Banded Brothers 03 - To Enchant An Eagle (8 page)

He turned to find Gallen’s mother standing there with a look of disappointment on her face.
Eaton bit his lip as he moved to block her view.
She gently pushed him to one side. “Excellent,” she said, eyeing the empty cage. “So you aren’t entirely under his spell.”
“Not at all, actually,” Eaton said. It was too late to cover up. At this point, she already knew he’d freed the pigeon shifter. When Gallen had mentioned Kurtis’s plight, Eaton knew he could help the tortured man. Eaton’s winged half rebelled at the thought of any bird being caged. To have it happen to someone who wasn’t even intended to be a shifter sounded like the worst kind of torture.
He’d quickly located Kurtis and got the pigeon shifter to agree to send a message to Marty. He hoped the man actually delivered Eaton’s message. He figured he had a fifty-fifty chance of Kurtis keeping his word. It had been two hours since he’d been freed; Eaton hoped to have a response soon. He’d come back to the cage to check and see if the shifter might have returned.
“Why do you stay?” Eaton asked. He could see she wasn’t under the influence of anything. She didn’t wear one of those necklaces and her eyes were clear of enchantment.
“My son. Whenever I try to leave, I worry that Gallen’s father will finally completely twist his soul. He’s the reason I stay.”
“What will you do if he finally breaks free of his father?” Eaton asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve been under Theos’s thumb for three centuries, and in all that time, I’ve only had one child. I’m hoping my true mate is out there somewhere. I’d like to see if I could find him.”
Eaton smiled. “Good luck.”
“You might need it more than me,” she replied. “When they find out you are lucid, they will try to discover why.”
“I don’t plan on being here much longer. My friends will come for me.” Eaton has no doubt in his mind that Carey had already devised a plan.
Bellion gave him a sad smile. “You think they will trouble themselves over one eagle shifter.”
“I know they will, because I would do the same for them.” Eaton had not even a twinge of unease when he made that statement.
“You really believe that.” She stared at him for a long moment.
“What?”
“I see absolutely no doubt in your aura. You have complete faith in your friends.”
“I grew up with them. I was there for Carey’s first bullet wound and Denton’s first toothache. I’ve seen my shy friend go from crayons to brilliant oils to become an amazing artist. They are extensions of my soul. You don’t turn away when part of you is missing. You hunt it down and get it back.” Huh, maybe Aden had rubbed off on him over the years after all.
“I wish you good luck, Eaton. I hope your faith isn’t shattered.”
“It won’t be.”
A loud explosion rocked the house. Screams echoed through the mansion.
Eaton smiled. “Harris has arrived.”
Gallen came running down the hall. “We’ve got to go!” he shouted, grabbing onto Eaton.
“Go where?” Eaton asked.
“To the bunker. It’s spelled so no one can get inside unless they have sorcerer blood or a chain.”
Eaton jerked his wrist out of Gallen’s hold. “I’m not going anywhere. My going with them.”
“You can’t. Father will you’re the reason our home was destroyed.”
“Go with him,” Bellion urged. “Now is the time, son. Start fresh; be the person I always knew you could be.”
Gallen paled. “Marty will kill me!” He shook.
“Then don’t go with me. Nothing says you can’t strike out on your own,” Eaton said practically.
“What about you, Mother?”
Bellion smiled. “I think I’ll quite like travelling about. I’ve only stayed for you, my sweet boy.”
“You could come with me,” Gallen offered.
She shook her head. “It’s time for you to be your own man. Good luck, my son.”
Eaton smiled when she vanished, leaving in her place bits of pink glitter.
“She always did have a flare for the dramatic,” Gallen said.
“Gallen! This is your fault!” Theos appeared from around the corner.
Eaton could hear the older man begin to chant. Darkness swirled around him as he continued to mutter words Eaton couldn’t understand.
“Don’t do this, Father,” Gallen pled. His fingers moved quickly. Eaton figured Gallen must be doing a silent counter chant, because no words left Gallen’s mouth.
friends are here. I’m

With a shout Theos released his spell. Except instead of aiming at Gallen, he sent it toward Eaton.

