Haunted by Pride Read online

  Emerald green eyes stared up at him. "Earth to Hisashi," Oisin said softly, his musical voice laced with just a hint of concern. He wasn't one to coddle, but he was perceptive. "Okay in there?"

  Hisashi pushed down the voices and focused on the beautiful man before him. "Fine."

  He leaned down and pressed his lips to that wicked mouth, feeling magic rebound between them, their auras reaching out for each other like greeting a familiar friend. Oisin pressed up on his tiptoes to nibble at Hisashi's lips, then pulled away, his eyes searching, as if he didn't quite believe Hisashi's lie. But, the fae was still getting his memories back, still learning all the nuances between the pride. Hisashi let out a breath when Oisin didn't press him for the truth.

  Instead, the little terror drew away and winked at Hisashi. "It's far too tense around here. I think I'll go see if Gesa and Con need any help." He arched a perfect brow at Hisashi. "Care to join?"

  Hisashi laughed. Oisin might be missing some things still, but that part of him was never going to change. Even if they could all see Oisin struggled with intimacy since his capture and rescue, the fae was not going to let that stop him from engaging in revelry.

  Hisashi ran a hand through the fae's fiery waves, loving that Oisin's hair was getting long enough to ripple over his fingers like that again. "I'll pass this time," he said with a smirk.

  He knew Oisin was angling for a big orgy with the whole pride one of these days. Hell, Gesa probably wanted it too—only she wouldn't push them, would want to respect their boundaries. But the fae? Hisashi had no doubt they'd all get there eventually, and it would be one hundred percent the sexy, manipulative fae's doing.

  "I think I need to go meditate," Hisashi said with a grimace. They both knew that was code for "I need to go get a grip on my freaky-assed powers."

  Oisin nodded, then gave him a sly smile. "Your loss." He turned and glided away, calling out for Gesa to stop pouting or he'd give her something else to do with her time.

  Hisashi glanced at Kai, who was making herself a sandwich, and shook his head.

  She smirked. "Such children," she said with a lift of her nose and a toss of her long black hair.

  He laughed. The kraken was as bad as the fae most days. "Sure."

  She winked, proving him right. "Everyone knows I get a chance at you before Con. He doesn't even like men." She went back to making her sandwich, ignoring Hisashi's eye roll.

  "I worry about you, kraken," he muttered.

  She laughed as he left the kitchen, escaping the innuendos to find somewhere quiet to lose his mind.

  Not that he minded the idea of sexy time with any of his pride mates. They were all hot as hell. But honestly, he wasn't sure what it would be like with Con, since the guy was stick straight. Or if Gesa would mind that he really wanted to silence her kraken for five damned minutes with a couple of well-placed dicks. Now didn't seem like the time to test things.

  Not with one of them missing.

  No matter how much Oisin might hate mages, Hisashi knew the truth. Halstad belonged here. He always had.

  And…Hisashi had trained with Halstad, gotten to know him. He knew there was more to the mage than met the eye.

  He shut his bedroom door and went about lighting incense. Then he half-shifted to better connect with his spirit powers. He focused on his breathing, on the flow of energy within him, around him. Out beyond him. He flowed with it, back and forth between the warmth of the waking world and the chill of the in between.

  It took a while to get into the right state, where he was balanced—able to tap his power without letting it overwhelm him. Then, the fox started talking to ghosts.

  The two fae appeared almost immediately, surrounded by the swirling mists of that other place, their presence pushing back everything else.

  Like before, their eyes stood out, vibrant in a colorless world. The male had golden eyes and, like most fae, hair past his waist. But his colorless hair was worn in thick dreadlocks, with beads, feathers, and bits of bone woven in. His face was painted, two streaks of dark war paint angling across his high cheekbones toward his pointed ears.

  The woman had purple eyes, and her hair was woven into a thick braid. She wore the same paint as the man.

  They stared at him intently for a time.

  Hisashi took a breath and readied himself for shit he knew he would probably regret hearing. Ghosts hardly ever had nice, happy things to say. If they did, they wouldn't be here.

  "I'm listening," Hisashi said softly. "Speak."

