by Marie Harte
Feeling sick to her stomach, she realized the black soil was in fact a mixture of waste and blood, and the mess pushing against the glass was probably bone and other indigestible matter.
This thing has got to go. In her astral state, Mal, unlike most witches, could perform magic with ease. Though not as powerful as in her corporeal form, Mal could conjure and command the elements. And fire seemed a sure way to rid the ship of its ‘soul'.
As she chanted the spell that would spark a fire within the stalk, she thought of Core, wondering if he knew about this creature, and if so, what he thought. Worry for him had her hurrying the spell, and without knowing how she did it, she threw a monstrous blaze at the creature in less time than it normally took her to throw on her boots.
The minute the fire licked it, the plant began to writhe in pain, and the ship buckled, tilting precariously to the left. Hot damn. Her intuition had been spot on, and the Phrellians ran around in a panic, not sure how to help their—pet?
But fear for Core made her leave before finishing the monstrous creature. In the time she'd been touring the ship and setting fire to a demon Venus Flytrap, he'd likely been battling scores of Phrellians. For all that he and that snake had strength, even Core was only one man, ah, one Talian.
Whooshing out of the ship and back into her body with a slap, she blinked hazily up at a vision of Core covered in cuts, wavering on his feet as he finished off the last remaining Phrellian. Bodies littered the ground, dust and black blood everywhere.
"Core?” she croaked, tying to make her body move. She'd left herself standing, and her feet felt numb. Core, however, didn't move, and the snake at his side turned quickly, eyeing her like its next meal. “Core?” she whispered again, nervous when the snake flickered its tongue in her direction and slithered closer.
The snake was at least a few hundred pounds, its body broad and long, with wickedly sharp teeth and surprisingly intelligent eyes, eyes that looked just like Core's.
It neared, and she drummed enough energy to take a step back, stilling when it hissed its displeasure. She hesitated to harm it, knowing the snake had a connection to Core. But he wasn't responding, and she really didn't want to be its next meal. Before she could conjure a spell, however, the snake wrapped itself around her in a move too fast to be seen.
One minute it glared at her, the next it held her imprisoned as it wound around her body. Her eyes widened, but not altogether with fear. This snake, this creature, felt like a familiar! She sensed raw, untapped power in its body and mind, and relaxed under the recognizable sense of magic.
The snake immediately loosened its coils, now slithering and sniffing at her with curiosity rather than threat. The feel of its tongue against her cheek tickled, and she imagined the sight of them both to be unbelievable. She knew any other witch in the same situation would have screamed bloody murder. But Mal, the poor little trade witch, used to working as her own, gasp, familiar, was used to such ‘lower’ magic. She normally used the form of a cat because it didn't arouse as much notice as a snake, but she'd once or twice become the reptile, just for the sheer hell of it.
"Mallory?” Core had turned around and stared at her in surprise, his lips curling into a grin as the snake began purring. “You feel very comforting. Very warm."
She stared at him with concern. His eyes, what were once a beautiful gray-green, now were yellow, an almost sickly color. His skin seemed a pasty gray, and his blood, not black but red, streamed over his skin as if he'd bathed in it.
"Core, you're hurt. Let me try to heal you.” But when she took a step closer, the snake tightened around her, thankfully saving her from buckling to the ground. She suddenly felt shaky, weak, and knew the powerful spell she'd used in the Phrellian ship had taken its toll.
He hissed at the snake, rumbling foreign words she couldn't begin to describe, and walked through it, taking her in his arms. A soft green nimbus encompassed them both, and then Core once again wore the snake on his body, a body covered in blood....
"Core, you need help,” she said weakly, alarmed at the thready sound of her voice.
"No more than you do. Don't worry, kina. I'll take care of you. A gift from the gods should always be treasured.” He smiled, his teeth bright white and thankfully flat. “Now close your eyes and conserve your energy. The trek to the Yuka Forest will be long."
Her body did as bid, and she wanted to ask him how he'd taken control of the situation when blessed sleep enveloped her.
