Atlantic Bridge www.atlanticbridge.net Copyright ©2005 by Jennifer Cloud NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.
Published by Liquid Silver Books, Imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana. Copyright 2005, Jennifer Cloud. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the authors. This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
Chapter One Across the cave Liking heard Lynn moan while touching her swollen belly. He stared at her exotic black body stretched to its limits with his offspring. The shape-shifter had lost her ability to change form. It often happened with pregnancy or so he'd been told. Her belly had become so distended that there wasn't a way to sit comfortably, much less change to a bird and take to the sky. He turned away from her, feeling the breeze at the mouth of the cave. It shouldn't be long before she birthed, her waxen form bringing something new into the world. He couldn't venture a guess to what their union would produce. "You need to leave me Liking,” said Lynn. He glanced up long enough to see her move from the chair to their bed. “You shouldn't see me like this." He stayed at the mouth of the cave watching the sunset. He sat there every evening, contemplating the decisions he'd made to leave the flyer village and stay with the enemy. The choice had made him an outsider with his people who could scarcely forgive his mistakes before the war with the shifters, much less bedding with one. Although their first time had not exactly been intentional. "What did you say, Lynn?” He looked at her pained face. The silver lines around her black eyes drew tight. Her thick black skin looked thinner today, showing a few details of her nipples and naval. "You need to leave. The time has come.” Her words came between hard breaths. "But won't you need help with the birth?” Liking took a step towards her, then stopped as she held up one clawed hand. "No! I don't want you to see it." He looked at her for a minute and knew better than to question her decision. Shifters were stubborn and his woman was especially difficult. Still, he didn't want to leave her. She would bear more than one child. He'd felt the heads and found two or maybe three in her womb. "I will go but not far. Yell for me when you'd like me to return." "Liking, do you love me?” Lynn asked while rubbing her stomach in obvious pain. "Are you sure you want me to go?" "Answer my question." He didn't want to, but he supposed it was love he felt for his strange mate. When he'd found her lying in the rocks, damaged from battle, all he'd known was pity. The first time they'd mated and she'd pretended to be Anzele to trick him, he'd hated her. Now, love seemed close enough. "Yes. I love you, Lynn." Liking flew from the mouth of the cave and landed on the ground a few feet away. The flyers had all but destroyed the shifters and now he was fathering a new batch. A flyer the father to shifter children, how bizarre? Throughout history a mating like that had never taken place. Shifters mated with humans because of their weak genetics, the shifters felt like they created purer children. It was also easy to trick humans. Legend
has it that shifters would breed with human men as they slept or came to them as any number of beautiful visions. Shifters were only females. No male had ever been permitted to live. Shifters had their reasons for it, none Liking understood. It didn't matter. Lynn had chosen to mate with a flyer and hopefully she'd accept the outcome. Lynn had to have been desperate to mate with him on the beach so many months ago. Liking wasn't foolish enough to believe that she loved him, even with his offspring in her womb. She hadn't chosen a mate for love. On that strange morning when she'd come to him, in the guise of Anzele, the woman he'd thought he loved, it had simply been the end of her mating cycle. She'd decided to trick a flyer into lying with her instead of risking going to the human city, where their paranoia made anyone different a possible victim for the mobs to burn or beat. The choice had been logical and he'd been foolish to think Anzele would come to him on the beach of his home. The morning had shown him the truth. Instead of a lovely flyer naked in his covers, Lynn was in his bed. It didn't mean he loved those babies any less. After he'd nursed Lynn back to health, he'd tried to leave. He never knew if it was loneliness or fear that made her tell him about her pregnancy. It didn't matter. Once those words left her black lips, he had to stay. There was something beautiful growing inside her, and he wanted to be part of it. He worried a bit about the birth. He'd never heard of a woman doing that alone, but he knew better than to argue with Lynn. Her culture was different. He'd respect her wishes and hope for the best. There wasn't anything to do but wait. Liking knew childbirth could be a long process but he didn't want to travel far. He walked through a small stand of trees to a wide stream that trickled over rocks producing a soft music. There, he froze. Just beyond him, he heard a woman's voice singing. Curiosity drew him closer to the sound. The woman obviously thought she was alone. She'd stripped herself of clothing, and rinsed her things in the running water. There she crouched, naked and unashamed on the bank. Her long dark brown hair clung to her body, damp and sticking to her breasts and back. Liking took a step back, trying to keep hidden in the foliage. The honorable thing would be to turn away, but Liking had given up on honorable years ago. Besides, self-indulgence was much more fun. The woman was beautiful. She stood and hung her dress from a branch to dry, giving Liking a complete view of her body. Her breasts were small, her body looked athletic with small waist and hips. It had been a long time since he'd seen another person besides his Lynn. He'd almost forgotten what real skin looked like. It was so different from Lynn's thick black covering. Part of him longed to touch it just to remember what a regular woman felt like. "Liking.” Lynn's shrill scream pierced the air. Without another thought, he rose from the bushes and flew to the cave. From the corner of his eye, he saw the strange woman gasp, then run into the forest. Apparently she was shy. "Liking!" Shifters gave birth much faster than Liking had anticipated. He entered the mouth of the cave to find the first child in Lynn's arms while the second crowned between her legs. He wasn't sure what to expect. He'd seen women give birth in the village, but never a shifter. What he saw now took his breath. Quickly
he took the baby from Lynn's arms while she pulled the second from between her thighs. The child he held looked like a girl. She was black from head to toe with silver rings around her eyes like her mother. The only difference between her and Lynn were the wings jutting from her back. Although he was a wind tamer, wingless, those had to come from the flyer genetics. This child had truly been blessed. Wings had skipped many generations in his family and were cherished above all the features a child could have. Liking cleaned the fluids from his daughters body, then wrapped her in cloths. To him, she was beautiful and the most perfect thing he'd ever seen. He just hoped Lynn would be as accepting of her. Shifters weren't tolerant of odd physical traits, and Liking feared that any child that wasn't up to Lynn's standards would be turned to the wilds without her care. It was common practice to do so among her people, although most of her people were dead. Humans had become too dangerous to seek out for breeding. The prejudices so inherent to mortal men made venturing near them costly. Still, he was sure if he hadn't given Lynn offspring, she would've gladly bedded one. "Liking,” called Lynn again. This time she handed him a child still heavily encased in membrane. “If it is a boy, get rid of it." A panicked repulsion filled Liking as he removed the membrane from a perfect baby boy. The child looked just like him with black hair shading his head, pale flyer skin, and long fingers. There were no wings on this one, just as Liking had no real wings. The child's eyes even resembled Liking's. After cleaning the baby, he wrapped him in cloth and set him next to the first. Tears filled Liking's eyes. He had a son, and male children weren't permitted in shifter society. He couldn't kill this child, but there wasn't much he could do to protect him from Lynn. "Here's the last." She handed him another girl. This one would be Lynn's favorite. She was sleek with no wings and looked identical to her mother. Liking cleaned this one off and set her next to her brother. "Are the girls okay?” Lynn sounded fatigued. “Please, are they okay?" "They're wonderful.” Liking sniffled. “Two girls and one boy. They are so beautiful." "Kill the boy.” Lynn leaned back, clearly exhausted. “They grow strange." Anger flashed through him. If she'd been in better shape, he would've tossed her out of the cave. The boy baby had grown inside her, next to the girls. To hate a baby because of his sex was twisted. This was his child, his image. Liking swallowed his anger. He had to deal with her carefully. Her mental state would be unpredictable for the next few hours. Besides, he had to think about the care of all his children. "Maybe humans and shifters create strange boys, but this one is my son. He's a flyer, just like his father.” Liking picked up the boy and touched his tiny chin. “He will be strong and smart. There's nothing wrong with him. I bet he'll even watch out for his sisters." "Kill him or I will.” Lynn spoke without emotion. “Are the girls perfect?"
Liking's heart seemed to fall into his stomach. He couldn't understand loving something so much, feeling it kick one moment, then be ready to destroy it the next. His son wouldn't turn strange. That came from a man living with such dominating, power hungry women. There was another problem he hadn't faced. The winged child might also be rejected. She was a beautiful daughter, a perfect merge between their lines, but he wasn't sure if Lynn could see that. Lynn grew blind to so many things. "One has wings.” Liking felt his knees grow weak from the confession. “She is also beautiful." "Let me see her." Liking took his first-born daughter to Lynn. She unwrapped the child, holding the naked and protesting girl up to the light. Lynn took one look at her wings and sighed as if finding some terrible deformity. Still, she stroked the child's face and managed to act like a mother. Liking saw the disappointment though; another child that wasn't up to her standards. "I suppose I should've expected problems mating with a flyer. Human blood is weak. Their characteristics never become involved.” She handed the girl back to Liking. That's when he realized the look of disgust was as much for him as the children he'd sired. "So sorry my bloodline got involved.” Liking placed the winged daughter next to her sister. He picked up his son from the loose nest he'd made in the corner of the cave and held him tightly against his chest. “I won't let you kill my son." "When I'm well, you won't be able to stop me.” Her eyes sparked silver, ignited from the black face. “You can't watch him close enough.” The look on her face was murderous and not just for his son. Liking was sure she'd turn her anger on him too. “He will die." It was true. He'd always considered himself a powerful male but a shifter could take on any form and the strength associated. There was no way he could protect his son from her unless he killed Lynn, and no way to make her nurse him. He supposed he could take the baby back to the flyer village but Liking had betrayed them by mating with the shifter. Flyers, winged and wingless would easily recognize the boy as Liking's blood. The resemblance was uncanny. "Fine. I will set the child into the forest and let nature take its course. It won't be murder, but you should still get your way." "Agreed." Liking looked at his son, the way his lips pressed together as if waiting to suckle. He rose in the cave, with the child in his arms and flew down to the forest below. Part of him wanted to run away with the baby, but that left his daughters under Lynn's care. Maybe he should've let Lynn die on the beach. She was certainly not fit as a mother. There was also little doubt Lynn would try to hurt the winged daughter. Near the stream, a sound caught his ears. His only hope was the woman had returned, tending to her laundry. Perhaps she would take pity on him and the babe. The stranger might be his son's only chance. He crept through the underbrush. His son seemed content with the journey and didn't make a sound as they crept toward the stream. Sure enough, there was the woman. She was still naked, with long brown hair flowing down her back.
"Excuse me,” Liking looked at the ground as he approached. “Please don't be afraid. We need help." The woman turned and started to run, but at the same moment Liking's son let out a whimper so soft and sweet it stopped the woman in her tracks. She grabbed her wet dress from the limb and held it in front of her. "What do you want?" Liking swallowed down his tears. “My son will be killed if I don't find someone to care for him. Please good lady. Will you take my son? It would destroy me to know he'd died." "Your son?" The woman came forward with the dress wrapped around her. Liking held his baby lower for the woman to look at. She slid the babe's wrap open and breathed out loudly. Immediately the baby reached for her. "Where is the mother?" Tears flowed down his cheeks. There was nothing he could do to stop them, or adequately explain the series of errors that had brought him to the position he currently existed in. Still he tried. "The mother is a monster. I would've left her long ago except she became pregnant with my babies. She just gave birth and ordered me to kill my son. I am of the flyer line and she is of the shifters." The woman took a step back, but the cooing of the baby brought her closer again. Her bottom lip quivered as if she didn't want to take the responsibility thrust on her, but the baby already had a hold of her heart. Just then the wind picked up. Liking knew what was coming. It was Lynn. He felt it as if she were an evil released on the world. She'd done battle against his people and killed many friends. Lynn was the last of her kind, the last of the line of demons smart enough to learn to shift their form in order to survive. There was a presence to her, a terrible energy that was hell to live with. To verify his fears, he heard her voice cutting through the air. “Liking?" "It is his mother. Please hide.” He put the baby in her arms and led her to a pocket of dense foliage. He left them there. “Don't move or hurt my son. I beg you good woman, stay hidden. We'll talk more when Lynn leaves. Please, don't hurt my son." "Liking, where are you?” Her voice had grown shriller. "Here.” He stepped from the woods. “What do you want?" "I'd like some help cleaning the babies. I'm sore from the labors.” She sat on a rock next to the stream and dipped her soiled feet. “Did you dispose of the male?" "I left him in the woods. I can't hurt my child. You should be ashamed for asking me to do such a thing." "The woods will take care of the task for you.” She motioned him closer and handed him the winged child. “Will you bathe her?" "I suppose her deformity sickens you.” He took the winged babe and held her the same way he had his son. “You can't see her beauty." Liking wondered why he'd stayed with such a cruel creature, then he looked at his daughter. This was
why he'd stayed, the only reason to be with Lynn. A trick made him sleep with Lynn, kindness made him tend her, but fatherhood had forced him to settle. "No.” Lynn rinsed her legs, washing the last of the birth from her body before starting to clean the baby. “I'll try to find something to clip her wings. She should look fine then. It won't be a problem.” She glanced at them and rolled her eyes. “Please bathe her." "You can't clip her wings.” Liking held the baby close. “It is a beautiful thing to be born with wings." "You have no wings. Why should you care?” Lynn unwrapped her baby, moistened a cloth and started cleaning her little body. "The gift of flight is a precious thing. I am a wind tamer and don't need wings. She might need them to fly. Flyer blood works like that. A daughter may not follow exactly in her father's steps.” He sighed. “There is also blood in wings. Clipping them could kill her." "I'll think about it. Will you please bathe her?” She pointed to the stream, seeming to grow impatient. "Certainly." Lynn finished washing her baby, then cuddled her, speaking to her softly as if she was the most precious gift in the world. "Are you done washing that baby?” She spoke sharply, as if her love couldn't encompass more than one thing. "Not yet.” Liking wiped away more of the birth. “Go back to the cave. I'll care for this one here." Lynn stood, then looked at him. He expected a fight or more comments about the winged child. Lynn shook her head slowly but no degrading words were spoken. She simply held her baby closely and walked over to Liking. "Have you thought about names for our babies?" The babe in his arms made a small noise, something between a laugh and a coo. It made him smile despite their situation. “This one I'll name...” he paused to think about it, “Celia." "A flyer name?” Lynn shook her head again, showing that look of disgust again. “I should've known." "Can't anything about them be from me? If you thought me so awful you shouldn't have shifted into Anzele's form and mated with me. Did it sicken you to ride on me?” He felt his eyes flare, lighting brightly. “You didn't act disgusted at the time. I guess being in heat changes many things." "Don't be so dramatic.” She rolled her eyes. Hitting the mother of his children was crossing the line. He'd never felt the urge to strike her until now. The hatred of him and his kind tore through him and he nearly gave in to temptation. "You look down on me and my kind. Well at least my kind still lives.” He stood, wishing he'd never helped her. The flyers were better people than this animal before him. What other than a beast would harm her own children? "Fine, she will be Celia.” Lynn looked at her baby. “This one I will name Elise." "That's pretty. Now go and let me tend to my daughter.” He made sure to emphasize the word, my.
Every breath would have to be gone from his body before he'd let that shifter clip Celia's wings. “I don't require your help." "Very well. Don't be long though. Celia will be hungry soon." Liking waited until Lynn shifted into wings and took off into the sky with her babe cuddled tightly against her. He finished washing Celia then wrapped her back in cloth before she could catch a chill. As soon as he was certain Lynn had gone he ran back to the spot where he'd left his son. "Miss, are you here?” he called out softly. Sitting in the middle of the underbrush was the strange woman, holding the baby as if he were her own. Liking relaxed. This woman had already fallen in love with the baby. The way her face lit up, assured him he'd done the right thing. "Sir, what is your name?” she asked. "Liking.” He smiled broadly. “And yours?" "I am Sarah.” She nuzzled the baby. “I don't know how a woman could hurt a baby.” She touched his face, tracing his little cheeks with her index finger. “He's wonderful." "Does this mean you will care for my son?" "If it pleases you.” Her lovely blue eyes looked up at him. It reminded him of the ocean near his village. “I can't properly feed the boy, but there are goats at my cabin and those will provide decent milk. It might not be mother's milk but he won't starve." "Oh sweet Sarah, I am forever in your debt.” He dropped to his knees with one arm hugging his daughter. "Is this Lynn going to hurt Celia?” Sarah reached to the babe in his arms but stopped short of touching her. "I hope not.” Liking unwrapped his baby and showed Sarah the black wings. “Lynn wants to clip her wings. In my culture it is unthinkable." "She does look like her mother, except for the wings. May I touch her?" Liking nodded. He wasn't sure what this woman would think of such a strange looking child. The boy could pass for human or wingless flyer but Celia was a new mix and nothing in this world looked like her. "Celia is beautiful in her own way. Unusual.” Sarah reached to touch the child, letting her fingers run down the babe's wings. “I don't live near humans. If you need me to care for Celia, I will.” She smiled at the little girl. “Don't let that woman clip the babe's wings. I think one day she'll need them." "You don't hate her for being different?” Liking was shocked. Humans usually loathed all who weren't like them. "Of course not. No one should hate a baby.” She hugged the boy against her. “If the need arises, I will gladly care for her. I mean it.” She touched Celia once more then took a step back. “Would you like your son to be called Liking also?" "No.” The name Liking wasn't going into legend as any hero. He'd been the villain too many times and was sure stories were being told about his indiscretions. “He deserves his own name. I was thinking of
Faller." "I like it. How do you like it, Faller?” She held the baby up and he started laughing. “I think he likes it too." "Would you wait here a moment? I will take Celia back to Lynn then I would like to take you home if it's okay?” He looked at Celia. “I just want to know where my boy lives. I promise not to trouble you.” He looked at the ground, unsure of what to do next. “If that's okay?" "I would like you to visit your son. It would be wrong for him not to know his father.” She smiled at Liking and his heart filled with joy. “Are you sure you should take Celia to her?" "Surely Lynn won't hurt her, at least for a few weeks.” He stroked the baby's face. “If Celia does come to danger, may I really bring her to you?" "Of course. I may not know much of shifters or flyers, but you can instruct me as to their care." "You are truly a miracle Sarah. I'll be right back." **** Sarah wasn't sure what she'd gotten herself into. A handsome man had just asked her to care for his newborn son. It was unimaginable but she couldn't turn him down. The baby was the most precious thing. "Faller,” she whispered and listened to the baby coo. “Sweet little Faller." She set the baby on the ground while she adjusted her damp dress. It wouldn't be prudent to walk through the woods with her lacings undone. She'd managed to slide the dress on while Liking bathed the babes, but she could accomplish little else while crouching in the brush. It would also not be wise to hang around and hope that Lynn woman didn't decide to go after the boy personally. Already Sarah knew that she'd fight to protect this innocent child. "Sarah?” Liking had returned sooner than she'd expected. "Over here." Sarah finished tying the laces below her breasts, then picked up the baby. Liking came out of the brush. At first he seemed troubled, but when he looked at her, the worry faded. "I guess we'd better get going.” Sarah hugged the baby. “Do you want to hold him a bit?" "Actually, I'd like you to hold him while I fly you home." "Excuse me? Fly?" "I don't want there to be signs or any paths to your home. With us walking, we're bound to break branches and such." There was bound to be a trail from her walk to the stream. She usually went to the upper section of the stream for bathing. The rocks were larger there, giving her space to dry her things. She'd been on her way there, but several locus spiders had scared her from the path, turning her this way. "You're worried about Lynn coming after the baby.” The possibility existed. If she believed the boy lived, she might try to murder him. "I don't think she'd hurt you, but she is against my son surviving.” Liking swallowed hard. “I can't lie. She
might try to harm you. Does that change things?" "I want to care for Faller.” She sighed, from washing to motherhood, in less than an hour. “Please, fly us away from here quickly." Liking wrapped his arms around Sarah. He was strong, incredibly so. It was shameful, but she liked the feeling of his arms around her. He held her closely, while she cradled the baby, and they rose above the trees. It was a little frightening. Never before had she left the ground. The fear mounted as she looked down, trying to gain her bearings to direct him to her home. It made her dizzy. She clutched the baby in one arm and grabbed at Liking with the other. The view was amazing, but oh, the ground looked so far away. After circling twice, Sarah caught a glimpse of her thatched roof and directed him to land. Gently, he set her on the ground a few feet from her front porch. She giggled a little as they landed, causing a strange look from Liking. "I've never flown before. That was wonderful. Terrifying, but wonderful." "I'm glad you liked it." "Please come in." Sarah led him up the steps to her front door. She opened it, suddenly feeling embarrassed for living in the one room cabin. It was silly, she supposed. From what she could tell Liking lived in a cave. At least that was the only thing she'd seen in the direction he'd come. "Sorry Faller, I don't have a crib for you yet. You'll have to sleep with me.” She laid him on her bed then wrapped blankets around him to keep him from rolling off. “Would you hand me those matches?” she pointed to the mantel while she picked up several candles from the table by the bed. “I don't want to open the curtains in case your friend hunts you down." "Set the candles on the table." She set them down, not understanding what he was doing. All of a sudden the candles came to life, each with a flame flickering from their tops. He picked up each candle and placed them around the room. "How did you do that?” She smiled and realized that she must've looked much like a surprised child. "It's one of my gifts.” He sat in a chair by the table. “I'm a little too far from home to be practicing though." "Are you okay? You look a little pale?” Sarah went to the bed and sat next to Faller who had fallen asleep. "I need to feed this far from home. I haven't fed in a long time." "Feed?” She'd heard the rumors although she rarely went near humans. “Do you mean steal lives?” She took a step back remembering the night demons she'd seen on her travels. "No. That's a lie. We borrow force. Don't worry, I wouldn't do anything to you without your permission." "How do you borrow force?" He smiled at her, then looked over at the baby on the bed. “I would touch your face and you might feel sleepy."
"Will you do it to me?” She followed his gaze to the baby. “I need to know everything Faller will need." "Babes can't take force. He would be half grown before he could feed." "Show me anyway.” She looked at him and felt a tingle of attraction. It might be nice for him to touch her. “I'm curious. Please." "Sure." Liking stood and went to the bed where she sat. He was very attractive, with long black hair and dark eyes. As he touched her face, she found herself wondering what his lips would feel like against hers. Then he smiled and the flash of sharp teeth nearly made her reconsider. "Are you going to hurt me?” she asked. "No. Just hold still." He touched her face with soft hands. There was a tingle then came a loud popping sound like a bolt between them. Liking fell to the floor. His mouth hung open and for a moment he shook. "Are you alright?” Sarah went to the floor next to him. “Please be alright. Say something." "You're not a human." Sarah's heart sank. He'd discovered her secret.
Chapter Two It was dark before Liking headed back to the caves. He had managed to feed from Sarah but the action proved painful. On the second try, he'd learned to decrease the pull, sipping so that too much power wouldn't come off all at once. He'd never known a woman like her. Her kind was in legend only. To imagine a siren lived and in the woods. It was remarkable. According to Sarah, she was making her way across the land, trying to find the ocean and her mother. She'd been taken by her mortal father and lived with him until his death. Now she longed for home but had lost her way. The cabin was deserted when she'd found it, and she'd decided to stay there a bit. Sarah was amazingly beautiful, although he hadn't realized the extent of her beauty until after his son was safely in her care. She had fine features and flowing hair, and when his son was in her arms, she glowed. "What took you so long?” Lynn sat on their bed made from wood, cloth, and leaf padding. In her arms was Elise, nursing noisily against Lynn's black breast. Celia lay alone in the nest in the corner. "Have you fed Celia?” Liking picked up the winged baby who didn't cry but curled up her face in duress. "No I haven't fed her yet. My milk just started coming in. After I feed Elise, then I will take care of Celia.” She petted Elise. “Don't worry so much about how I nurse them." "Are the only things you can love in your image?” Liking stroked Celia who only whimpered. "That's not fair. Give me the child.” She slid Elise over. “I suppose there's enough milk for both." "Good." Liking went to Lynn and put the baby in her free arm, then positioned her tit at the baby's mouth. Soon both babies were happily nursing. It should have delighted him to see his children in their mother's arms, but Lynn only seemed to care for Elise. Lynn looked down at Celia. She didn't push her away but clearly wanted to, withdrawing until her breast was barely at the babe's mouth. “Celia's wings will have to be removed.” Lynn rocked as they drank. “A shifter can't look like this." "She's only half shifter.” Liking felt his eyes flare brightly. “She will keep her wings." "Are you challenging me?" Great. They were back to a challenge. If he didn't know better, he'd think Lynn was looking for a reason to chase him away or kill him. Shifters were unaccustomed to have any males in their presence after conception. Perhaps that ritual hadn't died with the rest of her tribe. "I've gotten rid of my son for you, the least you can do is allow me a daughter." "And if I decide to clip the child." He considered her threat. Shifters were difficult beasts, but if she dared hurt his daughter then he would kill her, even if it meant hunting down the witches and stealing the star dagger from their grasp. No shifter could survive its blade. "If you clip my daughter, sleep with one eye open. Anzele almost destroyed you once. I would think
you'd lose your taste for fire after that.” He was recharged and could easily send a fireball into Lynn. “Or is your memory so short.” Liking raised his hand and a small flame formed in the palm. Liking could see the raised scar on Lynn's body in the firelight. She'd been marked from the battle between the flyers and the shifters, nearly burned alive. It was the only way he could easily identify her when she shifted. That one scar clung to whatever creature she chose. "Perhaps I am stronger now.” Lynn's voice held venom but her eyes showed fear. He doubted Lynn gained any new skills since he'd known her. If anything, she'd grown angrier, and anger always weakened those who fed it. Lynn's world had changed because of flyers, because of her mate's people. He shouldn't be surprised at her disgust at incubating those traits inside her. She could never see fault with her people or even the reason why the battle had started. Part of him wondered what gifts his children would possess. If Celia couldn't shift, Lynn would destroy her, although he wasn't sure if she'd try to clip her wings or not. The flyers wouldn't accept the children either. They were too strange and the battle still fresh in the village's memory. "If you care at all for me, then don't mutilate our child." "I think she looks deformed as she is, but if her deformity pleases you, then I will let the child be." "Thank you." "You never told me where you were." "Thinking, Lynn.” He sighed. Being with Lynn bothered him. She wanted to remain his enemy, even after bearing his children. “I did a lot of thinking.” He looked over at the shelves where he stocked food. The sack of fruits he'd gathered was empty. “I will go gather something for you to eat. Rest and care for the babies. I will be back soon." Liking flew out to the night air and felt the moonlight shining on him. In the sky was the only place he felt free. He held the sack tightly as he traveled, watching the greenery change beneath him. Ahead he saw sweet fruit, ripe and ready to be picked. He kept going though, preferring distance from his problems instead of making a quick trip. Deeper in the woods he found more food and filled his sack. It wasn't intentional but he found himself near Sarah's cabin. Providing something for her only seemed right considering the task she was willing to perform. He took his first bundle of fruits down to her. He landed on the wooden porch. As he was about to knock, he heard the sweetest sound coming from inside. It was her voice, singing a lullaby, and it was amazing. He stood there for a moment listening. She must've heard him or saw him from the window because the sound stopped and she opened the door. "Back so soon?” She seemed pleased. "I brought you food.” He held up the sack. “I was gathering for Lynn and thought I'd bring some for you." "That's very kind.” She stood to the side and motioned for him to enter. “I was just singing Faller to sleep. He ate very well." "How are you feeding him?” He looked over at his baby sleeping so contently in her bed. It was too soon, but Faller already seemed to have grown.
