Evans, Gabrielle - Firestorm [Fatefully Yours 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) (3 page)

Echo plucked at the shirt he was wearing as he stared openly at Fiero’s bare chest. Okay, he understood the man’s point. He didn’t want Gage, Mac, or Sony ogling his man either. Tugging the shirt off, he handed it back to Fiero. “You take that. I’ll be right back.”

Fiero growled, but it was more sexual this time, and Echo felt a shiver run down his spine as he raced out of the room before the man could lunge for him. He was more than happy to postpone their little discussion for another round of hot, sweaty monkey sex, but he knew this was important.

His very interested cock swelled and bobbed between his legs, screaming at him for being an idiot and demanding he drag Fiero back to his room for a little playtime. Shaking his head to clear the lusty thoughts, Echo dressed at top speed, eager to get their impromptu meeting over with so that he could give in to his racing libido.

Gods, he couldn’t get enough of his men. They were in the early stages of their relationship when everything was new and exciting, but Echo had a feeling things would only get better with time. As his feelings grew, so did his desire, and he doubted he’d ever be able to tame the passion that burned between them.

Smiling to himself as he rushed back down the stairs to meet Fiero, he had to admit that he hoped that fire never dimmed.

“Ready,” he announced, bouncing up beside his lover.

Fiero rolled his eyes and held out his hand. “Well, then let’s not keep them waiting. You know how impatient Myst is. He’s liable to wet himself wondering what we’re doing in here.”

Slapping at Fiero’s shoulder, Echo giggled. “You’re bad.”

“Maybe, but it’s true.” Fiero stopped just inside the doorway and gestured to where Myst was practically vibrating in his seat as he stared at them intently. “See?”

“See what? What’s going on? What were guys talking about? How come I don’t get to know?”

Echo burst out laughing. Okay, so Fiero had a point. Out of all of his lovers, Myst had to be the most impatient of the lot. He made up for it enthusiasm, though, so Echo figured that ought to count for something. The man just had a charismatic charm about him that Echo couldn’t help but love.

Staring around the room, he met each man’s eyes. This was his family. He loved them all, though in different ways, and he’d do whatever it took to keep them together and safe.

Chapter Three

Fiero resumed his seat at the table and pulled Echo into his lap. He glanced over to where Sony perched in Gage’s lap and shook his head. “We need to get more chairs.”

“And a bigger table,” Hex griped as he nudged Syx’s elbow with his own.

“Screw the table and chairs, I wanna know what’s going on,” Myst demanded. “Echo waltzes in here butt naked, then he drags Fiero off into the other room. I can tell from looking at you two that nothing kinky was going on. Disappointing,” Myst shrugged at this, “but it means you were talking about something serious.”

“For once, he’s right,” Hex said around a sigh.

“Yeah, see?” Myst puffed out his chest, then deflated almost instantly. “What do you mean ‘for once’?”

Chuckles went around the table, and Fiero joined in, smoothing his hand along Echo’s spine to comfort his mate. He didn’t know what Echo dreamed, or what it had to do with the prophecy, but he could still feel the tension in the muscles of the man’s back and shoulders.

“Echo had a dream.”

The laughter cut off immediately, and everyone’s attention snapped to Echo. Fiero glared at his lovers when Echo wiggled uncomfortably in his lap from the intense scrutiny.

“Why are you looking at him like that?”

“Because we want to know what the dream was about,” Syx said calmly. “We’re not judging or placing blame, so calm down. You’re overreacting.”

Fiero knew it, but that didn’t make it any easier to suppress. Damn, this mating thing was hard. Sometimes he worried that he didn’t give Echo the attention he needed and deserved. He knew he didn’t give off the warm, fuzzy vibes like the others, but he tried his damnedest to be what Echo wanted. Then there were times when he felt he was smothering the man with his protective instincts. It was a fine line, and one he’d yet to figure out how to navigate.

Echo’s head came to rest on his shoulder, and his small hand caressed Fiero’s chest. “I’m fine, love, but thank you,” he whispered.

Fiero melted at the endearment. So, maybe this warm, fuzzy thing wasn’t so bad. That didn’t mean he was going to start waxing poetry or come up with ridiculous nicknames for his lovers, but the cuddling wasn’t so bad. He actually enjoyed having Echo wrapped up in his arms where he knew his mate was safe. Yeah, maybe he could do this.

“You’re doing just fine,” Syx said softly, his eyes shining as he smiled at Fiero. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

“Stay out of my head,” Fiero returned, but without any real heat. He’d long ago come to terms with the fact that his thoughts would never be private in Syx’s presence. Besides, Syx’s praise made him feel pretty damn awesome.

“Okay, so can we get back on track here?” Vapre cleared his throat and sat up straighter in his chair. “Echo had a dream. I’m assuming it was similar to the ones we’ve all had with the Oracle. Otherwise, I don’t see how it would be such a big deal.”

Fiero felt Echo nod against his shoulder. “It was the same one with the prophecy, but different.”

“Like the ones we had where it felt like we were drowning, and it smelled awful?” Eyce’s eyebrows drew together as he spoke. “Is that what you mean?”

“Yes and no.” Echo sighed as he sat up in Fiero’s lap and leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table. “First of all, Fiero didn’t have this dream with me, though he was the only one that seemed respondent. Everyone else was just staring blankly at the Oracle.”

Eyce nodded. “That’s how it was in my dream.”

