by Sam Cheever
I took a deep breath and forced my mind back to business. “All male, huh? I guess the Puka can take female forms as well as male?”
“It would seem so,” Gerch responded.
“Does the king have a significant other?” I looked at Gerch.
He nodded. “I believe so, yes.”
Bob frowned. “Good leverage if you needed it.”
“But why take the Puka King?” Ralph asked the question but we all turned to Gerch for the answer.
“The King of the Pukas is set to be crowned Council Sovereign next week. As you may know, Sovereigns rule the council for one hundred years and then the next in line is crowned.”
“Who’s the next in line?”
Gerch’s beady gaze slipped away.
My stomach twisted. I was afraid I knew the answer to my own question. “Gerch?”
He crossed massive red arms over his chest, refusing to answer.
“It’s Dialle isn’t it?”
The massive soldier kept his gaze determinedly from mine, telling me everything I needed to know. I sighed, trying another tack. “What happens if the Sovereign-to-be is gacked?”
Ralph choked and Bob laughed.
“Very sensitive, Astra.” Darma shook her head.
I grinned. “Just answer the question.”
Gerch’s heavy jaw tightened. I could almost see his large white teeth gnashing together. “The next in line takes the spot.”
“And if that person is also…gacked?” Ralph slid a laughing gaze toward me.
“That depends. Rule isn’t tied to an individual, but the individual’s court. If a king is usurped, the usurper would have a chance at becoming Sovereign.”
“Only a chance? It isn’t guaranteed.” A gray area. I hated those.
“No. The usurper would need a strong case to prove that he could hold the court he stole.”
“So the Puka could come up with a backup king?” Ralph looked confused.
“Not until they know for sure that he’s dead. And even then it’s unlikely. The Puka ascend to the throne through blood alone. The next in line for the current king is only five years old. Too young by most courts’ standards.”
“Most? I wonder who would seat a ruler younger than five.” Bob snorted.
Apparently Gerch didn’t recognize the concept of the rhetorical question. “Martians are considered adults at one year of age. Like dogs and dragons. Their leader ascends at age one and a half.”
Silence throbbed through my office for a beat as everyone digested the idea of an eighteen-month-old ruler.
“Alrighty then,” I finally said. “So we have a why, possibly a when, we need a who.” I expelled air forcefully. “And we need to figure out what killing me has to do with all of it.”
“Maybe it’s not connected.”
I glanced at Gerch. “It is. The poison proves that.”
Bob frowned. “What poison?”
I filled them in on Dialle’s poisoning and our subsequent discussion with the pain-loving witch.
“So, if the oils were taken from this witch at the court of Dialle the Second, it would seem our culprit resides at the court. And Dialle being next in line makes it look really bad, Astra.” Ralph slid a look toward Gerch as the loyal soldier growled low in his throat.
“Stop it, Gerch. If you can’t handle the truth go back to court. I didn’t invite you here anyway.”
He glared at me but fell silent.
“Besides, I know it isn’t Dialle. If it’s someone at the court, my money’s on Milc.”
Gerch’s beady eyes widened. “You think the advocate is attempting to usurp the king?”
I shrugged. “It’s possible.” Chewing my fingernail, I thought about another possibility. I didn’t even want to mention it. The thing was already such a huge cluster frunk. But if we were going to get to the bottom of it I knew we had to look at all options. “There is one other very remote concern. At more than one of the sites we’ve visited, Slayer’s read the magic signature of someone from his past. Someone he doesn’t trust who, though he and I haven’t had time to discuss it in detail, seems to scare him. It’s possible this woman is involved somehow. When we know more about her maybe we’ll have a better idea what’s going on.”
“Does he know how to find her?” Ralph looked worried. I knew from working with him over the past couple of years that he didn’t believe in coincidence. He often said, “Coincidence is just facts that haven’t been explained yet.”
I shook my head. “I have him searching for her now. I’ll let you know what we find.”
