by Ramona Gray
“You’re after the throne,” the queen spat. “Is that it? You think you should rule?”
“No,” Quinn replied. “Make your decision, Edina.”
“I will not give up the throne,” the queen said. “I will kill you myself, massina.”
Quinn stepped back and raised her sword but the queen didn’t move. Her gaze flickered to Silas. “Then you would do all of this for him? You barely know him! He is nothing! You would die for a breeder you have just met?”
“Not just him,” Quinn replied. “You killed my husband because he refused to fuck you. You slit his throat and watched as he bled to death on your bedroom floor. Do you even remember his name?”
The queen removed her fur cloak and dropped it in the mud. A sword gleamed at her waist and she pulled it free before starting down the steps. “I have killed many breeders over the years, massina. I doubt your mate was special enough to - ”
“His name was Kevin,” Quinn said loudly. “He was a good man who loved me and I vowed to take my revenge for his death.”
“Did you?” The queen said with a derisive snort as she raised her sword. “Then perhaps it is time you stop your whining and take it.”
“Yes, my Queen,” Quinn said. She raised her sword and stalked forward.
* * *
His stomach churning with fear, Silas watched as Quinn stalked toward the queen. He flinched when their swords struck and involuntarily pushed harder against Naveen’s stomach. Naveen groaned softly.
“I’m sorry, Naveen. Hang in there,” Silas muttered. He couldn’t take his eyes off Quinn. She was good but as she and the queen fought it was becoming quickly apparent that the queen was better. Quinn was strong and fast but the queen moved effortlessly through the mud, striking repeatedly at her.
He made a harsh groan of fear when Quinn’s feet slipped in the mud and she fell on her back. She rolled away as the queen thrust her sword downward. It just barely missed Quinn’s head and she jumped to her feet as the queen yanked her sword from the mud and grinned fiercely at her.
“You grow tired already, massina.”
Panting heavily, Quinn rushed forward. The queen blocked her blow and turned. She sliced Quinn across the back with her sword and Silas jumped up at Quinn’s cry of pain. Quinn shook her head at him. “Stay with Naveen, Silas.”
“Yes, breeder. Stay with the dying old man while I kill your love,” the queen taunted.
Silas started forward, his hands clenching into fists. Quinn pointed her sword at him. “Silas, stay away from her!”
He hesitated before backing away. He dropped to his knees and pressed his hands against the bloody cloak again. He had never felt more useless in his life but Quinn was right. The queen would slice him in half in an instant.
He watched helplessly as Quinn and the queen fought viciously. The queen’s small size worked in her favour as they slogged through the muddy ground. Quinn was growing weary and Silas flinched when the queen’s sword slipped past Quinn’s and cut her across the arm. Quinn shouted in pain and backed away as the queen grinned triumphantly at her and surged forward. She attacked again, her sword gleaming dully in the flickering light. She drove Quinn backward and Silas shouted hoarsely when Quinn tripped on the steps of the castle. She fell on her ass and the queen screamed in triumph before knocking Quinn’s sword from her hand. She leaned down and grinned at Quinn.
“I’m not going to kill you right away, massina. I’m going to make you watch as I cut your precious breeder into small pieces and feed him to the pigs. I’ll take his hands first, then his feet. Then I’ll - ”
She shrieked in agony when Quinn headbutted her. Her nose broke with a loud crack and she staggered back as Quinn jumped to her feet. She punched the queen twice in the face before grabbing her wrist and twisting violently. The queen’s sword fell to the ground and Quinn kicked her in the stomach. Gasping for air, the queen dropped to her knees as Quinn picked up her own sword and raised it above her head.
“Good bye, Edina,” she said softly.
“Quinn!”
Kila’s loud cry stopped the downward motion of her sword. She hesitated, staring at the bloody queen kneeling at her feet before glancing at Kila.
“Please, Quinn,” Kila whispered. She shook off Gage’s hand and walked toward Quinn and her mother.