  The male fae flicked his eyes over Hisashi, judging, weighing. Finally, he spoke in an airy whisper, what was once a strong voice made ghostly by death and time. "Hal…needs help."

  The woman chimed in, her purple eyes glowing with fury. "He's in danger! He’s considering breaking his contract."

  Hisashi sighed. "Look, we know he's missing. We're trying to figure out what's going on before we just rush off into some shit-storm with the mage guild. I need to be sure the rest of my people are safe before I give them patchy info from a couple of dead fae."

  "We are his teaghlach," the woman said, outraged. "We stayed for him. You must listen."

  Hisashi sighed. "Teaghlach?"

  The man crossed his arms. "Bring King Silverleaf to us."

  The fox laughed. "You want me to get Oisin? Because he's fae. Look, I don't think that's going to help Halstad. Oisin hates the mage. You'd be better off talking to Oisin's sister, Evalyn. At least she'd listen to you before she tells you she doesn't care."

  The man pressed his lips together. Damn it, he'd recognize that look anywhere. It was fae for "I'm royalty and you need to do as I say or I'm going to be a complete asshole." Oisin wore the look daily.

  "Fine," Hisashi muttered. "But this is not going to go well."

  Chapter 4

  Oisin stretched, muscles bunching and relaxing deliciously. He was quite proud of himself. The silly insecurity that had plagued him since his father's attack had reared its head, but he had overcome it. Again. He wouldn't be broken by something so inconsequential.

  He was glad he'd followed his instincts and given them what they all needed. He smirked at the sight before him. His strong, beautiful gryphon was sprawled on her back, eyelids heavy as she tried to fight off the sleep she so desperately needed. Oisin was glued to her with a fine sheen of sweat, his head pillowed on her breast. Their lovemaking hadn't been long and drawn out. She had needed violent release, and they'd certainly achieved that.

  Everyone might think his obsession with sex was shallow, but Oisin knew better. He'd spent most his life among his own kind—beings who could live a thousand years or more. Fae revelry was more than just pleasure-seeking. It was grounding yourself in your body and your senses. It was narrowing your focus to the here and now, shutting out worldly worry and fear.

  His pride needed that peace.

  Con was currently face-down on the other side of Gesa, snoring into a pillow. Oisin admired the man's pert brown ass as he silently laughed. It had to be a hard life, surrounded by all these sex-crazed supes. But Con never complained. Such a team player.

  Gesa sighed beneath him, finally falling over that edge into sleep. As his own breathing steadied and he relaxed, Oisin closed his eyes and thanked the Gods for his life. For his freedom. It was a strange thing, not having to look over his shoulder constantly, wondering when his father would find him and drag him back home to be used.

  He was almost asleep when there was a light tap on the door. His aura danced about like an overeager puppy and Oisin smiled without opening his eyes. "Too late now," he said softly, careful not to wake his companions. "You missed all the fun. Though…you could probably convince me to come to your room and let the kraken have her way with you like she's been begging to for weeks."

  "Come to my room," Hisashi whispered. "Just please don't wake them up. Hurry."

  Oisin sighed. The nine-tail's tone of voice said it wasn't the fun kind of invitation. "Kids these days," he muttered, just loud enough
for the fox to hear him. "No sense of how to enjoy life properly."

  "Just put pants on, old man," Hisashi hissed. "Before you wake Gesa up and we're both in deep shit. Cause I'm taking you down with me if she gets pissed."

  Oisin pressed a soft kiss to the beautiful breasts under his face, then gently removed himself from the Gryphon, his movements not even disturbing the bed. He paused to pull a sheet up over both Gesa and Con, ruffling the human's curly hair when he mumbled something at him, a sleepy question in his voice. "It's just Hisashi, go back to sleep, darling," Oisin whispered with a fond smile.

  He pulled on his rumpled slacks and sweater with a grimace. He needed a shower and fresh clothes, but he was sure whatever his gorgeous fox was up to had to be something awful if he didn't want Gesa to know. Better to put up with looking like he'd just been rolling around on the floor like a commoner than wake the beast and face her wrath.

