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It was a few weeks later when I felt the babies move for the first time.
Luckily, I happened to be by myself, a rare occurrence these days. Kai was in the next room unpacking the newest pile of shiny baby things she had wasted her entire paycheck on. Oisin was in the living room, pumping Hisashi for information about pregnant women and babies, since Hisashi's clan was big on motherhood.
I had no clue what Con and Halstad were getting up to. Last I knew, Halstad had all his creepy spell books spread out all over the kitchen table as he muttered to himself about lesson plans and teaching procedure for mages. Con had the day off, so he was probably making something complex and amazing for dinner. He was trying out recipes on us while he tried to get up the courage to invite his mother over for dinner.
I put a hand over the fluttering in my middle, a stupid, cheesy grin stretching my cheeks so bad they hurt. It was one of those weird moments where life has just been happening to you for so long, you don't really realize where you are until you slow down. I looked around my cozy bedroom, with its massive bed and stained-glass windows. There were bits and pieces of half a dozen lives strewn about here and there. One of Oisin's fancy vests hung over the back of the chair. Kai's trashy romance book was cast aside on the footstool where she'd left it earlier. About a hundred-odd glass vials and twists of paper and plants and God's knew what was strewn on top of the dresser—Halstad's mage crap. Con's reading glasses were folded up on the nightstand, right on top of Hisashi's new tarot deck.
My eyes watered and I found myself blubbering like an idiot. I was...happy. Really fucking happy. I wish I would have known a few years back how happy I would be, all because my clan finally pissed me off and betrayed me bad enough that I left. I could almost be thankful. Almost. I still mostly hated my clan. They had a long way to go to redeem themselves.
Heavy footsteps in the hall had me swiping at my eyes. Maybe I could blame the hormones or something.
Halstad paused in the doorway, then came over to sit on the footstool so he could face me as I sat on the bed. "Alright, girlie?"
I blinked at him. The gruff guy was getting more and more...normal. Relaxed. "I'm fine. Just hormones." Yeah, it sounded lame, even to my own ears.
Halstad patted my knee. "Gross. Lady stuff."
I snorted at him. He wasn't fooling anyone. "I just felt the babies move," I said, grabbing his hand and putting it on my stomach. A little nudge had his mismatched eyes widening in wonder.
"If that ain't the most...never thought I'd know what that felt like." His cheeks went pink.
I leaned forward and kissed him, reveling in the way his stern lips yielded under my own. I still hadn't figured out this whole dynamic yet, but I was trying. And Halstad didn't seem disappointed.
I pulled back, a stupid thought nagging at the back of my mind. "Halstad?"
"Hmm?" He pulled himself back from wherever he'd just been—probably imagining us naked together.
I covered his hand with mine, not sure how to bring up the sappy stuff, especially with the stoic mage. "What's your full name?"
He raised a brow at me. "You fuck a guy and then ask him his name?"
I laughed. "Oh shut it. I know mages only have one name. But...didn't you have a full name, once?"
He sighed. "I'm sure I did. But I can't remember. I was too young when they grabbed me up. My first handler at the mage guild had German heritage, so he named me Halstad. I don't know what my name was before. Or what my surname was. It's all kind of blurry. And besides, it never mattered. Once you're a mage, they call you what they want. You don't really get a say."
My chest hurt. "You could change your name, now that you're free."
He shrugged. "Halstad's not so bad. And I'm used to it now. When my missions required it, my mage ID card listed Smith as my last name."
He met my eyes, something yearning and hopeful there. "But...if you...wanted to name me?"
I stared at him, my heart feeling like it was going to explode. Damned squishy, useless organ. "Name you? I don't own you Halstad. You're not a pet!"
He shook his head, looking down. "No, I know that. It's just...I've never had a family name before. Not one that meant anything."
I let out a shaky breath. "Would you want to be a Lionheart?"
He looked up at me. "Like...you mean...?"
I nodded. "I would have to make sure the others don't mind, but I think they'll understand. We can list you as my husband where the humans are concerned, since the others all have surnames of their own."
Halstad blinked rapidly. I think the hardened battle mage was about to cry. That, or turn into a ferret and hide under the dresser. I wasn't sure which. I don't think he was sure which option to take either.
Instead, he squared his shoulders and nodded. "That would mean a lot to me, Gesa. Really."
I shrugged. "White already gave Kai my last name. So I'm just warning you, I think she's technically our adopted cousin or something like that. Just distant enough to not quite be incestuous." And I think White did that because he found it funny. Damned demon.
I leaned in to kiss Halstad again. He moved his hands to my hips and our knees bumped as he deepened the kiss, groaning when I threaded my hands through his hair and pulled, angling his head back just the way I wanted it. It wasn't half bad, having a big, burly guy like Halstad willing to be at my beck and call.
"Oh-ho," Kai's husky voice called from the doorway, ruining the moment. "I thought you might like to see the new rattle I bought, but nooo, here you are trying to make more babies."
