Tournament of Fire

by Toni L. Meilleur

  A small murmur rose from the crowd. This was news to Kegan. Kegan leaned over to Keir.

  “What is the house of Hahn?” she whispered, trying to be heard above the dull roar of the crowd.

  “It is my line,” Lekki said proudly. Kegan’s stomach roiled in protest. “You have met my distant cousin and lover Keir?” she inquired sweetly, gently stroking Keir’s arm.

  “Do not worry, my queen, I intend to ask for ownership of you when this is over,” Keir whispered back, his handsome features twisted in perverted glee. “You are most fetching in that—thong.” He laughed, Lekki giggled like a school girl.

  Kegan was going to be sick. Da’rak had been right to suspect him, as she. It was always the person closest who could do the most harm. She tried to scoot as far away from the fanatic duo as she could.

  It was much too late to warn Da’rak. What good would it do? She eyed the bag at her feet and wondered how she could get the weapon to Da’rak without raising the suspicion of the two raving lunatics. She would wait. Wait until he needed her. If she were to go now, they would stop her. She tried to appear relaxed and unworried. She might even be able to ignore them, but now the lunatic decided he wanted to rant.

  “You do know I battled for the crown when it was believed the crown died out,” he said conversationally as if she were a walking book on Paa’evaian history. “I could not legally lay claim to the throne seeing as I was a bastard. Still am some would say.” He laughed to himself at his own joke. “Da’rak and I competed and he proved time and again to be better at physical fighting; however, thinking was a stronger talent of mine.” He bragged as if genuinely trying to impress Kegan.

  No wonder the family died out, they had no lucid functioning brain cells.

  “I really do like him, but rightfully his crown is mine. Onn was a dreadful mistake, but it’s all better now. I have done the necessary research and highly recommended Ghort as his last opponent. It gave me the time I needed to have a strong following. Now this is just minor details.” He touched Kegan then, setting his hand upon her bare leg. She recoiled in disgust. It was at that moment the warriors entered the ring, Da’rak immediately searching her out.

  “You must be careful of the mark, my queen, he can sense when you’re uncomfortable. It might prove to distract him during his fight.” Keir sneered at her.

  How could she have ever thought his face handsome? He continued to absently rub her leg, knowing there was nothing she could do about it except try to block it out. She couldn’t distract Da’rak now! She did not have too try too hard to block Keir out once she got a good look at Ghort. He had to be at least ten feet tall. The man was a giant! If one would call him a man, his legs were the size of small trees, was that a tail!? She looked incredulously at the creature-man. Its thick tail trailed behind it. Its massive arms barely swung they were so compact with muscle, and the neck looked like one thick muscle. The creature turned, surveying the crowd. Holy cow! Spikes traveled down its back like a stegosaurus No wonder Da’rak was apprehensive about this creature—a Metinaan, he called it. Hell, he was supposed to just fight this thing with brute strength?

  Da’rak’s head snapped around as he zeroed in on her. She tried to smile, but he sensed her alarm. She began to think positive thoughts; he needed to feel her confidence in him. She smiled at him. He nodded imperceptibly and turned to the ring.

  Ghort snorted, she swore she saw steam come out of his nose. The creature’s eyes were beautiful however, swirling with all the colors of the rainbow—they were the only saving grace in its face. It looked like an insect otherwise. Kegan shivered, remembering Da’rak’s words at Lekki, I hear he’s not nearly as violent to women as he used to be. The thought of having to service that creature gave her the willies. Of course she would have to deal with the vile creature that now stroked her higher up on her leg. She blocked him out, determined to help Da’rak win at all costs. The horn sounded again. The announcer barely left the middle of the ring when the two combatants went at it.

  Ghort swung his massive arms, a sword like weapon in one hand, a beautiful shield in the other. The blow landed securely against Da’rak’s powerful shield, he easily parried the blow. The arena was filled with the sounds of battle. The second Paa’evaian sun began to add its heat to the day, making the warriors sweat profusely. Kegan felt as if she were swallowing her heart every five seconds. Da’rak was a most skilled warrior, she realized, he would be the match for Ghort. She listened intently to the whispers around her; apparently, no fight with Ghort had ever gone on this long. Kegan’s heart soared. Da’rak would no doubt win this battle. She naively forgot about the vision. Keir snorted in frustration as he too realized his nemesis would come out on top.

