Honey’s eyes darted from quilt to quilt so that she couldn’t decide where to look next. Unable to resist, she reached out to touch the nearest one hanging to her left. “They’re gorgeous,” she breathed reverently. “Simply gorgeous.” “Thank you.” Nanny Anny’s gruff deep bass voice boomed in the small cottage. “I always enjoy the reactions of a true connoisseur. Do you quilt?” Startled, Honey shook her head. “No. I embroider when I get the time. Mostly cross-stitching but quilting isn’t something I’ve ever tried.” “Well then. You must tell me when you are ready to learn and I will teach you. I see that you already have an appreciation of color. And if you embroider, then obviously you know which is the business end of the needle.” Briskly she set large bowls of steaming oatmeal on the table, followed by small bowls of honey, nuts and raisins. “Sit. The food is getting cold.” Peter nudged Honey toward the table. “Wait!” Nanny Anny motioned at Honey peremptorily. “Take off your zipsuit and I will repair it while you eat.” “You expect me to eat breakfast naked?” Honey demanded in appalled horror. 98

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Nanny shrugged. “Why not? Your zipsuit will be repaired by the time you finish eating. Or you could wrap up in a blanket but obviously Peter and Dick have already seen your body and quite frankly you’re not my type. I prefer a horny unicorn with a big cock. That Prince Daz isn’t bad,” she pronounced judiciously. “No, he isn’t,” Honey admitted with sudden mischief. “Dennac and Arri weren’t bad either.” Peter tugged her between his legs and proceeded to peel her zipsuit off with brisk efficiency. Tossing it over the bench, he bent Honey over his knees and smacked her ass with his palm, awarding her four stinging blows. Her breasts bounced gently, setting the nipple chain in motion. Immediately her nipples tightened in hard little nubs, sending hot, streaking sensations to her clit. Peter brushed his warm palm over her pink satiny cheeks before helping her to her feet. “Don’t try to make Dick and me jealous,” he warned. “That will just earn you a punishment.” She frowned down at him while she slowly rubbed her tingling ass. Her breasts quivered with her indignation and the tiny ruby and silver balls swinging from her nipples chimed faintly. “What in the hell is wrong with you? You know I was only teasing.” “You scared us, Honey.” Dick’s soft voice was still strained with stress. “His choices were spanking you or fucking you and at the moment there isn’t any privacy for fucking. Now come here and kiss me.” Slowly rubbing her stinging posterior, Honey walked over to the reclining chair where Dick sat with his leg cushioned and propped up. He pulled her down on his lap, burrowed his fingers in her hair and held her still as he covered her mouth with his soft lips. When he brushed his tongue across her full lower lip, she willingly opened for his sensual invasion. Moments later, Honey was twisting in his arms and trying to open his zipsuit so that she could rub her breasts again his smooth hard chest.

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“Would you like me to go work in my garden for a while?” Nanny Anny inquired with dry amusement. “I’m sure I could find something to occupy me for at least an hour.” Flushing with embarrassment, Honey sat up as Dick released her. “No, of course not. I’m sorry, Nanny Anny. I can’t believe I’m behaving this way.” A low chuckle flowed across the room. “Arousal is a normal reaction to danger. The adrenaline surge is a powerful aphrodisiac, especially for a firebird.” Nanny Anny placed a small table with Dick’s breakfast next to his chair. “If you’re not going to relieve your stress with sex, perhaps you’ll take time to eat now before the oatmeal is stone cold.” Honey climbed out of Dick’s lap and went to sit at the table. While they ate in contented silence, Nanny Anny repaired Honeysuckle’s zipsuit with a tube of fabric repairer. By the time they had finished the meal her suit was ready to wear. After they cleared the table and cleaned up, Peter and Honey sat down with Anny and began their queries. “Do you know where Mama and the staff went to?” Peter asked first. Nanny Anny smiled and reassured him at once, “They all went to Merlin’s tower. One of the children saw Ninian and his men riding down Sher Wood Road so they were able to sound the alarm. Even a child could recognize that it was a war party.” “Ninian!” Dick sat up in shock. “Why would Queen Vivian’s brother invade our estate?” “From the rumors on the grapevine, he intended to abduct your mother with marriage in mind. That would put him within reach of the throne, especially if the coup was successful. A marriage to the king’s sister would provide some legitimacy to his claim.” Nanny shrugged her huge shoulders in distaste. “To the general populace a forced marriage would make no difference. Merlin offered her sanctuary.” “Where is Ninian now?” Peter demanded with fury. “He and his men destroyed our home! Does he think we’ll stand by while he steals our mother?” 100

