“It’s exquisite.”
Drayke came up behind us and whistled. “That’s a fine weapon, my lady. Remind me not to sneak up on you. I’d hate to have you whirl around and slice off the family treasures.” He turned to me. “I’ve been gathering everything I think we’ll need.”
I shook my head. “You’re not coming with us.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You faced the Dark Lord alone in the first battle. Now I must do the same.”
“I did it because I had no choice, you fool!”
“And neither do I. Did you learn nothing from all the scrolls? One sacred source, one hero, one villain…in one epic battle. It is not written ‘they all got together at once and defeated him.’ If we are to be victorious, we must follow the words of the Prophecy.”
Meli stared at me. “No. No! We need Drayke. You have no idea how powerful the Dark Lord can be. Drayke does. He faced the evil one down and managed to prevail.”
Drayke shook his head. “I’m afraid Magnus is right, my lady. Our enemy penetrated my mind, preyed on my weakness. My dragon self might never have destroyed the Flask if you hadn’t been there to reach the last vestiges of the man deep inside. If he is even stronger now…” His voice died away.
He shook off the mood and clapped me on the shoulder. “It’s nearly dark. Best if both of you get some rest and set out at first light. You have a long journey ahead. I’ll have the horses packed and ready.” He pulled me into a rough hug, took the opportunity to whisper in my ear. “She’s all yours tonight.”
I had the best intentions. No raw, sweaty fucking. No thrilling domination. I’d cradle my lady tenderly in my arms, drink in her beauty as she slumbered. As for myself, I knew sleep would elude me tonight. I could already sense the spirits of the dead hovering, waiting till I drifted off to come after me with their white, fleshless arms outstretched, seeking to drag me to the Underworld where I’d pay for their deaths with my very soul. I had the same nightmare the night before every battle.
“Can we talk, Magnus?”
I had my body tucked around hers, my front to her back. “Of course.” Meli rolled over to face me. I smiled and brushed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes. “What would you like to talk about?”
“Good and evil.”
“I’m glad you chose a light topic,” I replied. “One suited to induce restful slumber.”
“Have you ever really thought about it? The reality of evil at work in our world?” She went on, ignoring my attempt at humor. “Good and evil. Opposite forces. We are free to choose which one we harbor in our hearts. Both have the power to shape our actions and our lives. Unimaginable power.”
“Though I’ve experienced it myself, most of the time I still can’t believe what we’re about to confront is real,” she went on. “An unseen world coexisting with our own. A world ruled by magic spells, populated by demonic beings intent on enslaving humanity. It’s horrible to think that now you’ll face that evil force. I saw what happened to Drayke. I’m…I’m afraid of what it may do to you.”
She’d echoed my own thoughts except for one huge difference. I’d faced specters from the unseen world so often in my nightmares they no longer held any sway over me. My fear was for her safety, not my own. I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m not alone, my lady. The Goddess in her wisdom has brought us together to fight on the side of good.”
“You’re right.” She sighed. “I dream of him sometimes. The Lord of Darkness. I see him slaughtering innocent people, turning others into his slaves. When I wake, I pray that I’ll be strong enough to do whatever I must do to save our world.”
I pulled her closer. Nestled her head on my shoulder. “You don’t have to do it alone either. I’ll be by your side.”
She snuggled against me and for the first time, I realized what the last few years must have been like for my queen. She had faced her demons alone, just as I did while I trained to become a warrior. Alone and afraid, except she’d been ruling an entire kingdom the whole time. I chose my path willingly, but she‘d been a young woman thrust into a position she neither sought nor desired, forced to put on a brave face for the world.
A strange feeling welled up inside me. One I’d never felt before when holding a naked woman in my arms. A feeling of protectiveness.
“I’m here, Meli. You’re safe now. Go to sleep.”
She rubbed her body up against me, and it became clear my lady had no intention of sleeping. Always willing to accommodate, I moved my hand down to stroke her clit.
