by Vi Voxley
Zar saw the deep concern on Ashley's face as she looked at him, the plea loud and clear in her eyes.
Don't die.
Turning away from his mate, Zar stepped forward to meet his enemy.
"You are weak," he said quietly. "You have shown nothing besides that for two days now, but the clues have been there for years. Letting other men do your work while you enjoy the benefit of what your superior ancestors did before you. The men who ruled this Hall with iron fists are the reason you stand here now.
"I'll show you how little that means. My only sin is that I didn't do this a long time ago."
The Reaper glowered at him.
"You insolent fuck," he roared. "You think you can rule the Black Hall? The other harbingers will fight you for it, you'll see! You didn't avert any bloodshed, you only made sure our people will tear themselves apart now, fighting for the ultimate prize!"
"I don't think so," Zar said coldly, bringing his sword on guard. "Unlike you, I can take challenges."
The Reaper charged with a furious cry.
Zar met him head-on, their swords clashing together. The one the warlord had picked was a good one, given that it didn't break from the impact of his blade. They kept their swords locked, hateful gazes meeting over the cross of the blades. Zar felt his lips curling into a smirk.
"You think you've already won –” The Reaper told him, disgust filling his voice.
"Yes," Zar said.
He broke the lock, the sword in his hands cutting through the air with a powerful arch that The Reaper was barely able to block. The warlord struck at him then, faster than lighting and Zar was forced to consider that perhaps The Reaper hadn't been sitting idly while he flew the Foront to raids.
Suddenly it seemed he was fighting an entirely different man and the cruel grin widened on the warlord's lips.
"Always so arrogant," The Reaper gargled. "You should know how to respect your betters!"
The blow was so powerful it nearly knocked Zar off his feet, but he regained his footing with a grunt, feeling the wounds Ashley had cared for so gently opening up again. It occurred to Zar that The Reaper truly did fear him – but not as an inferior fighter, as an equal who didn't want to count on luck to survive. That was why he'd been trying so hard to gain an edge in the duel.
With the same unflappability he faced every new danger with, Zar grinned.
"You had me fooled," he admitted with relish. "You're wrong if you think that would upset me. It's been a while since someone posed an actual challenge for me. I will be glad to take the Black Hall from you, knowing this."
The Reaper said nothing now and Zar himself had nothing to add. The fight was past the point of trying to figure out the enemy's weaknesses, only to find there were none.
All that was left was to find out which one of them died.
The speed of their movements was faster now than the eye could follow. Zar didn't as much see The Reaper's next move as he sensed it the way he always did. Following the patterns that the warlord had used before, compensating for weak spots while trying to determine one of his – that was how true wars were supposed to be fought.
He hadn't felt elation like that in battle for a long time. That was the trouble with raids, since the defenders rarely posed enough of a threat.
In a way, Zar was glad for what Ashley had done. It meant his species no longer had the luxury to get comfortable and grow lazy. Now that they had to count for the chance that the Union might jump up anytime they came out of the wormhole, it meant the raids were going to be much harder.
The Reaper's eyes were wild when Zar saw an opening and his sword cut through the warlord's defenses. The Reaper jumped back, bleeding from the wound cut across his chest, teeth bared in a feral snarl. It was clear the fighting wouldn't last much longer.
Zar didn't look Ashley's way. He didn't think he could focus when even the thought of not being able to be with her was unthinkable.
"I will see you in the afterlife," The Reaper said. "Until then, I'll let your pretty mate warm my bed."
Zar didn't answer. The taunt showed that The Reaper was losing hope and that was his chance to hit him hard. The blades whirred through the air, clashing together once more, but this time Zar could feel The Reaper's strength giving in. His own wounds were open and bleeding but that didn't stop him.
With a roar, Zar pulled his blade out of the way, making The Reaper stumble when his support disappeared. The warlord didn't even have his footing before Zar's sword sliced clean through his midsection, splitting his body in half. The look of terrible surprise and fear was lost. The last expression on The Reaper's face was pure loathing, the same that had gotten him killed.
Zar watched his defeated enemy slump to the floor, blood trickling from his sword.
The Black Hall was his now, but it barely registered with him. All that mattered was that his fated, running into his arms, was his as well, forever.
32
Ashley
The Black Hall was turned upside down.
She hadn't been there for very long, but Joslyn assured Ashley that the Hall had never been so busy and so full of confusion and mayhem.
They were back on the walkway, rushing around, trying to make sure everyone was accounted for. There was simply so much to do that Ashley was beginning to worry about Joslyn's condition and health.
"I'm fine," Joslyn said, laughing. "Stop fretting. You're like the healers. They would have me lay down until I gave birth and then lay down some more to make sure the first laying down didn't tire me out."
Ashley laughed, looking at the tablet in her hands, running insanely long with all the names she needed to check.
"I'm considering, you know," she said as they headed for a group of women who'd been found in the depths of the Hall.
"Considering what?" Joslyn asked.
"Becoming a healer," Ashley replied, smiling. "My skills are not exactly applicable here, so I thought I should learn something new. And Zar said I did a good job with his wounds. I've had some basic training back in the day, but it definitely needs refreshing."