"A water bladder. I've rigged a small hole he can suck through. It gave him terrible gas until I figured out how to make it work. He's happy with it now. Goat's milk agrees with him." He stepped close enough so that Sarah's scent carried to him, reminding him of rainwater. Her lips looked soft, gentle and Liking wondered what they'd feel like. He imagined them to be as luscious as they appeared. The edge of her breasts showed from the neckline of her dress. It would be pure delight to kiss those, brush his tongue against the tender peaks. His cock stiffened, pressing against his pants. This wasn't the time to be thinking of a woman. There were more important things than tasting real flesh or lying on those creamy breasts. He shook his head, trying to remove the image of her naked body and the few little brown curls that hid her slit from view from his mind. He wondered if her curls were silky. What would a water siren's mound taste like? "I should be going.” He looked at the floor, trying to remember if sirens could read minds. He hoped not or she'd never let him back inside this cabin. “May I visit you again tomorrow." "I would love it.” She touched his arm and desire sparked attraction so strong that he almost kissed her. “Thank you for the food." He'd leaned forward but stopped himself just in time. “If there's anything you need, let me know.” Liking realized that he was standing too close, but something about her made him want to stay. “Anything at all." "I'll see you tomorrow.” She giggled then stepped into the cabin. “Bye, Liking." "'Til tomorrow.” He turned, just clearing the door when he heard it shut behind him. He stood there for a moment, staring at the plain plank door with small metal handle in the front. He'd just met this woman. Her willingness to care for his son shouldn't make him need to be with her. Her beauty shouldn't possess him, playing on his mind like music, but it did. "Sarah,” he whispered and touched the rough wood door. He closed his eyes and still saw her face. “Why couldn't it have been you instead of Lynn?" Liking left Sarah's home, hoping she hadn't noticed him lingering on her porch. Reluctantly, he flew back into the night to gather fruit for Lynn. He hovered in the sky contemplating, not really wanting to go back to her tonight. He flew farther away, looking for sweeter things, even though his sack was full. The moon rose high in the sky and he considered going to the caves. He'd stalled as long as possible and would have no end of difficulty from her. With a troubled sigh, he started back when a cackle filled the forest. He went higher and saw orange smoke coming from the west. Curiosity got the better of him. He headed toward it and the sound of female laughter. For a secluded section of the world, he'd certainly found a lot of people near his home. It was then he realized he knew one of the voices. She was a long since traitor, Marabeth the witch. She was the very woman who'd stolen the star dagger and the reason the village chose to close the village to strangers. “Do you think the legend is true, sister?” Marabeth stood above a black cauldron. “Are we the ones? Do you think our magic is strong enough?" Liking dropped into a tree and looked down on them. Marabeth had given up dressing like a flyer and instead wore a black gauze gown. Her bright red hair seemed to glow in the darkness as she conjured with her older sister, Tara. "I know what we will create. Think of it sister. We are making the new; we can create life. These creatures have never been, and they will be loyal to their creators."
"Is that something we should do?” Marabeth stirred the cauldron with a long stick. “I think the Powers would be displeased that we don't trust their handiwork.” She scraped the side of the pot then started a steady rhythm. “We are not goddesses sister. Perhaps we should be more humble." "If they didn't want us to use their power, they never would've sent us the star.” She sneered. “This is their gift of power. It would be insulting not to use it." She held up the double-edged dagger, called the star because it had fallen from the heavens. Liking saw it catch the moonlight and both the witches grinned at it and the seduction of power within. The knife filled with possibilities and magic too powerful to be trusted. "The races are slowly reuniting anyway. Did Cordin not re-ignite Vincent's blood? Have you not seen fairies with humans? The world is coming together again as one race. I just want to help it along." "You want to create an army of mutants,” Marabeth sighed. “Cordin never tried to create something, just bring out what was there. Re-igniting the blood is not the same as making monsters." "There is a common thread in all of us. Soon I will find it and bring forth something amazing." "So we are to move like thieves in the night, stealing blood from possible subjects until we find the right mix?" "If that's what it takes.” Tara raised a glass bottle filled with something dark. “Now it's time to add the blood." Tara poured the vial into the cauldron and a low rumbled ensued. She took out a second and third bottle, added stuff from each to the cauldron. Suddenly the rumble grew fiercer. The smoke churned in the air, becoming thicker. Liking couldn't see the witches any longer. Then the smoke flew together forming eyes, nose and an open mouth filled with darkness in the shape of fangs. It growled at him, as if it had a life of its own then charged upward to consume him. Liking jerked back as the smoke face came at him. The mouth moved, chomping the air. Just as Liking thought the beast meant to do him in, it dissipated, becoming nothing more than haze, then air. He glanced down at the witches, trying not to move. So far they hadn't seen him and he preferred it that way. Witches were dangerous. Marabeth was a proven traitor and Tara was insane. "Did you see that sister? We are close,” said Tara. “We can make life soon. We need a certain type of blood. There's something special we're missing." "Heavens help this realm when we do.” Marabeth looked at Tara with a mischievous gleam. “Perhaps it's not mortal men's blood or even fairy din that will bring them to life.” She took Tara's hand, poking her nail into her sister's hand and adding drops of her blood to the pot. "What are you doing?" "You want monsters. Let them be born of your blood, only then will they know your true desires for the world.” Sparks flew from Marabeth's fingers as she dropped Tara's hand. “Let something new be born." The cauldron bubbled again and the smoke rose in the form of a body, climbing from the pot one leg at a time. The darkness grew denser, seemed to gain weight instead of being a polluted air. The thing approached Tara and dropped to one knee. "Well, just how close have we gotten?"
The creature reached up to his mistress, then rose to full height, taller than the witches themselves. Liking couldn't tell exactly what was happening until the creature bent in what looked like a kiss. Marabeth raised one hand, as if ready for attack but Tara waved to her, some sisterly signal to let her know everything was okay. That was all Tara managed to do as the creature's kiss trailed lower. It seemed amazed by the thin gauze dress the witch wore. It flicked its tongue against the fabric, traveling lower until the witch's white tit was engulfed in its black mouth. Tara moaned in delight and pressed her flesh to the creature's hungry mouth. "Leave us, Marabeth. My new creation wishes to please me." Marabeth wasted no time in departing. She let out a sound of disgust before grabbing a branch and rising into the night air. Liking had to duck to keep from being seen, but he couldn't stop watching the display below. He'd never seen such, not even when mating with Lynn. Below him, Tara slid out of her dress, giving the creature full access to her naked body. Each of her soft white breasts disappeared into the smoky creature, giving Liking a glimpse through the not so solid thing's head. It was amazing to watch. Her white thighs opened and one black arm eased between her thighs. If they'd been a normal pairing, the creature would be trying to finger her. The thing spread open the witch's lips but instead of sliding a finger into her folds, his hand elongated and disappeared into the witch's mound. Tara tossed her head back, writhing under the thing's touch. Her creature thinned, spread itself over the witch's body like a blanket of fog. It separated itself into two heads, two mouths, one for each of her breasts. Tara's thighs opened farther and she moaned in twisted delight. Liking couldn't be sure but he thought the creature had managed two cocks filling her body in ways a normal man couldn't. Whatever delights this new thing held, Tara seemed quite pleased, calling out into the night. Her body arched up and down. Even though Liking had never cared for witches, the display woke his own desires, his need to make a woman cry out. His erection became engorged. Lynn wouldn't be ready for him and the thought of touching her nearly made his cock flaccid again. Sarah's image corrected the matter. He wanted her beneath him, hair fanned on a mossy bed as he claimed her.
Chapter Three Liking slipped back into the cave. Thankfully, Lynn was asleep. Both babies were also resting, Elise in Lynn's arms and Celia in the leaf bed Liking had created. His poor Celia would probably always be left alone. He put the fruit away and looked at the bed with Lynn's dark form taking up the side. It would be proper to slide into bed next to her, but he didn't have the stomach for it. Rejecting his offspring had been the final strike against any soft emotions he'd felt for her. Again, Liking went into the night. His flight took him in one direction. Instincts made logic impossible to obey. Lynn would wake up alone and be angry with him. There would be no way to ease her mood when she found him gone. He also knew that he couldn't leave Lynn because of Celia. Lynn might kill his daughter and at the very least, remove her wings. Something else drove him over the trees. If he could look at Sarah once more, maybe he could be content for a day or even a few hours. Without being near her, there would be no hope for sleep. Below he saw the cabin. He'd imposed on Sarah too much for one evening. He tried to reason away the absurdity of another visit. Hopefully he could glance inside the window and find solace. It was rational to want another look at the lady that would be Faller's mother. Checking on a newborn son was expected. Quietly, he dropped to the ground near her window and was surprised to see a light on inside. Sarah had them covered, but bits of light peaked from the edges. He walked around the cabin, trying to look in the other windows, but they were also covered. Damn. No more stolen glances. He still couldn't stand the thought of going back home. There was a large tree in front of the cabin that would provide a resting place for the night. He could still be close to Sarah and Faller. Hopefully that would be enough, for now. The stress and flight were draining his energy. He concentrated, then levitated up to the branches. Hopefully he'd find a way to feed again. He'd need to be strong if he were going to protect his children. A weak flyer was no match for a shifter. The door to the cabin swung open, surprising Liking and nearly making him topple from the tree. He must've made a bit of noise getting comfortable in the leaves. There in the doorway stood Sarah, broom in hand, ready to swing at a trespasser. "Who goes there?" "Don't be alarmed.” Liking dropped to the ground. “It's just me. I'm sorry. I can't seem to get any rest at home.” He opened his mouth to try to explain further but words failed him. There was no way for her to understand what he'd been through, what he felt. She laughed and the sound reminded him of music, the kind they used to play in the village. It made him smile. He approached her, noticing how the candlelight inside lit her hair in auburn touches. The light eased around her nightshirt, showing off her gentle curves. "You are so beautiful,” he murmured without realizing it. "Thank you.” A hint of color passed over her cheeks. “Would you like to come inside?" He stepped closer; too close to allow her to turn. His right hand touched the silken threads of her hair,
the dark brown captivated him. She wore a thin shirt, hanging to her creamy white thighs. The outline of each breast moved against the fabric when she breathed. He wasn't sure if it was him or the cool night air, but hardened nipples pressed against the fabric, hinting to the brown detail. The sight of them made him lick his lips. "Is Faller sleeping?" She nodded and dropped the broom she'd been holding for a weapon. The air around her seemed tinged with desire, making his arousal grow. He wanted to reach between her legs and check to see if she was really excited. Liking wasn't sure what to do. In his world he'd simply take this woman, but being with Lynn had made him uncertain. Some part of him still knew what to do, still felt like a man. He gripped her nightshirt, then brought his lips against hers. The rest would be her decision, but he had to make his desires known. He'd never met a woman like Sarah, so beautiful and with a good heart. Even his first wife hadn't had a good heart. As their lips pressed, she relaxed into him, granting access to her mouth. His tongue touched against hers and she whimpered. Her hand reached to his chest, soft fingertips running over his body and sending a charge to his groin. **** He wanted her. Sarah couldn't believe it. He knew what she was, but he'd still come to her like a man does a woman. He'd accepted her without question. It was more than entrusting the care of his son to her. Liking wanted her. She stepped away from him and watched hurt fill his eyes. He must've thought she'd rejected him until she unrolled the thick rug across the floor of the porch. When she curled her finger towards him, motioning him to the rug, he smiled finally understanding her intentions. Sarah had never been with a man but her very nature made her a sexual creature. It was instinct, even as she pulled Liking to the floor of the porch and felt the hardness protruding from his pants, she sensed it was time to remove his clothes. He was large. She didn't know why, but that pleased her. She also wanted to feel that hardness with her hand, stroke it, explore it. The lacings to his pants were difficult to release, especially with the tension against the flap. Liking didn't make her struggle. He took over, freeing the long rigid cock from his pants as he pulled away her nightshirt. Cool night air touched her flesh. At first she covered her sex and tried to cover her breasts from his view. This seemed amuse him. He relaxed onto the rug next to her, lying there with his pants tossed on the floor of the porch. With one hand he uncovered her breasts. His gaze went over her body with careful precision, and a tingle filled her thighs. She liked the way he looked at her. "I'm not sure what to do." "Don't worry." Liking kissed her softly, easing his weight onto her body. Bare flesh felt divine as one of his muscular thighs parted hers. His leg pressed against her mound, heating her skin. Her hips moved involuntarily against him. When she realized, she stopped and found Liking smiling at her again. "Have I done something wrong?" "No. You can't do anything wrong."
He moved his leg against her slit and moisture built. Desire coiled in her belly. She'd touched herself before, but it never felt as good as when Liking applied the gentle pressure between her legs. Sarah watched Liking's lips trail lower. His kisses went slowly until he reached her breasts, then he touched her flesh with his hot wet tongue. Her skin chilled as Liking sucked her nipple into his mouth causing her breath to hitch in her throat. It was shameful, but she reached around touching his black hair, drawing her breast deeper into his mouth. The sensation was incredible. The tips of her breasts pulsed and suddenly she wanted his mouth on the other breast. She tilted and he took the hint, assaulting the other breast in the same wonderful act. The thigh that had been pressing against her, moved and Liking slid one hand in its place. She wasn't sure what he was doing until Liking slid a finger along her slit. Her thighs jerked and every nerve ending seemed to come to life. One finger touched her in that special place, but Liking wasn't finished. His finger crept inside her, touching her in ways she'd never imagined. "You are a virgin.” Liking spoke to her breasts, hesitating until she moved her hips against him. “Are you sure this is what you want?" A little fear crept in her belly. She wasn't sure what was going to happen, but she didn't want him to stop. An ache grew in her, deeper than anything she'd known before. It was a longing that needed to be filled. "Take me, Liking. Make me yours." He spread her wide, exposing her center. She'd never felt more vulnerable or more alive. His mouth left her breasts and kissed with ticklish precision down her abdomen. With his finger inside her, his mouth went to her slit, driving his tongue against her. In response, she brought her hips up but a sharp pain from her core made her pull back. "That was the end of your virginity. We've broken your barrier." Sarah wasn't sure what that meant. His finger was still inside her and she dared not move or feel the pain again. Liking took over and moved the single finger inside her. For a split second came more pain, then something replaced it. She eased her hips up and down against him. Liking lowered his mouth and pure pleasure flowed through her, filling her. When Liking added a second finger, something strange began happening. Her heart beat too fast. She felt hot and the sensations grew stronger. Waves of pleasure went through her with something bigger, something greater looming just ahead. She was afraid and excited. Her body felt like it was out of control. It was. Liking controlled her with his tongue pressing her slit and his fingers diving into her. Then emotion exploded through her, tears filled her eyes in something too big to understand, too frightening and consuming. "Liking,” she cried out. "It's okay. I'm here." He leaned up, climbing back up her body and lying on top. She didn't know what to think when he petted her hair softly while looking into her eyes. If ever there was a look of love, he had it for her now. It also seemed their adventure wasn't over. His hard flesh pressed against her thigh. He kissed her while opening her thighs until she could spread them no farther. He brought that long shaft against her folds while his tongue plundered her mouth. She barely had time to register what was happening when he pushed into her, filling her body with his. She squirmed. He was too big, stretched her too far, then she realized that's what she'd been craving.
Liking trembled on her, in her. His body stroked deep into her, withdrew, then he sheathed himself with her body again. He was so deep but what she loved was the friction. She brought her hips up and together they found a rhythm. They would pull away, but never disconnect, then he'd come into her, harder every time, filling her with his long shaft. A strange sound filled her ears. Their bodies made music, her skin hummed as he took her. She could almost see the sound vibrating around them, encasing them in the music of love. It filled her and him, binding them tighter until she could feel the music dancing over her. The sensation built inside her again, bringing her higher as their bodies united. She looked forward to the explosion, the release. This time she felt Liking's pace increase. He was coming closer to the point as well. Deeper, harder, his body slammed into her. He stared into her eyes until she couldn't hold them open anymore. The feeling was too intense and she let it take her while Liking's seed spilled into her body. Then he withdrew, leaving her satiated, but somehow incomplete. She wished she had him back inside. Without him she was hollow and her body mourned the loss although he stayed on her, touching her bare flesh. At once his eyes grew wide, tears filling them. “I can't believe it.” His words were breathless pants as if he struggled with some great trouble plaguing his mind. “The bond is real.” He buried his face in her hair. “You are my unta, my love.” He kissed her. "You're love?" "Let's go inside." He stood then picked her up and carried her into the cabin. Faller was still sleeping, curled up with his thumb in his mouth. He'd kicked away most of his covers. Liking put Sarah on the bed then covered the little babe. She almost asked him what he was going to do. He had another woman and two more children. He might've even slept with her to try to further obligate Sarah to help him. She hoped not. Something so beautiful shouldn't be used for responsibility. Instead of asking questions that she wasn't ready to hear the answers to, she snuggled into bed. Liking joined her, pulling her over to sleep in the crook of his arm. A water creature so fully bonded to that of air. She breathed deeply, catching his scent, the musk they'd created while they'd been united. His touch brought her calm, their bodies joined almost erased the longing for water. It had been too long since the heartache of being away from her precious sea granted her a moment's peace. She'd forgotten happiness in the everyday struggle to get by, to keep going. Liking eased away that discontent. Even far from the water, this was bliss. Sleep began to take hold over her and she dreamed of the ocean. The soft sands were beneath her body while her husband and babe cuddled close against the ocean breeze. She was home where even a plucked siren could find peace with her lover.
Chapter Four Morning crept inside the small cabin. The small curtains weren't enough to keep the sunlight out. Sarah rolled over, squinting against the day. Next to the bed, Faller squealed. She'd made him a crude crib that he seemed content with. She'd taken a box that must've been used for storing sewing items. There she found batting to line the box and padded it, finishing it off with a large scrap of cloth. Sarah stretched and looked around the room. Liking was gone. He'd been there in the wee hours before sunup when Faller cried for his milk. She supposed he had to go back to his woman and children. It didn't stop the pang in her heart. Wait a minute; is Liking in pain? She sat up and looked around. Somehow she knew Liking was with Lynn, that made sense, but there was more. She could feel his pain in being separated from her and his fear for Celia. His heart was heavy and she felt it, really felt it. What is happening to me? Sarah shook her head. This was ridiculous. He couldn't be so present in her mind, like another person sharing her emotions. It had to be her imagination, unless that always happened when two people made love. Her own jealousy reared up in her mind. She didn't like the emotion but at least it was hers. It also helped push Liking out of her head. It wasn't that she minded him being there, as much as the uncertainty of the situation, of being with him. In such a short amount of time she loved him so much, but it couldn't work out. If anything, she feared what Lynn would do to the winged babe if Liking stayed away. It would be marvelous to have wings. Legend had it that sirens were winged beings an eternity ago. There was a long story to go with it, much of which she was sure was nothing but lies. She longed to fly though. Liking's air transport on the first trip to the cabin had been frightening but exhilarating. She couldn't imagine clipping a babe's wings and denying them the chance at flight. It seemed too cruel. She supposed in a world where humans were slowly dominating the landscape, wings could be detrimental. Her father had been a good man but for the most part she found humans to be frightening creatures, filled with too much odium to be of any real use. Humans killed and hated anything different. Her father had been careful to never reveal her lineage. Water sirens were rumored to lure men to their death, singing until men no longer cared for drink or food. That was rubbish. Her mother never lured anyone to their death and she certainly didn't want sailors coming to her island. Her father had been a sailor. His ship had been sunk in the middle of the ocean by a monlitor. Those huge scaled beasts had sent men to her island on a few occasions. Most died quickly, suffering injuries from the monlitor's huge fangs or being stung by the poisonous spines on its back and tail. Her father had survived it though, and fallen for Sarah's mom, Edda. The two had a long loving relationship. There was only one problem with a water siren falling for a mortal man. Humans age and grow sickly with time. She remembered growing up, holding her dad's hand. As she reached adulthood, her father's skin began to feel strange, then the horrible coughing started. It seemed life by the ocean was too hard on him. Mom
sensed it too. Dad had a sickness and one no one on the tiny island could cure. Mom believed the humans on the mainland could care for him. Sarah always thought Mom couldn't stand watching her father slowly die. It was the first time she ever remembered her mother singing to call a ship. Once a day, every day she'd sing a song. By the end of a week, a ship came. It was a mighty vessel and the first Sarah had ever seen. The men were a horrible bunch, smelly and they'd carried weapons. They frightened her but she couldn't imagine her father going across the ocean alone. She went with him, to help him in his final days. The trip wasn't easy on Dad but he survived. The humans had medicines and he lived almost two years. It was a hard time, but there was something special about staying with her father. She'd missed her mother though. Ever since her father had passed, she'd been trying to make it back to the sea. Sarah picked up Faller and kissed him. The baby was the most beautiful boy she'd ever seen. He looked just like Liking, from his eyes to his deep black hair. Even if she never saw Liking again, she'd always be grateful that he'd trusted her with his baby. She'd bet he'd make a fine swimmer too, probably a great fisherman, as her kind were. There were skills she could contribute to his upbringing, and ways that he could be her son too. She might not know flight, but she'd make sure he knew the traditions of the water. She tucked the baby back into the crib and grabbed a bucket from the table in the kitchen. This cabin had a sink but no water running in it. The occupant must've made do with water from an open well. Not wanting to take the baby outside, Sarah made sure he was comfortable before going out into the chilly morning. Soon frost would grow outside. She'd wanted to be gone before the frost came, if she could ever figure out her way home. Only wearing her nightshirt, she went around back to a small pen where she kept a goat. It wasn't easy to milk this goat. It was stubborn but eventually gave in and granted access to her teats. Soon Sarah had a small bucket of fresh milk for little Faller. Back inside the cabin, Faller looked ready for another breakfast. She cleaned out the water bladder and put the fresh milk inside. Faller cuddled against her as she fed him. She knew babies grew fast, but he seemed a lot heavier today. Faller finished feeding and she put him on the table to change his clothes. With him stretched out, she was certain that Faller had grown considerably overnight. If Liking came back, she'd have to ask him about their growth rates. **** Liking stood at the mouth of the cave for the longest time. Lynn was still sleeping and Elise was cuddled in her arms. In the nest, Celia cooed for him. He went over and picked her up, stroking her black skin. She was beautiful and her wings were the most exquisite. There's no way he'd let Lynn cut them. He held Celia against his chest and rocked her in a small chair across from the bed. He shut his eyes and could feel Sarah. Even this far from her, he could hear her singing to Faller. Deep inside she was worried that he might not return, but she was trying to ignore the thoughts and his presence in her mind. Honestly, he wasn't sure what to do next. He loved Sarah, really loved her, more than he thought possible. The unta proved that it was more than lust. That bond was too precious to ignore, too powerful to resist. There were his daughters to consider though. It would be simple to take Celia. Lynn might pose a danger to her but Elise was a different story. Lynn actually cared about her, and Liking didn't want to harm that bond. Feedings also had to be taken into consideration. Mother's milk was best for babies.
"What are you doing?” asked Lynn from the bed. Liking hadn't realized that she'd woken. "Just enjoying our daughter." Lynn got to her feet and set Elise on the bed, covering the baby thoughtfully in the blankets. She took some fruit then walked over to Liking. Her gaze was a little too intense. Liking feared she could sense Sarah's scent on his skin. "You seem revitalized today.” Lynn touched his face and her fingers were cold. “You're almost glowing." Liking hadn't thought about it. He'd needed to feed last night before making love to Sarah. Something happened during their union. Perhaps it was her breed but making love to her had made him stronger. He concentrated, sensing the power in his veins. Yes, making love to Sarah had fed him somehow. "I can't believe how fast Celia is growing.” He held her up. Celia could already hold her head up and seemed to have grown an inch overnight. "Shifter babies grow quickly.” Lynn reached over and touched Celia's wing. “They are usually off the breast in a week. You'll see changes in them everyday. In two weeks our children will be the size of five-year-olds." Off the breast in a week? “I had no idea." "That's why I wanted you to get rid of the boy quickly, before his growth made killing him difficult." He was caught up in the idea of a child off the breast in a week. If he were going to take Elise and Celia from Lynn, then he'd do it after a week. His daughters should have the best start possible. He didn't like the idea of reducing Lynn to a feeding machine, but she'd wanted to reduce him to a child killer, so he supposed it was fair. "I should really clip Celia's wings soon. The older she gets, the more difficult it will be. The skin and such will toughen." "Wait a week, at least. Please." Lynn looked at him again, those black and silver eyes cutting through him. “Do you intend to steal her from me before I can make the child right?” She put both her hands on her hips. “Or maybe you want the clipping to hurt her. Is that it? You want this child to hate me?" "If you're worried about our child hating you after you mar her, then maybe you shouldn't do it. No matter when you cut her, she'll remember, if she lives." She reached down and jerked Celia from Liking's arms. With equal aggression she pressed the child's face against her breast. Celia immediately began nursing, not letting the rough treatment deny her a meal. Elise seemed to sense something was happening and began crying for Lynn. Soon Lynn had both girls suckling noisily. "Can I get you anything?” Liking wished he could see the love between Lynn and her daughters that he'd seen between Sarah and Faller. "No. We're fine.” She held the girls tightly. "I think I'll go bathe." Liking went to the mouth of the cave. There was a waterfall not far away where he enjoyed bathing.
