Chimera King Box Set Books 1-3

by Atlas Kane

  After having stayed indoors for so long, the prospect of good and honest work appealed to Cade. He began at once to clear the rubble away from their once-lovely glade. His efforts attracted the attention of most of the rest of the Casmeeri villagers, and even the Kotani Ma himself trundled down the slope and helped to move many of the largest boulders.

  A pile was formed, one that had begun randomly, tucked off to one side. It stood between the small grove of trees and the bottom of the incline that led up toward camp.

  By the time they were done, all were hungry for the roasted meat and baked bread that was wafting down from camp, and the pile was more like a small hill. A few of the barracks had been smashed to bits as well, broken up by the reckless onslaught of abyss monsters, so they’d joined the wreckage of the Lower Gate.

  Minda had been there, always eager to lend her strength to any task. When everyone started to head back, she lingered a moment.

  “What is it?” Cade asked, wondering what had stoked her curiosity.

  The beastkin gave him a girly smile then sprinted over to the grove. He ran after her, and in a few minutes, she came to stop at the base of a tree. She stooped and dug for a few moments, and did so twice more nearby. Then she showed him three vines, little more than seedlings.

  Sprinting back to the pile of wreckage, Minda planted one in each corner, then watered them heavily from a summoned waterskin.

  Minda brushed off her hands and returned to Cade’s side. “I can’t use my staff to enhance their growth, but it doesn’t matter. These vines grow like mad anyhow. In a month, it will be crawling across these stones, reclaiming them for the earth.”

  The gesture was fitting, and Cade took Minda by the arm and walked with her, taking his time.

  Such sentiments were common, as was to be expected, and though the first few days that followed the battle were subdued, heavy with the natural state of mourning, eventually a meeting was called. Every member of their collective, apes included, filled the Town Hall.

  Ketzal acted to translate, and the proceedings were slow in an attempt to keep everyone abreast.

  After an hour, it was decided that a formal feast would be thrown in a week’s time. That would give everyone both something to look forward to as well as the opportunity to prepare as they saw fit.

  As the days passed, the villagers were allowed to grieve properly. All were kind and courteous to one another, always eager to go that extra distance to see everyone was cared for. But of course, when the sun fell, and all retired to their sleeping quarters, more than a few bouts of weeping could be heard.

  The too-accurate cliche, time heals all wounds, proved its merit once again, however. And eventually, the great feast day came.

  Satemi and Latsi stole the show, and at noon that day, when the sun was burning at its zenith, they unveiled their gift to Camp Casmeer. They’d commissioned two of the alpha apes to haul their creation to the center of town, and had covered it with a large piece of cloth.

  When Latsi pulled back the material, a wave of shock passed through the villagers. It was a grand statue. Its base was carved from white stone, standing three feet high and four across. Atop the stark base were fixed a great many figures, all made of molded Tanrial steel.

  The scrap metal of the dungeon was strong and serviceable, but the metal taken from Vormer so long ago had a brighter luster, seeming almost like polished platinum.

  Leave it to Satemi to sneak around and melt down armor to suit her needs, Cade mused, but couldn’t find any thread of anger within him.

  Two of their trained boars had fallen, and each of those wore enough steel to clad every villager remaining in full plate armor. That she’d taken a good portion of that and used it for something so… pure, just made him love the woman more fiercely than ever.

  One by one, Cade picked out the figures. They depicted the fallen who’d given their lives since coming to this place. Even the hunters who’d died when Gemma’s group had traveled away to fight the amalgamations had been included, for those were casualties from the first battle in this terrible war. The handler who’d died facing down the elder turtle and the previous Kotani Ma stood proudly as well, the ape standing at the rear of the figurines.

  The great ape’s arms were held up, the shard of stone that had killed the epic monster clutched in his hands. His mouth was open in an eternal and defiant roar.

  In a similar mood, a likeness of Ronden, the giant man who’d taken up a home in everyone’s heart, stood dead center. His beloved war hammer pointed straight out before the statue and he screamed silently, as he’d done to defy Abyss, even when everyone else had lost courage.

