by Jools Louise
For some reason, being a male and pregnant with six eggs after having sexual relations with six male lovers was frowned upon on this planet. Damn!
Max was thinking these thoughts, trying not to freak out but unable to prevent a small spark of wry amusement that he continued to cause all sorts of problems wherever he went. His own planet had been brought to civil war because of his family’s in-fighting and petty jealousies. Who was he to think that just because he was a king, albeit with no kingdom or subjects to rule over, that it would be any different here?
Max remembered all the subtle rivalries from his days in court. The jealousies, one-upmanship games, silly games to prove oneself worthy of the king’s attention. Courtiers and councillors seemed to be cut from the same cloth. This place, Agion, was no different. It might even be worse. Back home on Vexxillon, the fight had seemed fairly clear cut. Syrrus and Trophus wanted a kingdom…so they took it! Not difficult to decipher, really.
Agion seemed fraught with far more complex undertones. The issue was not just about taking over the city. There was a real sense of prejudice against anyone not conforming to one or two archaic rules. The only thing Max could think of was that the two councillors and their merry band of murderous thugs had fewer brain cells than he had first imagined.
Did they honestly think that Max was just going to sit here and accept a dagger splitting his belly open? The quick magick he had unleashed on his three attackers rendered them frozen in various poses of nefarious activity. One, a thin and really ugly weasel-looking male with dull reddish fur and yellowing teeth had been about to throw a jagged knife. His expression of evil intent remained, as did the knife which hovered mid-throw.
A second male, far taller and more muscular, as well as younger, had his fists clenched ready to pummel Max into submission, if Max had read the body language correctly. He smiled, flicking a finger at the nose of the insolent pup. Hah! Didn’t they know who they were dealing with? Pregnant meant being exceedingly protective of one’s belly, and anyone even attempting to hurt it was going to be in a world of pain.
The third male gave Max pause. This was one of the councillors. Szmia if he remembered right. The one who had been so offended at meeting Max and his knaves. The concern was not the fact that this councillor was here, more that he would be so blatant in his attack. In Max’s thinking, this meant something untoward had happened to Myre. That was definitely something to worry about.
If Szmia was here, that meant his accomplice was none other than Hazhtion, the grey-furry blob of a councillor. And if the blob was not here, he was quite possibly attacking Myre and Myre’s lovely family.
A quick glance at his knights had Max smiling. They all looked to be doing quite fine. So that meant, since he had things under control that he was free to do some damage elsewhere.
Closing his eyes, he delved deep in his mind for the connection to Myre. He had learned a few things from the large feline shifter in recent days. Finding the trail that Myre used to connect with his brain and communicate, Max sent a message of his own to find out what was happening.
I’m a little busy right now, Your Majesty! Myre replied almost instantly, sounding out of breath and more than a little pissed.
Do you need any help? Max sent back, not really expecting Myre to accept. The feline shifter was a warrior to the core, and would probably think he was being insulted.
If you can transport a bunch of miserable, worthless, cockless morons to the depths of the Southern Sea, attached to flesh-eating amphibious Zorga, I would be more than happy to accept your help, Your Majesty.
Well, Max thought to himself, smiling even more. The shifter did sound a just a little bit more sarcastic than was necessary. He must be having a bad day! Max chuckled.
“Max, are you okay?” Sol’s concerned voice reached him, shortly before the golden dragon’s lushly muscled chest and thick thighs came into his line of vision. Max licked his lips at the sight of all that sweaty musculature on display.
“Yes, love. Just fine. Myre’s in a bit of a pickle. I thought I’d help him out. He said something about the Southern Sea, flesh-eating amphibious Zorga and sending some people there. Any thoughts?”
Sol grinned at Max’s snarky reply, knowing full well that Max was quite capable of doing such a thing. “Tell you what, lover, you do your mind thing with Myre to find out where the people are, and me and the guys will deliver the morons wherever he wants.”
Max grinned back, eyes sparkling with mirth.