She smiled and moved my hand to rest on her hip then took my face in her hands and kissed me deeply. Not a kiss of clawing hunger. It was a different kind of passion, one she’d never shown in the past. In truth, one new to me as well. Her kiss held tenderness.
Suddenly, I was as nervous as a lad bedding a maid for the first time. I’d never played any role but master.
That’s when the thought hit me. Perhaps the Goddess was granting me my heart’s desire. This could well be my last night as a living soul. Maybe instead of fucking her it was time to learn how to make love to my woman.
I gave in to the delicious sensation of her lips on mine. Not demanding, seducing. Not tempting and teasing, but promising.
We took it slowly.
For the first time, I did not order or command. Instead, I stayed silent. Wordlessly savoring every touch, exploring her body and allowing her to explore mine as she chose. My queen found erogenous zones I never knew I had. I shivered with arousal as she took my fingers into her mouth one at a time, sucking and licking each one as though it was the head of my cock then running her hot tongue across my palm and up the inside of my arm.
From there, she worked her way down my chest, flicking her tongue over my nipples till they puckered then biting the hard peaks. Stroking a path lightly down my chest with her fingertips, tracing scars from past battles with her lips.
As for me, I worshipped her body like a shrine. Rained kisses over every inch of her. Everywhere but on her pussy and the tight little buds of her nipples. Allowing her arousal to build gradually.
By the time I rolled on top of her, we were both red hot. But I slid in slow, staring into her eyes the whole time. Stopping to kiss her again and again, my tongue twirling around hers.
I loved the way her eyes glazed over, the way the muscles of her pussy squeezed around me like a velvet glove. Finally, I couldn’t hold back any longer. With a harsh cry, I thrust balls-deep into her wet heat. Meli screamed my name and raked my back with her nails.
She wrapped her legs around my waist, and I started pounding into her. She met each thrust eagerly. We fucked with a dark intensity, as if this was our last time. Both knowing it might well be.
When she trembled, I knew she was nearing the peak. I spoke for the first time.
“Yes, come for me now. Come for me, my love.”
She climaxed instantly. Her pussy clenched, muscles spasming around my cock in rhythmic contractions. As she did, she cried out, “I love you! I love you, Magnus.”
Her words triggered something inside me.
For the first time in my life, I gave up control. As I held her I my arms and shot my hot essence deep into her body, I rocketed to a place I’d never been. To the edge of the void – and beyond. I lost myself and joined with her in that moment. We ceased being two souls and became one, soaring to the Seven Stars.
Chapter Fifteen
Magnus
We made the long journey north in record time. My lady was an experienced equestrian, our steeds the best in the land. Each of us led another horse so we could change mounts every few hours.
For ourselves, there was no respite. We rode hard, on narrow trails winding along the edge of the mountains. We stayed away from the well-traveled roads where our journey might be noted and word sent to our enemy that we were on the way.
Our kingdom lay between the vast ocean bordering one side and a mountain range cu
rving protectively around the other. Mt. Jarazal, where our fortress was hidden, rose up near the middle of the range, where the climate was temperate and the countryside blanketed in a forest of soft green. To the south, a tropical jungle climbed up the mountainsides – a riot of brilliantly colored flowers, palm trees, and ancient giant ferns with fronds as big around at their base as tree trunks.
The mountains lay to our right as we headed north and with every mile we traveled, the weather grew colder. Far ahead, we could see snow-capped peaks gleaming white against the brilliant blue sky. Lower down, deep-blue-green pines carpeted the steep slopes.
Antonius said the Lord of Darkness had taken his captives to a cavern deep in the heart of Mt. Belial, so that’s where we ended our journey. The mountain was known to be riddled with caves. I found a small one, dry and empty, with a narrow entrance one person could guard easily. Perfect for a base of operations. I stashed our provisions against the back wall and went out with Meli to scour the surrounding area for firewood.
