The Quest III: Return to Volter

by Marilyn Lee

  Ayanni looked in his eyes. She saw honor and integrity in his gaze. She knew he would keep his word. She looked at her daughter and saw resignation in her gaze. Wynter had no wish for Totter to sleep separate from her. And as Slayer had pointed out, she was of the age of consent. She swallowed. “That is not a promise you need make me. Wynter is able to make her own decisions.”

  Wynter threw her arms around Ayanni’s neck and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for allowing us to be together.”

  “Your sire tells me he will not hurt you.”

  “He won’t. He values me, Mother.”

  “Then couple with him as you will.”

  “You will be sufficient with that?”

  Ayanni drew back and looked into Wynter’s eyes. Beneath the sadness for Meka, she saw happiness and hope because of Totter. “I will be very sufficient with anything that makes you so…content.”

  They kissed and embraced. Ayanni watched with a sigh as Wynter and Totter returned to the hut to get more clothing before heading towards the prides territory.

  “He would perish before he hurt her.”

  She nodded. “Yes. I know.”

  “What would you like to do now, my lady?”

  Couple. The thought would not leave her. It plagued and haunted her. She wanted Slayer and yet she wanted Shadow too. She was shameless, always thinking only of physical pleasure. Swallowing quickly, she looked into his green gaze. Unable to help herself, she glanced down. Her gaze centered on his cock, laying against the inside of one muscular thigh.

  “I live to please and serve you, my lady. If there is anything you require, you have but to make your wishes known. I am…equipped to handle all your needs.”

  She wet her lips. “And what if my…need is…of a physical nature?”

  “It matters not. I am prepared to satisfy all your needs, my lady.” He allowed his green gaze to lightly touch upon her breasts before centering on her groin area.

  She swallowed slowly, shame and desire fighting for dominance in her. She had known so little carnal pleasure in her life, she felt completely unable to resist its allure. His allure. She wanted to couple with this handsome bodyguard Slayer had sent her. Perhaps this was Slayer’s way of atoning for all she had suffered. Although her heart longed for Slayer, her treacherous body would be quite content with the wonderfully handsome Shadow.

  “May I render a service to my lady?”

  She looked down and saw that he had thickened and hardened. Breathing through her mouth and overcome with desire, she stretched out a trembling hand to brush aside his loincloth. Her fingers encountered his hard, thick flesh. Her face burned and her mating tunnel filled with moisture.

  Keeping a grip on his cock, she used her other hand to lift her dress, exposing herself to him. Moving closer, she pressed the big head of his cock against her pussy, sending a shock of desire all through her. “Oh!” she moaned softly and pressed closer. She wouldn’t put him inside her because neither of them would get any pleasure from that, but just to feel his hot flesh pressed against her was sweet beyond compare.

  It seemed he had other ideas. Moving quickly and purposefully, he wrapped an arm around her waist, clutched his cock in his hand, and thrust forward.

  “Oooh!” she cried out in surprise and pleasure as his cock shot up into her pussy, filling it as completely and as deliciously as Slayer had.

  She stared up into his passion-filled eyes in stunned amazement. He was inside her. She could actually feel his heavy, thick cock in her. And it felt so good she was afraid to breathe or move. If she did she might wake up and find this was just a beautiful, but useless dream.

  Keeping his cock deep inside her, he managed to lower them to the ground. She lay on her back with her legs open and her pussy full of cock. She had never expected to be able to enjoy coupling with another male. Her mating channel had been contoured to welcome only Slayer’s cock. How could Shadow’s cock feel so good inside her?

  Slipping his other arm around her, with his cock fully seated in her heated, moist pussy, he found her mouth, and began to fuck her slowly and tenderly.

  The feelings his coupling conjured up were incredible. She couldn’t begin to imagine how either of them could find pleasure in cunt mating like this. Nevertheless, she enjoyed every deep, penetrating thrust of his thick, hot flesh deep within depths that had never known this pleasure with anyone other than Slayer.

