Sassy Ever After: Sinister Sass (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Lexi Thorne

  To every end and means, she thought herself a queen - a goddess even - and she demanded to be treated as such.

  When everyone was done dressing, they assembled in front of her, waiting for the admonishment that was sure to come.

  "I have just been informed that the humans have refused to pledge fealty to me." she started unceremoniously, looking around at the lot.

  "You all know it cannot be taken in stride. Punishment has to be allotted, and if their stubbornness persists, then a backlash has to be prepared for. Not that I expect any backlash, but then again, I never expected any resistance either. You all will go about your respective businesses until told otherwise."

  With that, she looked away, and they all dispatched, except the seven. They stood stoically round her, veritable puppets under her control and none the wiser. The spell she used on them was an original one of her own making, and aside from making them extremely susceptible to suggestion, and devoid of freewill, made them basically inhuman and without empathy. They obeyed her instructions without batting an eyelid, whether said instructions involved killing a baby or burning an entire settlement to the ground. And the fact that they were shifters and vampires as well as experienced fighters always ensured the success of their missions.

  She has acquired a lot of territories using them for both scare tactics and punishment and so far, everyone seemed content in their own territory, minding their business. Just how she liked it.

  So far, she had only targeted smaller colonies and settlements and had slowly built up her territory.

  She sighed as she sat back in her chair and looked around at the men who flanked her. Each was a fine specimen of manhood, and she knew that much, but she had grown bored of them and knew it was drawing nearer towards the time when she would have to expand something else other than her territory. But first things first. Sexual gratification took second place to establishing her empire. Maybe later, when she was less agitated she would order that servant girl up to pleasure her. She had seemed to be rather adept with her tongue.

  With that final thought, Edrea Varela got up and went inside. A lot of planning had to be done, and what better place to do it than in her divination room. There, she would finally be alone.

  The streets were littered with playing children as she strolled through. She laughed at some of the games that they were playing, recognizing them as games she had played herself as a kid, with her childhood friend. She stopped thinking then as the memory bit her. These days, her thoughts had drifted more and more towards her past. She hadn't always been leader of a clan. Like most great leaders she had started out with nothing. All she'd had was a strong witch bloodline, but that had only taken her so far. She'd fought to get where she was, but she hadn't forgotten her roots.

  One little girl ran to her and handed over a leaf. She took the leaf and smiled. It was money in the game she was playing, and Keira recognized it as such. She bowed good humouredly at the little girl who bowed in return and skipped if towards her friends who giggled as she gave them a blow by blow account even though they had all seen it happen with their own eyes.

  She found herself straying towards the woods. It was peaceful there, and she could alway think better there. As a kid, her parents had yelled at her and her friend for always going to far into the woods. They would run to their favorite neck of the woods and invent games they wanted to play. They would also practice their magic, but only to make their games more fun.

  She hadn't thought about her friend in a while. Not after what happened.

  She sighed as she strolled through the trees enjoying the various scents and smells. Her family drew most if it's power from nature and she always felt at peace in places like this.

  As she walked through the woods, she caught sight of a dying flower and walked towards it. She stretched her hand towards it and muttered under her breath. The flower sprung to life, looking brighter than the other flowers in the bunch. Keira smiled to herself. Times like this she felt free from all kinds of responsibility. She was only responsible for herself, and that was just fine. Not that she hated being responsible for the clan, but sometimes, due to her relationship with nature, she flirted with the idea of abandoning it all with a life of seclusion. She knew she would never do it though, there was too much at stake, and then there was Chayton.

  Thoughts of the previous night came back to her, and she pressed her legs together. He sure knew what to do to get her wiring all in a twist. She sighed, then suddenly froze.

  Sounds were coming from some bushes in front of her, and she didn't expect to run into anyone. Her guard was instantly up, and her hand went to her saber. She looked around to make sure no one was sneaking up on her. She had never been a victim of a surprise attack before, but she was fairly certain that it was a possibility. She was leader after all. If things became unsettled, she would always be the prime target.

  As she approached the bushes, she was gradually getting a better idea of the activity that was taking place. A few more cautious steps revealed her fears to be true.

  Her hand flew to her mouth to keep from making any noise as she laughed at the sight of a naked bum of a young man bobbing up and down between the legs of an eager, ecstatic young woman.

  She quickly turned away, keeping her saber and walked in the opposite direction. She corrected herself; she should have expected something like this. The woods were a common getaway for young lovers who wanted to mate quickly and unceremoniously. And from the energy she has read off those two, that was the first time, for both of them. She laughed again as she imagined the fear that would have gripped them if either of them had seen their leader gaping at them, weapons drawn, while they consummated their love.

  As she walked away, she wondered if Chayton would be back by now. Her hand strayed to the necklace that she now wore round her neck. She didn't know why, but to her, it was a sign its commitment. Chayton had been committing to her. The thought was exciting as she couldn't think of anyone she would rather be committed to anywhere else. He had gone to the next village to find out if his help was needed. She had offered to help, but somehow, he had convinced her to stay back. Two captains couldn't be absent from one ship. She giggled at the look of surprise he had had on his face when she agreed to stay back. Sometimes, when she wanted, she could match his stubbornness.

