by D. R. Rosier
Got me a house and everything, and I wasn’t going to accept any deals, it would kill Saria to be so far from the forest and her family, and my mates came first.
Desirae cleared her throat, “Just be careful. You can’t say no to royalty, so don’t. Sera isn’t known to be evil, but she is known to be extremely ambitious and ruthless. She now rules every human on this continent, and she’ll be paranoid of losing that power now that she’s finally achieved it.”
I frowned, “I won’t say yes, if she asks me to stay and be her healer or something. My home is here.”
Jaren said, “She just means never use the word no, don’t refuse outright. Monarchs tend to hate that kind of thing, and call it treason before the execution. Negotiation however is fine, suggesting different alternatives or options. You are a powerful man, and she may compromise if it means you’ll be a willing ally. Just… forget you even know the word no.”
Saria nodded at me, she was also looking at me like she wanted to tear my clothes off. Maybe because I refused to move for her sake, or maybe because I refused to leave sixteen of her people suffering in Malburn, perhaps both.
Tam said, “Good luck.”
We all heard the he’s going to need it, the irascible man left off at the end.
Desirae said, “I’ll return home, and report this. I want you to take at least two scout teams with you, they can camp a few hours from Malburn while you three are in the city.”
I could buy that. Sixteen exotically attractive elven females, seventeen including Saria, would be quite a tempting target for unsavory men, and the extra protection would be good to have on the trip back. The trip there too I supposed. Of course, the women captured were warriors too, but who knew what kind of mental state they’ll be in? Even with their bodies returned to full health. Emotionally fragile yes, but to what extent?
Saria asked, “Anything else? Otherwise we should go pack, and get things organized for the trip. It’s a little late in the day, but I want to have everything set to leave at dawn.”
Jaren shook his head, “Nothing else from the mage. I’m kind of curious to hear news when you get back though. I’ll also be working on finding replacements for us.”
Saria nodded, “Sister, Karana, will you join us for dinner tonight? You’re both leaving for home in the morning too?”
The both nodded, Karana a little reluctantly.
Chapter Three
Saria disappeared after the impromptu council meeting, no doubt to round up and brief two scout teams to shadow us all the way to Malburn. With the invasion, there was probably even more outlaws and bandits between cities in the wilderness, probably made up of the old king’s guards and soldiers.
It was good the king was gone, I just hoped Sera turned out to be a better alternative. At the very least, she wouldn’t countenance abuse and rape of women, but I was sure caution was warranted in other areas.
Regina and I packed for the three of us while Saria took care of the escort, and we sent word to the stables to have our horses ready at dawn.
I’d never imagined even leaving this place, and never thought I’d be going back to Malburn. I was nervous about it, but my conscience wouldn’t let me do anything less.
Saria returned to our quarters just a few minutes after Regina had gone to cook dinner for five. I wasn’t looking forward to one last awkward dinner with Karana before she disappeared from my life forever, but I’d bear it so that Saria could spend a little more time with both her friend and sister.
Saria asked, “Are you sure my love, this will be more dangerous than mere battle.”
I nodded, “We couldn’t save them from the king without getting killed, but I won’t let a little politics stop us from getting them home.”
Saria snuggled into my chest, and then kissed my jaw as my arms went around her.
“I love you James.”
I nuzzled and kissed her hair, “I love you too Saria.”
We kissed lingeringly, and only broke it when things started to get a little too passionate. Regina and our guests would be here soon, too soon to have fun.
Saria’s come fuck me look really wasn’t helping. Then she surprised me, and ground her tight sexy body down mine as she fell to her knees, her heated eyes staying locked on mine the whole time. She didn’t even look at my breaches as she undid them and fished my cock out of my boxer armor.
I caressed her face and gripped her hair to keep it out of her way, as she teasingly licked the head of my cock playfully.
She sighed in pleasure at my taste, and then took me into her mouth. Her soft silken bowed lips stretched around my girth, and her tongue played with my ridge and caused my cock to jump and surge in her mouth, as pleasure electrified my body.
My heart hammered at the pleasure she engendered in me, and I couldn’t take my eyes off hers.
She moaned in approval, slightly muffled by my cock, as she slid forward and took me in, her eyes still locked on mine with an intensity that sent pleasure, lust, love, and desire rippling through my body. The look of naughty devotion on her face, and the fact she clearly, even desperately, wanted to be on her knees servicing me made it so much better for me than just the pure physical pleasure of the act.
She smiled, or tried to, as I hit the back of her throat and she started to hum and vibrate against my most sensitive skin.
Then she started to fuck me hard and fast with her mouth. Crude description perhaps, but there was no other way to describe it. She looked almost transcendent in the wanton act, and had a look of pleasure in her face as she lost herself to the rhythm. Sometimes she went slow, teased and pleasured me for a long time, but we really didn’t have a lot of time before the others got back, which added yet another thrill to the act.
Her mouth was pure decadent pleasure, and she was my wild sexy elven mate.
“You’re so beautiful my love,” I said in a strained but loving voice.