  Kegan was so elated with the battle she’d forgotten about Dr. Jekyll at her side, successfully blocking out his unwanted attentions as not to distract Da’rak. It looked as if Da’rak would be ending this battle any minute now. That is when Keir decided to up his game, his hand deftly went in between Kegan’s thighs. She jumped in shock and threw him a look.

  The expression on his face terrified her. He began to roughly search for her clit, trying to impale her with his fingers, Lekki laughed, enjoying her torture. Her heart thudded. No one was paying attention to her. The crowd was too intent on the battle. Her heart raced as she tried to disengage his hand from between her legs, but his arms were like steel. She tried squirming around and away from his seeking fingers, but the chair gave her no room. Kegan pulled at his fingers, he pushed harder, his fingers seeking inside of her. The crowd reacted, something terrible had happened. She looked in Keir’s face, satisfaction gleamed in his eyes knowing the distraction was working.

  Almost in a dream, she saw Ghort swing at Da’rak again. His shield flew from his hands and spun across the arena. Her heart jumped in alarm. Ghort swung again, Da’rak gracefully dodged him but was not fast enough to totally miss the swing, and the end of Ghort’s sword glanced his left arm. In absolute horror, she saw Da’rak begin to favor it.

  Keir began to mumble incoherently and she turned to him. Nuka was in front of him, baring his massive teeth, daring him to move.

  Kegan sighed in relief. “If he moves, or that bitch, kill them both,” she ordered the leva before grabbing the bag and making her way down to the arena.

  She would definitely have to reward that creature. The crowd proved to be hard to move. But she persisted, her heart jumping every time the crowd reacted. She knew Da’rak had been distracted because of her. Now she had to make it up to him. Finally, she made it to the side of the, arena a few feet from Da’rak, separated by a small fencelike structure.

  “There is still time,” Elgia said, appearing by her side, her brown and gold eyes, unshielded, begging her to hurry. Kegan retrieved the wrapped weapon from the bag, praying to whatever Paa’evaian god that they help her give him Juchon in time. The crowd reacted; Kegan looked up in time to see the creature swing at Da’rak, as in the vision. Da’rak was forced down on one knee. Thankfully, he rolled to the side and quickly regained his footing—closer to Kegan.

  “Da’rak, Juchon!” she shouted, using few words as possible as the creature began to bear down on Da’rak. Da’rak turned in surprise, but she threw the weapon anyway. On instinct, he caught it, and as Ghort made to deliver the final blow, Juchon pierced him true in the heart.

  Ghort stood stock still, disbelief plastered on his ugly face. Seconds later, he crashed to the ground. The people of Paa’eva roared with cheer. Da’rak, bleeding profusely from his left arm, lifted up Juchon in victory. Kegan could have passed out from sheer relief.

  Hara came to her side belatedly. “Did I miss anything?”

  Kegan and Elgia laughed in relief.

  “I’m really sorry about Keir, Da’rak.”

  Kegan meant it. It must really hurt to be betrayed, but then again, Da’rak had five hundred years to ponder the possibility.

  “My father said to rule is to be alone, unless you have your shanzah.” Da�
��rak pulled her tightly into his arms. Never wanting to let her go. It had been only few hours since the battle, he was already halfway healed from his wounds. “They are to be executed immediately,” he told her.

  She would grow to understand the ways of the Paa’evaian people; it did not make sense to prolong these things. She had come through for him. He would always remember this about her. He sighed heavily. As much as he loved her, if she wanted to go back to her Earth, he had no choice but to allow her.

  “I suppose now you wish to talk about your return to Earth?” he said sadly, his heart already breaking. He was hoping by now that she loved him enough to stay.

  “Well yes, I would like to,” she said against his chest.