  Every fallen villager and each of the apes who’d died as well, stood in a crowd. And circling the lot of them, his head lifting up over the shoulder of the Kotani Ma, was Pablo. His dragon form had been chosen, one of his favorites. And the scaled body stretched longer and larger than it had been in life. None would soon forget the sacrifice the demon had made for them.

  Ketzal had explained, the day following the battle, how she’d completely merged with Pablo. It was as if their two souls occupied the same space. They’d communicated together, and combined their power to overcome Abyss.

  But when Pablo told her to breathe it in, she’d known they would die in doing so.

  Still, she’d chosen those she loved over herself, and had taken in the pure evil.

  As it burned through her enhanced body, she felt Pablo working to pull away from her. Initially, she’d thought he was trying to save himself, and the concept didn’t bother her. One of them should survive if possible, and Pablo was needed the most.

  Then the filth was drawn from her body and soul, and she knew what Pablo had done.

  The guilt of it sat heavily on her shoulders, and the demoness stepped closer to the statue and traced her finger along his elegant tail.

  She wept openly.

  The villagers followed suit, and the apes as well, bowing their great heads in silence, mourning everything that had been given up in the struggle to survive.

  Havasham moved to the center of those gathered and held up his hands. “Thank you, Latsi and Satemi, and all those who secretly worked on this project. We shall cherish it always.”

  The councilman’s eyes were red from weeping over his Pomre, the young lover he’d taken into his bed after fleeing from Tanrial. “Tears seem a likely circumstance of this celebration, and I will be no exception. But let us also rejoice. We have food and drink and music to carry us along. For who are we to grieve those who gave their lives and refuse to live on in their stead.”

  His short speech was well received, and cheers mingled with sobs. The irony of the outcome caused more to laugh, and then the desire to press onward with their feast sunk in.

  Food enough for twenty Brimstone Boars was served, the boars who’d survived taking the greatest share of course. Bellows had taken to mounting two of the females that had come with the Kotani, and Cade was pleased to think of the piglets that would eventually come.

  The celebration was held at first around the statue. The Kotani brought out their devilish wine. It was potent, and Cade drank it cautiously, though soon enough his head was swimming along pleasantly.

  Throughout the rest of the day, recollections were given, stories of the fallen that were delivered with grins and laughter and ended in more tears. Yet despite the messy and undignified manner in which most were told, Cade knew in his heart that it was the best way for the villagers to heal.

  He stayed quiet most of the day. He’d been luckier than anyone else, at least in his estimation. Pablo had been a dear friend, but Satemi, Gemma, Minda, and Ketzal were alive and stronger than ever.

  Despite his reserve, a toast was given in his name.

  Predictably, it was Satemi to do so. “To our fearless Archon! Who fought to the end, who risked his own life as readily as any other!”

  A cheer rang up and shattered off of the cliff face. He nodded his head politely and raised h
is hands. It was awkward, but he wouldn’t refuse their praise.

  Finally, she added, “And did you see him? The man picked up a spear and was ready to face down Abyss by himself! Only a man would think to save the world with a sharpened stick.”

  Laughs followed, and Cade gave a speech of his own. He pointed out each of the heroes around him, noted their strengths and sacrifices. From Tessra’s psychotic wielding of scissors in the battle to how tremendously the new Kotani Ma tore apart the amalgamations.

  Then he ceded the moment. It was swept away as someone insisted on moving to the ovens where it was warmer. The light was failing in the sky, and for the first time at Camp Casmeer, he felt it was truly cold. Not the slight chill that comes with the mists, but a hint at the changing of seasons.

  Instruments were produced and music made. Naturally, this brought everyone’s mind to Pablo, and though none present would ever have the skill to match the demon’s they tried their best, using rhythm and melody to douse their sorrows and begin the slow and inevitable process of rebuilding.

  The night rolled on, and Cade felt his own pain begin to melt away. Smiling faces and so many eager attempts to celebrate their unlikely survival worked like a balm. He drank deeply, matching Dan cup for cup, until the Kotani Ma showed them the liquor prowess of the great apes, draining over a gallon of the strong wine in a single pull.

