The Beginning of Everything (The Rising Book 1)

by Kristen Ashley

  “Allow my wife to show you kindness,” he urged. “I will handle the Go’Doan. You will be given a leave of absence. No one will know the true reason why or where you are. But you will be safe to be here with us.”

  He should not.

  He knew it.

  That lesson had been learned.

  But he did it regardless.

  And he did not know the why of this either.

  “I will allow this.”

  The instant he said the words, the warrior turned to his wife. “Call for Persephone. She will suckle him. A climax will relax him. Then he can be cleansed and salved and given a sleeping draught.”

  Drey knew none of their names. They’d never spoken them. Even in the heat of passion.

  Though he now knew their playmate was called Persephone.

  “Not Persephone,” Drey blurted.

  The warrior looked to him but a moment before he returned his attention to his wife.

  “Saturn,” he grunted and then he looked again to Drey. “He is a soldier. Young. Strapping. We use him when my wife wishes to watch others at play or me at work up a warrior’s arse. He likes hole and cunt and taking cock. He will gladly suckle you, amico. And once you heal, when you need a shaft up your arse with a milking hand to your cock, he will give that to you too.”

  “My name is G’Drey,” he whispered.

  “It is not,” the warrior returned. “What is your true name?”

  Drey was still whispering when he said a name he hadn’t said, or heard, or thought, in years, “Tedrey. I am Tedrey Swensson of the Dellish.”

  The warrior nodded. “And I am Lorenz Chronis, and this is my beloved, Nyx, as you know, of the Firenz. And you are now not only of our bed, but of our house, which means under my protection. And that means no one will harm you again.”

  And with that, the warrior stormed out.

  Drey watched him do this, witnessing the stiffness of his gait, which meant his control of his fury.

  He was furious.

  For Drey.

  “You’ll find he’s overprotective, caro,” the wife, Nyx, shared. “Though this sometimes causes problems, most of the time, it’s quite charming.”

  He looked to her.

  “I have concerns,” he admitted, his voice beginning to tremble.

  She lifted a hand and laid it light on the side of his face, her eyes warming.

  “Think naught of them, mio piccolo buco. Lorenz is crafty, and he is thorough. You are safe. You will be looked after.” She smiled a lovely smile. “And you are now truly ours, so we will both take care of you.”

  She dropped her hand, and oddly, Drey missed it when she did.

  She then scooted off the bed and looked down at him sternly.

  “Rest here for now. Do not shift your robes over you, for they will aggravate the gashes. I shall call for Saturn. Ask him to attend you. Request he bring Faunus. While they make their way to us, I will see to your wounds. I have a special salve that is numbing. It should offer you some relief.”

  She suddenly grinned a grin he was used to, but he had never liked.

  Until now.

  “Saturn will be much aroused, suckling you, and thus will need his own cock, likely at the back. I’ll get leave from Lorenz. He would not normally grant it for me, but in your state, I feel he’ll be generous. Thus, after Saturn is done swallowing your seed, we will together watch them at play while the sleeping draught works within you. That will be sure to give you good dreams.”

  They would watch them together?

  Like…

  Friends?

  She leaned his way with a wicked look in her eyes which he also found quite appealing.

  “Faunus is most rough, caro, and Saturn is nearly as big as my husband. Quite the sight to behold as he very much enjoys a strong, thorough fucking. And when he gushes, his seed,” she rolled her eyes in ecstasy, rolling them back only for him to see they were dancing, “so much, you will think he won’t ever stop climaxing. Or this is what you will hope. If you wish, if it won’t cause you pain, we will make him do it in your mouth.”

  “I wish,” Drey whispered fervently.

  Oh, did he wish.

  He didn’t care if it caused pain.

  She gave him an indulgent smile.

  “And so he shall. Thus they will be sweet dreams indeed, my Tedrey.”

  With that, she swept out.