“So where do we go now?” Gerch’s heavy brow had lowered over his beady black eyes. I knew he dreaded what I would do next.
My grin probably didn’t make him feel any better. “To speak to the devil’s advocate.”
* * * * *
We returned to Dialle’s quarters and I sent Gerch to find Milc and bring him to me. Despite Dialle’s reaction if he woke and saw him, I called Slayer. I wasn’t going to take any chances in case the advocate decided to use his questionable powers on my body again.
When he arrived, I told Slayer to blast the advocate’s face into his ass if I broke a sweat or looked even slightly happy.
Slayer’s grin told me I wouldn’t have any trouble on that score.
I was happy to note that Astis was no longer with Dialle. He was sleeping but his skin was a warm, natural gold again and his chest rose and fell in even breaths. My own breath came more easily as I saw that he appeared to be recovering.
Even the claw marks on his side looked as if they were starting to heal.
I reached out and skimmed a shiny lock of midnight-black hair off his cheek, tucking it behind his ear.
“You love him.” Slayer sounded surprised.
I blinked away tears and swallowed a lump the size of my fist. Shaking my head in denial, I straightened away from the bed. “I care about him, yes. Love…that’s something I can’t afford. Especially with a Royal.”
“Yet you are his queen.”
I shrugged. “It’s a political arrangement, nothing more. Dialle needs a queen to keep his court healthy. I fill the spot and he helps me…with my Settling and other things.”
“Very cynical.”
My laugh was slightly more watery than I’d hoped. “Don’t tell me the big bad dragon slayer believes in happily ever after?”
Slayer looked at me with deep sadness and maybe even a little pity. “I do, actually. Just not for me. I went that route once and it didn’t work out so well for me.” He looked so sad that I wondered if he was thinking about Crisanne, the Tweener he’d told me about.
“Then you know exactly how I feel.”
He shrugged. “Before the advocate arrives, there’s something I need to tell you—”
The doors opened and Milc strode in, closely followed by Gerch.
“Hold that thought,” I told Slayer.
Milc stopped in front of me and slanted Slayer a glance. “What is this creature doing here…my queen?”
Slayer leaned against a sturdy chair and crossed well-muscled arms over his chest, sliding an arrogant gaze over Milc.
“He’s not your concern. I need to ask you a few questions.”
Milc inclined his head, fixing an intense black gaze on me. “I’m always at your service, my queen.”
The words held so much innuendo I felt the need to clarify. “The only service I need from you is the truth.”
He inclined his head again.
“What do you know about the Puka King?”
He held my gaze for a moment before responding. “I know he will be crowned Council Sovereign in a few days.”
He gave no sign that he knew the king was missing. Despite that, I knew he was lying. “At the meeting of the Dark Council?”
“Yes. Surely you were aware of that also, my queen. Have your advisors not provided background on the event?”
I did a mental head slap. Oh yeah, all that crap I trashed from my inf
ormation unit as soon as it hit. “Humor me. I want your perspective.”
His dark gaze flashed briefly before becoming hooded again. “As you wish.”
“Tell me what happens if the Puka King can’t be crowned.”
“That wouldn’t happen.”
“Milc!”
He expelled air. “I do not have time for fantasies. I must find the person responsible for the attacks on you and the king.”
I gave him an evil smile. “How’s that going for you?”
He frowned. “Not well. It appears that many hate you. If I were to go by that alone I would be arresting half the court.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Only half? I’m pleasantly surprised.”
“Do not be. The other half hates you too, but they wish to find your secrets before ridding the court of your stain.”
Power rose in the room in a thick wave as we glared at each other. The hairs on my arms stood up with it, and the temperature in the room rose noticeably.
“Don’t make me go to King Dialle with your insubordination. Let’s try this again. Tell me what happens if the Puka King cannot be crowned.”
“As next in line, King Dialle would be crowned in his stead.”
“And if something happened to Dialle?”
Milc stared at me for a long moment. He didn’t blink. I watched him carefully and noted the exact moment he got my implication.
