Twin Flames (8 page)

I wasn't sure how we made it to my bedroom. I vaguely recalled pulling off Ushna's clothes because I couldn't get close enough to him. I was like the sands of the arid Sahara and he was the water I couldn't get enough of. I wanted to draw him into me, absorb him, and become one with him.

I rubbed my face on his stubble. His calloused hands traveled my body, exploring with his touch as my tongue tasted him; the column of his neck, the hollow of his throat, over his pecs. I loved the feel of his chest hair crossing under my tongue as I licked my way down to a tantalizing peaked brown disc. I flicked my tongue over it before my lips latched on and I gave it a strong sucking pull. Ushna moaned and trembled under me. He grabbed my ass and squeezed with both hands almost painfully hard as he pressed his hips up into mine. His shaft slid through my pubic hairs, pulling them slightly.

I moved back and captured his lips in a bruising kiss. I sucked his tongue into my mouth, my hand fisting his hair, giving it a tug to demand he submit to me. Ushna bared his neck, my lips latched on, sucking up bruises all the way down to his collarbone. Something primal in me relished the look of my mark on Ushna's skin. He was mine, my lover. I gave in to the urge to rub my face against his chest, leaving my scent on his skin.

I listened to Ushna moan and gasp as I sucked greedily on his neglected nipple. I gave it a quick sharp bite before I left it to follow the trail of his hair with my tongue, snaking down to his belly button. I nibbled at the edges. On impulse, I sucked up another mark.

Ushna writhed underneath me, moaning my name. I didn't think I'd ever forget that sound as I looked up Ushna's body. Passion-filled eyes gazed at me as I buried my nose in the juncture of his hip and groin and inhaled. My eyes rolled up in my head as I took in his heady scent. I rolled my face in his pubic hair, rubbing his scent onto me.

I gave a long lick to his ball sac, gently taking one into my mouth. I savored the salt of his clean sweat, a hint of soap mingled with the taste of Ushna's essence. I gave his perineum a probing lick before taking the other ball into my mouth.

I eyed the thickness of him before me. I ran my tongue up from the base to the flared tip. Ushna moved and thrashed, grabbing fistfuls of my hair as I took the tip of him into my mouth and suckled. I used my tongue to press hard on the nerve bundle under the head. Ushna cried out, his hips bucked, his hand twisted my hair painfully as he thrust up into my mouth, hitting the back of my throat.

I sealed my lips around him as he moved in and out, fucking my mouth. I cupped and rolled his balls, feeling them pull up tight to his body. I sucked harder, desperately wanting to taste Ushna. His thrusts became frantic, almost bruising, until he gave a hoarse cry, holding my head as he came in my mouth.

I swallowed as much of his seed as I could, feeling some dribble down my chin but I didn't care. Ushna released my hair and I licked him clean before I crawled up his body. My need was almost painful. Ushna sucked and licked himself off my chin before his lips latched onto mine in a tender kiss.

