For just a single moment AJ relished in the feel of leaning into Brian, and Brian into him. But then they both straightened. With their bond opened as wide as it was, they both knew what they had to do, how they needed to act right then. Weakness was not an option. It would only get them attacked, or worse, leave them without goblin aid.
“Grhg!” AJ called out. He grabbed his sword, pulling the baldric on over his chest. Even as he moved his wounds were already starting to heal, so he ignored them. He stood by Brian’s side again and let the fury rage through his body as he stared at Grhg. “You send one possessed to me? You listen to evil spirits!”
“My brother was a fool.” Grhg said with a shrug. “He dead. Whatever possessed him be gone now.”
Brian scowled fiercely. “What possessed him is exactly what we came to talk to you about. Do you have any idea what the hell you’re dealing with?”
“Evil spirit. Dead now. Spirit has gone back to spirit world. What more is there?”
In sudden counter to Grhg’s grumbling growl of a voice, AJ’s went soft and lethal. “That spirit was Twyla. He’s trying to get free. To destroy us.”
His words brought the predictable ruckus. Grhg took a hissing step backwards, a growl rumbling from deep in his chest. Even the other goblins in the circle backed away. Grhg’s eyes drifted down to AJ’s sword, and wide eyed back up to him. Then a heavy look came into his eyes. “Why Twyla possess one of us?”
There was no way around answering this. But AJ had a bad feeling that the answer wasn’t going to be received well. “Most likely to try to kill me.”
“So Rdsa used, to try to kill you?”
“Yes.”
“So it not his fault. This shouldn’t of been his challenge.”
“It was his challenge.” AJ countered. “He shot me. He may have been possessed by Twyla, but that level of possession can only be done when the body is willing. He did horrible things to get that to happen. Things even you would shiver at, Grhg, champion of the goblins.”
For just a moment there was a speculative look in Grhg’s eyes, as if he was thinking about everything that had been said. Something in his eyes changed and AJ knew what would happen even before Grhg opened his mouth. It broke his heart.
“It not be Rdsa’s fault. Your challenge be honorable. But it not be his fault. This Twyla come to kill you. I’m sorry, Alyck, but you need be leaving. Until this is done, you no welcome here. You bring death to my family. You bring the spirits.”
“Grhg, listen to me.” AJ tried to plead with him. It broke his heart to think of what could happen to the goblins if the war came and they were still sitting here, unprotected. “Twyla is trying to return to the world of the living. He’s using a mage, one who’s as dark as he is. Coming up at the celebration of life they’ll try to join together. If that happens, lord knows what’ll happen to our world. All races need to join together. All races need be protected. We need to work together to stop them before this happens, and to protect everyone.”
“If you leave us in peace we no have to worry about this spirit coming after us. We no afraid to fight, but we no fight spirits. Take your spirits and leave, fool. My people no die for your cause.” Grhg’s proclamation was met with cheers from the other goblins. It amazed AJ. What were they thinking? He felt his fury grow.
There was one right he had, that he hadn’t had to exercise yet. But he would do it now to protect this race from being wiped from the planet. Roth wouldn’t think twice on destroying them before they got the chance to fight against him. He knew his eyes were glowing when he stared at Grhg. “As the true trulion, named by King Flreu, and given the sword that is mine by right, I speak now. Do not let pride destroy your people. The mage that Twyla uses is known by the name Rothalo, or Roth. If you do not join with us now, and seek strength in our alliance, then he will come, and he will wipe you off the face of the earth. He will destroy you before you get the chance to turn on him and hurt him. All nations and races are gathering in Ireland at the elvish home there. Gather your people and start your march to join them, champion Grhg, or suffer for it.”
Grhg was already shaking his head. “We are no part of magic battles. We will stay here.”
“You would disobey the trulion?” AJ hissed at him furiously.
“I will.”
“I’ve told you what will come for you! He’ll kill you entire home!”
“We will not leave.”
AJ frantically racked his brains. He hadn’t thought that the goblins would actually refuse to take part in the fight. Out of all of them he had suspected that the goblins would be the most gung-ho for it. They were always spoiling for a fight! To have them step back from this one, the one where they were needed the most, was amazing. He knew, looking into Grhg’s hard eyes that they weren’t going to change their mind. He looked around at the other goblins. They stood firm behind their champion.