Hey, Myre, sorry to interrupt again. If you give me your location, I’ll send Sol to you. He’ll help you.
Max grinned even wider at the snarling curse that followed, before Myre gave him directions.
Sol immediately shifted into dragon form, his massive girth dwarfing the room and sending shrieks of fear from the two remaining assailants who were busy fighting against Jayde and Raven. The other four were out cold, sprawled on the floor.
Clambering aboard, Max waited until Sol sent out a jet of super-heated dragon fire which fell just short of the two struggling thugs and the fight went out of them in a hurry. They collapsed to their knees, hands held in a gesture of surrender. A couple of swift thumps to their jaws and they joined their comrades on the floor.
Leaping forward, Sol let out a roar of rage, his ear-splitting battle cry echoing over the towering spires of the city. He launched off the balcony, followed by the other knaves and they were soon headed to aid their ally.
Another piercing cry burst from Sol’s throat, this one full of the joys of flying free. Max smiled, laying low against Sol’s broad neck, clutching at the silky mane as Sol did an impressive spiralling loop before straightening out. Max loved flying, his belly not so much right now. Sol gave him a sheepish look as Max mentioned the fact, an unusual expression on a dragon, disturbing almost. Max rolled his eyes, then his stomach rolled, and he spewed a large part of his stomach contents all over Sol. Sol gave an indignant growl, which Max responded to by slapping the scaly neck under him sharply.
“You shouldn’t be doing aerobatics with me on top then, should you!” Max growled right back, glaring as Sol sent him a baleful look from those jewel-like violet eyes.
The entourage was soon within sight of their target—Myre’s home fortress. Set apart from the majority of the surrounding buildings, the place was massive, spread over two city blocks, but only a few stories high. Max had chuckled when Myre told him he was actually not a big lover of heights, despite his feline side loving to climb trees. The two sides had compromised by building such a fortress which had a great many large trees around the place where in feline form, Myre could climb where he wanted. In humanoid guise, Myre preferred his feet on the ground. Strange creature, was Max’s teasing response.
Below them lay the main courtyard. Situated right in the centre of the complex it was accessible from the air and compromised of a lovely park area with trees and flowers and fountains. A large swimming pool sat to one side.
Max could see a lot of activity in the courtyard. Myre, in shifter form, was fighting off three assailants while Neea and two of her sisters fought two more each. Both females had shifted also and were assisted by all eight of her offspring who were growling and biting and snarling at the marauders. Max couldn’t help but grin at their fierce protection of their mother. What they would be like as adults should give their parents equal amounts of pride and terror, judging by their fearless defence so far. Neea’s third sister, Frizta, was off to one side, guarding the smallest of the cubs, having kept him back when things got too heated.
Sol and the knaves circled, uttering their battle cries, the noise almost deafening and causing the attackers to pause and look upwards.
In swift succession, each dragon belched out plumes of searing heated breath. Not enough to incinerate but certainly hot enough to singe a few furry butts. Shrieking, the thugs below made to run, but were prevented by the fact that Myre let out a mighty roar of rage and began ripping at them. Slashing and biting wit
h claws and teeth, he had soon shredded his three attackers into bloody, dismembered pieces.
Sol and the others landed, their large forms almost the same size as Myre. A mental communication with Myre had them sending out more streams, these jets of dragon flame which did incinerate those targeted. In a few minutes the battle was over and a smug bunch of dragon warriors shifted back to humanoid form and slapped each other on the back, in high spirits.
Max, however, had spotted someone who had not fared so well.
Neea’s youngest child was lying motionless in his feline form, blood oozing from a series of deep cuts on his side.
Kneeling beside him Max felt sadness well up inside him, coupled with pure rage. He’d just about had enough of people thinking that killing solved everything. That taking whatever they wanted, because they wanted it, was somehow acceptable.
Gathering the little cub in his arms Max’s eyes closed and he began to chant. He sent every bit of healing magick he could into the little one, knowing somehow it would not be enough. He could literally feel the life-force leaving the youngster, even as the blood oozed from the vicious wounds. Who would hurt a child?
