by Eric Vall
“She seems well enough.” Ruslan shrugged. “She doesn’t let that boy out of her sight for longer than a few minutes, the poor kid. I can’t say he doesn’t deserve it.”
King Rodion glanced around us before he nodded in understanding. “Is this what the letter I received from my daughter was about? It was quite a shock to see her letter included a wraith, but I can’t say I am too surprised. This area has been under a lot of distress the past few millennia. It was only a matter of time before we discovered a lost soul. I would be more surprised if that woman was the only lost spirit that lurks within the woods.”
There was a moment of silence as we all remembered the battle with the wraith, but the king’s words were not a comfort, especially if he believed there were more dangers somewhere in the forest.
“At least she is at peace now,” Alyona sighed. “She no longer suffers in our world.”
Ruslan nodded. “The woman is finally free to join her lost child. I can’t even begin to imagine her pain, but I’m glad she finally passed on.”
Before anyone could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps reached us, and we turned to find the source. A moment later, orange hair appeared from the side of a house, and I could feel the familiar presence of Ravi’s phoenix magic.
“Lord Evan!” The phoenix girl was dressed in her training gear, a red shirt with red pants, and her orange hair was tied back into a ponytail with orange and yellow feathers poking through.
“Hey, Ravi,” I greeted her with a smile. “Are you on your way to the airship?”
“I am,” she replied as she glanced around at the group, and her eyes fell onto King Rodion. “Laika wants to train with me today, but I felt a strong magical presence while I got dressed. I came to investigate, but it seems we aren’t in danger.”
“You are the phoenix princess, I presume?” Kind Rodion asked as he stepped forward. Then he held out his hand toward Ravi, and she took it slowly.
“I am,” she replied as her eyes narrowed in a combination of confusion and suspicion. “I am Ravi, daughter of Chief Fiyero. And you are?”
“I know you,” the king laughed. “I met you once, when you were still inside your egg. You look remarkably like your eldest brother.”
Ravi’s frown deepened. “I’m sorry, but … that’s impossible. The only person who knew my tribe’s whereabouts … ”
The phoenix trailed off as the wheels in her head turned, and Rodion smiled enigmatically. Then Ravi’s eyes went wide as realization struck her, and she nearly snapped her body in half as she bowed deeply.
“You’re King Rodion,” she gasped in awe after the king permitted her to rise. “You’re the savior of my people.”
“I merely hid your people away until they were ready to return to us,” King Rodion scoffed. “The bravery of your people is what saved you. I only did what was asked of me.”
Ravi seemed to ponder over his words before she smiled. “Did you really know my mother? And my brothers? Can you tell me what they were like?”
“One day, child,” King Rodion laughed heartily. “One day I will answer any question you have for me, but for now, I must return to The Breach. I fear I have been away too long already. I can feel my magic weaken. The demons have begun to push back against my barriers.”
Ravi frowned in disappointment, but she nodded all the same.
“I’ll escort you to the gates, Father,” Alyona offered quickly. “You must return before more innocent lives are lost.”
“I’ll go with you,” I added. “As Lord of Hatra, I should make sure you can leave safely.”
Nike, Ruslan, and Ravi stayed behind as Alyona and I walked through the palace with her father behind us. Fifteen minutes later, we stopped just outside the gates of the city and turned toward the King of Rahma.
“I should thank you, Lord Evan,” Rodion said as he looked around one last time with a small smile etched on his face. “Hatra is your city, of course, but it is still part of Rahma and is my responsibility. You succeeded where I have failed, and I am proud my daughter has a man like you at her side.”
“I will always be by her side,” I promised with a smirk. “You don’t need to worry.”
“I’m her father,” King Rodion laughed, “I’ll always be worried for her.”
“Father,” Alyona sighed and rolled her eyes fondly, “make sure to take care of yourself as well. I worry for you too, even more so now.”
“Yes, I should prepare to head back to The Breach,” King Rodion said, and his voice was rueful as he spoke. “I can’t stay away for too long, I just wanted to deliver the news myself. I don’t know who I can trust anymore, and I wanted to make sure my message reached you.”