"Hmm," Joslyn said. "I approve entirely, of course. Do you think you could convince Zar to raid a library on Terra? He could bring you a bunch of medical books."
Ashley snorted, thinking of the absurdity of that, before becoming serious again. The women before them looked as scared as Gwen had been.
"Hi," she told them. "I don't know if you know who I am, but it's okay either way. I'm Ashley, this is Joslyn. We are here to help you and make sure everything gets better from here on out. We'll be back to talk to you later, but for now, your names?"
One by one, the women sounded off, still looking confused and terrified.
"It's okay," Ashley said, wishing she had something more comforting to say, but it was too soon to be making pledges she might not be able to fulfill. "The good guys won, I promise. You have no need to be scared. Do you see that blonde woman there? Her name is Gwen. She went through the same thing as you did, she'll explain a few things and help you along."
Ashley and Joslyn watched as the women went off to Gwen, who had gotten back some of her fierce work ethic and belief. After being saved by Roagh's men, Gwen had been considerably more receptive to Ashley's assurances that things were looking up for them.
Seeing Zar coming their way, Joslyn waved goodbye to Ashley and left them alone.
Ashley went to meet him, her heart beating fast. She still hadn't fully recovered from the events of the throne room. The Reaper had been so close to Zar, running toward him with the sword bared in his hands... If she hadn't managed to grab the plasma cannon off the ground – Ashley didn't want to think about it.
Instead, she ran straight into Zar's arms, letting the harbinger kiss her deeply, feeling the grin on his lips as he held her tightly against him.
"How did it go?" she asked. "With the other harbingers? Are you the Lord of the Black Hall now?"
"I don't need their approval for that," Zar said, clea
rly amused by her. "But yes, it's better that they admit that. We have no need for further infighting."
"So it's all okay?"
"Yes," Zar laughed. "Don't get me wrong, they're still harbingers. A bunch of self-centered assholes, if you ask me. Rhyslan in particular had that smile on his face that said he might challenge me for it if he ever feels like it."
"Do you think he might?" Ashley asked, worried.
Zar kissed her as an answer.
"He might," he admitted when they had to part for air. "He's a cold bastard, that one. Have no fear, my love. If he comes for me, we'll know it, because he is not the type to stab someone in the back."
"Will you win if he does?"
"Of course."
Ashley sighed. There was nothing to be done with Nayanors, but judging by the smirk on Zar's lips, he was at least partly saying it all to mess with her.
"I was thinking of becoming a healer," she said as they were walking back to their quarters, ready to make Zar's promise real.
"I think that's a good idea," the harbinger allowed. "You have a gift. Although you should account that your mere presence helped me to heal."
"I don't think it works like that, but thank you for saying it," Ashley laughed.
"I mean it," Zar said seriously. "I have fought battles all my life, but now I finally have someone worth fighting for."
Ashley didn't know what to say to that. Somewhere, the world existed, seemingly so far away from them. With the gates back open and the long night only begun, there was so much work to do. Now that Zar had made peace with the other harbingers, she felt sure that she could walk around without having to fear for her life.
She had no doubt that when it came to her, Zar had had to add a few threats to the deal, but she trusted him.
Everything was ahead of her. Now that Zar had given her and Joslyn fairly free range to help the women in the Hall and everywhere on Luminos the best they could, Ashley couldn't wait to get to it.
Except, of course, for the harbinger himself. Maybe he wasn't joking about the healing thing, because being near him made Ashley feel better as well. Stronger, happier too.
"How are we going to celebrate your victory, then?" she asked.
The look on Zar's face made her knees weak.
"I have a few ideas," the harbinger said.
"Do you promise not to tease me?" Ashley asked, aware of how badly her voice was shaking. "Because I don't think I can wait. You have no idea how hot you look in that armor."
Zar stopped in the middle of the walkway, almost at their quarters. Ashley looked up into his dark eyes, surprised at that. Then the harbinger lifted her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way, not putting her down until reaching their bed.
Ashley shuddered, seeing the passion play in her fated's eyes.
"Of all the things I've won today, nothing compares to you," Zar said, pulling his armor off with a savage grin. "Mine. All mine now."
"Yours," Ashley agreed.
Later, Zar made her scream his name, proving to her once more that he kept his promises.
Epilogue
Ashley
She ran down the walkway a week later.
Around her, the Black Hall was slowly settling into a normal rhythm again, only it was a new rhythm to all its occupants. The Hall had a new lord and some new rules. At Ashley's insistence, the women were no longer locked up.
There wasn't anywhere for them to go, anyhow. The long night raged outside and even if they did run, the wilderness of Luminos wasn't very forgiving. It was a harsh, cold world and Ashley hoped that she had managed to convince most of them that it was better to stay in the Hall and see what they could do with that.
Now that Zar was the Lord of the Black Hall, Ashley wanted to make it a safe place for women who hadn't been claimed by the warriors. With the endless space and opportunities, she thought they could build a little community there, see about making a new life for themselves.