  Her hips lifted to meet his downward thrusts and she wrapped her arms and legs around him, eager and hungry for the explosion she could feel rapidly building. She loved the feel of his hard chest muscles crushing against her breasts. She closed her eyes, stroking her fingers through his long, blond hair, allowing her feelings full rein.

  He coupled with her slowly and oh so sweetly, clearly elated to be with her…inside her. As he stroked into her, he kissed and caressed her body with eager hands. He whispered to her softly. She was sweet and lovely. She deserved only the best. He was her servant for life and lived to please her.

  Warm, shocking, but undeniable feelings flooded her senses. Nothing had ever felt so right or so proper…not even coupling with Slayer. As the last thought thundered through her, he urged his big cock forward, against her interior clit, and her world detonated. Sobbing with joy, she clung weakly to him, welcoming the delicious flood of his seed rushing out of his body and deep into her mating channel.

  Oh. Good. So good. With her eyes still closed, she stroked her fingers through his hair. “Slayer,” she whispered. “Oh, my lord Slayer.”

  I am here, my Ayanni.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ayanni’s eyes flew open and she found herself staring into Shadow’s green eyes. Realizing that she had called out Slayer’s name instead of his, she averted her hot face.

  “I am sorry,” she whispered.

  Still inside her, he gently turned her face so he could look down into her eyes. “You need offer no apology, my lady. Is he in your heart and thoughts?”

  “He does not value me,” she whispered.

  “He values you more than he does his ability to breathe,” he countered, pressing a warm kiss against her lips.

  She could not stop her automatic response to him. “How do you know that?”

  “I have known him all his life. I know what he feels for you.”

  Her face burned. To discuss Slayer’s feelings for her while still coupled with Shadow, shamed her, but only marginally so.

  She was hopeless. She pressed against his shoulders abruptly aware they had coupled where anyone might have seen them. “I need to refresh myself.”

  “As you wish, my lady.” He pressed a final kiss against her lips, thrust his cock leisurely into her, and finally withdrew from her.

  Her legs trembled so badly when she rose, he had to slip an arm around her waist to steady her. She pressed close, slipping her arms around him. She made no protest when he slipped a finger under her chin, and kissed her.

  She responded with a greedy hunger and within moments, she was again sprawled on her back with Shadow on top of her, his long, thick cock buried deep in her mating channel.

  This time his thrusts brought pleasure tinged with pain. Holding her rear end in his big hands, he thrust into her with a power and speed of which only one of the Great Carnivore’s was capable.

  Each sweet movement brought thoughts of Slayer to mind. She tried without success to dismiss such thoughts as her climax built. When she reached her orgasm, she again cried out Slayer’s name.

  He held her, soothing her softly when she sobbed with pleasure and shame at her inability to stop thinking of Slayer.

  “You must not cry, my Ayanni,” he whispered, nibbling at her lips. “It matters not what you call me or who dominates your thoughts when we couple. I have but one purpose in life…to please you and bring you pleasure. If you are sufficient, that is all that matters.”

  “But what about you?” she demanded through a storm of tears.

  “If you are sufficient, I am as wel
l. You must not concern yourself with me.”

  “It is selfish to think only of my pleasure.”

  “If you are pleased, I am as well.”

  He drew out of her, raised her to her feet, and walked her back to the river. There he bathed her, taking time to kiss and caress her body. By the time they started back to the hut, she feared she was falling for yet another of the Great Carnivores—while still valuing Slayer deeply.

  After eating a meal prepared for them by one of the shemoras, she and Shadow spent the day walking through the forest. She listened while he talked of Tern Terra.

  “Who is your mate?” She asked as they sat along the riverbank looking over the water.

  He turned his head and looked at her. “I am yours to do with as you will, my lady. There is no one else.”

  “But surely there must be someone.”

  “There is not.”

