by Ramona Gray
“Ten years or so,” Vida replied.
“What did she do before that?”
“She was in the queen’s army. There was an attack on the walls by a clan called the warkins. They brought many warriors and after a week of attack were successful in breaking down the gate. The current massina panicked and failed to lead her warriors properly. It was Quinn who pulled them together and saved the clan from being overtaken. She led them to victory and personally saved the queen’s life when a group of the warkins invaded the castle. The queen is a vicious warrior herself but there were over a dozen of the warkins and she would have been killed if Quinn had not saved her.”
Vida rubbed absently at one of the dark horns protruding from his temple. “After, when the warkins were dead and order restored the queen killed the current massina and made Quinn the new massina. She has been the queen’s protector ever since.”
“How many of the women have you slept with?” Evan asked.
“Many,” Vida grunted. “There are nearly twenty young ones who have come from my seed.”
“So, delicate question but how do they keep from inbreeding if you’ve been here twenty-five years?” Steve asked curiously.
“They keep careful records of lineage. A woman named Zeeda runs the trading and supply store and keeps track of the births and the deaths. Although it is easy enough to tell who I fathered – most of the girls are at least a light purple and the two boys share my colouring,” Vida said with a small grin.
“If you could leave this place, would you?” Silas asked abruptly.
Vida gave him a thoughtful look before nodding. “I would. The babbling idiot is correct in that it is not a hardship to live here. We are treated well but I would leave.”
“Why?” Craig asked.
“I miss my home. I miss the skies and the mountains and the water,” Vida said.
“Do you have family?”
“No,” Vida replied. “At least none who would miss me.”
“Yeah but even if you did find an orb they keep saying there’s no guarantee it would take you home,” Steve pointed out.
“Perhaps not but I would take the chance,” Vida said before standing. “I grow tired of talking with you. Good luck in your testing tonight.”
* * *
“Massina?”
Quinn came out of the small bedroom as the front door of her home opened. Kila stepped inside and closed the door before beginning to cry.
“I’m so sorry, massina.”
“Hush, sandora. It isn’t your fault,” Quinn said.
“It is. It’s entirely my fault. It should have been me up there being punished,” Kila sobbed. “I tried to make mother change her mind but she refused.”
“I’m glad she refused,” Quinn said. She moved toward Kila and opened her arms as the young woman sobbed brokenly. “Come here, my sweet sandora.”
Kila nearly threw herself into her arms and Quinn winced at the sharp pain in her back. Kila stiffened and dropped her arms. “Garna, I’m sorry!”
Quinn smiled and stroked Kila’s hair. “Stop apologizing. Come, we will have some tea and you can fill me in on what’s happened the last few days.”
“Sit down and rest, Quinn. You are still pale,” Kila said.
Quinn sat down at the small table as Kila placed dry leaves in a clay kettle before filling it with water that was bubbling over the fire. She sat it on the table and grabbed two mugs and the jar of dried pink stalks. As the tea steeped she sat next to Quinn and took her hand.
“What have I missed?”
“Nothing, really. Akia has been acting massina in your absence and she’s being a total fleeta about it.”
Quinn smiled a little. Fleeta was this world’s version of bitch and she wasn’t surprised that Akia was being so miserable to the others.
“She’s made us do about a thousand exercises in the last few days and most of them are completely useless. The new breeders are being tested tonight.”
“Aye, Naveen told me. He also told me that you specifically requested to test Gage and that you visited him twice.”
Kila blushed softly and stared at their clasped hands. “I like him, massina.”
“I know you do, my sandora, but it’s very dangerous for both you and the breeder.”
“She won’t find out,” Kila said.
“Do not be so sure of that, Kila.”
“I’m going to bid on him at the claiming ceremony,” Kila said defiantly.
Quinn sighed. “Kila, it is not - ”
“It will be my first one and I want him to be my first,” Kila interrupted. “Gage is kind and sweet and I know he will make it special. I want it to be special, massina.”
“There is nothing wrong with wanting it to be special but you know that the breeders are shared by everyone. It is your mother’s rule and you have seen what happens when you break the rules.”
“Why does it have to be this way?” Kila said bitterly. “Why can the breeders not have their own choice on who they wish to breed with? When I am queen things will be different. I promise you, Quinn.”
Quinn frowned at her. “Kila, you have never disagreed with the breeding rules before. Why now?”
“You know why,” Kila said.
Quinn sighed loudly. “You cannot let your mother see your affection for the breeder.”
“His name is Gage.”
“If she knows that you have feelings toward Gage she will use that against you. Do you want to see him injured or even killed because of that?”
Kila paled and rubbed at her forehead before straining the tea and pouring it into their mugs. “You know I do not.”
“Then you must keep your feelings for Gage hidden.”
“I hate her,” Kila said suddenly.
“Hush, Kila. She is your mother.”
“You are more of a mother to me than she ever will be,” Kila said. “I love you, Quinn.”
Quinn squeezed her hand gently. “I love you too, Kila. Will you do me a favour?”
“Aye, if I can.”