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“But that’s exactly what you’ve done,” Nanny pointed out. “Where have you been when you were needed here at home? Without a leader here, the estate was vulnerable. Your mother is not a war leader.” She rose and went to the communication center next to her pantry. They heard a low murmur and then a few minutes later she returned to her chair. “The latest reports place Ninian near Solomon’s Choice Abbey. Rumors are flying that Prince Gareth killed the abbot.” “He did,” Dick confirmed grimly. “His Eminence’s men captured Gareth and Chrys and he had the gall to schedule Chrysanthemum for a ritual deflowering.” “Ah? Well, that would certainly be enough to justify his death.” Nanny Anny waved Gareth’s deadly deed away. “Reports also place Arthur and his knights on the road to the abbey with Florian and his men trailing behind them. If Arthur is not warned in time, he will be caught in a trap between them…although there is some lively speculation about Florian’s men. They appear to be quite intoxicated.” Honeysuckle nodded, suddenly grinning with devilish delight, and clapped her hands. “Antidote intoxication.” The light dawned for Peter and he began to laugh. “The thorn bushes? That’s why they came pelting back to the ambush site?” She shrugged. “If I’m not mistaken, they spent a very uncomfortable embarrassing night picking thorns from their butts and cocks. Even if they had the antidote administered immediately, it takes twenty-four hours to dissipate. And that’s only once the last thorn is removed.” “No wonder they never pursued us,” Dick observed with a sympathetic wince. “I’m surprised that they’re on the road.” “I’m not. Florian is a driven man.” Peter sighed. “We need to warn Uncle Arthur. We need to speak to Mama. As soon as this coup is squashed we need to hand in our resignations to Nathan.” “About time!” Nanny agreed briskly. “Your communicators were confiscated, I take it?” 101

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“Everything is gone. Again. Since we met Honeysuckle, we’ve had to replace our supplies and equipment three times. It’s definitely time for us to retire.” Peter stood up and began to pace restlessly. “After we notify Uncle Arthur about Florian and Ninian, I think we should go to Merlin’s tower and bring Mama home, though I have no idea where everyone will stay. The manor is uninhabitable.” “Well, you talk to Arthur and Nathan. Merlin is already escorting Ling–Ling home and they’re bringing all the staff and families with them. As for where they will stay, as I recall the summer festivals in the past, it won’t be the first time most of them have slept on the lawn,” Nanny Anny said tartly. “If she wishes, your mama can sleep here.” Nanny Anny tossed a communicator to each of the brothers. “Get to work.” Honeysuckle groaned at the thought of all the things that needed to be organized before her mother-in-law and the manor families returned. The first orders of business were arranging shelter and food. “Nanny Anny, do you know if there are any shelters packed away on the estate that can be used for outdoor kitchens?” “Actually, there are several. Let’s move over to the table. I’ll get materials to list what we need. Would you like some tea while we work?” “Tea would be perfect.” Honeysuckle and Nanny settled at the table while Peter and Dick alternately cursed and cajoled the king and their boss via their communicators. By the time they finished, the two women had compiled complete lists. “Well?” Nanny asked Peter. “Have they been briefed?” “With exquisite, excruciating detail,” he confirmed. “Now it’s up to them. You know, Nanny? You should work for Nathan. You would be a perfect agent in place.” “What makes you think that I’m not already working for Nathan?” she asked prosaically. “You’re not the only one who can manage an undercover career.” Shocked silence fell over the cottage. Finally Dick said, “Perfect. Just perfect. Our nanny is a spy.” “Crown agent,” Nanny and Honey corrected in unison.

