Elder Bonds Read online

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  Favorite Quote: “Not everything is black and white,” was his cryptic reply. “Go ahead and shower when you feel up to standing. I’ll find your clothes.”

  Forbidden Bonds, chapter 2

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  Pancakes or Waffles: Doesn’t strike me as the picky type

  Tom Fitzgerald

  Nicknames: Arrogant Ass, Arse, Sentinel, Fitzgerald

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  Nationality: American

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  Age: Twenty-seven human years

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  Immortal Classification: Hydraian

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  Maker/Father: Jonathan Fitzgerald

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  Siblings: None

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  Immortal Talents: Perfect Aim & Lie Manipulation

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  Relationship Status: In love with Amelia Wakefield

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  Sexual Preferences: Amelia Wakefield

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  Favorite Position: Amelia restrained/bound in some way with him in control

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  Favorite Quote: “Shoot me,” he urged. “If it’s what you need to do, then do it.”

  Forbidden Bonds, chapter 11

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  Pancakes or Waffles: Likes food generally, so will eat either

  1

  Luc

  Around 1500 BC

  Three women.

  No, make that four. Or was that a man? Luc lifted his head to eye the human using his thigh as a pillow but couldn’t tell the gender.

  Oh well.

  As much as Luc favored a pleasurable tumble between the sheets, he really needed to move. His father wanted to meet for a morning meal, and the climbing sun indicated that hour was fast approaching.

  He stretched his arms and found a fifth mortal above his head. Nice breasts, supple waist. Ah yes, he had enjoyed her mouth around his cock. Her name, however, escaped him. She likely never even gave it. None of them did.

  Luc sighed. All right. Time to dismantle the human pile.

  He shifted subtly at first, dislodging the two brunettes from his abdomen, then the blond from his leg—male—and rolled over the dark-skinned woman who had snuggled into his side.

  None of them woke.

  Luc smirked. At least they were well satisfied. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Pulling on his signature blue robes, he tied it off with a bronze-laced sash, ran his fingers through his hair, and stepped outside. The sun warmed his exposed arms and neck and highlighted the coming day.

  Gorgeous.

  He padded barefoot along the path to his father’s current home and waited outside against a tree. A breeze from the nearby sea calmed the air, soothing Luc to his very soul. These were his favorite hours, the ones where no one disturbed them. Catering to the humans’ beliefs that he and his father were gods was cumbersome indeed, but necessary.

  “Good morning,” his father greeted as he exited in a similar outfit. The humans commonly mistook them for twins because of their similar physical ages, long blond hair, and matching green eyes. Luc had about four inches on Aidan’s height, and his facial traits were graced by his mother’s beauty, but they could otherwise pass as brothers.

  Their uncommon heights, charming looks, and supreme intelligence lent to their nicknames as the “Divine Twins.” The sapphire robes they always wore only added to their notoriety. They were worshipped, cherished, and frequently bedded by whoever was brave enough to ask. Not a bad life.

  “Morning,” he returned. “Another beautiful one at that.”

  “I’m not certain of that.” His father began walking, hands clasped behind his back. “One of the females told me something rather worrisome last night.”

  Luc trailed along beside him, curious. “What was that?”

  “That I was not the first god to grace her bed,” he murmured. “I know there are others like me, have met a few through the last few centuries, but the way she described him was unlike anyone I’ve encountered.” His emerald eyes lifted to his son. “The god who pleased her before me did not require blood.”

  “Like me,” Luc inferred. “Interesting. Did you birth another son without knowing?”

  Aidan shrugged. “Possibly, but he would be of this region. Her description of him, however, suggested otherwise.”

  “Not blond?”

  “Nor light eyed.” He stopped at the cliff’s edge to admire the icy waves crashing against the rocks below. “She described him as a mind reader with a penchant for enhancing emotion.”

  “Neither of which is one of your abilities.” Unlike Luc, who had inherited Aidan’s gift of intelligence and strategy. “Assuming we’re right about our genetic traits, he could not belong to you or me.”

  “Indeed.”

  “His dual gifts—if she’s correct—and lack of dietary requirements indicate he’s a descendant, like me.”

  Aidan nodded. “My thought as well.”

  Luc observed a pair of humans in the distance attempting to catch their next meal with a spear in the frigid water. “I assume the woman gave you a location?”

  “An estimate of one, yes.” He smirked as one of the mortals lost his balance. “They’ll never learn.”

  “We’ve watched them evolve together for over two hundred years, Father. They continue to improve with each generation.”

  “True. Perhaps one day they’ll develop a more effective weapon.”

  “And use it on each other, no doubt,” Luc replied dryly. Mortals seemed to be hardwired for conflict. Even now the two males below seemed to be bickering over their failed attempts, blaming each other rather than working as a team. “Do you think they will ever learn?”

  “Perhaps,” his father murmured. “But strategy is not a common trait.”

  True. “Speaking of, I assume you have a plan for tracking down the other ‘god’?”