* * * *
Core forced his body to move, ignoring the pain as he drew on his true self's strength. He'd been both relieved and troubled when Mallory finally rejoined her body. He'd dispatched all but a few of the Phrellians, and he'd tired from the many venom bites and stab wounds. The loss of so much blood weakened him more than he'd liked, but The Snake stood strong, no doubt due to Ratlaharan's favor.
Unfortunately, he had only so much control over his true self. And when he'd seen The Snake hug Mallory within its coils, he'd felt frozen with fear, unable to move under The Snake's direction.
Thankfully, his true self seemed to recognize Mallory, for the warning hug had quickly turned into an affectionate embrace, one he himself wanted to share with the woman he intended on claiming. But weakness quickly replaced the strength in her body, and her skin had turned distressingly pale.
Her magic was indeed powerful, and draining, he thought as he took her in his arms and glanced over his shoulder at the tilting Phrellian vessel. He only hoped she hadn't done irreparable damage to herself for having helped the Talians.
He snuggled her closer as he began the long journey to Yuka, the only place he knew of to heal her spirit. He needed her whole as quickly as possible, and himself, as well. He couldn't protect her well enough in this state and any harm to Mallory made him weak in the knees as it was. That in itself should have told him he'd found a worthy mate. But his attraction to the odd witch, she called herself, made him take note anyway.
Core had taken other females, even enjoyed their differences. But he'd never been drawn to a woman not of the Talian race for mating. It wasn't that he shared in any prejudice, just that he'd been born and built to procreate the race. Duty and mission instilled by the priests of Ratlaharan himself. Through Core, one day the Phrellians would be a threat no more, and the Talian race would perpetuate and thrive, again living in peace and harmony in the high plains of Horum Veirus. But until he could rid his people of the hated Phrellians, who existed in large numbers and with technology he and his kind barely understood, he knew it would be a long time before peace was anything more than a dream.
He sighed and wiped the blood from his eyes yet again, damning the rush of Phrellians that had managed to knock him to the ground. It had been a split second before he'd been up again, but the damage had been done. Even now he could feel Phrellian poison spreading through his body, making him weak with the need for blood, the need to feed and thus make him one of their own. He'd faced and fought off the poison before, but he'd never been bitten so many times, had never been scoured with Phrellian talons, which injected the poison much deeper into the bloodstream.
Glancing down at Mallory, he suddenly noted the pulse pounding at her neck, screaming at him to sample just a small taste. Remembering how pleasurable she'd been when aroused, how sweet she'd tasted on his lips, he grew hard, making walking uncomfortable.
He paused and tried to control his urges. Bowing his head, he prayed. Help me, Ratlaharan, to treasure this gift. Protect her from the evils of temptation, and let us begin our journey to freedom.
A tingling grew in his legs, and power revitalized him. Thanking his creator again, he began walking toward Yuka, more determined than ever to save himself and his woman, and to drown himself in her scent once more.
* * * *
Mal woke to a splitting headache. Groaning, she sat up carefully, aware her surroundings had once again changed. Glancing into the darkened sky, she saw four moons, and marveled at her reality. Soft leaves rustle
d under her body as she shifted, and she stared in surprise at the forest of trees around her. Considering the short time she'd been here, wherever here was, when not in that underground ‘nest', she'd seen sand and more sand. So where the hell did this place spring from?
But more importantly, where was Core?
Her heart began racing when she looked around but couldn't find him. She recalled him bleeding, wounded, and still protective of her. He'd looked pale and ill, his eyes yellow and his skin almost white. He had taken on so many Phrellians, his wounds courtesy of those white-haired demons, and yet he'd been strong enough to bring her here.
Aside from the headache, which even now began fading, her body felt more than fine. The small yellow bed of leaves and moss tingled where it met her skin, and she wondered if the area had medicinal properties. Rising slowly to her feet, she studied the area, looking for signs Core had been near.
Bingo. She spotted large footprints leading away from her, and followed them with haste, unable to stem her worry. She found him several yards away under a large canopy of red and yellow-leaved trees. He breathed deeply, and she thanked Hecate that he lived. He still remained covered in blood, however, and she immediately leaned close to examine him.