  Her heart beat increased at the thought of having the handsome, blond Shadow always with her. It might almost be enough to compensate for the loss of Slayer. Almost. But nothing could quite take away the sting and heartbreak of losing the one true love of her life.

  Almost as if he sensed the conflict in her, he reached for her hand. A thrill of pleasure shot through her at his touch. Capturing her gaze, he kissed her hand. “I live to serve you, my lady.”

  “But can you ever truly value me, Shadow?”

  “I value you more than I do my humble life, my lady. I ask nothing more than the opportunity to make you sufficient.”

  She looked into his beautiful green eyes and found herself speechless at the unguarded sincerity she saw in his gaze. She moistened her lips. Maybe life without Slayer could be worth living after all…provided she had Shadow at her side.

  They wondered through the forest for the rest of the day. After the evening meal, they walked again. As they did, Ayanni noticed that Shadow grew quiet. She realized that he must be tired. Maintaining his human form must be a strain.

  Although she longed to stay with him and have him couple with her, she feigned a yawn. “I think I must rest now,” she told him.

  He saw her back to the hut, but did not come in. “With your permission, I will remain out here and resume my natural form.”

  She dismissed her selfish desire and nodded. “Sleep and rest well, Shadow.”

  He inclined his head. “My lady.”

  * * * * *

  Rather to her surprise, Ayanni fell asleep almost at once. She dreamed of Shadow, only to have him turn into Slayer. It seemed perfectly natural that Slayer and Shadow should be interchangeable in her dreams. She woke the next morning, longing for Slayer and eager to see Shadow. Disappointment seized her when she rose and went outside and found a tall, fair Carnivore in humanoid form standing across from the hut.

  “Where is Shadow?” she asked.

  “I am Tracer, my lady. How may I serve you?”

  She found she did not care who he was. “Where is Shadow?”

  “He is unable to be here. I have been sent to serve you in his absence.”

  She stared at him. Although tall, blond, and handsome like Shadow, she felt none of the irresistible attraction for him she had felt for Shadow on first sight. More, she felt a sense of panic at the thought of never seeing Shadow again. “Where is he?”

  “I am not certain, my lady.”

  She moistened her lips. “Will he…return?”

  “That will be up to my lord Slayer.”

  “Slayer? And where is he?”

  “I am not certain of that either, my lady.”

  The fear of losing Shadow sent a chill through her. Her level of panic at the thought frightened her. It was confusing how she could value Slayer in his natural form and yet enjoy Shadow in his humanoid form just as much.

  The day in Tracer’s company was long and unrewarding. Ayanni found that she could not stop thinking of Slayer and Shadow. She could not stop thinking of them both. Nor could she curb her longing for either of them. She had never thought it possible to value more than one person at a time. Yet her yearning for Slayer and Shadow were like twin aches inside her that she feared would eat their way through her.

  She lay down that night feeling restless and afraid. She was having a new, comfortable dwelling built for her and Wynter, her days of toiling were over, and would never return. This should be a happy and content time in her life. This level of anxiety should not be.

  It took a long time for her to drift into a restless sleep. Her dreams of Slayer and Shadow again intermingled. She clung tightly to them both, only to have them slip out of her grasp. When she woke at sun rising, her cheeks were damp and her heart heavy.

  “You are well, my lady?”

  She sucked in a quick breath and looked across the room. Shadow stood by the door, smiling at her. Joy welled in her. Allowing her instincts to take over, she let out a happy cry, bounded to her feet, and rushed into Shadow’s open arms.

  He held her in silence while she clung to him and sobbed. Finally, he cupped her face in his hands and gazed down into her eyes. “Why are you crying?”

  “You weren’t here when I arose yesterday and when I asked Tracer when you would come back, he said that depended on Slayer.”

  “And did you think Slayer would deny you anything? Even me?”

  “I don’t know what to think anymore…except that I…do not want you to go away.”

  “Then I will not.”

  She stroked her hands over his chest. “But you did.”