A distant scream entered his consciousness and he felt hands trying to claw the child away from him. Holding firm to his precious burden, he opened his eyes. The golden eyes swirled with mystical energy. Neea, who was trying to take her child, paused as she fell into the hypnotic gaze.
“If you want your child to live, you must give a part of your life force. You will forfeit the chance to have more children if you agree to this.” Max’s voice was a monotone, as though he were under some spell.
Not pausing to think, Neea grabbed Max’s hand. He placed it gently on the little cub then stared over at Myre, beckoning him over. Myre immediately sank to his knees after shifting. He also placed his hands on cub with Max placing his own over the two shifter parents.
A gentle greenish light began to emanate from Max, enveloping all four. The chanting began again and several moments later it dissipated like smoke. The knights stood like silent sentinels watching sombrely.
A tiny cry came from the injured youngster, and then his eyes opened blearily. The smile which lit his little face as he saw his parents and Max sent a sigh of relief through everyone and they almost sagged as the weight of worry lifted.
Exhausted, Max sagged as well, his body sinking as Sol rushed to catch him.
Cradling his lover tenderly, Sol sent a fierce look to Myre.
“I am glad that you are well. I am glad that your child is healed. We will help you get your house in order. Where is Hazhtion? His accomplice is back at our dwelling. I was able to mind-share with Szmia and know that Hazhtion is the brains behind this. I would have his heart ripped out while he watches and the rest of his body parts sent to others of his clan to allow them time to reconsider any further action.”
Myre’s smile was unpleasant as the two shared a look of understanding. Both would kill for their loved ones. Both were going to fight to the death to prevent others destroying the peace here.
“Hazhtion fled the city. He boarded a transport to the second planet in our solar system. He thinks he will be safe from our laws, but I have many friends on Accorx. We will regroup, heal, and then come up with a battle plan. I do not wish to invade Accorx, as I have no quarrel there.”
“You won’t need to.” Sol sent Myre a meaningful glance which Myre understood perfectly. Sol intended to visit Accorx and get Hazhtion himself.
“Perhaps you should send others of your knaves to get him, since Max will probably need you beside him when he gives birth.” Neea said tartly, still holding her son closely to her, the other children cuddling close by as well.
“I don’t intend for my knaves to go anywhere until after the birth,” Max said in a weary voice, his words so soft they were barely audible.
“We need to get the traitor before he has a chance to move on.” Sol scolded, kissing Max tenderly on the mouth and causing the kids to giggle in amusement.
Max lifted his head wearily from Sol’s broad chest.
“My love, Hazhtion is going nowhere. He is currently trapped in the same freezing magick I used on the other cretins. He is two leagues from here, being slowly devoured by a rather large flesh-eating slug.” Max waved his hand and a vision appeared, showing the scene. As explained, there was a gigantic slug, similar to one they had seen in the forest upon their arrival. This one had serrated teeth edging its vast maw of a mouth, the mouth which was currently inhaling Hazhtion and eight of his cohorts in a slow, terrifying, and unstoppable manner.
Max’s stomach heaved but since he had nothing left in his stomach, he simply retched miserably. Sol cuddled him closer, kissing the top of his head and rubbing a large hand along Max’s belly as though he could calm the spasms.
Sighing, Max closed his eyes, the vision disappeared, and the pregnant king slept.
Sol smiled down at his lover, pressing a kiss to the soft mouth and inhaling his mate’s delicious scent.
“I love you,” he whispered softly, expression full of love and pride in his mate’s abilities. Despite being in the throes of a debilitating morning sickness, and recently attacked in his bed, the king had succeeded in stopping two evil councillors from carrying out their evil plan.
“I’ll go and retrieve Szmia and his idiots. Perhaps I could have an escort?” Myre asked, raising a brow at Raven and Jayde who agreed to accompany the shifter.
With a wicked grin, the pair of dragons both shifted back to four-legged form, grabbed Myre in their claws between them and launched into the air.
