Night Queen (Elven-Trinity Book 6)

by Mark Albany

  He had the advantage of holding a fearful grip over his subordinates. They knew how powerful he was, and whether they actually agreed with what he was trying to do or not, didn’t really matter. Their thought process, Lyth had told me once, was that they didn’t think that Abarat could be beaten, and if he was going to be fighting for something, they wanted to be on the winning side.

  Or at least, not on the losing side.

  “What can we do to contain him?” I asked, looking around at the rest of them.

  “Not much,” Faye admitted. “He’s been around for a long time. He knows all the tricks, all the plans... everything, really.”

  “And so, if we can’t trick him, and we can’t beat him through brute force, what can we do?” I wondered.

  “Well, there is always a way,” Aliana said softly. “He’s not expecting us to take the fight to him directly.”

  “Does he know that you’re not under his control anymore?” Lyth asked.

  “Oh, he knows,” Faye said. “There won’t be much of a chance of us catching him by surprise either.”

  “Is there something we can plan?” I asked. “Or will we have to improvise it as we do it?”

  “Improvisation does seem to be our strongest suit,” Braire pointed out. “I can’t think of a single time when our plans have worked out the way that we initially wanted them to, and yet here we are, still alive.”

  I looked down. Sure, we had survived thus far, but we were facing the single greatest threat of at least my short lifetime. There would be something that we could do, sure, but in the end, all it took was one failure.

  But it wouldn’t do for me to be thinking that way. We needed to keep our spirits up. Despair was the kind of thing that rotted any kinds of ideas that one had, filling one with crippling doubt.

  That was not how we were going to beat Abarat.

  And we were going to succeed. We had to.

  “Well, we won’t be doing our best thinking while sitting around,” I said as a silence fell over our small group. “I think we should get some rest, and let the morning give us some kind of inspiration. Or not. Either way, I don’t think I’m capable of coming up with anything productive anymore tonight.”

  I wasn’t lying, of course. Time spent under had done me few favors in terms of actual rest. Well, no, that wasn’t true, but most of the rest had gone into helping me heal and remain healed. After the fight that we had run into after leaving the mountain, it wasn’t too difficult to guess that we would need to gather our strength if we wanted to take Abarat head-on.

  “Best to make sure of the battle situation,” I said, pushing myself to my feet. “If there are no changes, we’ll prepare to assault Abarat’s fortress in the morning.”

  The decision was unanimous, and I exited the tent to see if I could find where they were planning the battle.

  19

  A few hours passed before I headed back towards the tent. The night was still comparatively young, but it didn’t look like the monsters were going to be letting up on their attack.

  The consensus from the emperor and the generals was that the intensity would fall off during the night. That was no assurance, of course, and scouts would be ready and waiting behind the line with horns in case a larger-scale attack was mounted on the human and elf line.

  For the moment, however those men that were at the front were able to hold their positions without additional support. I was assured that if any help was needed, we would be alerted at the earliest possible convenience, and that we would need to get some rest because the attacks would be renewed come the morning.

  As I wandered back to our tent, not wasting my time keeping up with the troops. I noticed that the unsettled feeling was back. I had thought it would be gone once we had Aliana on our side once more, but as it turned out, I was wrong.

  Something was nagging at the back of my mind. It didn’t feel like something that came from inside my own head, but like there was something on the outside, pressing in, that would not let me go. Every night now, and it didn’t appear to be coming to a halt.

  I would talk with Norel about it when all of this was finished. Personal discomfort didn’t really mean much of anything in our current situation. It would be something to look at later, once all was settled and Abarat was no longer a problem.

  And if we failed, it wouldn’t be a problem anyways, since I would be dead, and it wouldn’t matter anymore.

  Once I returned to the tent, it looked like the rest had turned in for the night, settling into the beds that had been set up for them, doubling up between Lyth and Faye, while Aliana, Norel and Braire were wrapped up together, happy to be reunited after what felt like forever for them. I didn’t need to imagine that the pain that had wracked the two that I was still connected to. It was gone now, and the absence did bring a small smile to my face.

  I found one of the empty beds and sat down on it, pulling a blanket up over my shoulders and wrapping myself up in it as I leaned back in the bed, keeping my eye on the entrance to the tent, waiting and half-expecting someone to rush in to say that our help was needed. It had been that kind of day.

  Some movement caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. Aliana was gently disentangling herself from her sisters, lightly running her fingers through her hair before moving away, stretching her wings delicately before walking lightly over to my bed.

  She didn’t say a word before climbing in next to me, opening up the blanket that was covering me to let her in as well, and then pulling my arms to wrap around her waist. I was only too happy to oblige, pulling her in close and feeling her wings wrapping around me as she leaned her head onto my chest, placing a light kiss on my neck before settling in. I didn’t even complain when I felt her horns digging into my skin, not wanting her to pull away for any reason, ever.

  “I haven’t thanked you yet,” Aliana said softly, not looking up at me as she ran her fingers lightly over my arm.

  “What for?” I asked, leaning in to place a light kiss to the top of her head.