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“Crown agent,” Dick repeated obediently unsurprised at Honeysuckle’s tacit admission. “Our nanny and our wife are Crown agents. Who is going to take care of our eleyahs?” “Your nanny and your wife,” Honeysuckle replied calmly. “Women are excellent multitaskers. It’s what we do.” “If you already work for Nathan why didn’t you pass all the information on to him without waiting for us to show up?” Dick asked in puzzlement. “As far as I’ve been able to ascertain, you and Peter are the only ones with his direct codes,” Nanny retorted in exasperation. “All of the agents are in the field and no one but the two of you can reach him! His communicator in the capital is shut down.” Swearing in frustration, Peter snagged his communicator from the little side table and went outside to share the newest wrinkle with Nathan. When he returned he joined the women at the table and skimmed down their list. “When Mama and the staff arrive, I’ll organize setting up the shelters. Since you’re both such accomplished multitaskers you can manage the rest of the list while I go to Hieney Hamlet to round up replacement supplies.” Dick snorted in disgust as he struggled up from the comfortable chair and hobbled toward the bathroom. “You don’t want to deal with Opal. You’re such a wuss.” “Who is Opal?” Honey demanded in a surprising spurt of jealous anxiety. “The housekeeper,” Nanny explained with a snort of her own. “Peter recruited her sons to work for Nathan and she’s never forgiven him—at least that’s what she tells him.” “What’s she like?” Honey hoped that she wouldn’t be difficult to deal with. She already dreaded meeting a new mother-in-law. Peter sighed and rolled his eyes. “Four feet tall, soft pink snout, gray bristly skin, well shined trotters…”

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“She’s a troll!” Honey exclaimed with pleased surprise. “How wonderful! Your manor must be immaculate.” “Not at the moment,” Peter grimly reminded her. His communicator chirped and he pulled it out to read the screen. “Mama is at the manor. Time for us to return.” When Dick limped out of the bathroom, Nanny made a vague motion in their direction. “The three of you should go now. I’ll stay here and organize a few more things before I join you.” She looked at them over the top of her reading glasses. “Well? Get on with it!” Honey fetched Dick’s walking stick while the men waited near the door. Then joining hands with Honey, they blinked back to the lawn on the western side of the manor. With a breathless laugh Honey shook her head. Apparently, she was getting used to blinking from place to place. She stared up at the huge manor house, stunned at the soaring towers and turrets. It was a mini-castle! Abruptly the full consequences of marrying into the royal family struck her. Dick and Peter weren’t just Crown agents or firebirds or even wealthy privileged men. They were royalty, with all the responsibilities that entailed. Slowly, allowing for Dick’s injury, they strolled around the house to the kitchen garden. Shocked at the crowd that awaited them, Honey stifled a gasp. Suddenly she was glad that she wouldn’t be expected to supervise the huge staff. At least, she hoped Ling–Ling didn’t expect her to take over. The weary staff moved aside, allowing Honey her first glimpse of her mother-inlaw. Ling–Ling stood proudly next to a gorgeous tall blond god. Honey wasn’t looking at him particularly because her eyes were on Ling–Ling, an exquisite exotic beauty. Immediately, Honey knew where Peter and Dick had inherited their stunning good looks from. Their mother had the same smooth cinnamon skin, abundant silky black hair and dark, twinkling tilted eyes. As they moved forward through the crowd babbling with excitement, Ling–Ling and the blond god came to meet them. When Ling–Ling threw herself into his arms 104

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Peter hugged her tightly, lifting her up for a hearty kiss before releasing her so that she could go to Dick. He offered his hand to the god and exclaimed, “Merlin! Thank you so much for escorting Mama home!” Goggling at the blond hunk, Honey rejected her first thought. Surely, she was wrong. This was the great Merlin? This beautiful man was Merlin? He was supposed to be an old, old man! Merlin winked at her and leaned close enough to whisper huskily, “Surely magic must be of some use, eh? Who would want to look like an old man?” She gasped and stared into his dancing blue eyes. Wisdom and knowledge and centuries of experience stared back, trapping her with a look. There was the powerful man she’d heard about her entire life. His eyes held a very different story. Peter gently rescued her from Merlin’s gaze, turning her to face his mother. Ling– Ling reached out, tilted her chin so she could meet her eyes and then smiled with relief. “Welcome, daughter. I see that my sons have found their heart mate at last!” To her astonishment Ling–Ling immediately enveloped her with a warm hug. “Welcome home.”

