The cold air stung my skin as we soared through the sky. The wind rushed through my hair, roaring in my ears while the chill enveloped my face. We were only twenty feet above the tree line. Then we cleared the trees and dipped into the canyon. Sheer cliff walls towered over us as we dove down towards the creek below. 

Soaring through the valley was amazing. I could not fathom being restricted from this kind of activity. The wind in my hair. The scent of the forest around us. The night sky was twinkling above us. It was all a kind of magic that I realized I had been taking for granted. A fleeting thought crossed my mind: what if I could never feel this freedom again? The mere idea sent a shiver through me. I flapped my wings hard, gained some altitude so I could watch Akasha and Anton soar below me. Then I tucked my wings and dove down just above and behind them. 

We skirted just above the tree line over Tenaya Creek. Following it back towards Yosemite Valley and the house. We flew over Mirror Lake, catching a glimpse of our reflections in the water as we flew past.   

We quickly spotted the house by the creek. Beside the fenced yard, something unusual caught our eyes: a van on its side. We dived swiftly to the bank of the creek, our wings folding as we sprinted through the trees towards the scene. The place was eerily empty. The van's frame was crumpled, as if a foot had smashed in the passenger-side doorjamb. 

“What the hell?” I asked. Anton crouched and pointed at the footprints in the dirt.  

“A fight happened here.”  

“Sydney!” I exclaimed. The three of us ran through the yard toward the house. The front door was sitting open. Laughing voices greeted us. As I sprinted into the hall, I heard Sydney's voice ring out with her usual greeting, “What took you so long, slowpokes?”  

It was a phrase she'd used countless times, always with that playful, familiar tone. I turned into the living room, Akasha and Anton close on my heels. 

Sydney and Amika were sitting comfortably on the couch, their legs crossed. Sydney was laughing at something Amika had just said. They both stopped what they were doing as we came in. Sydney jumped to her feet and came running to me. She crashed heavily into my body, wrapping her arms around my waist and burying her face in my chest.  

“Are you okay?” I asked as I slid my hands down her back to check if she was all right.  

Sydney looked up at me and smiled brilliantly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Amika was amazing.”  

Amika laughed. “You weren’t too shabby yourself, Sydney.”  

Sydney blushed as she glanced back at Amika. Amika stood, walked over, and hugged Anton. They kissed softly, Amika’s hands coming up to tangle in Anton’s hair. They stayed that way for a minute while we watched. Then they parted. Amika was breathless, smiling broadly while Anton blushed.  

“Can someone tell me what happened?” I asked. Akasha walked over and hugged Sydney and me. She pressed a soft kiss on Sydney’s forehead.  

Amika took Anton’s hand and led him to the couch, where they sat side by side.  

“It all happened rather fast,” Amika started. “We walked back to the house, following the roads as normal. Just as we got here, a van pulled up along the yard, and two men jumped out with guns pointed at us.” 

“They yelled at us to get into the van,” Sydney added. 

Amika nodded. Her eyes flashed as she recalled the moment. “Sydney was a blur, ducking and spinning like a seasoned fighter! The man behind her stumbled, his weapon flew from his hands as he hit the ground.” 

Then Sydney took over the narrative. “Amika sidestepped the other man, and her fist connecting with such force that the man crumpled under her blow. The van driver tried to escape, but with a powerful kick, Amika tipped the van onto its side.” 

Sydney laughed. “Then she jumped into the van and dragged the guy out. They're in the basement, chained up, waiting for you.”  

I stared at them for a minute. Then I laughed. It was too crazy. But it was what I had asked Amika to do. To take care of Sydney. She had delivered. I hugged Sydney tightly. Amika smiled at me.  

“Okay. Take me to our guests.”  

Amika led the way. Anton was right behind her. I followed him, with Akasha and Sydney right behind me. We all spilled into the basement area. Dim light filtered down from a single bulb swinging from the ceiling, casting long shadows across the cold stone floor. In the large open area of the basement, the three men were bound in chains. The first man lay on his side, unconscious, his face half-hidden in the darkness, a large purple bruise prominent even under the pale light. His jaw was twisted at an odd angle, probably broken. The other two were on their knees with their hands behind their backs, chained to their ankles. The light revealed their wide eyes, staring at us in shock, their features sharp and gaunt under the stark illumination. Strips of cloth were tied across their mouths. 

The first man had shockingly red hair, freckles, and pale skin. His breathing was low and steady. The second man had chestnut brown hair, brown eyes, and a dark tan complexion. He watched us nervously. His eyes were wide. When he saw Amika, he struggled, his chains jangling loudly. The third man watched us calmly. His hair was sandy blonde, his eyes a deep brown. His skin was tanned from days working in the sun.   

