A soft bell sounded and the opponent charged at Nial, trying to take him to the ground. Nial sidestepped easily, wrapped his arms around the man’s neck as he passed and gave one brutal, merciless twist.
The sound of breaking bone filled the arena.
That was it, just as I’d expected. It wasn’t a fight. It wasn’t a duel. It was just death and it had come with a simple twist of Nial’s hands. There was no opponent for him, no equal in the crowd. Perhaps I could offer a true test of his strength, but I did not wish to challenge him.
The crowd erupted into loud screams of encouragement or denial, depending on who they backed for victory. When silence reigned once more, Nial dropped the dead challenger to the sandy ground and lifted his arms above his head.
“Is there no other who wishes to die today?”
When no one stepped forward, the crowd settled immediately, but the high council members were all on their feet, seven old, stooped creatures with scowls on their faces. Their speaker had hands on his hips and glared at Nial.
“You cannot be our Prime, even after that victory. You are contaminated.”
Nial stepped forward. “What, exactly, does that mean?” He pointed to his face. “I have the marks of a warrior. The Hive implants are obvious signs that I fought the enemy and survived. I stood before you, contaminated, as you call it, and defeated the only challenger in this entire arena. I defeated him with a flick of my wrist and you dare name me unworthy? Do you issue challenge yourself, councilor? If so, I will accept.”
The old man flubbed his speech, but his eyes spewed hatred. “You are not worthy, Nial.”
“Because I am a veteran?” I knew Nial used the Earth word intentionally and I felt Jessica’s pride flare. “Because I protected the Prillon people as a warrior and would now do so as their leader?”
Nial lifted his hands and turned to address the crowd. “Do I appear weak or contaminated, Prillon people? I know the enemy. Survived the enemy. I survived my battle with the Hive. I live now with the experience and knowledge to protect this planet. To lead it to ultimate victory.”
The old man sputtered, clearly having no retort, and sat back down in his chair as the crowd cheered. There may have been some who disagreed, but the crowd was pleased with Nial, satisfied with his proof of strength and leadership. And with his beautiful Earthen bride. Warriors who had earned the right to claim a bride were well regarded. Those lucky enough to be accepted by their chosen mate, judged worthy by their bride, even more so. And Jessica, with her proud stance and eyes only for her mate, made it very clear that she not only accepted Nial as her mate, but cared for him as well.
Jessica let go of my hand, and before I could stop her she was racing down the stairs and out the lower door onto the arena floor. I leapt over the low stone wall to land in the soft sand and followed her, ensuring no one would dare harm her. Nial would protect her and so would I.
She ran, her dress like a liquid flame behind her, and threw herself in Nial’s arms as the crowd roared. I watched it all with a grin. That was my mate, my family, and they were safe for another day.
And I didn’t even have to kill anyone to keep it that way.
I thought everything was fine, until two men dragged the dead body away and Nial stood alone in the center of the arena as the chanting began.
“Claiming! Claiming! Claiming!”
The crowd was not leaving, and Jessica’s devotion to Nial worked against us as she clung to him for all to see.
Two hundred years ago, when the first Deston ruler challenged for the throne and won, he and his second had fucked his queen on the arena floor, claiming her for all to see.
Tradition demanded Nial and I claim Jessica here and now, in front of the whole world, for those not seated here watched from home, or on the view screens aboard their battleships in deep space as the duel had been broadcast live across the planet and to all known battle groups in space.
Nial had just killed a man in front of billions. And now his people wanted to see the grand finale.
Chapter Fourteen
Jessica
I threw myself into Nial’s arms and he lifted me off my feet for a kiss. I could hear the crowd cheer at the bold sight. I felt all of his adrenaline, all of his power flow through the collars and into the kiss.
When he placed me back on my feet, he stroked my hair back from my face. “You feared for me, mate?”
I shook my head and looked into his one golden, one silver eye. “Never.”