Quinn’s body slumped and she lowered her sword. “Leave this place, Edina. The next time I see your face I will not show you mercy.”
Kila joined her and she gave the young woman a look of sorrow. “Sandora, I - ”
Her words were drowned out by Silas’ shout of warning. She whipped around, slipping in the mud, to see the queen standing behind her. She held her sword over her head with both hands and Quinn stumbled back as the queen screamed victoriously and Kila lunged forward. Quinn’s eyes widened when the queen lurched to a stop only inches from her. The queen stared blankly at her as her sword dropped from her hands. A thin line of blood streamed out of her mouth and she stared at the small pale hand holding the handle of the dagger sticking out from her chest.
She studied her daughter standing motionless beside her before whispering, “Kila?”
Kila made a small, moaning cry and yanked the dagger from her mother’s chest. The queen fell to her knees as blood poured out of her chest in a steady stream.
“Kila,” the queen whispered again.
“I’m sorry,” Kila said in a low voice.
The queen pitched forward, landing face-first in the mud. Her hand scrabbled weakly for her sword before growing still. Kila and Quinn stared silently at each other before Quinn knelt on one knee in front of her.
“My Queen.”
The others stared in shock silence before, one by one, they knelt before the new queen.
* * *
“Vida,” Quinn said urgently as they approached the edge of the forest, “are you certain this is what you want? It will be different here under Kila’s rule. I promise you.”
Vida nodded and shouted over the loud crack of thunder, “It is what I want, massina.”
“I don’t think you should go,” Quinn said. “Any of you.”
Veronica ignored her and continued forward. Kyle licked his lips nervously and cringed when the lightning flashed. The wind was picking up, whipping their hair and clothing against their bodies and the rain was a steady downpour.
“Reconsider, Vida,” Quinn said as Silas left Barkha and Dacia and joined them.
“Silas, tell him to stay,” Quinn shouted over the howling wind.
“It’s safer for you to stay!” Silas yelled.
Vida just shrugged before joining Veronica at the edge of the forest. She squealed excitedly. “There it is! Look!”
The others squinted in the dark. The orb was glowing in the middle of the open field. It was only the size of a baseball but it was growing steadily and wet leaves and branches from the ground around it were already being sucked into its light.
“Vida,” Quinn said, “you don’t know that it will take you to your world.”
“I know,” Vida replied, “but I cannot stay.”
He glanced at Silas before leaning down and pressing his mouth against Quinn’s. “Thank you for everything, massina. I will not forget your kindness.”
“Be safe, Vida,” Quinn said. “I hope you find your home again.”
He smiled at her before turning to Veronica and Kyle. “Humans, are you ready?”
Veronica nodded but Kyle took a step back. “I’ve changed my mind.”
Silas touched Veronica’s arm. “Veronica, maybe you shouldn’t - ”
“Let go!” Veronica snapped. She took Vida’s hand and the two of them crossed the field toward the orb. The orb was pulsing with light now and Silas guessed it had grown to nearly twenty feet wide. The light washed over Vida and Veronica and they were lifted off their feet and sucked into the orb. They disappeared in a flash of bright light and the others clung to the trees as the wind intensified. The orb pulsed again and then disapp
eared completely as lightning flickered across the sky and there was another loud boom of thunder.
As the wind died down and the rain began to ease, Quinn took Silas’ hand. He kissed her knuckles as Barkha and Dacia joined them. Barkha grinned at Kyle.
“I’m glad you decided to stay, breeder. I really wanted to fuck you.”
Kyle rolled his eyes. “My name’s Kyle.”
“Kyle,” Barkha said with a laugh. “A strange name, but I like it.”
“What do you say we get out of here?” Silas said to Quinn.
“Yes,” she replied. “Let’s go home, Silas.”
Epilogue
Two months later
“Well, what do you think?”
Silas and the others stared wide-eyed at Gemma.