I walked over to the third man and pulled the gag from his mouth. He glared at me. His jaw set. A hardness in his eyes that was not fear, or anger, but something else.   

“Who are you?” I asked.  

“Nick.” He answered with a steady voice.  

“What are you doing here?”  

“We came for the women.”  

I raised an eyebrow at that. Sydney shifted behind me. Nick’s eyes did not leave mine. I felt Akasha move up closer behind me. I could feel her emotions radiating- anger and curiosity.  

“Why?” I asked.  

“We weren’t told that.”   

“What were you told?”   

“To get them out of the park as quickly as possible.”  

I pondered that for a moment. It made sense. We could track anything in the park if we looked hard enough. Could we track them outside the park, though? I wasn’t sure. That thought made me nervous. That implied whoever was behind this understood who and what we were.   

“Okay,” I said, “Where were you taking them?”  

Nick clenched his jaw. His eyes hardened. “You can’t make me talk.”  

My eyebrows arched a bit. “Are you sure of that?”  

The man laughed. “Yeah. You just spent the last two hours pulling lost tourists off the mountain. You are soft.”  

I raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “I may be, but my friends here are not.”  

The man's eyes widened slightly. Anton began to step forward, but Akasha stopped him. With a calm yet powerful demeanor, she stepped up next to me, her eyes glowing an intense amber. The subtle change in her gaze was all it took to convey her dominance, a quiet power that sent a shiver down my spine. 

The color drained out of Nick’s face. His eyes widened. His jaw dropped open. She stepped past me to within arm’s reach of Nick. He went completely still; every muscle in his body clenched. Those big arms bulged as he held still.   

“You will tell us,” Akasha whispered. Her voice held menace and anger in equal measure. I shivered again as she reached out to touch the side of his face. Nick flinched back from her touch. “Or I will tear the knowledge from your pretty little head.”  

His eyes were wide as his body shook with fear. He gave us an address. I pulled out my phone and put it in. It was over two hours away.   

“Okay,” I put my hand on Akasha’s shoulder. She turned to me. Her eyes were still glowing with anger and hunger. “Down, love. What do we do next? Jacob will be here soon. The drive to this location is over two hours.”  

“Flying would be faster,” Akasha whispered. Her voice was a low growl. Nick and the other conscious man cringed at the sound of it. They tried to make themselves as small as they could. The chains rattled with their movements. Akasha turned back towards them. Nick cowered as if he were about to be struck, and the other man fell over on his side, trying to curl up into a ball.  

“Take me with you,” Amika stepped forward. Her voice was a low, angry growl. Anton took a step forward and put a hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off, squaring her shoulders. “No. I want a chance to see who started this.”  

“Amika,” Anton’s voice held an edge of worry about it.   

Amika turned to him with a small smile. “It is sweet of you to worry about me, but I’ll be fine.”  

“It’s more than that,” Anton said in a small, vulnerable voice. He pulled Amika closer, his arms sliding around her waist as he hugged her. “I can’t lose you.” He whispered it against her throat as he kissed her. Amika leaned into him, pressing their bodies together.   

Amika pulled back from Anton and pressed her lips to his. His hands slipped down into her sweatpants. I watched, feeling my arousal grow as his hands cupped her ass under her clothes. She moaned into his mouth as their kiss deepened.   

Akasha turned into me, bringing her face into my line of view. She smiled, her eyes glowing softly. “Jealous?” She asked in a whisper. I laughed and shook my head. Akasha slipped her hand into my pants, gripped my arousal, and started to stroke it. “This says otherwise.”  

I glanced over at Amika and Anton. She was grinding her hips against him. His hand was gripping her ass in her pants. They were still deep in their kiss. Akasha tightened her grip, pulling my attention back to her. My eyes slipped closed as she rubbed her thumb across my slit, smearing precum along the head of my dick.   

I started to laugh, but she gripped me even tighter, choking that noise in my throat.  

“No,” I managed to choke out, “That says, don’t stop...”  

Akasha started laughing. Her grip loosened. I gasped, sucking in the air, as her fingers played along my length, lightly teasing my heated flesh. Anton and Amika broke from their kiss and looked at us. They looked at Akasha first, then my flushed face, then where her hand was in my pants, moving along my length. There was heat in their eyes as they watched.   

I fought not to blush, but I was not sure if I succeeded. She slid one hand up to cup my cheek and drew me down into a tender kiss. As our lips parted, she blinked at me, her voice low, husky, filled with need.  

“I need you inside me.” I gulped. Akasha turned, pulled her hand out of my pants, and pointed at the three men on the ground. “But first, we deal with whoever they were supposed to report to.”  

