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The Longing

Chapter 18

Because Mala had the more sensitive nose, it was she who led them to the cave where Izra was hiding. Laila fully expected for Artesda to be there and was ready to fight to the death to free her brother. She and Mala paused outside the cave and exchanged grim glances: they could hear grunting and moaning coming from inside, as if from a struggle.

Prepared for the worst, Laila and Mala leapt into the cave, swords drawn, screaming battle cries -- and so, how surprised were they to find their brother desperately riding an angel's great erection in the throes of deepest passion! Mala was furious and stood in the middle of the cavern cursing and shouting until Izra and the angel noticed them and paused in their grinding.

Laila was more embarrassed than angry. While she was relieved to find her brother alive, she was not glad to have walked in on such an intimate scene. Cheeks hot, she dragged Mala outside by the ear, and they waited in the sunlight, bickering and arguing until Izra joined them.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" Mala yelled at Laila, and the second Izra appeared outside, draped in his lover's shirt, "You! How could you?! How could you, Izra!"

"How could I what?" said Izra in the soft, weary voice Laila had missed so dearly. His curled horns gleamed in the sunlight as he looked at his sister with tired, hooded eyes. "Have sex? Enjoy myself? Be free for five seconds from the stupidity of this endless and pointless war?"

Mala paused in surprise and looked at Laila as if she didn't know what to say.

Laila didn't know what to say either. She had never suspected that Izra hated the war. But then, he had always been a very quiet, very private individual, who kept his feelings to himself.

". . . Izra," Mala said sadly.

"I'm sorry," Izra said, dropping his eyes. "You can tell Mother and Father anything you want, but I . . . I can't go back to Voriza with you."

Mala scowled. "Why not!"

"Mala . . ." Laila softly scolded.

Mala made a face. "Don't _Mala_me!" She looked at Izra and heaved a furious breath. "Where is Artesda? Where is the Purest One!"

Laila looked at Izra quickly. She wanted to know the same thing. She had expected to find Artesda here with the Purest One, she had expected a fight. Instead, Izra was here with an angel, having sex!

"The Purest One escaped," Izra answered. He hesitated guiltily, and Laila felt her heart skip a beat. "And . . . I let Artesda go. I think he might be searching for her."

Mala took a halting step. "You what?"

"Mala, calm down --" Laila scolded.

"No! No, I won't calm down!" Mala practically screamed. She glared at their brother. "What foolishness possessed you to let Artesda go!"

Izra's face darkened. "Our father teaches forgiveness, Mala --"

"Yeah!" shouted Mala with a mocking laugh. "Our father, who's been trying to kill Araton after he raped our mother for what? Five thousand years now?" Mala waited furiously, and when Izra glowered and was silent, she went on bitterly, "You pride yourself in being a free thinker and mock the sons of Araton for their blind devotion, but _all you do_is parrot the same garbage our father taught you! Over and over!" She shook her head, looking at Izra with wide eyes, as if she had never quite looked at him before. "You're no smarter than anyone else," she muttered, as if she was realizing, and she took a sad step back.

"I'm sorry," Izra said heavily, though there was a resentful glint behind the sorrow in his eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't live up to your standards, Mala, but I know --"

"No!" snapped Mala. "You don't_know! You don't know how I looked up to you! You _don't know how we busted our _asses_to find you, and this is how you repay us? By shacking up with that!" She pointed past Izra at the angel, who had appeared in the mouth of the cave behind their brother.

The angel glowered and folded his arms - arms that were massive. Laila glanced irritably at Mala, thinking she didn't want to go ticking him off. He reminded her a great deal of Alexander in that he was probably no ordinary angel. It was very likely he was an ancient and thus one of the stronger ones. He had the grim look of someone who was very old, as well as many old battles scars from his time in the mortal realm. If he had survived this long, he was someone to be wary of.

Izra, realizing his lover was there, glanced over his shoulder and said softly, "Elohael, could you give us a moment?"

Elohael grunted, and Laila was surprised when he kissed Izra with tender affection on the forehead before turning back inside the darkness of the cave.

When Izra looked at his sisters again, he was unapologetic, not remotely embarrassed, and Laila smiled: shy little Izra had finally grown from lamb to ram. No longer would he cower or worry what others thought of him. In that moment, Laila was very proud of her brother, and startling Izra into blinking, she came forward and hugged him. Happiness thrilled through her when Izra hugged her in return, and when she pulled back to look at him, he kissed her playfully on the nose, forcing a girlish laugh from her.

"I wish you all the happiness in the world, Izra," Laila said warmly.

Izra smiled. "Thank you, Laila."

"What? No!" shouted Mala.

Laila broke from her brother's arms to see Mala watching them with a mixture of fury and sadness. Sudden tears streamed down her face as she yelled, "You can't leave us for him! You can't!"

