The Daughters of Persephone, A Space Opera Special Edition

by Julia Barrett

  Despite his exertions Karna felt a growing admiration for Ennat’s skill. She was beautiful to behold and Karna could tell she would be deadly in a real fight.

  Karna had never imagined a woman could possess such endurance, such strength, such cunning with a sword.

  His respect for the Royal Blood increased as she danced him into a corner time and time again. Only once did Ennat yield, but it was a feint. He held the point of his sword to her throat, only to discover she’d unsheathed a razor-sharp stiletto and laid it against his femoral artery.

  He bled from a cut to his wrist, both forearms, his shoulders, and he’d sustained several superficial wounds to his chest. Karna tried to avoid cutting Ennat, but the woman wouldn’t allow it. She too bled from numerous small injuries.

  Gods, how he hated to slice into that perfect, creamy, satin skin of hers.

  At last Karna lifted his sword in surrender. “Enough,” he said, panting. “I yield.”

  “You would yield to a woman?” Karna watched Ennat wipe a bead of sweat from her cheek with the side of her arm. Her gray eyes gleamed at him. “The great Resistance fighter, Commander Karna Aram yields? How extraordinary. If I hadn’t heard your words with my own ears, I would never have believed such a tale.”

  Karna had heard enough of her taunts. He tossed his sword onto her bunk. He closed on Ennat and reached for the blade in her hands. She relented, turning it over to him without a word. Her sword joined his.

  Ennat stood still before him, breathing heavily, eyes fixed on his mouth. She looked at his lips like a starving man looks at a hunk of dryebread.

  He swore he heard the woman say, “Kiss me,” but her mouth never moved.

  Karna didn’t care. He gripped Ennat’s shoulders hard with his big hands and he lowered his head. “I’m damned to the seven hells for this treason,” he murmured, his voice hoarse, his mouth close to hers.

  “No,” the woman whispered. “You’re not.”

  Book II: Return

  Ennat lay exhausted, wrapped in the arms of the man she’d taken as her lover. The anger she’d felt an hour before when she’d lifted her sword in frustration had vanished entirely.

  For the first time in memory, she was content to remain in the present and leave the future alone.

  To share her body and her blood, to allow a man to take possession of her like this, now she understood why Aja had done it. She grasped what it was she’d sensed when Aja had lifted the veil and allowed her sister to see her. It was happiness even in the midst of so much danger.

  Happiness. There had been so little happiness in their lives.

  Karna stirred and pulled her back against his chest. He’d grown hard again and he thrust himself along the cleft in her bottom. His lips nuzzled the back of her neck and he murmured low in his throat, the sound vibrating against her sensitive skin. His hand reached beneath her head and turned her face just far enough for his lips to reach hers. Karna kissed her then, and her eyes filled with tears.

  Gods, how was it possible to want a man so much?

  “You’re sore,” Karna said. “I’m going to use your knife so you can share with me again. So I won’t hurt you much, sweetheart.”

  Ennat obediently lowered her arm and opened her palm to him. He sliced her skin with her razor sharp stiletto and then he slid the knife along his own palm. He pressed his palm to hers, sharing the Blood, and he thrust into her with a deep groan. “Gods, you’re tight.”

  A raw sound tore from Ennat’s throat as she tried to accommodate his length, his thickness, the hardness of the man. It hurt, but as they shared the Blood she shared his sensation, experiencing pure pleasure, the sort of mind altering pleasure she imagined the Gods felt when they joined in such a union.

  Karan gripped her bleeding hand in his. “By the Gods.” His voice was rough in her ear. “You are the loveliest woman in all the Empire.”

  Ennat made no response, overwhelmed by their mingled sensations of pleasure and pain. Making love drove every coherent thought from her head.

  Karna swung her around as if she weighed no more than a feather and pulled her on top of him. He cradled her, whispering tender words of comfort in her ear.

  Words of praise and admiration.

  Words of love.

  Karna held his woman close. His big hands explored her tapering back, her lovely bottom. He kneaded her shoulders, cupped the back of her head and stroked her long mahogany hair.