“Holy shit,” Steve said. “You look fucking hot in that bustier, Gemma.”
She sighed loudly. “Yes, because looking hot is what I’m aiming for.”
Evan touched the sword hanging around her waist. “You sure you really want to be in the queen’s guard, Gemma? It’s dangerous.”
“I’m sure,” she said. “Dacia says I have a knack for it.”
Craig nudged Kyle. “So, are they gonna make you wear a bustier and skirt too?”
As Kyle rolled his eyes, Silas grinned widely. About two weeks after Kila became queen, Kyle asked to join the queen’s guard. It had taken some convincing but Kila eventually agreed. Silas knew the other women were surprised by her decision. After years of doing everything they could to protect the men, it made the women uneasy to have one fighting in the guard. But Kila had stuck to her decision and allowed Kyle to join the guard.
“Where are Angela and Paula?” Steve asked.
“Angela’s with Zeeda, putting her bid in,” Gemma said, “and I think Paula is at the nursery. She and Mina have become friends and she’s been helping Mina with her baby a lot.”
“Angela’s putting a bid in?” Steve said. “I bet it’s for me.”
“Actually,” Gemma said with a grin, “she’s bidding on Lutan and Kyle.”
“What the hell?” Steve laughed. “Kyle, you’re participating in the claiming ceremony tonight?”
Kyle shrugged. “Now that I have a choice in participating, why not?”
Steve laughed again and threw his arm around Kyle’s shoulder. “Yeah, why not, ya man whore.”
“Hello, danen.”
Silas turned and gave Quinn a mock scowl before putting his arms around her waist. “I have a name.”
“Hello, Silas,” she said teasingly before squeezing his ass.
“You know,” Silas said, “I think you call me danen on purpose.”
“Now why would I do that?” She asked sweetly.
“Because you know you’ll get a spanking for it,” he said in a low voice before kissing her.
She returned his kiss and smiled at him. “Sorry I’m late. I was meeting with the queen about the ceremony tonight and it went longer than I thought.”
Silas nuzzled her neck affectionately. “My brother is sleeping with the queen. I could probably have got you out of that meeting, no problem.”
“So there are other perks to sleeping with you than just your big cock. Is that what you’re saying?”
“You love my big cock,” he said cheerfully.
“Aye, I do,” Quinn replied.
“How many of the men are participating tonight?” Silas asked.
“Nearly all of them,” Quinn said. “It’s a little surprising to me.”
“Why?” Silas said. “Now that it’s completely voluntary, what man wouldn’t love having women mock fighting over the right to have sex with them?”
Quinn laughed. “Good point. Do you know who isn’t participating?”
“Who?”
“Lloyd.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. Apparently, he’s smitten with Selda. She gave birth to one of his children - Rardin I think his name is - a few years ago. Now the three of them are living together.”
“Well, good for Lloyd,” Silas said.
“I’m glad most of the men are participating,” Quinn said. “This has been the way of life for many years. It needed to change but the women would find it difficult if it was completely different. It was wise of Kila to come up with this idea.”
Silas gave her a solemn look. “How are things with the two of you?”
“Better than I thought they would be,” Quinn said. “Most of the guilt is on my part. Kila has assured me multiple times that she did what was necessary and has no regrets but I wonder if that will change later.”
“I don’t think it will,” Silas said. “Kila loves you.”
“Aye, and I love her,” Quinn replied. “How was your day?”
“Busy. Naveen coerced me into building new shelves for his medical supplies. He says he’s too old and weak to do it, but, I don’t know – the guy’s like a hundred years old and survived being stabbed in the stomach. I think he’s tougher than he lets on.”
Quinn’s face softened at the mention of the old man. “Aye, he is.”
She pressed a kiss against his mouth again. “I need to speak with Zeeda before the games begin. I’ll talk to you later, all right?”
Silas nodded before stroking her hair back from her face. “Yes. I love you, Quinn.”
“I love you too, Silas.”