Gallen leapt in front of Eaton, blocking the spell with his body.
“No!” Eaton shouted. He grabbed Gallen as the sorcerer toppled to the ground. Gallen’s skin turned ashen as if all the life had been sucked out. His eyes slide closed shutting the world out.
“What did you do?” Eaton screamed at Theos.
“I did what he wanted,” Theos said, a scowl crossing his features. “He wants a true mate, now Gallen will have to find him in order to come back to life.”
With a scathing look at the pair of them, Theos stomped away.
Eaton picked Gallen up, determined to save the sorcerer before his friends burnt the building to the ground. Smoke filled the air, making Eaton’s eyes water and singeing the hairs inside his nose. He could see and hear the crackle and spit of flames, but he couldn’t smell any fire.
Taking a chance, he marched through the inferno. The spell tickled his arm as he walked past the illusion and straight into the circle of his friends.
“Hey, Eaton, took you long enough,” Carey said. His favorite spell flame weapon sat propped on his shoulder. “I thought I might actually have to set the place on fire to get you out.”
Eaton grinned. “It’s good to see you, too.”
“What happened to the sorcerer?” Marty rushed to his side.
“His father spelled him. Something about having to find his soul mate or some crap in order to come back to life,” Eaton said.
“Aw, the snow white curse mixed with a little necromancer approached, Gallen. “Interesting application. I’ve never seen it used like that before.”
“Cool, I’ve always wanted one of those glass coffins in the garden,” Harris said. “It’ll make a great conversation piece.”
“Yeah, for the police,” Denton said dryly.
Harris scooped Gallen out of Eaton’s arms. “I’ll take him.”
Eaton’s hands were only empty for a brief moment before Marty wrapped himself around Eaton and squeezed him tight. “Don’t you ever do that to me again.”
“Do what? Get kidnapped? Well, I’ll try, but I didn’t exactly plan it the first time.”
Marty kissed Eaton and every other thought melted from his brain. “Let’s go home.”
power.” A tall elegant vampire his interested gaze swept over

Eaton barely slammed his bedroom door shut before he began stripping off his clothes. Marty pulled off his attire with equal speed and soon they were writhing naked on the bed, wrestling each other for dominance. It was only for show on Eaton’s part; he didn’t want to be on top, but he thought Marty needed to work for it.

He grinned madly when Marty flipped them over until Eaton lay pinned completely by the larger man.

