by Erin Raegan
Two streams of liquid trailed down her cheeks, and I cradled her face.
“He came, and I did not resist.” I kissed her soft lips, tasting her sadness. “He took me to Juldoris and told me a shocking tale.” I looked at my brother. “He told me of how he had been sent to assassinate my brother and found an imposter in his stead.”
My brother looked away in shame. I could still remember the fury that coated my mouth as I had looked into the Juldoris cell to see him cowering.
“Chyn killed the imposter and told the Juldo Master it was the king. But he lied,” I continued, barely able to control the fury in my voice.
Tahk shook his head in disbelief. I sympathized. I could not believe it myself.
I looked at my mate again. “The Juldo Master is no longer a threat.”
Tahk gaped. Haytu rested his hand on Tahk’s shoulder and huffed. Mohna clutched my arm, trembling.
I pulled her close to me. “The assassin has imprisoned him for the time being.”
“He has?” She wrinkled her nose. “Why?”
I shook my head. “I wanted to cut him down the moment I saw him sniveling in a cage.” I snarled and stepped away. The assassin had not let me get close enough. “Instead, the assassin took me into the bowels of his dungeon. There I found Aryx and soon after, Josyd.”
Haytu stepped forward. “She was imprisoned all this time?”
I scowled. “No, she was a guest.”
Haytu staggered back and dropped into a chair. “Why?”
“It seems the scheming in this kingdom goes deeper than we could have imagined.” I looked at my brother.
Aryx took a breath and pulled his thick ridges from his face. “Josyd had been trying to overthrow me since the death of our father.” He looked at me with sorrow. “She had him assassinated.”
“No,” Tahk snarled. “You lie.”
Aryx shook his head sadly. “No, I speak truth.”
“The Vitat, why did you send them to Earth?”
Aryx flushed. “You think so little of me? Josyd has been scheming with the Juldo for sunspins.”
“She sent them?”
“The Juldo Master did. But they used my ignorance against me. I suspected my council shortly after I sent you to Earth. I will not lie, I did plan to use the human females. I did not see another way. Our numbers are dwindling. But I did not wish to enslave them.”
Tahk backed away from him. “You told Gryo of your plans.”
“Yes, we discussed the possibility of human conception, but not enslavement. That was Hull and Josyd, as well as several other members of the council.”
“Who did we burn in the rites, Aryx? Who took your place?” Haytu asked wearily.
Aryx looked away. “A good friend of mine. That eve I overheard Josyd discussing the Vitat and the Juldo, I realized how ignorant I had been. I had not realized my own mam had been ruling my kingdom in secret. I had not realized she was so corrupt.”
“So you fled?” Tahk stomped away and spun back. “I never took you for a coward.”
Then Tahk was the only one. Aryx had been a soft king. There were many who did not believe he was courageous enough to hold the throne.
“I did not flee,” Aryx growled. “Oryl was my guard. He agreed to stay behind while I confronted Hull and Josyd. But they were nowhere to be found. When the castle alarm sounded, my guard escorted me to safety. But by the time we emerged, my guards had heard of my death. So we hatched a scheme. I knew Uthyf would return and take my place. I did not know who I could trust, so I flew to our kingdom in the south. Once there, I had planned to contact you, but I met an ambush instead. Josyd realized I was not dead. She was the one who found Oryl’s body. He looked like me, but my mam could tell the difference. She carved his face to hide our differences. Then sent an army to the south, my guard was slaughtered and I was taken to Juldoris. There I remained until the Shadow Born assassin found me in the master’s dungeons.”
“You are lucky to be alive,” Haytu whispered.
“The Juldo Master wished to kill me. But Josyd did not believe our Dahk would accept Uthyf as King. I suppose it was her way of saving the life of her son that she suggested they imprison me. When it was clear he would not give up the throne, she and the master tried to manipulate me. But I did not break.” Aryx raised his chin proudly.