To her surprise, he had no more than few superficial wounds. A nice bath and he'd clean up hale, hearty and gray. She smothered a grin. Funny how much his odd coloring now seemed so normal.
She stared over his body, feeling a remarkable possession take hold. This warrior, Core, was hers. At least until she returned home. A feeling of restlessness filled her, and she had to remind herself she couldn't stay in this foreign world. Clearly she didn't belong.
He murmured something and shook his head, his soft hair tickling his cheeks. In sleep he appeared human, large and graceful, but with that odd gray skin tone. Hell, he'd fit in with her crowd a lot better than Rattler did. And imagine using his ‘snake’ as her familiar. She warmed at the thought. No more slumming it, no more having to use herself to do her magic. But more, unlike her other familiars, Core had so much more to offer.
As soon as she thought it, she grimaced in self-disgust. Core was so much more than a familiar, than a symbol of wealth and privilege. Here lay a leader, a male who had sacrificed much to ensure the survival of his people. And look at what he was up against. She scowled up at the sky, not surprised by the fact that vamps, be they Newtown vampires or Phrellians, were a pain in the ass in any universe.
"Mallory?” Core rumbled, blinking up at her. “You are well?"
"Great. I think the plants helped me recover faster. At home, it would've been days before I could lift my head after using that kind of magic."
He nodded and closed his eyes, breathing deeply. “I am glad. I was worried at how deeply you seemed to sleep."
"But what about you?” She ran her hands over his chest lightly, tracing the scars that even now were healing. “You're covered in blood, but you look much better than when I saw you last. I could swear those Phrellians had carved into you like a turkey."
He frowned. “Turkey? I was injured, but the Yuka trees have speeded my healing, as they have yours.” He sat up and flexed his arms, and she stared, helplessly drawn to the wall of muscle of his upper torso. She was such a sucker for a good upper body. “What's wrong?"
She shook her head. “Nothing.” Clearing her throat, she tried to sound normal, and not as if she wanted to jump his bones. “Do you think we can find some place to clean up? I feel gross, as if I still have the breath of those Phrellians on me."
He stared down at himself and grimaced. “I understand the feeling.” He stood gracefully and reached for his weapons belt, not a trace of pain on his face. “Come with me."
He led her several yards away into a cave. They walked through the darkness in quiet, and Mal wondered at the peace flowing through her. Though she couldn't see, she knew Core could, and the simple trust she felt in being with him startled her. How had she managed to connect with him in so little time? Again, it was as if she'd known him for years, and that they'd always been close.
"Here we are,” Core said, squeezing past a narrowing in the rock walls.
Mal gasped when they exited the cave into a smaller grotto lit by moonlight streaming through a hole in the ceiling. The condensed, intimate area had a small pool surrounded by rocks, interspersed with the same yellow-green moss she'd seen outside. The walls were smooth, though, making her think the cave had been man-made, and not crafted by nature.
"The healers of my people have come here for years,” Core explained, following her gaze. He ran his hand over a wall. “They found that the spring running below the caves has restorative properties. And in this particular grotto,” he paused to smile, a grin that made her toes curl, “the waters are particularly stimulating."
His look left little to the imagination, and as he began removing his kilt and boots, she saw clear evidence of his intent.
"Are you sure you're, ah, okay for this? You looked in pretty bad shape earlier."
"Trust me. I'm fine. But I'll be better when you're as naked as I am."
Keeping her eyes on his, she gauged his reaction as she slowly stripped out of her clothes. His nostrils flared and his eyes changed, glowing with heat, the pupils elongating. He closed the distance between them, stopping a foot from her.
"You smell so good,” he murmured, staring deeply into her eyes. “I want to bury myself inside you and never let go."
Her heart raced and she stared, unable to say anything. Had she ever been looked at with such hunger? With such all-consuming need?
"Come here, kina, that I might show you my full appreciation."
She smiled, both amused and aroused that the fierce warrior before her seemed so smitten. Taking a step forward, she let out a small shriek when he grabbed her in his arms and walked into the warm pool behind her.
