A Savage Lust

by H. C. Brown

  "I think we did it this time, Aldis; I'm sure they'll believe us now." He took her coat from a peg on the wall and held it out for her.

  "Yes, it's time they understood the threat that is coming closer by the day. You've done well, Aria."

  "Then will you take me home? I would so like to meet my family." She turned and looked up at him, her green eyes filled with innocence.

  He patted her shoulder.

  "All in good time, my dear. We still have much work to do." Aldis pushed his cap on his head and nudged her gently toward the exit. So many questions; the hypnosis and drugs were wearing off again. The plan to discredit the Fae and Knight Watch would be moot unless they showed themselves in the Human realm. As soon as King Blaise discovered his precious book missing, the Druiks long-range plans would come to fruition. The shape-shifters would wreak havoc and the trillion or so Humans would join the Druiks and wipe them out. That would teach the self-righteous bastards for sticking their noses in Druik business. King Blaise's recent victory in the battle at Druik Void had put the genetic research back ten years with the murder of the Druiks top research doctor, Pic. This was a fine plan to get even and wipe them all out, shape-shifters and Faerie alike.

  * * * * *

  Dryad

  Rio shrugged into the thick, wool blend overcoat, walked into the courtyard and drew a Circle of Light into the air. Picking up his bags, he took a deep breath, drew his glamor around him, and stepped through the enchanted Gate into the Human realm of London. A blast of cold air hit him in the face, bringing with it a stink of immeasurable proportions. Gods, didn't these people wash?

  Rio placed his bags on the ground, wrapped his thick, woolen overcoat around him, and fumbled with the buttons. Yes, there on the wall, a lightning bolt painted in red, the exit point and the sign attached to the wall 'Bright Street.' He sunk his freezing fingers into a pair of leather gloves, picked up his bags and marched purposely toward the road. An unfamiliar roaring sound echoed from the end of the alley and he stopped and leaned against the terracotta brick wall. That noise must be the transport vehicles. He poked his head around the corner and froze, heart pounding. Jill had neglected to mention there were so many of these noisy smoke-breathing abominations. He slumped against the wall, deciding how to proceed. The Humans rushed past, hundreds of them spilling out from an underground passage like ants, all marching madly in the same direction. They took little notice of the transport vehicles, with some Humans weaving through them with little heed to the danger, dashing from one side of the road to the next.

  A short, round female wearing a bright orange coat with matching hat walked slowly toward him. He flattened against the wall and watched her incredulously. She gazed intently at the shop window, until a heavily muscled beast held on a long rope pulled her onward. The beast grunted and constantly shook its head, drooling great white globules of spit.

  What in the Lady's name is that?

  Rio pressed his back against the red bricks in the hope the Human and her snorting protector would pass him unnoticed. No such luck; the grunting, drooling beast lifted its massive head, glared at him and snorted. Rio stepped deeper into the ally but it growled fiercely and its red-rimmed eyes turned devilish in its squashed ugly face. The brute, its shoulders thick with muscle, pawed at the ground, claws tearing at the sidewalk. With one bound, it dragged its owner away from the shop window and lunged toward him.

  Rio bunched his shoulders against the attack. The growling, slobbering fiend leapt and knocked the bags from his hand, spilling their contents in the dirt. He cursed; sheer panic took over and with no thought to Beth's warning, he repelled the creature with magyck so it shot up the alley at speed. The beast gave a demon howl and dragged the old female behind him in the dirt. They flew through the air before crashing into a row of overflowing garbage cans.

  "Stop, stop," she cried, her hands clutching tight around the rope as she trailed face down through the stinking refuse, flapping like a rag doll in the beast's wake. Rio shuddered in disgust and pushed his belongings back into his bags. How can Humans let the old female out alone? Gods, she must be over two hundred. He grimaced. She sat on the ground nonplussed, pulling fish bones from her hair, while her beast sorted blissfully through the trash. Poor old thing; she must be senile. She looked up and gave him a grin filled with uneven yellow teeth.

  "Sorry about Dutch; he doesn't know his own strength. I spend most of my time being dragged after him," she explained, getting up and brushing the dirt from her dress.