  Karna knew what he’d just done. He understood the dangerous position his reckless behavior had placed them both in.

  Two hours ago, one hour ago, he might have cared.

  Now, with his fierce Ennat in his arms, Karna didn’t give a godsdamn. He hadn’t since the moment she’d handed over her sword and her stormy eyes had dared him to take her then and there.

  She didn’t want finesse, a practiced seduction or any of the tenderness due a woman her first time. Ennat had demanded a good, hard claiming. He’d been strung so tight with lust he’d done exactly that, claimed her without remorse. He’d stripped her trousers from her, ripped the flimsy tunic in half, laid her on the floor and practically ravished her, the blood of their many wounds, the blood of her innocence, mingling with their sweat as his body covered hers.

  It was the scent, Karna thought, her scent mixed with the power of that Blood of hers. The things it did to him. The things it did to her.

  Karna held his hand above his face, studying his palm. The slice he’d made had healed clean, leaving no mark, as had the rest of his wounds. He pulled Ennat’s palm towards him, studying her hand as well, running his fingers over her skin. Other than dried blood she showed no sign of any injury.

  He was relieved. Ennat had perfect skin and he’d hated to nick her when they’d sparred.

  “Don’t fret,” she murmured, her breath warm against his neck. “It was the right thing to do. We’re stronger together.”

  “This is what you meant when you said my brother shared the Blood? I thought it was just a manner of speech.”

  “Aja showed me the way, Aja and your brother. When you are like us… ” Ennat hesitated. “When you walk down the roads we walk…” She stopped speaking. “I don’t know how to explain.”

  “Try.”

  “When you see multiple pathways before you, it’s difficult to remain in the present. It appears that a Blood bond with a man, a particular man, helps. Of course, my mother, the Empress, shared herself with General Bom, in addition to her consort.”

  Karna lifted his head, not quite believing what he’d just heard. “What did you say?”

  “I said my mother shared the Blood with General Bom.”

  Karna was incredulous. “Why would she do such a thing? Give herself to the man who would betray her?”

  “Don’t be so quick to judge.” Ennat looked up at him. “Our lives are complicated. When you can see many pathways before you there is always a reason for the things you do. She shared her body three times in order to bear three daughters of the Blood.”

  Karna remained silent for a moment. At last he asked, “Are you saying General Bom is your father?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why in the names of all the Gods would your mother do such a thing? I don’t understand.” Karna sat up, pulling Ennat along with him.

  “This must be very difficult for you to understand.” She rested against him. “An empress must breed with a man of the Royal Blood in order to produce daughters. General Bom is of the Royal Blood. The powers, the abilities the Blood provides, the healing, the strength, the prescience, these gifts are passed to women only. The man I call father, Dua N’ib, is not of the Royal Blood. My mother could only give him sons.”

  Karna rubbed the side of his head. “Why?”

  “You sound like a small boy when you ask why.” Ennat smiled up at him. “The genes for our special skills are passed only to females. My mother could not bear a male child with our abilities. Any male child like us would have died shortly after birth. General Bo
m has tried to produce sons with our abilities and failed. His sons died. I think it’s one of the reasons he hates us so much.”

  “So you’re telling me that your mother, The Empress, and you and your two sisters, can choose the sex of your child?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ennat, I don’t understand. I’ve taken your blood. Does that mean something? Does that mean I’ve become like General Bom? What does it mean?”

  “It means I’ve gifted you with myself. I am a part of you and you are a part of me. If you are in pain or in danger, or if you are happy, I will know. You will heal faster. You will be stronger. Would you rather I hadn’t? Would you rather undo what we’ve done?”

  Karna saw the tears in her gray eyes, tears she tried hard to blink away. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “No, that’s not what I mean at all,” he said. “I wouldn’t undo a thing except for the pain I caused you.”

  “Ah, but you gave me the sweetest of pleasures, and you experienced some of the pain as well. Didn’t you?”