But he couldn’t just leave them there to die. That went against everything he was trying to do. “At least allow me to send a few elves to help protect things.” He found himself offering. There was a mental nudge from Brian, an attempt to draw his attention, but he ignored it.
“You have created this problem. We should have fifty.” Grhg announced, surprising AJ yet again.
“Fifty? There’s no way that many can be spared! Ten, maybe.”
“Bah! Forty.”
“Fifteen.”
“Thirty five.”
“Grhg, they’re needed for what’s coming. Fifteen is all I could spare.”
Suddenly Brian stepped forward, between the two of them. He put his hand on AJ’s arm, bringing his attention to Brian’s face. There was a hard look to those eyes that hadn’t been there at one point in time. AJ was surprised to see it.
“Alyck,” Brian used AJ’s real name, so as not to confuse others around them. “You’re not thinking clearly right now.”
“That’s right!” Grhg roared. From his spot, AJ just looked confused. What was Brian getting at here? Did he really want him to leave thirty five warriors with the goblins? That was outrageous! He never suspected what Brian was going to say.
His lover shook his head gently, but his eyes stayed locked on AJ’s. “You’re letting your emotions get in the way.” He said gently. “Grhg and the goblins have chosen what they want. You offered them protection in our cause. You offered them everything, and told them what was at stake. You laid it out clearly for them. They blindly choose to stay here, thinking they can hide. Their fate is their own now. By choosing not to help, they’re pitting themselves against us. Why would we protect traitors? By staying they could very well make Twyla win. Do we want to waste warriors to protect these goblins that are doing nothing to save the world? They’ve cast their lot, Alyck. Their fate is off your shoulders.”
With those chilling eyes, Brian looked around at them all. “They are the walking dead.” He spoke softly, without the usual heat to his voice. “We have others we could be saving. Let’s give them what they want. Let’s go.”
AJ’s eyes stung slightly. He knew Brian’s words were right. There was nothing they could do for a people who would not help themselves. “You’re right. Thank you.”
Grief made his limbs feel slightly heavy. But it was on longer the grief of feeling as if he had failed these people. It was the grief at a race that was too proud and too stubborn to seek aid when offered. Grief that the goblins would suffer for this choice.
No one spoke as Brian and AJ mounted Zee, or as they took to the air. They were done here. There was nothing more they could do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They flew for quite a while, soaring through the clouds high in the sky. It was almost midday as they flew. Above the clouds, the sun shone brightly against their skin, revitalizing Brian. At one point he let go of AJ’s waist, clinging only with his knees, and spread his arms wide while he tilted his head back. It felt so good to absorb that heat.
AJ knew that he needed to find somewhere to take a breather. He put the goblins out of his mind as best as he could. Brian’s words had made total sense. It was time for them to leave the goblins behind. They had denied the offer of help. The fate of their race was now on their own shoulders.
What AJ really wanted to do was find a place to take Brian and have him alone for a few hours. The magic they had done to fight Twyla had only added to the tingle in their bodies, on their very skin.
So he directed Zee to one place that would please them both. The amazon rainforest in Brazil. There were creatures there that AJ wanted to talk to while he was out, but mostly he wanted the water and the earth and the bright sunshine. He wanted the forest and the green and the wide open spaces with no people. He wanted somewhere to ravage his partner and not have a concern in the world for being heard.
There was no doubt that Brian felt the growing passion in AJ. It triggered something similar in him, until that circle started with their bond, making the passion grow and grow. Even as they were cresting over the treetops, Zee’s natural magic hiding them from mortal eyes, AJ could feel himself growing harder and harder. He couldn’t concentrate on anything else.
He allowed Zee to direct them to a small glade in the amazon. By then AJ didn’t care. If could have been a crowded street in New York for all he cared. The instant Zee’s feet hit the ground, he was spinning around and grabbing hold of Brian. The two practically fell in their dismount, so eager were they to get their hands on one another.
The passion had built and built until it was a wild thing. Need overrode all other desires and reasons. AJ found himself growling and slamming Brian up against a thick tree. His lover didn’t flinch, but grabbed fistfuls of AJ’s hair, yanking his head in for a passionate kiss.
