Kelan: Talonian Warriors

by Celeste Raye

  Rowl invited Destiney in while he dressed. He took his time donning a shirt. He felt her watching his every move and made the most of it. Lonely women were easy prey for someone as experienced as Rowl. He excelled at seducing them. After he had his fill, he tossed them aside and went on to the next one. It would be a pleasure to take his brother's wife. The perfect revenge for his exile would be taking Destiney to bed.

  Alexis caught sight of Destiney and Rowl headed away from the capitol building. She tried to get Destiney's attention and stop her. It was fruitless. Her friend noticed no one else. Her concentration was on Rowl alone. Alexis considered following them. Her manners precluded spying on a friend. She would make more time to spend with Destiney. If she were a better friend, there would be no need for Destiney to depend on Rowl.

  Destiney strolled through the marshes with Rowl. It was good to be outside. She felt free for the first time in months. Her confidence was boosted by Rowl's attentiveness. She trusted him enough to complain about the king. "King Siefer is so involved with his duties that he ignores me. I begged him to take Scyon and I with him. He said we would be a distraction. I can not get his attention on a good day. How could I possibly distract him on a mission?"

  Rowl found an opening and replied, "Your beauty would certainly distract me from my duty. He must be wearing blinders."

  "He does not need blinders. He can only contend with one love at a time, and for now, it's his love of duty. He wants to make all the worlds work as one, and yet he can not make our marriage work. He has not spoken to me nor sent a message to me since his departure."

  "He is obviously busy. He probably believes you are secure enough in the knowledge of his love to endure his absence." Rowl pretended to defend the king.

  Destiney cried out, "That is not true! We fought before he left. It was the worst fight we have ever experienced. He left our chambers and spent the night elsewhere. The next morning, he left for the colonies. He did not even hug or kiss me goodbye. I had no chance to apologize."

  "He should be the one apologizing to you. He does not deserve your love or your loyalty. Stop waiting for a message. Let it go. Enjoy your freedom while you can. He will come back eventually and expect you to welcome him home with open arms. You can make a decision about how you feel about him then. If you still love him, stay with him. If not, then move on to someone who can truly give you the time and attention you deserve."

  Destiney felt that someone finally understood her. She had tried to explain her frustrations to Alexis, but she had always defended King Siefer. Everyone except Rowl thought it was fine for the king to put duty above love. It was gratifying to find a man that agreed with her and found the king to be wrong.

  Destiney allowed Rowl to take her hand as they continued their walk. His grip was warm and strong, bringing forth hidden longing from Destiney. She did not want to desire Rowl or betray her husband. It was so hard to be alone and unhappy. Rowl filled the empty place in her soul. Such desires would never have crossed her mind if King Siefer had at least kept in touch. Destiney craved attention. She always had. It was partially the reason she had left Earth. Being part of a space expedition, looking quite different than the women on any other planet, and men fighting to marry her were the attention grabbers of her dreams. She had fulfilled them all. She needed more, and Rowl was willing to provide it.

  Rowl could tell that Destiney's loyalties were changing. She was quickly letting go of King Siefer. His plan was working faster than he could have imagined. He just needed to keep Destiney away from Alexis and Nabvan. She still trusted them, and their opinions of Rowl were not good. They held some influence over her decisions, which could be a problem for Rowl. He had to get closer to Destiney.

  Rowl tightened his grip on Destiney's hand. He tugged her closer to his side, using the uneven terrain as an excuse. He could practically hear her heart speed up as their bodies brushed against each other. He stopped by the seaside and let the waves wash over their feet. The four moons were always visible in the sky, even during the daytime. They watched as the largest seem to dip into the sea. Rowl took Destiney's face in a hand and turned it toward him. Her eyes shined with unshed tears. He could feel her hesitance as he leaned in for a kiss. Their lips met, and a sob came from her, yet she allowed Rowl to deepen the kiss.