  “When would do you wish to return?” He hated this conversation, Part of him wanted to order her to stay. He could do that, he was king again. But what good would that do?

  He promised he would never make another woman as unhappy as he had made Onn.

  “Return?” She sounded confused.

  “Return. You said you would like to speak of it now.”

  “Yes, and we have spoken of it, now let’s drop it.”

  “I do no understand, shanzah, you confuse me with your Earth ways.”

  “Fine, I will spell it out since you people are primitive in your communication skills. I don’t want to go back, I want to stay with you. Hell, here I get to be queen!” Kegan laughed.

  “Is that the only reason?” He laughed, his heart elated. He could have cared less if that was her only reason, she was staying and that’s all that mattered.

  “Well, that and I love you, my shanzahn.” She looked up into his lavender and gold eyes. “You have given me life, the power to touch, you will never know what that means to me.” Tears teetered on her eyelashes as she looked at him.

  He answered her with a kiss. Branding her mouth and soul. She was his for as long as he breathed and he planned on doing that for a very, very long time.

  “My warrior,” she murmured “My king.”

  Breaking the kiss, she trailed a small hand over his chest, kissing the mark on his chest, especially lingering on it. She trailed even lower until she was on her knees. “I would like to service my king now.” She smiled at the thick rod that strained toward her under the leather-like material. Slowly so as to torture him, she freed him and watched it bounce. As usual, it seemed to point her out. A small amount of his sweet liquid gathered at the tip, she licked it slowly. “Mmm,” she growled in her throat. He strained even further towards her.

  He loved the feel of her mouth on him. Her lips clamped around the head of his penis, tongue teasing the head and just under it. He groaned and pushed further into her hot mouth. She grabbed his thighs, loving the feel of her naked hands feeling his steel thighs. The small crisp hairs on his thighs tickling her sensitive hands, she moaned as she sucked him. Kegan placed one hand around the base of his cock. It was the first time she actually touched a man, with her bare hands, and Da’rak’s felt wonderful. She squeezed then let go and repeated the process. She heard the rumble of pleasure deep in his chest. He thrust deeper into her mouth. She relaxed her jaw, allowing him free access to her throat, and he greedily took advantage. He tenderly placed a hand on either side of her head and slowly pumped in and out of her wet mouth.

  Kegan’s moans matched his. He loved making love to her mouth and she loved him doing it. She felt the pressure of his semen building in his balls and gently massaged them, urging him to come.

  Da’rak didn’t even try to hold back as he ejaculated in the back of her throat, loving the feel of her swallowing his very essence and milking his tip even more. When he was sure he had no more to give, he lifted her from her kneeling position and took her to the window of their new chamber that overlooked the city.

  “Watch the world, as I make you come,” he whispered in her ear.

  Kegan got even wetter for him; she licked her swollen lips, still tasting him. She felt him behind her, thrusting into her wet folds. She squeezed her walls for him, gripping him even tighter.

  “Witch!” he muttered sexily, completely aroused.

  She sighed, loving the feel of this big man moving inside her, pumping into her, making love to her. He began to rotate his hips, hitting every nook and cranny imaginable. She cried out in pleasure, watching the tiny people below as she was getting pistoned by their king, her king. His breathing came faster as did hers. It was the first mating as official King and Queen of Paa’eva. He reached around and held her naked hand in one hand and used his other to play with her clit. Kegan pushed her hips back to aid him in a deeper thrust.

  “Come for me, queen, come all over my cock, shanzah.” He practically purred in her ear, sending Kegan over the edge. She screamed his name to the city below, and he let go of another torrent of hot seed in her.

  Breathing hard, they stayed that way for a long time. His semen dripping down her leg, though he was still embedded in her. “What think you, queen?” he asked, nuzzling her small ear.

  “I think my husband is a wonderful lover,” she replied, staring at the wonderment of being able to simply hold his hand in hers.