  And G’Drey lay atop their soft bed, on their smooth silks, no pain at his arse for he was not moving, and he stared at the door she’d walked through realizing he’d just been claimed by a Firenz husband and his wife.

  He was theirs.

  To use.

  To amuse.

  To protect.

  And to care for.

  He had never had thus in his life.

  Not even, really, from his chosen one for Drey was there and definitely unprotected.

  Therefore, for the first time since his father beat the ability out of him when he had caught his son taking farm boy cock in the stables, this before sending him away with orders never to return, Drey began weeping.

  It would be some time later, on his back, his arse on soft cushions, his head too, his mouth filled with a thick cock, his own shaft was hard again after a previous climax and now taking another ardent sucking.

  And his eyes were watching an enormous shaft thrusting roughly between two sculpted cheeks of a brown-skinned arse.

  He tried, but found he could hold back no longer.

  Thus, Drey reluctantly shut his eyes as he shot his seed into a hot mouth that gulped it down.

  His climax finished, his cock released, he then felt the fierce grunts against his balls of the warrior he was sucking as he had been on all fours but was now kneeling with arse offered high and resting his bearded cheek against Drey’s thigh.

  This before Drey’s sac was captured in a wet, warm hold, drawn upon by his warrior’s mouth, and he groaned long and splendidly around it as Drey gladly swallowed down some, more, more and even more of the salty, hot seed flooding his throat.

  He suddenly felt his sac released and a chest pressed at his belly as the warrior over him arched his big body and bellowed, “Fuck!” just as the warrior above Drey embedded himself inside and roared his own climax.

  Astonishing.

  He had never had thus.

  And he hoped to have it again.

  Though perhaps with him the one on his knees.

  G’Drey continued to suck the shaft in his mouth.

  As he did, Saturn hummed while alternately licking Drey’s softening cock and spent balls and taking a gentle thrusting.

  Faunus eventually pulled from him and Saturn withdrew his cock from between Drey’s lips and pushed up to his knees above Drey.

  Watching that muscled arse taking cock had been better.

  Though simply seeing its magnificence hovering above him was not something about which Drey would complain.

  “Would you like to lick Faunus from him?” he heard Nyx offer.

  Drey felt a stirring at this offer, but sadly, in his state, two climaxes and after taking a sleeping draught, he could not.

  “Most drowsy,” he muttered.

  “Pity,” Saturn’s deep voice murmured amusedly.

  He then swung his mighty leg over Drey’s head, shifted in bed, lent over Drey and cupped his shaft and sac in a large, but gentle, hand.

  “Rest well and heal quickly, priest. You owe me,” Saturn teased, even if the look in his eyes said he meant his words.

  G’Drey stared up at his striking features and gave him a sleepy smile. “All right.”

  After delivering a wolfish smile in return, Saturn’s face disappeared, as did, regrettably, his hand, and Faunus’s attractive visage took its place.

  “You don’t owe me shite, I’m still fucking you,” he said with a playful grin on his full lips.

  Drey mind filled with visions of Faunus’s enormous cock.

  “All right,” he replied.

&
nbsp; “Most handsome,” Faunus murmured, his gaze moving over Drey’s face, and Drey blinked at him. “I could keep you full of me for days. You’ll be beautiful shooting before me with me moving deep inside.”

  And Drey’s stomach loosened more.

  Even his lover had not spoken to him such admiring, affectionate words.

  “I’ll be glad to give you that,” he murmured hazily as the draught continued to work its magic.

  “I will be glad to take it,” Faunus murmured in return. “Until then,” he said before he touched his mouth to Drey’s (touched his mouth). The playful had returned when he pulled back and finished, “Or until we feel the need to use Saturn again. I’ll give that, perhaps, a day,” and with that and a cheerful wink, he moved away.

  Only for Nyx to be there.

  “Roll, mio buco,” she ordered quietly. “It is time for you to rest.”

  As bid, beyond replete, Drey rolled to his front.