There was the edge of violence between them. The need was too strong. It was burning them alive. AJ took hold of Brian’s hands and pulled them out of his hair, taking a step back and pulling Brian with him. Then he twisted and flung Brian away from him. With an evil grin, he channeled the smallest amount of fire and, with a quick flash, turned Brian’s clothes to a pile of ash on the ground. Not a mark marred his lover’s skin.
The yellow in Brian’s eyes glowed brighter, like the sun above them. He stepped forward and pressed full length against AJ, kissing him wildly. Magic was joined with all this, so that they didn’t know where their physical ended and the magic began. Brian used weaves of air to slide over AJ’s body like another pair of hands and grip at his hips, pulling them close. That left Brian’s hands free to grab a fist of AJ’s hair again.
Somehow AJ’s hair had come partially unbraided in all of this, and Brian growled very lightly in pleasure as he ran his hands over it. AJ grinned and reached his hands back, unbraiding the last bit and shaking his hair free. He loved the fire that leapt into Brian’s gaze.
Brian’s warm hands went to AJ’s hair, to hold and play as they ravaged one another’s mouths again. If they had been mortal there would have been bruises left behind at the strength of their kiss, or the squeeze of AJ’s hands against Brian’s biceps.
With hands of air, Brian ripped off AJ’s belt, and then his pants. The need was growing too strong. He needed to be in him, now. Now. Those thoughts transferred across their bond, and Brian thrilled at the shudder of pleasure AJ gave for those mental images.
Without warning Brian used his fist in AJ’s hair to force him to the forest floor. He took AJ down to his hands and knees and held him there, bending to kiss his lips again. As he kissed him he brought one hand back, letting his middle finger trace against AJ’s puckered hole.
AJ moaned long and loud against Brian’s lips as that finger pushed into him. He was lost on a sea of need stronger than anything he’d ever felt before. He was totally overpowered by Brian now. By the hand fisted in his hair; the lips dominating his; the finger penetrating him roughly, another now joining it as they moved in and out; the bonds of air that held his hips in place. It was thrilling.
Then Brian broke the kiss and moved from AJ’s view. He put himself behind him and removed his fingers. The loud moan of protest AJ gave had Brian grinning. He didn’t waste time. The hand in AJ’s hair adjusted, wrapping it around his fist so that he had a good grip. AJ’s head was arched backwards to accommodate.
Ready, Brian placed the head of his dick at AJ’s entrance and pushed in. His own loud groan filled the air as he buried himself deep inside. He heard AJ’s gasp. Still riding the high, Brian pulled back out and started to thrust quickly and roughly, using AJ’s hair as a lever to help pull back and forth.
There was nothing gentle about it. There was no lovemaking. AJ knew that he was well and truly getting fucked. And he loved every second of it. Their magic joined together, pulsating on their skin, making each touch stronger and more intense. Luckily AJ had had the presence of mind to shield the forest around them before they started.
The hands of air on his hips squeezed, adding to the intense pleasure. Another one formed suddenly, wrapping around his dick, pumping him just as Brian’s hand would. He gasped and moaned at the same time. Two could play at that game! With the part of his brain that was still working, he channeled a thin stream of air, using it like a finger to slide against Brian’s ass and up inside of him. AJ felt his lover jump as that finger of air started to thrust in and out, quickly joined by another. Then they got their rhythm down.
Soon the glade was filled with the sounds of flesh hitting flesh, and moans that were like screams. Pleasure built and built until their bodies couldn’t handle it anymore. Brian came first, his body snapping forward as he shot his load deep inside of AJ. The force of his orgasm had him yanking hard on AJ’s hair, which finally set him off as well.
The weaves of magic disappeared as the two men collapsed into the leaves. Sweaty, slightly sore, and panting, AJ couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. He looked over at Brian and saw the same grin there. “Guess you really did show me your new dominating side.” AJ panted out.
“Mm.” Brian mumbled, his eyes heavy. “Glad to be of service.”
Despite the aches that were settling in all over, at least until they started to heal, AJ stretched his body out and sighed happily. “Anytime you want, song of my heart, you can practice your dominance on me. I don’t mind at all.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Brian teased with a wink.