“Gotcha,” Marty said with satisfaction, his erection pressed against Eaton’s stomach.
“Yes, you do,” Eaton agreed. “Now what are you going to do with me?”
“Oh, I have several ideas.” Marty wrapped one hand around both of Eaton’s wrists before he grabbed the lube out of Eaton’s side table.
“Afraid I’ll escape?” Eaton asked.
“Neither of us is going anywhere until I’ve claimed you. I was terrified Gallen would bond with you before I could get you back.”
“Despite his actions, Gallen knew what he was doing was wrong,” Eaton protested. The sorcerer was an odd mix of wanting to please his father and wanting to do what was right.
“Let’s not talk about him right now.” Marty bit Eaton’s nipple.
“Sorry.” Eaton gasped at the sensation before wiggling to get even more.
Marty smiled. “I don’t know that you really are, but I am.”
Eaton froze at the seriousness on his lover’s face. “What are you talking about?”
“If I hadn’t been so focused on being healed, I would never have let another man touch you. I’m an ass,” Marty said.
“I forgive you,” Eaton said. “You are completely healed now, right?”
“I’m healed enough to show you what you were missing by not letting me screw you earlier.”
Marty released Eaton long enough to remove the cap off the lube. He slicked up his fingers and carefully loosened Eaton up. Eaton gasped as Marty penetrated him slowly, widening him by twisting his hand back and forth, up and down, bumping something inside that made Eaton wiggle, trying to get him to do it again.
“Ahh, I found it, I see.” Marty’s victorious smile made Eaton grin.
He’d never seen this carefree, happy side of Marty before, and he wouldn’t mind seeing it more often.
Marty removed his fingers and applied more lube to his erection. “Are you ready? We will be bound forever in the way of your people. Do you choose me as your mate?” Marty asked, his serious gaze unwavering.
“Yes. Make me yours.”
Marty pushed inside. A whimper burst from Eaton before he could help it. It hurt. His body sought to reject the intrusion. Marty whispered soothing words and stroked Eaton’s skin until Eaton relaxed enough to take more. Each time he tensed, his mate took a little time to relax him. He couldn’t ask for a more patient lover.
“Almost there, love,” Marty moaned. He moved his hips in slow increments until finally he filled Eaton completely.
Eaton clenched and shifted beneath his mate, trying to align their bodies and get more comfortable. “Just relax,” Marty said, rubbing Eaton’s ass.
“Move!” Eaton ordered. He needed something, something more.
“Whatever you want!” Marty’s stunning grin warmed Eaton’s heart.
Marty slid out, then back in. The first few times were awkward until Marty found the rhythm and Eaton’s toes curled as his lover pegged him over and over in the most delicious way possible.
“Marty, touch me!” Eaton needed more than Marty’s cock; he needed his hand.
“Bossy, bossy. I see you are going to top from the bottom,” Marty teased.
“I’m going to punch from the bottom, too, if you don’t get busy,” Eaton ordered.
Marty laughed. Wrapping his hand around Eaton’s shaft in a loose grip, he continued to drive Eaton out of his head with a combination of squeezes and pumps until Eaton made noises he didn’t even know could come out of his throat.
A loud eagle scream burst from him as he came. His fingers shifted into talons as he gripped Marty. Unlike the cat shifters, Eaton didn’t have teeth in his shifter form so he used his talons to slash at his lover’s neck. Slicing a line along Marty’s throat, he lapped at it, taking in his mate’s blood to finalize the ceremony.
After he sealed Marty’s wound with his saliva, he sliced his own neck. “Drink!” he demanded.
Marty quickly dipped his head and suckled down a few drops of blood before closing up the wound.
A hawk’s cry vibrated Eaton’s eardrums as Marty pumped his essence into him, adding to their bond. Replete, Marty slowly slid out of Eaton and collapsed beside his lover.
Eaton could feel cum sliding out of his ass and onto the blanket below. “How come no one ever mentions how messy sex is?”
“Because wet spots aren’t romantic.” Marty grabbed Eaton and pulled him into his arms until he lay across his lover’s chest. “I can feel him now.”
“Feel who?”
“My hawk. Gallen had done something to put him to sleep, but now I can feel him again.”
“Of course, you can. You ingested my blood. It woke him back up.” It made perfect sense to Eaton.
“Rohan offered me blood, but I refused him.”
“Good. I don’t want you to take anyone’s blood but mine.” Eaton sighed with satisfaction, his entire body replete.
“That’s what I thought you’d say,” Marty replied. “I don’t want you to ever regret taking me as your mate.”
Eaton sat up so he could look Marty in the eye. “The only thing I’ve ever regretted about us was that I should’ve bonded with you a long time ago.”
“Good.” Marty snuggled Eaton back against his chest. “Get some rest, babe, we’ll have sex again after our nap. We need to double check that the bond worked.”
“It worked,” Eaton said.
“Hush, like I said, we’ll double check. You can’t be too careful about things like that.”
Eaton laughed. “Okay, we’ll make certain of it.”
Cuddled next to his mate, his bonded, his love, Eaton fell asleep.

Amber Kell lives in Seattle, WA with her husband, two sons, three cats and one extremely stupid dog. She loves to hear from her fans at [email protected]