  Rio stood motionless, eyeing the foul breathed beast with suspicion. He tried to pull his mouth into some semblance of a smile. "Are you injured?"

  "No, no I'll be fine." She stood slowly and picked at the muck on her coat nonchalantly.

  Well, you look as if you might expire any moment.

  Picking up her dirt-smudged, battered hat, he slapped it against his leg then pushed it on her head. Her legs buckled under the pressure and he had to grasp her arm to support her.

  "If the beast causes you injury, why do you continue to use him for protection?"

  "Protection?" She snorted. "Dutch would more likely lick you to death." Rio lifted a brow. "I don't think a female of your age should be allowed out alone."

  She straightened her hat and rounded on him.

  "I'll have you know I'm on the good side of forty. Now get out of my way." Rio sighed. Poor thing had lost her mind, he mused, watching her gather up her beast and disappear into the crowd milling at the end of the alley. Drawing a deep breath, he stepped into the street. Humans surged around him; their thick unwashed scents accosted his nose and made his cat roar with disgust. He elbowed his way through the unwashed masses; very few noticed him at all, although he stood above the majority.

  Griping the handles of his bags, he pushed on through the crowd. If any Human challenged him, they'd easily defeat him. There were so many of them crammed into this street alone. How many more enemies watched from the glass towers that shot up like ice sentries each side of the street?

  He glanced up. Only a patch of sky peeked through the buildings and that a depressing gray. Multicolored paper littered the sidewalk, caught in drifts of black, streaked snow. He fought to breathe, his chest hurt and his eyes ran each time he inhaled. The air swirled around him, heavy with an evil, pungent scent. He lifted his head and searched for the sign Nox had described. Not fifty paces away was a bright, yellow sign: Bridge Hotel. The King of the Faerie would be expecting him. Rio stood before the building and watched a Human enter through a spinning, glass gate. He copied him, stepped into the small space, and waited. Nothing happened until another man stepped into the space opposite; the door spun and pushed him back into the street. Rio ground his teeth and rushed at the door. It spun, and he tumbled out into the foyer of the hotel. Staggering to his feet, he took a deep breath of the reasonably clean, warm air and placed his bags on the thick, red rug His gaze drifted around warily. A great flight of stairs spiraled away before him, flanked with a high cream wall, decorated with bunches of gold fruit. A young male came forward and attempted to take the bags. Rio growled angrily. "You think to steal my shoes, whelp?"

  "No, sir; I was taking your bags to the check in. Do you have a booking? What name shall I say?" The whelp's eyes widened and he stepped back.

  "I'm here to see Nox."

  Rio picked up his bags, squared his shoulders, and followed the boy to a long desk. A balding man wearing a pair of glasses resting on the end of his nose looked up at him expectantly.

  "This is Mister Nox's visitor," said the whelp.

  "Ah, yes, you're expected, penthouse apartment," the man replied and waved a hand toward a hallway on his left.

  Rio growled and turned to the whelp."Take me to him."

  * * * * *

  Nox chuckled with surprise, hearing Allure the Fair's voice in his head. His lover always managed to pick the most inconvenient time to use their mind link. It was as if he knew the exact moment Nox began to seduce one of the femal
es. Nox missed him, but someone had to stay in Other World to run things in his absence. His friend's voice echoed in his head.

  " Rio is on his way. I'm impressed. He used the Circle of Light with the skill of a Fae," said Allure the Fair.

  So, Rio had decided to attempt the Circle of Light transfer and had arrived safely in London. He had the skill, alas, but not the confidence. Nox shrugged. That would come. He broke the link and tried to focus on the matter at hand—his two beautiful companions.

  Relaxing back on the blue silk sheets, he rested his head on Belle's soft skin. A midnight-haired faerie, she had peach colored breasts which pressed caressingly against his cheek. He groaned. Chloe, with hair the color of ripe corn, ran her tongue up the length of his shaft. Soft warmth brushed his cheek and he turned his head to capture a rose pink nipple between his teeth, inhaling her warm, erotic scent. Moaning, he suckled the hard tip. Belle buried her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer, her body undulating beneath his shoulders.

