by Jasmine Walt
Drystan ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “Then why is it that Lucyan and Alistair do not suffer from the same issue?” he asked. “Earlier today, when I was in the throne room, Alistair did a far better job of keeping a cool head. How am I to rule my subjects fairly if I lose my temper so easily?”
“Lucyan and Alistair do not lose their temper because they do not take this situation as personally as you do,” Dareena said, smiling up at Drystan. “As Lucyan loves to point out, you are the dutiful one, and for some reason, you believe deep down inside that you are personally responsible for what has happened. Every time something goes wrong, you take it as a personal affront.” She lifted her head a little and kissed him softly. “And while that may not be correct, your sense of honor and duty are two of the things I love most about you.”
Drystan’s anger finally eased, giving way to a smile. “And what are the other things you love about me?” he asked, nuzzling his nose against hers.
“I can think of at least one right now,” Dareena said slyly. She slipped a hand beneath her to palm Drystan’s cock through his trousers. Drystan groaned a little as she found it—he was already growing hard before she’d even touched him.
“Are you trying to distract me?” he asked as she shifted, straddling him while she deftly unbuttoned his trousers.
“Yes.” His cock sprang into her waiting hand, and she closed her fingers around it. “Is it working?”
“Maybe,” Drystan managed, his eyes growing bright with need. “Perhaps if you used your mouth, you might be more effective.”
Dareena laughed, then slid to the ground between his legs so she could taste him. Drystan groaned as she ran her tongue along the length of his cock, then swirled it around the tip, teasing the sensitive area there. His fingers dug into the couch cushions for support when she took him into her mouth, savoring the feel of his silky, hard length. Her pussy clenched in anticipation of what was to come; she was already wet and aching.
“Come here,” Drystan said roughly. He scooped her up, then carried her to the bedroom, where he stripped off her clothes before laying her on the bed. Dareena cried out when he buried his head between her legs, her hips driving into his mouth as he pleasured her with his tongue. A climax burst within her as he tongued her clit, her toes curling, and she gripped Drystan by the hair, urging him to give her more.
“I want you inside me,” she panted. “Please.”
Drystan lifted his head. His eyes were gleaming, and there was a wicked tilt to his mouth, one she saw so rarely. Her breath caught in her throat, and tingles raced over her flesh. “Where inside you do you want me?”
Dareena blinked. “What do you mean?”
Drystan bent her legs and pushed them back until her knees were nearly touching her chest. “Lucyan told me about your little adventure at the hot springs,” he said, kissing his way down the back of her leg. “He told me he tried something a little different with you.” He slipped his thumb into his mouth, coating it in saliva, then pressed it against the entrance of her bottom. “He said you might like this.”
Heat spilled across Dareena’s cheeks as Drystan’s thumb slid inside her. “I…” She gasped as he slowly pushed the thick digit in and out, sending little bursts of sensation through her.
“How does that feel?” Drystan asked in a low voice. He was watching her face, the look in his eyes so intense it stole her breath.
“I-it feels good. But it also hurts a little,” she admitted in a small voice. “I…isn’t this wrong, Drystan?” she asked, a little desperately. “Is that why it hurts?”
“There is nothing wrong,” Drystan assured her. “There is no shame in finding pleasure in this.” He pulled his hand away and pressed a kiss against her inner thigh. “And I know just how to fix the pain. Stay right there, darling.”
Dareena did as Drystan asked, though part of her wanted to follow him and see what he was up to when he left the room. He came back a few minutes later, stark naked, with a bottle filled with a clear liquid. Dareena caught the strong but pleasant scent of coconuts when he pulled the stopper.
“Coconut oil,” he said, pouring a little into his hand. “It’s wonderful for massages…and other things.” He set the bottle on the nightstand, then reached down and rubbed the oil all over her nether regions. This time, when he slid his thumb inside Dareena, there was no pain, only pleasure.