  He slipped out the door and joined Hisashi in the hallway, running a hand through his hair as he pulled the door shut with a soft click. He turned to Hisashi to find a strange look on his face. His square jaw clenched, as if he was chewing on something he wanted to say.

  "What?" Oisin asked, watching those pale blue eyes. He loved the guy so much—was coming to understand why a little more every day. But sometimes he forgot the fox was so young. And that he was raised in a clan that wasn't so sexually open as the fae. Maybe he shouldn't tease the poor guy about his relationship with the others. "Don't tell me you're upset I shared Gesa with Con."

  After all, he and Con weren't lovers. They were just friends with a common interest in driving a certain Gryphon crazy.

  Hisashi's pretty albino skin flushed a bright pink. "What? No. Of course not. I just…well." The big guy rubbed a hand over the back of his neck and looked at his feet before angling an ice blue look toward Oisin. "What's it like? With the others. Is it the same as when it's the three of us?"

  Oisin leaned against the door. "Did you have to get me out of bed to ask that?" he said with a grin. The fox was so cute when he was embarrassed.

  Hisashi took a deep breath and straightened, squaring his broad shoulders and narrowing his eyes. "Fine. Never mind. We've got more important crap to deal with anyway." He turned to head down the hall and Oisin followed, grinning.

  "It's not the same," Oisin said casually.

  Hisashi stopped walking, then sped up, still not looking at him. "Really?"

  Oisin's grin widened and he caught the fox's big hand, spinning him and pinning him to the wall with his own body. "Really. For one, they don't worry like you do."

  Hisashi snorted, looking down his nose at Oisin. But he could see the vulnerability in those ice-blue eyes. "Shut up," the fox grumbled.

  Oisin touched his cheek. "Seriously, Hisashi, it's different with each of you. You and Gesa—I've never loved anyone like I love you two idiots. But I am very fond of Con and Kai." He winked. "And I enjoy seeing them and Gesa together. Gods they're beautiful. And I love seeing them so happy."

  Hisashi heaved a sigh. "I'm not jealous, Oisin. I'm…well, nervous, I guess? Like, what if I do something that weirds Con out? I've never had sex with a guy who wasn't into guys in the room. Or, what if Gesa gets mad because Kai is obsessed with my dicks?" His mouth twitched up in a smug laugh. "What if a certain fae thinks I like the others better than him and gets all huffy?"

  Oisin chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, is that all?" He waved a hand. "Trust me, you worry for nothing, little fox. Let your more experienced mentor guide you in the ways of debauchery."

  Hisashi laughed, capturing Oisin's face in his hands and pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Thanks, grandpa. But can an old man like you even get it up anymore?"

  Oisin leaned up and kissed his fox. Then he bit his lip almost hard enough to draw blood. "Watch it, pup."

  Hisashi sighed. "Fun as this whole embarrassing conversation is, we've got other shit to deal with right now, fae."

  He pushed Oisin off him and turned down the hall toward his bedroom. "Come on, you've got guests."

  Oisin followed curiously as Hisashi led him to the fox's bedroom and closed the door. His fox half-shifted, and Oisin drank in the sight. Hisashi in half-shift was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. The fox's furry ears twitched forward and his thick white tails floated behind him. Silver eyes met Oisin's and sharp canines flashed when he spoke. "What are you staring at?"

  Oisin smiled. "Will you fuck me like that sometime?"

  Hisashi choked on a laugh and turned that pretty red color again. Then he cleared his throat. "Keep it in your pants, fae. Seriously. I'm not having sex with ghosts watching."

  Oisin raised an eyebrow and watched as Hisashi called up his spirit powers, filling the room with the sensation of chill mist and hidden things, of eyes watching from just out of sight, and voices whispering too low to be heard.

  Then the fox opened his silver eyes and held out a hand tipped in delicate claws. "Come here. I have to show you."

  Oisin took the outstretched hand, cold creeping over his skin like a chilly fall breeze at the contact. He felt a tug on that little bit of magic that was Hisashi's shrine bond, deep inside him.

  Oisin blinked, suddenly seeing the mist that surrounded them, as if he stood half in the real world and half in that strange otherworld that was Hisashi's realm.

  A pair of fae stared back at him from across the room. Their eyes were the only color in the otherwise gray void.