“Had you stayed and confronted them, your kingdom would have rallied around you,” Tahk snarled. “There are good Dahk here, honorable Dahk. My father would not have allowed Josyd to capture you.”
Aryx flushed and looked away. “I did not know who I could trust.”
“And that is why your brother is the better king.” Haytu shook his head sadly. “You cannot see past your own arrogance.”
Haytu left the room, and Tahk followed. Aryx gazed after them in sorrow.
I placed my hand on my brother’s shoulder. “Give them time.”
Aryx looked down. “I am not staying, brother.”
“What?” I shook him. “Your kingdom needs you.”
“They are right, brother. The throne was never meant for me. You are what this kingdom needs.” He turned and left.
21
Uthyf
I walked through the castle halls with my mate by my side. Dahk stopped and cheered, greeting me with happiness and relief. I smiled and nodded, but sadness and exhaustion weighed on me.
For the two weeks I had been gone, I had sorted through the mess of my House. There was still so much Tahk and Haytu did not know. There was so much more on Earth that they were not aware of.
Chyn may have locked away the master, but the assassin had barbaric demons controlling his spirit and calling for blood and in due time, he would have to answer the call. For days I wondered if he would follow through on his promise to take my life, but the assassin seemed at war with himself. Not once did he attack me. Instead, he left me to my brother—but not before warning me there would come a time when my sword would meet his own.
My mate was quiet as we entered our rooms. I should leave her to her thoughts, but I had gone too long without her. The door closed firmly behind me, and I lifted her from her feet. She yelped and held on as I carried her to the bed. As I tossed her onto her back, I watched her fiery hair spread out in a wave of flame above her. Her chest heaved, and she shifted anxiously. Snarling, I tore the gown from her body, baring her pale skin to the open air and my fevered gaze.
I did not wish to scare her, but I needed her. She saw my hesitation and smiled sadly, holding out a hand for me. I bent and kissed her small, clawless fingers. She sighed happily, and I dropped to my knees at her delicate feet. Spreading her thighs, I bent and inhaled her sweet musk. She jolted and curled her thighs over my shoulders. Her small heels digging into the thin hide of my wings.
I growled, my blood heating, calling to her. I licked through her slick heat, and she cried out. I gave her no reprieve, lashing at her center until she was thrashing below me and screaming her release.
I lifted her to the center of the bed, then tore the ties at my leather pants and shucked them impatiently. She panted heavily as she watched me with glazed arousal.
I dropped onto her and rolled until she was straddling my hips. In this, she had complete control. “You have me, my queen. I am yours to claim.”
She blushed beautifully, her paleness bleeding pink from her pert nose down to the pointed peeks of her breasts. My sweet mate fretted as she wiggled above me. I could see every scar marring her body. I had not seen her back, but I had felt the raised scarring. I knew she had suffered, but I would never let another touch her again. I would never let another blade near her beautiful body. Never again would she feel the sting of a whip. And when she lay with me, she would know nothing but pleasure.
“Look at me,” I urged her.
She did so fretfully.
“You are my queen and I am your king. You need never fear this bed. This space is ours alone and you will know nothing but my love when you are in it.”
She
blinked watery eyes and slowly sank onto my throbbing member. Her mouth opened, and her little tongue licked her bottom lip. I snarled and fisted my hands at her hips. I waited as she adjusted to my thickness, and I cursed furiously when she moved. Rocking, she gasped and whimpered. She grew frustrated quickly. Grabbing my fists, she spread my fingers and slapped my palms on her hips. I grinned and aided her as she so clearly wished.
I lifted her and pulled her down. She threw her head back and her long fur caressed my thighs. Slapping her hands on my chest, she pushed up with me and quickened the pace.
I bared my teeth as I watched her large breasts bounce. I sucked a tip into my mouth and rolled it against my tongue. She cried out and trembled. Grasping my horns, she swiveled her hips quickly. I groaned around her breast. Much more of that and this would be over far sooner than I wished.