“Yes,” she moaned, sliding her hands beneath her knees to give him better access. Her head fell back against the mattress as he pushed his thumb in deeper. Her pussy throbbed with need, and she reached a hand between her legs to pleasure herself.
“That’s it,” Drystan coaxed. He thrust a little faster with his thumb. He gripped his length with his free hand, guiding it closer to her. “I’m going to try this with my cock now. Is that all right?”
Fear lanced through her as she looked down at his swollen member, which was far bigger than his thumb. But there was also a healthy dose of arousal at the thought of being stretched, and her rear entrance gave a pleasant throb in response.
“Yes,” she said, breathless. “Do it.”
Drystan nodded. He removed his thumb, then poured a bit more coconut oil onto his hand and rubbed it all over his cock. Dareena went very still as he pressed the head against her entrance, and she cried out when he slid it inside. Pain rippled through her, but pleasure as well. She thought he might push farther inside, but instead he pulled almost all the way out, then back in, going no farther than just that first inch.
“There you go,” he said as she loosened around him. “Getting better?”
She bit her lip and nodded. Drystan gave a few more slow, shallow thrusts, then leaned forward, sliding in another inch. Dareena groaned low in her throat as his thick cock stretched her.
“More,” she begged, reaching forward to grip his length. Drystan moaned as she pushed him deeper, filling her almost to the brim. He felt so achingly good inside her, she thought as his cock stretched her inner walls. She grabbed the sheets as he slowly pulled out, then slid back in, over and over, until she was moaning and pushing her hips back into his.
“You feel so fucking good,” he growled, leaning forward so he could slide even deeper inside her. He grabbed her hand and pressed it between her legs, rubbing her fingers over her swollen clit. “I want to come inside you. Right now.”
The thought of Drystan coming inside her like this pushed Dareena right over the edge. She came hard, juices gushing around her fingers as the orgasm shook her to her core. Drystan thrust harder as she shook, then groaned, his cock pulsing as he jetted his seed into her. They clung together for a long moment as they came, gasping for air as they rode out the intense waves of pleasure.
“That was amazing,” Dareena panted when the haze had finally cleared from her head. She ran her hands over Drystan’s back, which was slightly damp from their exertions. “I’ve heard of people making love like this before, but I never thought it could actually feel good for the woman. I thought it was just something men liked to do.”
“It is something men like to do,” Drystan said with a chuckle. He lifted his head, amused satisfaction sparkling in his eyes. “But it can also be very good for the woman if it is done right, as you’ve just discovered.”
“Well, if you have any other interesting positions you’d like to try, we should get them out of the way in the next few months,” Dareena teased, laying a hand on her belly. “Soon, I will be too big to do any acrobatics.”
“Indeed.” Drystan’s face sobered. He moved down her body, and Dareena moved her hand aside so he could lay his head against her belly. “No heartbeat yet,” he murmured, “but your body temperature has risen, and your scent has most definitely changed.”
“The midwife and the healer said that I am in good health,” Dareena assured him. “The babe will be fine.”
“So long as no one else tries to kill or poison you first,” Drystan said grimly. He lay down next to Dareena and pulled her against him.
“I suppose there is no doubt that it was poison, now that the healer has identified the herb that was used,” Dareena said with a sigh. “I just wish I knew who had done it. I am certain the cooks weren’t responsible, but there were so many staff members coming in and out. Anyone could have slipped it into my drink.”
“We’ll have all the kitchen staff searched for warlock rings or other amulets and poisons,” Drystan said, “but it is unlikely we will unmask whoever is responsible so easily.”
“True,” Dareena said ruefully. “I will speak to my ladies and see if they noticed anything amiss. Does Alistair know what happened?” She was surprised he hadn’t barged into the bedroom to come check on her.
“No, he left on a short errand,” Drystan said. “But he will hear of this as soon as he returns, and we will discuss tightening security measures. For the remainder of your pregnancy, you must have a food tester. I will inform all three of your ladies that they must eat from the same dishes and drink from the same jugs several minutes before you are allowed to touch them.”
