Origins (11 page)

No one argued with the plan. They were too tired from the stress of the day and dropped where they’d been standing. Kir took one side and Zareb the other, leading Dji to the circle. They stopped and allowed Dji to sit right on top of the spot where Joy and he had buried the Vessel.

“I can feel the evil,” Djimon said in a defeated tone, one Zareb had never associated with him.

“You may feel it, but it is contained. I think the only reason you sense it is because it was a part of you for so long. Even now the vibrations are weaker than what they were when Joy and I buried it. The magic we used was strong.”

“Someone will have to come back and check on this spot from time to time to make sure. No one should live through what I did.”

“I agree. I will talk with Russell when we return. I think we all could use some downtime. Kir should settle in and you need time to adjust.”

“I need to—” Dji bowed his head and placed his hands on the ground. He began to chant, using some of his own magic to help seal the spot.

He slumped over, but righted himself. Not needing any help, he stood. For the first time in weeks, Dji looked like his old self, the man Zareb remembered from his youth.

* * * *

“Please, Dji, let us go to the river. I want to swim, it is too hot.”

“We have duties to attend to. Classes for when we become guardians. You need to take this more seriously—soon it will be our responsibility to watch over the masses.”

“We have time, Dji, all the time in the world to learn what we need to. How often will we be able to go for a swim at our leisure? Those days are coming to a close. Much sooner than either of us is ready for. One afternoon is all I ask.”

“You always tempt me. One of these days you might regret leading me down the path of wickedness and laziness.”

“I do not think so because by then you will have beaten all the fun out of me.” Zareb grinned at his friend, the brother of his heart.

And Dji would. Once they became guardians, the mothers of the tribe would try to have them mate with their daughters in hopes of raising the next generation of guardians. Their time for fun was coming to a close. Dji was always too serious and looked at the big picture. Zareb figured it was his duty to bring some excitement to their lives.

Later he would get Dji to go into the jungle. Something was singing out there and it begged him to find it. He wouldn’t do it without Dji, they were brothers until the end of time.

“We cannot stay long, but I will go with you.”

Zareb tugged Dji behind him until they reached the edge and he pushed his friend before jumping in after him. It was a great way to spend the afternoon. They didn’t know exactly what was in store for them. No one really did until after the ceremony took place. The last guardians did not share. It must be grand, though, to be revered by everyone. It was a great honour and Zareb did take it seriously, most days.

He laughed when Dji went to dunk him under, but he was too fast.

The sun started to set on their day of play. A few more days and they would be on patrol, watching over their people. The responsibility rested heavy on his shoulders, but he would do what needed to be done.

* * * *

If it was the Ancients causing these flashbacks, he’d have to thank them for the last couple of good memories. That was the last afternoon they had been together. The next night the disaster
with the Vessel
had happened and their lives had gone down different paths.

It should have been me.

“No, my broer. It was as it was meant to be.”

Zareb didn’t realise he’d said it out loud.

“You were the serious one—the man who the tribe looked up to. I was the joker, the one who tempted you into all the trouble.”

“Do you not see? That is why we were perfect to be guardians together. It was a balance.”

“How can you forgive me?”

“It was not your fault and you need to forgive yourself. Our paths are once again in line.”

“I see you are feeling more like yourself, It is good to have you back.” Zareb hugged Djimon close.

“We should go now. I’m sure the others are getting impatient to leave,” Kir broke in.

“It is good to be back. I am ready to get to know who I am again and it seems along the way I have acquired a mate.”

Zareb threw back his head and laughed.

“Yes, you have, as have I. Now we have to get Kir squared away and life will be good.”

“That is not nice. I am fine without a mate. I am just happy the evil is buried and gone. Too long have we wallowed in misery.” Kir slapped him on the back.

The three left the clearing and went to join the others.

The trip to the plane was uneventful. Zareb was thankful for that. The private airstrip was the one good thing Dmitri had done while taking over Dji. Otherwise there would be some explaining to do with Kir coming home with them.

Zareb headed for the seat in the very back where Joy joined him. The others took seats and it was surprising to see
Pete
r and Grey not by each other—that would need to be fixed. Zareb wanted his family happy.

He watched as one by one the others fell asleep. Joy cuddled in close and her soft breath caressed his cheek. As peaceful at it was, someone should keep watch. The last plane he’d been in had crashed. He was hoping that wouldn’t happen again, but there were no guarantees in life.

A movement in front of him caught his attention
—
he
must have zoned out.
Pete
r was moving about the cabin and heading his way. The restroom was beside Zareb’s seat. Now would be the perfect time to talk to the wolf and no one would disturb them.