“Uthyf,” she panted.
I heard her plea and flipped her onto her back. I drew my hips back and slammed them into hers, marveling as she bowed back and cried out. Her thighs curled up and she thrust her pelvis into mine.
She shook and gasped. “Uthyf!”
“I am your king,” I snarled. “Say it.”
“I—what?” She whined as I tilted my hips, bowing her further.
“Call me what I am as I make you writhe beneath me.”
She huffed a laugh. I slid out of her and rolled her to her stomach. Pulling her to her knees, I slammed back inside.
“Shit!” She curved her spine—and I froze.
Hesitantly, she looked over her shoulder and paled.
I’d thought I was prepared. I’d thought I had known. But I hadn’t.
She looked away, her red fur shielding her face from me. I smoothed my hands up her spine, watching them shake against her skin. The damage … I shook my head. Cursing furiously inside, I kissed the center of her spine. I should have slaughtered him. I should have slaughtered the assassin just so I could slaughter the foul creature who could do this to her beautiful body.
“I will set off tomorrow,” I murmured. “The master will not see another sunring.”
She sighed and slumped below me. “Oh, Uthyf, it wasn’t all him.”
I blinked in confusion. She tried to roll from me, but I nuzzled into the back of her neck. “Don’t turn from me.”
“My father,” she whispered. “He liked to use his belt.”
Bile rose in my throat. Her father did this? She had suffered far more than I could have imagined.
“The Juldo Master saw them and liked to whip open the old scars. But he got bored easily. Most of those scars are really old.”
I moaned in pain. How could a father do this to his daughter? It was the heinous of sins. “Oh, my Mohna.”
“It’s why I wanted to stay here. I didn’t want to go home. He’s there.”
I blinked through my fury. I wanted his name. I wanted his location. My Dahk would hunt him down and bring him to me. But my mate was trembling. She was sad and afraid and scared and I’d sworn she would know none of those things in this bed.
“Come here, love.” I rolled her over and pulled her to my lap.
She straddled my thighs, looking anywhere but at me.
“You will give me sons and daughters, and they will know only love and happiness.” She gaped at me, and I grinned devilishly. “You cannot run from me now, my Mohna. It is too late.” I lifted her and slipped back into her slick heat.
She sucked in a sharp breath, but it was of sadness and pain.
I froze again. “Mohna?”
She wrapped me in her arms, shaking. “I have to tell you something.”
“Hush now, do not fret.”
“I don’t know if I can give you that,” she confessed. “I don’t know that I can give you sons and daughters.”
“You do not want babes?” I asked, shocked. There were female Dahk who felt the same, but it was rare. To create a life was precious, revered. And so very difficult in this time. Success was a true blessing.
She sniffled. “I do, one day, very badly. But my father … he wasn’t gentle. He hit me a lot. I was told there was too much damage.”
I looked up to the skies so she would not see the fury on my face. “My Mohna, you are fertile. You were tested by the healers when you arrived here, but even if you were not, I would still live the rest of my sunrings with you and know true happiness.”
She looked up with hope shining from her eyes. “Really?”
“Yes, Gryo tested all of you as you were healing.”
She shook her head. “No, you would be happy with just me and no babies?”
I clutched her face tightly. “You are my Pythe and my queen, but you are also my heart. I will accept and rejoice whatever life the ancestors have planned for us.”
“You could take another mate. Alyn could—”
“No.” I shook my head once firmly. “There will not be another.”
“Uthyf, you’re the king. You can’t—”
“I am, and I can.” My tone was hard and unyielding. I would not bend in this.
“I don’t want to force you to be something you aren’t,” she said in a small voice.
“Love, I heard Gryl talking to you once about his desire for a mate. In this, he and I agree. I do not need more than you. I do not want more than you. My Dahk are ready for a change. They have shown us this. They will learn to accept my decision.”
She looked away. “I don’t know. It feels risky.”