"Ushna," I moaned against his mouth, "please… please let me make love to you."
His rough hands stroked my back. His smile pressed to my lips as he spread his thighs in invitation. The hair on his legs raked through mine as he moved his legs up around my waist.
"Yes, yes, yes," he moaned into my mouth.
The sounds he made for me, they did something to me, stirred the predator in me. I wanted to ravage Ushna, mark him and claim him. My whole body shook as I latched on to Ushna's neck and sucked up another mark, fighting for control. I wouldn't, couldn't claim Ushna, for so many reasons. The predator that breathed under my skin wanted more.
I pulled the lube from under the pillow and slicked my fingers. I pressed two into Ushna. He hissed and moaned through his teeth. He pushed back onto my hand, riding them. I wanted his body to remember me, to feel me, tonight, tomorrow. I wanted him to be reminded with every move he made who'd possessed him this night, who would be doing so every day from here on out because I wasn't going to let him go.
I pulled my fingers free and moved between his legs. I gently, steadily pressed my flared head into Ushna and listened to a litany of "yes" whispered into my ear. Popping past the guardian muscle, I stilled. The pressure pushed passionate sounds from my lips. The heat of him wrapped tightly around me was heaven. I paused to relish the moment but Ushna was having none of it as he impatiently impaled himself on me, making us both moan.
Tears pressed at the back of my eyes as I slowly withdrew until just the tip remained before swiftly pushing back in. Ushna moved and bucked. I grabbed the back of his knee and pressed his thigh toward his chest as I found a deeper pounding rhythm that had him calling out for more, begging for harder. Every thrust moved Ushna up the bed until he had to press a hand on the headboard to keep him from going farther.
I couldn't stop. Release was right there and yet I couldn't move beyond that point. The core of coiled power that had been dormant since Seattle uncurled in my chest. It flowed outward to my limbs, expanding out until it was brushing just under my skin. The pressure of it made me doubly sensitive. Everywhere I touched Ushna, the power flowed into him.
There was something ancient about the dance of power from me to Ushna. Like a slow seductive hunt that felt right, as if it, I, we, had been waiting for this contact, this touch. As it moved into Ushna, I could feel the power searching. The moment it found what it hunted, I felt something lock into place. Ushna's back bowed and he called out my name. He reached out and grabbed, twisting my hair as he yanked my face down to his.
"You're mine," he growled at me, his eyes glowing with a primal ferocity I'd never seen before. "Tell me!" he demanded.
There was no fighting it because I was his to my very core, "Yours. I'm yours, Ushna. Yours."
He growled, smashing his lips to mine, and I felt the tingle of the power roll from his tongue to mine. I didn't know where I ended and he began. I was falling into him and I didn't care. He could have all of me.
He groaned as he came again, painfully twisting my hair, his blunt teeth bruising me as he bit my shoulder, triggering my release. My head snapped back as I roared, my body covered in sweat, shuddering with aftershocks as Ushna held me. Our breaths were coming in quick, ragged draws. I lifted my head and gave him a languid kiss. I realized the energy was again dormant, coiled loosely back in its place in my chest.
I ran my hands over him. I don't know what the power had done to us, if anything. I felt fine but I was desperate to make sure I hadn't hurt him. He grabbed my hands and I looked up at him.
"I'm fine." He gave me a blinding smile. Goddess, it was beautiful. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen Ushna grin, much less smile like that at me. It was a treasure.
I ran my fingers over his rugged face, through his spiky stubble, to those kiss-swollen lips, and touched that smile. I grinned back with all the joy I felt, wanting him to see everything I couldn't say yet.
He tucked my head into the hollow of his neck. I knew I should clean us up, but I didn't want to wash his scent off of me or mine off him. I was loath to leave the newfound comfort of his arms. So I stayed and drifted off to sleep, safely wrapped in his arms.

Waking up in the morning, my body seemed to hum. It was early yet, just barely four o'clock. Even the ranch hands would be asleep this early. I rolled over to find I was alone but I could feel Ushna. If I closed my eyes I could point in what direction he was in… there, toward the kitchen.

I rolled over and grabbed the pillow heavy with his scent and thought about this new development. I distinctly remembered the power uncoiling and flowing into him. In the light of pre-dawn I was trying not to panic. I'd been careless. I had put offno, I'd ignored what'd happened in Seattle. I should've taken more time, put more effort into figuring this thing out. Last night the flow of power between us had seemed natural. But something had changed because I felt him as if he were attached to me. Had I inadvertently changed something within him? What happened last night hadn't seem to harm him but I didn't know if there were long-term effects.

I didn't know whom I could ask for guidance. I was reluctant to share this new development with anyone. It was private. My intuition told me I should be cautious with whom I shared this information. I wasn't sure why but I was going to listen my instincts.

I needed to talk to Ushna about it. Inhaling his scent from the pillow, I remembered last night and felt myself grow hard. Making love to him had been better than I imagined. I could still feel his touch, his lips. Groaning into the pillow, I rolled over and got out of bed to go to the bathroom.

Coming to an abrupt halt in front of the mirror, I forgot to breathe. I was looking at black iridescent scales of a pair of double helix snakes. The tails started just below my navel and twined around each other up the center of my abdomen, between the valleys of my six-pack, the heads arcing to face each other over the top of my pecs. Each snake had a yellow eye looking outward.

