go. Wes and Cass, there was no sign of them, but Zeus nodded, just briefly. That was enough. Taking a breath, Ra tried to think of where to go. His mates were too traumatized, had been through too much to handle being in another realm right now.
But he did have a place – three of them actually, on earth, even though they weren’t in the United States. Letting their molecules disperse, Ra held his mates tight as they flowed on the winds to one of his smallest, but favorite houses overlooking the tiny little harbor known as Cooncrome in Ireland.
Keeping his landing light on the plush carpets that covered original stone tiled floors, Ra kept his mates close as his senses picked up the familiar scents and sounds Ra had come to love. The rush of the wind outside sweeping across the mostly barren landscape. The slight hint of salt in the air, dueling with the scent of wood stacked by the original fireplace by the kitchen range. Oh, the house had all the mod cons too. Ra was looking forward to a soak in the six-man jacuzzi installed in the recently renovated master bath. But there was a history, and a rugged permanence about the place that no mod cons could compete with.
Confident no one else was around, Ra focused on the vampire and wolf shifter who were starting to realize they were in unfamiliar territory. “Where are we?” Arvyn’s nostrils were twitching madly. “Is this your realm? I didn’t expect it to smell so… salty.”
“I thought you’d feel safer if we were still on earth,” Ra said gently. “Admittedly, we’re not in the U.S. anymore…”
“We’re in Ireland.” Kirill’s head came up and he sniffed. “I know that smell. By the Fates, I haven’t been in this part of the world for over three hundred years. Is this your house?”
“One of three I have.” Ra tightened his arm around Kirill’s shoulders, hoping the vampire wouldn’t be in a hurry to move. “I will confess, I don’t interact with the locals, although our nearest neighbor is more than ten miles away, and I haven’t got a clue what sort of eating or entertainment facilities might be nearby, although my handy smart phone may be able to tell me if I can get any signal here. I love this place because it’s small and remote, and so unlike my own realm or my beloved Egypt. But the place is warded, no one will disturb us. You are both safe here.”
“It’s cozy.” Arvyn twisted around, but he didn’t move out from under Ra’s arm. “Does the fireplace work?”
“They all do.” Ra smiled. “I found it gets very chilly here, especially around this time of year. And there’s plenty of wood. Did you want me to…?” He raised his fingers.
“Can I light the fire?” Arvyn blinked up at him. “I can’t remember the last time I lit a fire. There’s something very primal about doing it – laying out the wood, encouraging the first few flickers of flame, and feeling it, seeing it grow.”
Ra lowered his hand. “I seem to recall Zeus promised you lunch. How about you two explore if you like, while I zap up some food for us?”
“Do you have to be in your godly form to do that?” Kirill asked, a shy grin crossing his face. “I seem to recall the mate we met was…”
“You don’t like how I look as a god?” Ra wasn’t sure if he should laugh or cry.
“You look commanding, virile, extremely handsome.” Arvyn nipped at his chin.
“Strong, powerful, and very sexy,” Kirill added, his hand running up Ra’s back. “But I find my heart longing for the hug we never gave you, at the start, when I so rudely hurt you.”
Confused, because he was the same person regardless of what form he was in, Ra stepped back just enough to morph down to his human size, along with his jeans, boots and a soft wool top. “Like this?” Now he was looking up at his mates.
“Exactly like that.” Kirill actually growled, but Ra had no time to work out why before he was swept off his feet and into his vampire’s arms, the heat on his back letting him know Arvyn was just as keen to get close. Hooking his legs around Kirill’s hips, Ra’s head went back as two sets of lips mouthed over the dips where his neck and shoulders met and nibbled up either side of his neck.