  Destiney jerked out of Rowl's hold and ran. She could not stay a moment longer. If she did, her sobs would turn him away. No man wanted to watch a woman cry over someone else. Confused, sad, and guilt-ridden, Destiney made her way back to the capital. She snuck through the hidden escape route that led to the king's quarters. Luckily, she was the only one who knew it existed. Not even King Siefer had found it. She had to stop the tears and clean herself up before attending to her duties. A queen could not appear devastated in her followers' presence. Her decisions would not be respected.

  Dry-eyed and regally adorned, Destiney sat on her throne. She welcomed the Milisarians and concentrated on their problems rather than her own. Their petty issues were easy to deal with, unlike those of their queen.

  Chapter: 16

  ***Destiney***

  Destiney fed Scyon and got him ready for bed. She went to the window to show him the four moons. He loved the nightly ritual. She spoke softly to him, "Scyon, you must never forget your father. He is out there past the moons, attempting to make a better future for you. He loves you. I can promise that to you. I am just not sure if he still loves mommy. You are the only one I can tell everything to because I know you will keep my secrets. Thank goodness, you are too young to talk. Oh, baby, mommy is lonely and confused. I kissed a man today. I should not have done it. Mommy has trouble being alone. He was kind to me and filled the loneliness. Yet, it was wrong to betray your father. What should I do? Daddy needs to come home."

  Scyon slept peacefully. Destiney continued to stare at the moons as if they could give her an answer. Guilt ate at her. Kissing Rowl was wrong. She was married to the king. She owed him her fidelity. But, he had abandoned her. He had disappeared into space without so much as a hug. He had not been in contact for weeks. Their argument had shown her a different side of her husband. She did not like that part of him at all. Being king had changed him for the worse. Must she remain loyal to a husband that was no longer the same man she had married? Did she make a mistake by marrying too quickly? Should she have waited? Would he have eventually shown her his bad side, allowing her to choose someone else? No, the Milisarian Knights had not allowed the human women to choose their mates. The knights had chosen. Destiney suddenly wanted a choice.

  Destiney made a plan. The next evening, she packed up some toys and clothes for Scyon and took him to Alexis and Nabvan. She pleaded, "Can you keep him tonight? I have to deal with some extra duties. I spent too much time moping and got behind. I don't want to leave it all for Siefer to deal with when he returns. It will be really late when I finish. Scyon will cry all night if I wake him. Please, can he stay?"

  Nabvan asked, "Do you need some help? I do not mind working if you need it."

  Destiney nervously replied, "No, it isn't something you can do. I will be fine. Take good care of Scyon. I will see you in the morning." Destiney hurried away. She was a bad liar and feared Nabvan would catch on.

  Rowl was waiting for her. Destiney had sent a guard with a note asking Rowl to meet her outside. She carried a basket covered with a cloth. Rowl bowed in greeting. He said. "If you are here to admonish me for the kiss, there is no need. I have thoroughly chastised myself. I am sorry if I offended you."

  Destiney replied, "You did not offend me. Stop chastising yourself. At first, I thought the kiss was a mistake. Then I realized it was exactly what I needed. It showed me that I wanted more from my husband than he was willing to give. You are willing, so come with me. I want to show you a place I ran across on one of my lonely walks."

  Rowl followed her over a narrow strip of dry land between two marshes. She pushed aside a tangle of bushes to reveal the ruins of an old dwelling. It was made of mud
bricks, and the thatched roof was missing. More bricks made platforms for eating and sleeping. Open to the sky, it was charming and intimate.

  Destiney used the cloth that covered the basket as a tablecloth. She took food and spread it onto her makeshift dining table. "On Earth, we would call this a picnic and our time together would be referred to as a date. It means I like you and I enjoyed the kiss. I want to see you more often. Would you like that?"

  Rowl nodded. He could not speak. If he opened his mouth, he would give away his gleeful triumph. She was his now, and that gave him access to her power and influence. He would use her to get everything he wanted, and then toss her back to his brother.

  He reached for the plate of food that Destiney offered to him. He allowed his fingers to caress her hand and felt the tremors that his touch elicited. He ate slowly, gazing into her eyes the entire time. Destiney's blushes proved he was having an effect on her senses. He suggested, "Let us take the fruit and eat it as we watch the stars shift around the moon."