  Chloe took him deep in her mouth and sucked just hard enough to tighten his balls. His ass muscles tensed as her wet fingers caressed his passage. Her teeth ran down his length in glorious torment. Gods, she is so good at this. He pushed up his hips as fire spiraled from his balls and collected in his belly. Reaching for Belle, he crushed her mouth in a kiss and shuddered to completion. Damn, they are good, he mused. Chloe sucked him gently, extending his climax before she slid up his body to claim a kiss. He enjoyed the contentment of being with these females, his now for over a year. In truth, he cared for them dearly, as did his lover, Allure the Fair. Sighing in contentment, he closed his mouth over Chloe's eager lips; if only they were his true mates, his life would be complete.

  Nox's head jerked up and he cursed when the phone rang.

  "What?"

  "Mister Nox," said the concierge apologetically. "You have a visitor; he's on the way."

  "Okay, when he arrives we're not to be disturbed."

  "Right you are, sir."

  * * * * *

  Rio followed the young male, Jim, into a steel room. He ground his teeth when a door slid closed, trapping them within its foul smelling interior. Jim punched a glowing button by the door and the box swayed beneath Rio's feet. He cursed and watched the young male closely; this strange room with ear-destroying music caused the other man no panic. Rio raised himself to his full height and remained perfectly still when the door slid open.

  "This way, sir; this floor is for the exclusive use of Mister Nox." He followed Jim from the small room, down a hallway with a red carpet to a splendid polished wood door. Jim knocked, stepped back, and held out his hand, palm up. Rio inclined his head to thank him when the door opened; Nox, wearing only a pair of black silk pants, pushed a piece of paper into Jim's hand and smiled broadly.

  "Come in, put your bags down anywhere; you're staying with me. Take a seat. We've much to discuss," he said and waved a hand toward a plush dark blue sofa. Rio walked into the room, thankful for the warmth coming from a roaring fire. He dropped his bags to the floor, pulled off his coat and sat. His gaze drifted to two naked faeries lounging on a large bed beyond a pair of white doors. Inclining his head, he glanced at Nox, who took the seat opposite and handed him a goblet.

  "You brought the girls?"

  "Aye, would you expect me to do the Knight Watch's bidding without any female company? I can't take my pleasure with Human females, can I?" Rio nodded thoughtfully; it would be hard not to touch a Human female for fear of binding them to you for life.

  "What if they're discovered?"

  "They will retract their wings, so unless a Human comes close they won't be noticed."

  Rio turned to look at the two ethereal beauties. His time studying with Nox had given him an upfront and personal experience with the Fae, both male and female. He returned their smiles with a grin.

  "They are rare beauties."

  "Yes, they are, but they won't help us find the missing book," said Nox, dismissing the girls with a wave of his hand.

  Rio sipped his wine and gazed at Nox over the rim of the goblet. "Do you have any information?"

  "Tanz is here, he knows the area. He's checking out the author of a book, A Fairy in My Garden, and trying to find a lead on the Lady's book." Rio spun the stem of the gold goblet between his fingers. One of Nox's own, he noticed. A slight tremor of sexual heat rippled through his body.

  "Tanz is here?"

  Nox noticed his excitement at once and grinned.

  "Aye, I thought that might interest you," he replied with a wink. Yes, that does interest me, more than you will ever know.

  Rio shrugged and tried desperately to push the image of Tanz's moonlit, tousled hair and damp, sculptured body from his mind.

  "So what did he find? I gather the Fae are a myth here."

  "They have no idea, really; the book only followed a lineup of various other fictions about us. Most of it only makes the myth idea stronger, but the author came close on one or two occasions. Too close. She has written some very disturbing facts about the Fae and her new book is about the Prides. Tanz found her easily; her book is a best seller, and she has become quite a celebrity. Humans enjoy reading about shapeshifters, but if this author has true knowledge . . . well, she may have the book or be close to someone who has it."

  "Your suggestions?"