The twin snakes were covered in real black iridescent scales. My skinholy shitmy skin had actual snake scales. As I ran my fingers over one of the snakes, it felt as if it rolled under my touch. My stomach lurched and I fought back nausea.

If that wasn't enough, I did a double take when I saw my eyes. They now had an emerald green ring on the outer edge of the brown iris. I carried the Caduceus, the mark of the God Enki, on my stomach, and my eyes had somehow absorbed Ushna's iris color.

Magic had taken part in our love play the night before, the result of which was reflected back at me from the mirror. Maybe I could call Gregori and ask him to come sooner. He was our friend and didn't play by the rules. I trusted him to help me figure out what happened without revealing this to anyone. I couldn't contact the Council, at least not yet. I'd had sex with a warrior, who'd been lost to the Lupe, to wake up with scaled creatures as part of my body. The Council had already threatened to put him in a cage and I didn't want to give them any more reasons to do so.

A horrible thought occurred to me and I hurried to the kitchen. Ushna stood at the stove in jeans, making breakfast. The aroma of black coffee and steak greeted me, but I had eyes only for Ushna.

I must've slept through his shower because his blueblack hair was still wet. He seemed calm, not yet aware I stood naked in the doorway to the kitchen. I wished I could stand there forever and just be with him, but I needed to know he was okay.

"Ushna?" His name had barely left my lips before he turned around and gave me the most arresting smile. I couldn't help but return it. That one look told me all I needed to know but my smile faltered when I saw his torso. He bore a Caduceus that was similar to what adorned me. Two albino snakes faced each other over the tops of his pecs, a red eye facing outward, their sinuous bodies entwined together down his long torso with their tails ending below his navel and covered by the waistband of his jeans.

In a daze, I went to him, my hand hovering over the emblem of Enki. "How does it feel?" I lightly brushed one of the serpent's bodies, the scales glossy and smooth under my fingertips. The touch caused an undulating ripple.

I glanced up and checked his eyes. Brown circled the outer edge of the emerald green iris. "Oh Goddess, what did I do?" I breathed. A thread of panic wrapped around me. This was more serious than I'd first thought. We not only needed Gregori, but my brother, Nathan, who was a doctor, as well. They are the only two people I trusted to help us. "I didn't know, I swear I didn't know."

I ran my hands over Ushna searching for any injury gone unnoticed. I wasn't hurt but that didn't mean that he was unscathed. "Are you in any pain?"

My heart twisted as I looked into Ushna's bi-colored eyes, tense and waiting for him to tell me.
"My ass is a little sore this morning," he said with a straight face.
My mouth opened and closed a couple of times as I struggled to reply and settled on punching him in the arm. "Asshole!"
Ushna roared with laughter as he grabbed me by the back of my neck to pull me in for a kiss. I responded, leaning into his body as his other hand wrapped around my waist and drew me in closer. I pulled back from the drugging kiss, trying to focus on the new additions to our bodies.
"This is serious. You have the Emblem of Enki on your chest this morning and I'm not sure how it happened. Aren't you just a little freaked out? Because I'm telling you, if I get any more…."
He clapped a hand over my mouth. Maybe I did sound a little hysterical.
"You chose me." Ushna studied me with his bicolored eyes, his blue-black hair brushing his cheeks. He looked so damn content. I couldn't remember ever seeing him this happy. Of course I'd chosen him. I would do anything to keep that look on his face. "Tristan, the Emblem of Enki is the sign of the kings of the Enkidu royal line. You marked me as your chosen consort."

I closed my eyes, mortified at my nudity while being held in my lover's arms. Ushna growled and covered me with his body as he placed himself between me and the door. I guess I wasn't the only one who wasn't happy about our surprise visitor.