  “Good answer.” He laughed. They were quiet as the bells rang, signaling the beginning of the execution. Kegan closed her eyes. She did not want to witness the execution of Lekki and Keir, but they were responsible for the murder of Da’raks wife and attempt on hers. A thought came to her then. She had almost forgotten.

  “Da’rak, I need you to take me to Pasha,” she said suddenly.

  “Why, is something the matter?” he asked, worry entering his voice.

  “No, please there’s something I must do.”

  Da’rak felt confused and unwilling to pull out of her, but he did, for he would do anything for his shanzah. With a thought, he took them to Pasha.

  “I do not understand why we are here.”

  “To close old wounds,” Kegan answered, putting her hand in Da’rak’s and the other on Pasha. “There is something you must know.”

  She closed her eyes, willing her energy to flow into her hands. With each use, she knew it would come easier. In seconds, she felt Pasha come awake, Onn at the forefront of her conscience. After a few moments, Pasha receded and Kegan opened her eyes. Da’rak looked at peace and in wonderment.

  “Now you know,” Kegan said gently.

  “Now I know. The men of my family their souls gather in Juchon to help their blood kin, the women gather here. It is no wonder the tree called to me.” He shook his head, still finding it hard to believe. “Onn is at peace, she has forgiven me.”

  “Yes, she has. She told me earlier, but I thought it best to wait until you were ready to forgive yourself.” Kegan smiled, running her bare hands along his jaw line. “Paa’eva has strengthened my gifts. I have you to thank for that.”

  “I have you to thank for much more.”

  “What of Hara and Elgia?” Kegan asked as they made their way back to the castle.

  “They both, of course, are more than welcome to remain at the castle. Elgia will no longer be a servant. But do not worry, she told me to tell you, she plans on having lunch with you quite often.” He glanced at her, knowing the meaning of Elgia’s words. “She will serve me best on the council.”

  “I agree. I would like to teach Hara of the astrology of Earth, she is a fervent follower of your Goddess Astrakiba. She might be able to better pinpoint the mates for your people. We also must thank Lode for his help as well, and I hate to say this, but Nuka deserves a reward. He is a fine protector.”

  “I agree, we can talk more of this later.” He grinned at her devilishly.

  “Why not now?” Kegan asked, realizing she was being led into a wonderfully secluded part of the wooded estate.

  “Because we need to finish celebrating, shanzah,” he whispered to her, catching her in a wonderful kiss. As their tongues dueled, Kegan felt she herself was in a tournament of fire. Then she felt something lick her ankle. Nuka stood panting at her feet.
The royal couple burst out laughing, joy in their hearts. ‘Twas the perfect way to start a new reign.

  About the Author

  To learn more about Toni Meilleur please visit http://www.geocitites.com/likquidfyre or send an email to Toni at mailto:kleverkytten@aol.com.

  Look for these titles

  Coming Soon:

  The Prometheus Promise by Toni Meilleur

  Recipe for a Mimosa Night: Take a few libations to loosen inhibitions, mix them with meddling college friends, add in an innocent game of dice, and the result is a steamy cocktail of erotic desires.

  Mimosa Night

  © 2006 Nicole Austin and TK Winters

  Since her husband’s military deployment, Reba has been plagued by dark, secret fantasies. Never before has she had such scandalously carnal needs—needs she can barely share with her husband, let alone anyone else. But her tenacious friends enlist the help of mysterious otherworld partners until she spills every spicy detail.

  During an intimate reunion of college friends, three women share details of their own scorching real-life sexual experiences and the subsequent changes in their lives to help one friend find fulfillment. Things really start to sizzle, though, with an unexpected invitation, a mysterious delivery, and a once-in-a-lifetime offer Reba can’t refuse.

  From cowboys and porn stars to floggers and psi vamps, these ladies sure know how to unleash their fantasies.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Mimosa Night:

  Jeremy Sauvage stood in front of a dark glass door looking sexier than any of the pictures she had secretly drooled over late at night. Tight black leather conformed to slim hips and muscular thighs. Her tongue came out to moisten dry lips, eyes widening while they explored the impressive bulge wonderfully displayed by the confining material of his pants.