Izra still had one arm around Laila and glanced at her guiltily. Laila understood why: out of all their siblings, Izra was Mala's favorite and was the only one she spoke to regularly or listened to remotely. It was the entire reason Izra was asked to join the mission: their parents believed he could control Mala's temper.

Mala sniffed and her lip trembled. "Please, Izra . . . you can't leave."

"Mala," Izra said sadly. He released Laila and stepped close, but Mala took a quick, defiant step away from him. Izra sighed miserably. "You could always come visit me --" he began.

"No, I couldn't!" Mala said at once. "Your precious angel is on the run. You'll never stay in the same place very long. Do you really think Artesda won't tell Araton where you are?"

"Yes. I do really think," Izra returned darkly.

"Then you are a fool," Mala sneered.

Seeing the hurt in Izra's eyes, Laila intervened impatiently, "Don't you care about Izra's happiness? Mala, I think he's found love --"

"But I love him too!" Mala snapped. Laila was stung when her sister scowled at her and added, "You're only taking his side because you fucked that angel! I'll find the Purest One myself and stop the Summoning. I'll make Mother and Father proud, and to hell with both of you!" With that, she turned and swept away into the sky, flying so rapidly, she was quickly a dot in the clouds.

"Mala!" Izra called, and Laila saw him flex his wing, as if he might soar into the clouds after her, but he remembered the stump on his back, and twitching it sadly, he blinked and dropped his eyes.

Laila squeezed Izra's arm. "I'll go after her. She won't get far."

Izra nodded, not looking up.

"It'll be alright," Laila said gently and rubbed her brother's shoulder. "I'll make her see reason. . . . somehow. Maybe she'll come back, see you again before you move. Any idea where you're going?"

"Probably deeper into Hillback," Izra answered. He shrugged. "Not like you couldn't just follow my scent. I'll be sure to piss on some trees."

Laila laughed, and she was surprised when her brother's eyes softened and he said wistfully, "I missed your laugh. So . . ." He elbowed Laila playfully. "Mala said something about you bedding your own angel?"

Laila looked off, feeling stupid for her embarrassment. She wished Mala had kept her mouth shut, but looking at her brother, she remembered he probably wouldn't take issue with her bedding their once mighty foe.

"Yeah," said Laila heavily and sat on a rock, rubbing the back of her neck. "Alexander the Mighty, in fact."

Izra laughed. "That's a good one!" But he looked at his sister again, and Laila saw disbelief fill his eyes when he realized she was serious. "Holy crap," Izra muttered, flopping on the rock beside Laila's. "You aren't joking, are you?"

Laila shook her head, feeling weak at the thought of her lover. She hated that her heart had started beating fast, but she couldn't shake the memory of Alexander's serious, slanted eyes. . . . eyes that had been so gentle as he was making love to her.

"Must've been something special, huh?" said Izra in amusement, and Laila blinked out of her reverie to find her brother watching her with a small smile. She quickly looked away, smiling to herself. "Yeah," she said. "But then, he is Alexander the Mighty."

"Hmm. I'll take that with everything it implies."

Laila laughed.

"I can't believe he's alive, though," Izra said and shook his head in amazement. He stared off in thought for a long time, his ear flicking absently.

Laila knew her brother was a little obsessed with history, to the point that he once spent half a century straight locked in his house, just reading. For Izra, hearing that Alexander the Mighty was alive was the equivalent of the gods learning there were other more powerful gods.

"What does he think of the war and all this?" Izra asked with a wave of his paw.

Laila shrugged. "We didn't really talk much," she admitted and playfully elbowed Izra when he smirked. "He's against Araton, I know that much. He rebelled and Araton wants him dead. He's in hiding and I promised to keep it a secret. So please, Izra --"

"Don't worry, dearest sister," said Izra soothingly. "Your lover's secret is safe with me. Besides," he nodded at the cave, his horns gleaming in the sunlight, "Elohael is a friend of Alexander. He was sent to kill him and decided against it." He shook his head in amazement again. "I never dreamed Alexander was still alive, though. Always seemed like someone would have gotten to him by now." He glanced sideways at Laila. "And Mala doesn't know who he really is, does she?" he guessed.

"No," Laila said to the dirt. She rested her elbows on her knees and stared at the grass between her hooves. "If she knew, she'd probably never speak to me again."

"No, kidding," Izra said with a laugh, but he frowned sympathetically and added, "You look exhausted. Mala must've been a pain in the ass all this time."

Laila shrugged. "She was no worse than usual. I think I'm just . . . tired. I long to be free."

"Of this war?" Izra predicted.