  She carefully pulled the silks of the bed to his shoulders (a bed in another bedchamber which was quite lovely where she’d led him earlier before seeing to his backside with tender hands).

  She then sat next to him and stroked his hair.

  “Sleep, Tedrey,” she cooed.

  “Yes,” he mumbled.

  “You are safe,” she said, still stroking his hair.

  “Yes,” he repeated.

  “You are home, caro,” she whispered.

  Drey closed his eyes and fell asleep.

  But as he did, another tear swept over the bridge of his nose.

  For he felt just that.

  For the first time in his life.

  Tedrey was home.

  Nyx Chronis

  Guest Bedchamber, Manor of Lorenz, Captain of the Trusted, Fire City

  FIRENZE

  Nyx watched the tear fall.

  And she remembered his reddened eyes when she’d returned to him earlier after sending a servant for Saturn and Faunus.

  She also remembered the way he’d averted his face so she would not see his wet cheeks.

  She had been told of this priest, his use to her, and his different use for her husband.

  She had not cared much for entering in such deception, but she would do anything for her Lorenz and for her realm.

  Further, he was most enjoyable.

  But now, her chest burned.

  Her head felt too full.

  And she knew her husband’s did the same.

  Even feeling thus, she stroked her plaything’s silky, golden hair, beheld his face, soft and handsome in sleep, and only when she knew his sleep was deep, did she get off the bed and move from the room.

  Her husband was busy at the palace.

  But he would come at her call.

  Then he would take her violently so she could expend some of her wrath (and titillation at what she’d just witnessed).

  After that, he would listen to her words.

  And she felt certain he would agree.

  Persephone had her own pursuits.

  As did Saturn and Faunus.

  But this one would give up his white robes.

  Because this one, they’d be keeping.

  30

  The Snoop

  Lady Silence Mattson

  Second Floor, East Corridor, Catrame Palace, Fire City

  FIRENZE

  I rushed down the corridor, clutching my dressing gown around me over Jasmine’s body stocking.

  The fitting was complete for my wedding gown and I was delighted with the results. There were some last touches, but Mars’s servants were clearly honored to help Tril with such an important project for their beloved king and future queen. They had the rest of the day and most of the morrow, and there were many of them, thus I knew it would be completed in time.

  And it would be perfect.

  I could not wait to see its final incarnation.

  More, considering his reaction to my red dress, I could not wait to be wearing it when Mars saw it.

  For now, I could not wait for something else.

  This being bathing in the pool in the garden with Farah and Ha-Lah.

  Elena, Hera and Jasmine said they’d meet us there later. And my future mother-in-law said she would try to join us, but with the wedding preparations and all the guests that were arriving, she was quite busy, so this might be unlikely.

  Sofia had begged off, saying that she wished to give us younger girls time together without an old fuddy-duddy around (though she didn’t use the word “fuddy-duddy”).

  I didn’t agree with this. She was welcome with us anytime. But with her manner, which was growing more morose as time went by and Elpis remained remote, I did not say anything.

  I could do naught about that.

  But it made me sad.

  I had my wedding gown on my mind, Mars’s reaction to it, my impending nuptials on the whole and a lovely afternoon in the pool under the sun with my new friends as I dashed down the corridor, so I was not thinking of aught else when, outside my king and queen’s bedchamber, I heard:

  “It cannot be countenanced. Your son commits treason.”

  And this was said by Carrington, my uncle’s counsellor.

  Hearing these words, words I assumed were said about True, words that could in no way be correct, in extreme shock and complete dismay, I instantly drew my shadow over me and moved to the wall so no one who might be coming or going would run into me.

  It was then I realized what I’d done, right in the middle of the corridor, and my gaze darted to the end, where there was often a servant boy (or two) to attend to the guests of the palace.

  And guests at the palace were growing in number. Those personages of import in Firenze were arriving to attend the marriage ceremony of the king, something which would happen tomorrow, early evening. They would also present their wedding gifts to their king (and me, their future queen) tomorrow morning.