Natural hot springs in the rock warmed the water before dumping it down the side and into a pool. "Would you like me to take you to the springs to bathe? That might ease your mood." "No,” Lynn sighed. “I'll stay here." He was glad that she'd declined the offer. He had too much to think about. The right and wrong of taking Lynn's children plagued him. A mother has a right to her children, but should that right continue if the children are in jeopardy? Liking flew to the bathing spot and dropped to the ground. For a moment he couldn't feel Sarah at all. Their mental tie had been created since they'd made love and he'd realized that she was his true mate. Right now it felt like she was blocking him. The unta; he'd questioned it as myth. So many flyers had given up the hope of true love and to him the bond was no more than a lie so the horny had a reason to mate. It was true that Anzele had found someone special but a true bond, the never ending feeling of love wrapped around the mind seemed impossible until he'd found Sarah. Such a constant sensation was amazing, wonderful, and a little frightening. He wasn't scared of bonding with Sarah, rather the fact that he'd taken such a powerful force for granted. If ever a flyer had blasphemed the great powers that existed, he had in denying that love. It was odd that she had the ability to block her thoughts. He'd never known a siren. She might be capable of anything. It was understandable that the unta worried her to the point that she'd try to oppose it. Considering how new everything was, she might fear his intentions or even Lynn. An angry shape shifter could be a nasty nemesis. He stripped his pants off, dropping them to the edge of the rocks then slid into the water. The hot water felt good, washing away the evidence of his lovemaking and stress as he dunked beneath the surface. He popped back up, swiping the water from his face. He didn't want to erase Sarah's scent from his body but Lynn was bound to pick up on it. Needing to relax, he leaned backwards, half floating against the rock. He managed to close his eyes, wishing his troubles would vanish. While soaking there, a sound caught his attention. He turned, finding Sarah walking towards the water with Faller in her arms. "Well, it seems I'm always running into you." Liking smiled broadly. He had no idea that Sarah knew about this place. It wasn't far from her cabin but he'd never seen her here before. He preferred bathing in the hot water to the cold streams. It shouldn't seem so odd that she would prefer it too. "I wanted to wash Faller in some warmer waters. The cold makes him cry.” She smiled and the mental block dropped. Liking felt her fear and doubts about them surface. “Would you prefer if we left?" "No, please stay.” He motioned her closer. “Sarah, I do love you. Don't you feel me in your head?" "Is that strange? I wasn't sure what to think about it." "It's our bond. It's not strange. It's beautiful. The unta is a rare and precious bond. It's the purest kind of love." Her face lit up and she approached the edge of the water with Faller. Sarah was a perfect mother. She'd
brought a small sack and set it on the edge of the rocks. Next she unwrapped Faller, dropped her clothing and slipped into the warm water with him. At first Faller clung to her, pulling her hair. Then he began to laugh. Finally he splashed and tried to push away. Sarah kept a good grip on him, washing him gently. Once he was clean, she brought him out of the water and wrapped him. She'd also made him a type of shirt. At first he protested wearing it. Finally she had it over his head and he curled up on the edge, just beyond the rocks where the moss was the thickest. He sucked his thumb and rolled around a bit before closing his eyes. Sarah watched him until he drifted to sleep. "He sleeps a lot. I think it's these growing spurts. Every time he wakes up he seems bigger." "Lynn said that shifter children are weaned after a weak and are as big as five-year-olds after two weeks." "Wow.” She looked at Faller another minute. “Does that mean you'll want Faller back? I mean, I understand. I wouldn't judge you.” Her voice shook with emotion and she turned her face away. "Sarah, you still don't get it do you? You're like my wife now. We haven't had a proper binding but we belong together." That made her look at him and he saw the heaviness in her eyes. “What about Lynn?" "She complicates things. I don't want to do anything to upset her until after the girls are weaned. Of course if she tries to hurt Celia, everything will change.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I honestly don't know what to do. I'm not lying about you being my wife. I just wish I hadn't met you so late." "Let's not worry about that now." Sarah slid beneath the water and for a minute, Liking couldn't see her. She tickled his balls, making him jump before she swam to the other side. At first he thought she was teasing him but the wicked smile on her face showed something more. "Do you know what water sirens can do?" Liking had no idea but the sexy way her naked body bobbed up and down in the water, made him not care what her intentions were. Those breasts bobbed in front of him, taunting him to touch her, while she kept that tasty mound hidden beneath the waters. He eased forward, but when she raised her hands. The water obeyed her. Two streamlets rose from the water then dove back in. They came at him like snakes, causing little waves in their wake. Liking started to rise from the water, a little afraid at this new game Sarah had invented. He only gained a few feet when the water came up, grabbing him by the balls. The contact made him drop back into the water. The water coiled around his cock, pulsating and gently squeezing him. The stream seemed hotter than what surrounded him, slick and much more solid than water. It made a tube, cupping him while stroking the length of his shaft. The entire cylinder throbbed with more pressure, flicking like licks of a wet tongue beneath his sack. It was more than foreplay. If she didn't stop soon, he'd explode into the water. He didn't want that. He wanted back inside her, plunging into her body while making her call his name. "You'd better stop this." The water stroked him back and forth, reminding him who was in control. It wasn't a manly position to
be in, but the exotic feel was too good to pull away from. His hips were touched, his balls tingled. A voice filled the air cutting the game short and the streams tormenting him receded. Sarah launched herself out of the water, scooped up Faller and dove back beneath the water. Liking would've been alarmed but he saw an air bubble around Faller who still hadn't woken from his nap. Before he even registered who the voice belonged to, Sarah and the boy were hidden from sight, down in the deepest section of the rocks. As he saw Lynn appear in the sky, he tossed the sack Sarah had brought into the edge of the woods. "There you are.” Lynn landed in bird form, then shifted into her black featureless shape. “Didn't you hear me calling?" "I must've been under the water. Sorry. Where are the girls?" "Sleeping in the cave." He didn't like the thought of leaving his two daughters alone in a cave. The place wasn't safe. If they rolled out of bed, they could be harmed on the hard rocks. Again, Lynn proved herself an inept mother. "You left them alone?" "They'll sleep for hours. Don't worry about it." Lynn slipped into the water. In one hand was soap root. She began lathering herself then rinsing beneath the surface. Liking watched, hoping she wouldn't come across Sarah or too close to him. After being with Sarah, he didn't think he could stand her touch. "That's better,” remarked Lynn as she surfaced in the middle of the water. “Now, we need to discuss Celia." "You're not clipping her wings." Lynn crept up to him, rubbing her midnight body against him. At one time he found the thick silky touch of her skin erotic. Those black breasts drove him wild. Occasionally she would shift into other women, just to keep things interesting. It was always Lynn though. The same cold eyes always watched him in the few times they'd joined after her announcement of the impending births. "Let's talk about it.” She sounded reasonable for once. “I think the wings are a hindrance. She is a shifter and will have no need of them. In time she could even create another pair, if that be her wish." Liking got out of the water. “Please don't hurt our daughter. What if she can't fly without them?" "Then she doesn't need to fly.” Lynn's eyes flared bright silver. “Only the strong survive, Liking. Those wings make her weak." "Those wings are from me.” He looked at her, trying to read emotion in the solemn face. “Clipping them could kill her. I guess you don't care about the risk to her life, as long as she doesn't look like me." "Let me put this another way.” Her hand elongated, sharp claws extending from her hand. “I am going home to clip her wings." "No.” Liking grabbed her hand. “Don't make me take her from you, or you from this world shifter." The two struggled for a moment. Lynn shifted, running her claws dangerously close to Liking's throat. He
reached out with fire, scorching the claw and she jumped back. This was going to get messy. He didn't want to hurt Lynn. He'd spent months nursing her back to health after the flyer war. He couldn't let her hurt their daughter though. Lynn's eyes flared again. Just as she raised her hand to strike, a soft song rose out of the water. The voice was enchanting and he knew it immediately. Sarah's voice caressed them and Lynn began swaying to the song. There were no words, only humming. Whatever magic those notes held worked. Lynn began dancing in place. Sarah changed the tune slightly and Lynn yawned, then curled into a ball on the moss. Sleep came over her in a heavy veil. When Lynn's breathing changed to a deep slow rhythm, Sarah rose from the water. Faller was still in her arms. The bubble that had encased him broke when they surfaced. Faller opened his eyes, then snuggled in Sarah's long brown hair. "She won't sleep long. Go get Celia and bring her to the cabin. I'll take care of her." "Are you sure?" "Absolutely. That woman has no right to raise something as precious as children." "Take Faller and get out of here. I'll go get Celia." The only thing that bothered him was that he wasn't sure if he should take Elise too. Even as he rose into the air, he weighed the options. Was it right to separate siblings? Was it right to take the children from their mother? He had no idea, but he couldn't let Lynn harm Celia. Besides, there was no way of knowing what cutting the large veins in the wings would do. Maybe Lynn already knew and this was her way of getting rid of the weak. Liking wasted no time going to the cave, although he hesitated at the opening. All three of his children were wonderful. It didn't bother him if Elise looked like a woman he'd grown to despise. They were his and should know love. Lynn seemed to love Elise, but at one time she'd cared for him. Would her affection change so rapidly with her offspring? Liking wasn't convinced she understood true emotions, other than rage. She'd felt the babes growing inside her, nursed them. It didn't seem right to take all of them from her. Lynn would grow mad alone and who knows when or if she'd get the chance to breed again. He watched Celia and Elise, sleeping together, cuddled up like sisters should. Then he thought about Elise. She may look like a shifter but if she showed any flyer traits, there was no telling what Lynn would do. In that moment, his choice was clear. He'd take both children and raise them with Sarah. He reached down and cuddled the babies against his chest. Sarah would make a wonderful mother. He could feel the love she had for Faller. If all three children were at the cabin, then he could stay with her and never see Lynn again. That would be bliss. There would be no more hard words about his people or strange demands. "What are you doing?” Lynn landed in the mouth of the cave, claws extended. “What are you doing with my children?"
Chapter Five Cordin glanced at the forest below as his wings spread into the air. The lovely trees knew nothing of his grief or even cared about the flyer people. Things in nature never worried for the difficulties of others. It all seemed insignificant. He supposed since witches were so connected with the planet, that they shouldn't care for others either. Fates were certainly cruel when they made his unta a witch and one with a sister having a black heart. She'd parted from his company twice. It wasn't fair. Other flyers knew true love with another flyer, but his unta had to be of a powerful old blood, and Marabeth was susceptible to her evil sister's whims. It had been months since Marabeth had stolen the star from the flyer village and left Cordin. He'd never expected her to run from his home with her wounded sister Tara. She had though, and left Cordin feeling lost. Marabeth's spell had dropped yesterday. Something had broken her concentration and she was vulnerable to his mind until early this morning when waves of her emotions came over him like a crushing weight. That's how Cordin had pinpointed her. True love was a beautiful thing, it was also a great way to locate someone. Cordin wasn't sure what he'd say to his lovely Marabeth. The last time he'd seen her, the battle with the shifters had ended with her flying back to the village to return the star for safe keeping. Something had happened though. Cordin was willing to bet Tara had found Marabeth, convincing her to steal. They'd taken Tara in after she'd been seriously injured. Cordin had known better. It was wrong to invite that sort of evil to live among his people, but Marabeth looked so lost without her sister. He would've done anything to take the pain away. It was that weakness that made the flyers lose the star. There was great magic in the glowing dagger that had fallen to the ground from the heavens. In the hands of the witches, or others of their line, the world could end even with the void in remission. Since the mistake was his, it was up to him to track Marabeth and reclaim what the witches had stolen. In all honesty, the task both excited and frightened him. Witches of the old blood were dangerous. Most of the world had rid themselves of the creatures, sacrificing many men to burn those types of women at the stake. Then again, he loved Marabeth and doubted he could ever destroy her. Tara was a different matter. She was very old, not that she looked it. Witches, like flyers, were immortal. Cordin had a theory that her age had rotted her mind or at the very least made her wish that only witches existed. He hoped she hadn't found a way to make that a reality. Cordin swooped above the trees, watching his shadow on the ground below. The sun started to set, but the outline of his wings was clear. As he approached the area where he'd sensed Marabeth, he called in clouds, shading the area. He preferred to travel with cover, but it called the night in quicker. Below he saw sparks from a fresh fire. The witches were building a large fire and he doubted their cauldron was for making soup. Before he made the clearing, Cordin landed in a tree, creeping to the edge of the branches for a better view. "Why are you bothering with that again? The creatures were failures. The first light of morning shredded the things.” Marabeth tossed another log into the fire. “I think we should cook dinner and forget creating soldiers." So that was their game. He knew the star held great power but even in legend it couldn't create life, only
destroy it. Which brought him back to his goal, to find the star. Ideally he hoped to sneak into their camp and take the star as they slept. So much for plans. It didn't look like the ladies would be sleeping any time soon. Cordin spread his wings then went back into the night, letting the cool air ease his woes. It pained him to see Marabeth, clearly helping Tara in some new plot. Were they so bored that all they could make was mischief? He'd never believed a peaceful life was boring, but apparently certain creatures thought differently. He'd return in a few hours. Staying there, watching would be too dangerous. He flew, circling and following the stream. He wanted to leave the area, but not travel far. If the witches managed some new brew, he might need to stop it. Why did I have to fall in love with a witch? The thought bothered him since the first time he'd felt her true heart. Her features were nothing like a flyer's, her clothing, even her demeanor didn't represent any of the qualities he'd come to cherish. At least he hadn't cared for them until he'd fallen in love. He'd met her in the woods and she'd captured his heart. Hair color no longer mattered or the strange nearly transparent clothing she wore. The only thing he couldn't accept was the evil she was prone to give in to for the sake of her sister. Cordin knew that she wasn't thrilled about loving a flyer. She'd done everything in her power to break their bond, but the most she'd managed was blocking him for long periods of time. Once in a while, there she'd be, back in his mind like a craving he'd lost. He turned, curving through the air with his large feathered wings. Flying was the most beautiful thing, rising above the ground and the troubles it brought. High in the air, with the stars and moon coming out for the night, everything was okay. He was whole again. As he flew, the most beautiful sound caught his ear, causing him to stop in the middle of the air. He thought it was singing, but no creature had a voice that sweet. It called to him, pulling him from the sky. He flew lower until he saw a small cabin. It was rude of him, but he landed at the front of this strange cabin. The music entranced him, causing him to sway the moment his feet touched the ground. Then the sound stopped. "Who are you?” said the beautiful woman with dark brown hair. She sat on the porch holding a small baby. “Why are you at my home?" "Please forgive me. I was flying and heard your song. I didn't mean to bother you.” He stepped forward and saw the woman cringe. “I'll leave you now. I meant no harm. I am a flyer far from home." "A flyer? Wait.” She stood and approached him. “My mate is a flyer but he doesn't have wings like yours.” She looked Cordin over. “His hair is dark like yours, but he doesn't have the purple highlights." "Some of us are wingless and are called wind tamers. Some of us have wings.” He hadn't heard of flyers this far from the village. “May I know your mate's name?" "Liking. This is his son Faller." "Liking lives?” Cordin covered his gaping mouth. Everyone in the flyer village thought him long since gone, murdered somewhere in the rocks. “I thought the shifter killed him. Please kind lady, tell me where Liking is."
Tears filled the lovely woman's eyes. She turned her back, and Cordin saw the length of her hair went beyond her ass. Her clothing was that of the humans, with her long dress prominently displaying her bust, but Cordin had never heard a human sing like she had. "He is with the shifter and I fear for him.” Her voice trembled. “The shifter gave birth and he was going to retrieve the children before she hurt the girls. This is their son. Lynn ordered Liking to kill the babe when it was only moments old. Now she will harm her daughter." "Liking mated with the shifter?" Cordin never imagined such a thing. He knew Vincent's trick had brought the shifter into Liking's bed, but nothing beyond that. He'd never thought Liking would stay with a shifter, much less create children. Shifters and flyers were mortal enemies. The shifters had caused the war between the humans and the flyers with their cruel tricks and shifting disguises. After Anzele and Vincent wed, Liking disappeared. Some thought he'd fled the village because of a broken heart. Others, like Cordin, had found Lynn's tracks in the sand and her shed burnt flesh. They feared Liking had been killed by the shifter. It seems Liking found his own way to get along with the creature. "They have two daughters and this son. Liking entrusted me with Faller's care a few hours after he had been born. The mother hated him at first sight." "May I see Faller?” At first he didn't think the lady would allow it. She stepped back, clutching the child to her chest as if he were her own. “I swear I wouldn't hurt the child. I just want to see him." She stepped forward and held the child outward. “My name is Sarah. Liking told me that I am his mate. I fear for him. He was supposed to bring his daughters here hours ago but I haven't heard from him." "Don't fret.” He leaned down and looked at the baby. “He is very much Liking's son.” A smile touched his lips. “Tell me good lady, do you sense Liking or do you not." "I sense him. I felt his indecision on taking both girls and then something happened. She's with him and I do not like it.” She pulled the baby back against her bosom. "What is filling your mind?" "He is afraid to leave the caves. It doesn't make sense, but I feel his fear as if it were my own.” Her voice trembled again. “There is a baby there named Celia. Lynn will hurt her if Liking can't get her out soon. She's going to clip the babe's wings." "No.” Cordin leaned against the porch. “She can't do that." There was no worse abuse against a baby than altering their form. Children were brought into this world a certain way and unless that form would cause them pain later, it was imperative to leave it alone. He'd seen one child born with only one wing and another born with a tail. Neither were harmed or changed. The babe with one wing turned out to be a potent mage and the tail of the other grew into a powerful weapon. In the flyer world there was nothing worse than a child losing a wing and any injury that severe usually meant death. "If you are Liking's friend, can you help him?" Cordin had never considered himself Liking's friend. After the crimes Liking had tried to commit against Anzele, he'd considered destroying Liking personally. There was a child at stake though, and no matter
who the mother was, a child's body should remain whole. “I'm afraid I have no choice. Do you know which caves they live in?" "The ones of blue rock, somewhere near the middle. That's all I know. I've never been there. I've only seen it through Liking's eyes." "Thank you sweet lady. I will go pay Liking a visit. You might want to go inside. That lovely voice of yours might attract more visitors if you aren't careful. I'm not the only one in these woods." Cordin rose into the air, flapped his wings and started in the direction of the mountain range. The only blue rock he'd seen was at the furthest corner from the mountain range separating the flyer world from the rest. It was strange how the non-human species worked hard to separate themselves from the human world. The flyers lived next to the ocean and were protected by a long and impassible mountain chain. Shifters used to live in the caves at the far point from the flyers. Flyers and shifters had always been mortal enemies, but even the shifters preferred living closer to the ocean than the humans and their strange ways. After the mountain chain were the forests, lakes, and rivers. Beyond those were the remnants of the void, with the barren patches yet to bring forth life and that one spot of black ooze trying to live after the star had been taken. On the edge of the woods started the roads with the many people living in their walled city. None of the species mingled, at least they tried not to. Sometimes the powers that be made other arrangements. There was Anzele and Vincent. That was a special situation. Besides, Vincent had been a mortal man with the lineage of flyer blood that could be woken. Cordin hadn't been so lucky. A witch had never bred with a flyer and the loss made his heart weep. Marabeth may never become his wife, never go through the binding ceremony. In fact, he doubted they could ever overcome their differences. He almost wished he'd never met the red headed woman with gauze clothing that left nothing to the imagination. His heart would be in finer shape and the star would be under flyer control. The line of mountains appeared in the distance. He followed to where the trees ended and jagged rocks appeared out of the vertical lift. Some were deep blue stained from the rich minerals in the rock. Here he clung to the edge, trying to stay quiet and still until he could pinpoint the right place. Any movement or flapping could alert the shifter if she scanned the sky. He stayed there, motionless like some insect until he smelled smoke. In the cliffs were a series of caves and one had a fire inside. Shifters were dangerous creatures. They could take on more than just the form of any animal or person; they also gained the strength. In legend, they always attacked as war birds and Lynn was a devastating war bird. She'd slain many flyers in battle, so much so that her beak had been stained with blood. Cordin flew around the cave, searching for a secondary opening. He'd prefer to speak with Liking before attacking Lynn. He crept along the back side and only found a small opening for ventilation. There he stayed, listening to the voices inside. "You little bastard.” Lynn's voice rose, echoing from inside. “Her wings are coming off.” The last ended in a scream of anger, joined by a child's terror filled cries. There was no time to lose. From outside, it sounded like there was a skirmish happening. Even if Liking had mated with the enemy, Cordin couldn't let a baby have her wings cut. He swooped into the front, magic raised ready to take down Lynn. He'd shown up just in time. Liking
was pinned against the wall, blood running down his chest. Lynn held the winged baby by the throat, its back facing Lynn. Long sharp talons drew closer to the bone and veins connecting the baby's wings. The strike would have to be quick and precise. Cordin sent out fire and wind. The fire singed Lynn's back, melting her hair. She released her grip on the baby. That's when the wind lifted the little girl, landing the babe on a bed to the side. "What the...” her words fell short when she saw Cordin. “Well, it seems we have guests. Cordin. Dear, sweet, stupid Cordin. Did you ever recover from the wicked red head? Have you come here so I can end your pain?" "I thought I'd rid the world of your kind.” He churned the air, forcing Lynn to the floor as a fireball came from his fingertips, landing on top of her. “Die you evil hag." Lynn shifted beneath the fire. Cordin could see her skin running like liquid then reforming into a large dragonfly. He was relieved. This form wasn't nearly as devastating as the war birds. The small size of the cave had to have limited her transformation. Her black wings whirled and her new form rose above the fire, to the roof of the cave. She hesitated, probably deciding on an attack strategy. She must've been injured because her pause lasted but a moment. Not stopping to fight, Lynn went out of the mouth of the cave. "Help me,” cried Liking. “Please, Cordin." Cordin went to him. Long gouges ran across his chest while black vines from the cave walls held him in place. From the look of him, Cordin guessed Liking had fought long and hard before the shifter subdued him. The fire died in the room but a heavy smoke clung in the air. It made seeing hard and Cordin knew keeping the baby in this environment was unhealthy. After a few moments, he managed to free Liking. He grabbed the winged baby and another baby from a crib. Together they went out into the night sky. Cordin didn't want to stop anywhere near the caves and Lynn, not even to check the babies. Shifters healed quickly and held grudges. It wouldn't be long before Lynn was ready to take them both. Out in the open, the fight would be more difficult. Her size would be only limited to her imagination. It hadn't been a year since the war, when the shifters came trying to force the flyers to hand over the star. Many flyers died during the battle but the shifters were smaller in number and fell in the end. Liking must've shared Cordin's fear. He flew, cuddling the babes against his chest until they were above the forest, then flying to the cabin where Sarah and Faller lived. They circled once, checking for Lynn, then dropped to the ground. Sarah came running out, hugging Liking. "These are my daughters Elise and Celia.” Liking handed each girl to Sarah. A look of relief passed over his face as Sarah took to the girls. It seemed to Cordin that Liking had worries of acceptance. That was strange considering their bond. “Can you love them?" "Of course. They are part of you.” Sarah kissed each girl. “They smell like smoke. What happened?” Sarah pulled them to her protectively and Cordin thought he would be chastised for risking them. “What happened to the babies?" "We'll talk about it later. I think I have some explaining to do.” Liking looked towards Cordin who stayed a few feet away to give them some space. “A flyer helped me out."
"I know. I told him where you were.” Sarah kissed each baby then checked them again. “I was worried." "What? How?" "Speak with Cordin. You're daughters have been through a difficult time. Let me get them inside and settled with their brother.” She looked at both girls and smiled brightly. “They are beautiful.” Then she turned and took them into the cabin. Liking stepped towards Cordin, eyes lowered, feet kicking at the ground. Their last discussion hadn't been a friendly one. Cordin had chastised him for kidnapping Anzele and for taking samples of the void to use in dark magic. Liking had remarked about Anzele lowering herself to bind with a human. That human had been a descendant from one of the oldest flyer lines and had saved their world. A few apologies were in order. "Thank you, Cordin.” Liking bowed. “I have brought the flyers no honor, but you still saved me and my children. For that I will always be in your debt.” He rose and looked at Cordin. “Tell me how it is you came to my rescue." "I'd heard this beautiful singing and found your unta, Sarah. She told me about you and the children. I couldn't stand by and let a babe's wings be taken. That crime is greater than anything you've ever done." Liking went over to a fallen log at the edge of the wood line. The top had been cleaned off as if it were used for a resting place when enjoying the day. There, Liking sat and motioned Cordin over. "After the great war I found Lynn. She was badly injured and dying.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “She looked so helpless and childlike. My intentions were to take care of her until she was well, then return home. I didn't think one shifter living would cause the village trouble. Everyone of Lynn's kind was dead but her." "So why didn't you return?” Cordin picked up a twig from the ground, scratching one end into the dirt. "She was pregnant.” Liking laughed and the sound was filled with sorrow. “It must've happened when she pretended to be Anzele to bed me. I only slept with her after I learned of the babies, not before. It had to be that night on the beach." "And you couldn't leave your children.” It was a statement of fact, not a question. No true flyer could leave their child, especially in the care of a shifter. “What about Sarah?" "She's a water siren.” The corners of his mouth turned up in a near smile. “She is my love and she loves my babies. She took Faller without even knowing me. I know she will be a good mother to Celia and Elise." Cordin considered all that he'd said. It was wrong to leave anyone to die of wounds, even the enemy. It was also terrible to leave children behind. Perhaps Liking wasn't so terrible. The absurdity of it made Cordin laugh. If ever irony had dealt one man a cruel blow, it had been this. Liking had ignored his desire to marry Anzele because she wasn't a pure blood. Later he'd criticized her for wanting a human mate. The Liking of last year was a prejudice fool, finding fault with all but the flyers. "What is so funny?” Liking raised an eyebrow. “Come on." "Mixed children and a siren wife. It seems Liking matured after all. Love doesn't know a race, does it?" "Shut up.” Liking smiled, and seemed to understand the implication. “I learn a little slower than others.