"Gregori," Ushna said. "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but don't you know how to knock?"
"Funny you should ask, because I did and no one answered. The lights were on so I figured you couldn't hear me. How was I to know you were having kinky kitchen sex? I'm okay with watching, but there's someone else with me so you might want to put some clothes on."
"Please step into the living room and keep your friend with you," Ushna snapped. He didn't look angry but the happiness I'd seen earlier was gone, replaced by the closed face I knew so well.
"I'll keep him from roaming," Gregori promised before he left.
I cupped Ushna's face and made him look at me. "Tell me what's wrong."
"Not here," he said. He led me to his bedroom, and grabbed some clothes before we went to my bedroom, where he closed and locked the door. I trusted Ushna's instincts. If he thought we needed the extra precaution, I wouldn't say anything.
"Gregori interrupted on purpose so he could warn us about his companion." Ushna pulled clothes out of the closet for me. "It means he doesn't trust them."
"I don't think a surprise visitor is our only problem." The way he moved and stretched made me wish for more time in bed with him.
Ushna looked at me questioningly, "What do you mean?"
I pulled a pair of boxer briefs out of a dresser drawer and pulled them on. "I'm talking about what you said in the kitchen about the king's consort. Ushna, I'm not a king."
Ushna stopped and studied me. "We bear the marks of the royal couple. Didn't you know?"
"That's what I was trying to tell you in the kitchen. I don't know how this happened. Something's been wrong with me since Seattle. Last night when we had sex, this thing in me went into you. I think it's what caused this." I indicated the double helix snake on my torso.
Ushna's face fell. "So you didn't choose me."
No. I wouldn't have that. I grabbed his face and made him look at me. "I choose you. I choose you for my lover. I choose you for my partner. There will be no one else for me. See me. See that my words are true." My eyes captured his. I urged him to discern the truth in them. "I can't live without you. I don't want to. Do you want me, Ushna? King's consort or not, will you stay and be with me?"
His eyes shone with unshed tears, "Goddess, Tristan, I've loved you since I was a boy."
A possessiveness so unlike me caused a feral growl to erupt from my throat as I smashed his mouth to mine. This nonsense about kings and consorts could be sorted out later. I refused to think about the life he had led, loving me quietly from the shadows. I'd deal with the unexpected visitor who'd come with Gregori in a moment. I refused to worry that my family would be here in a couple of days. Right now, I needed to reassure and comfort my lover. I promised him with my kiss that later, I'd do more than just kiss him.
I pulled away and he rewarded me with the same beautiful smile he'd given me earlier. "We have much to discuss, but for now let's get dressed and see what kind of trouble has come to our door." I took the clothes Ushna held out to me. "I want you to move in here or I'll move into your bedroom. You choose. I won't be without you."
He said nothing, just gave me a goofy grin before he started dressing.
After a hasty wash up, armored in our work clothes, we went out to properly greet Gregori and the mystery guest. In the living room, Gregori lounged on the couch, effectively putting on an air of careless nonchalance. The man standing by the window radiated aggravated anger.
I took a second to examine this stranger. He screamed society elite. Expensive haircut, even, lamptanned skin, waxed brows, manicured softened hands. If he'd come with Gregori, he had to be a Magi. He was about ten years my senior, making him over forty. He wore a tailored Armani suit, which looked ridiculous in our ranch living room.
So he was from money and a Magi. I instantly disliked him. I didn't know why he was here, but he'd soon find out if he stayed it would be because I wanted him here, not because he thought it was his due.
"Gregori," I called.
I was happy to see my old friend. As far as I could discern, he hadn't changed. He wore his usual old stained T-shirt and faded blue jeans. His red hair was longer and gathered in a braid that fell down his back.
Gregori hopped over the couch and scooped me up in a bear hug.
"Tristan!" He boomed in his baritone, unrestrained happiness colored his words. "You look fantastic!"
I knew Gregori meant this in more than one way. He could see auras and by the tone of his voice, mine was screaming contentment.
"Damn, you feel good, too!" Gregori pulled back, a question in his gray eyes. "We need to talk," he whispered for my ears only, flicking his eyes over to Armani Man.