"Yeah," Laila admitted, eyes down in shame. It was her duty to serve Voriza, to serve Vaine, but she realized in that moment how tired she was of the endless struggle. Izra was older and had been fighting the war longer than her - in fact, he was one of their oldest siblings in existence. Laila could only respect and admire how long her brother had served before finally becoming exhausted. It was something Mala couldn't understand, being one of their youngest siblings and hot-headed to boot. Mala loved fighting and loved fighting for a cause. She would never understand their weariness, and Laila found herself suddenly very glad their sister wasn't there as they were speaking of it.

"Maybe you should quit," Izra suggested. "A lot of our siblings have. I know Mother and Father expect the world of you, but to expect you to keep fighting when you're burnt out like this would be nothing short of selfish."

Laila's lips curled in a half-smile. "So what should I do? Go back to Alexander? Settle down like you?"

"If it makes you happy," Izra answered. "But before you do anything else, you'd better find Mala and drag her home by the tail before she gets herself hurt." He squeezed his sister's knee, and Laila smiled when he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

Laila rose to her hooves but paused to look down at her brother fondly. "Farewell, Izra," she said with a smile.

Izra smiled as well, the warmth extending to the dark, gentle eyes Laila had come to rely on for love and laughter. She looked into those eyes a last time, then spread her wings and lifted into the sky.

***

Izra reentered the cave to find Elohael relaxing on the bed, arms behind his head as he stared at the ceiling and chewed lazily on a bit of grass. The angel's large pink penis lay against his thighs, swollen and fat with desire but not aroused enough to stand upright. He looked up when he realized Izra was standing there, and his penis twitched a little, dripping pre-fluids onto one of his muscly thighs. He smiled and drew his leg up, letting his penis gently tumble down onto the other one. Izra smiled back as he crossed the cavern to the bed: why was Elohael always so . . . horny?

"What did your sisters say?" Elohael asked when Izra was sitting on the edge of the bed. He smoothed a large paw up Izra's back in silent concern. "I heard shouting."

"Mala's angry I'm not coming home with them," Izra answered heavily, miserably.

"Mmm. You said she would be," Elohael muttered wearily.

"Laila's fucking your brother, so she understood," Izra added. He smiled when he felt Elohael's massaging fingers pause in surprise.

"My brother?" Elohael said darkly. "Which one? You should tell her to be wary."

"Alexander the Mighty."

There was another pause as Elohael digested his lover's words. Izra glanced over his shoulder and was saddened to see the tears that had started to Elohael's eyes. The big angel tore the blade of grass from his mouth and chucked it away, then sniffed and turned his face away, as if in shame of his own emotion. Izra cuddled against him, nuzzling his woolly black mane under the angel's chin and soothingly rubbing his broad chest. Elohael put his arm around Izra in gratitude but otherwise said nothing.

They were silent for a long time as Elohael wept, sniffing every now and then. Izra kept rubbing his chest and closed his eyes, listening to Elohael's slow, sad heartbeat.

"What's the matter?" Izra whispered at last.

"I thought Alex was dead," Elohael said hoarsely. "I thought surely all this time . . . I haven't seen him in more than a thousand years."

Izra patted the angel's sculpted chest. "He's well and alive. No need to cry."

Elohael's lips curled in a half-smile. "You don't understand, Izra. These are tears of joy."

Izra smiled to himself. "Oh."

"I have lived in isolation for so many centuries, the only news I hear is what I glean from my passing brothers, who come this way as they leave the tower. Those few privy to Alexander's rebellion believe his is dead, killed by one of our brothers after my failed mission. They believed so strongly that I started to believe it."

Izra frowned. "Why haven't you seen him in so long? I don't think he's even far from here. My sisters and I were separated near Dolbuck. That's a few days away. We could go find him if you wanted."

"Alexander and I should not risk coming into contact," Elohael said grimly.

Izra blinked. "Why? He's your brother!"

"And that is _precisely_why," answered the angel. "When an angel is born, Araton places a spell on him. Those still under his thrall blindly consider it a blessing," Elohael said darkly, "when it is actually a curse."

". . . what does it do?" Izra whispered, not certain he wanted to know.

"First, it prevents the angel from ever experiencing an erection - under any circumstances."

Izra scowled indignantly.

"An angel will never know lust or arousal and thus remain oblivious, innocent . . ." Elohael smiled a little, ". . . and with a certain lack of modesty. He will not experience desire of any sort nor actively seek it out. Mortals would incorrectly refer to the practice as gelding, but it is deeper than that. It is a practice that is more about preventing knowledge of physical pleasure than controlling a population."

"But how did you break the spell? I mean . . ." Izra glanced down and felt his cheeks getting hot when he realized Elohael was still a little hard. "You seem more than aware now!"

Elohael chuckled softly, the pleasant sound rumbling up against Izra's ear. "The further we travel from Araton's light, the weaker his influence over us. Thus, each time Araton sends his sons into the mortal realm, he runs the risk of losing them forever."

"So why can't you see Alexander again?"