I pulled back from Halstad and rolled my eyes. "Kai, I love the enthusiasm, but seriously? How many rattles can two babies possibly need?"
She shrugged. "But his one has foxes on it, Gesa. Foxes!" She clapped her hands together happily, pushing her boobs up against her low-cut dress in a way that made me wonder how sturdy the fabric was.
I shook my head and glanced at Halstad to find him ogling Kai. He realized he'd been caught and looked away, clearing his throat. I smiled.
"Halstad," I whispered. "Are you sure?"
"Oh for fuck's sake," he grumbled, "I'm not a lily-livered virgin, gryphon."
I chuckled, then stood. Crossing to Kai, who watched me with a small, bemused smile, I took her hand and drew her over to stand by the bed. Turning to the mage, I put on my best prison guard voice. "Stay there, mage. Watch. Don't move until I tell you it's your turn."
He grinned. "Yes ma'am."
Kai laughed when I pulled her in to me, pressing my lips to hers, making sure our whole bodies touched. She had asked several times—in her inappropriate kraken way—if Halstad would be interested in her. I guess now we knew. She tangled her fingers in my hair, wrapping it up like she had tentacles instead of hands. She murmured little endearments at me as I kissed a path down her throat. Her hands drifted down to my shirt and she pulled it up over my head.
I wasn't wearing a bra, and Kai hummed appreciatively, bending to suckle at my breast while I worked on the zipper at the side of her dress. Her wicked tongue sent tingles of pleasure through me like my nipples were hardwired to my clit. I groaned in appreciation.
Halstad watched with glowing eyes, but didn't move a muscle.
Soft footsteps in the hall, accompanied by the smell of cookies and hot chocolate. Con met my eyes from the doorway, surprise fading from his face as a grin took its place. He set aside the tray of food he was carrying and glided into the room, brown eyes warm with approval and his brown skin going dusky with lust. "Can I?"
I smiled back at him as Kai undid my fly and tugged impatiently at my waistband. Then I remembered Halstad. Turning to look at the mage, I raised an eyebrow in question.
He pressed his lips together, swallowed hard, then nodded.
He was probably nervous. But I trusted him to make his own decisions. He had been warming up to the others the past few weeks, and he knew I wouldn't judge him if he said no—and neither would they.
I held out a hand to Con and he shucked his clothes in record time. Then he helped me peel Kai out of her dress, skimming his big hands over her luscious curves. He cast a look at Halstad, who was still sitting there, fully clothed. I pushed Kai into Con's arms. "He likes to watch," I told them. "So, put on a show."
Con blushed, but dropped a kiss on Kai's smooth shoulder as he hugged her from behind, pressing his cock against her ass and kneading those magnificent tits. She sighed and plucked at my pants, pouting.
"Okay, okay, calm down kraken," I laughed as I shimmied out of my pants and underwear.
Not wanting my mage to feel even more uncomfortable than he must already, I walked over and leaned down to kiss him, slow and deep. Meeting his eyes, gauging his comfort level, I pushed him a bit more. "Take off your shirt."
He stripped so fast I had to smother a smile. "Not so hesitant now, are we?" I murmured.
His eyes drifted to Con and Kai, who had moved to the bed and into an enthusiastic sixty-nine. "No."
I grinned. "Good. Now—"
"I told you so," Oisin's silky voice purred from the doorway, interrupting my orders. He put just the right amount of wounded, pouting prince into his tone. "We've been left out. Shunned."
Hisashi laughed and shouldered the fae aside. "Speak for yourself. No one's leaving me out."
The fox let a slip of his misty magic dance over me as he slid his big hand from the swell of my hips up my ribs to tease at my breasts before he kissed me. I smiled against his lips. Oisin was already naked when I looked up, and he pulled Hisashi away to strip him, making the fox hiss when he bit his pec in retaliation for ignoring the fae.
Oisin glanced at Halstad as he made his way to me. "Ooh a voyeur. Kinky." He pulled me down into a biting kiss.
"Something like that," I said, meeting Halstad's mismatched eyes. He didn't look like he was about to freak out anymore. In fact.... I turned, Oisin and Hisashi encircling me with their arms as we all looked at the mage. "Take off the pants now."
Halstad stood and did as I asked, not an ounce of hesitation. I admired his thickly muscled form and his thick cock, which was rapidly hardening as I made him stand there, exposed. Clearly, he was doing just fine.
Oisin caught on just as quickly as I had hoped. I just prayed to the Gods they didn't proceed to murder each other mid-orgy. "Oh," he said, his emerald green eyes glowing and a dreamy look coming over him. "I see."
Halstad narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything, probably waiting for the snide comments to start. He looked around the room, taking it all in. Con and Kai teasing each other about who got to fuck me first, while she stroked his cock and he kneaded her amazing tits. Hisashi and his two cocks pressed against my hip. And Oisin, a feral, hungry look on his face that was either no good, or fucking delightful, depending on what happened next.