  Indeed, we were to dine with some of them that night.

  Which I hoped meant Mars would not be in meetings. Something like that would be much easier to do at his side.

  There was a boy there, though he was bent over, tying the strap on his sandal, so he did not see me shadow myself.

  I glanced to the other end of the hall and saw no servant.

  I heaved a sigh of relief but choked on it when Carrington carried on, “If Cassius is allowed to usurp his father’s throne, do not think, my king, that True won’t get the same ideas.”

  Cassius usurped Gallienus’s throne?

  When did that happen?

  How did that happen?

  I kept my gaze on the servant as he straightened, pleased to see he was looking down the corridor, but it was clear he didn’t see me.

  My shadow was not faulty as it had been last night.

  Perhaps it was my agitation at getting caught in Mars’s rooms that had led to it abandoning me.

  “Our prince has already promised the use of your armies in this lunacy Cassius is instigating,” Carrington went on.

  Lunacy?

  What lunacy could Cassius possibly be instigating?

  He did not seem a “lunacy” type of fellow.

  “And he did this without your consent. Without even discussing it with you. And that is treason,” Carrington finished.

  “It’s hardly treason,” I heard Aunt Mercy murmur. “Perhaps misguided as he was swept up in the discourse. But not treason.”

  “I think promising your king’s armies to another country to get involved in what is guaranteed to be a civil war is something quite a bit of a departure from simply misguided,” Carrington spat.

  “Mind your tongue to my wife,” Uncle Wilmer ordered in a sharp voice I’d never heard him use.

  But in defense of his wife, I liked it.

  Or, actually, I liked him demonstrating he had any backbone at all.

  “I’m afraid I’m not myself, Your Grace, such is my state of concern about what is happening,” Carrington retorted acidly.

  There was a
brief moment of silence before Uncle Wilmer returned on what sounded like a sigh, “I’ll have a word with True.”

  “How will that be? They’re drawing up the proclamations now and you’ve already agreed to sign them,” Carrington rejoined.

  “Perhaps this civil war won’t come about,” Wilmer suggested.

  I heard Carrington’s scoffing chuff of expelled air.

  “Do you think for one second that the gentry of Airen will stand for their new regent demanding they disband their militias? Not to mention the males of that nation will surely have something to say about giving women right to own property. Eradicating limits on their education and professions. Setting minimal remuneration for their labor at amounts much higher than what they’re currently receiving. And worst of all, offering them the privilege of assembly,” Carrington remarked with disgust.

  Cassius intended to do all of that?

  And he’d assumed rule, become regent, in order to do it?

  Oh my…faith.

  “My husband has kept neutral on these gender issues in the past, Carrington, but we’ve always been allied with Airen,” Aunt Mercy noted. “Our people will find it no surprise we’ve tendered our support for the wishes of their sovereigns.”

  “We have indeed. Neutral to Gallienus’s rule,” Carrington rejoined. “To that end, any time one of their females entered our lands for refuge and they demand her return, we grant it. In other words, this is not neutral. This is an about face.”

  “And there are many in Wodell who do not like that this is the king’s policy,” Aunt Mercy returned, emphasizing the word “king’s” in a manner that stated it wasn’t the king’s policy at all.

  And I knew this to be accurate. True had told me. Returning refugee women to Airen was a thorny subject between my country’s king and his son. True without fail advised his father to grant asylum. Carrington advised it would not be good to anger King Gallienus or the members of his gentry who had command of standing armies.

  “Enough they’re willing to allow their sons to die for it?” Carrington fired back.

  “I do not know,” Mercy retorted. “Though it would be my son in service to his realm and his king who leads the king’s armies and knows the minds of the king’s men, and I would wonder which they would prefer. Riding in aid of a new ruler making just changes in his realm or riding to a folly in order to increase their king’s chest.”