“All three of them?” Dareena protested. “Drystan, I understand your concern, but their lives are valuable too. Surely just one will do.” Though putting any of them at risk, even Lyria, made her stomach turn, she did recognize the necessity of it. Breaking the curse was far more important.
“One is not enough,” Drystan said firmly. “Poisons and drugs do not always affect people easily. If one of your ladies turns out to have a natural resistance, then you might still imbibe something dangerous. Besides, we will make sure everyone knows that you have three taste testers. Once the person responsible hears of this, they will be very unlikely to try again.”
“Very well,” Dareena relented. She was not looking forward to informing her ladies about this, especially Lyria. Closing her eyes, she sent up a silent prayer to the dragon god to make the next few months pass quickly. The sooner the babe was born, the sooner she would be free.
10
Lucyan showed up at Castle Inkwall at precisely six in the morning. He announced himself to the guards at the gate, who allowed him to pass without incident and directed him to the south tower, where the steward’s office was located. As he hurried across the grounds, the shadow of the big, black castle loomed over him. The structure was somehow both beautiful and monstrous at once, with winged creatures perched on the turrets and spires, and detailed carvings in the pillars and arches. Naturally, metal had been worked into the architecture of the building, with various brass fixtures glinting in the sunlight. The architect who had built this place had a flair for the dark and dramatic, but that was not surprising. Many warlocks did.
Blast it, Lucyan thought as he rounded the building. Outside the tower, a large group of people were gathered, obviously there for the same reason he was. As Lucyan approached the crowd of tough-looking types who had responded to the advertisement, he estimated there were around a hundred men and twenty women.
Oh well, he thought as he joined them, sidling his way to the front. Nothing like a little bit of friendly competition to start your day.
A few minutes after Lucyan arrived, the door to the steward’s office opened, and a tall, broad-shouldered man with shoulder-length black hair came out, flanked by several staff members. They were all dressed in black and gold tunics—the house colors—but the steward was identifiable by the pin on his lapel.
“Good morning,” he said in a booming voice, once the crowd had quieted down. “Is there anyone present who is not here to try out for the position advertised in the paper?”
Two hands went up, and the steward motioned for one of his staff to take care of those people. “All right,” he said as the couple was taken away. “Are there any among you who cannot read or write?” A few more hands went up, and they were sent away, grumbling. “Any who are married, or have children?” About ten more. “Very good. The rest of you may proceed with the tryouts. You will all be put through various physical tests today to determine whether you are fit for the job. The twenty top applicants will be offered positions. May the best men and women win!”
A cheer went up from the crowd, though Lucyan remained silent. Despite the large number of contenders, he had no doubt he would win. After all, these people were only human.
The applicants were led out to a training field behind the castle, where various props and weapons had been set up. They were handed off to the castle’s training sergeant, who put the group through a physical fitness test—timed laps, climbing, push-ups, and various other exercises designed to measure their strength and speed. Lucyan cleared all the tests with ease, but around forty of the applicants were cut immediately, and ten barely passed.
The remaining fifty-five applicants were then commanded to demonstrate their fighting, particularly their hand-to-hand and knife skills, which only further cemented Lucyan’s suspicion that this was a spy recruitment test. The castle’s fighting master and his staff ran this part of the competition, and since each person was individually tested, it took forever. Lucyan had to hide his amusement as many of them fumbled with the weapons—quite a few knives went flying, and the others quickly learned to maintain their distance.
“You there,” one of the training master’s assistants, a woman with cropped black hair, said. “Your turn.”
Lucyan hopped to his feet and strode over to the woman. She tossed him a staff, then took one in her own hand and launched an attack. Lucyan blocked easily, then parried fast enough to surprise the woman while still allowing her time to block the blow. To most humans, she was lightning fast, but to Lucyan’s dragon eyes she was slow, her movements easily telegraphed. Still, he deliberately held back, only allowing himself to get one or two strikes in. The last thing he needed was to stand out. A few minutes later, they switched from staffs to swords, then knives, and finally hand-to-hand.
