by Anna Lewis
***
“Stand down!” yelled the prince as the soldiers began to apologize. “Would you kill your prince?”
Amelia shook her head and began to laugh, the shock wearing off and leading her into the more comical side of her rescue. While Ero’an had done well to appear, she was the one who had led them to safety and, in a sense, had been the rescuer. Never had she imagined herself a heroine in any of the worlds she saw herself on, but here, she was one. Ero’an wrapped an arm around her as the soldiers applauded their appearance, helping them each from the rubble around them.
“Behold, my savior,” said Ero’an while presenting her to the king and queen who came out to greet them. “My beautiful bride and savior.”
“Bride?!” yelled Amelia with wide eyes.
“Will you do me that honor, darling earth woman who has captured my heart?” asked the kneeling prince.
Gasps rippled through the crowd of soldiers as they awaited Amelia’s response, her eyes only growing wider at the embarrassment she was suffering. She nodded immediately and accepted his kiss while smiling, tears falling freely from her eyes that were doomed to remain wide open in perpetual shock. How had they come to this? And what would it mean? She hadn’t bothered to check in with her home planet, but that smile only pulled her in harder. While studying the features of his face, she became light-headed and fell backwards against the soft and bulbous flowers. Ero’an shook his head and turned to Herman who was scraping stray petals from his skin.
“It appears I must get us a cushion to carry for her,” commented Ero’an while shaking his head. “I don’t understand why she keeps doing that.”
“Perhaps it’s the atmosphere, sir,” said Herman while poking his leg. “Here, she loves these particular flowers.”
Ero’an collected the little bouquet from Herman and then lifted his new bride to carry her into the castle, hoping perhaps rest will do her well. On the way, his parents followed and spoke with the young prince about his future.
“We absolutely approve of your decision, dear,” said his mother while admiring the sleeping Amelia. “She will do so well to protect our planet.”
“Indeed. She is quite a spirited earthling. Strong and passionate like us Degaurians,” said the king.
“Thank you. I can’t tell you how much this means. She’s been so wonderful,” said Ero’an when they reached his room.
“We’ll make the arrangements for your wedding,” said his mother.
“Thank you, Mother,” Ero’an responded with genuine gratefulness, his heart fluttering and giving way to astonishing emotions that he had never before encountered.
After his parents left them, Ero’an laid Amelia out on the bed and admired her peaceful features. Her chest rose and fell in a regular breathing pattern that inspired him to sigh, stroking her neck as she slept. The war outside had ended and now he could sleep at night knowing that his people were safe. If ever they should need to war again, he knew he had a strong princess at his side who was more than capable of defeating evil species from all over the galaxy. Her strength inspired him to do more, to be better. It was enough to make his heart swell and expand, allowing room for the endless possibilities of love.
Ero’an stretched out next to her after removing his armor. He continued to admire her face, the image of her lips enough to arouse him. She opened her eyes as he thought this and he blushed with embarrassment, prompting her to question his suddenly flushed face.
“You turn me on,” he said while nuzzling her neck with his nose. “That’s all.”
The compliment caused Amelia to smile and she kissed him, running her hands over his bare back and shivering with excitement at the feeling of him nude. She eyed his body and then plunged down the bed to his erect member which twitched in response to her mouth enveloping it. Sliding her tongue over his shaft, she gripped the head with her lips and sucked dutifully, lingering briefly underneath the head and dipping back down to take the entirety of him in her mouth.
“Oh, darling, please,” he whispered with his hand pressed to the back of her head. “Let me ravish you.”
“Yes, dear,” replied Amelia as she came up to greet his lips.
While dueling tongues, she lowered her body gently over his wand and bounced, her hips shaking against his thighs as she rode him like the beast in the fields. Their bodies met heavily with each bounce, the surface of their skin tingling with every touch and kiss. Mouths hung open in ecstasy as she rolled over his body in long strides to cloak every bit of his wand that was begging to burst. Sitting up, she grasped his shoulders and hypnotized him with her gray eyes, the stars inside them twinkling with pleasure and deviance. Focused totally on her, he gripped her hips to help her grind which inspired their moans to grow louder. He kissed the slender column of her throat, tracing her back with his fingernails and pumping hard into her silky insides.