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Chapter Eleven

In which Honeysuckle retires Fall and winter on Avalon had passed with amazing speed and now late spring dressed up the land with sharp bursts of color punctuating the tender new leaf green. The smell of the wild honeysuckle vines was heavy in the warm afternoon sun. Waddling down the rough path to Nanny Anny’s cottage, Honeysuckle inhaled the heady sweet scent and absently massaged her aching back. So much had changed in the past year. She found it difficult to recall how truly dreary her life was before she met her husbands. That one fateful meeting had completely transformed her future. Things moved very swiftly once Merlin and Ling–Ling arrived at Hieney Manor. Merlin immediately took Dick aside and examined his leg. Assured that it was a clean break he nudged Dick’s healing capacity a bit and by evening Dick was back on his feet with a lot less discomfort and burgeoning hope for a full recovery. Ling–Ling and Opal praised Honeysuckle’s efforts lavishly while they studied her list. Then with minimal effort they organized work crews to clean the vandalized manor. Impressed beyond words, Honey watched the rapid transformation of the manor kitchen and main floor with amazement. Observing Opal’s demonstration of true housekeeper skills, Honey determined that she would ask for Opal’s help in hiring a new housekeeper for LeFleur Manor. Of course, it wasn’t LeFleur Manor anymore. When the coup attempt was squashed Florian was stripped of all his possessions and banished to White Hound Island where the unicorns ruthlessly kept him quite busy. As a reward for his assistance in quelling the rebellion the manor was awarded to Raulf. After growing up under Raulf’s tutelage Honey wasn’t inclined to inquire too

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closely about the exact form that assistance had taken. As long as Daffodil was happy with him Honey was content. The only sour note was Arthur’s failure to capture Ninian. Rumors still surfaced almost daily of his whereabouts. So far, none of them had borne fruit. Ninian remained at large. If Dick and Peter knew that she was alone in the forest, they would have a cow. With a great sigh of relief she reached the path leading to Nanny Anny’s door. Though her labor had begun in the early hours of dawn, she had been sure she would have time to get to Nanny’s house. But the twinges in her back had begun to wind around her lower belly, intensifying and tightening into breathtaking cramps. She was doubly glad she had arranged for Peter and Dick to be away on a training trip. Bless Nathan for asking them to spend some time training Squirrel and Buzzard. The two boys had proven to be invaluable aides to Nathan. Their father reluctantly gave his permission for them to enter into Crown service under Nathan’s supervision and the boys blossomed in the rarified atmosphere of Came-a-lot. Honey gasped and grabbed the sturdy gate as a wave of pain tightened her belly in a hard contraction. When it faded, she slowly straightened up and opened the gate. Nanny Anny flung open the cottage door and bounded down the steps. By the time Honeysuckle reached the steps she was panting heavily as another contraction rolled over her. Nanny Anny snatched Honey up in her muscular arms as she demanded, “How far apart?” “Hell if I know,” Honey admitted panting for all she was worth. “Too close.” “As soon as I saw you I called Ling–Ling. She’s on her way. So are your very upset husbands. Although, if they don’t hurry—” Dick blinked into the tiny yard followed a few seconds later by Peter. “Never mind.” Nanny carried her through the wide door and across the room where she carefully deposited her on the bed.

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Dick was right on her heels and once Nanny moved out of the way, he immediately began to strip off Honey’s stretchy zipsuit and low boots. “What in the hell were you thinking?” he demanded gruffly. “You could have delivered the eleyahs in the woods!” She wailed as another contraction gripped her with jagged teeth. When it passed, she panted, “I wanted Nanny Anny.” “If you had called, child, I would have come to you,” Nanny chided. “But the babies have to be born here!” Honey gritted her teeth and bore down when the next contraction rolled over her. Dick shoved trembling hands through his hair, dislodging the tie that held it in a neat tail. It flared around his shoulders in a tangled mess. “We have a perfectly good bed at the manor! Why me?” he demanded before stalking over to the door and flinging it open. Out in the yard, Peter was losing his lunch in spectacular fashion. The mere thought of Honey in pain was enough to make him sick. Swearing with creative flair, Dick slammed the door shut, leaving Peter to his misery and rushed back to the bed. Obviously, he was on his own. Usually, the only remedy for Peter once he reached this stage was copious quantities of alcohol or doctored tea. While he paced aimlessly, Nanny Anny arranged a waterproof bed covering beneath Honey and draped her with a light sheet. On the stove the teakettle was whistling but Dick ignored it as he ignored everything that didn’t directly pertain to their wife. He went back to the bed and clutched Honey’s sweaty hand, patting it lightly. “It’s going to be all right,” he assured her desperately as another contraction seized her with breathtaking swiftness. Suddenly she yanked his hand up and bit him—hard. He howled and jerked away, staring at the tiny welling drops of blood in disbelief. “What the hell?”