  “I do.” He pulled a stick from a nearby tree and drew a map in the dirt. “The armor she mentioned was reminiscent of our time southwest of here, closer to the larger of oceans. It’s possible he’s ventured up from Babylon or descends from another of that origin.”

  “A reasonable suspicion.” All the immortals they knew of seemed to come from that region, his father included.

  Aidan pointed to a location on his makeshift map. “We’ll pick up a crew and transportation there and sail this direction”—his slender branch shifted left—“then land here and continue to the area she described.”

  “That’s a long way for a female to travel alone.”

  “Her parents traded her to a local tribe in exchange for bronze.”

  “Which explains why she ended up in your bed,” Luc inferred. “A sacrifice.”

  Aiden smirked. “Yes. Poor girl thought I meant to drink her dry.”

  “Is that why she mentioned the other god?”

  His father nodded. “She thought to seduce me into saving her life, claimed the other taught her several enticing tricks that I would enjoy more than her blood.”

  “Did she prove herself correct?” Luc didn’t particularly enjoy discussing their sex lives, but this provided intellectual value.

  “In more ways than one.” His emerald eyes glinted. “She’s not lying. Another exists.”

  “Then we’ll find him.” A vow, not a request. If there was another like Luc in existence, they should meet. “He may provide answers.”

  “Or introduce additional questions.”

  “Either way, he’s valuable.”

  “On that, we are of the same opinion.” Aidan glanced at the path that led to town. “Shall we indulge in a meal first?”

  “That would be advisable,” Luc agreed. “We’ll need an ox or two, as well as a wagon.”

  “Don’t fancy a long walk, then?”

  “I was thinking for the women.” His lips curled in amusement. “Or did you intend to go without while we travel?”

  His father chuckled. “I’m sure we can pick a few
up along the way, but transportation may be prudent. We can trade it for a wooden boat at the water.”

  Trading was unnecessary, as the people of this region revered them. All they needed to do was ask and the items were given. But they refused to abuse the power.

  So they would trade, likely with someone less fortunate, and continue on their way.

  “I’ve been bored,” Luc admitted as they started toward their favorite meal spot. “You should thank your female for me.”

  Aidan grinned. “I shall, once we return. She’ll be sleeping for a while yet.”

  “Then we leave at dusk.” Not a guess so much as a confirmation.

  “Yes.”

  “Perfect.” Luc added a little hop to his step. “An adventure, then.”

  “Be careful what you wish for, Son. This could be a new beginning, and not all changes are good.”

  “I welcome any at this point,” he murmured, meaning it. As much as he adored his immortality, it grew tiresome after decades of the same worship and treatment. His talent for remembering everything he read and saw meant there were very few new experiences left for him in his current lifestyle. He craved more knowledge and a challenge, something that would entertain him for a while longer.

  Or eternity would become a very long existence, indeed.

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  Lucian, 1547 BC (Date Roughly Estimated)

  2

  B

  “You don’t want to do that.” The mortal wouldn’t listen to Balthazar, but he had to try anyway. “It won’t end well for you.”

  The short male threw his fist upward, barely nicking Balthazar’s chin. Everyone around them gasped, shocked that a human would be so brazen. But jealousy did miraculous things, and this man radiated it in waves.

  “Look—”

  Another swing and a miss.

  Right, restraining the insolent bastard it was, then.

  Balthazar caught his third attempt at a hit and applied just enough pressure to the man’s fist to force him to his knees. “I really don’t want to hurt you, Jeremiah,” he murmured. “Violence isn’t in my repertoire.”

  “You fucked my woman!”

  “Yes, and numerous others before and after her. I offer pleasure to those in need, and your woman, as you call her, required my special brand. If you would learn how to fuck a female with more than your dick, perhaps you would find yourself with a more satisfied mate.” Size didn’t matter when one knew how to use it, but this man possessed neither girth nor skill. It was no wonder Bania came to Balthazar for assistance. Poor girl.

  “You’re evil,” the human seethed, eliciting gasps from the crowd. “Sinful!”

  Well, that last part was true. “I indulge in pleasure, which is hardly a wrongdoing. But I wouldn’t expect a being such as you to understand.” As one who only thought about his own indulgences, not others’, he couldn’t be expected to comprehend such a subject. Pity, really. Most men could be taught through verbal coaching, but this one would never learn.

  “You’ll lead a solitary existence, friend,” Balthazar said as he released the mortal and turned toward the crowd.

  They parted for him with reverent hushes, all admiring his impressive height and clearly superior looks. He’d used them for the better part of the last fifty years, mostly in the brothel where his mother had raised him. After an unfortunate incident with another angry male—something that happened more than he preferred—he’d died. Then awoke to the gift of immortality, or so it seemed. He hadn’t aged a day since, and most wounds healed far too quickly for a mortal.

  His reputation as a god was spreading, just as he desired. There had to be others like him, and if word traveled far enough, he would find them.