"Do you need...help, Gesa?" the fae whispered. "Please tell me you need help."
I let out a huge sigh of relief. "Gods yes. So much help. I have no fucking clue what I'm doing."
Everyone was staring now, Con and Kai sitting on the bed, Hisashi at my side. Halstad blushed from his chest to the tips of his ears, but he kept his eyes on mine, his hands loose at his sides.
"What's wrong?" Con said softly, ever the caring, sweet human who would probably never guess in a million years.
Kai tilted her head, taking in Halstad’s burly, well-endowed body. "I'm not sure, but I want a turn with the mage."
I closed my eyes briefly at her comment. Damned kraken wanted to play with all the shiny new toys. My lips twitched and I tried not to laugh.
Hisashi was silent, but I could hear the gears turning. Halstad had mentored him in magic use. I hoped the role reversal didn't freak him out. And that he was okay sharing Oisin.
Oisin stepped closer to the mage and I followed. The mage was short, but Oisin was downright miniature. The fae tilted his head back to watch Halstad's face as he walked around the bigger guy, reaching out to draw one graceful finger along his skin. Across his pec, his upper arm, his back, and around the other side. "Mmm," he hummed. "So lovely. All that power and all that...restraint."
He stopped and met Halstad's eyes. "The first thing you have to know," he said, speaking to all of us, even though he didn't look away from Halstad. "Is that a submissive is a treasure. You have to honor their trust in you. Never make them do something distasteful." He pressed his palm to Halstad's chest again and the mage's eyes flared, glowing with magic. "Tell us what you won't like, so we know how to take care of you, darling."
I watched in utter fascination as Halstad's eyelashes fluttered and all of the tension seemed to just flow out of him. So weird. So kinky. So damned beautiful. I had caught a weird tension between Halstad and Oisin before, something a bit different than their murder attempts. But I didn't understand it. Until now. I think Halstad knew, long ago, that Oisin would know exactly what he needed.
Because, fae. Damned, pointy-eared slut. I grinned.
Halstad didn't look away from Oisin, but his voice shook a little as he let himself be open, vulnerable. To the whole pride.
"I don't like pain," he said softly. "Not real pain. Or being degraded. Spanking, sure. A little bondage. Minor fetishes are okay, but none of that diapers shit, stuff like that."
Oisin nodded, his voice encouraging and gentle. "Good. And?"
Halstad shrugged. "I tend to prefer women more than men. But I like to watch. And...with the right guy, sometimes I enjoy guys. I'm mostly a top, though." He grinned. "Unless you treat me real nice."
Oisin smirked. "We can definitely work with that, right?" He turned back to me and the others.
I grinned. "Oh I think so."
Con scratched his head, blushing, but looking determined. "I'm probably not going to boss you around, dude. And I don't like dick. But I do like watching Gesa and Kai with the other guys so...that's okay, right?"
Halstad chuckled, some of the tension going out of his shoulders. "That's fine, hedge."
Kai slid off the bed and came to wrap her arms around Oisin's shoulders, squashing her breasts to his back. "Are we done talking yet?" She looked at Halstad over Oisin's head. "I want Oisin to play us all like a symphony." She winked at the mage. “That’s what he does. It’s awe-inspiring.”
I stepped closer to Halstad and slid my hand over his broad chest, dipping my head to kiss him. "Okay mage?"
He went pliant under my touch. "Okay, gryphon."
Kai wasn't wrong about Oisin's ability to take charge and manipulate us all. He made the poor mage watch, allowed only to participate when he was giving someone else pleasure, sometimes making him stop and kneel until he was under control again when it looked like he was about to orgasm.
On the surface, I would have said it seemed cruel. But I saw Halstad's response. His hitched breathing, his racing heart. His fucking rigid dick. He was enjoying every moment of it.
Once we had all come except Halstad—because he'd been ordered not to—Oisin smirked his most wicked smirk and ordered Halstad to kneel on the bed, positioning him just so. He beckoned us all closer, one at a time, until we were all focused on the mage, pleasuring him, worshiping him, leaving him wrung out and panting as he spilled inside me with a hoarse scream.
"There," the devastating little fae said, reaching across Kai to pat my hip. "That's how you make love with a sub, darling."
Halstad snorted. "Fuck yeah it is," then his breathing lapsed back into the slow pace that told me he was almost asleep.
Hisashi hugged Oisin close and planted a kiss on the fae's shiny red hair, caressing a pointed ear. "I think I just fell in love with you again," he breathed in mock horror. “That was so damned hot.”
I laughed, pillowing my head on Con's arm and reaching over to pat Halstad's arm, where he lay cuddled behind Kai. "I think we'll keep him, don't you?"
I got a chorus of agreement.
"Now go to sleep, all of you. We've got pixies to chase tomorrow."
I curled a hand over my belly, feeling the sleepy motion there.
We all had our issues, our scars and warts, and insecurities. But, no matter what happened next, no one could ever be more loved. Our perfect pride was finally home.