by D. R. Rosier
It was a good strategy, they could bleed his troops all the way to the capitol, and hope they took out enough they were able to defend. It was only about midday when he decided that was enough, he called for a halt and let the enemy slip away, and simply set up camp. He sent out scouts to keep track of the enemy movements, and try to sniff out the traps ahead, and perhaps lay their own.
The Abelawethans had no chance, but he didn’t want to throw away lives either, they would need enough troops for Egeria as well…
*
Anton wasn’t surprised when the enemy stopped their charge. They had been killing two for every one of theirs, thanks mostly to the traps they had set. It wasn’t near enough to win, but it would give the enemy pause. If they were whittled down to five thousand or so they wouldn’t have the troop strength to hold Abelaweth, much less conquer Egeria.
He wasn’t sure if he should keep going, stay here, or attack to draw them into following again. Eventually he decided to wait, but he sent out scouts just in case the enemy had a surprise or two for them…
Chapter 6
Justin was bemused, and a little conflicted. He found out from Kat she was with child, then she had shown him, quite thoroughly, how excited about it she was.
That wasn’t what had him conflicted though, it was his relationship with his intended mates. He had wanted to make that commitment to each of them, and though he understood her reasoning, Nora saying no had thrown him off.
He wanted to ask Nicole and Sally, he was sure about the love they shared, but would they say no as well? If they didn’t say no, would that hurt Nora somehow? He could tell Nora was still struggling with it, when she had dragged him off after dinner he was sure she wanted to tell him something, but she didn’t. One thing he was sure of, this coming fight was the cause of the stress there.
There was nothing he could really do about it though, except wait it out. Nicole walked over and took his hand, a soft smile on her face. That was another thing about being cooped up in this room. Yesterday the schedule had gone out the window and all four of them had approached him in one day for sex.
Today, well, this was Nicci’s second time. Not that he would ever complain, he was just burning a lot of magic to keep up. Nicci had no issues getting him going though, beyond their love she had that innocent face and sexy body combination he knew he would never tire of. Bright green eyes, long fire red hair and double D breasts that caused his body to react before they’d even got back to the private room.
He pulled her in and kissed her hard as he grabbed her by the hair. He moaned into her mouth when she reached into his breaches and aggressively started stroking his manhood. When she broke off, they started to strip off each other’s clothes. Nicole had been getting more aggressive in bed lately and he liked it a lot. She was far from that virgin princess he had met a month ago, with the very good exception of her incredibly tight core.
She moved in and kissed him hard, he made her gasp as he pinched her nipples and started kneading her large breasts. He slid his tongue across her lips seeking entrance as she stroked him a few times. He felt her hard nipples and the soft flesh of her breasts slide down his body as she went to her knees.
She looked up innocently between her eyelashes, making eye contact, as both felt and saw her lips and tongue teasing the sensitive head of his length.
“Do you like that Justin, my sweet innocent lips on your cock?”
He didn’t get a chance to answer, as he gasped when she engulfed him in the wet warm heat of her mouth, her tongue sliding along the bottom of his ridge. She started jerking him with a little twisting motion from his base as she sucked and licked his fleshy tip.
He managed to warn her, “I can’t hold much longer.”
Instead of stopping, this seemed to excite her as she took him deeper into her mouth and worked his length fast with her hand, lips, and tongue. Then he felt a wet finger slip into his ass effortlessly. When he realized the lube must be from her wet heat he felt his legs go numb, when she started massaging his prostrate he erupted into an intense orgasm, filling her mouth while she kept her eyes locked with his.
It seemed to go on and on as he watched her swallow again and again. He wondered how he was possibly still standing. When he came down she was still sucking softly, trying to claim every bit of it. She stood and smiled, then kissed him hard.
“I love making you come in my mouth.”
He wasn’t going to argue with that, but he was going to reciprocate. So he pushed her back onto the bed and started to tease the proof she truly did enjoy it. Her moist and puffy silken folds and the scent of her arousal made him spread her lightly with his fingertips as he lapped up her taste. She tasted amazing as always and he took his time, teasing her slowly to orgasm. He held her ass firmly as she started to mewl and squirm her body, grinding her dripping center against his tongue and face.
She grabbed the sheets in fists and arched her back, “Goddess Justin! Don’t stop! Please don’t stop!”
He sucked her clit in and bit down lightly, sucking as he slipped two fingers inside her and curled them, finding her g-spot. She soaked his lips, mouth and chin as her tasty love juice shot out. He was incredibly hard again at this point, and kissed his way up her supple nubile young body. He kissed her softly and looked into her eyes, and slowly filled her with his pole.
She was tight, very tight, but her heat was both very wet and smooth as silk. He waited as her body adjusted to him, then started to saw in and out of her, the sensations of velvety friction against his pleasure drove him to go faster. He started to pound into her hard, and she grabbed his head and pulled it toward her breast. As he started to suck and lick at her nipple he looked up and saw her sucking her other nipple into her mouth.
