by Ivy Barrett
Without warning Sean stepped back through the veil with a middle-aged woman in tow. She looked at him with obvious dread before remembering to kneel.
“What’s your name?” He helped her to her feet, hoping to ease her fear. His touch only seemed to upset her, so he moved back.
“Alice, sir. May I approach the lady?”
“Of course.” He moved to the other side of the bed, watching closely as Alice went to work. She cradled Brianna’s head in one hand and skimmed her palm over Brianna’s features with her other hand. Back and forth, back and forth, like a living scanner beam.
It seemed like hours before Alice released her hold on Brianna and raised her gaze to his. “I have heard of this sort of fracture happening, but I’ve never witnessed it for myself. Is she one of the human hostages?”
“Yes,” Sean confirmed. He stood near the foot of the bed on the same side as the healer.
“That explains a lot. Think about what this poor child has gone through since leaving Earth. She was exposed to the lentavirus and forced to cope with sexual cravings that she didn’t understand. I don’t know her specific circumstances, but she either gave in to the cravings and allowed her captors to temporarily ease her pain, or she suffered in agony for hours on end. Either way the emotional toll would have been tremendous. Then her ship was shot down and she likely watched many of her fellow hostages die. After that she was passed from captor to captor until she ended up here.”
“Are you saying I did this to her?” Kellan’s guilty conscience was more than happy to make the accusation for her.
“Of course not, sir.” Alice raised her chin and met his gaze without flinching. “I’m saying you played a part in leading her to this point. If it’s your wish to participate in her recovery, it’s going to take time and patience. If you lack either, please let us take her back to the Underground where she can be treated with both.”
“I’ll do whatever needs to be done,” Kellan insisted. He wasn’t sure why he was fighting so hard to retain responsibility for a wounded woman. He only knew he wasn’t ready to let her go.
“The world she knew has been ripped apart, so her mind created a small, simple world in which there are few variables and few expectations,” Alice explained.
“I’m not opposed to playing along, but isn’t it counterproductive to give in to her delusion?” Sean sat on the edge of the bed. His gaze filled with warmth and tenderness as he looked at Brianna. So he was interested in her too. Kellan accepted the fact with calm determination. Competition was good for the soul.
“This is not a delusion in the conventional sense. I’m not sure how she constructed the visualization. This sort of detail requires a powerful mystic with many years of training. It’s almost as if someone is channeling her thoughts onto the metaphysical plane. Are you certain Ceddrik is not responsible?”
“We aren’t certain of anything,” Sean admitted. “Were you able to sense beyond his shields?”
“No. They are naturally occurring and all but impenetrable. Fane might be able to break through but—”
“Fane is not welcome here,” Kellan cut in.
“Fane is well aware of the fact,” Sean returned.
After they glared at each other for another moment, Kellan turned back to Alice. “Wouldn’t you have sensed their presence if someone else was doing this to her?”
“Anyone who could create this sort of illusion for another person could easily mask their presence from me. I scanned before I left the castle, but I didn’t expect to find the source.”
“Were you affected by the illusion?” Sean asked.
“Affected? In what way?”
“When I entered the tower room, I felt compelled to participate in the adventure. It was as if I was becoming a character in Brianna’s fantasy.”
Alice’s brow knitted as she considered his words. “I guess she had no use for a female healer. We spoke briefly. I looked through several of the rooms and then departed. I never felt compelled to do anything.”
“Perhaps it’s best if Sean not participate directly in her recovery.” Kellan was unable to resist the suggestion. Spending time alone with Brianna held obvious appeal, but competing for her affections with the specter was even more intriguing.
“And how will you access her without Sean’s assistance? I can’t stay here indefinitely.” After a thoughtful pause, Alice went on. “If Sean uses you as an emotional anchor it should keep him from becoming too engrossed in the illusion.”
“And if we’re both affected by the illusion?” Sean’s gaze connected with his, sharp and challenging.
“Then we’ll anchor each other.” Kellan crossed his arms over his chest, refusing to back down. “You’re not taking her to the Underground. She stays here.”
Alice followed the exchange but continued with her instructions without adding fuel to the fire. “She needs to feel safe. Work within the confines of her reality. Encourage her to explore, to discover what lies beyond the castle, but she must do it in her own time. Do not force her to do anything she is not ready to do. She has been abandoned and abused in ways that have left her shattered emotionally and mentally fragmented. This will not be easy and it will not happen overnight.” She settled her expectant gaze on Kellan again. “I still think the best place for her is the Underground. We can take turns—”
“No,” Kellan said. “Whatever she needs we will give her.”
“If we can still remember who we are.” Sean shook his head. “The illusion is incredibly intoxicating. I was only exposed to it for a few minutes and I was ready to go on crusade.”
“You’re a mutant. Your mind is susceptible to magic forces. If I’m affected at all, I’ll resist the influence and pull you back to reality.”
“I hope it’s that simple.” Sean didn’t sound convinced.
“If one of us starts to succumb, the other will remind him who he is and what we’re trying to accomplish. This won’t be the first battle I’ve fought while inebriated.” Sean just stared at him silently, so Kellan added, “It’s not like we have any other choice.”