We loaded the horses with all they could carry, since I wasn’t sure how long we’d be there. I built a fire at the mouth of the cave and tended to the horses while my queen prepared us a simple meal.
We sat side by side on the ground, eating. “My lady has many talents. I had no idea you could cook.”
She laughed. “Putting a slab of roast orax between two hunks of bread hardly counts as a culinary masterpiece.”
I took another bite, swallowed, and shook my head. “It all depends on the circumstances. Many a time in my life, I’d have considered this a feast. And with something to warm my belly…” I took a sip from the mug of hot broth she’d made from the bone and a handful of trimmings off the roast. “I’m a happy man indeed.”
“I learned to cook from Dalia, Antonius’s mate. As a child, I wasn’t allowed in the kitchens at the palace. My tutors were adamant that the future regent had no business hanging about there. They felt my time was far better spent in memorizing a list of my predecessors over the last millennium and the dates of battles they fought. Dalia and Antonius never had children of their own. My father was like a son to them, so when I came along, Dalia took on the role of surrogate grandmother, lavishing me with attention. Papa sometimes let me stay with her for a few days when he and Antonius had to go away on business.”
She gazed into the fire as though it held visions of her memories. “It was a treat to climb up on a kitchen chair and help Dalia make pies. She’d tie an apron around my neck and give me a bit of dough of my own to roll out. She had a little tart pan she let me use so I could create a miniature version of whatever she was making. I’d copy everything she did. Mixing sugar and spices with fruit for the filling, crimping the top and bottom crust together to hold it in. Then we’d put our pies side by side in the oven. While they baked, we’d sit and have a cup of tea, and she’d tell me the loveliest stories. Fairy tales, mostly, of beautiful princesses and brave warriors. Stories my tutors never let me read. They considered them frivolous.”
Meli gave me a sad smile. “I suppose that’s where I got all my ideas about love and romance and happily-ever-afters. From Papa, all I ever saw was grief over the loss of my mother.” She covered my hand with hers. “Dalia’s stories never included a princess living with two strong, handsome heroes. Do you think we’ll get a chance to find out how that tale ends?”
I lifted her hand to my lips. Kissed it. I couldn’t lie and tell her we’d all live happily ever after. While we sat, darkness had fallen, and I knew the task that lay ahead might cost me my life. But when a warrior loses hope, her battle is already lost. I searched for a way to give her some comfort. “Someday you’ll tell a little girl the tale of a princess who was both beautiful and brave,” I said, “and the valiant warriors who loved her and cherished her and fought by her side. And how, together, they saved her kingdom.”
I gathered my queen in my arms. Held her close. “Stay here. Keep the fire burning. I’m going out on a reconnaissance mission.”
She started to get up. “I’m coming with you.”
“No!”
Her eyes widened at the sternness in my tone.
“Tonight you are not my queen. I am in charge of this mission, and I go alone. You are a soldier who must remain on guard. I can’t move as swiftly or silently if you’re tagging along behind me.”
Her face fell. “Yes, my lord. You’re right, of course. I didn’t think of that.”
“If I don’t return by sunrise, take the horses and head to the nearest hamlet. Have them send word to Antonius. He said the people here are loyal to the crown. They’ll hide you until your Royal Guards can get here.”
“But they’ve all been taken hostage by the Dark Lord!”
“The nearby villagers have been. But I saw a trail of smoke in the sky coming from somewhere beyond the forest a few hours back,” I said. “I’m guessing there are small settlements here and there he missed. Head down the mountain into the countryside. Keep going until you find one.”
I rose and took her in my arms. Kissed her as I’d never kissed anyone before. Fierce, wild passion, tempered by a heart filled with love.
I made my way up the side of mountain by the light of the moon until I reached a spot where I could see activity in a hollow between two snow-covered slopes. A dozen or so raggedly dressed villagers clustered around a small fire, while two burly guards passed a goatskin flask back and forth.
“All right. That’s enough. Back to work.” One guard walked among them, prodding one with the tip of his sword, kicking another who lay huddled on the ground.