“Good girl,” he replied.
I felt Ander at my back, my men surrounding me. I did not worry for the crowd, for I knew the two of them would defend me from every single one of them. I was safe. Nial was safe. We were together. But not quite…
Claiming. Claiming. Claiming. The chant filled the air and a look I knew well settled deep in Nial’s eyes. Lust. Love. Desire. It was all there.
“I must be claimed,” I said. It wasn’t a question.
Ander slid my hair over my shoulder and he lowered his head to kiss my neck and then lower still to my collar as Nial spoke.
“We are connected by the collars, but the bond is not complete. We must both fuck you. Together.” I saw the need on Nial’s face, felt it through the collar, but I sensed also the seriousness behind this requirement.
“Right now?”
“Yes, mate. Right now, in this arena. In front of the entire world.”
Holy shit. I turned in his arms, scanning the faces in the crowd. They were not looking upon us with glee or malice, but with a seriousness that made my knees feel weak. “Why?”
Ander spoke from behind me. “In a normal claiming ceremony, the primary mate chooses his closest brothers to bear witness to the act and swear allegiance and protection to his bride.”
I bit my lip, remembering the chanting I’d heard during the processing center’s simulation. The male voices surrounding me and their chorus of May the gods witness and protect you.
Nial lifted his hand to my cheek, holding my gaze when I felt like running. “I am now Prime. King of this world. The entire planet honors and respects our family above all others. They all wish the honor of bearing witness to your claiming, of swearing their oath to serve and protect you.”
“Oh, God.” I leaned into his hand and tried to remember to breathe. This wasn’t just fucking for pleasure. It was a sacred act, a bonding that joined me to both Nial and Ander permanently, in front of a billion witnesses.
This was what it meant to be a queen on Prillon. I thought back to my idea of being a princess, to fancy dresses and high-heeled shoes, to ballroom dancing with a perfect, handsome prince. This was nothing like that fantasy. This was me and my mates, raw and dirty and fucking on the ground in front of the entire planet.
I imagined the people’s faces as they watched us fuck, imagined them running home as quickly as possible to alleviate their own needs. I imagined the women closing their eyes with pleasure as they heard my screams, and the men, the warriors in the crowd admiring my body and my breasts, envying my mates as they filled me. The idea made my pulse race and my pussy grow wet.
Maybe I was meant to be the queen of Prillon after all.
Once Nial and Ander claimed me, once my collar changed color to match their deep, royal red, there would be no question, no doubt in anyone’s mind that we were the royal family, that Nial was mine, that Ander was mine. And I belonged to them.
That would only occur when they both fucked me at the same time. A wave of desire coursed through me at the thought of them taking me in such a way.
“She is pleased with the idea,” Ander murmured against my neck.
“Jessica, this is a public claiming. We must do it here, in front of everyone. There will be no privacy, for I am their new leader and my bonding ceremony must not be questioned. It is the right of all Prillon citizens to witness it, for you and Ander will be their rulers, a part of me, and they must know and trust that all three of us are worthy. Worthy to lead the planet.” Nial�
“It is not law,” Ander added, his tongue flicking over the pulse at my neck. “Nial can refuse if you do not wish to do this.”
“But?” I said, knowing there was more.
“But the people will judge him soft, weak, too weak to master his bride.”
I shook my head. What the men had done for me made me want to give them everything in return. I was the link that connected them. I was the link that made them strong. That made us strong. If I had to fuck them in front of an audience—a very, very large one—it did not matter. I would not weaken Nial as a leader by refusing him this.
Let them watch. Let them envy me. I was giving myself to Nial and Ander. No one else. I was proud of my men. Proud to share with all Prillon people that I was the one they wanted, the one they desired, the one to make their cocks hard. It was my privilege to be theirs and I was willing to prove that to the entire galaxy.
“I understand. I will do as you wish,” I replied.