The sight that joined their heated flesh because increasingly sensitive, her bud blossoming over his tool and tingling with every bounce. Legs entangled, he kneaded into her bosom with his hand and gripped her back with the other to steady her grinding. Their frenzied race to fulfillment was near completion as their moans climaxed, their bodies stiffening beneath the weight of pleasure. Molten waves of bliss suddenly flooded their bodies and they each took turns crying out while gripping each other, their achievement evident. With happy gasps, they fell over on the bed without separating, too wrapped up in the blissful moment to part. Sunlight filtered through the glass and illuminated their sweating forms, which were now fused as one.
***
Some weeks after the wondrous victory of the Degaurians, Amelia was out in the field teaching the young people of the planet how to fight with a sword. Her class was mixed with men and women who ranged in age, all of them admiring her as the new princess who had come to save them from the dreadful Ka’lorians. Her hair had faded from purple to blonde, but her beloved prince promised to make a run to Earth soon in order to retrieve the proper supplies to uphold her beautiful image.
“No matter what,” said Ero’an. “I still think you’re beautiful.”
The compliment made her flush with endorphins, as she imagined the fun they would have later on when they got back to their bedroom. As she helped a woman gain balance with the sword, she felt something stirring in her gut that made her ill. Nausea swept over her body in cold waves, making her sweat suddenly from the dizziness it was causing. Noticing her discomfort, the woman took her hand and asked if she was alright, to which Amelia responded that she wasn’t sure.
“Perhaps you are tired from the exchange. We will fetch you some water,” said the woman while helping her sit.
As the other students ran off to get Amelia some water, she cried out in pain and leaned her head into the bosom of the woman. She gripped her hand, yelling that someone should fetch the prince and take her to the doctor inside the castle. The woman gasped and placed her hand on Amelia’s stomach, which seemed to be vibrating beneath the skin.
“Send for the prince!” she cried while helping Amelia stand.
“No, I must sit,” begged Amelia while pulling the woman down.
“Your majesty, you are in labor,” said the woman. “We have to get you inside before--”
“Labor?!” cried Amelia while yanking the woman’s arm. “How is that possible?!”
“Well, you and prince went to bed, I presume, and you--”
“Not that! How did it happen so soon?” asked the confused princess.
“Our gestational period is very brief, only a matter of weeks for a typical Degaurian pregnancy. The babies are small, but grow quickly because of--”
“Never mind that. Get me inside. I feel a breech or something...”
What was the proper terminology? Amelia had no clue. She only knew that the pain was infinitely stronger than menstruation and it made her knees buckle. Feeling queasy, she doubled over and vomited all over the ground, blue goo oozing over the soil. The flustered prince came running from the gates and helped
his princess over the bridge to the infirmary where a doctor waited for them with a smile on his face.
“Ah, we are to welcome a lovely little prince into the world, eh?” asked the doctor while helping Amelia up on the chair.
“Don’t talk. Just...get it out,” said Amelia as she propped her legs up in the stirrups. “Oh, no, I’m not even prepared for this. Ero’an!”
“Yes, my love?” he asked, rubbing her arm.
“How do I do this?” Amelia asked while tearing up.
“You’re doing wonderfully. Just keep breathing and we’ll get you through the whole thing,” said Ero’an as the doctor sat in his chair.
Underneath her legs was a bucket filled with some kind of water, or a thin, clear goo, which was used to transition newborns into the world of the Degaurians. Looking down, Amelia gasped.
“Is that where it’s going to fall?” she asked Ero’an.
“Yes, dear. That’s how it’s done,” he replied.
“But its head,” she said.