“Bid on more than just Gage the night of the claiming ceremony. It will lessen your mother’s suspicions if you do.”
Kila sighed loudly. “All right.”
“Do you promise?”
“Aye, I promise.”
“And for garna’s sake, do not let anyone know you are testing Gage tonight.”
“I won’t, massina. Will you test his brother?”
“Of course not. Why would you think that?” Quinn asked.
Kila grinned at her. “I do not sleep as deeply as you think I do, massina.”
“Shit,” Quinn said as Kila giggled.
“You sounded like you enjoyed yourself with the danen that night in the forest.”
Quinn flushed red and Kila laughed again. “I did not look, massina, I promise you. But it was difficult to drown out the noise.”
“You can’t say anything, Kila,” Quinn said.
“Of course I won’t. Will you bid on the danen at the claiming ceremony?”
“Your mother will take him for herself, you know that.”
“But if she doesn’t will you bid on him?” Kila persisted.
“No. I will not give her anything to use against me,” Quinn said.
“Taking the danen once will not make her suspicious,” Kila said.
“It might,” Quinn said.
“Do you care for the danen?”
“I barely know him,” Quinn said.
Kila shrugged. “That doesn’t mean you can’t care for him. I’ve never seen you show any interest in the breeders, so obviously there’s something you enjoy about the danen. You’ve never even taken Vida and he’s made it perfectly clear that he would enjoy your company.”
“Vida is a good man,” Quinn said slowly, “but I have no interest in him.”
“Is it the blue skin or the fangs?” Kila asked. “Fionn has been with him several times and she says he uses his fangs in the most delightful way. She says he�
��s very skilled at both lovemaking and pussy eating.”
“Kila!” Quinn gave her a shocked look and Kila laughed.
“I may still be an innocent but it doesn’t mean that I don’t listen in when the others discuss the breeders.”
“I have no interest in Vida,” Quinn repeated. She had no interest in any man that had been with the queen and the queen chose Vida often.
What happens when she takes Silas? Will you lose interest in him as well?
Her stomach tightened with jealousy. The thought of Silas being in the queen’s bed made her stupidly angry and she tried to calm herself. There was no point in being upset about it. The queen would take Silas and yes, she would lose interest in him after that. She couldn’t be with any man that had been with the queen. Not after what she did to Kevin. She had her time with Silas and she needed to forget him.
“Quinn? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, sandora,” Quinn said. “Just a little tired. Let us talk of other things now, shall we?”
* * *
“Kyle? You okay?” Silas touched the younger man’s shoulder. They were standing in one of the many rooms in Naveen’s home with Evan and Steve. Craig and Gage had already been taken by Naveen to different rooms.
“I’m fine,” Kyle said.
“Kyle, I know you’re not on board with this and I get it, I do, but you can’t fight them. You saw what the queen is like when her rules are disobeyed.”
“Yeah, I know,” Kyle replied. He sighed deeply. “It isn’t that I don’t want to have sex with different women. Hell, I like sex as much as the next guy. It’s just having our choice taken away that’s bugging me. We’re nothing more than baby-making machines to these chicks and frankly it’s kind of degrading.”
“Yeah, I know, but there isn’t much we can do about it right now. After we’ve been here for a while we can start formulating a plan to escape. But for now, we just need to go with the program.”
“I will,” Kyle said morosely. “Honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve had sex and I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me that was looking forward to tonight and the stupid claiming ceremony. Lloyd wasn’t lying when he said these chicks are good looking. I want to have sex - I just hate that I don’t have a choice in who it’s with.”
“Suck it up, buttercup,” Steve said cheerfully. “This is our life now and I for one, am planning on enjoying it.”
“Shut up, Steve,” Kyle said before rolling his eyes.
The door opened and Naveen smiled at Silas. “Danen, you’re next.”
* * *
“Massina, what are you doing here?” Fionn smiled at Quinn when she entered the hallway.
“How is the testing going?” Quinn asked.
“Fine. Naveen just took the danen to the exam room. Two of the breeders have already been examined and are being tested now.”
“Good,” Quinn said. She clapped Fionn on the back before heading down the hallway. She turned the corner and rested her ear against the main examining room. She could hear Naveen speaking to the danen in low murmurs and she ducked into an empty room when she heard Naveen walk toward the door.
“This way, danen,” Naveen said. “You will be tested shortly.”
She held her breath and prayed frantically that Naveen wouldn’t choose the room she was hiding in. She released it in a harsh rush when their footsteps faded and waited until she heard a door close before creeping back into the hallway. She hesitated, torn between leaving, and her desire to know who Naveen had chosen for Silas’ testing. Her choice was made when Naveen stepped out into the hallway and shut the door behind him.
“Hello, massina,” he said in a low voice. He didn’t seem at all surprised to see her and she blushed a little.
“Good evening, Naveen. How is the testing going?”
“Good,” he said. “The princess is with Gage and Belda is with the one called Greg.”
“Craig,” Quinn said absently. “His name is Craig.”
“Such strange names they have,” Naveen said with a soft laugh. A glow was beginning to emanate from beneath one of the doors and low groans could be heard.