  Rowl placed the tablecloth on the floor in front of a brick platform. He helped Destiney settle with her back against the sturdy brick. He sat close to her and asked, "What do you miss about Earth?"

  Destiney liked the question. It meant he was interested in getting to know all about her. She answered, "I miss the bright sunshine, the tall mountains, and snow."

  Rowl asked, "What is snow?"

  Destiney laughed, "It is frozen water that falls from the sky. It is white, soft, and delicate. It makes no sound as it falls. It sparkles and is very beautiful, though cold."

  Rowl replied, "It sounds strange. I missed the closeness of the four moons. I could see them from some of the planets; however, they were tiny in comparison to the way they appear on Milisaria."

  He offered Destiney a bite of fruit. She used her mouth to take it from his fingers. Its juice ran down her chin. Rowl leaned in and licked off the juice. Destiney moaned and his mouth covered hers. The kiss was possessive and sent chills through her body. Her fingers delved into his long unruly hair. She parted her lips, and his tongue invaded her mouth. Destiney's tongue explored his and heat suffused their bodies. Her hands strayed to his neck, where she found a raised scar. He flinched and pulled back.

  Concerned, she asked, "What is wrong? Did I hurt you? How did you get the scar?"

  Rowl turned his back to her and answered, "You did not hurt me. The scar is very old. I got it fighting with my brother before I was shipped out to the colonies. It is a bad memory, and I would rather not speak of it."

  Destiney rose to her knees, put her hands on his shoulders, and kissed the scar. She nuzzled his neck until he turned to face her. Rowl drew her closer and said, "Thank you for dropping the subject and caring about my feelings. It has been a long time since someone cared."

  Destiney held him tight. She desired to make him feel loved. She kissed his eyelids, the tip of his nose, each cheek, and finally landed once again on his lips. This kiss was softer and sweeter than the previous ones. It brought out sighs of contentment from both of them.

  Rowl's heart pounded as he dared touch her. His palms wandered over her skintight bodysuit, caressing each curve. She did not protest, and he grew braver. He cupped her full breast through the cloth and ran his thumb over the distended nipple. Her eyes closed and she arched forward, granting him better access. Rowl untied the strings that held the bodysuit closed and permitted it to fall free of her torso. He marveled at the plump round orbs that were revealed in the moonlight. Their rosy tips begged to be licked. His tongue darted out and flicked across each in turn.

  Destiney gripped the neck of Rowl's shirt and ripped it open as he began to worship her breasts. She let her hands roam over his hairless, translucent chest. His muscles had enlarged since she had last seen his torso. Nabvan's rock duty was working. The thought of her husband's best friend caused Destiney's guilt to rise. She forcefully shoved it to the back of her mind.

  Rowl's mouth tugged on her swollen breasts, and his hands worked the bodysuit past her hips. His fingers slid inside the stretched material and glided over her warm mound. She lifted her hips, and the suit fell to her knees. Rowl delved into the warm wetness he had uncovered.

  Destiney groaned as his fingers probed her core. She had missed the touch of strong, rough hands on her flesh. She brought her hands lower and wrapped them around his hardness. He grew larger at her touch. The tip of his manhood revealed itself, peeking out the top of his pants. She rolled her thumb over its velvet roundness.

  Desire and need shot through Rowl with her bold touch. He used his second set of arms to tug down his pants, letting his shaft free, as his first pair of hands continued to grope Destiney's wetness. She grasped the shaft in both hands and fondled it from base to tip repeatedly. Rowl feared he would soon lose control. He stopped her motions and rolled her over. Her back now rested on the tablecloth and he could let his eyes roam over her beautiful body. He delighted in the creamy opaqueness of her skin. Unlike his, her flesh hid the veins and organs from his sight. His hands and mouth followed his gaze. His tongue found her belly button, causing Destiney to wriggle.

  Destiney was long past feeling guilty. Her need to be joined with Rowl had overcome all other feelings. She gently pulled his hair to get his attention. He lifted his head and stared into her lust filled gaze. She whispered, "Please, I have waited long enough. Fill my loneliness."

