by Alia Johnson
The flap of wings from above had Ruben changing his focus. Gorius was bearing down on them from the sky with wings flared to block out the sun.
The purple sword swung downward, about to decapitate Ruben. Vashti shoved away from him while he was distracted with Gorius and fell from the nettle to land on her feet. Magnamar bellowed when he saw her fall. He moved the lotle worm’s head in Vashti’s direction.
Running toward Mar, Vashti vaguely noticed Gorius was locked in battle with Ruben. Their swords were connecting hard enough for sparks to shower over the top of them.
Gorius hadn’t made the killing blow. Mar reached down to the side of the worm, holding his free hand out to her. Grasping his hand with both of hers, Vashti swung herself up behind him. She would willingly go with Mar anywhere, even to battle.
“You never said he hurt you,” Magnamar admonished her gently, reaching to his side to grasp something. He pulled forth her fire whip, holding it out to her in his clawed grip.
“It wouldn’t have changed anything.” Taking the whip, she smiled up at him in thanks.
Mar snorted, smiling savagely at her. “I would have ended him the first day I met with him and gifted his head to you.”
“You would’ve done that for me?” she whispered, looking into his eyes, pushing his dark hair from his face to see his expression better. No one had offered a head to her before and made her heart stutter.
“I would do much for you,” whispered Mar. “Would you like your revenge now?”
Vashti gripped her whip in her hand, happily replying, “More than anything.” Her heart was beating with excitement instead of fear now that Mar was here. He would face this threat with her.
Magnamar turned the lotle toward Ruben, now off the back of the nettle. The guards circled the fighting pair while occasionally trying to get a hit on Gorius to give Ruben the advantage.
Vashti jumped from the lotle, Mar following. He dueled with the guards standing in their way easily cutting through them with his broadsword without breaking a sweat. Vashti lashed her whip, curling it around Ruben.
He turned a menacing eye to her. “What are you going to do with an Incendie whip? Fire can’t hurt me while I wear this, remember?”
“I remember. I remember everything. But the lotle is hungry.” Vashti grinned back at him. She felt crazed as if all the emotions she had kept bottled up were trying to release at once.
Ruben drew himself up straighter, eyeing her disdainfully. “You think you have the guts to do it? To hurt your own master? The one who taught you everything you know, Vashti? You wield that whip because of me.”
“Feel the venom coursing through you, Vashti? Will you spread your legs for me now? I think we will have these bonds in our room after we are married. I’ll let you out when you are a good girl. Do you love the pain?” she recited as if in a trance. She shook off the old pain. “You hurt your students. You tortured them. Look what you did to Rainey! Your own sister!” Tightening the whip, she ended her rant with a scream.
Ruben began to panic, the worm inching closer, opening its giant mouth above him.
He screamed out, “I know who’s controlling the storm that’s destroying Bijou! The one Odesha battled! I can tell you secrets only I know!”
Vashti hesitated, looking at Magnamar. Magnamar sighed and looked behind Vashti. Medorah slithered up, muzzle gone. Cassira followed behind her. The guardian was wiping her bloody sword on her pant leg.
Medorah flicked her wrist. “The Pit Dynast knows who controls the storm, Vashti. I will contact her to get the information. The Prince has nothing we need. End your suffering.” Bitsy was out of his hiding spot and seemed to nod his head in agreement.
Smiling, Vashti called out to the lotle worm to feed. The last thing she saw was Ruben’s shiny boots kicking from the pincers of the lotle’s mouth. The vice squeezing her heart was now gone with his death. He couldn’t hurt her anymore or any of the students that he was assigned to. The Prince of Romule was no more.
Gasping, Vashti turned to Mar to ask worriedly, “What about the army Ruben brought? He gave them the orders to follow Charon.”
“They were informed of Ruben’s demise early and were sent back to Romule. Their King will be informed of his son’s death. Don’t worry about Charon.”
Vashti considered Rainey’s lineage. “Then… Mortimer will be the next King.” Mortimer had always been kind to her. He was soft-spoken and considerate to his sister’s feelings. Rainey would be overjoyed.