Ander turned me so they were both in front of me. I looked up at my men. One dark, one fair. One a powerful leader, one a powerful commander. I would submit to them both because my body needed it. My mind needed it.
I was theirs. I knew it. It was time they did, too.
“Are you sure, mate?”
I offered them a smile, let my acceptance flow through me so they could sense my contentment and peace with the decision through our collars. “When you fuck me together, it will bond us permanently?”
Nial nodded. “Your collar will turn red and our claim will be permanent.”
“Do you want this? Do you want to fuck me together? Now? In front of everyone?”
“Gods, yes.” Ander’s body nearly shook as he lowered his chin to look at me. I turned my gaze back to Nial.
“I don’t doubt our match, do you?”
“Never,” Nial swore. “This would be for the people of Prillon and you shall be their queen.”
“Then I will give my people what is expected and I will give my men what they need.”
I felt their desire pulse and I grabbed their hands. Warm and strong. Powerful.
“You will not be in control,” Ander said. “You must submit to us.”
I felt my nipples pebble at his words.
Nial took hold of my chin. “While you are a fierce warrior, it must be shown that you choose us, that you find us worthy. You prove our worth when you willingly submit to your mates.”
Ander grinned. “I doubt that will be hard for you.”
I slowly shook my head at the thought. “No, for I like to give over to you. I like to let you lead, to be in charge… in bed.”
I moaned as the heat of their desires flooded me through the collars. It wasn’t fair, really. They only had to deal with my emotions, my lust. I was flooded with the needs and wants of two powerful warriors.
“There is no bed here, Jessica, but we will be your masters.”
Nial lifted his armored shirt off over his head, baring his massive chest and shoulders to the crowd, to me, and the crowd roared as they realized what was about to happen.
“Say it, Jessica.”
“You are my masters.”
“That’s right,” Nial replied. His hands came to the front of my gown and he tore it with the strength of a warrior. The filmy fabric shred and fell to a pile at my feet.
The cheering became deafening, an explosion of sound that struck my chest like a punch. I was now naked in an arena full of people. I froze, unsure whether to cover myself, turn, or parade around like a peacock. What was I supposed to do now?
“Eyes on me,” Ander commanded and I nearly sighed with relief. My head angled to look at him, to see the stern, yet loving look in his eyes. “You will listen to our voices, feel our need through the collar, do as we say, and you will be pleasured. Nothing else matters. Do you understand, mate?”
“Yes, master.”
Nial moved out of sight, but I didn’t break eye contact with Ander.
“What are we going to do to you?” he asked.
I licked my lips. “Nial is going to fuck my pussy while you fuck my ass.”
No one in the arena could hear our words, but I flushed anyway, the naughty words making me clench my thighs together in anticipation.
Ander took a step closer and put his big hands on my shoulders. “That’s right. You’re going to be between us, mate. Connecting us. Bonding the three of us together. While you might feel that we are controlling you, I want you to realize you are the one with the true power.”
“Power?” What was he talking about? I had no power here.
“Nial and I are just men without you. Warriors, surely, but nothing more. You are what make us a family. You are what will give us children. You are the one who makes us strong.”
“But I submit,” I countered.
“By choice. Your submission is a gift and we cherish it.”
Ander glanced over my shoulder to something behind me. “It is time.”
Before I could respond, he picked me up in his arms and carried me a short distance to where Nial was waiting.
Nial’s knuckles stroked down my cheek. “Say the word, Jessica, and we will do this in privacy.”
I thought on Ander’s words. I held the power. Nial just proved that. I had the final say. I was could tell him I was afraid or ashamed and they’d whisk me away with no further questions. They’d fight the dissenters to make me happy. They’d do anything for me.
So I would do this for them. It was not even a decision, for even though the people could see my naked body, only Nial and Ander could see inside me, could know my thoughts, fears and desires. I let my love for my mates flood me, my eagerness to please them, to make them proud, to honor them in front of their people. I looked into Nial’s eyes as I spoke, my voice calm and even. “You can sense the truth through my collar. Let it speak for me. Tell me, masters, what is it saying?”