END
Please enjoy an excerpt from Choosing Rose, Book Six in the Other World Series.
CHOOSING ROSE
(Other World Series Book Six)
Copyright 2016 Ramona Gray
“Crap, crap, crap…CRAP!” Rose banged her hands on the steering wheel of her useless car before climbing out. She slammed the door shut and locked it. A pointless gesture considering the damn thing wouldn’t even start. She hurried across the parking garage toward the elevator.
She ran through the lobby of her apartment building and out to the street. It was pouring rain and she stared up at the dark sky as lightning flashed. She covered her head with her arm and stood at the edge of the sidewalk. A taxi was careening down the street and she waved frantically at it as the rain soaked her long, blonde hair.
The taxi screeched to a halt in front of her and she climbed into the back seat. The front seat was separated from the back with a thick layer of plexiglass and the driver’s disembodied voice floated out of the speakers hanging haphazardly from the ceiling.
“Where to, lady?”
“The Franklin Center, please.”
The driver pulled out into the street and Rose rapped on the plexiglass. “By air, please.”
“It’ll cost ya extra.”
“I know, that’s fine. I’m in a hurry,” Rose said with an impatient sigh.
She clutched at the door handle when the driver flipped a switch and there was a loud grinding noise below her feet. The car shivered wildly and lurched sideways as Rose quickly buckled her seat belt.
“Can this thing even handle air?” She wondered out loud.
“Don’t you worry, lady. Baby might be showin’ her age but she’s still got all the tricks,” the driver replied.
There was another painfully loud grinding sound and Rose made a breathless shriek when the car lurched upward. Her stomach dropped to her feet and the driver grinned cheerfully at her through the rearview mirror. “Can you handle air, lady?”
“Yes,” Rose flapped her hand at him. “I’m fine.”
“There’s bags in the seat pocket in front of you. Use ‘em if yer gonna puke.”
“I’m not going to puke,” Rose said. “Just get moving, would you? I’m really late and I - ”
She shrieked again as the cab rose another hundred feet then took off in a burst of speed. The driver honked his horn and cursed loudly at the car hovering next to them. “Get the hell out of my way, ya miscreant!”
Rose peeked out the window and immediately wished she hadn’t. The people standing on the street below them were the size of ants and her stomach m
ade an unpleasant heave. God, she hated travelling by air in well-maintained cars. Doing so in one that looked like it might drop from the sky at any moment made her want to vomit. She didn’t have much of a choice though. Her meeting started in exactly seventeen minutes and with the morning rush hour, she’d never make it by ground. She jumped when a loud crack of thunder made the car shake and a jagged streak of lightning lit up the sky. She closed her eyes as the cab made another unpleasant sway and clung tightly to the door handle.
* * *
“I know, I know. I’m late,” Rose said as she scurried into the lab. She hung her coat on the hook and grabbed her lab coat, slipping into it as she tucked her purse under one of the tables.
“Relax, the orb isn’t due to appear for another three hours and Solomon isn’t even here yet,” Brody said. He was studying something under one of the microscopes and didn’t notice when Rose frowned.
“He’s not here yet?”
“Nope.” He adjusted the dial on the microscope before typing a note on the tablet sitting next to it.
“But he left the apartment early this morning,” Rose said. “He said he was going to the lab.”
Brody shrugged. “Don’t know what to tell you, Rosie-girl. He’s not here.”
Rose checked her phone. There were no messages from Solomon and she sent him a quick text before slipping it into the pocket of her lab coat. “What are you looking at?”
“Another skin sample from Subject Blue Balls,” Brody said.
“Don’t call him that,” Rose said sharply.
Brody glanced at her. “What else should I call him? Subject 10387? If the big guy won’t tell us his name, I gotta call him something.”
Rose sighed. “Is there any change?”
“No. He’s getting drier by the day. He keeps this up and he’ll be completely dried out within the next couple of days. His internal organs are starting to show signs of shutting down.”