A strange thing to say during such a quick and dirty blowjob perhaps, but it was the love I felt for her mixed with all the pleasure and the look of joy on her face and heat in her eyes that was pushing me to the edge so quickly. Oh, the pleasure of her sweet lips and tongue, and warm tight rippling and vibrating throat surely had something to do with it, but it was the look in her eyes that had me rushing toward my finish.
Her eyes begged me for my seed, and I grunted her name as my balls tightened and the pleasure rose beyond my ability to control or contain. She held the tip just past her lips, rested on her tongue, while she sucked and jacked my base hard and fast with her soft dexterous hand. I exploded into her mouth, and I coated her tongue and the back of her throat with my seed.
She moaned, and her eyes were lit with pleasure as she swallowed down each pulse of my essence. She continued to suck and milk my base slowly to be sure she got it all, then cleaned me with lavish licks of her tongue before packing me back away.
She said, “Thanks.”
I laughed, and the mischievous look she gave me from her knees made me pull her up into a warm kiss, and a light spank.
“Later,” I promised, I loved the taste of my Saria, and would be returning the favor that night.
“My turn master?” said a sultry begging voice in the back of my mind, that sounded like an ocean wave breaking on shore.
Oceana was my fae water nymph. We were bonded, and she called me master, but she wasn’t a slave. She was immortal, amoral, and a creature of pure magic that was more like an act of nature than an individual. Her bond to me gave her a connection to the physical world, as well as my sense of morality, while I enjoyed the protection of her power. The other thing about her was the nymph part, which was quite literal. She was always ready for sex. My Regina was insatiable, and Saria only a little less so if only in completely privacy, but Oceana was literally always up for a little time between the sheets.
Of course, she couldn’t love, it was all about the pleasure for her, which meant that pleasure between us lacked the intimacy I felt with my mates.
But, she was a hell of a fourth addition in our bed at night, and raised the pleasure for all of us.
No time, later.
I felt her immediate acquiescence, she might have been a nymph always wanting sex, but she didn’t push it past normal seduction and only touched when invited to, and she didn’t get angry when I put her off, or even disappointed. Of course, it probably helped that she was intimately connected to my mind, and had just enjoyed my orgasm which had given her one of her own.
She had no physical body, but with magic she appeared solid when she wanted to be. Her skin sort of felt like skin, and water at the same time, but not wet. It was hard to describe, but it was silky soft and supple, just felt different. Her mouth and sex felt quite a bit different from a normal woman as well, not better than a normal flesh and blood woman, but different in a good and novel way.
She had very dark brown hair that looked black in very dim lighting, light blue eyes the color of the ocean in the tropics, and an angelically beautiful face. Her body was petite like Saria’s, she was just a couple of inches shorter at five foot two, and a little curvier, but still athletic. Of course, she was invisible most of the time, unless she had a reason not to be she hid her existence.
She was another one of my secrets. The magical beings called the fae were highly sought after, and I had enough assassination attempts for being a flesh sculptor, I didn’t want to add fae hunters and collectors to my list of enemies.
At first, I’d been a little worried about sleeping with her. I wasn’t one for one-night stands, and sex without getting my emotions involved. I’d feared falling for an alien magical being that couldn’t feel love, but it didn’t take long to realize that wouldn’t happen. Even unrequited love between two people required some amount of empathy from both sides, or a true emotional connection wouldn’t form.
I kissed Saria again, softly, “You’re incredible.”
She smirked, and her gorgeous dark blue eyes were twinkling, “I couldn’t help myself, I’ve been wanting you for hours, that’ll have to do until after dinner.”
We both turned as someone knocked on the door. We knew it wasn’t Regina, we both had a bond with her and could feel her in the kitchen still, below our suite and about fifty feet away. Besides, she wouldn’t have knocked.
Saria gave me an apologetic look, no doubt because of Karana’s and my awkwardness, and went to go let our guests in.
I turned from the door and gathered five glasses, and then poured everyone a drink. When I turned, Saria and Desirae were hugging, and Karana’s eyes locked with mine. I faltered for a moment, at the amount of heat and worry in those beautiful red orbs.
“Regina’s on her way up with dinner, take a seat?”
I put their glasses by the place settings, figuring it was safer than handing Karana the glass. It wasn’t about me being scared or tentative, I just didn’t want to make this harder than it had to be for either of us. If the stakes hadn’t been so high, I’d have continued to chase, but all the sacrifices for a connection between us was on her side, so I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that at all.
Not getting within touching distance of my sister in law had become a habit too. They all sat down, but I moved toward the door to hold it open for Regina and help with the trays of food.
Saria asked, “You two ready to go in the morning?”
Karana replied, “My people are prepared and packed.”
Desirae said, “Ours as well, except for the twenty going with you.”
Saria said, “I’ll miss you both.”
Karana replied, “Be careful. Her designs may be for your mate, but don’t forget she has your fealty.”
Damn, I didn’t even think of that. The queen could manipulate me by ordering Saria around. The question was would she, or would she compromise. It was hard to predict, given I had no idea what Sera wanted from me. If it was merely my good regard, and an ability to call on me in a time of need, things would go smoothly, because I was okay with that.