Maybe a lot slower in some instances." Cordin laughed until he slid off the log and onto the ground. The tough and determined Liking had learned much. The once ambitious flyer who'd married, hoping to become an elder, had found the greatest rewards were in family, not title. Another, grimmer thought silenced is revelry. These woods weren't safe. Even if the witches weren't conjuring to the west, Lynn would hunt down Liking for his desertion. "You know when Lynn is well, she will find you and the babies." Liking looked at the star filled sky. “I would die a thousand times for those children and if the fates allow it, I'll gladly destroy Lynn." Those were strong words coming from a man who had lived with a shifter for so long. The pain in Liking's eyes spoke more than his words. Lynn may not have been his unta but he loved her. More than likely, he could've killed Lynn many times before today. Liking was a powerful flyer. If he'd taken her by surprise, she would've died. That meant that it took his children to push him. "Will you return to the village now?" "They wouldn't care for shifter babies. Faller looks like a flyer but Elise is the exact likeness of her mother and Celia is the perfect blend of us. There's no telling what powers she'll inherit." "Don't use your children as an excuse to hide. Be logical. The flyers will never turn their backs on children and they'll be safer." Liking looked at the cabin then back at Cordin. “Sarah is truly wonderful. I've never felt this way about anyone before." "Not even Anzele?" The statement made Liking blush. “I still care for her, but Sarah is different. From the first moment I found her, she stayed in my thoughts. After we made love, I found out she was my unta.” He hesitated then continued. “I guess what I did to Anzele and Vincent was a greater crime than I'd realized." "It was, but these days have grown strange and we all make mistakes." "Marabeth?" The question startled Cordin. He had expected Liking to stay lost in his own problems, not remembering the lady who'd betrayed the village. Cordin supposed it bothered him because Marabeth haunted him. Even his dreams were filled with her image. "Yes. I'm hoping to steal the star from her as she sleeps." Liking touched his arm. “Be careful. Those witches have been conjuring. I saw them make something awful. It was a living shadow. The thing stepped from the pot on smoky legs." "Living shadow?" "I'm not sure why they're making them but I fear they will create an army.” Liking bit his bottom lip as if unsure how much to say. “I saw Tara with one. They were joining, like living men and women do. It was strange, unnatural."
Cordin considered this. He supposed the star had enough power to create life. It was better suited to destroy. Then again what better way to make a killing machine than to produce new life? If anything, humans had taught them the havoc one breed could create. "If you retrieve the star, may I borrow it?” Liking's eyes narrowed and his gaze focused on the ground. “I'll return it. I swear." "Liking, you don't want to kill Lynn. I know you would if you had to, but there is a sliver of love left for her.” He sighed. “I don't want to kill Marabeth either. That means if I get the star and leave it with you, you'll have more than an upset shifter; you'll have two murderous witches. You'd be wise to take your family to the safety of the flyer village." "I will consider it.” Liking touched the marks on his chest. “Lynn is a formidable adversary.” He took a deep breath. “I will help you retrieve the star. Two witches won't be easy to take on alone." "Another flyer will arouse their suspicions. I'd better do this. In fact, I should go to their camp now." "Are you certain? I can be of some help." "I know Liking. You are very brave and have always been a good warrior. I'm hoping to avoid any altercation though. Honestly, I don't think I could fight Marabeth. I spied on her earlier and the feelings are still there. No matter what her crimes, the emotion never goes away." "Very well. Come back here after you've retrieved the star so I know you're safe. If you're not back by sunrise, then I'll come for you." It would make Cordin feel better to know someone was waiting for him. Odds were the witches would kill him but maybe Marabeth's heart hadn't grown so cold. At least if they took him hostage, there was a chance for an escape. "That would be comforting. Be careful, though. Tara is a killer.” Cordin stood. “On second thought, give me longer than sunrise. My timing will have to be perfect to sneak into their camp."
Chapter Six Cordin flew again, leaving Liking and his family. It was good to see Liking again. Before Liking's betrayal, they'd been friends. It was nice to consider him in that light again. Old friends were valuable things, especially when they'd finally become decent flyers. Perhaps it was Liking's lusts that had corrupted him so. Either way Cordin had to give him another chance. He skirted the edge of the witch camp, making sure to keep his distance. Below Tara was busy conjuring while Marabeth sat at the side, looking more annoyed than anything. As he approached, he saw why. Tara had two shadow creatures rising from the cauldron. It was just as Liking said. They were shadows, gaining substance as they rose from the pot. He went to the trees, watching from a safe distance. The star was in Tara's hand. She swirled it in the air as she chanted and the blade glowed with the power flowing through them. He didn't recognize the words, but the creatures grew tall and stepped free of the cauldron. Both of the witch's creatures bowed low and stared at her. Their eyes seemed focused on her dress or lack thereof. Tara's nipples showed through the thin material, as well as every curve of her body. They seemed aroused by her, one daring to touch the thatch of hair at her slit, which poked from the gauzy fabric she wore. Marabeth watched them. Cordin couldn't see her expression clearly but he felt the hate radiating off her. Even with the unta blocked, the emotion came through in angry waves. "Are you trying to breed abomination?" "Shut up sister.” Tara eased the edge of her dress up granting the creation access to her mound. “I conjured two. Take him and play. It might make you nicer. Besides these are hardier than the last I made. They should survive the sunrise.” Doubt filled her voice. “I hope they'll survive." Cordin didn't want to watch Marabeth with that thing and fortunately she didn't seem interested. There was no argument. Marabeth simply summoned her enchanted branch then flew into the sky. That was for the best. Now there was only one witch to deal with and one he didn't care for. Besides, her lovers seemed more interested in servicing her than taking over the world. They also provided a perfect distraction. Tara tossed the star to the ground, not caring for anything but the black mouth devouring her slit. The creatures stripped her naked. Her white flesh was a strange contrast to the creatures whose bodies had grown thicker, gaining substance, appearing like black quartz. The moonlight glinted off the smooth sides. They'd gained muscular form and managed to grow sizeable cocks. One lay on the ground while the other pushed Tara onto him. The one on the bottom slid her onto his shaft while the other got behind her, easing against, then into her ass. The three became one entity. Tara let out a small scream of pain as the creature sank himself into her anus. The motion pushed her body forward, sheathing herself on the man beneath. There was nowhere for Tara to go. She was skewered from both ends with the creatures behaving like they shared a single mind. The one from behind toyed with one breast while the other leaned up enough to suckle the other. Tara's pain seemed to subside and she actively pressed her body between the two. She began moving back and forth, mouth open, body shaking. She gripped the one below her, moaning as she did. Her orgasm was loud and didn't deter the men probing her body. From the look of things, Tara was in for a long night.
Cordin dropped from the tree. The scene, however interesting, wasn't the reason for his visit. He eased behind the mating trio and snatched the blade from the ground, then took flight. He flew fifty yards away then landed in the tree. There he sat very still. He had to know if Tara had become aware of his theft. Cordin left the star hidden in the branches then flew back to his original roost. Below Tara was still at it. The creature on the bottom looked slick from what Cordin could only guess were her fluids. Satisfied that he wouldn't be followed, he started back to the tree. He'd been flying slowly, trying to hide but a large gust caught his attention. Cordin turned, but no one was there. He was alone flying through the night; at least he hoped so. He went back to his tree and sat there a moment. Something was wrong. He couldn't put his finger on it, but danger lurked close. Perhaps he wasn't alone in the night. He searched the darkness, listening for anything out of place. In the distance, he could only hear Tara's cries of pleasure and pain. She seemed to enjoy each in equal measure. Cordin didn't want to leave the dagger, nor did he want to retrieve it from the hiding spot in the leaves. He stayed motionless, waiting for someone or something to appear, knowing that every extra minute near Tara could cause her to notice the dagger was gone. **** Marabeth stayed in the shadows watching Cordin. He sensed her presence but couldn't pinpoint her location. She wasn't sure what to do. She'd seen Cordin come back from Tara. It didn't look like he'd gotten the star but he hadn't lingered to watch the show either. Cordin was beautiful. His hair was the deepest black, like all flyers. His differed in the purple highlights marking him. The strange coloration continued on his wings, trimming the black feathers in purple. His eyes flared in a neon purple, making him look beautiful at night. Those eyes enchanted her, made her watch him. He was her unta. It was a stupid flyer word which exactly meant one and only. To them it was a sacred connection with their true love. True love? It was a curse. Cordin had nothing in common with her kind. Her bright red hair was considered ugly by flyer standards. Her clothes were that of witches not the simulated hides the flyers wore. Simulated because the cloth they wove looked like leather, though a flyer would never lower themselves to consuming animal flesh. Witches dressed to show their bodies, their sexuality, not hide behind brown wraps. She was tired of Cordin. She'd woven a powerful spell to keep him out of her head. The unta gave him access to her thoughts, implying they would always be one. She wanted no part of it. Her mind should be her own and she was powerful enough to make it so. Once in a while he came through, but for the most part she was free of his flyer influence. Looking at him now, it was a struggle to keep hatred in her heart. The last time they'd spent together was a brief moment after the battle with the shifters when he'd trusted her with the star. In her heart, she'd wanted to put it away in the stone building as he had instructed. Tara had appeared though, demanding they leave the cursed village. It was a hard choice to make. Cordin wanted to bind to her, make her his bride. Her sister had no one though. She couldn't turn her back on Tara. Besides, Cordin could never accept a witch. He would spend their lifetime trying to change her. For immortals, that was a long time, too long to engage in something so tedious as protecting yourself from change.
Cordin flapped his wings slowly, as if considering taking to the air. She should approach. Surely he'd taken the star, that damned dagger that consumed Tara. It would be hard to live with her older sister if they lost the dagger. Of course, she didn't really care. Since Tara had created sex slaves, maybe Marabeth should leave her, and start a life of her own. She sat there a moment and saw the glint of moonlight off the dagger giving away its location. He'd placed it on the branch above, hidden in the leaves. Cordin wasn't so smart after all. There was no point in pretending. She had to confront Cordin. It would be hard to face him after stealing the star, but she'd chosen to take it, so it was up to her to face the consequences. "What brings you into my woods?" Cordin jerked his head around. He couldn't see her. Marabeth knew how to hide, control the darkness to her whim. It was also fun watching him search the night for any indication that she was there. "Marabeth?" "So you do remember me?” She loved watching him. His eyes glowed several times, flaring, trying to cut through the darkness. Flyers had wonderful sight, amazing senses. “I'd assumed you'd forgotten me by now." "You know I could never forget you. We should be wed by now and you pregnant with my children, not playing in the forest.” Cordin's voice tinged with anger, not that she blamed him. “You chose slave shadows to flyers." "You didn't come for me. You only came for the star. Face it, love between a witch and a flyer would never work." "What would you have me do, beg? I left you the first time when I found your true heart. You left me the last time, and in an act of theft.” He breathed deeply. She wished she were close enough to feel his breath on her skin again. “If you leave with me now, we could start over." "You'd have me or the star? If the choice was presented, which would you take from this place?” She waited but he didn't answer. “Come now Cordin. Choose one of us and have your wish." "That's not fair. You know Tara is dangerous. She could kill us all with the star." "That's what I thought. You've come for magical trinkets, not for love. Not once have you come for love. Tara is the only one that loves me." "Right now Tara is preoccupied with some atrocity she created to satisfy her sex drive. Tara never cared for you. If you had any sense in that fire red head of yours, you'd leave with me now." "Do you not like my red hair?" "You know I do.” His eyes flared again. “I'd love to feel that red hair on my fingertips. Come out." Marabeth had his attention. Flyers were interesting foes and she didn't want to fight with Cordin. It might be nice to keep him around though. At least until she'd figured out what her future would hold. With a thought, Marabeth began moving the vine in the tree where Cordin perched. If she could keep his attention long enough, she'd tie him and have a serious discussion with Cordin. She couldn't keep him captive forever, but a day or two wouldn't matter. Shouldn't she be allowed fun too?
"What else did you like about me?" "Sweet Marabeth, let's discuss this away from this place. Once your sister has had her fill, she'll try to kill me." "You've already stolen the star." "I have taken back what was stolen from me.” His eyes flared again and he looked directly at her as if he could see her blended into the darkness. Cordin was powerful; perhaps he had found a way through her spell. If anyone could undo her, it was Cordin. "I miss you, Cordin." His face nearly glowed. “I still love you, Marabeth. You'd know that if you'd stop blocking me. You'd know how I dream of you back in my home, lying beneath me." The words were sweet and had bought her enough time. The vine made its way up to Cordin and hooked around his waist. Before he knew it, her Cordin was tied to the tree with only his arms free. "What have you done?” He pulled against the vines, tearing at them. “Marabeth?" She appeared, floating near. He watched her and stopped struggling for a minute. This gave her the time to call two more vines. Flyers were dangerous until their hands were bound. She'd always wanted to tie him up. Perhaps there was something wicked inside her. The idea of having him under her control, made her skin tingle. Marabeth approached, while the waiting vines dangled down. When his attention was on her, she dropped the vines binding both his arms up over his head and attaching him to the branch above. "Marabeth!" "Hello, Love." He was too beautiful not to touch. She slid her hands into his hair, loving the feel of it in her fingertips. It was wrong but she untied the lacings keeping his chest covered. The vest fell open exposing his muscled chest. Oh, flyer muscles were lovely things. In all her years she'd never seen a flabby male flyer. "There's something sexy about you this way.” She ran her hand across his chest, lightly tickling his nipples. “I don't think we ever tried it like this. You were always in control of me." "I don't remember you complaining." Marabeth straddled him. She missed the way he felt between her thighs. He'd never let her on top, though. There were many occasions where he made her beg for release, and at the time, she liked it. Maybe it was time to try a change. She touched his hair again, then kissed his cheek, letting her lips trail to his lips. Kissing him had always been the best part. His kisses were always filled with passion, plundering her. Even tied, he took control of her mouth and showed her what she'd been missing. "Why, Cordin. You do still care.” She touched the rigid length in his pants. “Surely we can spare a few minutes."
Chapter Seven Liking stepped into the cabin carrying the odd cribs he'd made. They weren't much more than nests with wooden rails, but they would cradle the babies during the night. He wished he had a loom like he had back in the village. It would be better to make the cribs from builders’ cloth, but he didn't even have the proper tools to build wooden boxes for the children. Maybe that would be his next project, a loom. Inside the cabin, Sarah had all three babies cuddled in pillows. She helped Liking set the cribs at the foot of the bed then rigged up some blankets like a curtain on two sides to separate their bed from the babies. With the babies sleeping all the time, it was best to keep extra light and sound out, what little extra the blankets could block. Besides, it gave them a touch of privacy. Maybe he would bring her and the children back to the flyer village. They would be safe there and he could properly care for them. She'd have a fine house and each child a separate room. By the time the moon rose high in the sky, he had helped tuck the babies into their new beds. The blankets worked wonderfully, allowing them a little more light while helping the babies to rest. They drew both sides closed. Tonight Liking could rest, not worrying over Celia. He had his family. He'd never felt such complete love before now, such a sense of belonging. It was a little odd, but beautiful just the same. For the first time in his life, he loved so deeply that it hurt. He looked at Sarah. She seemed tired and a little stressed. He hated to think he'd caused her so much grief. He knew she'd worried about him while he'd been with Lynn. It was kind; everything about her was sweet. She gave careful attention to him and the babies without worrying for herself. She sat at her little table and ran a brush through her long dark hair. It was a lovely shade of chestnut but had an odd hue to it, almost blue when she turned a certain way. It was as if her hair came from the water. Maybe it had. "Sarah, are you happy that I'm here?” The unta provided the answer before she spoke, and for once in his life he felt good about the woman he was with. "Of course I'm glad you're here.” She spoke honestly but he could tell she held something back. Liking couldn't pick up on the cause of her remorse but she was troubled by some aspect of their relationship. "What aren't you saying?" She looked at him with eyes so blue they didn't look real. “I was on my way to the ocean and now I fear I'll never see it again. Not that I regret meeting you, I just long for the water, the sound of the surf. I'm sure it will pass with time." "You are a creature of water.” He thought about the village. “When I lived with the flyers, I had a house by the ocean. The sound of waves lulled me to sleep at night. It was wonderful." "It sounds like you miss it." He did miss the village. Their world was so wonderful, so peaceful. He didn't feel like an outsider. Well, until he'd tried to take Anzele for his own. Surely with this much time passing his sins would be forgiven. "Would you be happier in a village of flyers?” That was the biggest factor. He wanted Sarah happy, but he didn't want her disappearing into the water and never coming back to him.
"Will the flyers treat the babies well?" He considered this. Flyers were a kind race. There was no telling how they would react to children from a shifter mating. He supposed the only way to know for sure would be to go and see. "Cordin seems to think they'd be loved. I guess if they weren't treated well, we could leave. This place really isn't safe with Lynn around. She will try to track her babies. I know her. She'll take Elise and kill the others. To her, anything that isn't shifter is a defect." "Then it sounds like we have no choice." He went to her, sitting in the chair beside her. “Would you be happy?" "Living by the ocean with the man I love? It would be bliss." Sarah smiled and her desires filled his mind. She came over to him, kneeling by his chair and touching the marks on his chest. They were healing. On his home land, he would already be better. She kissed the skin on either side of the injury, then unfastened his pants. With her attention at his lap, he reached down, touching her breasts that threatened to spill from the edge of her dress. He helped them, tugging down the top until her breasts came out, nipples showing. He loved looking at her breasts. He started pulling her up to kiss them but she'd have no part of it. His Sarah wanted the play to go her way. It took her a moment to free his cock. The engorged flesh clung in the material but she managed. She licked her full lips then licked the head of his cock, rubbing the tip of her tongue along the sensitive underside. She brought one hand beneath his balls squeezing them gently before running her tongue to his sack. "Oh, Sarah." She went back to the head and wrapped her lips around him, drawing his shaft between those full lips. The length disappeared down her throat and reappeared. She sucked the dewy tip then brought him back down her throat. He watched her, forced by the action, the wickedness of that mouth and those lovely breasts. "You might want to stop that." Liking groaned as Sarah shook her head no with him in her mouth. Her eyes watched him. She felt his load rising, she had to. Her mouth gripped him, then she brought him back into her throat as far as she could take him. In and out, faster as her tongue lapped and he drew closer to release. Her hand squeezed his shaft, making sure all of him was being touched. He tried to tell her that he was coming but his words were lost in a silent cry as his release filled her. She kept him in her mouth, sucking him dry. He bent back, letting his body surrender to her touch. His cock pulsed against her hungry mouth. Finally those soft lips released him, giving him a last lick as she pulled away. "How's that?” she asked as she got off her knees. Liking looked at her. She didn't cover her breasts but let the edge of the dress poke them out, showing them at their fullest. She turned, started to walk away, as if their lovemaking was finished. "My siren, this isn't over."
He stood, not fastening his pants. He wanted her to see that he was still able to satisfy her. His erection hadn't diminished. In fact, the idea of making her succumb made him more aroused. That had been her plan, to satisfy him and go to sleep. Such things would never do. "You want more?” She ran her fingers over her breasts. “Really? I would think that you were spent." Want pulsed through his body. He couldn't think, only feel raging emotions brought out by this beautiful woman. He went forward and pushed Sarah onto the bed. In one motion, he jerked off her dress and dropped it on the floor. There she was naked, white skin on the covers. Her gentle curves taunted him, begging for his attention. "Aren't you going to take off your pants?" "You had your way, now it's my turn." He pulled the lacings from his sliced shirt and climbed on top of her. She fought a little but he knew her heart and she loved the idea of him taking control. The unta showed him the secret fantasies that drifted through her mind while they made love and he intended to fulfill all her fantasies, spoken or not. He tied both her hands to the wooden posts. "What are you doing?" She knew what he was doing. Sarah felt his desire and he knew hers. Still, the game was interesting. During their lives, they would make love for centuries, in every conceivable position. It would be these early awkward times he'd treasure most of all, as they learned each other, when everything was forbidden and exploratory. "I'm learning you. Wait just a minute." Liking looked around the room and found some soft cloth in a basket in the corner. He took a scrap and went back to the bed. He dangled the cloth over her naked body, letting it brush against her breasts. He trailed it lower, tickling her abdomen and hips. When he reached her thighs, she jerked them together, blocking her sex from his assault on her senses. He trailed the cloth to her feet and back up her body, leisurely stimulating every nerve before deciding to mimic the action with his mouth. He touched her with just his lip. Down her neck and collarbone, caressing her petal soft skin. He made sure not to touch her with his hands. His resolve faltered when his lips reached her breasts. He longed to bring the tips into his mouth but decided to wait. He skimmed her hip bones and the tops of her thighs. She opened her legs. This time he ran his hands between her thighs, opening her body wider to him. He wanted everything to be exposed, vulnerable to his teases. The act heightened her arousal, until her body hummed with desire and power. Their bond brought her physical pleasure into his mind, mixing with his own. Liking knew what she wanted. Her glistening slit practically begged to be tasted, but not yet. His lips slipped over her inner thighs, coming so close to her starving center but never touching. She squirmed. He liked watching her move yet still be unable to stop his exploits. He breathed on her inner thighs, bringing his mouth close to her mound, his hot breath eliciting more squirming and soft moans. He was careful not to actually touch, letting his breath caress her sensitive regions. She tried to bring her thighs together, but his body kept her open, so exposed, so delicious. He didn't know how much longer he could keep up this torture, for both of them. He lowered his mouth to tickle the small curled hairs. Her hips bucked toward his mouth. He went to her slit and spread her lips. She was at his mercy, unable to stop him. Like a song in the back of his mind, he felt her and she loved his control as much as he did.
It was time to change the rules of this game. He wanted to make her come, to see how many times he could make her cry out his name. His desire grew as he manipulated her sweet mound. He took her pink bud in his lips, flicking it with his tongue making her reel. She came almost immediately, straining against the ties and bucking while moaning softly. Her thighs pressed around him. He loved being surrounded by her flesh. She had one release, but he wanted more. Liking didn't give her body a chance to recover and drove his tongue into her, tasting the sweet nectar that reminded him a little of the ocean. "Please,” she pleaded trying to move her mound away from his mouth. “Put your cock inside me." With gentle pressure, he pressed his tongue against the bud again and she jumped, squirmed. He loved the way she responded, her thighs trembling around him while her back arched. "I can't handle much more,” she groaned. She was going to have to handle many more. He spread her open, lapping her folds, nipping, listening to her breathing growing faster. It only took a moment more before her next release. This one was more intense, and he thought she'd break the ties. Liking climbed up her body, nibbling at her hardened nipples. She was beautiful with flushed skin slightly moist from her pleasure. He sucked her breast as he slid a finger into her hot mound. He added another finger, and to his surprise, she came again. The thought of her third release was too much. He had to slip inside her, let her really surround his body. Two fingers weren't enough; he wanted to stretch her to the breaking point. With a tilt of his hips, his erection was at her opening. She gasped as he entered, hot juices surrounding his cock while her hips bucked, bringing him deeper. He wouldn't be gentle this time. He slid his hands next to her then started in and out, deeper and harder with each thrust. She cried out causing his body to go faster. "So tight,” he managed as he pounded. Sarah's head lolled back as every muscle quivered and her body exploded in a sexy moan. He'd brought her over the edge again and had to follow. Those creamy thighs forced his body deeper and he spilled his seed. "I love you, Sarah.” He eased off her, untying her restraints. Fatigued, he rolled her onto his body. “I love you.” He glanced over, but she'd already fallen asleep. **** Lynn watched them from the window. They didn't notice her eyes flaring silver outside the glass. Liking had been too busy with his little whore, playing house as if they belonged together. She extended one hand, changing it into a claw. It would be easy to break into the cabin and destroy the occupants. They deserved it for taking her children. Liking had no right to them. He was nothing but the donor, a breeder used for the only thing he'd done well. They'd created life together, but it had been hers to carry and bring into the world. As a war bird, she could take the sleeping couple easily, shredding them on her claws. One turn of her beak would rip apart the whore. She'd do it while Liking watched. That would teach him his place. She started to shift when a shrill noise inside the cabin caught her attention. The female jumped up and slid on a sleep shirt. She went to the curtained off section of the room and brought out Celia. The little
girl's black wings fluttered as the woman held the baby to her chest. With Celia cradled in her arms, she went to a cabinet and pulled out a small pitcher then proceeded to fill a water bladder. A moment later, Celia was happily drinking. Liking helped her get it ready, then left when another child cried, followed by the third. He hadn't killed the boy? She'd never imagined Liking defying her. Maybe asking him to destroy the child had been the turning point for them. No, the end would've come earlier had she not been pregnant. His stay had been for them, never her. She'd always known it, but couldn't face it until now. Even Elise seemed content. The whore had both girls while Liking held his son. They'd rigged one bladder where both of her daughters could drink. The boy fed on one of his own. Liking sat close to the woman, looking at her with pure love. Although none of the children resembled the woman, they'd clearly created a family. A sharp bit of pain cut through her heart. That woman loved those children and Lynn had to admit that she'd only truly cared for Elise. Was it so wrong? She supposed it was. Elise was the only babe who resembled her. How could this woman love children so different from her? Lynn didn't like the answer echoing through her mind. Maybe she was a better woman. Lynn shifted her hand back to normal. It hurt to be alone. She'd always thought Liking would leave her, but she'd have Elise. It never occurred to her that Liking would take the children. Not many men would take on the burden of three babies. He probably wouldn't have attempted it, except for that whore. She glanced back through the window. It would be easy enough to take them back, rip the babes from their arms, but she couldn't do it. Even from outside the glass, Lynn could sense the love in that little cabin. It was a deep emotion and one her children deserved to know. In the darkness, tears filled Lynn's eyes. She created wings, altering her back to form large ones like a bat that lifted her from the ground. Below she heard the door to the cabin open. "Lynn?" Liking. She didn't turn around. Seeing Liking would only make things worse and what could she say. Part of her wanted to yell at him, hit, and tear him to bits. None of that would help though. "Do you love her Liking?” she called out. "Stop. Let's talk about this.” He came closer. “We need to talk about this. We need to talk about the children." He wanted to talk. What did he have to say? Everything she cared about was taken away. It wasn't fair. She was alone and he had a new mate and children. Bitterness filled Lynn's heart. "Answer the question. Do you love her?" Liking caught up to her. It had been difficult for him to live with her she knew. Shifters didn't keep mates around, or any men unless it was time to breed, so she had no knowledge of a standard family. Lynn hadn't wanted to be alone, especially with all of her kind gone, murdered by the flyers. She'd clung to Liking, wanting company, needing someone to talk to.