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“Don’t tell me it’s going to be all right,” she snarled through clenched teeth. “It’s never going to be all right again!” “Now, Honey…” “Don’t you now Honey me! Get out!” she sobbed. Peter stumbled through the door and scuttled into the bathroom. Nanny Anny stood in her cooking area and watched the little drama unfold, biting her lip to hold back the chuckles. Her boys were going to have quite an adventure. Dick stared at their wife with consternation. “What’s wrong? Tell me and I’ll fix it! I promise!” Just at that moment, Peter staggered from the bathroom, white-faced and trembling with his zipsuit peeled down to his waist and walked determinedly over to the bed. He climbed up next to Honey, positioning his back to the wall and then tugged her up until she was cradled in his arms. She turned sideways and curled in a tight ball against his chest, slowly rubbing her cheek against his skin. She inhaled the comforting distinctive firebird scent. “Dick doesn’t love me anymore.” Slow tears rolled down her face. Little puffs from breathy hiccups roused the fine hairs on his chest. “Why do you say that, darling? You know Dick loves you.” “I love you, Honey! You know I love you!” Dick declared frantically. “But you never get sick when I’m hurt,” she sobbed. “Never, never. Peter loves me. He always throws up!” Peter rubbed the small of her back and kissed her damp hair. “You’re too hard on Dick,” he admonished softly. “He takes good care of you. Now you’ve hurt his feelings.” “I need to touch him. How come he isn’t up here with us?” she demanded in gravelly voice full of tears. One clear drop trembled at the tip of her nose before

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plopping on Peter’s chest. Then she hunched over in a tight bundle of taut muscles and groaned as a new contraction grabbed her belly. Dick ripped his zipsuit open and shoved the top down before hopping on the bed to join them. “I’m here, sweetheart. Right here. Just tell me what to do!” “Make it stop!” she panted out. “I changed my mind. I don’t want to have any babies. You have to take them back.” “I would if I could. Believe me!” He patted her hand and belly while his mind raced frantically. Surely there was something he could say to comfort her. “I tell you what! You give them to us and we’ll take care of them. No problem!” It was a rash promise but it served to distract her until the next contractions crested. Abruptly, she stared around wild-eyed and yelled, “Nanny! I have to push! I have to push!” Nanny Anny moved with deceptive speed to the bed, shoved the sheet up to Honey’s knees and squatted down to peer between her legs. “It’s time,” she announced curtly. “Dick, get your ass down here and help. I hoped that Ling–Ling would be here but—” she shrugged. Dick slipped from the bed and warily approached the small table where Nanny Anny was quickly arranging an assortment of items. She handed him a small cloth drenched in a light, pleasant germicide. “Clean your hands and arms. Then pick up that blanket,” Nanny pointed to a small packet, “and get ready for your new son or daughter.” He scrubbed with such fervor that the small wounds on his hand started to seep again, all while watching the fascinating, wondrous miracle of his child emerge from the safe nesting place where Honey had carried it. More swiftly than he could believe, Nanny presented him with a squirming red-faced, wailing little boy who promptly christened him by squirting a stream across his face. Clutching their sweating, panting wife while he watched the drama, Peter chuckled. “At least you know everything works!” 110

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Honey drew a long, shuddering breath as her body went slack in temporary release. The door flew open and Ling–Ling rushed in with several packages in her arms. Dumping them unceremoniously on the floor, she skipped over to the sink where she scrubbed her hands and arms before trotting back to the bed to see her new grandson. Nanny Anny severed the cord, cleaned him swiftly, wrapped him in a snug, secure bundle and handed him back to Dick. “There you go. What will you name your son?” “Blessing.” As he cradled his son in the crook of one strong arm, he trailed a tender trembling finger across his son’s tiny downy cheek. “He will be called Blessing for he is a gift beyond price.” Then he bent his head and kissed his son’s dark silky hair before moving to place the baby in Peter’s arms. “What will you name your son?” he asked his brother softly. Peter held the baby so that Honey could see him. “Gunnarr. He will be called Gunnarr for he will be a warrior unlike any other.” He held little Blessing Gunnarr so that Honey could kiss his cheek. Then he kissed him and handed the baby to Ling–Ling as Honey’s body jerked and curled with the first of the contractions that would help deliver Blessing’s twin. Dick motioned for him to change places. “Your turn to watch our child come into the world.” Peter regretfully shook his head. “I could faint or get sick. I’m not proud of that but I would never endanger Honey or our child that way.” Honey gripped his hand with pain-driven strength and then she kissed his palm. “Go. You are stronger than you think and I want this for you.” Restlessly she shifted as the men changed places. It was none too soon. The next contraction was edging up her tight belly. With an eerie wail, she folded up and burrowed against Dick’s firm chest as he held her tightly. Nanny Anny pointed out the things Peter would need as she kept a keen eye on Honey. Her experience told her that it wouldn’t be long before the next baby Hieney made his or her appearance. 111