  "King Silverleaf," the male whispered in a hollow voice. "We seek assistance for our teaghlach."

  Oisin considered this for a moment. You would think speaking to ghosts would be a strange experience. But he had encountered far stranger things in his long life. "Your teaghlach?"

  The woman nodded her head, giving him a brief curtsy before speaking. "Yes. The mage, Halstad. He's in danger."

  Oisin snorted. "The mage? The mage is your teaghlach?" He shook his head in disgust. "Death has addled your brains. No fae would call a vulture like that family."

  "What does it mean?" Hisashi said softly, as if he was afraid to interrupt. Oisin startled, having nearly forgotten the fox was there. Everything felt so strange and detached here in this space. He shivered as the cold leached into his body.

  "Teaghlach? It means family." He narrowed his eyes at the ghosts. "For fae it has a deeper meaning. Usually someone is teaghlach if they are your soulmate. It could be romantic, but not always. Sometimes it's just a very deep connection—a sort of declaring someone a part of your life, your heart." He bared his teeth. "Not an honor that we would bestow upon a monster who uses our own people for parts."

  "Let them speak," Hisashi urged. "Please. Ghosts don't hang around like this without a reason."

  But Oisin was seeing red around the edges. How could anyone accept someone who used a person for the power they contained? First Gesa attached herself to this mage, even though it was his kind who helped drain Oisin of his very soul. Oisin could forgive her, to some extent, because she didn't seem to understand what mages were capable of. How they scrounged and supplemented their powers from others. But for another fae to call the mage their teaghlach? He couldn't fathom it. Fae were magekind's biggest targets for parts, second only to dragons.

  "He stole your eyes. Carved them out of your bodies while you still lived and took their power for his own. Can you deny it? That monster is wearing your eyes, and you want to save him?"

  "We would give our lives for him, your majesty, as he gave his life for us," the man said solemnly. "We already have."

  "And we stayed here, in this place, to watch over him all these years," the woman said, reaching for Oisin, as if she could take his hand and plead with him for his help. Her cold touch brushed through his hand, insubstantial, but not completely non-existent. "We love him."

  Oisin frowned. "How? Tell me why."

  Then, the spirits of the dead began to speak.

  Chapter 5

  I woke up warm and contented. For just a minute there, I was able to f
orget the shitfest that seemed to follow me wherever I went. If it wasn't one damned thing, it was another. Luckily, Oisin knew exactly how to drown one's sorrows in pleasure. Thank the Gods for fae and their skewed sense of priorities.

  I sat up slowly, careful not to wake Con. The warm comfortable feeling was fading. I rubbed at my chest, swallowing hard against the heartburn. I need to lay off the coffee, I told myself, firmly denying any other reason why my stomach seemed determined to eat my esophagus.

  I noticed Oisin was suspiciously absent. I suspected he was probably off seducing Hisashi or Kai, since the rest of us weren't able to keep up. Gods, even a male gryphon couldn't match the little fae's stamina.

  The door opened and Kai smirked at me, her blue eyes going dark with lust as she took in the sight of me and Con naked in bed. "Gesa, honey--"

  I held up a hand to stop whatever shit she was about to spew. "No. I am not taking bath with you. I don't trust you to keep your tentacles where they belong."

  Kai crossed her arms under her lush breasts and huffed. "Oh, I always keep them right where they belong." She unfolded herself and came undulating toward me, pausing to plant a soft, lingering kiss on my lips. "But I actually came to tell you there's a visitor for you and Con."

  I sighed and nudged the human. He didn't so much as twitch. I think Oisin took pleasure in manipulating the human to his absolute limits. Poor guy. I grinned and poked him in the ribs, getting a groan for my trouble.

  Kai walked around to his side of the bed and ruffled his hair. "Wakey, wakey," she purred.

  He rolled over and blinked up at her, his eyelids still heavy over his honey-brown eyes, looking like he was about to go right back to sleep. "Not now, Kai."

  She chuckled darkly. "Get up, or I'm going to half-shift and pop your anal cherry."

  I barked out a laugh. Gods, Kai looked all pretty and soft. But she was a fucking monster.