"Because the blessing does more than one thing. It also allows Araton to find us, wherever we are. We can avoid detection more easily if we are alone, but when we come together . . ."

"It's like shining a beacon in Araton's face?"

"Mm hmm."

"And you and Alexander, being so old and powerful, would probably send off a pretty bright aura," Izra realized and rubbed Elohael's chest in sympathy.

"You think I am powerful?" Elohael whispered hopefully.

Izra felt his cheeks getting hotter. "W-Well, yes. Of course, I do."

"More powerful than Alexander?" the angel whispered and squeezed Izra in his arm, pulling him closer as he started to trail slow, wet kisses down his neck.

Izra laughed softly, frowning against the kisses. "Would that make you happy?"

"Mmm. Very happy," the angel whispered between kisses. "Tell me how big and strong I am. . ." His paw guided Izra's fingers over his shaft in a slow stroke.

Izra's long lashes fluttered when he felt the cock swell in his fist. "E-Elohael! Not that I'm complaining, but why are you always so . . .?"

Elohael laughed softly and stared at the ceiling. "Lustful? I apologize, Izra. You must think I am no better than my father, craving you as I do." His eyes softened and he touched Izra's lip. "But I do long for you. Incessantly."

Izra's heart skipped a happy beat. "No, it's not that," he quickly insisted. "I guess I understand. I mean, most of your life you were denied all of this. But you're also very old. Seems like you would have adjusted by now," he finished with a laugh. He was glad when Elohael laughed as well: he didn't want to hurt his feelings.

But the laughter faded, and Elohael's pretty, slanted eyes became grim as he stared at the ceiling. Izra watched him anxiously.

"I'm sorry," Izra whispered, and his heart fluttered when Elohael caught his paw and kissed it.

"For what?" Elohael said softly. "You have done nothing wrong."

Relieved, Izra nuzzled his curly mane under the angel's chin and smiled when Elohael squeezed him tight in his arm, dragging his lazy, affectionate paw up and down.

"I have not lain with another since my mate, White Star, passed away," Elohael whispered, and Izra went still, listening sadly. The angel's voice broke as he added, "That was s-six hundred years ago."

Izra's ears went forward in shock, and it hit him for the first time just how much Elohael must have loved Storm's mother. To mourn someone for six hundred years. He couldn't fathom it. His brothers and sisters had a tradition of taking mortals as lovers, and with the tradition came the ready expectation that said mortals would quickly age and perish. Thus, the children of Araini and Darahi had developed a very blasé approach to mortal death. Among them, it was considered silly to mourn a mortal longer than a year. That a son of Araton placed such high value on mortal life - while the children of Araini did not value them half as much - shamed and humbled Izra.

As if he sensed Izra's distress, Elohael rubbed the ram's shoulder, squeezed him close, and kissed his forehead. "Come," he whispered, giving Izra's backside a playful slap, "suck my cock. It hungers for your sweet lips." As he was speaking, his pink penis started to rise.

Izra certainly wanted to suck. He missed the heat and smell of it. His nostrils flared slightly as he took in the musky scent of the angel's sack, and he went still when Elohael's enfolding arm shifted. The angel reached down, gently gathered Izra's soft penis in his large fingers, and slowly fondled it, rolling it back and forth in his grasp. Izra sighed as his penis responded, becoming fat and swollen, helpless against the angel's touching.

Elohael kissed Izra slow and wet on the lips and whispered with hot breath, "I still haven't sucked your little sheep cock. It's so soft and small. I have long craved it rolling against my tongue."

Izra shivered and felt himself swell harder, until pre-fluids were dripping over the angel's fingers.

"Mm. So you like it when I talk dirty," said the angel in amusement.

Izra looked at Elohael helplessly, trying and failing to form words. All he managed was a stammer. The pleasure was becoming too intense, and sensing this, Elohael lowered his torturous stroking to Izra's sack, which he hefted in his paw. Izra shivered and clung to Elohael's neck as the big angel kissed his shoulder, his ear, all the while massaging his sack until he melted.

"You want me to suck you sweet little dick? Hmm?" Elohael whispered. He kissed Izra on the mouth, their lips smacking as the brief kisses ended. "Mmm. Ask me to suck your dick," he whispered between kisses. "Ask me. I want to hear it from these pretty lips." His thumb passed over Izra's lip, smoothing it.

"S-Suck . . ." Izra stammered himself silent and swallowed hard. Elohael was still cupping and caressing his sack, which was making it difficult to speak. He looked Elohael in the eye and whispered, "Suck my dick."

Elohael obeyed at once. He sat up, and clutching Izra's buttocks in fistfuls, he yanked the ram's hips toward his face. Izra gasped when the angel's fingers sank fast and suddenly in his anus, and groping and fingering Izra's backside, Elohael closed his mouth over the length of him . . . and ravaged him until he erupted.