"Sarah is my unta. I found her the day you sent me to destroy our son.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “She agreed to take him so he wouldn't die in the woods. She loved him regardless of who or what he was." "After our last argument, you thought she would be better to raise all of our children?" "You never loved Faller or Celia. I didn't think it was right for Elise not to know her siblings.” He shrugged. “I don't want to give up my children, but maybe you could help raise Elise. I know you care for her. I'm worried...” He stopped speaking. "Worried about what?" "If Elise has any flyer qualities, then you won't love her either. Let's face it. You never wanted a real family, one with positives and negatives. All you wanted was another tribe." "That's not true. I wanted someone to love me.” She'd never heard so much emotion in her voice. It was shameful. “Elise loved me." "Then visit her. I will keep the family here and you can visit her as long as you promise not to hurt Celia or Faller." It seemed Liking had given this a great deal of thought. He was like that, always thinking and planning. Perhaps he'd considered stealing her children from the moment she'd announced her conception. She'd put nothing past him at this point. "No.” Numb, strange sensations filled her mind, trying to replace the pain. “I don't care for anyone.” She looked at Liking. “Don't ever come near me again or I will destroy you." Liking seemed to take the threat seriously. He didn't follow when she rose higher in the sky. Why would he go after her? In their last fight, she'd tried her best to kill him. She supposed Liking had been gentle with her, trying not to burn her. He knew how sensitive her skin was to fire after the flyer battle. Funny, she'd never thought about being gentle with him. "I'll have my revenge, my family.” She didn't know how she'd manage it, but she wanted her family back and that included Liking.
Chapter Eight Cordin had missed Marabeth's touch. When her hand swept over his body, her spell broke and their bond flowed through, unlocking her mind and emotions to him. The sensation brought tears to his eyes. "I have missed you, Marabeth." "As I have you." Marabeth straddled him, legs wrapped around his bound body. She dipped her head to kiss him, making him long for the wild woman he knew he couldn't keep. It wasn't the fact that she was a witch, but the truth of her loyalties to Tara. "You still hate my sister?” She leaned back. “After all this time?" The unta had betrayed his thoughts. He couldn't pull it back and there was no way to ease the blow that circled in his mind. Part of him wished Tara were dead. Marabeth might never accept her place as his bride but at least his world would be safe a bit longer. Something else came through as the unta united them beyond words. Marabeth feared her sister. Down deep she understood the evil coursing through Tara. Blood bound them as sisters but their ideas were far from one. "I'm sorry but I do hate someone who would take you from me and destroy the world I live in. Just because she's your sister, doesn't change anything." Marabeth slid her head onto Cordin's shoulder. He couldn't hold her. The vines kept him tied to the tree but having her leaning against him was the most wonderful sensation, maybe even better than making love. He'd thought she was going to take him, ride him while he was bound to the tree. She'd touched him, started to explore, but stopped. Marabeth felt the weight of so many troubles hanging on her shoulder and when their unta re-ignited, she couldn't hide her worries from him or herself. "I know. She wants to take over the world with creatures made from night and shadow. They're horrible. I can almost feel the darker bits of life coming off from them. They only know lust and hate.” She sighed. “I guess they would make fine soldiers if she ever finished mating with them." "Untie me and we'll go away together. Without the star, she can do no harm." The thought came through before she spoke. Marabeth never really believed Cordin would stay with her, but Tara had gone mad. Even she had realized this hard truth. Conjuring creatures not quite alive was horror and blasphemed the creator. Witches may not believe in much, other than their power, but all recognized a creator. Before Marabeth had the chance to answer, the air whirled around them and Tara rose into the tree. From her viewpoint, it must've looked like Marabeth had trapped him for her. "Good work, Marabeth. Does he have the star?" Marabeth glanced up and a moment of regret passed over her lovely features. “I haven't found it yet. Are you done with those things?"
The air smelled strange when Tara came near. It was more than the musk of mating but something darker, like rot. It took Cordin a moment to recognize the scent, then the awful thought came to him. The void smelled like that. "Those things will make humans and flyers alike bow to us. We will no longer fear either of them. Sister, can't you see it? We can live in mansions made from their bones, if we wish. There will be no human coming in the night to burn us, or flyers to hinder our way." "Flyers have never bothered witches.” Cordin realized that he shouldn't have spoken but implying that flyers treated others as humans would, was insulting. "Everyone bothers the witches. We are the last of the old blood. Just because we're immortal doesn't mean that we will last forever. Not aging isn't the same as not dying. If we don't raise protection, one of you bastard breeds will finish us.” She touched Cordin's black hair. “Bring him sister. Bind his hands together instead of to the tree. Eventually he will talk and tell us where he hid the star." **** Lynn had learned a lot tonight, keeping out of sight and watching. She'd seen Marabeth with Cordin, and she'd also seen where Cordin had hidden that awful star. The star could kill her instantly. For all Tara's ramblings, Lynn understood her predicament. At least Tara and Marabeth had each other. Lynn had no one, and her breeding cycle wouldn't begin again for many years. If she died before breeding, the shifter line would be over. Well, there was Elise. One of her daughters was at least a shifter but who knows what damage being raised by a flyer would do. Lynn shifted from the bat she'd been when she listened to the witches, into her regular form plus wings. There in the tree's leaves sat the star. What a grand name for a nasty dagger sent to earth to kill shifters. Shifters had been the creator's greatest life form until they'd abused their powers. They were really playful pranksters, but causing a war between the humans and flyers was frowned on, hence the gift dropped from heaven. Even a tiny cut from that cursed blade would destroy her. She flew lower and scraped a heavy section of bark from the trunk. Lynn then rose up the tree and scooted the star deeper into the leaves using bark. Being this close to the star made her nervous but she couldn't let anyone else have this. Shifters were hard to kill without this wicked blade. Hopefully, the witches wouldn't find it until she figured out what to do next. Lynn wasn't sure where to go now. The cave was her home but she really didn't want to look at that empty nest. She supposed it would do. Maybe tomorrow she'd head out and make a new home. Before the war, the shifters lived along the ridge near the flyers. She might return there. Some bits of her past might remain where her tribe had lived. She missed them. Of course if Liking came to his senses, he might return to their home. She took flight, heading back to the empty cave she'd shared with Liking. Memories were there but she'd have to deal with them some time. She supposed there was a lot of time for her. Eternity would be very long staring at those stone walls. "I don't want to be alone." The night seemed very empty as she flew beneath the stars. There was always the chance she could shift and find new people to live with. An animal didn't exist that her body couldn't imitate, and that included humans and flyers. It could get tricky over time but she could hide her identity until she could bear more children. She'd mate with a human this time. Their bloodline wasn't as domineering as flyers.
Lynn didn't go to the human city though. She went back to her cave and the empty nest with remnants of her children's belongings surrounding her. Liking hadn't taken his things. His knife and spare boots were along the wall. Hanging from the shelf was a cloak he used when storms came. She took it down and used it for a blanket. It carried his scent. Such a thing should've brought her anger. Instead she found solace in the strangely woven material. "You shouldn't have left." She cuddled beneath it, hugging herself in the bed he'd made her. It reminded her of a bird's nest with leaves for padding. She'd rejected so many of his flyer ways. She'd never meant to reject him though. Her intent had only been to keep the shifter race alive, their ways, their ideas. "Were the shifter traditions so damn wonderful?" At the moment, she didn't think so. Such a strict uncaring discipline had caused the end of her sisters. Who knows how many babes they had killed trying to keep the line pure. Lynn gripped the cloak and let the tears flow again. So much pain came through her, she wondered if she might die from it. During the night, she prayed she would.
Chapter Nine Liking sat on the porch of the cabin, wondering what to do next. Night was on them but the darkness brought no peace. Cordin was in danger and the shifter had found Liking's new home. The shifter, the mother of his children was a better description but after her hate, it was easier to think of her in the old derogatory terms he'd grown up with. She was dangerous. Sarah had been singing moments before. He loved the way she entertained the babies. Her love was pure. He wished he knew more about sirens. The surprising things she'd done with water and song were incredible. It made him wonder what else she could do. She was his unta, so he supposed it didn't really matter. The infatuation stemmed from their connection. Their minds were tightly linked and it was in that beauty, he wanted to dig deeper. Inside he heard her voice. She wasn't singing this time but speaking. He crept to the window and saw her reading to the babies. Only Celia seemed to take interest, watching with wide eyes. He couldn't see Elise's face from this angle but Faller had fallen back asleep. Sarah looked up and saw him through the glass. Her bright smile forced him to do the same. Liking opened the door and took Faller from her, laying him in his crib. Sarah followed with Elise. Celia wasn't asleep yet but close, and was easy to set into her crib. "Do you feel like talking yet?” Sarah didn't wait for him to answer. “You never told me what Lynn said about the babies." "She's leaving us alone but I don't trust her." "No mother would abandon her children. She'll be back for them.” Sarah clutched her dress at her heart. “I won't let her take them, not if she's going to hurt them." Liking kissed her softly and felt his cock strain against his britches. He had no idea why Sarah had that constant affect on him. Every moment out of her body seemed too long. "I'll talk to Cordin. He'll be here before morning. We'll decide what to do from there.” He gave Sarah a long look, trying to ignore the desire she created. “What abilities do you possess?" "I don't understand what you mean.” She went to the kitchen and poured some water into a basin and began rinsing the day's dishes. “What abilities?" "What powers do you have that let's say, the humans don't?" "That's an odd question.” She thought a moment. “Why?" "I'm curious." She finished the dishes while holding a quizzical look on her face. Once she had them dried and put away, she went back to the table and sat with Liking. Her emotions bubbled into him. She wasn't confused but afraid of how much to tell him. His sweet Sarah was trying to hide something from him. "Humans are strange creatures. They contain much power but never discover it.” She tapped the center of her forehead. “Their ignorance weakens them but I imagine one day, they'll surpass us all." "You're avoiding the question."
Sarah smiled and touched his hair, running her fingers through the strands and down to his chest. Her nipples poked beneath the thin fabric covering them, and he imagined she had the same trouble keeping on topic as he had. "I have the power of water and song.” She tugged at her lip. “I also have seductive gifts. Generally, I think sirens are considered evil. I don't think we are. Overall, we are peaceful." "Flyers were once considered evil. I don't know why. Humans got this insane idea that we stole their souls or murdered them or some such nonsense. Even when we feed, no harm is done to the host. We only have to feed away from home so eventually, flyers stopped leaving home. It seemed like the best solution." "Lynn convinced you to leave home." She stood suddenly and walked to the curtained section, peeling back the cloth and gazing at the sleeping babes. She tried to hide it, but Liking felt jealousy roaring through her. "I think the babies have grown since I set them down. I don't believe it." Liking took the curtain from her hand and closed it. “Let's talk.” He led her back to the table. “There was a beautiful woman named Anzele. I cared for her deeply but she was half human and not considered good enough by my young arrogant standards. I married another." Sarah leaned forward, taking in every word. Her eyebrows were arched making her appear very serious. Liking hadn't seen her in such a state. Perhaps it was the earlier jealousy or a new bought brought on by his story. "Listen to me carefully,” continued Liking. “I've done some bad things in my life. If we go to the village, you need to know.” He'd committed so many sins, he wasn't sure where to begin. “Anyway, I encouraged another man to pursue Anzele as a wife in the hopes that I could share his fortune.” He paused and watched her take in the statement, then saw disgust wash over her. Trying to arrange a marriage so he could seduce the new bride wasn't noble and the facts of his life shamed him. “Dahi convinced Anzele's mother to give him Anzele. She wouldn't be so easily swayed. She wanted to marry for love. For this crime she was banished from the village. Unfortunately, she went to a section occupied by what we called the void. Her immortal life force fed it. Her being there could've destroyed the world." "What happened?" "Anzele found love with a special mortal who risked everything to be with her. In exchange for equality, he killed the void. The thing that made it live, its heart, still exists. Some witches have it. The thing looks like a double-edged dagger but fell from heaven. Because of its origin, it is called a star. It makes terrible things." He didn't go into detail on how the void had possessed him or how he'd gathered bits to poison Anzele with. He'd confessed enough. At the time he'd felt just in overstepping his duties to the village. Now he saw the facts of his corruption. "What does this have to do with us?" She was sensing a point to the story. There was, but he didn't want harm to come to Lynn, unless it was for the children. No matter her crimes, he'd always care for her. There was no reason in it. He supposed the emotion came from the children she'd given him. "Legend had it that a great war happened between the flyers and humans. I believe the shape shifters,
Lynn's people, fueled this war. The star was sent from the creator to rid the world of shifters, but humans and flyers died over the magical dagger. That's what nearly destroyed the world. The two halves of the creator were fighting and all because of the demon shifters." "So the dagger the witches have, could kill Lynn?" "Even a small cut would destroy her." Sarah watched him for the longest time. Those ocean colored eyes stared into his until he thought he'd go crazy. She was choosing her words while trying to gauge his ties to the mother of his children. "You don't want her harmed unless there's no other way?” She leaned back in her seat and put her hands on the table. For a moment her fingers wrestled, then turned into fists. "Can you understand?" Her hands relaxed. “Yes. I suppose but if she threatens me or those children, I will retaliate.” Her voice sounded too angry to come from that mouth. “Now I have to know something. Do you still care for this Anzele?" "I care for her and her husband. They are fine flyers. Any romantic intentions I had are long gone." She leaned over and kissed him. Nothing could be better than her lips, her hands. Nothing was better than Sarah. When the kiss broke, he felt a little loss, then that mischievous grin covered her face. "Would you like to see something I can do?" He nodded. After taking a few steps back, she began singing. It was a beautiful song but not what he had in mind. Then her voice grew a little lower. He couldn't understand the words to the song, but there was a seductive edge. The language was foreign but after another second, he realized what she was doing. The sound took on weight. He felt it like a breeze traveling over his skin. The longer she sang, the more complete the contact. It crept beneath the edge of his clothes with invisible fingers tickling his flesh. He took a step back but the sound surrounded him. The touch reached through his clothing, touching parts of him while never disturbing the fabric. "Sarah?" She never answered him, only sang. The sensation became more intense. Soon thousands of invisible fingers were petting his cock, cupping his balls, creeping over his chest and abdomen, no part was free from her exploits. Even his ass was corrupted by song. The fingers were amazing, teasing him in glorious ways he'd never experienced. Then, as if riding on song, she floated to him. Her shirt was gone, hair flowing back from her naked body. She added her touch to the thousand of others. He was hardly aware of her releasing his pants and them falling from his hips. The song noticed, gripping the shaft as Sarah wrapped those sleek thighs around him, and slid him inside her body. The combination made pleasure dance over his skin. The touch kept its pressure around his balls and ass. He filled his hands with her body, pulling her against him, sheathing him in her hot folds. He couldn't help driving into Sarah as she moved with him, suspended on his hands and that song. He managed to stay standing as the song reacted to their movement, lapping beneath his sack and along his cheeks. He slid their bodies together harder. In and out, faster with the rhythm, as her voice shook with the approaching climax, the touch squeezed, slid into him in a twinge of surprising pleasure.
"Don't stop,” she cried and the touch vibrated around him and inside. He hadn't been aware that he had stopped but the diversion nearly broke him. Liking started the motion again, slamming her against his body. He couldn't stop the coming explosion.
Chapter Ten Lynn had a fitful night's sleep. It was early afternoon but she'd rested little. At first she reached for Liking, then sat up startled when there were no sounds of her children in the cave. The reality of what had happened crashed down on her. "They've all gone." She'd thought it was a terrible nightmare, but she was alone. The strength left her and Lynn slid from the bed to the floor of the cave. There on the dirt, the pain of what had happened fled to the rock and earth. In return, the ground eased her, brought her some comfort in her despair. The emotion drained from her, leaving a cold emptiness that was a welcome diversion from pain. "I am a shifter. I am part of this earth." Before the war with the flyers, shifters lived in caves, growing strong from the contact in the ground. She'd seen the oldest of her tribe raise magic from the earth, learn the future, and even find new forms to shift into. It had been too long since she'd practiced the old ways. The exercises of her youth frightened Liking, so she'd put them aside. "I have always been a shifter." It was instinct that caused her to reject the boy baby. He will grow strange. Male shifters, even a flyer mix, could never grow into a real life. The forces in him will cause his death; tear him apart from the inside out. Only females can manage the great power in their shifter blood. Celia was deformed. It wasn't so wrong to try to make her look normal. Of course, Liking thought wings were normal, even a preferred trait. It was another thing he'd been mistaken about. Men were only useful for breeding. Actually living with one was a ridiculous notion. Shifters didn't make their beds with animals and keeping a man in the house was the equivalent. There was no point in listening to his ideas of beauty. Liking was inferior. That left Elise, her perfect baby, a miracle from a mutt union. Lynn would take that baby back. The world shouldn't be without shifters and if Liking raised the baby as a flyer, her race would die all the same. Flyers didn't understand true magic, only their little fire, wind, and ice conjuring. They were low-grade creatures, managing a few elements. Lynn closed her eyes and tried to feel the beat in the earth. That thing that lived deep in the dirt where the heat grew and the core drove the seasons that fed these weaker things. Real power lived there. Once she'd regained her power, Liking would beg to be in her bed again. Perhaps she'd let him when the breeding time came again. He'd created at least one decent child. It would be fitting for him to leave that other woman and worship her. Shifters should be worshiped. They were once great in the land, feared and loved. Those times would return. She wouldn't die alone in this cave. Her people were gone. The burden of her race lay in her. She couldn't fail. Slowly, she'd repopulate the world and teach these other things where their loyalties should lie. She was the last of a great race, far more powerful than anything that had existed before or since. "I'll show those flyers." The only reason they'd won the battle for the star was their numbers. They had great numbers against ten, the last ten shifters of the world. The shifters had fought bravely but there was no stopping that many.
"I wish I could create more shifters, but I won't be able to breed for so long." She let her mind drift, creeping into the rock below. The magic would come to her and strength. There was a way to solve her dire situation. She couldn't birth enough. Breeding season only came every five or ten years. As she tried to push the problem out of her mind, the lower levels answered her. There are other ways. **** The sun rose, burning away the morning chill. Liking couldn't keep his eyes from the sky, watching for his old friend. It was amazing Cordin had remained his friend through so many mistakes and lies, but he had. Cordin was truly good and Liking couldn't stand the thought of harm coming to him. "Cordin should've been back by now.” Liking stood on the porch with Sarah by his side. The children played at his feet. “I fear for him." "Go look for him." Liking looked down at Sarah, who was sitting with the children. It amazed him at their rapid growth. Overnight they'd gained the ability to sit up and even managed some awkward steps. "Are you sure you'll be safe alone?" "Oh Liking, look,” called Sarah excitedly. He glanced at the children again. This time Celia wasn't visible. Faller sat with Elise and a tiny version of Sarah sat on his wife's lap. Celia had learned to shape shift and had chosen Sarah to imitate. The baby hadn't changed size. Perhaps she couldn't manage that yet. She had done a miraculous job of looking exactly like Sarah, even if it were a smaller dimension. Liking got down on his knees and held his arms out to Celia. The baby laughed, rubbed her little face on Sarah, then got up and fell into Liking's arms. He tickled her while kissing her face. As the baby laughed, she changed back to the black winged and equally dark body. "Mmmmmmmmmmmm,” Celia muttered, stringing the m's along in a long single sound. “Mmmm." "She's only five days old and already talking.” Liking hugged her tightly. “Say daddy." "Mmmmda.” Celia smiled brightly. “Mmmmda." "No. Say daddy, please?" "Peas peas peas peas." "That's close enough.” He kissed her again. Elise must've noticed her sister getting all the attention and shifted. Instead of looking like Sarah, she grew large black wings, and appeared like Celia. Faller squished his eyes and wrinkled his nose, looking like he had to poop. After a moment, he kicked his feet and cried. It seems his son had not gained the ability to shift. It didn't matter. Liking pulled the three into his arms. "My children."
He kissed them all. Celia and Elise batted at his head with their wings, then laughed when he tried to protect himself. Faller was still upset with his current form and began kicking again. Doing such on Liking's lap wasn't a good idea. The boy soundly kicked Liking in the balls, causing him to yelp in pain and all three children to laugh. "Sarah, a hand please." Sarah scooted forward, wadding up her dress in the process. She promptly pulled Faller from Liking's lap. She hadn't laughed but there was a naughty grin on her lips. Liking handed her both girls and shook one finger at the four of them. "Arah,” called Celia. Elise mimicked, “Sarah,” managing to pronounce the S more clearly than her sister. Faller pressed his lips together and blew air, sounding much like an animal. He followed it by sticking his tongue out at each of his sisters, who looked at him but said Sarah's name again. After a moment, Faller tried again. “Da.” He stood up proudly and puffed out his chest. “Da da da da da." Liking grabbed Faller from Sarah and kissed his face repeatedly until the little boy screamed. He didn't care. The boy had nearly said daddy and it made the difficulties with Lynn vanish, if only temporarily. Both girls looked at Sarah then shifted to her form. Elise didn't quite get it right, leaving Celia's wings with the small version of Sarah. It was still an incredible thing to witness. "They're bonding with her." Liking jumped at the sound of Lynn's voice. Sarah clutched the children, holding all three close to her as Lynn descended from the sky and shifted into her regular black featureless form. Liking looked at the babies but none of them reached to Lynn. Instead, they clutched Sarah, as if knowing she'd protect them. "Liking, may we talk a moment?" He looked at Sarah, but she didn't make eye contact with him. Her focus was on Lynn. He'd never seen Sarah so angry. From the look on Lynn's face, both women would gladly fight before speaking to each other in a civil tone. "Certainly.” He pointed to the sky. “Let's speak away from my children." Lynn created wings but didn't take bird form. She flapped a few times before getting off the ground. Liking simply rose into the air. Being a wind tamer meant never relying on wings, no matter how beautiful they were. He followed Lynn into the air, noticing that she headed east, stopping a hundred yards from the cabin. There she dropped from the sky, choosing solid ground for their discussion. Liking followed, making sure to keep his distance. "What?” Liking kept his voice cold for fear of what this conversation had been intended. "I know I was never the best partner, but you have to admit that we had a good thing going for a while.” She pushed her long hair from her face and looked at him, the silver lining of her eyes were the only clear point.
"I'm sorry things ended so badly for you.” Liking took a step forward, then thought better of it and retreated. “I was willing to try to be a family until you rejected the babies. I never wanted to take the kids from you." "But you did." "What else did you expect me to do?" He thought about Faller. His little voice speaking for the first time, or the way he learned to walk so quickly. Lynn would have robbed him of those experiences, stolen his son away. Lynn's shoulders grew slack. “Would it have made a difference if I'd kept Anzele's form?" "It's not the form that is as important as the heart.” Liking didn't want to be cruel, but she was acting as if he'd cheated on her. None of this would've happened if she'd tried to be a mother to Faller. “I want my children, all of my children, to be loved. Not just the one who looks like you. Did you ever think another form could be beautiful?” His voice rose despite his fight to control it. “How did you even stomach sleeping with me?" "Don't try to act pitiful. I stopped my practices for you. There were just a few society laws I wanted to follow, and you go insane. There's nothing about the shifter life you liked. You hated the caves, the smell of dirt around you. You even hated me." "I hated the way you wanted to kill our child. If that's one of your laws, then I want no part of it." It was true that he'd hated living in that cave. He'd done it for Lynn. Her people loved to be surrounded by dirt and rock. He wanted open air, the scents of the forest. Ancient dirt held no fascination for him. What was he supposed to say to her? She would never understand him and he would never care for the same things as she. They had nothing in common, except their children. Well, he supposed that they both loved Elise. "Could you ever love me?" "What?” The question took him by surprise. The few times he'd been forced to answer for any love towards Lynn, he'd tried to be honest. It wasn't an easy thing. There were many forms of love and caring. Few, if any, Lynn understood. He didn't like where this was going. “I'll always care for you, but Sarah is my unta." "To hell with your unta.” Lynn balled her fists at her sides, then took a deep breath. “I want you back Liking. I want my family back. If I have to accept Celia, fine. I'll do that. For you, she can keep her wings." "I'm sorry, Lynn. It's too late for us." Liking supposed breaking up with any woman could be a dangerous thing, but ending the ties with a shifter could be deadly. He saw her skin ripple a moment before the change. It happened fast this time, like she'd been charged by some new energy. Her body lengthened, claws formed, as did the gruesome beak of a war bird. "Don't do this, Lynn.” That's all he got out before she charged. "Die you bastard."