“Has something happened to the Puka King?”
“It’s possible. He’s disappeared.”
“And you believe King Dialle was poisoned to ensure someone else’s spot as Sovereign?”
“You tell me.”
He flung his hands up in a fit of pique, flames dancing around him on the air. “How in Hades would I know, you imbecile? This is your fantasy, not mine.”
I pulled my power forward and Slayer did the same. The room was so drenched with power at that point I could barely breathe.
I lifted my hands, power sizzling in my palms, and my devil came up in a big way. I pictured Milc ripping into hundreds of tiny little pieces as I pounded him with my magic. A red haze slipped before my gaze and my muscles clenched in anticipation. I let the power slide, sending it to my fingertips, ready to fling. I could almost taste the pleasure of blasting him into the next room. Unfortunately for me I never got the chance. A powerful, husky voice boomed through the magic, vibrating on the air and reverberating around the room.
“Milc!”
All eyes turned to the owner of the sexy baritone. Dialle sat upright in the bed, his face dark with rage and his silky black hair lifting off his shoulders on a power-induced wave. His hands were lifted, the fingers clenched in tight fists, and power snapped around them. “You will prostrate yourself before the queen and apologize. Now!”
His voice throbbed across the waves of magic, emphasized by them rather than dimmed, and rattled the very walls of the large room.
I felt its vibration in my bones. I glanced at Slayer and he nodded, shimmering away while Dialle’s attention was focused on his advocate. I’d have to get his report later.
Like a marionette on knotted string, Milc jerked downward, no doubt impelled by Dialle’s magic, and banged to the floor on his knees. His voice came to me muffled and sounded as if it were delivered through gritted teeth. “You have my heartfelt apologies, my queen.”
Dialle surged from the bed on a roar and lifted his hands, opening them to emit double streams of pure black power from the palms.
Milc flew away from him and smashed into the wall thirty feet away, coming to his feet with an angry cry.
I turned to Milc with power still sizzling in my palms. “Step down, Advocate. You’re lucky the king didn’t kill you.”
Gerch closed ranks with me, obscuring Dialle in the bed. But Dialle was way too pissed off to let us shield him. The air before Milc shimmered and Dialle was suddenly standing inches away from the advocate, his fist bunched in the taller man’s shirt. “Get thee from my sight, boil, before I kill thee with my bare hands.”
With a final sneer in my direction, Milc shimmered away.
Dialle stood staring at the wall for a moment, his chest heaving as he fought for control. I glanced at Gerch. “Leave us.”
Gerch stepped close. “Are you certain?”
I was touched, the big guy looked as if he was actually concerned about me. I smiled. “I’m sure. Thanks.”
With a final, uncertain look at Dialle, Gerch nodded and left quickly, closing the heavy doors quietly behind him.
I stood silent for a moment, allowing Dialle to calm before I spoke. I wasn’t worried about Dialle’s anger. It wasn’t directed at me. But the look on his face when he turned around made me suck in a breath.
Maybe I shouldn’t have sent Slayer and Gerch away after all.
I needed to bring his devil down fast or we were both gonna be sorry.
“Too bad you stepped in front of me, I was just about to kick his ass.”
Dialle’s black gaze swirled with the colors of rage. His fists were clenched so hard at his sides that the knuckles were white.
Power flowed from him in angry waves. He growled.
Well. That hadn’t worked.
I tried a different tack.
“You’re looking much better.”
Dialle moved so fast I didn’t see it until it was too late. Suddenly he was standing right in front of me, his face so close to mine I could taste his breath.
One large, golden hand lifted to tangle in my hair and he pulled me roughly into a kiss, his other hand grasping my hip and dragging me close.
The power ball I’d been holding deflated and disappeared with a pop as my nether regions fired up under a different kind of power.
My Settling surged into awareness and growled, licking its lips in anticipation as Dialle’s mouth ravaged mine.