I smiled at Regina and took one of the platters as I waved her by and shut the door.
Regina winked up at me, “Thanks.”
Then we took our seats. I sat at the head of the table, with Saria on my left and Regina on my right. Karana sat past Regina, and Desirae on the other side of her sister. Point was in sharing the seating order that night, it would be a lot easier for Karana to avoid looking at me, than the reverse. Honestly, I was a little tired of dealing with it. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, it just was, but that didn’t make it easy.
Saria said, “I think we’ll be fine. She’ll push him as far as she can, but I don’t think she’ll risk making him her enemy.”
“We can hope.”
On that note, we all dug in. The conversation was a little stilted at first, given all the circumstances, but slowly relaxed. Almost in direct proportion to the mead in our glasses going down. I also stayed quiet for the most part unless asked a question, in an effort to make sure Saria enjoyed her last night with her good friend Karana. They’d known each other for a hundred and fifty years.
I won’t say I had a great time at that meal, but it wasn’t as bad or awkward as I was expecting. Karana was far from her old self, and not flirting with me, but she didn’t quite ignore me either. At least, not actively.
When dinner was finished, and it looked like things were about to break up, I stood and went into the bedroom. I’d been working on a gift of sorts, something I was afraid to trust to humans, but trusted with the elves. They weren’t perfect, but I knew they wouldn’t misuse my gift. Plus, the humans had me to do it, they didn’t need my gift.
I walked back into the room, and I placed two small pots in front of Karana and Desirae.
They both looked up at me questioningly.
“A gift to Lelmalond and Amathyr.”
Desirae smiled in confusion, “An oak sapling?”
Karana too looked confused, but she had a slight smile on her face.
“Yes, choose where you plant it carefully, because it will grow quickly when its roots have the room to reach out. It will grow to full size in about ten years, and will live about twice as long as a normal oak. Anyone who touches it, will be healed of disease or injury, including the regrowth of limbs. Not as good as a real sculptor, it won’t heal congenital diseases or conditions because it can’t change a person’s DNA, it can only restore health according to a person’s DNA, and any disease from an external virus, mold, or bacteria will be taken care of.”
They looked speechless.
“Umm, just don’t let any humans know about it. If you can’t bring a person to it, you can break off a twig, and it will heal just as well until its cells decay and die. It’ll use the patient’s magic to supplement its own when too small to channel enough magic on its own.”
Desirae said in awe, “This is a priceless gift, and you’ve already done so much for us.”
Karana looked incapable of speech.
I didn’t really do well with compliments, but I wasn’t going to insult anyone by saying it was nothing. It hadn’t been that much work already, I’d already done most of the work with the living elven armor that would heal and keep me and my mates healthy, I’d just needed to adapt it to a tree. I’d chosen an oak tree, since it would be impossible to steal or lose once it was planted.
I nodded, “It’s seeds will yield the same, so when it reaches the end of its life cycle both cities will very possibly have a healthy and full grove of them.”
Karana’s voice was still had a sultry hint in it, but she seemed overwhelmed with emotion.
“Thank you, James. This will alleviate much suffering. Our beloved forest is a dangerous place, even for us, and many of our retired scouts are less than whole.”
“Saria told me. It’s what prompted to me to make the effort. Safe journey, both of you.”
Hugs goodbye were out of the question despite my feelings for both, if in wildly different ways, and for very different reasons. Saria’s family was the only
family I had, being taken to this world, and I wanted a close relationship with hers. Family was important, and my in-laws were all I’d have in this world outside of my children. Obviously, a hug from any man was the last thing Desirae needed. My feelings for Karana were of the far more intimate variety, the reason I couldn’t embrace her should be obvious. Rejection was a bitch, but at least I was done facing it now.
I’d never see her again.
I retreated to the bedroom, so Saria could say goodbye to her sister and good friend in relative privacy. Regina murmured a quick goodbye as well, and then claimed the hugs I couldn’t have before joining me, also giving our mate privacy.
Chapter Four
The following morning we woke up at dawn, grabbed our packs, and left our suite. I had to admit, I was nervous about what we were doing, but another part of me thought it would be nice to be back on the road. It would give us a lot of time together without interruptions and emergencies to deal with all the time. Not that I didn’t get plenty of time with them in the city, both together and alone, but it would be good to get away for a while. Not quite a vacation, but in a way the trip sort of felt like that, or it would until we got to Malburn in ten days.
I also enjoyed the outdoors far more than I would have believed if someone had told me I would back on Earth. Outside of the cold baths in streams that is.
A familiar form slid up next to me, willowy, graceful, and with a seductively predatory walk with swaying hips. My heart picked up even as my stomach dropped, I’d thought I’d never see her again, was she here to say goodbye again?
I turned my head toward her, “Good morning, Karana.”
She smiled tentatively, and took a deep breath.
“I’m coming with you. You need me.”
She smirked, when I faltered, tripped over my own feet, and barely avoided falling on my face.
Smooth move James, I blushed. Was this about the gift, why the sudden change?