A couple of minutes later
Pete
r came out, but before he could return to his seat, Zareb stopped him. He moved to lay Joy down in the seat—she didn’t even wake up.

“Have a seat.”

“I was going to go back t—”

“And you will,
Pete
r, but we need to have a chat.”

They both kept their voices low so they wouldn’t wake the others.

“About what?”
Pete
r looked confused.

“Why you are not with your mate?” Zareb pointed to the front of the cabin where Grey rested.

“I don’t have a mate,”
Pete
r stated firmly.

“Yes,
Pete
r, you do,” Zareb insisted. His anger was rising and that wasn’t good. They needed to keep this between them.

“Gay men don’t have mates.”
Pete
r crossed his arms over his chest, but he didn’t make a move to leave.

“I do not know who told you that—as Joy would say—‘bullshit’, but it is false. The Ancients give us all mates. Some of us are lucky enough to find them in this lifetime. Do you know how long I’ve been alive? A very long time. I was born in the early sixteen hundreds and I had to wait for Joy. You had better believe I will not be letting her go any time soon. Think about this, young wolf. How will you feel when he finds another man to be with?”

Pete
r growled low in his throat.

“That is what I thought. Do not wait too long or he could leave. There is no guarantee he will stay with the Masters pack. He has a home to go to the fox den, he doesn’t need to guard Russ’ mate anymore.” Zareb patted
Pete
r on the shoulder.

Pete
r nodded and left. Zareb grinned when
Pete
r sat in the same row as Grey. Not right next to Grey, but it was a start.

“You’re cruel, but in the best way possible.”

Joy’s voice startled him. He didn’t expect her to be awake, but now that she was he was going to take advantage of it.

He reached for her hand and led her to the bathroom.

“But I don’t hav—”

Zareb shut the door behind him. They were crammed in a tiny space, but he could make this work. He manoeuvred himself so he sat on the sink and had Joy straddle his lap.

“Oh. I see. We’re mile high clubbing it, are we? One of these days we need to try this in a bed. A nice soft—”

He cut her off with a kiss and she parted her lips, letting him in. He shifted around so he could take her pants and underwear off. Zareb wanted her completely naked, but there wasn’t a whole lot of room to move around in so he’d have to take what he could get.

Joy nuzzled his neck and bit him. Not what he was expecting, but he wasn’t complaining. His cock throbbed.

“Joy!”

“I claim you as mine, my mate from here to eternity.” Joy bit him again. Her magic flowed through him. He tingled all over. He needed to be inside her.

Joy fumbled with his pants until his cock was free. There was no waiting, her possession of him had Zareb on the edge. She was in charge, he had no doubts about that. She sank down on his dick and the warm wet heat was heaven, one he didn’t want to leave any time soon.

When she moved, he held her still. Zareb wanted to savour the moment. She had claimed him and they were fully one. He held her face in his hands, staring deep into her beautiful green eyes. They sparkled for him. She bit her lip and he soothed it with his tongue. Joy groaned into his mouth and tried to wiggle, but he didn’t let her, not yet.

“Zareb, please.”

She begged him, but still he kissed and nibbled at her mouth. It might not be the best place to claim his soul, but he would make this time special. He slowed the kiss down. Joy’s inner muscles flexed against his cock. He would need to thrust soon and she wasn’t making it any easier for him.

Joy started to twitch and he gave in. Zareb ran his hands down her body until he reached her ass. He helped her, never breaking his kiss. Her moans were getting louder and her movement was faster and faster. They would wake the others at this rate. He released Joy’s mouth.

“Shh, my siel. Shh,” Zareb whispered in her ear.

His control was tested when Joy bit into his shoulder to control her noises. He bucked into her; neither of them could keep a good rhythm. The sex became frantic, both of them racing to finish.

Not wanting to be outdone, Zareb nipped at Joy’s neck before sinking into the same spot where he’d marked her as his the first time.

Joy screamed her release. Nothing short of a gag would have stopped her. He didn’t know who was louder at the end as his voice joined hers in climax.

He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths in to calm himself. His heart wanted to beat out of his chest. Each time they were together intimately it got better. Their very souls wrapped around each other the way it should be with mates, or at least how he had always thought it would be.

“I don’t want to move.

“This will not be comfortable for long,” he assured her.

“Speak for yourself and I don’t want to go back out there.” Joy’s face turned a lovely shade of pink.

Zareb chuckled. “They probably wish it was them in here instead of us.”