  “Well, for believing in me,” she replied, keeping her voice at a low whisper. “Even when I didn’t believe in myself. Feeling like I was trapped in my own body, letting the darker impulses take over me and making me wonder if maybe that wasn’t just who I was meant to be from the beginning... it was difficult. A horrifying and desperate situation, one that I would never wish on anyone, much less myself. It was my darkest time, and you were there to fight for me. Not literally, although I have to imagine that not fighting, not doing anything as you were punished like that had to be more difficult than just picking that sword up and fighting back.”

  “Well, I do have to admit that the fact that I would not stand much of a chance against you played a part in my decision,” I said, smiling.

  “Don’t sell yourself short,” Aliana mumbled against my chest. “I trained you myself, so you would have stood at least something of a chance. Yes, sure, I would have had something of an advantage, but that has never stopped you from stepping up and winning fights before. As I recall, you’re rather difficult to pin down properly. I think that’s why the spider monsters didn’t much want to engage with you.”

  I nodded. It made sense, since it was a part of my abilities from the start - beginning with the fact that for some reason, my powers refused to show themselves initially - but I was under no illusions that Aliana wouldn’t be able to find a way around that if she really put her mind to it.

  “In the end, we needed to believe that you were still in there,” I said. “We couldn’t even know that you were alive for a while there, so when we had hope... well, we had to. All of us. So, if you need someone to thank, you’re going to have to thank all the others in our little group.”

  Aliana pulled away, looking up into my eyes and moving closer to me, running her fingers lightly up my chest and then tucking under my chin before tilting my head up to look at her.

  I was expecting her to say something, but nothing needed to be said. She see
med to feel the same way, just moving in and pressing her lips gently to mine.

  It remained a gentle kiss for a few moments, but it quickly changed as she pressed her body a little closer to mine, her fingers running up to thread through my hair and a soft moan escaping her mouth.

  There was no need for an invitation, as my hands started wandering as well, running down from her shoulders, taking a moment to pause as her breasts filled my hands. Just touching her again felt so familiar, and I couldn’t help but respond to her moan with one of my own as I pushed back into her.

  I could feel her smiling against my lips, pulling herself up and over, straddling me, wrapping me up between her thighs as her wings spread enough to knock the blanket away, her clothes dropping away almost effortlessly as she settled in, completely naked on my lap.

  “What say you we get started in restoring my energy?” Aliana whispered, her voice thick with need.

  She dipped her head down, placing light kisses to my neck and shoulders, her hands moving to pull my shirt off. I helped her to get rid of it before pressing in, kissing her neck gently, letting my hands hungrily explore her bare body, running my fingers down her sides and finally coming up to grip her ass, squeezing and tugging her closer to me where she could feel my growing arousal pressing back into her parted thighs.

  “Fuck,” she gasped, smiling as she quickly reached down between us, her hands scrambling for my pants, trying to push them down while remaining unwilling to pull away to allow for the action to be completed.

  I moved in, helping her finish the job by leaning her back far enough to allow her fumbling hands to remove my pants, pushing them away and letting my cock jump free of the confines. Aliana reached down, gripping the throbbing shaft and stroking it gently before guiding it up between her thighs where I could already feel her drenched to the touch. I couldn’t help a soft gasp as I felt her impaling herself on me, slowly sinking down.

  A shudder of pleasure rushed up my spine. My head dropped back, feeling her tight, wet walls pressing on around me as she sank lower, letting me fill her up in a long, slow thrust that ended too soon, and yet not quickly enough.

  “Gods, I’ve missed having you inside me, Grant,” Aliana gasped, nails digging into my shoulders as she slowly pushed herself upwards and then down again to be met by my rising hips to fill her again.

  She gasped, a little louder than she intended, but showed no signs that she would be getting quieter as her wings spread out behind her as she started to ride me slowly, taking hold of my hands and bringing them up to grip her breasts as her hips moved back and forth in a slow rhythm that was starting to gain speed.

  It seemed as though what we were doing wasn’t going to go unnoticed for long. I heard footsteps coming closer, and in a few moments, I could see Braire and Norel joining us, already undressed. Norel pulled Aliana to her, kissing the djinn’s lips tenderly, their hands moving over each other’s bodies, enjoying the soft touch even as I was buried to the hilt between Aliana’s thighs.

  Braire, for her part, climbed onto the bed with me, reaching down to toy with Aliana’s clit before kissing me firmly on the lips, hungrily pulling me closer. I could hear Faye and Lyth approaching as well, with Lyth more than a little curious and excited to be dragged into this sort of situation.

  I licked my lips, watching Faye join us on the other side of the bad as Norel pulled the elf queen closer, pulling her in to touch Aliana’s bare skin. Braire moved away from my lips, planting kissing down my chest, and then moving down between me and Aliana, her lips and tongue toying with the djinn’s clit.

  It was a shocking feeling. Aliana said that the pathways were still there, but as she continued to ride me, I could feel the connection starting to be reformed, and the sensations of having all of us around her suddenly rushed into my consciousness, dragging a moan from me.

  I couldn’t even stop myself from reaching out, pressing my left hand to Aliana’s ass, the runes lightly up and the spell rushing through her body.