Magnamar’s spikes stood on end. “Did Mortimer harm you as well, Vashti? I promised you a head.”
She hurried to reassure him, “He has always been kind to me. Rainey told me he never wanted to be a part of the Incendie and stayed close to his studies. I want to know what happened to Charon and Uruti. I didn’t see the two of them while we fought Ruben.”
“Gorius fought Uruti in the Forest, who had gone mad with her anger. That’s why it took him so long to reach us. Cassira was guarding the far path and came upon Charon leading Medorah through a tunnel trying to escape. Along with Dramon and Medorah’s pet snake, Cassira fought and won their battle.” Mar paused with a smug smile. “I suspect Dramon is nursing his old bones inside Baklan right now.”
Medorah added, “You should’ve seen Bitsy, Vashti. Charon was dragging us through the tunnel when Bitsy emerged from my breasts, slithering down my arm. He bit Charon with his tiny teeth until he let go of me. That was all the distraction Cassira and Dramon needed to save me.”
Vashti stared at Magnamar, asking the dreaded question, “So what happens now?” She supposed he would go back through the tunnel with the lotle worm, returning to his throne and the Hunt would progress. Vashti and Medorah would escape just like they planned; they would just have to rid themselves of Gorius again. Cassira had already moved back to her position as guardian of the path until the Hunt was over. She took Bitsy with her since he was tuckered out after saving Medorah. Dramon was probably in bed.
“The Hunt continues until Baklan’s lava stops flowing,” Mar’s gravelly voice informed, watching her closely for her reaction. The scent of battle, blood, and sulfur were evident around them. Her hunger for him was twisting her insides, and she was trying not to let him know it. It was distracting, trying not to stare at his throat.
Gorius moved sensually toward Medorah; her own eyes transfixed on his. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her into the sky, and left Magnamar and Vashti alone.
Vashti cleared her throat, watching the two of them soar away, whispering, “You should go back inside. Your people are safe now.” Feeling awkward, she tried not to look at him and show her true feelings.
“Yes, they are.” He took a step closer, watching her reaction.
Vashti started to sweat, the fire burning hotter inside her at his nearness. If he didn’t move away right now, she would follow him like a duck, waddling after her duckling through the tunnel. It wasn’t a romantic picture in her head, and she wouldn’t stoop so low.
“You… you said before that everything wasn’t as it seemed. I should’ve listened closer to your words. You knew it was Charon, not Gorius that had betrayed you.”
Taking another step closer, his breaths puffed down her neck. Her arms erupted in chills.
“Yes, I knew,” he answered softly, touching a snake bite scar on Vashti’s back carefully, becoming enraged all over again at the torture that she had endured without him. If he could bring Ruben back, he would torture him and see how he liked it, but he had wanted her to take her own revenge. It had been cleansing for her, and Mar hoped they could start fresh.
“What… what are you doing?” Vashti asked breathlessly when he stilled behind her.
“I have never joined a Hunt,” Mar stated, running his hand up her back to her hair, playing lightly with her golden curls that smelled of sulfur. She was gold all over, like the purest molten rock. The pure golden magma was like candy to the lotle worm.
And to him.
H
anging her head, Vashti hoped he didn’t see the hurt or the wetness gathering in her eyes. His words made her realized he had only come to save his people, not her. Old insecurities reared their ugly head in her mind. She was curvy and muscular, where many were thin and soft. Maybe he was looking for something else in a Queen. Someone meek and small. She hated every one of them.
Mar cleared his throat. Vashti looked up and noticed the intensity shining in his eyes.
He gently turned her around to pull her chin up to face him.
“I have never joined a Hunt. But for you, nothing will stop me.”
The penetrating eyes took her breath away when she realized what he said.
Vashti froze, unsure whether to run.
He had been hunting me the whole time?