It had been a long time since he'd practiced, but his skills were intact. Liking sent an updraft, catching Lynn as she caught flight to go after him and tumbled her up into a tree. He knew he couldn't be gentle. If she killed him, the children and Sarah would be next. With a tear in his eye, he caught the air around her on fire. He followed it with more wind, tangling her in the growth of the forest while her body burned. He couldn't watch her die though. It was time to go home to his family. The scent of singed feathers hung on the air as he took to the sky. He didn't look back. No matter what monster Lynn had become, he couldn't stand to see her hurting and fire was the worst way to go. She'd once told him that there was no worse pain than burning alive. It had been one of the few times they'd spoken openly, like friends. She described the battle he'd been in, where the flyers wiped out all of her race but her. To hear her version, the shifters were mighty and brave and dying by fire. They fell to the ground while their bodies burned. It hurt so much, according to Lynn. She said she never knew the moment she'd impacted with the ground. All she knew was heat and pain that had taken her from the sky. Liking started back to the cabin and thought of Cordin. His friend was very late. It was risky but he wanted to fly over the witches’ camp. Besides, he didn't want to face his children knowing that he'd killed their mother. He flew high, trying to hide in the clouds. Soon he was over the camp. An old fire smoked from below but he saw no sign of the witches, not even evidence that they'd been there. It seemed odd. A spell could be protecting the area but he dared not land to find out. He'd be an easy catch on the ground. The only thing he knew to do was churn the air below. He hid in a tree while he sent the gusts through the area, watching for anything out of place. The wind blew unhindered and only leaves and twigs scattered. There was nothing below him. He couldn't smell anything either, except the scent of burned feathers. That awful smoke seemed to have permanently contaminated his nose. As a last check, he rose high in the air and called to Cordin. There was no answer and no one came from the ground to get him. There was a slim chance that Cordin had hurried back to the flyer village instead of going to the cabin. He might've feared the witches following him. "Please be safe, Cordin.” Liking lingered a moment longer, wishing for some sign. “Please." Liking rose into the air and gave a last glance over his shoulder. There was nothing there. Part of him wanted to stay, just to make sure, but Sarah was at the cabin unprotected. If Lynn lived despite her wounds, she'd go after Sarah. There was always a chance that Sarah could be tougher than she appeared. She certainly had some amazing powers. Whether they had a combative side, he wasn't sure. He didn't want to risk finding out either.
Chapter Eleven Lynn managed to escape the flames and fly higher into the tree. Her feathers were burned, but she'd lived. If her skin weren't so sensitive to fire, she would've gone after Liking and destroyed him. He'd always have that over her. She hated flames, even heat from the sun bothered her. She shifted back to her regular form and sat on the branch. Her back hurt, but she couldn't see how badly she'd been burned this time. Those flyers loved to use fire against her kind. She touched the scar on her chest from the big battle before her kind were wiped out. It was amazing that it had healed. Shifters rarely scarred, injuries that severe usually killed. "Now what?” she whispered into the wind. Going after Sarah was an option. It sickened her to see the babies bonding with that creature. They impersonated Sarah. The first creature a baby mimicked was always the mother. She'd been replaced. Lynn saw where Liking had flown, towards the witches. A cold chill swept through her. He must be after the dagger to kill her. There would be no other reason to lurk near such vile creatures. He had to be traveling there to finish her off. She took to the sky, taking the form of a small raven. Getting into smaller forms was always more comfortable than changing into larger ones. Of course, she had no idea if shifters had true bones as flyers and humans had. She suspected, not. She'd seen slain humans with white protrusions and twisted limbs. The only shifter she'd seen mangled by attack had thick jelly surrounded by red muscle, and blood so red it appeared black. The jelly was so thick it seemed like gristle until Lynn looked closer. That was before she'd been scolded and the body wrapped for the pyre. Shifters could turn into small gnats or large war birds. It made no difference to most of them. The strengths and abilities of that form came most of the time. She couldn't change into a witch and gain magic, but sharp talons and wicked strength came every time she turned into the animal that carried them. The ability came from the planet, the dirt, the things that built life. That's why shifter power was the purest, although she'd never heard any one else admit to it. They were the most closely tied to creation, to the creator. That's what made them superior to the lower forms. Those forms had lost the connection. Ahead she saw Liking coming back towards her. He wouldn't recognize her in this form. He'd never been able to distinguish her unless he got a look at that damn scar. It was the only thing about her that couldn't really change. No matter what beast she became, the scar marked her. The flyers tarnished her. Lynn kept flying straight ahead, letting Liking pass. She didn't see the star on him but she didn't dare look for too long. With any luck, he hadn't convinced the witches to give it up, if they'd even found where Cordin had hidden it. She went straight then landed in the same tree she'd seen Cordin bound to. She let her body lengthen just enough to search the leaves with her talons. Thank the Creator, there it was. Not even the witches had its magic. Liking hadn't been here very long. If he'd been trying to negotiate favors from witches, he would've taken much longer. Perhaps something had sent him away. Curiosity got the better of her. Shrinking back to normal bird size, Lynn headed in the direction of the witches’ camp. At first it appeared empty. She circled once, then perched in a tree. A glimmer caught her eye. To just
anyone, it would appear like sunlight reflecting but Lynn knew better. Risking discovery, she flew down to the camp, swooping a few feet from the ground. From this height she saw the camp completely. The witches had put a spell over the land protecting them from aerial view. That explained Liking's quick retreat. His substandard eyes never saw them. She flew a few feet away, keeping low to see the extent of the camp. In the corner, bound, was Cordin. Marabeth had gotten her man after all. She sat near him, feeding him fruit from a Valler tree. If he hadn't been bound, it would look like paradise, his half naked woman draped across him, touching his body between bites of food. The sun was high in the sky but she didn't see Tara. Turning, she scanned the area. Beneath a tree, hidden in the shadows was Tara, nursing what looked to be no more than a shadow. It was one of those creatures she'd heard Marabeth speaking of. The thing died in daylight and not even magic and shadows could protect it. Tara had constructed a shelter, made with something similar to builder's cloth the flyers used. It was nothing fancy. Not even that, or the tree she'd strung the shelter together with could keep all light from her creation. It was probably the last creature she could make without the star to aid her magic. It was a pity really. Lynn had heard of creations from the darkness but this is the first she had seen. She'd thought the story nothing more than legend until today. According to the tales, they were used in battle two or three thousand years ago. Most didn't make it. One or two had been kept as servants but even those faded into oblivion, the complete darkness where they truly belonged. Her matriarch had told her the secret ingredient to life wasn't the same as what the Creator used. He could make life from dirt, water, and air. Living beings needed a more active component, blood. Very powerful blood. She was also warned that they'd take over the world if allowed to grow unchecked. Hmm. I wonder what would happen... She let the thought trail away. If she were going to attempt anything, then she'd have to retrieve the star. No shifter had ever touched the star and lived to speak of it. To feel its blade would mean certain death. Still, she needed that thing in her care, not near these whores. The campsite held little to help her, then she noticed a pouch beneath the tree near the dying shadow. Getting the sack would be tricky, but it was the only way to get the dagger to a safe place. Lynn went to the tree, hiding above, as Tara mourned her dying creature. It faded, becoming light enough where Lynn could see through it, then it sank into the ground like water. Tara tried to raise it again but there was no hope. "It's gone Marabeth. It's dead." Marabeth looked over from her spot on Cordin. “He was never really alive.” She wiped his chin then scooted off him. “The dagger is gone. Let's release Cordin and go back to our lives. This has been one long failure." "No. We can't release him. He knows where the dagger is." She stood and approached Tara. “I already told you, he didn't have the dagger when I saw him in the tree. He was looking for it. That means someone else snuck into our camp and took it while you were being humped by some monsters." "They weren't monsters.” Tara ran to her sister, gripping her by the shoulders. “He cared. They both
cared." While the sisters quarreled, Lynn scooped up the pouch and flew high above the trees. No one noticed. She saw no witches flying from behind and thought it safe to retrieve the dagger. She returned to the spot where it was hidden. Shifting back to human form, she opened the pouch and held it below the dagger. A shake or two of the branch, and a gentle push from a twig, caused the dagger to fall. It landed with a swish in the pouch. The point caught the fabric, cutting a small hole in the bottom. It would hold it and, as long as she kept the bag away from her, she could get it far away from here. Lynn shifted to a larger bird and started to the air when the tree reached for her. Below were the witches, Tara and Marabeth. They had spotted her after all. Damn, she'd forgotten that she couldn't see them from the air. Once they made it from camp, the spell center, she could see their bright red hair and whore clothes. They probably followed her from the first moment she'd grabbed the pouch. She'd thought she'd gone unnoticed and instead, had led them to the dagger. "Shifter!” screamed Tara. The witch pulled energy from the ground. Lynn felt the change, like the sucking of air. All at once Tara pushed forward forcing Lynn to dodge the barrage of stones and sticks hurtling towards her. "Witch,” Lynn sneered. The safest form was a war bird. Lynn shifted quickly, clutching the pouch in one talon. She soared higher, then turned, diving down with claws splayed. Marabeth jumped to the side, diving into the underbrush. Tara stood in an attack stance. She was as arrogant as the first time Lynn fought her. Slashing the air, Lynn aimed for the witch, catching tufts of hair as the woman swerved to the side. Lynn felt the air change behind her. The witch was conjuring again; more sticks and stones to come. Lynn expected another annoying onslaught. Tara surprised her. The trees above, closed in. Lynn stopped, but her wing painfully nicked a side tree. She turned, aiming back at the ground. This time she'd spear that witch on her razor sharp beak. Lynn swooped low, bringing her head down. She wanted to hit Tara in the soft abdomen, then rip her half naked body apart. The taste of blood and flesh would satiate her appetites. Apparently, her attack was too obvious. Tara broke a tree as Lynn's wings touched the dirt. There wasn't time to get out of the way. Lynn tried, rolling as the bark scraped her limbs. Pain shot through her back as flesh tore away, scraping the fresh burns. At the last second she shifted, shrinking to a butterfly to save her life before the huge tree squished her beneath its trunk. The only problem was that a butterfly couldn't hold a pouch with a heavy dagger. Lynn had to drop her prize, flying high, and then turning to confront Tara. The witch was fast though. Before Lynn could swoop back down, Tara had the dagger, holding it by the short handle. One touch of its blade would kill Lynn, so she flew. She'd failed, not only unable to retrieve the star but giving the enemy a weapon. "This isn't finished, Witch." "Come down here and it will be, Shifter." Let that thing have victory over this battle. Lynn knew what she had to do, but first darkness would need to fall and when the world stilled, she would have her vengeance. **** Marabeth watched Tara waving the blade at Lynn. When the shifter had gone, her sister kissed the
blade, reverently, and slid it into the pouch. It sickened Marabeth. Power drove Tara while Cordin sat bound, patiently waiting for his chance to do an act of good. She didn't know when things had gotten so out of balance. Witches weren't supposed to act like this. The love of power should be joined with the world around them, not for individual lusts. "You're going to make more of those men tonight?” asked Marabeth. "Many more.” Tara hugged the pouch with the doubled edged blade to her chest, clutching it as if it were more precious than anything. “Many more.” She licked her lips and Marabeth gagged. "And you'll mate with those creatures again?" "Many times.” Her hand slid to the shaft, gripping it. “Maybe this time I can really make them live.” She looked at Marabeth. “Together we can raise them." Tara watched her sister a moment, the saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth. If ever a woman was possessed, Tara had certainly crossed that line. Even the night demons would be impressed with the hold the star had over her. This wasn't the life Marabeth wanted. She loved her sister but, if she were so easily pacified with dark creatures, not of heart and soul, but form that filled her, then Marabeth didn't need to stay. She'd given up everything, even the love of her immortal life for her sister, the same sister who easily tossed everything to the side for sexual gratification. "Tara, I will help you conjure one last time. When we are finished, I will leave to go to the flyer village with Cordin. I am going to make my life with him." Marabeth turned, heading back to the camp and the one person who knew right from wrong, even when it cost him their bond. Cordin never stopped believing in truth and no matter what Marabeth had done, Cordin always loved her. They had no secrets. Cordin knew everything about Tara and he still loved her. Unta or not, that was impressive. She felt Tara's hand fall on her shoulder, turning her. She looked at Tara, staring into those cold black eyes. Tara was the eldest and by all rights, charge of her. There was a time to cast those things away and birth order could no longer rule. "Little sister, you won't be going anywhere. I am the eldest and I say no sister will mate with a flyer." Marabeth smiled. She'd hidden much power from her sister, assuming that Tara had done the same. Perhaps it was time to see who had grown into the better witch. With a thought, she pushed Tara to the ground. Marabeth moved to stand above her, staring down at Tara. Today could be her death. Even facing the abyss would be better than watching Tara destroy everything around them. Tara sent out power that moved Marabeth's feet off the ground. With a stabilizing force, Marabeth was fine, hardly stumbling. It wasn't Tara's best efforts, but after days of wasting power on shadow lovers, Marabeth had hoped her elder was diminished. "Don't make me hurt you Tara. It is time that I lived my life. I've devoted too much of it for your foolish quests." "Foolish! It's that flyer. He's corrupted your thoughts. You were a different witch before him.” Tara
stood, swiping at the dust on her dress. “Maybe I should kill him." "I am a different witch, and I am thankful for that. Believe me Tara, if you hurt him, I will destroy you." "Then free him." "Not yet. If I free him, he will take the star and leave. I want to leave you with something, even abominations that will die with the sun. At least they'll keep you busy tonight while we make our way over the mountains." She was still afraid of Tara. Maybe it was the years of taking her abuse, or her being the eldest. Either way, she wanted something to keep Tara busy while they flew to the safety of the flyer village. Too many things could happen in a night sky and Tara was capable of anything. She also knew that Tara wouldn't try much before the conjuring. Tara needed Marabeth's power to make the spell. That meant she wouldn't try many of her tricks. Even with lessened strength, her sister could try to bash Marabeth's head or summon a beast to devour her, but Marabeth was necessary. After the spell was made, when the creatures started rising, Marabeth would take Cordin and run. Before Tara finished copulating, they'd be safe. "Let's don't spend our last hours together fighting. I will help you one last time, then our ties are done. Don't challenge me or I won't help you tonight."
Chapter Twelve Liking watched the sunset, letting the dinner Sarah had prepared digest. The night was almost on them and Cordin hadn't come back. Even if he had been chased, surely he would've returned to tell Liking what had happened. "They're sleeping again.” Sarah stepped to the porch of the cabin and shut the door behind her. “I've never seen children sleep so much. I do think that if I stood there long enough, I could watch them grow. They're so tall." "You are very good with them." She walked over and sat on the fallen log next to Liking. Her hair was mussed, and a few stains marked her clothing, but to Liking she never looked more beautiful. Three children had been forced upon her, but she hadn't complained once. Deep inside he knew that she considered them a gift not a burden. "Sure, you think I'm good with them now. When they start shifting and I can't tell them apart, you won't be so impressed." "How about when they start flying?" "Oh, I hadn't considered that.” She smacked the palm of her hand against her head. “I can't fly, only levitate a few feet off the ground. How will I catch them?" "We'll worry about that later. Besides, they'll listen to you." Liking wrapped his arm around her. He hadn't told her about Lynn, but she had sensed it. When he'd gotten back home, she'd stayed quiet, and held a strange reverence whenever she looked at Elise. He supposed Elise was the last of their line, if Lynn had really died. He didn't know for certain. "You're troubled, but I can't tell why." He looked at Sarah. She'd so freely accepted the unta that he forgot how clearly the emotions must enter her. He was deeply troubled but didn't really know what to say. Lynn bothered him but something heavier clung in the air. He had no gifts of premonition but he could swear something terrible was getting ready to be unleashed upon the world. "I just need something to keep me busy." **** The last of the sun's rays vanished, bathing the world in darkness. Lynn waited, staring at the sky before flying back to the witch camp. She knew what she had to do and she'd waited long enough. She shifted into a raven. Her task required getting very close to those whores. She couldn't let them see her or they'd come at her with the dagger. Hopefully this form would fool them. This time of year, the ravens overflowed the fields. It made sense that one or two would be in the woods. This time when she flew close to the camp, she saw them. The witches were conjuring again and unable to maintain the hiding spell while tending the evil brewing in their cauldron. Lynn had a good idea that they were trying to raise the creatures again. Even with the dagger, Lynn didn't have the skill to create living shadows. From the look of things, Tara had the skill but Marabeth seemed to be pulling the magic together. Perhaps her old nemesis had grown weak.
Lynn circled the camp then landed behind Cordin. With her sharp beak, she pricked his finger, filling her beak with flyer blood. He yelped and swatted at her, but with his hands bound, there was little he could do. The blood and the dagger were a dangerous mix. It's where gruesome things could happen and she'd seen it happen. It wasn't in living beings. The first time, it had been in the void. The sickness tried to unravel the land and if it weren't for Vincent, it would have. The small puddle had formed around the dagger, starting from nothing but blood from enemies. It grew to the size of a lake, destroying everything in its path with a conscience effort. The void thought about its attack, it knew. Somehow the blood and magic from the star had mixed in the ground creating a life form none had seen before. Lynn hoped to do the same, but instead of mixing human blood with that of the flyers, she'd use hers. The magic from the witches should be the final touch. Blood was a magical thing. Her own people drank it for power in the days before they were one with the planet. Since then, they would never consume anything so base but there was a time it helped sustain them. Behind her, Lynn felt someone watching. She turned, startled at another's presence. A night demon crept through the woods. They were frightening things, even to a shifter, but they never hunted for pleasure. She watched its glowing red eyes from the darkness. It opened its mouth exposing silver fangs that glowed bright enough to cut through the darkness. It raised one long black finger, as if silencing her. Lynn knew the signs. Something immortal would die tonight. This demon sensed death in the air and had come to feed. Lynn hoped this creature wouldn't be her fate. She'd only seen one up close, and she'd fought it with all her power to stop it from consuming a sister shifter. The thing had been gentle, defeating her, but leaving Lynn to fight another day. She'd never forget the night demon. It dressed in darkness, much like the creatures Tara tried to raise. The one exception was the darker black lines in it. Close up the night demons looked like black skeletons dressed in gray, except for their faces. Those faces were horrific, with perfect black jaws and details so fine it looked like she could see the indentions in the bone. It wasn't the bones that held her attention when she'd faced one. Those red eyes burned through her while the silver mouth drew in the soul of the fallen. She'd seen the smoky life force rise from her dead sister but when the night demon ate, there was a crunching sound. It was strange for such an object that didn't appear solid. Night demons were rare. She'd seen one after the great battle with the flyers. It couldn't come out during the day though. That's why the dead were always burned before nightfall. It was the only way to see their souls safely to the afterworld. Lynn flew high into the sky, leaving Cordin and the demon on the ground. She cared not if the demon were after Cordin or one of the witches, as long as she escaped its grasp. There were worse things than death. She had to wonder if it hurt to have ones soul eaten. She supposed not. The body was gone. Then again, losing the afterworld would have to cause some sort of pain. Below the witches had almost completed their spell. Something dark began to bubble from the cauldron. That's what drew her attention. Leave the demons to their feast, she had life to make. It was time. Lynn shifted, growing larger with sharper talons while the sisters chanted. Flying above, she hesitated over the dark cauldron. She slit her leg, letting her blood run into the magical mix, then dumping the bit from her beak. The mix hit true. Tara looked up, noticing her but unable to stop the reaction. The blood flowed together with the tip of the dagger dangling in the pot.
The creature, which had started to rise, howled. The piercing scream sounded like pain but Lynn knew the sound was hunger. The thing wanted more, more blood, more life, and then another change. A second rose, howling out into the air while its liquid body turned solid and the next followed in its path leaving more bubbling masses. The creatures were growing. "Stupid shifter! What have you done?" Tara reached out for Lynn, but there was a difference. The eldest witch had little power left to squander. Marabeth had been busy with her incantations but broke free from her trance to help her sister. The younger one was much stronger since the last time they'd fought. Marabeth hurled wind, knocking Lynn from over the cauldron. "Leave me be, witch. The damage has already been done." More wind blew. Lynn couldn't fight it and didn't realize that it was only a distraction until vines created a web to the side, a tree reached from the other and hands of dirt reached up from below. Every direction Lynn turned was blocked. She shifted smaller, then the same sack she'd used for the dagger came flying up. She dodged, but a tree limb grabbed her ankle, holding her long enough for the sack to drop down on her. Lynn grew larger, using her sharp beak to tear the sack. It was too late though. Unable to flap her wings, Lynn fell to the ground. "Finish her,” screamed Tara. Lynn finished tearing through the sack but there was no point in shifting. The two witches stood over her, ready to annihilate her. Marabeth didn't though. Something grabbed her attention, forcing her to turn from Lynn and back to the contaminated cauldron. Leaning up, she could see the source of Marabeth's distress. Black bubbled from the spell, spilling smoke and liquid onto the ground. When the mix touched dirt, the stuff grew tall, looking like spikes in the dirt. Soon a dozen spikes stood with more growing from the bubbling pot. The spikes split at the bottom, growing legs while a human looking chest formed on each. Lynn had never seen anything like it. It was like a potter forming clay in front of them. Arms grew, then faces formed, while detailed fingers appeared. The creatures looked black as obsidian, darker than the brownest of the human races. The texture seemed like cut glass, with sharp angles. Each muscle in their thighs shined in the moonlight, while their very defined chest even held black glass looking nipples. "We've done it sister.” Tara stood in amazement. “We've created life." It would've been a good time to escape, but Lynn had to see who held these creatures’ loyalties. She got her answer soon enough. The first of the creatures approached. Tara tried to touch it, hold it in her arms, but it moved by her. Lynn watched it kneel before her. Fifty of the creatures followed suit, walking by the witches and bowing. "I believe I'm the one who has done it.” Lynn touched the closest creatures head. It was soft, almost like leather but looked so much like crystal or glass. “I knew the secret ingredient." "Damn you shifter.” Tara charged towards the cauldron. “I'll slit your throat." She reached for the dagger, wrapped her hands around it, even while the last of the black liquid started forming spikes around her feet. Lynn wasn't sure what the blade would do to these new creations but she couldn't risk it touching her. "Destroy the witch.” Lynn pointed at the cauldron.
The creatures started toward Lynn. Tara slashed at them with the dagger but it only scratched them. Perhaps being made by the dagger offered some protection. It didn't help Tara. The creatures pulled her to the ground and opened grotesque mouths filled with black crystal teeth. The men surrounded her, biting into her flesh. Lynn couldn't see exactly what they were doing until the first to feed, rose showing droplets of blood on its black lips. The sight disgusted Lynn, causing her to turn her face. That's when she realized Marabeth was pulling at Cordin's ties. Lynn touched the creature which had finished feeding. "Take the other witch too. Go feed, my children." "Please Lynn. Leave us alone!" Marabeth pulled desperately at the vines holding Cordin. One loosened but wouldn't break. In her panic, she must've forgotten to remove the spell from the vines. Her fingers bled, streaking Cordin's hands with deep red. "We haven't done anything to you. Let us go in peace." "Run, Marabeth.” Cordin stared at Lynn, locking eyes. “Run and get help. I don't want to see you die." Tears filled her eyes but she kept at the vines, even as Lynn and her awful army approached. It was touching to see the witch caring so much for what would be a dead man. Perhaps it would be best if the witch went and got help. Lynn wanted to see what her new army could do. Besides, she had a score to settle with the flyers. Lynn whispered to her nearest solider. It crept closer to Marabeth, licking its lips and causing a wondrous spectacle. When the black creature touched her, Marabeth called on her birch limb, using it to fly into the sky. Lynn's creature grasped at the witch, catching a few red hairs as Marabeth flew away. "Leave, you stupid whore. I still have your man.” She looked around at her creations, fine strong men. “I also have an army." The creatures disbanded, kneeling again in front of her. To the side, she saw the night demon appear from the woods. He went to the hull that was once Tara and kissed her lips softly. Next he touched her chest, right at her heart and the smoke rose from the witch. There was a scream so soft Lynn wasn't sure if she'd imagined it or it was real. Either way, the night demon opened his mouth, sucking in the smoke and chewing. Bits of smoke waited in front of his mouth for him to suck in more and crunch at whatever existed in souls. "Night demon, I think I'll find more food for you."