The king kissed Alyona on her forehead before he took a step back, and with a few words and a wave of his hand, the air around us shimmered. Then a portal ripped across the empty air, and I caught a glimpse of the other side. Fire illuminated the area while ash rained down from the sky and covered the earth. Smoke rose from the large gash in the earth while soldiers and mages stood at the edge of The Breach, and the mages used magical barriers to keep the demons trapped inside.
“I’ll send word of our plans soon,” Alyona promised. “Goodbye, Father.”
“Farewell, Alyona.” He gave his daughter one last smile before he looked at me. “And to you as well, Lord Evan.”
Then King Rodion took a step back into the portal, and within seconds, the air shimmered once more, the portal sealed shut, and the king returned to his place at The Breach.
“Well … ” I started after a long moment had passed, “it’s always nice to see your father. I guess.”
“I know you are being facetious,” Alyona giggled as she bumped her shoulder with mine.
“I am not,” I gasped in mock offense, but I chuckled when the princess arched an eyebrow at me. “Okay, maybe a little. Can you blame me, though? The king never really shows up with good news.”
“True,” Alyona allowed, but then her smile turned wistful as she stared at the spot where Rodion had disappeared. “Still, it was nice to see him, despite the circumstances. And he’s really come to trust you, too.”
“You think?” I asked.
“Of course. You are marrying his only daughter, after all.”
“Oh, yes,” I teased as I offered the princess my hand, “how could I forget? Come on. Let’s go meet the others. I’m sure they’re burning with questions.”
“Whatever you say, Lord Evan.” Alyona smiled and took my hand, and something in my chest preened as the princess deferred to me.
Alyona and I walked back into the city with our hands clasped tightly together. Ravi waited for us just inside the gates with her eyebrows furrowed and her arms crossed over her chest. Nike and Ruslan waited for us as well, and each of them stood on either side of Ravi.
“What did the king want?” Nike asked the moment we walked through the gates. “He wouldn’t leave The Breach for just anything. Something serious happened.”
“I’ll tell you both later,” I promised. “Right now, we need to get to the library. We have some research to do regarding our campaign route.”
“As you wish,” Nike said with a frown, and I could tell the king’s appearance had unnerved him.
I cast a look back at Ravi, who still looked upset, and sighed. “Hey, Pops, can you and Nike take Alyona down to begin the research? I’ll make sure to send word to Laika, I just have something I need to take care of first.
“Of course, son.” Ruslan nodded and smiled. “You know where to find us when you’re finished up here.”
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll be down there soon.”
Ruslan, Nike, and Alyona made their way back into the city to reach the library, and I created a small silver dragon and relayed a message for Laika and Julia to meet us in the library whenever they were able to. I also let Laika know Ravi was with me, so she didn’t have to worry about her. I sent the small dragon off, and it vanished into a silver streak as it tore off thro
ugh the city. Then I walked over to Ravi, and she squeaked in surprise as I wrapped my arm around her slim waist.
“Hey,” I greeted, “are you okay?”
“You have to leave soon, don’t you?” she asked, and when I nodded, she sighed “I figured that’s why King Rodion was here. The king wouldn’t abandon his post unless it was for his daughter.”
I pulled the phoenix closer to me and rested my chin atop her head. I hadn’t thought about how strange it would be to leave Ravi behind. Alyona would obviously be with me, and Laika would most likely follow after Alyona. Valerra would never leave her sister’s egg for that long, especially now that we have an egg together too, so to leave her behind didn’t seem strange, plus I needed a guardian I could trust to help me watch the city. Ravi, though, she still needed me. She’d just started to get used to life in Hatra, and I would leave her alone for months.
She could decide to return to her people in the desert, and my blood ran cold at the thought. I couldn’t allow Ravi to leave, she belonged here with me. She was mine, and I had to protect her.
“What if you came with us?” I offered before I could stop myself, but as soon as the words left my mouth, I knew it was the only choice for her.