“As all the most worthwhile things are.” I grinned and lifted her off my softening member. The friction quickly aroused me once more. Slipping back inside her, I laid her down but kept her bottom on my folded thighs. “If you are to have a chance of conceiving my son, I must seed you many times a day.”
She gaped then closed her eyes in bliss as I plucked at the tight ridge between her thighs. “Many times?”
“Many, many times.” I pumped my hips with my words.
She tangled her fingers in her fur. “Okay.”
Snarling playfully, I bowed over her and drove every sad thought from her mind. I did not release her until she was crying out everything I commanded and milking every last drop of my seed.
22
Mona
The next day, we found ourselves in the throne room with just about everyone. And Aryx. But not Josyd. Everyone wanted to see the king who had come back from the dead. There were a lot of questions to answer but not many answers to give.
The number one question on everyone’s mind? Who held the throne?
But Aryx was pretty open about not being here to reclaim it, and the Dahk didn’t seem too broken up about that. In fact, they looked relieved. But the crowd was huge and it took hours to see everyone. After the meeting we’d had early that morning, we were on the lookout for one in particular.
When he walked in, I could only tell by the way Uthyf stiffened at my side.
Lyran prowled into the throne room as though he had no care in the world. He was a tall Dahk, muscular and intimidating. I don’t know why I thought he would be small like his daughter, but I was surprised.
But not as surprised as I was to find out Alyn’s father was a traitor. It made me wary of her, but Haytu had been her advocate when Aryx gave her father’s name. He had heard nothing damning about Alyn. Still, my gut was screaming at me. Alyn was here, in the room somewhere and I didn’t think she was going to take what was about to happen to her father very well.
Lyran bowed to Uthyf and Aryx, ignoring me completely.
“Lyran,” Uthyf boomed. “I did not expect to see you.”
The crowd around us quieted.
“I came to see for myself.” Lyran grinned. It was stiff and forced. “Aryx has returned. Will he be sitting on his throne again?”
Uthyf shook his head then nodded to the guards around the room.
As several guards stepped behind him, Lyran scowled. “What is this?”
“Tell me, did you act alone with Josyd, or are there other traitors amongst my
council?”
Lyran chuckled nervously. “I do not understand.”
Uthyf stood and stepped down. “You do. Did you think yourself so untouchable that I would not find out? That I would not remove you for your treachery?”
Lyran flushed. “I have done nothing.”
Aryx walked beside Uthyf and glared. “I know, and now so does my brother.”
“You are hereby stripped of your Rise,” Uthyf boomed. “Your position is forfeit. Your House now belongs to me.” Uthyf nodded to the guards.
They seized Lyran by the arms and dragged him away.
“No!” he shouted, kicking and thrashing. “I have done nothing!”
“You have plotted with members of my council to assassinate my brother,” Uthyf snarled. “Then you plotted to assassinate me. Worst of all, you plotted with the Juldo and endangered my Dahk.”
The crowd gasped and backed away.
“I will find your co-conspirators, and you will know my wrath.”
Something sharp bit into my throat from behind, and I froze. Gryl snarled and lunged forward, but the blade at my neck pressed deeper, and he froze. A hush fell over the crowd.
Uthyf turned. His eyes found mine and widened in horror.
“Release my father!” Alyn screamed at my ear.
The guards looked between Lyran and Uthyf.
“Do it now!”
Uthyf nodded stiffly, and Lyran dropped to the ground. His hands shook as he stood.
“Daughter, what are you doing?” Lyran asked with what sounded like genuine terror.
“She ruined everything!” Alyn screamed.
Her blade slipped, and I winced. A stream of blood slid down my neck.
“Release her,” Uthyf snarled.
“Daughter, do not do this.”
“It was supposed to be me!” she screamed. “He was supposed to drink it and he would have died! It would have worked! But she ruined it!”
She’d poisoned me that night? She had actually tried to kill Uthyf? What. The. Hell.
I had thought, but it seemed so crazy before. What could she have possibly gained?