Myre’s furious cries had even Neea laughing as she watched her mate being carried off across the city.
“His feline will be loving it!” She giggled, which sent the rest of her children off into hysterics. They all knew about their father’s quirk regarding heights.
She didn’t see the look sent her way by her sister who up until now had been silent. The female had a similar appearance, but her expression was slightly sour. She did not appear to be at all happy.
Max felt a slight stirring, a darkness which invaded his psyche even in sleep and opened his eyes. He stared over at the female, trying to remember her name. Frizta, he seemed to think. He felt a sense of foreboding, as though they had missed a crucial member of the team who had tried to take down Myre and his family. Max had a suspicion that Frizta might know more than she pretended. He sent a silent, private communication to Myre, asking about Frizta’s history.
He smiled a little at the irritation in the shifter’s reply. Apparently he had arrived at their dwelling, none the worse for his terrifying flight with Raven and Jayde. The answer which came back was not reassuring.
Frizta was a stepsibling. She had grown up with Neea, but Myre had always distrusted her. Small things, little grievances which added up to him watching her closely for as long as he had known his mate.
Frizta caught Max’s gaze on her and she snarled viciously at the knowing look in his eyes.
In an instant, she shifted, leaping at him as he lay against Sol’s chest, claws flashing as she sprang.
Her body froze mid-pounce, the snarl on her lips twisting an otherwise beautiful countenance into something evil and cruel.
“Frizta!” Neea cried out as her sibling attacked, eyes wide as she stared at Max’s fierce anger.
“She was a part of the plot to kill you and your husband. I have delved into her mind, Neea. She wants what you have. She was sharing her body with both Szmia and Hazhtion and at least four others, unbeknownst to them all. She played mind games with them, playing their affections for her against the others’. She is jealous that you have a loving mate and eight beautiful heirs, while she feels she is more deserving. She would have murdered your children, although you would have blamed her suitors. Then she would have killed you and moved into the position she covets—beside Myre, as his mate.” Max spoke quietly, each word dropping like bombs in the quiet of the courtyard.
Neea called to her children.
“My lady, allow us to take your children for something to eat, they must be hungry.” Ochre suggested, gesturing with his head for the other knaves to follow.
Neea nodded dazedly, not quite sure what to think, but trusting her little ones with these large, gentle knaves. They had saved her and her children while her own kin conspired against her.
“Are you sure?” She asked the question of Max, hardly able to comprehend the extent of the treachery, but knowing that Max spoke the truth.
Her step-sister had always had a bitchiness to her nature. One of those who craved what others had then discarded after they acquired what was not theirs. Many times as youngsters, Frizta had stolen toys and friends, making up nasty little stories to make friends dislike Neea then smirking when the friends became hers. Once she had “taken” the things away from Neea, she lost interest and went on to the next challenge.
To Frizta, it was all about the competition, not the prize.
Neea felt an upwelling of pure rage searing through her as she looked at this creature who had been offered everything. But still that had never been enough. Jealousy, greed, and a narcissist personality. When Neea thought of how much pain this monster had caused, she wanted to rip the bitch’s heart from her chest right then and there.
“Did she hurt my son?” She asked the question, pretty much knowing the answer already. The last person who had been with her youngest before he had been injured was Frizta.
“Yes, my lady. She lashed out with rage when she saw us defeat her lovers.” Max sounded sad and weary. His beautiful golden eyes reflected his agony on Neea’s behalf. He didn’t understand this kind of thinking. Frizta had a loving family, and had she allowed herself to feel thankful and glad, she would have found a loving mate of her own. Instead she used everyone around her and now would be lucky if she was left with her life. Judging by Neea’s angry demeanour, that wasn’t guaranteed right now.
“My lady, her punishment will be left up to you. I do not want to intrude on your laws, or your mate’s authority, but she is your family. It would be right you decide. You may resent your mate if he decides to execute her for her crimes. Perhaps a trial to determine, fairly, what is behind this. I have only truth-read her side of things. She has other lovers as well who may prove useful.”