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Over in the corner Ling–Ling contentedly rocked Blessing, watching him root against her breast with tender amusement. “Not yet, sweetheart, but soon. Soon your mama will be ready for you.” A tiny fist crept from the folds of the soft blanket and waved aimlessly before it found its way to his tiny mouth. Latching on, he suckled the fingers with hungry eagerness. At the foot of the bed, Peter stared in fascination as the baby’s head began to crown. It was a redhead! Startled, his eyes flew to meet Dick’s as he exclaimed, “The baby has red hair!” Moments later a second boy slithered into Nanny Anny’s waiting hands. Peter was ready, too caught up in the drama of the birth to be sick. His heart pounded in a chest too tight to hold it as she placed the tiny boy in his arms. Staring down at his son, the absurdity of it all struck him a powerful blow. What did he know about raising a son? What insanity made him think he could care for a child? “We’re crazy!” he declared in sudden panic. “What do we know about babies?” “That’s why there are grandmothers and nannies,” Nanny Anny said calmly as she cut the cord. “They’re there for all the times you’re uncertain or scared. Every new parent starts in the same place.” She cleaned the baby, wrapped him tightly and handed him back to Peter. “What will you name your second son?” He looked at the tiny innocent face, the swirl of fine red-gold curls and the delicate pursed mouth. The baby opened his gray-blue eyes and rolled them in unfocused confusion. “Phoenix. His name will be Phoenix for he is the first of his kind, a redhaired firebird.” He tenderly kissed his son on his tiny lips before carrying him to Dick. Placing him in Dick’s shaking arms, he asked, “What will you name your second son?” “Dragomir. His name will be Dragomir for he will bring peace.” Dick’s voice trembled and then grew stronger. “Together Dragomir and Gunnarr will bring peace to our land.” 112

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Honey hissed. “I knew you would find a way to get me to retire. I won’t have time to work if I’m raising a couple of warriors,” she grumbled. “We’ll teach them everything they need to know,” Dick protested. “I think not.” With a deep sigh, she rubbed her damp, sweaty face against him until she was comfortable and promptly fell asleep.

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Epilogue

In which Honeysuckle demonstrates Sword Work for her Sons Ninian sat on a huge deadfall in the dark forest south of his disintegrating tower. Unable to live there for years, he was forced to watch it slowly fall apart. Now he lived in a damp rocky cave on the edge of the northern sea. His arthritis bothered him constantly. His legs ached. And he desperately wanted a fuck. Women didn’t find him attractive anymore. Something about the greasy gray stringy hair and burgeoning gut put them off. Or it could be the tattered clothes. Possibly it was because his last bath was two summers ago. He shrugged. It mattered not because he had a plan. Many years ago, Vivian had confided the Hieney family secret one night when he plied her with too much drink. Ninian had chained her to the wall in his tower and flogged her until she begged for mercy. The firebirds’ secret was her unsuccessful bribe when he discovered her attempt to poison him. He sneered at the memory. After she spilled all the details, he tied her to his leather horse and whipped her until she passed out. What else were sisters good for? That was the last time she had tried to kill him. Slyly he studied his two captives. Maybe he would do the same things to Honey except this time her firebirds could watch. Dick and Peter lay back-to-back, trapped in a shifter tangleweave net. The magical net prevented them from shifting, using their powers, communicating with anyone…in short, it was the perfect trap. Unable to move, they raged against their stupidity and carelessness. With no sign of Ninian for years, they had relaxed their vigilance. And they had no doubt that Ninian’s revenge was aimed directly at Honeysuckle. At Hieney Manor Honeysuckle stood waiting in the garden, tapping her foot with increasing impatience. In the final minutes allotted, Blessing and Phoenix trudged