Ushna, not willing to let Gregori hold me longer, pulled me out of Gregory's arms. The proprietary act made Gregori laugh as he looked Ushna over, studying him. Abruptly, he pulled Ushna into his arms, hugging him fiercely and slapping him on the back. "You've never looked better, brother. I'm happy for you."
An exaggerated throat clearing brought our attention to Armani Man. He gave Gregori a disapproving look before glancing to me with his features schooled to polite indifference.
"Pardon me for interrupting your reunion." He held out his hand. "Caspian MacCuill." His voice was cool and commanding. Something about it put me on alert.
My instincts told me he was a threat. I wasn't sure why until I stepped away from Ushna and Gregori. I felt a pulse of power from MacCuill's hand, a subtle compulsion for me to take his outstretched palm. In response I felt my center of power uncoil in my chest, filling me until it was caressing me just under my skin. This time, I didn't struggle to control the power.
I stared at the hand but didn't take it. Threat or trap? "Forgive my rudeness, but who are you and why are you here?" See, I can be polite.
MacCuill's eyes narrowed. "The Council has sent me to evaluate Ushna Ahura-Yzda."
"No, the Council sent Gregori to help Ushna. The Council evaluation will be later." I disagreed, my voice sharp.
MacCuill gave a quick laugh, "You don't know everything the Council does. They don't have to tell you when they make changes. They sent me here to assess Ushna. If he's deemed a threat, I'm to escort him back to the Center for neutralization and housing."
I seethed internally, but allowed nothing to show. "You're mistaken, Mr. MacCuill. Ushna's evaluation isn't for another couple of months. If the Council had changed their plans, they would've called me before sending you into my territory."
MacCuill sneered, "You're not Alpha here, Tristan. The Council doesn't answer to you. I was hoping we could get through this peacefully but it looks like I was wrong. I'm sorry I have to do this."
I could see the glee in his eyes that belied the words he spoke. Had I played into his hand? What was his purpose?
Before he finished speaking, Anat Warriors filed in the front and back doors of my house, entering my territory and my home. My sanctuary had been invaded by Lycans, who would forcefully take my lover from me.
MacCuill smiled coolly and stepped to the side as the room filled with warriors. "If you think the humans will help you, think again. While Gregori came in to warn you I made sure the others on this ranch would continue to sleep. Now, you can co-operate or not. It's your choice. I'd hope you'd exercise good judgment for the safety of everyone here."
I herded Ushna and Gregori into the corner of the room, never taking my eyes off the intruders. Ushna tried to put himself next to me but I needed him behind me for what I was about to do. Memories of a long ago night had given me an idea. I would be distracted by worry if he was within easy reach of a warrior. I wouldn't have him plucked from me so easily. One look from me was all it took and Ushna backed up without a word.
"Tristan, I swear I didn't know about this," Gregori said, his hand clutching my shirt. "We weren't followed. I would've noticed."
MacCuill laughed at Gregori. "The warriors have been in place since two o'clock this morning. I wasn't taking any chances."
If the warriors had arrived just a couple of hours earlier, I'd have been caught out in the open, running in my wolf form. Ushna would've been alone and unguarded here at the house. If they'd known, would the warriors have snatched Ushna away in the night? My blood boiled.
"MacCuill," Gregori didn't hide his anger, "this isn't what the Council sent us to do."
"I can argue that the Council was foolish to believe you would give an honest evaluation on a friend. Ushna was lost to the Lupe. He doesn't have a Twin Flame and he doesn't have a life bond. He isn't secured within a true tribe, therefore, I deem him a threat to the human population and his continued independence places Lycans at a dangerous risk of exposure." MacCuill glared at Gregori. "The only one to blame for this necessary action is yourself. Kevah made you a gracious offer and yet you have withheld what he's requested. You've been resistant to us for far too long. Instead, we've had to resort to these measures to ensure your obedience. You'll fall in line and serve as a true Magi to Kaveh Khortdad, head of our order. We've waited long enough."
"I'll not bow to Kevah!" Gregori growled but MacCuill wasn't listening.
"Tristan, you need to step aside or be forcefully moved." There was something more happening here than I was aware of or understood. He wanted me to resist him. He wanted to demonstrate in front of an audience his power over me. I could see the anticipation of it in his eyes.
Fine.
There was no heat in my voice, my stance reflected the calm I felt as I gave MacCuill the full weight of my gaze and simply said, "No."