Chapter Thirteen Liking sat under the stars, contemplating his next move. As he did, he wove. Weaving was usually women's work but it calmed his nerves and with Cordin still not checking in, his worries were great. He'd constructed a crude loom. Flyers wove using more magic than tools, so all he needed were a few limbs to hold the cloth and a place to set the puffs he'd collected for the loom. These puffs were a light brown, and could be pulled easily into strings. "My,” said Sarah as she touched the fine brown cloth coming off the loom. “I've never felt material like this." "I've heard it feels like leather but flyers would never wear a dead animals skin, so I can only guess.” He kept weaving, faster and faster the material came together. It folded onto the ground in alternating layers. "You already have enough cloth to cover the babies, me, and you.” She ran her hands over the puffs. “How do you sew this stuff?" "I'll show you.” He kept the cloth moving. “It's not hard.” The cloth piled up as he spoke, so fast it was hard to see the individual lines that fed it. “We weave builder's cloth and a version of human glass." "As impressive as this is, weaving cloth won't make Cordin come." He stopped, letting the pulled puffs fall. The loom almost came apart under his mental stress, before Liking relaxed. He rubbed his hands across his face, then looked at Sarah. Somehow, she made things better. "What do you suggest I do?" "I would have you stay, but for your sanity, fly back over the witch camp. Maybe they hexed the area, blinded you to their workings. You'll feel better if you see witches and no Cordin. If he hasn't shown by morning, you could go home to the village and look for him there. It will ease your mind." Liking stood, rolling up the cloth. She was right. It seemed Sarah was usually right, no matter the topic. It was her only irritating trait, so far. Then he realized that she knew his thought. When he looked at her, she had that ever-knowing smile. "I can't help that I'm right.” She put her hands on her hips and raised one eyebrow at him. It made her look delicious, but everything did. “Now are you going to clothe the forest, or check on Cordin?" "You're right.” He leaned up, surprised by how sore his shoulders had become. It had to be stress. Weaving was more mental work than physical. “I will fly over the camp.” He kissed her cheek. “Thank you." "Be careful." Too many times he'd risen into the sky on an ominous quest. He longed for the days he could fly over the ocean without worry for friend or family. This time he hoped for witches and not to find his old friend in their clutches. He'd prefer to think Cordin had escaped to the flyer village, safe among his own people although searching for him would be unavoidable if he and the witches were still gone. He couldn't rest until he knew what had become of Cordin. Liking soared through the sky. Even far from the ground he smelled sweet berries, ripening before the
winter frosts came. The scent tinged the air, causing him to relax despite his concerns. Surely, in such a beautiful place, no harm would come to his friend. Flyers like Cordin were supposed to live forever, telling their grandchildren about their adventures. As he drew closer to the camp, the scent started changing. Sulfur tinged everything and something more ominous. The smell reminded him of rot, dying plants, and wet dirt. For a minute he thought the void lived again. He was concentrating on his task ahead, then someone grabbed him, pulling him, then forcing him to the ground. He looked down and saw Marabeth. "What do you want, Witch?” Liking hit the ground, but she'd slowed the descent and rolled so his back gently landed in the dirt. Once they were on the ground, she got off of him. "You don't want to go up there Liking. Lynn's there and she's done something awful.” Marabeth visibly shook so much Liking fought the urge to hold her. “I don't know what to do. They're alive!" A cold chill swept through him. Lynn had no business with witches. Perhaps Marabeth's story was a ruse to keep him from finding his old friend. Given Marabeth and Cordin's past, maybe she'd decided to hold him captive. "Where's Cordin?" Tears filled her eyes. The witch, the powerful old blood woman, looked too weak to stand and grasped at a tree for balance. When her gaze met his again, he knew that what she'd said was no lie. This time Liking couldn't stop, and reached out to steady her. "Lynn's got Cordin. I don't know if he's alive.” She sobbed uncontrollably. “I tried to save him." He'd remove the shifter from the world if she hurt Cordin. He was a good flyer and probably destined to be a full elder of the village before long. Cordin didn't deserve to be taken apart by Lynn. When Liking started rising to take to the sky, Marabeth grabbed his leg. "You can't go. There's an army waiting." "An army?” Liking stopped and dropped on the ground. “What army?" "It's my fault.” She went to her knees, appearing as if she needed to beg Liking's forgiveness. “I was helping Tara raise these creatures from darkness. I'd decided to help her one last time before leaving with Cordin. I didn't see the harm. Those blasphemed creatures die in daylight or at least they did." "What does this have to do with Cordin?" She sobbed and for a minute, Liking couldn't make out her words through her tears. Finally the heavy sound slowed. “I'd caught Cordin. He'd stolen the star but I didn't let Tara have it. I took Cordin back to the clearing and never revealed the hiding place of the star. I left him tied up. It was wrong, but I feared what Tara would do if I freed him. He was defenseless, Liking. I left him defenseless." Flyers were powerful but they had trouble conjuring with their hands bound. It was a foolish weakness few knew about, but Marabeth knew everything about flyers. She'd even been welcomed in their village at one point “Keep going,” prodded Liking. "I helped Tara one last time when Lynn showed up. She tried to get the dagger but Tara saw her and claimed it. I swear I never gave it to Tara.” She emphasized it by shaking her head no. “With the dagger,
there was nothing to stop Tara and I'd agreed to help her raise these dark creatures one last time. I mean, they died in daylight anyway. What was the harm?" The sobbing started again. Liking knelt next to her, trying to ease her cries and get the rest of the story. “Anyway, while we were working our magic, Lynn arrived. Apparently we'd been missing a secret ingredient, a type of blood. Evil creatures rose from our cauldron that are loyal to Lynn.” Marabeth swallowed hard. “They killed Tara.” Fresh tears started down her cheeks. “A night demon took her soul. An actual night demon!" That wasn't good. Night demons and dark armies weren't things he could deal with. He wasn't a hero. Hell, last year he'd been the villain. All he wanted was a simple life with his family but damnation had landed in the wood. "Where was Cordin when you last saw him?" "I was trying to untie him. I didn't want to leave him.” She reached up to Liking, crying over his shoes. "Is your unta complete?" Marabeth nodded. “I feel him. He still lives but he's afraid. What do I do? I have no magic powerful enough to defend him.” Her eyes were wide and terrified. “There is something terribly wrong with him or that place. Our tie is fading. I don't know why, but he's growing distant in my mind." "Can you cast a spell over us to hide us from this army? I'd like to see this for myself." "Sure.” Her bottom lip trembled. “We can't get close though. I've tried three times to sneak back in and save him. Those nasty things sense me." Lynn's army must have the ability to think if they sensed Marabeth. It was one thing to deal with mindless servants; this was starting to sound far more dangerous. "Then let's get this over with. We'll decide what to do afterward." Marabeth cast her spell. Liking could feel her magic like insects crawling over his skin. He'd always known witches were impressive, but he'd never let one cover him in their magic before. The sensation was unsettling. With both of them covered in the spell, Liking grabbed Marabeth by the waist and rose into the air. This way, no extra magic would be used. Witches were capable of flying but needed a branch to enchant before flight was possible. Besides, he didn't trust Marabeth. She was safe in his arms for now, but if Lynn attacked, he could drop her and escape while the two floundered together on the ground. They flew above the camp. Liking lowered them just enough to check on Cordin. Everything Marabeth had said was true. Cordin was bound, hands behind him, while dark horrific creatures stood guard. To the side, sat Lynn. One creature was servicing her, letting its long black tongue delve to the vee between her thighs. She wouldn't notice if they landed and walked through the middle of the camp. Her head was tossed back, while moans of pleasure escaped her mouth. Her dark soldiers were another matter. They were large, most looked like men. The things were similar to a shifter. Like Lynn, they had a nose, mouth, and eyes but no distinct features. They didn't share her silver touches at the eyes. Everything about them radiated darkness and death. Liking tried to get closer to Cordin. It looked like a simple matter of sneaking up behind the guards.
Cordin's back was to the woods and the guards were watching their mistress being serviced. When Liking flew near, every head turned in their direction. They were hidden by Marabeth's magic but the guards sensed them. A few started in their direction. Lynn paid no attention but the dark soldiers lowered their head as if waiting for a target to attack. Liking dropped Marabeth a few feet from Cordin. He crept forward, reaching out to the vines when one of the beasts put his hand on Cordin's shoulder and let out the most horrible growl Liking had ever heard. There were too many of them to fight alone. If they wanted Cordin back, they'd have to get help. As least Liking knew that Cordin still lived. Liking grabbed Marabeth and rose higher into the air, wanting more distance between himself and those things. That's when he saw not one, but two night demons at the edge of the camp. That wasn't a good sign. Seeing two night demons meant war was coming, it was also a sign that whatever Lynn had created was predicted to be the winner. His next thought was his family. He'd have to get Sarah and the babies away from here. Maybe it was time to rejoin the flyer village. Even if they didn't accept his children, they wouldn't come to harm in the village. He held Marabeth, flying them both to his cabin. The lights were on in the little wooden structure. Sarah must've decided to wait for him inside. He wasn't surprised. She rarely left the babies for more than a few minutes. Together they landed and Marabeth removed the enchantment covering them. Immediately Sarah came running out, sensing Liking's return. She charged out the door, then stopped when she saw Marabeth. It wasn't a surprising reaction. Liking wasn't sure how she'd feel about a witch, especially one who showed her entire body down to her pubic hair through her dress. He was surprised by Marabeth's reaction. She took a step back, eyes wide, hand covering her mouth. A single whisper escaped her, barely loud enough for Liking to hear. "No,” came another whisper, “a siren.” Dread and surprised filled Marabeth's voice. “She's a siren." "A water siren actually.” Liking grabbed Marabeth by the arm and was surprised when she didn't willingly come forward. “Her name is Sarah. She's my unta." The final bit made Marabeth come forward, although she still didn't seem thrilled about it. Liking had no idea why. Sarah was the kindest person he'd ever met but Marabeth seemed terrified. It took a lot to terrify a witch. "Sarah, I'd like you to meet Marabeth. She's Cordin's unta." Sarah came forward and held out her hand. There was something odd about Sarah. She was trying to block something from him, then Liking sensed the anger and hatred bubbling out. It wasn't jealousy. A deeper grudge held between these two. "What's going on?” Liking stood between the two. “I don't understand." "She's a witch, Liking. One of the Galta line, if I sense correctly.” The innocence Sarah held faded and for a moment she looked like a predator. “Her lines are sworn enemies of water sirens.” Sarah stood there, still holding her hand out. “I'd thought her line had ended." "I am the last of the Galta, but other witches still roam.” Marabeth looked down at her hand then finally
took it, shaking it lightly and quickly pulling away. “Are we to fight?" "No.” Sarah managed a smile and her features softened. “I have to admit that the hatred seems to be instilled in both of us. Perhaps emotions are passed down with the blood." "Perhaps, but I have no quarrel with you." "Nor I with you. Welcome." Sarah was cordial enough, but the emotions in her were unyielding. He supposed it was enough that she didn't show them. Later he'd have to ask her more about this old feud. "I've brought her here because something terrible has been let loose in the woods and it has Cordin captured." "What has been released?” She looked into the darkness. "Lynn has created something like shifters." "They aren't shifters though. The star doesn't harm them.” Marabeth followed Sarah's stare into the darkness. “They also feed. The creatures drained my sister, then Lynn let a night demon finish her." Marabeth hung her head. Liking could tell that she was upset about Cordin. It seemed Marabeth made a habit of making bad decisions and hurting those she loved. Maybe with Tara gone, things would change. Liking doubted it, but for Cordin's sake, he hoped so. "Something doesn't feel right.” Sarah looked at Marabeth. “Do you feel it?" There wasn't time for her to respond. Ahead the woods exploded with dark large animals. Liking thought they looked like wolves but their bodies were clunky, like they'd been assembled from rocks instead of flesh. Above them flew a large black war bird and they knew Lynn had arrived. Whether one of her creatures had told her of the trespass or if this had been a planned attack, Liking didn't know. He also didn't have time to ponder it. The beasts didn't pause, only Lynn hung in the air above them. Liking moved first, pulling both women away from the woods and back to the cabin. Behind them, Lynn cackled while her beasts ran, pounding their paws into the dirt. She'd kill them all if she got the chance. "Don't do this Lynn,” yelled Liking. "My new children are hungry. Go get dinner." **** Cordin looked at the creatures standing next to him. Everyone else had gone, leaving him with two guards. Their faces held no emotion, if they were capable of it. They simply stood, moving at sounds or occasionally watching him. He had an idea where Lynn was going. She'd ordered her dark army through the woods to a cabin. There was only one cabin Cordin knew of, where her old love had taken residence. Marabeth entered his thoughts, pure terror racing through her and into him. Lynn must've arrived at Liking's cabin. He focused, reached to her but nothing made sense except panic. Marabeth thought she was going to die. "No!” he screamed causing both guards to look at him and his voice to fade. Please don't die.
Cordin wrestled madly against the vines holding him. Marabeth didn't deserve to die. She'd made some mistakes, more than most people, but she never wanted harm to come to Cordin. When she'd found him in the tree, he'd almost believed that she'd come with him. If Tara hadn't arrived, she might've retuned to the village. They'd been playful during his capture, even with Tara around. Marabeth was ready to give up her ways, but she'd decided too late. When they'd made love last night, he'd known her love was true. Please be okay. The vines around his wrists were enchanted. The more he squirmed, the tighter they grew, digging painfully into his flesh. He'd never been so powerless. His concentration couldn't overcome the ties. Still he worked and worked, trying to feel the power inside him. Marabeth was in trouble. He couldn't let her die, not by that shifter. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the guards and the woods. Even the breeze touching his flesh seemed to fade. Finally, a spark came from his fingers. It wasn't much. He worked the spark into a flame, trying to burn away the vine. Come on. He felt the flame growing but had to control his excitement or lose the spark all together. It was so hard to think but his power existed in emotion and concentration. He usually sent the focus through his fingertips. Not being able to see them made it harder. The heat at his wrists told him that it was working, then the vine snapped. He squelched the flame, turning his head left and right to see where his guards were. There was one at each side, both looked straight ahead with eyes slightly lifted as if waiting for their mistress to return. Cordin scooted just a bit, trying to get out from under the tree where he'd been placed. He didn't want to risk a physical confrontation with these two. Besides, he had to get to Marabeth. A bit of sky showed above him, little twinkles of stars in a blue-black sky. Very slowly, he started rising, levitating a few inches, but keeping his wings still. He focused and managed a small flame at the other side of the camp. It immediately got both guards attention. Only the one on the right gave Cordin a passing glance before investigating the fire. When the guards were at the furthest point from him, Cordin started into the sky. He opened his wings and flapped. Unfortunately, Lynn's new creatures had some interesting skills. Cordin rose into the air, only to have a black winged creature greet him. The thing had to be one of the soldiers from the cauldron, shifted into bird form. It had a chunky rock appearance but moved in perfect fluid motion. Cordin turned and tried to outrun it, but a painful sting went through his head as the creature beat him down with one wing. The ground was coming. Cordin tried to spread his wings again, when he noticed the second guard shifting below. The thing grew like a crystal, expanding in long jutting lines. The creature above pushed Cordin again until the one below had grabbed his leg. He pulled with all his strength but couldn't get away. "I will destroy you all.” Cordin raised his hands to the air. “Let me go." At once he churned the air, knocking the one above away. The creature on the ground was undeterred. It shifted into some new type beast with a huge gaping mouth and long stone teeth. A black tongue came from its mouth and hooked around Cordin's leg, pulling him into the jaws of the beast.
Being eaten alive seemed like a horrible way to go. Cordin wouldn't give in so easily. He sent fireballs, one after another into the creature. The thing seemed to expand with them. When he looked again, he saw that the fire passed through it, landing on the ground where the creature smothered the flames. He sent separate flames below, tried to break the creature with his mind, but nothing stopped the steady progression into that black tooth lined mouth. He could almost imagine those long sharp points penetrating his skin, the splash of saliva as he would be chewed. The pain wouldn't last long, if he were lucky. Only fate knew if his death would be slow, chewed and digested, or a simple impaling. It can't end like this. Cordin looked at the sky, wishing for help that wasn't coming. I love you Marabeth. **** Sarah saw the monsters and gasped. She'd never seen anything so dreadful. Instead of clean muscles, everything had a hard edge, working with a near grind. She knew at once that they weren't natural and when she saw them open hungry animal mouths, she nearly screamed. Someone grabbed her arm and forced her to a run. Sarah got a glimpse of Marabeth and then saw Liking leading them. Those things were going to eat them, or at least they would try. The children! She couldn't let those things near the children. Her body began to work. She started running, pulling Liking toward the cabin, where the babies were sleeping. Those babies, her babies. At the porch she stopped and opened the door, shoving Marabeth and Liking inside. Those were unnatural creatures and she had no doubts that enough of them existed to kill everyone. "Get the babies out of here. Grab them and go to the village. Don't stop or look back!” Sarah looked at Liking. “Don't let my babies die." "Come on, Sarah." She slammed the door, shutting them inside, and held it while the beasts came closer. Not once in her life had fighting been a possibility. She had no training, but just like sex, some things came naturally to her. Even deep inside, the witch had known what Sarah could do. Still, Sarah didn't want to hurt anyone. She opened her mouth and started singing, immediately the war bird fell to the ground. The thing wasn't dead, even though Sarah hated Lynn with every fiber of her being. She only slept. The dark creatures weren't affected, kept running. This close, she could see their eyes, their dark black glassy eyes. They weren't stopping, not even slowing. They'd take her down and go into the house. Behind her, she heard the cabin door open. No, they shouldn't come out for her. The first snapped its jaws inches from her face. It was frightening, so much so Sarah finally screamed. The piercing sound broke through the night. The creature's teeth came down, sinking into her arm but she was unaffected. It however began to vibrate, twitching, then letting go and falling to the ground in front of her. Those further back, stopped in their tracks. The three closest to her dropped to their knees and covered their strange ears. It took a moment for the first to explode. The other two followed twitching and vibrating until they came apart in little pebbles, pelting the ground and the creatures behind.
There was only one problem with screaming, at some point she had to breathe. Behind her, she heard Liking but it didn't matter. She had to face this battle and there were three babies. It would take Liking and Marabeth to carry them to safety. "Go Liking. I'll meet you later." Those words gave the creatures enough time to run closer. Sarah screamed again, and again the creatures stopped, sacrificing the closest ones to her fury. Behind her, she heard the back of the cabin explode. Above, she saw Liking and her babies flying to safety. The dark beasts were focused on her, giving her babies a safe path to the village. One thing bothered her; the dark beasts were gauging her range. She saw movement around her. There were so many of them, like dark trees against a night sky. They surrounded her and waited for her to take a breath. When she did, they would come in on her, but she'd have to breathe soon. Her lungs ached for air. Again, she breathed, sucking in air as quickly as possible. One reached her, pulling her hair when she started screaming a third time. It shattered while the rest drew closer, staying just out of range. Sarah started walking, screaming and walking. They wouldn't let her get another breath.
Chapter Fourteen Liking reached the flyer village as the sun broke through the clouds. Faller and Elise clung to him, somehow sensing the danger was close. Celia was inconsolable. She sensed something darker, crying since they'd left, but the most disturbing thing was the way she'd shifted into Sarah's form and wouldn't change back. Marabeth held her, petting her hair softly, but nothing would ease her sobs. He also feared the worst. The unta bound them but he hadn't sensed her since they'd cleared the mountains. She could be unconscious or dead. Liking pushed the thoughts from his mind. She would join them soon. He couldn't stand the idea that he'd left her to those creatures but she had begged him to save the children. Below, Liking saw the first flyer houses. The bright white builder's cloth shone in the early morning sun. There was no one out yet. Most flyers didn't retire to their homes until two or three in the morning then slept until early afternoon. A few things had changed since he'd been home. Before he made his official entrance back to the village, there were two people he needed to speak to, Vincent and Anzele. Unfortunately, he had no idea where their home was. "What are you doing?” asked Marabeth. She gripped her enchanted branch with one hand, flying next to Liking. Celia stayed on her lap, steadied by her other hand. "Looking for Anzele." "Don't start trouble, Liking." He circled and Marabeth stayed close. There was no way to tell which home was theirs. The last he'd seen them, they were living in the rock building used as a hospital. After their binding, they would've gotten a home of their own. There was no building that stuck out as being new or different. Then he remembered their favorite place. Knowing Liking, and the trouble with Anzele's mother, they would've built a bit away from the rest of the homes. Liking waved for Marabeth to turn and they went over the ridge. There, near a pond with a waterfall was a beautiful house with paintings on the builder's cloth. He had no idea that Anzele painted, but he'd bet anything that he'd found her home. They landed, Marabeth keeping a few steps behind. There Liking approached the home and knocked on the frame. Flyer homes were constructed of a woven cloth that hardened into a material more dense than wood. His knock echoed through the house, causing a small rumble inside. After a moment, Vincent came to the front, pushing open the flap. At first he seemed annoyed, rubbing sleepy eyes. Liking didn't know what to expect. He'd challenged Vincent for Anzele's hand, then betrayed the community by staying with a shifter. His questions were answered when Vincent held out his hand, then gave Liking a short hug. When Vincent saw Marabeth, his mouth dropped open. Another moment passed and the shock faded. "You've all come back? Where's Cordin? This is a time for celebration." "Can we come in?” Liking's arms were growing tired from carrying the children. They were the size of
three-year-olds and becoming quite heavy after the night they'd had. "Sure.” Vincent touched Elise, looking at her black skin. “I see Lynn didn't kill you after all." "Not yet at least." They went inside. Liking couldn't help noticing how Vincent's hair had grown. It reached his waist, and was blacker than any he'd seen. Only humans had light colored hair and hairy faces. Vincent didn't resemble those he'd left long ago. He'd provided well for Anzele. The home was furnished with proper low tables and big leaf filled cushions on a long couch. The inside had a strange painting around the doors between the rooms. It looked like a vine growing around the opening with small leaves on each side. "What's going on?" Liking's mouth dropped open. There was Anzele, looking lovelier than ever. There was one change in her since Liking had seen her last. Her stomach was round, growing with a child. "Anzele, how are you?" "Oh my and mother fates, Liking.” She went to him, hugging him. Anzele stopped when she saw Marabeth, shrugged then hugged her too. “It's nice to see you, if you've come in peace." "I have. I'm sorry for the wrongs I've done.” Marabeth had tears in her eyes. “I'm afraid I've caused Cordin's downfall. We need help." "Can you feel him?" "No. He is gone from me and not from my magic." Liking lowered his head. “My unta is also absent from me. I fear the worst." They all sat at the table near the kitchen. Vincent insisted on serving them, making Anzele sit while he did. Soon they were sipping water flavored with fruit juice and eating breakfast root with what Vincent called biscuits. Liking was unfamiliar with biscuits so he assumed those to be a human food. The flaky bread was tasty and although Liking craved flyer things, the food, the companionship he'd missed for so long. Together they sat while Liking told the story of his children and what had brought him back home. During this Celia calmed, and reached for Anzele. Liking was happy to see Celia relaxing but Marabeth didn't seem to share his sentiment. She handed Celia over easy enough but rolled her eyes when Celia fell asleep in Anzele's arms. Even sleeping, she kept Sarah's form. "It seems the children have had a rough night. Let me set them in our nest for a nap.” Anzele motioned for Liking to follow. “Come on. They need their rest." Liking stood, following Anzele out of the main room with Faller and Elise. Again, Vincent had provided well, building a nest, large and fluffy. He knew humans slept in square beds made of wood and batting but Vincent had taken on proper flyer ways. The nest was round, deep with slightly raised edges. Each child snuggled into the blankets, even Faller going immediately to sleep. "I have to go back for Cordin and Sarah.” He looked at Anzele, touching her shoulder. “I know I've wronged you in the past, but I have to ask you a favor." "I will care for your children. You know that. They'll be waiting when you get back."
"Thank you.” He hugged her, careful not to press on her tummy. “They're all I have.” He looked at Celia. “See how she keeps Sarah's form. She misses her." Anzele squeezed him. “Have no worries. Do you feel Sarah yet?" "No.” He felt his bottom lip quiver. “I almost feel like I'm being punished." "Relax. When the void lived, it made me lose touch with Vincent temporarily. If these things are anything like it, then they might interfere.” She looked over at the babies. “Why do you think you're being punished?" Liking knew why and so did she if she'd thought about it. He'd always made fun of the unta, never really believing in its power. Filled with lust, he'd gone after Anzele, willing to disrespect and destroy her bond with Vincent. Now his own unta was in danger, if she wasn't already dead, and he was helpless. "I never understood the power of the bond. I am sorry for everything I've done to you Anzele.” He turned his back to her, not wanting to look at the woman he'd wrong. “I wish I could change things." "That's all behind us. We need to go to the elders and discuss this situation. From what you've said, we'll need an army of our own." **** Liking was amazed at the speed the meeting was called. He'd been prepared to drop off the children then go back, but Vincent had stalled him just enough for the elders to gather. The wind carried the smell of rain, so instead of meeting on the mountain, they chose the building on the beach. The second floor served as a hospital. The building had no new births or injured resting, so the ones to speak went to the second floor and the balcony that overlooked the large open room below. It was a spectacular place and one of Liking's favorites. Flyers long since gone had made the colored glass in the windows depicting the flyer migration to the ocean. As a boy, he'd come here and watch the sun change the room to a colorful wonderland. The red, blue, green, and purples would decorate the floor, spilling pools of colored light Liking would play in. He walked through the color filled floor to the stairs no one used. They were there from when humans walked among them, but the sides were cut wide so flyers could travel between floors. Liking levitated to the second floor. Vincent followed, rising behind Liking with perfect precision. At the top stood Kartin, Quint, Laru, and the rest of the council. Each elder wore their finest colored vest with their dark hair spilling down their back. Kartin was the only one dressed in solid black, but he always did that to show the rainbow highlights in his hair and wings. "I must know before we begin, am I welcome here?” Liking's heart throbbed in his chest. He'd given up so much for his children and Lynn. Now all he wanted was to return home, to this sacred place filled with music, the lights, the love he'd once known before everything in his world had been torn away. "Is Lynn your wife?” Quint spoke, but all the elders looked, suddenly paying close attention. "No. I stayed with her until she bore my children. Anzele is caring for them until this danger has passed. My children are half flyers and I don't want them to be treated poorly." "What does Lynn have to say about you raising half shifters in a flyer world?” Kartin spoke this time. They'd never been close and he'd sided with Anzele during the last altercation.