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around the corner of the manor, dragging their practice swords in the dirt. Her eyebrows flew up in consternation. “What’s wrong?” “Papa Dick and Papa Peter forgot us,” Blessing hung his head and whispered disconsolately. “We waited and waited but they never came.” She looked down at his bent head and fought the urge to brush his windblown locks back from his face. Obviously, from the evidence of twigs and bits of leaves they had kept themselves occupied while waiting for their fathers. Phoenix looked up at her with a soulful expression in his dark blue eyes. Tears threatened to overflow. “We told them we were sorry we broke the stupid statue.” She bit her lip and solemnly nodded. “They would never punish you by failing to show up for your practice. Besides, they accepted your apology,” she assured them. “Do you have your daggers?” The boys perked up and eagerly nodded in unison. “Yes, Mama.” “Well, then. Phoenix, run and fetch my sword from the war room. Don’t forget to put your practice swords away. And, Blessing, you make sure that Nanny Anny knows we’re going to find your papas.” “Yes, Mama,” they chorused before shooting off to complete the tasks she assigned them. While she waited, she pondered on her best course of action. Her husbands should have been home long since. Their foray into the forest near Ninian’s fallen tower was supposed to be a quick check to make sure vagrants weren’t living there. Her eyes narrowed in thought. Now what was that rumor she’d heard last week? Something about an old tramp who tried to grab a little girl near Hieney Hamlet? A cold sweat broke out as the fine hairs on her spine stood on end. With sudden surety a name surfaced. Ninian. That was his style. And old dogs didn’t learn new tricks—they just repeated the only ones they knew. Her temper flared. Son of a bitch! When the boys rejoined her, she led them to the stone bench in the restored herb garden. Once they were seated, she joined hands with them took a deep cleansing breath and stated, “You are eight years old now.” 115

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Immediately, they knew this was one of Mama’s serious talks. She always began them with a statement of their age. Then she told them important things like the time she told them she was going to have more babies. And after that their baby sisters, Azalea and Gardenia popped out of her tummy. Phoenix gently squeezed her hand. “Are you having more babies, Mama?” The thought startled her and she took a moment to mentally review her recent bedroom activities with Dick and Peter before she uttered a cautious denial. “No.” With sober nods they thought of the other serious talks. There was that other time when she explained about having two fathers. “Are we getting another father?” Blessing demanded sharply, hoping that wasn’t the subject of this serious talk. “No. You have enough fathers.” Her prosaic statement reassured them so they settled back and waited to see what she would tell them this time. “You remember when your fathers and I talked to you about your powers?” Phoenix frowned. “We didn’t do anything, Mama.” “I know. But now I need you to use them. If we join hands and you close your eyes, you will be able to find your papas in your mind.” She bit her lip. “I need you to find them so we can bring them home. You’ll have to really concentrate. Will you do this for me?” Both boys stared at her in puzzlement for a moment. Then Phoenix asked, “This is one of the firebird powers that Papa Peter told us about?” “Yes. But you can’t do it alone. It requires all of us together.” Very slowly Blessing nodded his head. “Then we must do it. I think they are in trouble and we must go fetch them home.” Torn between laughter and fear, Honey cautioned, “One thing at a time. First we find out where they are.” Blessing and Phoenix closed their eyes and with Honey as their anchor they searched for Peter and Dick. After a moment Phoenix muttered with his eyes still