“I see Belda has begun the testing,” Naveen said.
“Who is testing the danen?” Quinn asked.
Naveen smiled at her. “I have not chosen anyone for the danen as of yet, massina.”
Quinn bit at her bottom lip. “Why not?”
“I wanted to give you the opportunity to change your mind. Have you?”
Quinn hesitated before nodding briefly.
“Good,” Naveen said happily. “The danen is chained to the chair. Do not unchain him for the testing.”
“I know the rules,” Quinn said.
“Aye, you do,” Naveen said. “The bowl is in the room. Make sure you collect as much of his seed as you can please.”
“Fionn and Matina saw me come in.”
“I will give a believable reason for your absence. Do not worry,” Naveen said.
“Thank you, Naveen,” Quinn said. She squeezed the old man’s shoulder as he walked by and he gave her an affectionate look.
“Aye, you are welcome, massina.”
* * *
Silas shifted on the chair before tugging lightly at the chains that bound him to it. After the physical exam, Naveen brought him to this room and asked him to remove his clothing. Once he was naked and sitting in the chair, the old man chained his arms and patted his shoulder. “It won’t be long, danen.”
“Who is it doing the testing?” He asked but Naveen only grinned at him before setting a wooden bowl at his feet and leaving the room.
He shifted again. The room was dark and cold and goose bumps were rising across his skin. Despite his talk with Kyle he was feeling anxious and unsettled. He had told Kyle that he had to accept whoever it was that tested him but he probably should have given himself the same damn pep talk.
He had only been with Quinn once but already the thought of another woman touching him was making his balls shrivel. He swore inwardly. He hadn’t wanted a relationship for years and had been content with just one-night stands. Now when he was facing a life time of one-night stands, he was lusting after the one goddamn woman he couldn’t have.
Not one-night, buddy.
He sighed loudly. Fine one-month stands. It didn’t negate the fact that the only woman he really wanted was Quinn. She had gotten under his skin in a way that no other woman had and his one bout of sex with her wasn’t nearly enough.
She might choose you for the claiming ceremony.
She wouldn’t. She never took anyone for the ceremony. Part of him rejoiced at the fact that at least he wouldn’t have to watch her fight for another man, while the other part of him pouted that she wouldn’t choose him either.
Hey, Silas? I don’t mean to interrupt your little pity party but you’ve got bigger problems right now. Mainly the fact that some chick is going to come in here and if you don’t get an erection you’re going to be in a world of hurt.
He took a deep breath. Very true. If he couldn’t provide them with a goddamn semen sample they’d have no use for him. He’d just have to close his eyes and pretend it was Quinn touching him. He had a bad feeling that it would be the only way he would even get an erection. Jesus, he was in so much fucking trouble.
The door opened and he strained to see who it was in the dim light from the hallway. The door closed, plunging them into darkness before he could get a good look. He sat stiffly in the chair as the woman approached him.
She didn’t say anything and he jumped when she ran her hand across his bare chest. He inhaled sharply when her fingers traced his abs and cleared his throat loudly.
“Uh, hey, I’m Silas. What’s your name?”
More silence and he tried not to flinch when her soft hands touched his thighs. Despite her touch his cock remained stubbornly flaccid. Feeling anxious, he tried again. “So, um, do you do this often? Testing the breeders, I mean?”
Still no answer
and he grunted when the tips of her fingers touched the head of his cock before she curled her hand around him and stroked back and forth. He conjured up an image of Quinn, tried to pretend it was her in the room with him and her hand that touched him. It didn’t help. His dick stayed limp and he tried to keep the nerves out of his voice.
“I’ve never, um, done anything like this before so maybe you could not judge me too harshly. I’m not used to being chained to a chair while a strange woman starts wanking me.”
The woman released his cock and Silas cleared his throat again. “I just need, uh, some time.”
“Tell me, danen - are you always this talkative before a hand job?”
Quinn’s low voice, laced with amusement, drifted out of the dark. Silas released his breath in a harsh rush. “Jesus, Quinn. Why didn’t you tell me it was you?”
“We’re not technically here to talk to you, danen,” she said. Her hand drifted across his abs again and this time his cock stiffened immediately. She touched his cock and he moaned with pleasure as she laughed softly. “That’s better.”
“What are you doing here?” He said.
“I thought that was obvious,” she replied as she stroked him firmly.
“Jesus, that feels so fucking good,” he muttered.
She released him and he cursed under his breath. “Don’t stop.”
She straddled him. There was the rustle of clothing and he jerked again when he felt her nipple brush against his mouth.
“Suck, danen,” she demanded.
He sucked at her nipple, circling it with his tongue before nipping at it with his teeth. She moaned quietly and clutched his head. She dug her fingers into his scalp before guiding him to her other nipple. He sucked eagerly at it and she arched her back then tugged his head back.
“Kiss me,” he demanded.
She dropped her mouth to his and they kissed deeply, their tongues dipping and darting into each other’s mouths. After a few minutes, she lifted her head and took a gasping breath.
“I want to fuck you,” he said.