As for those who had found their mates, she and Joslyn had plans for them too. Ashley knew it was a long and arduous journey, not to mention the firm belief that they couldn't help everyone. Even so, the three of them, with Gwen included, were ready to start the progress, with baby steps if need be.
Speaking of baby steps...
Ashley nearly crashed into the door in her rush. Zar looked up from his new armory, sitting topless and looking like he was reforging his sword.
She froze at the door, distantly closing it behind her. The sight of Zar working still did wonders to her, her body reacting immediately to her drop-dead hot fated.
The harbinger smirked, seeing her breathless like that.
"If I'm the reason you hurried like that, say the word," he said, the dark, velvety voice making Ashley's pussy throb in need for him. "I love how hungry you are for my cock. Give me a moment to wash up. Unless you prefer me like this, in which case I can give you that as well."
Ashley had no objections to being taken to the bed, especially if Zar looked as sexy as he did at that moment, but the news was too important to delay them.
"Yes," she said, "but I need you to know something first."
The smile dropped from Zar's face as he immediately set his tools down and came over to her, a worried frown on his face.
"I thought you went to see the healers about your request to learn with them," he said. "Did they find something wrong with you? Are you alright?"
Ashley couldn't keep the smile off her face. The whole way there she'd been grinning like a fool, unsure of how that much happiness could fit inside one person.
"Well, no," she said. "I did go to see them, yes. I will begin my studies next week. But they did a scan on me to make sure I was alright as a way to show me some things already."
"And?" Zar asked, his voice wavering a little. "If you are hurt –”
"I'm not," Ashley said, looking into his deep hazel eyes, smiling ear to ear. "I'm pregnant."
The joy she'd been feeling blossoming in her chest was now reflected on Zar's face as the harbinger smiled so widely it had to hurt.
"Are you sure?" he asked, pulling her into his embrace.
"Yes," Ashley nodded. "They checked three times. I think they're afraid of you."
"Everyone is," Zar said in that maddening Nayanor way, dismissively as if it was just a natural part of life. "My love..."
Ashley could feel herself trembling slightly. She was so happy that she could barely control herself. Life had a way of surprising her, it seemed. Nothing about the last month of her life was anything she could have predicted or believed could happen, and yet there she was. With the man she loved, about to have a baby.
Zar was looking at her like she was the most amazing thing in the world. Then he led her to the bedroom, less rashly than he usually did.
"If you're going to use this as an excuse to start treating me like I'm made out of glass, forget about it," Ashley said when he laid her to the bed and climbed on top of her, kissing her gently. "Joslyn warned me Nayanor men are like that."
Zar chuckled, shaking his head.
"I will control myself as best I can," he said, "but I swear I won't let anything bad happen to you, or our son."
"I know," Ashley said quietly, arching off the bed to kiss him. "I believe you."
The kiss deepened and turned into something more. Zar pushed a hand between her legs, up her dress, brushing his fingers against her wet panties. Ashley moaned for him loudly, loving the gentle teasing but aching for more.
"Fuck me," she whispered. "I want to feel your cock inside me."
Zar, for once, didn't try to tease her any more. He pulled her panties off her, pushing two fingers into her tight pussy, leaning down to claim her lips as he fingered her. Ashley moaned, rubbing them together, pulling at him. She ran her fingers over Zar's amazing naked chest, loving how she could feel his strength and power, the rock-hard muscles bulging when the harbinger moved.
"I love you," Ashley moaned into the kiss. "Fuck, I love ev
ery last inch of you."
Zar groaned darkly, kissing her neck, biting at the flesh gently. His fingers moved faster inside her, hitting the spot of her pleasure until he had Ashley crying out for him, dragging her nails across his arms.
"And I love you," Zar said. "From that sweet, tight pussy of yours to your hot mouth that never stops challenging me."
"Yeah, I bet you love the other uses of my mouth as well," Ashley teased breathlessly, making Zar chuckle.
"I do," he agreed, hitting her spot harder, making Ashley scream now. "I love how your mouth feels around my cock, but I don't want you to think that's all. I love every bit of you exactly the way you are."
Ashley couldn't answer, couldn't say how amazingly happy that made her, because the pleasure had completely taken over. She cried out again and again until Zar pulled his fingers out of her, ripped his pants open and pushed himself against her entrance. Trapped in the rest of her clothes, Ashley barely cared, pushing herself up to kiss her fated as he began fucking her.
The thrusts were shallow at first, but even that was enough to make her moan, feeling the huge cock fill her pussy to the brink.
"Zar!" she screamed when he picked up the pace, pounding her into the bed.
Falling back on her sheets, Ashley closed her eyes and let him take her to heaven and back. The thick cock spread her body open for the man she belonged to as much as he belonged to her. It pushed her body to its limits to take a cock that big, but like always Ashley was so lost to the ecstasy in her veins she didn't even feel the pain.
All she knew was pleasure burning its way through her as Zar make her cum again and again until her body was spent.
Laying on their bed, letting Zar kiss her languidly, running his hands over her body, Ashley found that she could put her faith in destiny after all.
It had brought her everything she'd wanted and more, in the form of a man she'd loved from the first moment she saw him.
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