  He stopped in his temporary home to trade robes, craving one of a deep red for this evening’s festivities.

  Or perhaps, afternoon was the more appropriate term. He dropped the sash to his side, no longer needing to tie it. Not with his favorite lover approaching.

  Nythos’s indecent thoughts heated his blood, her mind always providing the most delicious of desires. She was the reason he remained here for so long. Every evening a new adventure or experiment, all of which intrigued him.

  He turned as she entered and welcomed her with a sensual kiss meant to seduce. All tongue, skill, and wanton ease that she eagerly reciprocated. He knotted his fingers through her thick auburn hair and tugged her head back for better access.

  Damn, he adored this woman. Well, he adored all women, but this one appealed to him in a way few others did. Mostly because she understood his needs and possessed a lust for life that rivaled his own.

  “You should have punched him back,” she whispered against his lips. “He more than deserved it.”

  “Mmm, you know how I feel about unnecessary brutality.” His palms slid to her ass, holding her against him. “Making love is always my preference.”

  “On that subject, I have some friends I want you to meet.” Her legs wrapped around his waist as he lifted her from the ground. This was a far more enjoyable position for a conversation.

  “They sound intriguing,” he murmured, listening to her descriptions of the “friends” in her thoughts. Several males and females, all interested in a variety of oral exploits. “When are we meeting them?” he asked as he laid her on his bed, his lower half settling between her very welcoming thighs.

  “After we finish here.” She sucked his lower lip into her mouth and bit down hard enough to draw blood. Such an adventurous woman. If he could gift her with immortality, he wouldn’t hesitate. The woman possessed all the markings of an excellent protégé, with her wicked ebony eyes, creamy skin, and gorgeous curves. Pair that with her kinky thoughts, and, well, she was perfection on legs.

  “A woman after my own heart.” He slid her robes up to her hips while teasing her mouth with his tongue.

  “Liar.” She arched into him, her body and mind commanding his attention. “We both know it’s not your heart that I want.”

  He grinned as he parted his robe. “There’s a direct link, sweetheart.” He slid into her welcoming heat, eliciting a moan from her chest. “Pleasure is felt everywhere, even in our souls.”

  Her nails bit into his neck as she raised her hips in a practiced motion meant to provoke a response.

  “Impatient little nymph,” he teased, nipping her chin in reprimand.

  She repeated the action with a growled “Stop delaying. I need you. Now.”

  Oh, he didn’t need words to know that. Her body told him when she soaked his cock. He thrust deep to the spot he knew she craved.

  “Yes,” she hissed, her nails scoring his shoulders and pulling down his robe in the process. “More.”

  Her thoughts erupted into an onslaught of orders, all encouraging and confirming his every move. Decades of experience gave him significant leverage, not to mention his other attributes.

  His name sounded like heaven on her lips, as did the groan that followed when he pulled out of her. “Flip,” he demanded.

  She did, her pert ass resembling perfection on his bed as she raised it in the air. He peeled the rest of her robes off, along with his own, and drew his fingers slowly along the curve of her spine. Teasing was an art form meant to elicit the most extreme of sensations, but it had to be done right.

  Goose bumps trailed his featherlight touch. Mmm. She usually wanted it rough, but there was a sensitivity to her today that indicated a different need entirely.

  He pressed a kiss to her shoulder as he nudged her thighs apart. His lips trailed the path his finger made to the crease of her thigh. Her shuddering breaths were music to his ears as he settled on his back with his hands on her hips.

  God, what a view.

  Wet and swollen with arousal. Just the way every woman should be in his presence.

  Balthazar blew against her clit and was rewarded with a shiver. Nythos loved sex almost as much as he did, making her the ideal playmate. No matter how many times he sated her, it was never enough. And
he fucking adored it.

  She tried to rotate, her thoughts indicating her desire to reciprocate.

  “Later,” he murmured, holding her in place. “Let me take care of you.”

  While her sexual inclinations were the loudest musings in her mind, an argument from earlier lurked beneath the yearnings. Some sort of family dispute regarding her future and a potential trade involving her marital commitment.

  Humans and their desires to feign monogamy. Such a boring existence, indeed.

  Nythos relaxed above him, her elbows holding her upper body against the pillows as he drew his thumbs in circles against her hip bones. A gesture meant to soothe, tease, and seduce, and one of his favorites.

  “Long morning?” he asked softly, his lips brushing her inner thigh. Some women wanted to talk, then play.

  “Yes.” She blew out a shuddering breath. “I want to forget for a little while.”

  They would discuss it later, then. Pleasure first. And then again afterward.

  His palms traced her shapely thighs to her ass, pulling her closer. “I can help with that.”

  “Please.” Need thickened her voice as her legs quivered around him.

  “Relax, sweetheart.” He licked her long and deep, evoking a sigh from her. And she said pleasure wasn’t tied to the heart.

  More, more, more, she demanded mentally.

  He grinned against her sensitive skin. “Don’t worry, sweets. I’ll take care of you.”

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