  She found a tree she liked and rested on it, allowing herself to slowly slide to the floor, not caring if it stained her top. She took off her boots, wanting to feel the dirt between her toes. This was it. This was the feeling she missed. She could feel the power that was harbored within the very core of the earth. She was connected to it, and it fueled her desire to see the world a better place. There was no other explanation for it.

  Chayton always marveled at her stories of her parent's various stories about the wonders of the earth. And when Keira described the feeling, he always had a puzzled look on his face as though it was absolutely impossible for him to understand what she was talking about. And perhaps it was. Shifters were a cruel lot. Some of the more popular shifters, like Jake Wolfe who owned the club where she'd met Chayton, wore their unrefined nature like a badge. Chayton managed to keep his under wraps and managed to at least appear refined if not for anything else, but for her. Not that she would have minded. Her love for him went beyond the cravings his animal side inspired in him. She sighed, picking up a few dead leaves littered around the base of the tree under which she sat. She felt like bringing it back to life, but she understood that life was a constant cycle and some things that died, were better left dead. They still served a purpose, even if it was to facilitate the life of others.

  She mattered under her breath, and the leaves sunk into the earth around the tree. She was starting to feel slightly hungry as she hadn't eaten before leaving the house in spite of the big breakfast Chayton had made for the both of them. She had simply not felt hungry then and instead arranged that the food be given out. Her subordinates were only too glad to oblige.

 
With a deep sigh, Keira looked up at the sky, daydreaming of peaceful times and Chayton.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Chayton sat with the appointed leader of the human settlement. Martin was a strong man, well built and of enviable intelligence. He had come to him and Keira to affiliate his settlement with their clan in order to have extra protection.

  As it turned out, it had been a very wise decision, and now that things were about to go awry, something had to be done.

  Keira was a good leader, but Chayton was the one who gathered all the information. And for a while now, he had been monitoring the leader of a major clan due West of theirs which shared borders with the human settlement of some sides. He had heard that the leader was a ruthless witch who had some original magic tricks she used to get people to do what she wanted. All the while, she had been a person of interest at best - someone to be monitored, just in case. Now, things had changed, and Keira would have to be brought into the mix. He sighed as he listened to Martin's account of their meeting with the vampire Silas.

  Chayton had gone to the settlement that morning to inform Martin that he had taken care of the rogue shifter. It had been intended to arouse a sense of celebration, but he had been taken aback by the lukewarm reception. Upon inquiry, he had been told of the August visitor they had received.

  The settlement was not very large, but the land they occupied was. Granted, they fully intended to spread, but it was obvious their neighbor thought them too small to deserve such space. She had instructed the vampire to inform them of her intention to add them to her territory. They were to swear fealty to her, whatever that meant. Martin's attempt at bravado was interesting to watch, but Chayton could see that the man was visibly shaken.

  Not many humans had come in contact with vampires as the few who had, usually didn't live to tell the story. Usually, standard pack affiliated shifters had a soft spot for humans although some rogue shifters proved to be problematic for anyone but themselves. Vampires on the other hand needed the humans for food. Granted, some of them had resigned themselves to alternative means of sustenance, but every now and then, it was not uncommon to hear of a human found dead and drained of blood. Chayton related well with few vampires. They were parasites.

  It was, therefore, not surprising that Martin was shaken by the vampire's visit. But even worse, was the fact that the vampire had been sent by the witch he had been monitoring. He sighed, he had kept her dealings away from Keira for long enough.

  "I told him we wouldn't sign or swear to anything/anyone. The vampire left quietly, but I could read the malice in his eyes. Whether it was because he was going to have to deliver bad news to his mistress or simply because I had refused, but we need to be vigilant."

  Chayton listened to him contemplatively, taking in his every word. The only problem he could see was the anger he was going to have to face when he told Keira of the activities he had been aware of that she hadn't. He sighed. From the moment he had begun his secret watch, he had known he would one day need to tell Keira. It seemed as though the day had come faster than he expected.

  As Martin spoke, he examined the man who sat before him. The creature who stood before him. He looked like a man, but he most certainly wasn't. Shifters were among the more friendly paranormal creatures, but even then, many humans had a healthy fear of them.

  The one who sat before him now was very enigmatic. His long hair shrouded his face, casting shadows in ways that intimidated even though they weren't intended to. He hardly spoke, and when he did, it was very insightful as it seemed he had taken his time to contemplate on everything. He seemed to have a very soft spot for humans and had been very upset at the sudden disappearances of the humans taken by the rogue shifter. He had been more than happy to go after the vermin. His mate, the witch Keira was equally as nice even though they had only met a handful of times. In essence, he was very glad that he and his people had decided to settle here of all places they could have picked. Or he had been very glad at least. Now? He wasn't quite sure anymore.