I felt the flare of pride, of triumph and burning desire return to me through the connection.
Nial’s hands lifted to my waist. “It is saying it is time to bond you to your mates. Forever.”
“Forever,” I repeated.
“Forever,” Ander vowed.
In the short time since the duel, a chair had been brought out to the arena floor. Set in the sand was a chair, a throne. It wasn’t gilded or fancy, but I knew it was the seat of their leader. It had a tall back and arms and a cushioned seat, but was otherwise unadorned. It was a warrior’s chair, not a gilded throne adorned with jewels or gold.
Nial walked to the throne and sat, the leader of his people claiming his rightful place and the crowd roared its approval. He crooked a finger and I responded, walking toward him with my head held high, my shoulders back. I did not try to hide my body. I was not ashamed. I’d never felt more beautiful than I did as the cheering continued, the people urging me on, eager to watch my mates fuck me. My pussy ached for what was to come and I felt the men’s eagerness as well. Nial’s hard cock was ready and waiting for me. I could see it pressed against his pants.
One step, two, and I was before him. Wrapping a hand about my waist, he pulled me to stand between his parted knees.
“Are you ready for me?” Our eyes were at the same height and I saw the warmth there, the love. The need.
“Why don’t you find out?” I asked saucily.
Nial grinned as he placed his hand at the center of my chest, then slid it down my body to cup my pussy, his fingers slipping over the swollen folds, the drenched flesh.
Ander moved behind me and reached around to cup my breasts.
“She’s dripping on my hand,” Nial said.
My eyes fell closed as they gently touched me, stroking me. I could hear the crowd, but their fervor faded, becoming white noise—there, but not worthy of my notice.
“It’s only the three of us, Jessica. No one else matters,” Nial said, slipping a finger deep inside my wet heat.
“Yes,” I replied, my response less in regards to his statement and more to his invading finger.
“We will fuck you here, for all to see, bond us together forever,” Ander said, his fingers plucking my nipples. “Then we will take you away from here, tie you down, and fuck you again.”
“And again,” Nial added. “This is only the first of many times we will make our claim today.”
Nial’s finger slipped from my pussy and I felt empty. A whimper escaped and I opened my eyes to watch as Nial opened his pants and pulled his cock free. I saw the pearly drop of his seed at the tip and I leaned forward to flick it with my tongue.
The crowd roared anew, louder than ever before, and I triumphed because I could feel Nial’s surprise and desire through the collar. Ander pulled me up and I met Nial’s eyes. He yelled his next question, loud enough for all to hear.
“Do you accept my claim, mate? Do you give yourself to me and my second freely, or do you wish to choose another primary mate?”
Hushed whispers surrounded us and I felt the faintest sliver of tension in both of my men as they waited for my answer. I raised my voice so all would hear me. “I am proud to accept you as my mate, Nial. Proud to accept Ander as my second.”
Nial’s voice grew impossibly louder. “I claim you in the rite of naming. You are mine and I shall kill any other warrior who dares touch you.”
The crowd erupted into cheers and Nial leaned forward so I could hear him over the din. “Straddle me and take me deep. You set the pace, mate.”
While they were in charge, this position put me as the dominant. I was the one in control, because they allowed it. I felt giddy with power, with my ability to make my mates hunger for me, ache for me. I wanted them out of control, so overcome with lust they could no longer permit me to torment them. I wanted them desperate and rough.
Putting one knee on either side of Nial’s hips, I hovered over his thighs. As he held his turgid cock, I settled lower until the crown pressed against my entrance. Our eyes met, held.
This was it. I dictated when, how fast and how deep. I wanted to make him buck and moan. I wanted to give him all of me, so I lowered myself onto him in one long, smooth stroke.
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