Chapter Five
Brianna stood at the tall slit window staring out across the mist-shrouded land. Dragon’s breath. The beast was restless, tossing in its sleep. But it was asleep. She was safe. Protected from danger, insulated by thick stone walls. Insulated or isolated?
Where had the blond knight gone? He’d vowed to return, yet she still saw no sign of him. It was lonely in her tower room, lonely and cold. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered, but the chill crept through her bloodstream and tangled in her hair.
Jumbled memories flitted through her mind. Glowing amber eyes. Screams of pain. No! She looked out over the rolling landscape and let the tranquility soothe her. She was safe here. There were no evil chancellors or lunatic mutants. Just an insidious dragon and—a lusty overlord?
Another image appeared, clearer than the others. Blacker than night, his eyes pierced to her soul, commanding and caressing all at once. Wavy dark hair streamed to his shoulders, surrounding a face both brutal and beautiful. He was massive and ruthless and… Her body stirred, her nipples tingling. She crossed her arms over her breasts. What was wrong with her? She was a virtuous woman. She might allow the handsome knight to steal a kiss, but she would never allow a brutish overlord to drape her legs over his shoulders and eat her pussy!
She spun from the window with a gasp, frantically rubbing her temples. What vile sorcerer was sending her these visions? Crossing to her fur bed, she sank to the softness and drew a blanket over her lap. She felt odd. Empty somehow.
The past rushed in again. More memories, terrifying in their clarity. She huddled in the dark, crazed and moaning as her body burned. Endless hours of sexual frenzy. No matter what she’d done to ease the pain, the fire returned. She’d screamed and screamed, begging for someone to end her suffering, but no one heard or no one cared that she was in utter torment.
But she’d been cured of the burning illness. Hadn’t she? She fidgeted against the furs, trying to bring the past into focus. There had been a doctor. He’d injected something into her arm.
Then why had the urges returned? Why did she crave the overlord?
Lying back on the mound of furs, she parted her thighs and lightly touched the curls guarding her center. They were damp and inviting, her feminine folds slick and hot. And the little knot of flesh at the top of her slit felt swollen, unusually sensitive. Perhaps if she released the pressure it wouldn’t become so intense. She gently rolled the sensitive nub between her thumb and forefinger. A throaty moan escaped and her hips came up off the furs.
“Would you like some help with that?”
She sprang up with a guilty gasp, her hand still between her thighs. The blond knight had returned, but he wasn’t alone! The overlord was with him. She wasn’t sure which man had made the obscene offer. Probably the overlord. She trembled, torn between confusion and fear. How was this possible? The overlord was a figment of her imagination. Wasn’t he?
“What is he doing here?” She scooted back into the corner, dragging the blanket with her and pulling it to her chin.
Her reaction seemed to surprise the men. “You know my friend?” the knight asked.
“That man is no one’s friend.”
Those devil black eyes narrowed and he took a step forward. The knight grasped his arm, the act more a reminder than an actual attempt to stop his charge. “Who am I if not your friend?”
“You’re the overlord. You pillage and seduce. Ravage and exploit. Your deeds are known far and wide. What is not offered freely you take by force.”
“I might be guilty of the rest, but I take nothing by force. When I touched you before… I mean, if ever we touch, you will participant eagerly in the embrace. Nothing will ever be forced on you again.”
“I don’t believe you,” she insisted.
“That’s why I’m here.” The knight stepped forward. “We will take turns guarding you and we will each make sure the other is on his best behavior. Neither of us will touch you unless you wish it.”
She looked from one to the other, her emotions turbulent and raw. The restlessness was with her still, churning, making her ache, making her long for things she knew she shouldn’t want. She remembered the pain, the endless hours of agony as she writhed and pleaded. She couldn’t let that happen again. She’d never survive.
But were these men a better choice? Could she ever hope to be that bold? “And if I wish to be touched?” she asked the knight, not daring to look at the overlord.
“You have only to ask.” He let the promise hang in the air for a moment before he went on. “We are here for you, my lady. Your safety and your pleasure is our only concern. We want you to be happy. We’re willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen.”
“Whatever it takes?” She couldn’t help but smile. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had focused on her well-being, much less her pleasure. Long-suppressed needs barreled to the surface, demanding her immediate attention. “That’s a pretty dangerous offer. I can be very greedy.”
“Be as greedy as you like. Demand anything. Put our offer to the test.”
She pushed to her feet, letting the blanket slip from her hands. Her gaze fixed on the knight as she moved over the uneven surface of the furs. He was gallant and gentle, and undeniably handsome. “Can I touch you?”
“You can do anything you like. We’re here for you.”
Her hand trembled as she raised it to his face. His skin was warm and lightly bristled beneath her fingertips. The tactile acuity surprised her. She hadn’t expected him to feel quite so real. Why wouldn’t he feel real? She pushed the question to the back of her mind and explored her champion. Sifting his golden hair through her fingers, she brushed her breasts against his chest.
“This would feel a whole lot better skin to skin,” he whispered as she moved in to nibble his earlobe.