  "So what are we going to do? The people are scared. The vampire's arrival here caused quite a scare. The people are used to witches and shifters. But that was the first time a vampire was entering the settlement. It's caused quite a stir. People are asking questions I can't answer in good faith. You're our only hope Chayton."

  Chayton nodded. Times like this, he was usually quiet and contemplative. People usually mistook this for brooding - and many at times it was - but usually, he just didn't have any input yet and wanted to turn it over in his head a bit more. The latter was the case now.

  Granted, they had agreed to protect the humans if the need arose. And this was a need. And due to their agreement, the humans were, in a matter of speaking, part of their clan. So wasn't she just making a move against them? This was why he liked to think first before he spoke. Everything was forming in his mind, and he was having a clearer picture of the issue. He knew what he would do, but first, he had to speak to Keira.

  A young human girl walked up to him with a bouquet of flowers, and he took it from her smiling. It was clear that she had been put up to it by some adults and though he couldn't see them, he could smell their slightly earthy sent just outside the door and almost heard their excited whispers. He laughed, and Martin managed a small smile.

  "They are scared, but your presence here brings them hope Chayton."

  Chayton nodded. It was a twist of good fate if he were, to be honest. From what he could tell, it was a very rich bouquet, and Keira would love it and maybe, just maybe, not kill him when she learned of what was happening

  I don't think the flowers will help anything other than as adornment for your grave. A small voice mocking voice told him, but he shoved it aside.

  He got up, and Martin got up with him, and they walked towards Chayton's car.

  Before he entered, Martin suddenly grabbed Chayton's arm. The human was strong; he would have made a powerful shifter, Chayton admitted this fact to himself.

  "You made us a promise Chayton. This woman is...well, fierce. You've heard the tales" He said, a slight quiver in his voice.

  Chayton nodded at him and slid into his vehicle, keeping the bouquet beside him.

  As he drove off, he couldn't help but wonder what Keira's reaction would be.

  The sound of the vibration wafted massaged her even before the toy touched her. She had been right, the girl was quite adept with her tongue and as it turned out, sex toys as well.

  Her second orgasm had been more intense than the first, but she wasn't satisfied. She motioned for the man who stood beside the bed to join them. He was only too eager too and soon; she was having her breasts sucked by the young witch and the man. She arched her back as the man's strong hands caressed her body all over. Yes, this was the balance she'd been searching for. She reached for the man and pulled him up to her face, crushing his lips into hers and biting hard till she felt blood. The man hardly even flinched. She licked the blood clean as her tongue found its way into his mouth.

  She spread her legs then, as she felt the girl settle in between them. She needed her to have unrestricted access. The vibration has begun again.

  The young witch loved the fact that she had been selected pleasure the mistress and to her, it was a great honor. One she has no intention of allowing to go to waste. Being in the mistress's good graces was something that everyone who was still in control of their own mind aspired for. If they erred in any way, they knew that the mistress would relieve them of that ability.

  She was glad that she was having the desired effect on her. The sheets underneath her were, wet with her own essence. It was normal for the mistress not to give pleasure, and it was expected. She received it.

  The young witch didn't mind anyway, giving pleasure had its own rewards. She eyed the man whose lips the mistress was now engulfed with any rolled her eyes. She caught herself in time, chastising herself for rolling her eyes at all. What had she been thinking?

  She slid a finger into the m
istresses slippery entrance and gently massaged the ridges till she heard a satisfied gasp. She brought the toy closer and gently placed it on the erect nub, avoiding direct contact because she knew how sensitive it was bound to be after two orgasms.

  A few seconds later, she saw the man move and knew he was getting in position to slide into the mistress. She sighed as she adjusted her position so they could all be comfortable.

  As he slipped in, she replaced the vibrator on the mistresses pleasure bud as she reached for breast and covered the nipple with her mouth. The sound of the mistress' moan created a heady feeling, and she intensified her efforts. The man's grunts were becoming more frantic, and she could tell that the vibration was affecting him as well. It was all good, as long as he didn't spend an eternity atop the mistress.

  She was surprised that she felt so territorial, but it was all the same, she had discovered early on that she was a jealous lover.

  By now, the Edrea was moving her hips in time with the man's thrusts and harder into vibration. This was the one. The big one. She anticipated the orgasm as the man quickened his thrusts. She didn't mind him expelling his seed into her. No child could grow inside her unless she wished it so and so far, she had not come across anyone she could let knock her up.

  The young witch was doing wonders with the toy, and her tongue on her nipples was wonderful. She grabbed her and kissed her, sucking on the young girl's tongue hard and with urgency. She deepened the kiss, and the orgasm neared, and her movements became more frantic

  When it hit she uttered a piercing scream and grabbed the man's butt urging him down closer and deeper inside her even as his own orgasm came and his seed gushed inside her.

  The young witch kept the vibrator gently on the nub as Edrea writhed underneath the man. Then when she began to calm down, she withdrew the toy as the man stood up, going for it his place beside the bed.