  He hesitated before speaking. “I am not…adept at shifting. Spending the entire sun rising in this form was very difficult and tiresome. I had need of rest. I regret that you were given cause for concern. There was also a need to confer about Macak, my lady.”

  She looked up at him and pressed her fingers against his lips. “Do not call me my lady anymore. Call me Ayanni.”

  “You are she who bore Wynter, future ruler of Tern Terra and she who Slayer values above all others.”

  She shook her head. “I am she who needs you.”

  She saw tiny lights flickering deep within his green gaze. “What of Slayer?”

  She lifted her chin. “What of him?”

  He stroked a finger down her cheek. “He values you far more than you can possibly know. You are the one person he will forever value. There is only one he values more.”

  She stiffened. “Sheela.”

  “No! Wynter.”

  She relaxed against him. “Why did he leave me?”

  “Do you want him back?”

  How to answer. She would forever want Slayer back. Yet, even after so short a time, she could not bear the thought of giving up Shadow. She bit lip. When had she become so greedy? How could she want them both so badly?

  “My lady?”

  She shook her head, drawing away from him. “I do not wish to talk about Slayer.”

  “As you wish.”

  He heaved a sigh and a chill shot through her. Shadow did not value her. He wished to encourage her to ask for Slayer so he might be free of the burden of coupling with her.

  “You spoke of Macak. Is there news of him?”

  His eyes narrowed and she saw anger and a lust for revenge in his gaze. “As you may know, with Meka gone, Slayer is the recognized leader of both prides. It is his duty and privilege to keep the prides safe. Already he has been challenged.”

  “By whom?”

  “Macak. He has been spotted near the prides territory. He approached a young she cub from Berka’s pride and coupled with her against her will.”

  Ayanni shivered. “What of the cub?”

  His lips tightened. “She was not yet ready for mating, but the seer says she will be sufficient soon.”

  “The seer? Which seer?”

  He looked directly into her eyes. “Sheela. She is the only seer in Volter at the moment. Do you dislike her, my lady?”

  “Dislike? I do not know her, but Slayer…spent many seasons mating with her.”

  “All the while he t
hought of you, my lady. You must not doubt that you are and always will be the only person for him.”

  “Where would that leave you…and me?”

  “Do you wish us both, my lady?”

  She felt her face burning with shame. She averted her gaze. “I do not wish to discuss it.”

  “As you wish. Everything will be as you wish.”

  “I just want to be with you.”

  “And Slayer?”

  She pressed her lips tight and turned to face him again. “I do not wish to discuss him.”

  He inclined his head. “As you wish.”

  “What of Macak?”

  “Slayer promised Meka he would not dispatch him, but one more grievous offense and he will have no choice but to dispatch him. A promise made to Meka cannot negate Slayer’s responsibility to safeguard the prides.”

  She inclined her head slowly. Yet it would be a tragedy if Slayer was forced to dispatch his sibling.

  “He will do his best to keep his promise to Meka,” he said quietly.

  She glanced at him with widened eyes. Had he read her thoughts? He gave her an enigmatic stare. She decided that she must have spoken her thoughts aloud.

  After bathing and eating, they went to the site of the new dwelling. Ayanni was amazed at how much was done. The frame was nearly complete and it seemed a huge place.

  “Do you think you will be happy here, my lady?” Shadow asked as they stood watching the many Carnivores working on the new dwelling.

  Without Slayer? She turned to look at him. “Will you stay here with me, Shadow?”

  “If that is your wish, yes.”

  She gazed up into his eyes, trying to discern his feelings. “But would it be your wish or would you just do it because it would be what Slayer would command you to do?”

  He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back. “I would not need anyone to command me to remain with you, my lady.”

  “Do you mean that?”

  “Yes, my lady, I do. My life and heart belong to you. They always will.”

  Warmth quickly spread all through her. “Oh, Shadow. You make the parting so much more bearable.”