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closed, “They’re on the ground in a kind of net. An old man is sitting next to them on a log. He’s nasty.” “Nasty in what way?” she murmured. “Dirty,” Blessing replied abruptly. “Very dirty. Torn clothes. Dirty.” “Look around you. What do you see?” It was Phoenix who said, “There’s a tower nearby. It’s falling down.” “Does it have a red roof?” Blessing squinched his eyes and then shook his head. “It’s hard to say, Mama. The roof’s almost gone.” “All right. That’s good enough. Now I need to talk to you about something else.” Two sets of eyes flew open, staring at her in fright. “What are we going to do, Mama?” Blessing demanded. “We can’t just leave them there!” “Quiet.” The firm no-nonsense tone of her voice had them sitting back with their hands on their knees. That was their “listening” position. “Your papas and I have forbidden you to blink without our permission. Remember?” “Yes, Mama,” Phoenix whispered. “I am not a firebird but because I had firebird babies, I can blink. But I can’t see like you can. I need one of you to guide me. I need one of you to find a clearing big enough for all of us to blink there together.” She frowned in thought, trying to think how to phrase their needs so that the boys understood. “It needs to be close enough to your papas for us to reach them quickly. And far enough away so that the bad man doesn’t catch us.” “I know where.” Blessing tilted his head so that she couldn’t see his eyes. “How?” she asked, already knowing the answer. “One night Phoenix and me sneaked out,” he muttered so low she barely heard him. 117

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“We will deal with that when your papas are home. Now let us go there at once.” She stood and buckled her sword harness over her shoulders. The boys settled their daggers at their waists and then took her hands. “On the count of three. One. Two. Three.” When she opened her eyes, they were standing in a tiny clearing fifteen feet from the giant pine tree where she had hidden so many years before. It amused her to see that the thorn bushes still surrounded it. With a little nod, she indicated that Blessing should lead the way. The boys were well trained in the rudiments of hunting so he didn’t just charge blindly down the path. In a circuitous trip in the woods, Blessing led them right to the spot where Ninian held Dick and Peter. She placed one of her hands of each of their shoulders and silently commanded, Stay here with your fathers. Their instinctive protest was quelled under the firm pressure of her hands. Then with a low hiss, she drew her blade and grimly went forward to do battle for her husbands. Some things were better left to women. Ninian dozed on the log, tired of waiting for the stupid woman to show up. He woke with her sword resting on his limp, useless cock. She was smiling. That knowing smile ignited the smoldering rage in his black heart. In a stupid miscalculation he surged upward, intent on getting his hands around her neck and impaled himself on her sword. With a hoarse cry he fell backward off the log with his hands clutching his groin. For a brief infinitesimal moment in time she considered the old man and all the evil he had committed in his lifetime. Then she gripped the sword like a spear and hurled it down with all her considerable strength. Through the heart. Time stopped. Wordlessly, Phoenix climbed over the log and carefully checked Ninian’s neck for a pulse. Then with somber movements, he pulled the sword free,

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cleaned it on the body’s soiled clothing and presented to her, resting on his palms. It was the salute of one warrior to another. Gravely, she accepted it and reseated it in the scabbard with a low hiss. Blessing used his dagger to cut through the tough netting binding his fathers. With the tangleweave trap destroyed the sudden sensory overload left Peter and Dick shaky and disoriented. Their sons helped them to sit up while Honeysuckle, trembling in reaction, found a handy place to collapse. Heavy silence filled the small clearing. Finally Blessing looked at each of his parents before carefully announcing in a reedy piping voice stretched with stress, “Today I am proud to be a firebird. But if you don’t mind, I think I’ll wait to be a warrior.” And then he keeled over in a dead faint in Peter’s waiting arms. The other three looked at Peter with sudden weary smiles. He cleared his dry, dusty throat and began to chuckle. “I know, I know. Blessing’s definitely my son. And now that our warrior woman has rescued us I’m ready to go home.” Slumped down between Dick and Honey, Phoenix abruptly looked up at Dick’s bruised face with panicked revulsion. “You’re not going to get all mushy now, right?” Flinging an arm around his son’s sturdy shoulders, Dick promised, “Not until we get home, son. Not until we get home.”

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About the Author Anny Cook learned to read at five years old. Learning to write was a natural extension. Through her adult years while a wife, mother, grandmother, fast food cook, warehouse book packer, Girl Scout and Cub Scout Leader, perpetual college student, executive secretary, and adult education teacher, writing served as the anchor that kept her sane. Well, maybe not exactly sane, but close to it. Today, after thirty-five years with kids, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and hamsters, she and her husband are empty nesters. Sigh. Finally, there’s time—and quiet—to write in peace.

Anny welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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Also by Anny Cook Chrysanthemum Mystic Valley: Everything Lovers Can Know Mystic Valley: Traveller’s Refuge Mystic Valley: Cherished Destinies Winter Hearts

Also see this author’s titles at Cerridwen Press (www.cerridwenpress.com):

Mystic Valley: Dancer’s Delight

Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

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