He hadn’t touched her. He’d remained motionless during her exploration. She glanced at the overlord and tensed. Would he have been equally obedient? She couldn’t picture him remaining passive for long. Did she really want a passive overlord, or did she want something entirely different from this dark warrior?
“Remove his tunic.” She stepped back and waited to see what the overlord would do with her command.
His expression didn’t change. He bent and tugged off his boots, his gaze boring into hers. The knight followed suit then resumed his original position. The overlord lifted his own tunic over his head and tossed it aside. His powerful chest and corded abdomen bunched and flexed, drawing Brianna’s gaze with hypnotic power. She crossed her arms over her chest, knowing her nipples had peaked and helpless to hide the evidence of her arousal. Damn, the man was ripped.
His gaze filled with an exasperating mixture of amusement and challenge as he moved behind the knight. Without a word, the overlord reached around the smaller man and ripped his tunic down the front.
“I don’t think that’s what she meant.” Amusement twinkled in the knight’s gaze as well.
“Then she should have been more specific.”
The knight’s body was leaner, more compact, yet every bit as appealing. Was there no fast food on this planet? Fast food? Memories hovered at the edge of her consciousness, visible yet unfocused.
Mist swirled across her mind, muting the past, freeing her from the disquieting emotions. She must win the devotion of these men, convince them to champion her cause. The dragon must be slain or all hope was lost.
They claimed to be willing to serve her already, but she must test their sincerity.
“What now?” the overlord prompted. “Should we finish undressing?”
She shook her head. “Come here.” Her voice dropped to barely a whisper as she added, “One in front and one behind.” The knight moved in front of her and the overlord stepped up behind. She raised her arms and they lifted her shift over her head. Before her garment reached the floor, they pressed against her, skin on skin. She gasped and shivered. “Touch me. Just touch me.”
Their hands slid over her, grazing her breasts, but not stopping to linger. She touched them too, first the knight then the overlord, and then one with each hand. It was wicked and wonderful, yet it only made the restlessness worse. She wiggled and arched. The knight pushed his thigh between her legs, rubbing against her mound. A soft cry escaped the back of her throat and she rested her head on the overlord’s shoulder.
“I am… restless, sir knight. I want you to touch me and—”
“That’s not the offer, princess.” The overlord cupped her breasts, speaking softly right into her ear. “He doesn’t touch you. We touch you. We’re a matched set. If you want one, you get the other as well.”
“But you will do more than touch.” Just talking about this was making her need worse. She wiggled out from between them, covering her breasts with her arms.
“I will do nothing you do not ask me to do.”
Which meant she would ask him to do everything. The assurance was there in the arrogant tilt of his chin and the demanding flash of his eyes. Well, she’d show him. She’d let them touch her, help her relax, and then she’d curl up and go to sleep! It had been so long since she’d slept soundly, content in the knowledge that she was safe.
The knight took her hand and led her toward the furs. “Do you remember my name?”
“It’s Sean, but it isn’t seemly for an unmarried woman—”
“I think we’ve already passed beyond what’s considered seemly. I want to hear you cry my name when I make you come the first time.”
“The first time?”
“Of course. You’ve been locked in this tower for a long time. One quick burst isn’t going to release all that pent-up frustration.” He smiled and leaned in, nipping her chin. “It could take many, many tries.”
He swept her legs out from under her and gently plac
ed her on the furs. What was she doing? Did she really hope to control these two? Uncertainly surged, mixing with her desire, muddling her thinking and making her heart hammer in her chest. “But right now you’re just going to touch me. Right? Nothing more.”
“Let’s define touching. Can we only touch you with our hands?” His fingers swept along her ribs and his thumb hooked under her breast. “What about these pretty pink nipples? Can we use our mouths on them?”
“And what about your mouth?” the overlord asked. “I would very much like to kiss you.”
Would they abide by whatever boundaries she set? A bit of her anxiety eased. There was only one way to find out. “Mouths stay above the waist. I need to know I can trust you.”
“As my lady commands.” Sean closed his lips around her nipple and began to suck.
She pushed her fingers into his thick hair, savoring the strong pull on her breast. So good. She licked her lips and looked at the overlord. His gaze was focused on Sean. How odd. Was he enjoying the spectacle of watching another man suck a woman, or was the connection deeper? Were they lovers? She wouldn’t have put it past him. Kellan fucked everyone. Kellan? How did she know his name much less his sexual practices?
He knelt at her side, his gaze shifting to her face. “Does that feel good? Shall I join him? Or would you like me to kiss you?”
Had she kissed this man before? Why did he seem familiar? “I think a kiss would please me more.”
A sexy smile bowed his lips, offering a glimpse of even white teeth. “You’ll have to let me know for certain in a little while.” He framed her face with his hands and fit his mouth over hers, his warm tongue gently teasing.
She’d expected a savage onslaught, but the kiss was slow and tender. His lips slid over and against hers, his teeth occasionally nipping. As if of their own accord, her arms stretched over her head and crossed at the wrist. An instant later his fingers clasped her wrists, pressing her hands down into the furs.