  He grinned. “Yes I did. Odd as it was, I did indeed feel some of that pain. I guess you’ve taken my virginity, then.” Ennat pinched his arm and he laughed. “So, my love, what do we do about this?”

  Ennat closed her eyes for a moment and Karna wondered if she was allowing her senses to reach beyond the door.

  “I think we have time, if you like, before the guards break in. They know what we’ve done. I believe they heard every sound we made. They’re listening now.”

  Karna flipped the woman onto her back and took her pearly nipple into his mouth. Ennat moaned in response. He lifted his mouth from her. “You’re referring to those sounds?”

  She nodded.

  “Then I suggest we provide them with more listening pleasure.”

  Karna dismissed the guards. He and Ennat took their meal in his quarters. After the intimacy they’d just shared, he found himself uncomfortable, edgy. The woman ate in silence, glancing at him from time to time, but she kept her eyes veiled. At last Karna cleared his throat.

  “I think we should move your things in here,” he said.

  “Why?” Ennat stopped eating, her spoon poised halfway to her mouth.

  “Your safety is my primary concern. You’ll be safer in here.”

  “I am responsible for my own safety, Commander.” Her voice was cool.

  Karna stared at the woman. “Commander, is it?”

  “When you give me orders, yes.”

  “I didn’t give you an order. I merely made a suggestion.”

  Ennat raised her eyebrows. “Perhaps we should move your things into my cabin where I can protect you,” she replied.

  “Woman, you try my patience.”

  He watched a grin flit across Ennat’s face. She chewed her spoonful of stew. “Why is that, do you suppose?”

  “Because you fight as fierce as any man I know and you fuck like a wild bisha beast. I don’t know what to make of you.”

  “You’ve had my blood. You know what I am. Make whatever you will of me as long as you stand by my side when we lead your men into battle.”

  “We?” It was Karna’s turn to raise his brows. “My men won’t see the battle. They will have died laughing at the mere idea of being led by a woman.”

  “Didn’t you learn anything growing up on Calen? Surely your mother told you stories.” Ennat’s voice rose. “My mother, The Empress, led her forces. They would have followed her to their end if she hadn’t agreed to exile. I am of the Blood. I am an instrument of death, born and bred. Use me. This is my destiny. This is why I came to you. If you won’t use me, then kill me.”

  “But your sister…” Karna sputtered. “Surely she will lead. As Empress, she’ll stand at the head of her troops, as a symbol.”

  “We are not mere symbols. We are Power. You felt it.” Ennat stood. “Deny me. Deny what you felt when you made love to me, when we shared our blood. I want to hear you say this aloud.”

  Karna stood and strode around the table. He took her shaking hands in his. “I can’t,” he said. “I can’t deny what you are, but neither can I bear the thought of you in battle, of your blood spilled before my very eyes.” He tried to smile. “I can’t bear the thought of your beautiful body broken and lifeless.”

  He looked into Ennat’s gray eyes and saw how they softened.

  “Karna, don’t borrow trouble. I’m not the Seer my sister is, but I haven’t seen my death. I didn’t even see you coming. You are a complete surprise. Truly, you are a gift from the Gods. I can’t promise we’ll both be here when this war ends. I can only promise I am yours for whatever time is given to me.”

  Karna took her in his arms and held her close. “I swear to you I will do my damnedest to keep you alive.”

  “My life is nothing,” Ennat said. “Our freedom is everything.”

  “Your life is quickly becoming everything to me,” Karna said. He slid a finger beneath her chin to tilt her head up for a kiss. “Will this sister of yours know more?”

  “Yes. I think so. She has the ability to discern a larger pattern. The only thing I know for sure and for certain is that one of us must kill General Bom. I hope to spare Aja that horror.” Karna drew Ennat’s head to his shoulder. “My sister has a kind heart. I am not quite so generous.”

  “You are a brave woman, Ennat, and you are my woman. I will spare you both that horror if I can.”

  Aja sat opposite Kyr in the cockpit of the Glory. “We’ll be there soon. A day.”