“What?” Ravi gasped and pulled away from my side.
“Come with us,” I repeated with a smile. “You could be helpful.”
“How?” Ravi asked in disbelief.
“You’re a phoenix.” I shrugged. “Your people were thought to be extinct for thousands of years, but because of your trust in me, your tribe risked exposure to the world. Your people looked to me for aid, and I now have their loyalty. If you spoke for me on the campaign trail, it could help persuade anyone unsure about me. You could help us keep Rahma together.”
Ravi blinked slowly before a smile appeared on her face. “You really want me to come?”
I leaned down to her until our mouths were inches apart.
“Of course I do,” I breathed, and I heard her short intake of breath.
Then I closed the distance between us and kissed her deeply, and Ravi let out a satisfied moan as her arms wrapped around my neck.
“Ravi,” I murmured against her lips as I pulled back slightly. The phoenix pressed closer to me, and I could feel every curve of her body as my hands ran along the thin fabric of her clothes.
My cock twitched in my pants, and I pulled back once again.
“Ravi,” I repeated as I glanced down, and her blue eyes were nearly black since her pupils were blown wide with lust. “We need to find a room. Now.”
The phoenix smiled wickedly and grabbed my hand. Then we darted through the city to reach the Lunar Palace, but it took us twice as long as it should have since I pulled Ravi into every alley to kiss her breathless and to press my body against hers. She didn’t complain, so I figured she was okay with a little extra time.
We finally reached the palace, and Ravi quickly led us toward the stairs that went up to her room. Before she could begin to climb the steps, though, I grabbed her around her waist and hoisted her into the air.
“Evan!” she squealed as her legs wrapped around my hips, and she bent down to kiss my lips.
My arms held her securely around her waist, and I carried her upstairs. We reached her room a few minutes later, and I fumbled with the door for a second before it finally opened and we stepped inside.
I slammed the door behind us and pressed Ravi against it. Then my lips left her mouth, and I trailed kisses down her neck.
“You like that?” I smirked as I could hear her heart beat erratically in her chest.
“Yessss.” Her breaths came out in small pants, and she let out a small moan as I pushed the red fabric of her shirt down and exposed her breasts. My mouth latched onto one of her pert nipples, and I toyed with it gently between my teeth.
Ravi’s hands wrapped themselves in my hair, and she gasped in pleasure.
“Evan,” she whimpered, and her lust filled voice filled the otherwise silent room.
I pulled away from the wall and planted her feet securely on the ground before I quickly untied the pants she wore and slipped them off her slim legs. Then I tugged her shirt over her head and pulled her into another deep kiss.
“Bed,” I murmured into her lips. “Now.”
Ravi nodded mutely and led us back to her bed. Then we collapsed onto the soft mattress, and the phoenix rolled over and straddled my hips before I could move. She smirked down at me and ground her hips into my hard cock, and I let out a moan.
I flipped us over with a growl, and Ravi hit the pillows, but any trace of her smirk was gone. I kissed her on the lips one more time before I trailed my kisses down her neck, down her bare chest, down to her stomach, and then I finally stopped between her legs. I kissed the inside of her thighs before I sucked on the sensitive skin. Little purple bruises trailed after my mouth, and I smirked at each mark after I made them.
I could see Ravi’s thighs tremble in anticipation, and her soft lips were already wet with desire. I growled at the sight, and I toyed with her thighs a bit longer before I heard a soft whimper.
“Evan,” she moaned above me as I bit down gently on her soft skin, “stop teasing me.”
I grinned against her legs before I took pity and finally moved my mouth down to her warm entrance. My tongue licked along the lips of her pussy, and Ravi’s legs wrapped themselves around my shoulders. My mouth moved around her lips, and I could feel the moment I brushed over her clit.
Ravi’s entire body tensed, and she gasped loudly. “Right there!”