“Please.”
I heard a woman’s voice, thick with unshed tears. “I beg you, sir, let my father rest. He’s sick.”
“If he’s too sick to work, he’s of no use.” The guard raised his sword menacingly.
“No!” she cried. “Please. I’ll work hard enough for both of us. Just give him a few more hours to sleep.”
The guard leered at her. “Maybe you’d like to stay out here with him.” He grabbed his crotch. “I’ll put you to work.”
She shied away.
“She’s not worth it, Hando.” The other guard stepped between them. “You know what he will do if he catches you. We don’t get the women until he gives us permission. After he’s through with them.”
“It’s a waste of good pussy,” Hando grumbled. “All he’s got them doing is digging in the rubble. She could spread her legs for us while she’s on her back for the few hours of rest he lets them have. Makes no difference to me if she’s asleep or awake.”
The second guard forced the small band to their feet and herded them toward the wide dark mouth of a cave at the far end of the hollow. “Take care of him,” he called over his shoulder.
The one called Hando kicked the prostrate man again. When he still didn’t move, the guard raised his sword. His daughter screamed and tried to dart toward them but the second guard caught her by the arm and dragged her away. I heard her pitiful cries echoing as they all disappeared into the mouth of the cave.
I was too far up the mountain to stop him. I had to watch as he ran his sword through the poor soul then wiped the blood off his blade on the old man’s tattered coat. He took another pull on the flask then grabbed the corpse by the legs, lurching and stumbling as he dragged the body behind an outcropping of rocks. I took the opportunity to sneak down the slope and slipped up behind him as he lurched back into the clearing.
I clapped my hand over his mouth, pulling him back toward me. He grunted and began struggling, but froze when the tip of my dagger nicked his neck.
“Such a brave warrior,” I whispered in his ear. “Murdering an unarmed old man as he lies helpless on the ground. Threatening his daughter with rape when she tries to help him. I’ve been sent by the Goddess to give you your reward. The gods of the Underworld will be pleased to welcome you.”
He twisted his head toward me, eyes wide with terror, and began making desperate whini
ng noises.
I slit his throat without a qualm.
After dragging his body out of sight behind the rocks and depositing it next to that of his victim, I stole silently into the cave.
Chapter Sixteen
Magnus
Flickering torches set high on the walls lit a long, dark passage. I made my way through the shadows, following the clang of iron picks against stone, the groans of exhausted villagers, the curses of their guards.
Ahead, the passage split into two branches. I took the left.
I counted eleven villagers toiling away, removing a pile of rocks at the end of the passage about fifty feet from me. Two burly guards prodded them to work faster while another stood guard over six more half-sitting, half-lying on the ground nearby, slumped wearily against the jagged stone wall. It was clear the captives were being worked to the point of exhaustion.
“We been diggin’ here for days now, Ben, and haven’t seen hide nor hair of gold or jewels. D’ya think there’s really a temple full of treasure at the end of one of the passages inside this cave?” asked one of the men guarding the workers.
“I seen it with my own eyes,” declared the one stationed by the prisoners at rest. “Our Master showed it to me.”
“Yeah, in a vision,” grumbled the third man.
“Shut yer mouth,” Ben snarled. “Our Master promised all who follow him a better life, filled with power and glory. No more scrabbling in the fields under the hot sun, no more shoveling shit from the barn. All we need to do is uncover the hidden temple. It’s somewhere in this cavern. He says the entrance was buried centuries ago by a rockslide.”
“Well we’re runnin’ outa villagers,” the first man shot back. “And I don’t intend ta take their place. I didn’t leave home and join up with the Dark One to break my back haulin’ rocks. So far, there ain’t been no sign of riches. And guarding this crew of half-dead slaves day and night don’t make me feel powerful.”
Chaos Born: A Sci-Fi Menage Romance (Warriors of the Seven Stars Book 2) Page 9