  Dancing ensued.

  It wasn’t pretty, but fun was all anyone cared about. Cade swung Tessra about, her bushy tail knocking into anyone unfortunate enough to be in her way. Dan relieved him, then Latsi took her turn with the Archon. Cade spun about with half a dozen others until he saw four women staring at him from the edge of the firelight.

  They were devastatingly gorgeous. A tall, bronze-skinned Amazonian warrior with emerald eyes. A white-furred beastkin, with pointed ears and perky breasts. A demoness with curved, golden horns and too many curves to count. A dusky tigress whose lithe body pulsed with energy, her hair glowing with barely restrained arousal.

  Okay, that is my mother fucking queue, Cade thought ecstatically.

  He dipped his head and bowed ceremoniously before departing the dance floor for good.

  By the time he opened the flap of their shelter, the girls had already begun.

  Satemi had Gemma pressed against the wall, her mouth nearly as eager as her hand.

  Minda and Ketzal kissed softly, exploring one another’s already-naked forms.

  Not wanting to make anyone uncomfortable, Cade threw his clothes against the wall with the force of a hurricane.

  Watching Satemi destroy the tigress, Cade moved toward Minda and kissed her neck. Moaning, the beastkin woman bared her fangs and stared up at him.

  They were all a bit drunk, and Cade knew it was bound to be an incredible night.

  He took Minda’s braids in his hand and pulled back, making her expose more of her delightful neck. Biting her there, he caused yet another moan to escape her lips.

  Ketzal and Minda both had found his manhood, and were coaxing its length with great care. He felt his head spin with the excitement of it all, then kissed the demoness on her full lips.

  Gripping him by his root, Ketzal urged him down onto the furs. He remained sitting up while she threw her generous thigh over him. Cade could hear Gemma as she tried to keep her voice down. Satemi was clutching the tigress by her throat and thrumming her arousal with three strong fingers.

  Cade grunted as the scorching heat of Ketzal wrapped around him, sinking down until they were locked together.

  Then, the velvet melody of Ketzal’s voice filled his mind. I’ve been looking forward to this moment. We have survived, and now, it’s our duty to enjoy the sweetness of victory together.

  The other women gasped even as Cade did. They’d heard her too. Testing the waters, Cade asked with his own mind, Your power came back? You can hear me?

  Ketzal laughed, then faced each of them in turn. I can. Somehow, my struggle against Abyss healed what had been broken. I am even stronger than I was before.

  A wave of joy rushed into Cade’s chest, and he sensed it was not his alone. Suddenly, he felt a connection, both physical and energetic, that linked all five of them together.

  “You are amazing!” was all he could muster, and she answered him by resuming their play.

  She pulsed within, her sex stroking him gently. Her hips moved front to back, her breasts pressed against his face. They were glorious, full and proud, her nipples a dark purple like the night sky. He took one in his mouth, teasing it with his tongue. It grew hard and he rewarded its reaction with a gentle bite.

  Ketzal ran her fingers through his hand and sighed, a ripple of goosebumps dancing across her arms.

  Cade filled his hands with the demoness’ hips, guiding her as she ground against him. The demoness growled softly as she found a rhythm that pleased her.

  Minda moved behind him and kissed his ear while her hands clutched at his chest. Then, as curious as ever, she dropped one down his belly, finding the exact union where Ketzal became Cade. She gripped him there, and Cade felt himself grow harder than ever.

  Ketzal moaned, feeling him grind deeper within her than ever.

  She increased her pace.

  And then, for the second time, he felt Ketzal’s resolve melt away, her gathered arousal splash down around him. Her body shuddered, fingers locked in his hair as she came harder than before.

  Gemma came, her voice growing shrill for a moment before she fell to gasping. Then Cade heard Satemi’s sultry laugh. “Wow, you guys are doing great over here,” the warrior said, then she sat down near Cade’s hip. Gemma sat on the other side.