I grinned, and my tongue flicked across the small bundle of nerves as Ravi’s hands returned to my hair, and she let out another gasp. I hummed in approval at the sweet noises she made, and then I slowly moved my tongue along her clit. Each breath she took became more erratic as I continued my work, and I could feel her body slowly tense as Ravi’s hands clenched in my hair. Then one of my hands moved up to join my mouth, and two fingers slipped inside her. She was unbelievably tight, but I managed to move my fingers around briefly before I could feel her walls begin to clench down around me.
“Evan, I-I’m going to--oh!” she managed to gasp out before her first orgasm overtook her, and she cried out in pleasure.
I could feel the fluids of her orgasm dampen my fingers, and I pulled them out and sat back as I smiled at her.
“I bet you taste delicious,” I said as I raised my fingers to my mouth and licked off her juices. She tasted a bit like cherries and oranges.
“Ohh,” she panted, and her eyes opened wide when she saw me enjoy the taste of her.
I reached out to pull Ravi into a kiss. My mouth still lingered with her taste, but she didn’t seem to mind since she pulled my body atop hers, and her hand trailed down to the edge of my shirt. She pulled the fabric upward and managed to expose my abs before she broke off our kiss with a huff, tugged the shirt over my head, and threw it across her room. After my shirt was no longer a problem, her hands flew to the ties of my pants, but she seemed to grow frustrated with the ties, and I could see her blue flames burn across her finger tips.
“Whoa, hey, don’t get too worked up over there,” I warned her with a nervous laugh. “We don’t need to burn your brand new bed, or my crotch, to ashes.”
“Sorry.” Ravi glanced away, and her cheeks burned a bright red.
“I do appreciate the enthusiasm, though,” I smirked, “but I think I can take my pants off myself.”
Ravi cast a sultry look at me while I finally slid my pants off and tossed them across the room with my shirt. Then the phoenix’s hands trailed along my newly exposed skin slowly. Her fingers dusted along my abs, and she leaned forward to press a kiss to each muscle.
My hand wrapped itself in her hair, and I pulled her head back. She gave a short gasp of surprise before she locked eyes with me, and I could see the lust that still burned there.
“What do you want?” I growled.
“You, Lord Evan,” Ravi whimpered, and my cock thro
bbed in my pants as my name fell from her lips. “I-I want your manhood. Uhhh, inside of me, and I-I want your seed filling my womb. Please?”
“Then your wish is my command.” I pulled her up into a kiss before we moved together and fell against the mattress once more. One of my hands pulled one of her legs over my shoulder, and I kissed her calf.
I finally aligned myself with her wet entrance and slowly pushed my cock inside her. I groaned loudly as I pushed inside her, and I could feel Ravi’s tight walls stretch out around me. Then I looked down, and my cock jerked inside of her tight tunnel.
Ravi’s fingers were fisted around the bed sheets, and her knuckles had turned white. Her eyes were squeezed shut as she threw her head back in pleasure, and a small bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face.
“Fuck, Ravi,” I whispered through a groan as I began to pull out. Then I snapped my hips forward, and Ravi let out a loud cry of pleasure.
I grinned. The sounds my women made while I fucked them were easily the best music in the world, so I pounded back into her, and she hissed at the movement.
I continued to move in and out of her body slowly until I could feel the familiar coil of heat begin to form in my stomach, and I moaned loudly as I grabbed Ravi’s hips to help me get a better angle. Then I relentlessly started to fuck into her, and Ravi held onto the headboard of her bed as she bounced along with the force of my thrusts.
“Oh gods. I’m… I’m… ” Ravi whimpered, and then I felt her walls tighten around my cock as I fucked her through a second orgasm.
After that, it didn’t take me long to reach my release, and with one final thrust and a groan, she climaxed a third time while I pumped my dragon seed deep inside Ravi’s accepting womb.
“Ohhhhh,” she groaned during her climax, and then her voice raised an octave in pitch when I kept spraying into her.
Both of our orgasms were incredibly long and intense, so when we finally came down from our peaks, and I pulled out of her tunnel, my cum poured out of her hole, dripped down her thighs, and spread onto the sheets below almost like she had spilled a glass of milk between her thighs.