Mar had known the army would be there, whether for him or Vashti. He had kept Vashti close to him, giving her a room with access to the tunnels, and ended the siege from Romule while drawing out Charon, a threat that hid in his very walls. He had met his end goals in one day, but without her, those goals felt incomplete.
Vashti would be his queen. Since day one he had known, but enemies watching him had made him cautious. He had found someone to share the fire with after all these years, and it was precious. He was never letting her go. The thrill of the Hunt pumped in his veins, Baklan calling for him to conquer. The foreign feeling was making him tense.
“Run, Vashti,” Mar growled, spreading his wings behind her.
Chapter 19
Vashti wasn’t sure if it was a threat or a whisper of a promise, but the order pushed her in motion. She didn’t run toward the lotle worm tunnel or the high rocks. His wings would bring him down swiftly to her, bringing their chase to a halt. Vashti felt like he needed a challenge.
Instead, she headed toward the dense part of the forest pushing past thick trees.
She put Saphira at the back of her mind. Odesha had promised she would send their brother to Bijou first, and Magnamar would ensure Vashti’s protection.
Mar had joined the Hunt for her.
The trees became so thick it was hard to make it through them. She was sure that the other competitors had already been taken while they were engaged with the battle with Romule, so she didn’t worry about them. Instead, she kept her eyes to the sky in case a sneaky King decided to cheat. A flap of wings caused her to hide underneath a large leaf of a tree until the sound passed. Taking in a deep breath, she continued running through the forest. A hiss of a snake hanging from a tree didn’t scare her; she knew she was protected with Mar around. She smiled with joy at finally being free of her fears and insecurities of her scars. Mar accepted her how she was even if she was a little cracked inside.
A flap of wings brought a body down in front of her blocking her path. At first, she thought the person in front of her was Mar, but the wingspan was smaller, and the man was thinner with a large belly as if he drank demon brew every day. The smile on his face wasn’t kind. It was smug like he had already bested her.
It made Vashti’s blood boil.
“Golden eyes is not conquered yet? Lucky me. Lucky me. My brothers will appreciate your beauty since their wives decided to join the guardians.” The disgusting male didn’t wait for her answer. He roared and lunged toward her. Vashti tried to turn and run, but when she twisted around her foot caught on a tree root sending her crashing to the ground.
The man never touched her.
Mar wielded his sword on the tree branch above them. The armor he had worn during the battle had been discarded, the only garment he wore now was his cloth pants, but the giant broadsword remained with him. He swung the sword in a low arc, taking the life of the man who dared to touch Vashti without permission. The dead man’s head, with the same smug smile, bounced toward Vashti’s caught foot.
Vashti gasped when she spotted that hideous face by her foot. She hadn’t heard Mar in the trees, but the whistle of the sword was so familiar that she had looked up to see where it was coming from. Mar stood above her like an avenging angel. His wings spread wide spanning the entire branch, his bloody broadsword held tightly in his firm grip. He still stared down at the dead man's body as if he could rip him apart with his bare hands, but that didn’t scare Vashti.
It excited her.
Mar jumped from the branch, folded his wings against his back, and walked gracefully toward her. She hadn’t moved from her position. Her heavy breaths pushed from her mouth, and all she wanted was for him to take her.
Right there.
In the pool of the dead man’s blood.
If that didn’t say how obsessed she had become with this demon, she didn’t know what did.
When Mar slammed his sword deep into the ground beside her head, she gulped loudly, thinking she was going to get her wish. He crouched down, caging her body in with his arms, staring into her eyes with his gray light shining. Vashti could smell the sulfur from the volcano on his skin, the sweat dotting his back. She licked her lips, wanting to taste every inch of him.
Mar never looked away as he crawled up her body. Vashti tensed with anticipation, thinking it was time. Instead of tearing away her pants like she thought he would, he grabbed her ankle, twisting it to the side to pull it free from the tree root.
Placing his hands on either side of her legs, he growled, “Run, Golden Eyes. Run faster before I take you here in the blood of our enemy like your eyes beg me to. Before another demon claims you like they ache to, and I gift you another head.”
