Page 16 of Within the Flames
"Remove the cuffs," she demanded, only realising as she finished speaking that it might be just what they needed to save his life.
"I don't think..."
"I can't feel any of the sexual energy from the village, it's safe for now."
"He still needs to have them on, Macey, please trust me."
"So you keep saying, but so far you've done nothing to actually prove I can," she snapped. "It's all just words. Nothing more than words."
Indecision warred over his face.
"Let me take him back to land, and then I'll remove his cuffs."
Macey glanced at her two men, but saw no change in Jared's status. All that seemed to be happening was Rónàn growing weaker. Much as she was. While it was easy to stay afloat in her kelpie form, her human one wasn't nearly so resilient and she could feel the burn in her legs and arms just from treading water.
"Very well," she accepted.
Rónàn ceased what he was doing and pushed on Jared's limp form to help Luc take him into his arms. With the man settled, Luc flapped his wings and soared upwards, apparently not suffering at all from the weight of another man on him.
Macey closed the gap between the two of them left in the water. Rónàn slipped an arm around her, pulling her closer. She appreciated the gesture and support, leaning on him. She really was lucky to find the men she had.
Luc returned moments later and held out his hand to Macey. "You need to be up there too."
"And Rónàn?" she asked, without accepting.
"I'll return for him in a moment, but I think you'll be more useful to the incubus."
She nodded and allowed the daimon to hoist her out of the water. She tried not to think about the fact shifting had left her without any clothing and the daimon could see her naked. His wings moved the air around her in a way which had her stomach dropping. She didn't like being in the air. She'd discovered that with Cam before and hadn't been in any rush to repeat the experience. But she knew Jared was more important than her hatred of flying.
Luc set her down and she stumbled slightly, only staying upright by falling into Cam's arms.
"One cuff free incubus," Luc muttered, waving his hand in Jared's direction. The cuffs unclicked and fell to the dirt floor. "Don't lose them, you will need them."
"Can't you just make more when that happens?" Cam asked.
Luc fixed him with a disbelieving look. "What do you think I am? I can't make things out of thin air, you know. I have to have them on me anyway."
"Please just go get Rónàn," Macey begged, her worries resting with her selkie down below. She couldn't have been the only one to be tiring and she didn't want to swap one man in danger for another one.
"As my lady commands." Luc gave the most ridiculous bow, but Macey didn't care, she just rushed over to Jared, falling to her knees and pressing her head against his chest. A faint heartbeat reached her ears and she almost yelled in relief. He was alive.
"How do we..." she started to ask. But the moment her eyes fell on Cam, she knew the answer.
And so did he, if the way he was unbuttoning his shirt was anything to go by.
"I know," he whispered.
Macey rose to her feet and closed the gap between them. While she longed to savor this time with Cam, she knew it wasn't going to be an option. It was a good job he knew every button she could press.
"I hope this works," she admitted.
"It should do," Cam replied, though his voice shook, revealing just how worried he was about his friend.
She closed the gap between them, pressing her naked body against his. He circled her in his arms, pulling her closer so he could lower his lips to hers.
Cam's kiss was searing. Desperate. Consuming. Like her, he was only half there as he worried about his friend, but she was okay with that. This wasn't about intimacy between them, though she was sure it'd be enjoyable. Their focus was on recharging Jared's powers and saving him from the coma like state he'd fallen into.
Carefully, Cam laid Macey down on the floor, neither of them caring for the dirt that littered it. Their eyes met and Macey saw the love and devotion in his gaze. He wasn't just doing this for Jared. Cam was doing this for her too.