“What head?” asked the doctor and Ero’an in unison.
Looking between them both, Amelia groaned and cried out again as the labor pains took hold once more, signaling for her to begin pushing. She huffed as she began to push the form out of her body, the limbs feeling extra slippery and slimy which confused her as well as comforted her. Squishy isn’t terrible, she thought. And as long as it doesn’t have tentacles I’m fine. Another wave of pain crashed over her stomach and she screamed, pushing harder than she ever had in her life. The prince remained at her side throughout the ordeal, whispering all manner of encouragements even as they were met with snappy responses and apologies. Rubbing her head, he asked the nurse for warm towels and she obliged, laying them over Amelia’s stomach. It calmed her for a moment and Amelia thanked the nurse, still squeezing Ero’an’s head as more contractions came barreling over her body.
“I see something here,” said the doctor.
Another push sent the form flying from her body and landing in the bucket below with a gentle plop. Gasping with relief, Amelia turned to Ero’an to ask what she had just birthed and how in the world that liquid gel helped with the transition. The question left them both as they heard the beginning sounds of crying and then began to weep with joy. Raising up the supple creature, Amelia was met with another wave of relief as she was handed a baby girl with little gills in her neck and no tentacles.
“No tentacles,” she sighed.
“Pardon?” asked the doctor.
“Nothing,” she said quickly while wiping the little girl’s face.
“She’s beautiful,” Ero’an said as he leaned into his wife. “You did an amazing job. What shall we call her?”
Amelia thought for a moment and met his cheek with a kiss.
“Imagica,” she whispered. “I think we should name her Imagica.”
Swollen with joy, the prince burst into a fit of tears as he laid kisses upon his girls, the stress fading away as he realized his fate had come to fruition. The beautiful family sat for a moment to rest before being moved to another room in order to sleep, nursing their new baby girl with love and affection. It would be the ending of Amelia’s earthly existence, but the beginning of her happy life with the amazing otherworldly prince who was no longer a blundering fool, but a happy one. This joy would carry him through his life and he would bestow it upon each child they had after Imagica, populating their planet with love and strength that would eventually permeate the universe.
THE END
= Bonus Book 3 of 11 =
Black Dragons
Maria felt a chill working its way up into her skin. She knew that she only had about ten minutes to get where she was going and she was in no mood to be late. Her stomach growled with hunger and she shrugged it off, ignoring the little stands of food and corner stores that seemed to pop up every few steps. She didn’t have time to eat, no matter how hungry she was.
Her breathing was quick and she felt the wind whipping through her hair, teasing at her skin and making her shiver. She felt a little sick, worries twisting in her gut. She hadn’t been summoned since her father had passed away. When he had died, she had received a call just like this one.
Urgent and curt. She approached with dread, and rightly so. The news that her father had been killed still rung in her ears. It was right there and then, back in her teenage years, that Maria had decided to cut ties with her heritage and walk away from it all.
She wanted no part of their feud. She wanted no part of a war that was only there to get people killed. First her mother, then her father. They had been playing with fire and she was in no mood to do the same. She glanced at her watch and hurried along.
She had to move it. She picked up her step, glancing over her shoulder as she did. Her parents had been part of a dragon-hunting clan, one that you joined, not one you were born into. They took it upon themselves to hunt down dragon shifters and do away with them completely.
Maria shuddered. She wanted no part of it. Her parents had been human and so was she, and chasing dragons was just a stupid thing to do. They had gotten themselves killed and left her alone to deal with the fall out. Now the dragon hunters were calling on her. Maria had wanted to ignore the call, but she had a sinking feeling that they would find her, regardless.
She had to go, even if it was to tell them to stay the heck away from her from now on. Maria sighed and fixed her hair as she turned into the dim little alley that led to the shop at the back. It wasn’t hard to find, but it was dingy. It didn’t speak of anything great, and Maria didn’t really expect it to.