The sight turned him on so much he barely held on for her pleasure.
Nicole screamed demandingly”Oh goddess yes, I’m going to… bite my nipple, bite it now.”
He bit her sensitive nipple and she screamed in pleasure as he felt her already tight channel squeeze and milk him, he pushed into her a few more times before burying it hard and releasing his seed into her. When he came down, he felt her caressing the back of his neck with her fingernails, then he felt her body tremble under him in aftershocks.
He cuddled with her for a while, lost in the sensations of both her body against his and his deep emotions for her. He realized then, he had to follow his heart. Even though he understood when Nora said no, he still felt the sting of that rejection. He realized though, that it didn’t matter. Nicole may so no too, but he wouldn’t know unless he asked.
“Nicci?”
“Yes love?” she whispered in contentment.
“I love you, and this may not be the perfect time to ask, but will you be my mate? Will you have my children and stay by my side for the rest of our days?”
Nicci whispered, “Yes… very much so yes.”
He once again felt that strange connection form, between his magical talent and hers. They stayed for a while longer just talking, he held her in his arm, she laid sideways, her head on his shoulder, her breasts mashed into his side. He could also feel her heat against him as she threw a leg over his.
After a while, she started fondling him back to hardness and kissing his neck.
She whispered in a thick sexy voice, “I want your baby in me.”
He hardened quickly hearing that, and she mounted him. She rode him sensually, her breasts swaying with the movements of her hips. There was a sexy smile on her lips as she looked down into his eyes, her tight channel gripping him each time their flesh came together, as if her body didn’t want to release his manhood.
It didn’t take her long to manipulate his body into filling her womb, which brought her to her own ecstasy. When they came down they petted and kissed for a while, then she sighed.
“I guess I can’t hog you anymore,” she got a wicked grin and said, “for now…”
*
Sara was nervous. She had been talking w
ith Trina the last couple of days about what they had gone through together. It hadn’t been easy, but they had both gone through the same thing. Trina had set her a task, something simple, but terrifying. At least, for her it was. Trina wanted her to face her fear straight on.
Sara had grown to like Trina as they shared the darkest parts of their past, they couldn’t help but to grow bonds between them. She was still confused about that other possibility and she considered Trina to be close to friendship level, but Trina… was feeling more than that.
She saw the door open and Nicole stepped out. She walked over and stopped Justin.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
Justin nodded and they went into the room. She nervously shut the door behind her. She felt what she usually felt from Justin, a warm concern, and caution. He was always so careful around her emotionally, which made her wonder what he really felt about her at times.
He raised an eyebrow in question so she gestured toward the chair and he sat.
She said tentatively, “Would you be willing to help me with something? Trina said I need to face my fear of being touched straight on. Can I…” she trailed off.
He said softly, “If you think it would help?”
She felt his concern go up, but didn’t know why. When she approached him she started to shake, and like she was jumping in a fire, she sat on his lap, and put an arm around his neck. Her mind screamed at her to get up. Outside of that, the first thing she noticed was he smelled like Nicole and sex. Between the arousing scent, the fact she loved him, and touching him for the first time, her body reacted.
A week ago this would have been impossible for her. But her talks with Trina had purged some of her demons, but there were still plenty left to go. She wondered if they would ever all be gone. She was torn between wanting to kiss him, give herself to him, and the desire to jump up and flee from the room. She hated how she was pulled in two directions, but she did neither, merely sat there.
She sat there as long as she could, but his tender cautious concern and protective feelings slowly changed. She still felt that, but she also felt what he had been hiding from her, lust, and deep affection. She also felt him start to feel guilty, probably for those feelings. Ironically she hated that he felt guilty. She wanted him to want her, both who she was and her body.
She liked that she turned him on, but at the same time, it was just too much, so she got up. She wished she could explain all that, but she just couldn’t get the words to come.
She managed to choke out a thank you, and blushed as she made her way to the door.
*
Trina wondered if she had just fucked up. She liked Sara and just wanted to help. All women were different though, maybe she just needed to avoid all contact to heal. What the fuck did she know anyway, her solution had been to kill any man that took without permission, not exactly the picture of mental health.
She hoped they got out of here soon, she hadn’t forgotten about the acolyte, and she was laying low in a temple. She doubted they would accept a shrug and her saying she was retired now. And she was. She felt guilty about it, but she’d needed the robes for the job, and if she left the acolyte alive she’d have been caught.
She had enjoyed being an assassin because the targets usually deserved it, but she always knew that the people directing her were really no better. She had ignored that to follow her own twisted path. She didn’t really understand how fucked up that path was until she found these people.
She sighed. Soon, they could take care of everyone that would ever chase after Justin, his family, and her as well. Then she could disappear, before things caught up to her. If she managed to tear herself away from Sara that is.
*
Anton cursed long and fluently. The enemy had started attacking again the next morning, and they had run into a few traps of their own. It could have been worse, but it wasn’t good. They had lost close to three hundred already from traps. He was mad he didn’t just retreat fully to the main ambush point near the city, or even attack. Sitting still had been foolish, his scouts hadn’t seen anything, but none of the scouts were mages.