Chapter Five
They sank into the water, Core up to his neck, with Mal wrapped around him for support. He quickly washed them both, giving her breasts an extraordinary amount of attention.
"Mmm, that's what I needed. Warm kina to cure me."
She laughed and kissed him solidly on the lips, growing used to the heat he continued to fuel inside her. “I don't know how you do it, but around you, I'm perpetually in heat."
He groaned and ravaged her mouth, all but taking her very breath. The feel of his tongue teasing hers, of his lips sucking and sliding over her mouth, her cheeks, and her throat, set her on fire.
"I like the thought of you in heat, kina. To know that only I can satisfy you.” Apparently he was as caught in the blaze as she, for he wrapped her thighs around his waist and thrust into her, hard.
She closed her eyes and groaned, wanting more, now, harder and faster. And Core complied, rocking into her, thrusting over and over until she saw stars. He came soon after, filling her with small shocks of bliss that shot her over the edge again.
"I'm sorry, Mallory,” he rumbled, rubbing his forehead against hers as he tried to catch his breath.
She could only nod, wondering what the hell he had to be sorry about.
"I didn't mean to rush it, but you're so prime.” He groaned and shifted, sliding out of her before thrusting in again. “Ratlaharan has blessed me beyond all of my kind."
"Core,” she sighed, feeling him stir within her.
"But I show his gift little value do I not worship properly."
She squirmed over him, growing uncomfortable at his continued references to her as a ‘gift'. Mallory knew what she was. ‘Gift’ didn't come close to the description.
"Look, Core. Much as I love what you do to my body,” she moaned as he rotated his pelvis against her. “I'm no gift. I'm a trade witch, the lowest of the low. I can't afford high quality charms and spells, let alone a familiar. Most of my magic is raw. My life is spent working paycheck to paycheck, and the only reason my super hasn't kicked me out yet is that he likes having me under my thumb as much as he likes staring at my ass."
Core stilled his movements and scowled. “This ‘super', he bothers you? Makes advances you do not return?” His words grew icy, and the passion burning them both began to cool as real rage replaced his ardor.
"Uh, Core? You can relax. I could kick my super's ass blindfolded."
He seemed fixated on his anger, as if she needed protecting from Morty the Jerk. “Look, big guy, I'm kind of stuck on you, literally, and I'm hoping for some more of your incredible ‘appreciation'."
She twisted over his penis, her breasts brushing against his hard chest that had begun to harden into a scaly shell. Oddly enough, his anger stimulated her, causing her to writhe over him.
"Hecate's cauldron, but you have to be the sexiest man I've ever laid eyes on.” She nibbled his neck, sucking hard on the pulse beating rapidly, and heard him groan. She nipped him, biting to leave a mark, and he stiffened inside her.
"So you like it rough, hmm?” she purred, stroking his chest before clamping her teeth over his nipple. She didn't bite hard, but gave him enough pressure to show she meant business.
He gasped and pushed her back tight against the pool's wall. “Mallory, kina, that wasn't nice.” He began pumping, as if unable to help himself, and she loved the feeling of fullness he created when he pushed his thick shaft deeper inside her. “And I wouldn't be doing my duty if I didn't worship you properly."
He immediately pulled out and she groaned. “Core, don't stop now."
With a strength she admired, he lifted her in his arms again and walked toward the inclined portion of the pool. Instead of leaving, however, he put her belly down on the mossy ledge, and palmed her ass as if it belonged to him.
"I haven't been devoted enough,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire. She felt him spread her thighs before a thick finger skated along the edge of her anus.
"Core,” she warned, not sure about this. “That is one place I've never ... ah!"
He pressed his finger deeper, pushing against her sphincter before retreating. “To properly show my devotion, I must fill your vessel with my seed.” He slid his fingers into her vagina, soaking them with her cream. Then he placed his finger back on her anus, rimming the outside before slowly pushing in again. “The pleasure here will spiral out, and soon you will be filled not only here, but there, as well.” He added a finger inside her vagina, so that he penetrated her dually.