  “Have you seen anything more?”

  She glanced at him, knowing full well where this conversation was headed. “No.”

  “Eir-Edan?”

  “Yes, and if you ask me in five clicks, the answer will be the same. I’m sorry.”

  He reached across the console and took her hand. “But you don’t know why.”

  “As I’ve explained, there is someone there I must meet. I don’t know who or why, but I must trust in my sight. Do you trust me, Kyr? Do you trust me to make the right decision?”

  He smiled at her but she could read the worry in his eyes. “Do I have a choice? I have to admit I’m flying blind here.”

  Aja made an attempt to return his smile with one of her own. She knew her effort was pathetic. “As am I, my love. I think we’ll find the answers there, on Eir-Edan. And I think we’ll be safe. Or I’ll be safe, at least for a time. You cannot stay with me, Kyr.”

  “You are a very bad liar, my Lady. You don’t have a bloody clue what’s going to happen to you on that rock, do you?”

  Aja laughed despite her anxiety. “No. No idea whatsoever. I only know something will happen. And I know that I must be there to allow it to happen to me.”

  Kyr tugged at her and she rose from her seat. He maneuvered her around the control panel and into his lap, sliding his hands beneath her loose sweater.

  Aja allowed his fingers to roam freely across the bare skin of her belly and hips. “We ought to find you some undergarments,” he murmured in her ear, before his lips moved lower, to nuzzle the curve of her neck.

  “Why?” Aja responded, keeping her voice as soft as his. “You’ll just remove them.”

  “Yes, I will, won’t I? Davi?” Kyr shouted down the companionway, his voice accompanied by Aja’s laughter.

  “Yes, Captain?”

  “Can you take over?”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Book II: Return

  General Bom was tempted to run the man through. As it was, he had to content himself with watching him wince and cower beneath the lash of his tongue.

  Idiots.

  He was surrounded by idiots. His spy network had been utterly ineffective in tracing any member of the Royal Family. It was as if the Empress and her consort had vanished from the galaxy, taking their two half-breed sons with them. As far as his own three daughters, the three renegade, degenerate, unspeakable abominations were concerned, the only thing he was certain of was that they’d separated and gone to ground.

&n
bsp; His spies scattered among the Resistance forces hadn’t heard a bloody thing.

  The Coalition had clamped a lid on communications throughout the entire Empire, but word had still spread about the Royal Family’s escape. Talk of revolution was in the air, even in the capitol city of Matsu.

  He’d arrived on his home planet early this morning only to be informed that members of the Civilian Advisory Council had begun to sneak away.

  Fucking cowards.

  His aide, Sessa, had just greeted him with the news that most of the ruling families and all their servants had vanished. Now he had no one to torture for information. He couldn’t find out who had helped the Empress and her family escape.

  Sessa bowed so low his head was almost between his legs. Bom stuck a booted foot on the man’s backside and shoved him across the room.

  “Get out,” he shouted. “Get the hells out of my sight!”

  Bom slammed the door behind the man. He stalked to his desk and jerked open a drawer.

  Tossing aside a sheaf of papers, he reached for the bottle of twenty-year-old spirits he’d hidden in the bottom. He ripped out the corkwood and tipped the bottle to his lips.

  Despite the fact that the liquor had mellowed with age, the stuff still burned going down. Bom needed the burn, but what he truly craved was the Blood. He’d used up all that had remained of Aja’s, all his own doctor had provided. The surviving staff at the secret laboratory had burned the facility to the ground, terrified their crimes would be discovered and they’d be executed.

  If there had been any of the Abomination’s blood left in the building, it was now gone to smoke and ashes.

  The general took another deep swallow of the liquor, and another and another.

  Betrayal, rebellion, the words were anathema to his ears. He’d worked so hard to restore men to their rightful place in the Empire. He’d be damned by the Gods before he’d see his power given to a lowly woman. A woman who was only raised to power in the first place by genetic trickery devised thousands of years ago, during a time when men were puny, emasculated fools.