  Ketzal hadn’t stopped moving, not even in the midst of her own climax. As she continued her assault on his senses, Cade became distinctly aware of the four bodies arrayed around him. Each was beautiful in its own way, unique and bountiful. And each was his for the taking.

  His thoughts raced ahead, and he felt himself grow more rigid by the second. Minda moaned behind him, clutching his building arousal in her hand.

  Gemma and Satemi reached out and touched his and Ketzal’s bodies. All around him, hands and breasts and beautiful faces. It was intoxicating to say the least.

  They were joined together, a single unit, all formed around Cade. He closed his eyes and felt their heat, smelled their hair and skin and sex combined into one heady perfume.

  Then he crashed down, his legs flexing as he came. His very soul, condensed and gathered into a pinpoint, poured away, filling the demoness and spilling away into the furs below them.

  Emotion swam through his veins.

  She’d linked their hearts together once more. Cade felt Minda, Satemi, Gemma, and pulling them all together, the glowing power of Ketzal’s affection.

  He loved these women, would risk his life, again, for each in turn. And by some divine miracle, they loved him in return. Cade didn’t have to guess that, worry or hope that his feelings were being reciprocated, all he needed to do was open his eyes.

  When he’d gathered his wits once more, he heard the faint giggles of his loved ones around him. Looking up into Ketzal’s eyes, he saw equal and unrestrained love there as well. She opened her mouth and breathed a thread of electric life force into his lungs.

  Cade’s body thrummed with the heat of it, and his mind grew sharp, his senses restored from the blunt fog that had taken him.

  The demoness gasped as he grew to length once more, stretching her, reaching deeper within.

  The others noticed Ketzal’s obvious reaction, and moaned collectively.

  Cade smiled, feeling himself up to the task once more. Chuckling mischievously, he asked a very pertinent question. “Who’s next?”

  Epilogue: In the Palm of His Hand

  “Broken gods of Last World! What the hell did you eat?” Cade asked, rubbing Minda’s back.

  She’d run a few dozen feet from the ovens, and gave a smelly present to an unfortunate bush.

  Heaving once more, Minda sto
od up when she was done and wiped her face. “Hell if I know, Cade. I ate the same as you, didn’t you see?”

  “Well, what’s this about then? You think you’re getting sick?”

  Ketzal came up behind him and gave him a playful shove. “Leave her be. Go and finish your breakfast. I’ll see to her.”

  Shrugging, Cade did as he’d been asked.

  And he had plenty to look forward to. A clutch of tortoise eggs had been found, and the animal was much larger than the ones back on Earth. Each egg was the equivalent of a dozen chicken eggs, and they’d found forty-three of the things.

  Thinking of his boar friend, Cade smirked, knowing the only way to improve his meal would be a thick slab of bacon. Maybe some coffee as well. That would be heavenly.

  Cade found his place between Satemi and Gemma. Both were nursing cups of tea and chatting politely.

  He’d only just stuffed his mouth full of eggs again, shoveling the food quite effectively with a piece of flat bread, when Gemma nudged him.

  Her eyes had a private, sultry look about them. “Can you finish soon? I know you are hungry but so am I.”

  “Well there’s more—” he gestured to the still-steaming tray that held the villager’s meal, but he stopped himself. Then, in a whisper, he asked her, “Again? What’s gotten into you lately?”

  The tigress answered with an arched brow.

  A pop sounded above him, and he flinched instinctively. Before he knew what was happening, a most familiar voice called out. “You have gotten into her, Cade, and one time too many it would seem,” Pablo said, the demon alighting on the dome of a nearby cook oven.

  “Pablo!” Ketzal shouted, her cry being echoed all around.

  The demon nodded sagely, and held out his hands, as if to offer everyone present the most generous opportunity to admire his form.

  And it was impressive.

  Still in the shape of a dragon, Pablo’s normal purple had been subdued with the addition of brilliant golden scales, and his wings were made of pure light. He looked like he’d been inspired by the ultimate badass mode Ketzal had taken on during the fight with Abyss.