“You’ll do,” the woman finally said after she’d called for a halt. She sounded a bit out of breath, and sweat gleamed on her brow. Lucyan pretended to be out of breath as well, so he wouldn’t look as if he were trying to outshine her. “Go stand with that group over there.” She pointed to the left, where five men stood.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lucyan inclined his head, then did as ordered. Over the next two hours, the other applicants were gradually weeded out. Most of them were rubbish at fighting, but some of the men were able to hold their own against the training staff, and two women were quite good.
“Twenty left,” the training sergeant said when it was over. He nodded approvingly as he scanned the remaining applicants. “The steward will be very pleased with that number. Head on back to the steward’s office. He will brief you on what comes next.”
Lucyan and the others thanked the sergeant, then did as they were instructed. Inside the tower, several servants offered food and beer as the applicants crowded into the sitting area outside the steward’s office. Lucyan washed down a hunk of bread and meat with a swig of ale, and sighed as the liquid slid down his parched throat.
“How much do you think they’re going to pay us?” one of the men asked. The group speculated about the wages and the type of work being done. A few glanced toward Lucyan, who merely shrugged and said he didn’t care, so long as he could put food in his belly, clothes on his back, and had enough left over to donate to the whorehouse at the end of the day. That got him a few laughs, though the two men in the corner who had been side-eyeing him didn’t smile. Lucyan ignored them, keeping his eyes trained on the door.
Finally, the steward came out of his office. A middle-aged bureaucrat was with him, lean but a little soft around the middle, with silver spectacles and a thick head of shining blond hair that had threads of silver in it. “Good afternoon,” the steward said. “This is Lord Tarrick Byrule. He will be interviewing you all today, and should you be accepted for the position, he will be your boss.”
“Let’s have you first,” Byrule said briskly, pointing at one of the women—a curvy, well-muscled redhead who reminded Lucyan of one of his si
sters. “Name?”
“Delara Scanton,” she said in a smoky voice, rising to her feet.
Byrule’s eyes lingered on her for a long moment. Lucyan recognized the look in his eyes—he’d seen it in the other men, too. There was a part of the man that wanted to take liberties with her, but the other part was afraid she would snap his cock in two if he tried. As they disappeared into the steward’s office, Lucyan wondered if he might be hearing the man’s screams soon. Many women would fear to retaliate against such a man in power, but since Delara was an unattached female with no family, he doubted she would have any such compunctions.
To his relief—and a bit of disappointment, if he were honest—the two came out a mere ten minutes later, with no sign that anything untoward had happened. Delara gave them all a smug smile, then sauntered out of the tower as Byrule called in the next recruit. There were quite a few stares glued to her round arse, but now that Lucyan was certain she was unmolested, he didn’t give her more than a cursory glance. The old Lucyan would not have been able to believe it, but the new Lucyan was a different man. He only had eyes for Dareena.
Finally, Lucyan himself was called in. He sat down across from Lord Byrule in the spacious office done in masculine colors with dark wood furnishings and muted colors. The walls were covered end to end with shelves and cabinets filled with ledgers and books and various supplies, but the desk itself was incongruously clean. Lucyan wondered if the steward had cleared it off in preparation for Lord Byrule’s interviews. It was the one thing out of place in the otherwise organized chaos.
“So, Suric,” Byrule said, using Lucyan’s alias. “As I understand it, you were one of the top five best candidates out there.”
“If they say so.” Lucyan smiled blandly. “There was some very fierce competition.”
“Humble.” Lord Byrule nodded in approval. “I like that. I can tell by the way you speak that you have some basic education, but even so, I need to verify that you really can read and write.” He pushed a book of poems across the desk to Lucyan. “Please open up the book to any passage and read a few lines.”