She wasn’t sure she even believed in dragon shifters. And if she did, she definitely wanted to stay away from them, not go hunting them like an idiot. She had loved her mom and dad, but that didn’t excuse the fact that they had run off and gotten themselves killed.
The dragon hunter clan expected her to want vengeance. While anger smoldered in her chest, Maria was determined to stay out of it. Unless she had a guarantee of finding her parents’ killers, then she didn’t want any part of it. Chasing innocent dragon shifters wasn’t her idea of a good time.
So she had walked away. Now, years later, she stood face to face with her past all over again. With a deep breath, Maria knocked on the door.
After a moment, an older man pulled the door open. He took her in, assessing her, before nodding and letting her step past. Maria felt a shiver running down her spine. The silence was chilling and she hated the custom of being all secret and mysterious.
She thought of her little office job and the handful of friends she had been able to make. She wanted to return to that, not this suffocating life. A dull lump of misery had been lodged in her chest ever since her father passed and she doubted that this was going to help it any.
She was led down a dimly lit staircase, and Maria felt like she was descending into the bowls of hell. It was hell alright, only damp and suffocating and strange. It was nothing like the life Maria dreamed of. She had never seen a dragon shifter, never seen any grand fights or declarations. She had only seen death, this suffocating little hovel and a bunch of people that got kicks from being so mysterious.
She was led to a seat and plopped down on it without ceremony. She wrapped her arms around herself, idly checking that she still had her phone close and readily available. If she could keep her phone on hand, she’d be able to deal with anything that popped up. A quick call to the cops about a cult should do it.
She bit her lip and waited instead.
Slowly, people filed in and Maria shifted uncomfortably in her seat. It wasn’t until the leader of the dragon hunters, at least for this city, entered that everyone stood up. Reluctantly, Maria did the same, more because she was in no mood to stand out and draw even more attention to herself, when she could just quietly blend in.
“Maria Jacobs,” his voice boomed across the room.
No such luck. Her plans of blending in evaporated and she glanced around her.
“Step for
ward!” the voice continued and she realized that it belonged to Travis. He was glaring down at her and she took a small step forward, drawing her away from the rest of the crowd. She felt everyone’s eyes on her and shifted, uncomfortable.
“We have found the one who murdered your father.” His tone had grown softer now, and Maria felt her heart leap into her chest.
“What?” Maria hated the way her voice came out as a squeak, her eyes widening at the news.
Travis was nodding. “We have found him.” His eyes stared down at her. “Do you not want justice, Maria?”
Maria curled her hands into fists, feeling her breathing come in short little bursts. If he was right, she could make sure he paid. She didn’t want to extract vengeance herself, but if he killed her father, then she couldn’t just let it slide. She wouldn’t let it slide if her dad hadn’t been a dragon-hunter. Why should she let it slide because he was?
Travis seemed to sense what she was thinking. “If you want justice, then you’ll join us, Maria.”
The old reluctance surged to the surface. She had been so determined to stay out if it, only a few minutes ago. But a few minutes ago, she didn’t have a link to her father’s killer. She bit her lip, thinking it over. She needed to figure this out, and quickly. Her heart thudded in her chest and she felt a little giddy.
“Join us, and help us bring him down.” His voice was low, almost seductive in its promises and Maria felt something shift inside her.
“Okay. But I’m not hurting anybody.” Her voice sounded stronger and more self-assured than she felt.
“Fair enough.” Travis was smiling now and Maria was concerned to see it made him look even more menacing. “He’s part of the motorcycle club called the Black Dragons.” He fixed her with a dark stare. “They’re having a rally soon. Find out when they’ll be at their most vulnerable and we’ll do the rest.”
Maria felt a chill shudder down her spine, unsure how she should be feeling about this, unsure what she should do next. So she swallowed and nodded, determination rearing its head. Maria resolved to find this guy, to find him and make sure he met with justice, but there’s no way she was going to hurt him, or lift a hand to kill a dragon shifter.