“Do you want to leave now?” I asked. Akasha's eyes blazed with dark fury as she nodded. I glanced down at her bare chest. The sweatshirt was still draped around her neck, barely covering her large breasts. “Do you have something more practical to wear?”  

Akasha glanced down at her chest and laughed. She reached up behind her neck and untied the sleeves of her sweatshirt, pulling it down to slowly reveal her chest to me. I tried to keep my eyes on hers, but could not stop myself from looking down at her breasts. A soft laugh behind me broke me from that mesmerizing sight.  

I turned to see Sydney watching us, an amused smile on her face as she walked toward us. Sydney leaned against my side and put one hand on Akasha’s hip. Akasha smiled at her.   

“As much as I’d like to watch, maybe go do the thing so we can relax?” Sydney said with that soft, knowing smile on her face. Akasha laughed, leaned into Sydney, and pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. Sydney pressed herself against Akasha, surrendering to the kiss. Akasha pulled back, leaving Sydney blinking as she tried to chase Akasha’s lips.   

Akasha took a step back, one hand trailing along Sydney’s arm, up to her cheek. Akasha winked at her, then walked over to Amika.  

“Later, lover,” Akasha waved to Sydney and me as she took Amika’s hand in hers and led her up the stairs, “Come, darling, I have just the thing for our outing...”  

Anton, Sydney, and I watched as they walked up the stairs. I turned back to the three men on the floor. Nick sat still, watching us. His eyes flinched as I looked at him.  

“What are you going to do with us?” He asked. Nick had tried for indifference, but I could hear an uncertain tremor in his voice.   

“That is a good question,” I answered as I turned back to them fully. Anton stepped up next to me, Sydney still leaning against my other side. “Who hired you?”  

Nick shook his head. “It was anonymous. A text message from a messenger service. Date. Address. Details on who to pick up and where to deliver them. Nothing more. No names. No contact information. Just a time and place.”  

I raised an eyebrow and sighed. “The marvels of modern technology. If we let you go...”  

“My Lord...” Anton started to speak, but at a gesture, he stopped.  

“If we let you go and promised you safe passage from our domain..."  

Nick furrowed his brow in confusion, "Your domain?" 

“The park. We would forget this ever happened.”  

I raised an eyebrow. “If you ever got another job that led back here...?”  

Nick laughed. “No way in hell.”  

“Good answer.” I smiled at him, knowing that it was not a friendly one. Nick’s eyes widened. He licked his lips. “If you ever come back to Yosemite, I will know, and I will find you.”  

Nick nodded.  

“Just to be on the safe side, though, we aren’t going to release you until we get back.”  

I took Sydney’s hand and started walking to the stairs. Anton fell in behind us.   

“You can’t just leave us here!” Nick called out to me.  

I stopped, turned back to face him. “Yeah. We can. Anton will bring you some water.”  

Nick started to open his mouth, then snapped it shut. He glared at me. I turned back to the stairs and started up them, Sydney’s hand still in mine. When we reached the top of the stairs, Anton went into the kitchen and returned with three bottles of water. Sydney and I walked into the foyer, while he went back downstairs.  

I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned to Sydney. She wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned against my chest. I threaded one hand through her hair while I held her.  

“Are you alright?” I asked, my voice was low and soft. She nodded, her head gently shifting against my chest with the movement.   

“Amika was brilliant,” Sydney said. “Be safe out there. I don’t like this.”  

“Me neither,” I said.   

“Is that comfortable?” I heard Akasha ask from the top of the stairs.  

“Yes, my Lady,” Amika answered as she followed Akasha down the stairs.  

I glanced up and watched them. Sydney followed my gaze. Akasha and Amika were wearing matching tops. It looked like leather, molded against their chests, with a strap around their necks. It stretched around their waist, holding it tight against their bodies. Akasha grinned wickedly as she got to the bottom of the stairs and spun around so I could see her back. The top's back was open, leaving her back bare. A single strip of leather ran down along her spine, connecting the piece at her neck to a clasp just above her ass.   

“Did you make these?” I asked as I reached out and ran my finger along the leather down her spine. Akasha leaned back into my touch. She glanced over her shoulder at me and winked.  

“Something I had lying around from years ago. Yes. I made them.” Akasha answered with a sly smile.  

I handed my t-shirt and sweatshirt to Sydney and took Akasha’s hand.  

“Shall we go then?”  

Akasha nodded. The look in her eyes was predatory and unsettling, a glint that promised a storm of fierce determination. It was a sharp, electrifying moment, one that left no room for doubt about the danger she could unleash.