  “Fuck,” Aliana gasped, shivering suddenly as her pussy tightened around me.

  I could feel the rush of sensation across our newly repaired connection as she reached out to grab at me, a climax bursting through her body like it had been a long time coming, her delicious body rocking into me as she enjoyed the rush of pleasure.

  “Forgot you could do that,” Aliana whispered, still shivering a bit against me.

  But she didn’t have too long to recover as Norel dragged her clear of my lap. They didn’t move too far away, with Aliana settling on her back on the bed next to me, still able to drape her legs over my lap as Norel moved over her, placing light kisses over the djinn’s neck, breasts and shoulders before pulling further up, letting herself straddle Aliana’s face, hands on the djinn’s horns to pull her up so she could apply her lips and tongue to the elf’s pussy.

  Lyth looked entranced by the sight, stepping in and almost draping herself across my lap to find herself between Aliana’s thighs, moaning softly as her lips and tongue proceeded to give her a similar treatment to what Aliana was doing for Norel.

  It was a gorgeous, delicious sight, made better by having Braire next to me, watching and pulling one of my hands to move between her legs, guiding my fingers to start working in and out of her as Faye found herself on her knees in front of me, licking her lips before leaning in, letting me fill her mouth with a low moan of pleasure vibrating against my sensitive head.

  A low rumble of pleasure rushed from my lips as I struggled to keep my eyes open, wanting to watch everything that was happening between us as my fingers rushed through Faye’s hair, watching as she bobbed her head over my shaft, still moaning, enjoying the taste of me as her fingers drifted down, playing with herself as she pumped her mouth full of me over and over again.

  It wasn’t long, with a little magical help, before I could feel Norel’s connection being forged with Aliana once more, and there was a new connection between the djinn and Lyth now as well, sending a rush of sensations through my body which I was more than happy to share with Braire, flooding her body with magical pleasure, as her head fell back, lips parting and a gasp of need coming up from her body as she pulled herself closer to me, pressing her body to mine as a climax rushed across our connection.

  Difficult as it was to control myself inside Faye’s mouth, it was something that I was trying to withhold for the moment, and I could tell that Faye was a little disappointed by the knowledge, pulling away and smiling, winking at me before moving onto the bed next to Aliana. Lyth took advantage of the fae woman’s position and reached out, starting to play with her with her own fingers even as her own mouth was occupied on Aliana’s pussy.

  Braire lay on Aliana’s other side, placing light kisses on her shoulders before taking the djinn’s nipples between her lips. Aliana, occupied as she was, reached out, toying and playing with the beast mistress.

  I moved in behind Lyth, who was keeping her ass up in the air and wagging it teasingly, as if she knew what was going through my mind as I gripped her hips, feeling Aliana close to the edge again, and the connection was spreading between us, intensifying the sensations that were being shared to the point where I was already panting for breath from the moment that I pushed myself inside the elf queen.

  Lyth gasped and moaned as my hips slapped her ass, my fingers gripping her hips, pulling back and thrusting again, pushing myself hard and quickly as Lyth almost completely lost the ability to work with Aliana.

  Even so, the djinn was nearly on the edge for a second climax, and as she could feel the pleasure building up in all of us, it was all she could do not to scream into Norel’s pussy as I felt myself approaching that edge and tossed myself enthusiastically over it.

  A low roar erupted from my chest as my hips hammered home roughly, hard enough to drive Lyth up onto Aliana’s body as both women came hard as well, followed by Norel, Braire, and Faye.

  The reverberation of each other’s pleasure made it almost impossible to not just bask
and enjoy as I dropped down on the bed with them, panting for breath and trying to recover. It certainly felt like the power that I’d expended in the battle had been replenished, and while there was a sense of exhaustion in my body, I could feel as though a good night’s sleep would clear that.

  Norel settled down on the bed as we all tangled in together, slowly starting to drop off. For myself, I was lying next to Aliana, kissing her cheek tenderly as she nuzzled into me.

  “Welcome back,” I whispered.

  20

  It was a night short on sleep, especially after everything that had happened the night before, but surprisingly, we all awoke feeling well-rested and settled enough that none of us needed extra time in bed to recover.

  I found myself up before the rest, but not by too long. I found some water to wash quickly with before dressing myself. The others were all soon up as well, and the silence that hung over our little group was a comfortable one. Having Aliana connected to us once more made us feel complete and having Lyth connected with the rest only helped to establish that sensation in my mind.

  We were all together, at last, and there was certainly something to be celebrated there. Most of the celebrations had come the night before, and the food that had been left just outside our tent wasn’t quite the finest fare in the land, but it would do to help us replenish what had been used the night before.

  It was with some amusement that I could see Lyth walking a little awkwardly in the morning, but I made no note of it.

  Connected as we were, I didn’t need to tell her what I was feeling. It was there for her to feel as well, and a small smile touched her lips as we ate from the dried fruits, meat and freshly baked bread that had been provided.

  Eventually, however, we would need to turn our attention back to the situation at hand, which was the battle that was still continuing outside. None of us really wanted to think about it, but it was still there, raging in the backs of our minds, leaving no room for us to ignore it for much longer.