He kissed me so hard I felt the sharp tips of his slightly oversized canines and I relished the pain. The taste of my blood added a salty-sweet tang to our kisses.
I tangled my fingers in his thick mane of hair and groaned against his mouth, my hips nestling the long, hard thickness resting against my belly.
Dialle’s tongue speared my lips and danced roughly with mine. He tasted of heat and sexual musk.
His scent wound me in an unbreakable web of lust.
I dragged at my clothes desperately, becoming frustrated by their refusal to give way. When they disappeared on a wisp of Dialle-induced magic, I immediately climbed his body, my legs wrapping around him like the slut monkey I was. My pussy cried as it found his cock and I pressed against it with manic need.
Moaning, I grabbed his face and lifted my mouth from his, biting his lips and jawline and licking his face and lips like a submissive pup. I bit and licked my way down his throat, heading for the daemon hickey I’d given him.
He grabbed my chin between two strong fingers, gently but firmly dragging my lips back to his. He carried me to the bed and dropped me onto it, climbing over me and settling his shaft between my legs.
He found the tear-shaped mark on my throat and sucked it. My world rolled and wobbled, crashing, as delight speared through me, sharp and bright.
My hands found his delectable buns and I grabbed hold, trying to force his cock into my body.
But Dialle resisted. He used the mark on my throat to send me screaming into orgasm over and over again until I panted from the aftermath.
Finally, I screamed his name, begging him shamelessly with my body, and he drove himself deep. I knew from the moment he entered my body that it would be no gentle mating. He was an animal in need, a beast driven by sheer, unbound lust that needed to be assuaged.
I was no less driven. I wrapped his hair in my fist and held on, my legs twining around his as he pounded me into the soft mattress beneath us.
His teeth closed on my bottom lip and he nibbled it as he thrust into me, lifting my hips to drive even more deeply into my pussy.
My world was woven completely from my need and the sex
ual fire I felt sizzling at the edge of our sphere. I was nothing more than a collection of roiling sexual cells…mindless and ravenous.
My cells had expanded with it…my skin was so alive it hurt. Every touch of his hands burned me as he stroked my arms, back and buttocks.
Dialle’s skin felt as if it was on fire beneath my fingers. A fine sheen of sweat coated us both, creating friction as our bodies ground together in frenzied coupling.
He growled my name as his muscles tightened and I felt him jump within me. As he came, he lowered his lips to my throat and captured the mark that was spitting magic between us. His fevered lips staunched the magic fire and sent me soaring into release with him.
Bright stars fractured before my eyes. Pleasure burst from my sensual core and rolled through me, warming and softening my muscles as Dialle draped himself over me. He covered my lips and face in soft, lingering kisses.
I sighed, running my hands over his arms and back, and wished he would stay with me for a bit rather than jumping up and returning to the fray.
I wasn’t surprised when he started to roll away. Suddenly I couldn’t stand it. I needed him to stay. Placing my hand on his arm, I looked up into his face.
His gaze fixed on mine, unwavering, filled with coolness that made my stomach clench. “Stay. Don’t run away.”
He stared at me for a long moment and then, to my amazement, lowered his lips to mine. His kiss was filled with such tenderness that tears stung my eyes. Even so, he pulled away.
“I cannot. I have dignitaries to entertain and a council to plan.”
“Can’t somebody else do it?”
His perfect lips tipped upward and he reached out to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Nay. ’Tis my task to perform. I’m next in line, Astra. You received the information on the Dark Council meeting, yes?”
I looked away to cover the guilty expression easing onto my face. “Oh yeah, that. I just forgot.”
I felt his gaze on me but couldn’t meet it. Finally he chuckled and turned away. I watched his perfect backside striding toward the door, frowning as a skintight pair of black pants and a gauzy white shirt suddenly appeared out of thin air to cover him.
“I will see you later, my love. Stay safe.” He turned at the door, something dancing in his gaze. Something that looked a lot like concern. “Please?”