  Rowl triumphantly slid his nakedness slowly up her trembling nude body. He took a moment to worship once more at her breasts. His mouth eventually claimed hers in a rapturous kiss. His hardness glided between her thighs adding to her longing. Their tongues greedily danced together. Rowl asked, "Are you sure you want to do this? There is still time to stop."

  Destiney spread her legs and breathlessly replied, "If we stop, I shall die. I not only want this, but I also need it desperately."

  Rowl hid his gloating grin in her soft neck. He reached between their bodies, grasped his member, and used it to tease her softness. At her urgent tug, he slipped the tip inside and paused. With each following plea, he inched a littler deeper. Tears of frustration and lust ran down Destiney's cheeks before Rowl gave in and impaled her completely. Her greedy body tightened around his shaft and refused to let him move.

  Destiney shoved at Rowl's shoulders, silently asking him to flip them over. He obliged, and Destiney straddled his hips. Now in control, she relented and allowed his member to move. His hips rocked in rhythm to her rise and fall. Her wetness milked his shaft. The moons were the only witnesses to the screams of ecstasy at their final releases.

  Destiney fell forward and laid her head on Rowl's chest. Her ear was planted against his heart, listening as its beat slowed. His arms wrapped her in their warmth, and he asked, "Do you have any regrets, my queen?"

  Destiney searched her conscious and answered, "None at all. I deserve to be happy and tonight that means being with you. Do not refer to me as your queen. I may not be one for much longer. My marriage may end when King Siefer returns. Hold me tonight and let me have sweet dreams instead of the nightmares of loneliness."

  Rowl listened to her breathing as it slowed. She slept peacefully while his mind whirled. He needed Destiney to remain a queen in order to use her power and influence. If she was going to relinquish it upon the king's return, Rowl had to shorten his timeline. He would have to bring things to a head with the king's arrival. He spent a sleepless night holding Destiney and revising his plan.

  Chapter: 17

  ***Destiney***

  Destiney awoke to the sound of Rowl's heartbeat. She was still nestled in his arms. It was daylight, and the moons had dimmed. She laid still and reflected on her actions of the previous night. She felt only a slight inkling of guilt. The good that had come from her coupling with Rowl superceded the guilt. Rowl's hands brushed her buttocks. He was obviously awake. She lifted her gaze and met his grin with one of her own. She said, "Good morning, lover. Thank you for staying with me all night. It was the first time in weeks th
at I have awoken rested and cheerful. I would adore staying here all day, but I have a conference with the council. I can not go like this, so I must leave you and prepare myself."

  "What is so important that the council needs a conference with the queen?" Rowl hoped to gain insight into King Siefer's plans for the colonies.

  Destiney yawned and stood to dress. She replied, "King Siefer left behind instructions for the council and me. We are to work together dividing the spoils from our captured planets. We are to split them evenly between the capital, the villages, and the colonies. They must be ready for distribution upon the king's return. He wants to rule over every Milisarian fairly and equally. Today we divide the medicines and the ingredients to make more."

  Rowl protested, "Why does the king think he can rule everyone equally? He cannot be everywhere at once. I have lived in the colonies and seen what happens when the king is absent. Chaos ensues. They would be better served if allowed to rule themselves. The kings of Milisaria have all been the same. They claim to care about the colonies, yet all they truly want is to be obeyed. The power and authority of the ruling class are misused. They conquer a planet, enslave its people, and take their assets and power away. It leaves them hopeless and uncaring."

  Destiney argued, "My husband is not like that. He wants to share everything with his conquests. Those who are hungry will be fed. Those who are ill will be given medication. All will be taught to grow food, filter water, make medications from plant life, and defend themselves from those who fight against Milisaria."

  Rowl scoffed, "Do you really think that the planets who grow food or make medicines want to learn to fight? Do you believe that warriors wish to dig gardens? What of planets that have no water? Their inhabitants learned eons ago how to survive drinking from the plants that grow beneath the sand. The king only wishes to force the colonies to become clones of one another. He wants them to fight for his right to rule over what should be free planets. Do you not see that the king wants to be worshipped? He should be asking each colony what it wants or needs. Instead, he is demanding that they change to meet his expectations."