"Lynn is the trouble and reason for this meeting. She has raised a terrible army and must be destroyed. I have found my unta in a water siren. She accepts my offspring and me unconditionally. Lynn has no purpose but to bring death and destruction." He tried to hide the emotion but heard it in his voice. Sarah might have sacrificed her life trying to protect his children. He hadn't known Sarah long, but she was truly a blessing. Please let her live. "Children are always welcome here.” Kartin smiled and shook Liking's hand. Each elder did in the same in turn. “You and your wife are also welcome. Will you make the village your home again?" "I would like that. Thank you." Tears welled in his eyes but he forced them back. He was a man among ancient men, showing weakness now wouldn't impress them. It was time for facts and planning. Lynn had to be stopped. "Now step forward and tell us and the good people below about this dreadful news." The last time Liking had spoken to the flyers, it had been to convince them to ignore Anzele's vow to Vincent and grant him binding rights. His lusts had driven him to near madness. Given the circumstances, he wasn't sure what the group would think of him now. Vincent stepped forward and whispered, “Don't worry. This time you speak the truth." Liking took a deep breath and walked to the edge of the balcony. “May I speak?” Immediately the room changed to gasps at seeing Liking again. There were mumbles and some levitated for a closer look. "Hear Liking. He has news to tell.” Kartin got the whispers silenced. "As you all know, I've been gone for some time. A shifter has harnessed the power of the star using witch magic and blood. She has created an army and will visit our village. This cannot happen. The creatures she made can shift form but keep a molded black likeness. They are dangerous and immune from the star." "Why should we believe him?” Liking heard someone call from below. “He beds with shifters." "I have children that are half shifter. I would like them to come here to live and the elders have granted this. The time of the shifter is over. Do not make my children pay for the sins of their mother." A rumble went through the group. One or two laughed and one angry man left the building, flying angrily away. Liking knew the hatred of the shifters, he'd grown up with it, while legends of their acts fueled the emotion. At one time, Lynn wasn't just another shifter, she was just Lynn. He'd never believed the stories until he'd seen her true self. "I understand if you are upset. I know I've made my mistakes, but I ask for your help now or our world will change." Kartin raised his hands. “We will form two groups. In the first I will need three men to head over the mountain to watch this army. The second group will prepare for war. As many of you who are willing, please stay. A few left, including the mothers with small children and a couple of angry people. Most stayed though. Women and men alike, lined up, ready to do their part. Liking was surprised. Some may not like him for
his sins, but at least not all judged him to be a liar. I'll bring help, Sarah. Please be okay, wherever you are.
Chapter Fifteen As the sun set over the ocean, three men along with Liking, headed to the camp. The men with him were young, not more than a hundred years, but they were brave and willing. That was enough. The plan was simple. Liking intended to show them the army, then have one return with information on their location and the numbers while he and the other two observed Lynn. That was the official plan. Liking had another idea. He intended to find Sarah. He felt lost without her presence in his mind. It was maddening to be so alone with his thoughts circulating. There was a good chance that whatever evil Lynn had conjured, was blocking the mental connection. At least he hoped that was the trouble. It was the kindest of the options. Marabeth had decided to stay until the flyer army had assembled. Besides, she still considered Anzele a friend and felt it necessary to help with the babies. Children, Liking mentally corrected. This morning they had grown to the size of a four year old although they were a week old. Thrusting three active young on an expectant first time mother, wasn't fair. Even though Marabeth was a powerful witch, he was glad she lingered behind to assist. The flight seemed longer than usual. Liking knew it was because he hoped to see Sarah. The closer they drew to the area, the more he searched the woods for his lovely siren. There was no sign of her and still no connection formed. He couldn't believe she had died though. Even with his past sins, surely a love so pure wouldn't be stolen from him so quickly. The first stop was the cabin, or what was left of the cabin. The shifters had destroyed it, leaving long claw marks in the wood and jagged bites from the freed planks. The four of them landed and Liking looked around. "Search the area carefully. We have to see it they've spread out." Liking really wanted to search for a body, hoping he wouldn't find one. If Sarah had died in this battle, where he'd deserted her, he'd never forgive himself. With hope in his heart, he started pushing away the largest boards. Every time he found dirt beneath and not his siren, he prayed his thanks and kept going. "We need to hurry. The area is clear.” The youngest of the group spoke. “Where is their camp?" "Just a minute." In the dirt were footprints. Liking followed them finding bits of strange rock as he went. It wasn't until he found long dark brown hairs that he realized the battle had moved away from the cabin. "Those rocks are what's left when my wife destroyed some. You might want to gather one or two to take back." The footprints kept going. He nearly ran, finding more rock and still no Sarah. Ahead he saw some cloth. That he picked up and found part of her dress had been ripped away, the cloth too bloodied. "Sarah?” There was no answer. “Sarah!” He called louder. He kept walking with the three others behind. They came to a place where the ground turned black with rock. A great battle had to have taken place there and from the look of it, Sarah had been successful.
"Sarah!" His voice filled the forest and still no one returned his call. He hung his head and noticed something strange. A rock rolled on its own momentum. The wind wasn't blowing hard enough for such a thing. Then the truth struck him. "To the sky, now!" The ground beneath their feet shifted. Hands reached up grasping their feet, while the creatures grew from the rubble the men had been standing on. At first one or two appeared, stepping to the captives to hold them as more formed around them. Liking drew out fire but there was nothing fully formed to take the blows. He struck the ground but they wouldn't release his feet from their grip. The other men tried to attack then the rock grew into a snake, gripping their hands and binding them from behind. The fire and wind stopped. The men had been taken captive. "Hello Liking.” Lynn crept from the shadows in true form. “I told them to wait here. I knew you'd be back to check on your whore." "Where is Sarah?" Lynn didn't answer, only laughed. The sound crept through him like ice, making him wince despite the creatures that restrained him. He'd been captured and it would seem Sarah had died trying to stop the shifting army. There were too many, maybe too many for anyone to stop.
Chapter Sixteen Marabeth watched the elders gather magic, summoning it from the ground, charging their bodies. Flyers were better at fighting on their home territory where their ties and energies were the strongest. What they did now was like packing provisions for a long trip. Such things didn't limit witches. Her magic was as strong here as a thousand miles away. In fact, she wasn't certain how far her magic reached. Tara made her timid when it came to spell binding, but now Tara was gone. "How are you doing?” asked Marabeth when Anzele entered the room. Anzele looked like a natural mother, toting one child on her hip from the stream where she'd bathed her. It was hard to tell which child Anzele was carrying. The kids kept shifting, playing some version of hide and find. "Fine. Celia seems very attached to me. At least I think it's Celia.” Anzele touched the child and kissed her cheek. “How are the others?" "They'll be fine. I think they miss their father.” She looked down at Elise who levitated waist high. “Elise seems to be growing the fastest. Faller keeps picking on her. The two will fight like animals when they get older." "I've heard that shifter babies grow quickly. At least they're eating solid food. Getting enough milk to feed these three would be a chore.” Anzele took some fruit from the shelf and peeled it for the children. Marabeth had heard that shifter growth rates were quick too, but Elise's growth was phenomenal. The child stood tall, managing small words, and already attempting flight. The most disturbing thing was the way Elise watched everything, taking in every word spoken. "Is there someone else who could come and help with the babies?" "Going off to battle, huh?” Anzele set Celia on the floor and Elise dropped next to her. The two started playing until Faller crawled between them. "Actually, I'm going to go before the army arrives. There has been no word from Liking or his band. If there's trouble, Kartin might need to be aware of it." "You really want to check on Cordin." Marabeth sank at the table, letting her head rest in her hands. “I'm afraid for him." Anzele opened a cupboard and took some flat bread and fruit, then wrapped it in a cloth. When she tied it with string, she handed it to Marabeth. “Something for the trip." "Will you be okay?" "Of course. If I weren't with child, I'd be going with you. Cordin is an old friend.” Anzele patted her hand. “Go and be careful. I will get a lady from the village to help." "Thank you." Marabeth took the food and had to control herself to keep from running out the door. As soon as she felt the sun on her face, she waved her hand, calling the birch limb to her. She climbed on and flew into the
sky. The flyer village looked so beautiful beneath her. She'd never fit in there. Her bright red hair stuck out in a world where black hair and wings were considered the highest standard of beauty. She supposed she could blend, make a good wife for Cordin. In the evenings she'd weave with the other women while the men gathered food. A little magic could change her hair color, but at heart she'd always be a witch. She'd make the change for Cordin. If he really wanted her to return with him, she'd do it and never doubt her decision. It was cruel for Cordin's unta to be a witch. Witches didn't believe in the mystic bond, but Cordin had made her a believer the first time he reached into her mind. The sensation had been unnerving, even irritating, but she missed it. All this time she'd been blocking their connection, now she craved it. The ground blurred beneath her feet. She flew as fast as she could but there was a lot of ground to cover. Every minute seemed an eternity. It was more than reaching Cordin or the first group sent out, she was alone with her thoughts. She wondered what would've happened if she'd ignored Tara after the battle with the shifters. It would have been difficult, but she could've said no and returned the star to its hiding place, instead of betraying Cordin and stealing that stupid dagger from him. By now she could be raising her own children, teaching her daughters. There would be no dark army if she'd left the star alone. That also meant that if Cordin died, she only had herself to blame. Marabeth drew closer to the cabin they'd fled. The sun was high in the sky but not too hot. There was no sign of Liking or his men below. Patches of the ground were bare. Even the grass that had been there yesterday was gone, leaving empty mud and debris from the wrecked building. The flyer army would be leaving soon. She had a few hours lead on them but not much more than that. Looking at the remains of Liking's home wouldn't help matters, she had to hurry to the camp. More trees went by but she noticed dead growth running in lines from the cabin towards the campsite. Those she followed. It only took moments before she found them. Dark centurions stood in lines, waiting for something. She couldn't be sure. They'd formed a slow moving line. Marabeth hid her presence, making herself invisible to those below. As she flew over, she saw the reason for the creatures steady progression. Lynn had captured Liking and his men, holding them with heavy rope to a tree. A young man was first. The creatures knelt at him, drinking his life force away, smearing blood on their dark jowls. It wasn't like a flyer feeding. Even from the air, Marabeth could tell that they were killing him. At first the young man screamed but quickly grew too weak as another and another joined the feast. Cordin was in the line. He looked weak as if they'd already had a turn at him, but for whatever reason, he had been spared death. They would all die soon. There were too many creatures and too few flyers to feed such an army. Lurking on the edges, Marabeth saw the night demons. There were five now. It was unheard of for such a number to lurk in the shadows and during the day. They were waiting for something. As Marabeth watched, she saw the creatures feeding grew stronger, larger. Then she realized their intent. They were waiting on the flyer army. Their near escape had probably been part of some plan where Lynn intended to bring many flyers for dinner. It was also the reason for keeping Cordin alive. He was bait. "Witch,” A whisper came from the trees. “Come witch."
No one below noticed. The sound terrified Marabeth, then she recognized the voice. The water siren had survived the battle after all. There was no telling if a water siren could be friend or enemy but she was better company than the things below. Marabeth glided to the trees. Sitting on a branch was Sarah. Her clothes were bloody and torn but she seemed in decent health, except for the pure horror at the display below. Of course, her husband was next on the buffet. "Can you make it rain, Marabeth?" "Sure.” Witches could control the weather but Marabeth couldn't see the point. Sarah had to have a plan though. Sirens usually planned well. "Brew me a storm. Lots of water." "Are you suggesting a witch and siren join forces?" "Unless you want us both to die of broken hearts.” Sarah's gaze never left Liking. “I am not an evil being, Marabeth. I am simply a woman who loves and wants to be with her family." Marabeth couldn't trust her but there was no other choice. Liking was a friend and Cordin would be consumed by the beasts eventually. There was no time to wait for an army, one that might join the bound men as dinner. **** Sarah watched Marabeth conjure. This was their only hope. She had no idea if she was strong enough to stop the monsters, but she wanted Liking. In her life she'd known love, but only in a family way. She'd never loved anyone like she loved Liking. The unta he'd caused made her crazy with need and longing, but she wouldn't trade it for anything. "Marabeth, can you freeze water?" "Not well, but a flyer can." Sarah watched the creatures lapping black tongues against darker lips. Lynn was working them, making their hunger grow as they watched others feed. The progression was slow. By the time any reinforcements arrived, the creatures hunger would be at a fever pitch. The flyer in front of Liking turned gray and slumped over. Lynn stopped the line and tossed the body to the darkest section of woods where a night demon laid claim to it. It kissed the man then drank in the soul. Lynn made her creatures watch before continuing their feast. Liking was next. "Please hurry, Marabeth." Above them clouds gathered and the wind picked up strength. The smell of rain grew heavy in the air. The night demon finished consuming the flyer. Time was gone. Sarah watched helplessly as Lynn went to Liking, touching his face and kissing his cheek, then she sent in the first magic made shifter. "Marabeth?" Lighting broke across the sky. Thunder rolled through the air and even the creatures looked at the heavens to see what was in store for them. Sarah hoped the storm would be enough.
Chapter Seventeen Lynn watched her creature come closer to Liking when a small sound caught her attention. She stepped to the side and saw Elise hovering a few feet above the ground. The child was hiding in the woods, clearly trying to stay out of her father's sight. Her little girl was growing, even faster than she'd expected. The babe wasn't at her second week but already looked like she was five. Her body was developing into a perfect shifter with long black hair already reaching halfway down her back. Her eyes were glassier than the rest of her black body but featureless all the same. Only long black lashes rose above her smooth face with the touch of silver outlining her eyes. "What are you doing to my daddy?" The first sound of her daughter's voice took her off guard. Elise already spoke in clear words, complete sentences. It was a wonderful sound, even if the question was one Lynn didn't want to answer. "Honey, you're too young to understand.” Lynn saw the child's eyes flare and realized she wouldn't be able to ignore the topic. “He betrayed me, Elise. I'm afraid he has to die." "I don't want him to." She hovered higher, staying just out of Lynn's reach. It was a shame. All Lynn wanted was to hold her, hug her, feel the child's breath against her cheek. Elise didn't seem open to that though. Her father had already poisoned her mind. It hadn't been that long since she'd pulled the babe from her womb, wiping the blood from her face. How could holding a child inside, bringing her forth, be forgotten? Elise may have been too young to remember. Was it impossible to hope that she'd understand? "I'm afraid he has to." "Were you really going to kill my brother and sister?" Lynn never expected these questions, not now. She should've killed Faller and Celia out of the womb. All she needed was Elise, and now her baby had come back to her. "I was never going to kill Celia, only clip her wings.” That's when Lynn realized an important fact. Shifters didn't levitate. Elise may look like her, but the flyer part was in her blood. Liking had even contaminated the perfect one. “Come here and talk with your mother." "No. I'm here to find my mother." "I am your mother!" "No.” Elise shifted, turning into Sarah. “This is the woman who loves me and my siblings." "Come here!” Lynn jumped, swatting at her feet. "Free my father then." Lynn saw her soldiers moving behind the girl as the first raindrops fell. She motioned and one shifted into a bird, rising behind the child. Elise never moved or seemed to notice him. She must've thought she was safe in the air. That was a foolish mistake.
**** The creatures dark mouth drew close and Liking held his breath. He didn't want to feel its mouth on his skin. More black soldiers stood behind, readying to have their taste. They crept forward. He'd seen them feed three and four at a time while the ones waiting watched. The flyer behind him sobbed, fearing his turn. The sound didn't help Liking act brave. Even at the end, Liking didn't want to go out screaming for his life because of a creature not born of a woman but a witch's pot. A long black tongue eased out, flicking his cheek. It was slimy, feeling much like the touch of a fish, then the pain started as it sunk its teeth into Liking's shoulder. It wasn't just feeding on the blood, but stealing his life force along with the red fluid. While the pain filled him, two more approached, one positioning itself at Liking's thigh, the other at his arm. Something cool hit his face. Liking looked up, trying to take his concentration off the pain, the pending death. Rain, cool, clear rain dripped onto his face. The drops grew faster and the thunder rolled around them. Lightning struck the ground and the thing at his shoulder stopped. The two readying to feed looked at the sky. Water, precious water fell from the heavens. It made him think of Sarah. He would miss his children, but maybe in death he could be with Sarah again. That would make the pain worth it. He could endure if he knew she would be on the other side waiting. The rain made energy fill him again. He had pulled against his restraints until his wrists bled and his arms grew too heavy to move. Now, he tried again, revitalized. As the rain fell, something else touched him, love. Sarah! You're alive. Rain came harder, torrents beat against the ground soaking him. The soldiers didn't run for cover, but were clearly confused, watching back and forth. They looked afraid. Perhaps they felt the magic all around them and it baffled their senses. Behind him, something tugged at the ropes. He turned his head but didn't see anything. The flyer behind him didn't acknowledge anyone. The ropes fell free. Liking's hands were his own, then a soft voice whispered in his ear. "Don't move yet. Sarah is going to do something. She might need you to freeze the water. Be ready.” He knew Marabeth's voice, the strange accent that clipped her words. He'd never been happier to hear it. Rain covered everything, soaking his clothes and pooling on the ground. Then he heard the singing. Sarah's voice filled the camp. Liking looked around but didn't see Lynn. Not that it mattered. Sarah sent him a message. It was time to freeze the water. Liking had never tried to freeze so much at once. Sarah helped him, magnifying his energy. Behind him the other two flyers were freed, Marabeth's doings again. Cordin was the last to have his binds cut, but he was too weak to help, slumping against a tree. She must've delivered a message to join in the icing because each capable flyer added their force, turning the world in front of them into an ice filled wonderland, coating the trees with icicles and turning the land into a frozen pond. At first the creatures slid across the ground, falling. Sarah had a beautiful plan though. The dark soldiers weren't made of real skin, but a strange shifting rock. Water always finds a way into rock.
The ice expanded inside of them. Some burst, some tried to shift letting more water inside. The ones that didn't explode became frozen to the ground, looking like black icicles. Many screamed, letting a sound so sad, it cut through Sarah's song. They all stilled, and most died. Their scattered stone remains covered the ground. A strange beauty surrounded him of ice and glassy black stone. When the last froze to the ground, he looked around for Sarah. Instead, out of the wood ran Elise. Her little legs pumping as hard as she could go. She wrapped her arms around his legs and hugged him tightly. "What are you doing here?” Liking couldn't believe his eyes. At first he thought Lynn had pulled some terrible trick until the child spoke. "I followed Marabeth." The sound of perfect speech astounded him. Liking went to his knees and scooped up his baby. Fright filled him. She could've died out here, anything could've happened. Letting a child so young out was unforgivable. "Where are your brothers and sisters?" "With Anzwele.” Well her speech wasn't quite perfect but amazing for her age. “Celia is supposed to keep shifting, being both of us so Anzwele doesn't know I'm gone.” She giggled. “I came to help you." "Oh, baby.” He kissed her face then hugged her until she squealed. "Mommy,” she shouted, looking over his shoulder. Liking turned and saw Sarah coming closer. Her eyes grew wide when she saw Elise in Liking's arms. She came up, hugging them both. Behind followed Marabeth who ran to Cordin, kissing him. Sarah wrapped her arms around Liking and Elise, kissing each. “Elise? Elise shouldn't be here. She could've gotten hurt." "I not hurt. I helped." "You can talk?” Sarah kissed her cheeks. “You are such a wonderful baby.” She kissed her again and again, causing Elise to laugh wildly, twisting in Liking's arms. “Come here.” Sarah took Elise from Liking's arms and hugged her. "I don't know where Lynn went.” Sarah looked into the dark woods. There were parts even the sun's brightest light couldn't penetrate. "Don't worry about Lynn, Mommy.” Elise nuzzled her head against her shoulder. “I took care of her." "Took care of her?" "I didn't want her to hurt my daddy. She's over there.” Elise pointed into a dark section of forest. “Are you upset with me?" Liking hadn't realized it until Elise asked, but both he and Sarah were staring at the child with a strange surprise coloring their expression. Elise was so small and Lynn dangerous. "Baby, I could never be upset with you.” Sarah kissed her again. “So much has happened that I don't know how to take it. Would you mind if we took a look at Lynn?" Liking wasn't going to ask. He was already heading towards the spot where Elise had pointed. There
was Lynn but she wasn't alone. Her lifeless body was in the arms of a night demon that finished her smoky black-gray soul and wiped his mouth as if he'd just enjoyed a good meal. Sarah came up behind him, Elise in her arms. A loud gasp escaped her but Elise seemed undisturbed by the scene. She giggled again, in that innocent way and waved at the demon that politely waved back and smiled. Behind him were two more dark soldiers that used to belong to Lynn. Liking stepped around the demon to the soldiers. He couldn't stand the thought of one of those abominations living. "No, Daddy.” Elise's little voice stopped him in his tracks. “Don't hurt them. They're my friends. The men Lynn had created would rather serve me. That won't happen until I'm older, of course. Just think of the soul eater as my uncle. That's what he said he was.” She smiled brightly. “I like having an uncle." The night demon held his ground, letting his red eyes shine brightly in the deep shadow. Liking didn't want to go in there. Elise was innocent and didn't understand what she was saying. That was all. Her innocence must've protected her from those beasts. Liking looked at Elise, snuggled in Sarah's arms. Her eyes held a glint of understanding beyond her years, then it faded to the eyes of a child who didn't know any better. Liking shivered but turned away from the macabre creatures, leaving the demon. It was time to go home. There had been enough death here today.
Chapter Eighteen Sarah stood on the beach staring out at the ocean. The waves licked at her ankles. The flyer village was more beautiful than she'd ever imagined. The entire village got together and built their house in a single day, weaving that strange builder's cloth then turning it into walls, ceiling, and floor. They'd made each child a room to sleep in, although the babes didn't want to be separated. Celia and Faller, held onto Elise as if they'd been parted a hundred years. Liking went ahead and put three small beds in one room so the babies could be close. They would worry about sleeping arrangements later. Tonight would be their first night sleeping there, her second night in the village. their first had been at the hospital, in cold stone rooms. It wasn't so bad though. The ocean was near. Liking was kind enough to put their home near the ocean. She could fall asleep to the sound of waves and the scent of saltwater. Life was perfect. She didn't need to find her way back home, she'd found a home with Liking. "I finished putting in the glass.” Liking rolled up his pant legs and went to her, touching her and pulling her backwards, out of the water. “I'll make you proper furniture tomorrow." "The moon is so beautiful shining on the ocean." "It is." Liking kissed the back of her neck, making those warm sensations fill her thighs, running over her skin like static in a storm. It had been too long since they'd made love. Well, only a few days had passed but it seemed like an eternity. "The children are sleeping,” whispered Liking, too closely to her ear. “Our house is far from others. I can't see another home or the village from here." His lips traveled, tickling the flesh. She leaned against him, pressing her backside against him. He groaned as she moved her waist, rubbing against his cock. She loved the way he sounded when he became aroused. "Come with me into the water.” She started forward, pulling Liking by the hand but he didn't move. “What's wrong?" "I don't know how to swim." "Then it's time for you to learn.” Sarah pulled at him but he still refused to move. “I'll make it interesting.” She slid off her dress and tossed it high on the beach in the sand. "You don't understand. Flyers don't swim." She leaned over, unfastening his pants. “I've been cooped up on land for too long. Come with me on a little swim. We won't go far.” His pants fell to his ankles, becoming soaked in the saltwater. "I can't." Sarah dropped to her knees and took his cock into her mouth, cupping his balls as she licked the head then continued down the shaft. He groaned, touching her head. He grew rigid in her mouth and she lapped the tip again.
Liking was too preoccupied to notice that she'd caused him to levitate above the water, and move into deeper sections. When she released his cock from her mouth and smiled up at him, he realized, and she dropped him into the ocean. At first he panicked, splashing wildly and going beneath the water. It took a minute to calm him down. Sarah gently helped him to the surface, easing the fear from his mind. "You're my husband. Making love to a water siren has certain advantages.” She kissed him again. “Try breathing under the water. I bet you can." **** Marabeth stood at the funeral pyre Cordin had helped her make at the camp. It was too late to protect Tara's soul but Marabeth felt something had to be done. As the flames ate away the hull of her fallen sister, Marabeth found some peace. "Are you okay?” asked Cordin. He stood near her but she could feel his fear in touching her. He was afraid that she'd run away again. "I'll be fine. Tara was an evil woman.” She reached to him, caressing his hand. “Why don't you ask the real question on your mind?" "Very well then. Are you returning with me to the village?" She'd actually expected something about the star. No one knew where it had gone, lost before the battle had begun. It was nice that he was interested in her now and not that seed of power. "Would you like me to go to the village?" "You know I would, now answer the question.” He looked at her with those dark piercing eyes. "I will return with you, as long as the people will accept me." She hated putting stipulations on it but living around whispers of her mistakes would drive her mad. She also wanted to have babies but what kind of home could they have if their mother was an outcast? "Liking feels comfortable there and I don't think there's a problem with his children. He's done far worse things than you. Come with me and share my home, my life." "Very well then,” but Marabeth had her doubts. **** Elise slid from her bed while her siblings slept. She looked down, opening her stomach where she'd shifted a pocket, and pulled out a thick cloth. Inside was the dagger, the star, the source of more power than a child her age could understand. She shifted her hand into a long claw and cut the floor beneath her bed. She had some trouble lifting out the section but finally it came. There she dug a hole and dropped the dagger inside, covering it back up. It would be safe for now, hidden below her family. The little girl climbed back into bed, happy to have that thing out of her. She might need it another time. The End About the Author: Jennifer Cloud was born in Asheville, North Carolina where she met her husband who encouraged her to
write after finding a partial manuscript in the bottom of her armoire. She now resides in Florida with her husband and two daughters. She writes romantic suspense, paranormals, and eroticas. Visit her website at jennifercloud.com or email her at
[email protected].
Visit www.atlanticbridge.net for information on additional titles by this and other authors.
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