  Nox pushed a book across the table. Rio flipped it over to reveal a photograph of the author. The female resembled a wood nymph. Her dark green, almond-shaped eyes and cropped, moonbeam curls gave the impression of a female of about fifteen summers.

  "This is the one who betrays us . . . a wood nymph? She's but a child."

  "Mayhap, but to be certain you will get close to her. You may be assured she's at least eighteen summers. She lives close by and I believe she works for the local newspaper." He smiled at Rio's blank expression."That's what the Humans call a proclamation of news. With a little more information and the Rio charm you'll have her eating out of your hand."

  Rio rolled his eyes. "I'm told Human females require romance, a slow seduction. They have no lust for sex as do our Pride females."

  "Some do, but you will see when we go to meet Tanz, that's not always the case. And I have arranged for you to fuck one, if that's your choice. Don't worry; if she doesn't please you, Tanz has a room in a hotel across the street from the club."

  Chapter Three

  Rio grasped the sleeve of Nox's coat and shuddered. He would never get used to

  'jumping' as Nox described the dematerialization of body in order to travel from one place and materialize in another. Nox chuckled, and Rio glanced up at him. Nox's glamor had covered not only his pointed ears but had given him a substantial haircut. Normally, he wore his sheet of black silk to his waist and it waved in constant motion. Now, his hair brushed his shoulders and his Human-shaped ear sported a diamond stud.

  "Take a few deep breaths. Jumping won't kill you, but the foul air might." Rio wrapped his glamor around him, concentrating on his ears and fangs. The rest would have to do. He glanced up at the two brick walls framing the alley. Soot covered the once elegant façade, and the ground below their feet had the usual array of discarded rubbish. He followed Nox along the sidewalk and they stopped in front of a brightly decorated building displaying the words, 'Girls, Girls, Girls' on a sign made from a multitude of colored lights.

  "Tanz will be here shortly. This is a safe place for us to meet. He isn't mature enough to jump yet, so we meet here. There are many unusual Humans in places such as this, so we blend in nicely."

  Rio swallowed hard at the mention of Tanz. Gods, the very thought of seeing him again sent a surge of need straight to his balls. His determination to remain celibate during his first time in Other World had failed as soon as he laid eyes on him. A young faerie of a hundred summers taught him the meaning of pleasure. He craved him so much it disturbed him.

  Nox's words when he first arrived in Other World repeated in Rio's head.

  "I know you like females
, Rio, but I can't understand why you refuse my females. They like you," said Nox.

  Rio had looked at a stunning buttercup haired female and sighed. "I'm always worried I might break them; they look so fragile."

  Nox had tipped his head back laughed loudly and then winked. "You won't break Tanz."

  Rio drew a steadying breath as the image of Tanz's soft, jade eyes bore into his mind.

  Nox stopped suddenly and turned, disturbing Rio's thoughts. He pulled a pile of paper from his pocket and thrust it into Rio's hand.

  "Here, this is called, 'money' or 'pounds'. They use it like gold to pay for things. It's customary to give money to those who serve us. The notes have denominations on them. If you buy something they will say how many pounds. Give them one more than they ask and say 'keep the change.' If you don't, they give you a lot of useless coins. If you run out, I keep more in my room. Just take what you need." Rio pushed the paper into his pocket and followed Nox into a long, dark room filled with smoke and heavy with the scent of sex. They walked through a cluster of Human males sitting around tables, drinking and making one hell of a noise. Rio's mouth dropped open; not five paces away, bare-breasted females cavorted on a brightly lit stage. Rio's entire body geared for a night of sexual abandon as Nox led the way through the dingy room, taking a booth toward the back.

  "This is one of the establishments the Fae can frequent without attracting too much attention. With luck, Tanz will be here shortly with news of our spy," said Nox, taking a seat.

  Rio forgot Tanz existed, as his gaze drifted hungrily from one female to the other. Lady's blood, they had the biggest breasts he had ever seen. How did they stay so pert and round? His cock stood to attention, insisting he grab one of the females, any one would do, and take her right now. Nox leaned across the table and touched his arm with his gloved hand, dragging his attention away from the dancers.