With that one word I unleashed the power that was rolling under my skin. Every Lycan in the house was forced to their knees amid the gasps of shock and groans of those who tried to resist the power. I pushed harder. They'd know I meant business, that I wasn't someone to fuck with.
MacCuill's face turned red with suppressed rage. I couldn't get lucky enough for him to have a coronary. The warriors looked at me with alarm and disbelief. Only they would know that there was only one family who could force them to kneel. It was a closely held secret of the order and it answered my doubts about royal blood. I'd examine the implications later, but at the moment I had to figure out a way to keep Ushna and Gregori safe.
"You can't keep us like this forever, Tristan. We'll still take Ushna. The more you fight me on this, the harder it will be for him. Think carefully about what you do. You may be the darling to the Council, but you are nothing to the Magi." MacCuill had some big ones. He still felt he had the superior position.
Ushna grunted, his face a little green as he touched his chest. I placed my hand below his and felt movement from his Caduceus. I tried to project calm so he could exert control over the serpents. I didn't want him to reveal this change in him. He was already wanted by Kevah and I didn't need him drawing more attention to himself than was necessary.
If I could take Ushna and run, if we could hide the rest of our lives, and not fear pursuit I would've taken him away right then. But there was Gregori to consider. I couldn't leave him to the mercy of the Magi. If we escaped, Gregori would be the one to pay the consequences, and I couldn't in good conscience leave him to that fate. So I grudgingly played the last card I held. Once I did this I wouldn't be able to go back, and even though I didn't want to believe, I instinctively knew the others would.
As I grabbed the hem of my shirt, I wondered if this would put Ushna and Gregori in more danger. It appeared to be the only way for me to exert control and protect them. Later, this action could be the one that would place them in jeopardy.
I pulled my shirt over my head, exposing the iridescent double helix of the black-scaled snakes. MacCuill paled as he stared at the Emblem of Enki on my torso. All the warriors quit resisting me and willingly prostrated themselves on the floor. Cries of
Siamak
, our ancient word for great emperor, filled the room. The twin snakes slowly detached themselves from my torso. With uncanny synchronization, they slithered up my chest and wrapped their tails around my arms as their heads perched on my shoulders. In unison they turned and hissed at MacCuill.
It took me a moment to gather myself. I hadn't expected the snakes to come alive. It required everything I had to fight the nausea their awakening and detachment caused. I took deep even breaths to calm myself, glad I couldn't see the expressions on Ushna and Gregori's faces.
I regarded the warriors laid out before me, "Why are the Warriors of Anat doing the bidding of the Magi?" I asked. If these men were truly in league with the Magi I had no qualms about killing each and every man in the room if it kept Ushna safe.
"Sire, Caspian had orders from the Council."
I glared at the Lycan who'd spoken. He was a blond man. Intricate braids pulled his hair back from his face and combined into a long single braid at the nape of his neck. Sable colored eyes stared back at me with a kind of reverence.
"Bring me the orders." I commanded, releasing him from his prone position on the floor.
He rose, stepped over several bodies and retrieved an envelope from someone's pocket. Ushna and Gregori moved to stand next to me, and Ushna placed a protective hand on my shoulder. The man knelt on one knee, offering up the envelope.
The orders from the Council surprised me. I had definitely watched too many movies because I was expecting rich calligraphy on stiff card stock. The computer printed note seemed anti-climactic. Seriously? It wasn't even on letterhead. I waved the paper at the warriors.
"You took
this
as your orders? I've been a hunter for the Council for six years. All orders have been given to me either verbally, by phone, or in person from an elder. Did you even think to question this? Why didn't you verify this with one of the councilmen? It isn't even signed!"
"They're Magi, Sire," was the reply from one of the warriors. I couldn't identify who spoke.
"Being Magi doesn't put them above question. Warriors are supposed to be protectors of the people, servers of Shamash's justice, not puppets of the Magi. When have the Anat Warriors started serving blindly without question? Where are your leaders, your captains? Where's the justice in what you do today? Ushna is a warrior. He made the same vows you did. Do our oaths mean so little now? You unlawfully invaded my territory to take a member of my tribe without notice. It's within my right to execute each and every one of you for this offense."