He sent off a flier with a message to his sister, then gave up the pretense of a running fight, and started moving quickly. They still had traps, which caused the enemy to move a lot slower and they were able to pull out far enough for a measure of safety.
At the speed he was moving, he just hoped Justin and his sister could arrive before the enemy did…
*
Justin walked with Nora through the secret passageway. While inside the high priestess’s quarters, they had been behind powerful wards, safely hidden. Now they were trying to smuggle him out of the city through a tunnel that ran all the way to the west wall. He felt dubious about the acolyte robes he was wearing, it would deceive the mundane eye perhaps, but not a spy that could discern magic.
They weren’t exactly sure how fast the enemy’s communication network was, but with the knowledge of travel mages they were concerned if the enemy troops found out he was alive, they would retreat. Their best chance to put an end to this was to decimate Uleni’s ability to wage war. He also could not drain his magic again to hide; he would need it for the battlefield.
They were meeting with the rest just to the west of the city, misdirection for the spies as the ladies left alone. It would have been too obvious if a cloaked stranger hiding his face left with them. He was a little uncomfortable without them in his sight. What if they were ambushed and he wasn’t there? He shook his head, he couldn’t control everything, and brooding about it wouldn’t help.
Nora tugged on his arm. He stopped and faced her, she had a fierce look in her eyes when she kissed him.
Nora said with feeling, “Fuck yes,” then her lips twitched.
He wasn’t sure what she meant at first, but apparently the magic did, because he felt his reach out for hers and bond. He pulled her in for a rough kiss, breathlessly she pushed him away.
She smiled, “Later, later you can give me a child, but first we need to go kill those fuckers. I just didn’t want to, couldn’t, wait anymore.”
They held hands as they reached the end of the tunnel. There was a ladder, so they climbed. The ground parted before them and they climbed up into a field. When they were clear, the ground closed back up. He couldn’t see a thing to indicate anything was there at all. They had a straight shot here, it would take the other women longer as they had to get to the city gates on the south wall and then walk around.
He wondered just how long, when he spied a group of men about sixty yards away, he guessed they were probably an enemy scout team as he didn’t recognize the armor. There were eight of them.
Nora pulled him down and whispered, “Leave them unless they attack. There may be mage there; we don’t want to use your talent unless we have to.”
Nora cursed as they started to move in their direction. “Nothing for it then,” and started to launch air bullets at the enemy.
Four of them went down, the others were protected by a shield of fire. He didn’t want to expose himself, but letting them die to avoid that seemed like a bad plan, so he burst into fire, canceling the enemy talents and protecting Nora and himself. He immediately let go of his talent as he saw the other four men go down under Nora’s magic.
He frowned and looked around, he didn’t see anyone else, but he was still worried someone had seen him.
Nora’s tone of voice echoed his frustration, “Of all the fucking luck.”
He agreed. They were easily in range of the city, even if it wasn’t the enemy, someone must have picked up the large magical power surge. One bad thing about being the Flame, the power didn’t lend itself to stealth. They could only hope word wouldn’t reach the invading army until it was too late.
The trap itself was a short mile to the northwest from where they were. To his relief, the others showed up a few minutes later, and they started out at a brisk jog…
*
Katrina growled low a
s she ran alongside Justin. She was a little nervous at first, the thought of going into battle. But she realized she really didn’t have a choice. She needed to protect Justin and her unborn child. Hiding while others fought wasn’t the way to do that.
When they were about halfway there, the sounds of battle reached her sensitive ears. The others heard it a short time later and they all picked up their pace. In Anton’s message, he had hoped that he would have time to rest the troops, and for them to arrive. Apparently the enemy, not knowing their plans, expected Anton to retreat behind the city walls, so had attacked immediately.
As they closed in, the sound of screams, fire, earth and air joined the loud clanging of metal against metal. The battle was fully joined, but from what she could see, Anton was holding his side, for now.
The earth talents had set traps deep in the earth, and as they had hoped, deep enough to avoid detection. Behind the enemy troops was a large gap in the earth, that should be extremely deep, preventing them from retreating. They were surrounded by tall hills that were climbable, but not quickly, again foiling an escape.
Of course, they didn’t know that they would need to escape very shortly. The decision for the enemy to attack immediately would fall in the defenders’ favor. It was too late for them to be warned that Justin still lived. When they reached the rear of the tight battle lines, she felt Justin’s protection engulf her, and saw the white flames sweep over both the armies.
She hadn’t seen what Nicole had been up to, so she watched in fascinated surprise when twenty birds of pure flame appeared. Ten circled their group, ten went for the front lines. She considered that, and it made sense. They were pretty safe back here. Without magic, the enemy had limited distance attack options. Nora and Sally were effortlessly deflecting any arrows that moved their way.
She didn’t have much to do, so she just kept an eye out, just in case the enemy got close to them somehow.