Vashti gasped at the thought of Mar being attacked in the open area. She twisted her body around on the ground to make it easier to stand. She had to run deeper into the forest to escape the other demons nearby.
Before she ran, she looked behind her to where Mar still crouched. His muscles were bunched as if he prepared to run after her, his fingers sunk in the ground to hold him in the same place and give her time to escape him. It sent a thrill through her that this male was so ready to claim her he had to anchor himself to the ground — the trees whipped by her face; the forest quiet with her loud steps.
Turning a corner, a beautiful scene caused her to stop running. A waterfall, coursing down a long-forgotten part of Baklan into a bright blue pond, was undisturbed in the dimming light. Several animals sat enjoying the water, watching her approach with wary eyes. When she came out of the tree line to investigate further, the animals retreated to their homes in the forest to give her space. Fluorescent lighted plants began to glow with the falling sun, the ivy beginning to glitter under her feet. Picking up her feet, she gasped, trying to move away from the ivy before she caused damage.
The shifting wind brought a familiar smell to her nose.
Mar had followed her to this glen. His body dropped from the closest tree when she turned around to find him. The determined look in his eyes caused her heart to beat harder. He didn’t stop to give her time to think when he reached her side. Grabbing her hips, Mar lifted her high to his hungry gaze. Vashti placed her knees on his shoulders and held on to his horns to not fall from her perch. He used her distraction to reach a hand forward and rip her undergarments away. Gasping, she looked down. Mar was completely focused on what he had revealed. Her golden curls covering her most private area seemed to fascinate him. Growling, Mar struck fast and licked her clit.
Vashti cried out; her body all ready for him. She was wet and needy, grinding her hips down on his mouth to seek relief. Mar tightened his hands on her thighs, keeping her still so he could ram his tongue into her waiting hole. The pressure was too much for Vashti. Her orgasm ripped through her, making her throw her head back and lose her grip on his horns. Mar caught her. He lowered her down to the glittering ivy, caging her in his arms so she couldn’t move. Vashti felt her body responding again, the need rising inside her as she traced her fingers over hard muscles lining his arms. He felt so much larger when he surrounded her, making her feel protected. His heat was comforting. She spread her legs, waiting to see what he would do next.
“More,�
� he growled. Responding to him, Vashti’s legs opened farther as if she had no control over them. With him, she didn’t think she had any control left at all. Mar leaned forward and took her mouth in a hard kiss, sliding her lips open with his own to feel her tongue with his. The passion building between the two was hard to handle.
Letting go of her lips, Mar grabbed her tattered dress and ripped away the remnants of it. Vashti moved lower and tried to help Mar remove his pants, but they were already gone. She felt the hard length of his cock standing erect, waiting for her touch. The thick veins running up its length called for her to lick, to taste, but Mar had other ideas. He grabbed her hands and pinned them down above her head, locking his eyes with hers in a challenge.
Mar bared his teeth at her. “You are mine, Vashti. My wife, my mate, my bonded. Say the words now before I take you without them. I can feel your heat begging me to fuck hard.”
Vashti tried to catch her thoughts, but they seemed to be everywhere. “I am yours, Mar. Your wife… your mate… your bonded.” His smile eased a bit as he began to move to enter her, but Vashti stopped him. “Now, you will say the words back.” She would give and take just like him in this union. He was hers just like she was his.
He stopped, returning his hard gaze to her. He threaded his fingers through hers to hold her tightly. The night was eerily quiet around them as if the forest waited to hear what he had to say. “I have been yours, Vashti, since the first day I saw you walk into Baklan. I have been your husband, your bonded, your mate since you challenged me with that look of pride shining in those eyes. They are mirrors of the golden heart inside you I wish to claim. I am your slave to do with as you wish, my precious one. I will be by your side… forever.”
So moved by his words, Vashti felt a small tear trickle down her face from the corner of her eye. Mar leaned forward and licked it from her face. She took the chance to kiss his cheek and whisper, “I love you, my King. You’ve had my heart since the first moment.”