Echo shook his head. “But Fiero didn’t have this dream,” he repeated. “He looked scared, and you’ve all known him a lot longer than I have, but I just can’t see him being afraid of anything.”

Fiero didn’t comment, but he knew Echo was wrong. True, he wasn’t afraid of much, but there was one thing that terrified the hell out of him. He didn’t know what he would do if something happened to any of his lovers. Not even the threat of returning to the Underworld scared him like the thought of losing one of his men.

“The Oracle said something else,” Fiero said, changing the subject. He didn’t want to travel any further into his morbid thoughts of death and heartbreak.

Every man in the room looked at Echo expectantly. “What did she tell you, baby?” Hex asked.

Fiero couldn’t see Echo’s face with the man’s back to him, but he remembered the look of fear and desperation on his mate’s face when he’d revealed the Oracle’s words to him. A similar look must have covered his visage just then because Hex leaned over and cupped Echo’s cheek.

“Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it. Just tell us,” he said quietly.

“She said that I needed to put away my doubts, or I would lose something important.” Echo’s voice trembled as he spoke, and Fiero had the urge to pull the man back into his arms and keep him there until this mess was over.

“What’s important to you?” Eyce asked from the end of the table. His eyes held a knowing look, as though he knew exactly what Echo’s answer would be, but needed to hear it spoken aloud.

“You. All of you.” The words were whispered, but Echo’s voice still cracked twice, and his small body quaked beneath Fiero’s hand. “I don’t know what she wants from me.” He shook his head defiantly, his golden-blond hair swaying across his back. “I’ll do it, though, whatever it is. I won’t lose you guys.”

 
“No one is going anywhere,” Syx said firmly. “Forget about that part and let’s focus on what it is you doubt.” He lifted an eyebrow in question as he leaned back in his chair and folded his hands over his chest. “So, what is it?”

“I don’t know. I have no idea what she’s talking about.”

“Do you doubt we’ll protect you?”

“No.” Echo shook his head again. “I know you’ll take care of me.”

“Do you doubt that we can win this war?” Eyce asked.

Echo was slower to respond this time, but eventually he shook his head once more. “No. I don’t think it will be easy, but I don’t doubt that we can win.”

Fiero leaned forward, pressing his chest to Echo’s back and whispered in his ear. “Do you doubt how we feel about you?”

Echo didn’t answer. Fiero waited several seconds, giving his mate a chance to think it over, but he still didn’t answer. His suspicions confirmed, Fiero eased back in his seat, his chest tight and his heart heavy. How could Echo not know how he felt about him?

“No,” Echo said, his voice loud and full of conviction, startling Fiero after the long silence. He didn’t say more, and several of the men looked at him in confusion. Everyone except Syx, who smiled a little as his eyes softened.

Fiero would have given anything in that moment to know what Echo was thinking. As it were, he knew he’d have to wait until his mate was ready to tell him. Good thing he was extremely patient.

Fiero snorted, drawing everyone’s attention. Good grief, he hadn’t even been able to
think
that with a straight face. Then Echo turned in his lap, leaning in to place a quick kiss on his lips. “You think too much.”

“What about you?” Onyx asked, drawing Fiero’s attention.

Mac’s eyes widened, and his face paled at being addressed directly by one of the warriors. “Me?” he squeaked. Fiero thought the little runt was getting used to them. Maybe Onyx had just caught him by surprise.

Onyx softened his features and lowered his voice, speaking gently as he continued. “I meant have you seen anything? Do you know what Echo’s dream means?”

Mac shook his head. “I told you it doesn’t work that way. I haven’t seen anything since The Collector came.”

Maybe it was the way Mac’s eyes darted around the table, or how the muscles in his forearms bunched as he fidgeted his hands in his lap, but Fiero didn’t believe him. “You’re lying.”

If it were possible, Mac’s face paled even further. He pressed his lips together in a thin line until they turned white at the edges and shook his head frantically.

“He doesn’t know anything,” Sony spoke up. “Leave him alone.” He leaned over from Gage’s lap and wrapped his arms around Mac’s neck, hugging him protectively.

“He does know something,” Fiero growled and eased Echo out of his lap. There was a good chance things were about to get ugly, and he didn’t want this mate to end up in the crossfire. “Tell me.”

“Leave him alone!” Sony shouted while Mac trembled in his arms. “It’s not his fault!” He looked over his shoulder at Gage. “Do something.”

“And what would you have me do?” Gage asked. “If Mac knows something, we all need to hear it. This is not the time for secrets.” Reaching around Sony, Gage brushed his fingers through Mac’s mousy brown hair. “Sweetheart, you need to tell us what you saw.”

Mac disentangled himself from Sony and looked up at Gage. He stared at him for a long time then finally nodded his head slowly. Turning around, he locked eyes with Fiero, piercing him with his chocolate brown gaze. “Trust is earned, not given freely. You ask too much, and answer too little. Find the balance, or you will fail.”

The room went unnaturally silent as everyone stared at Mac in shock. Fiero cleared his throat twice before he found his voice. “That doesn’t sound like a vision.”

“No.” Mac shook his head, his eyebrows drawing together. “That’s why I didn’t say anything, and why I’m freaking the hell out right now. I just saw a picture of your face, like a photograph almost, then I heard this voice in my head.” He took Sony’s hand as he continued to stare at Fiero. “Nothing like that has ever happened before. I don’t like it.”