by Alia Johnson
“Vashti, burn them, please. I can’t stand the smell any longer,” Mar ordered her quietly, before stepping to the side. He didn’t trust himself to burn them, afraid that his anger would cause him to create an inferno. Vashti held out both hands and grew two giant fireball, readying them for what she wanted to do. Vashti threw the balls of fire on the bodies where they quickly spread like wildfire across their clothing. In only minutes, thanks to the heat of the flame she had created, Santos and Edger were piles of ash.
Moving behind the throne, Mar grabbed a golden crown that would fit Vashti’s head from the pillow. Some of the blood from his hands smeared across the middle gem, but Vashti didn’t protest. The bloody crown would be an excellent fit for her.
After placing the crown on Vashti’s head, Magnamar moved back to the center of the throne to address the people watching them with fear.
“You may have wondered why our Queen is covered with the blood of our own. They thought to take what is mine. To take our Queen for their own. Now, they are ash, thanks to her. They were cowards preying on the woman that one of them had chosen. This will end, here and now, or more blood will be spilled. I will feed you piece by piece to the lotle worms if you dare cross my words.” The uncomfortable silence that followed his words made it clear they believed him. He ordered, “Cassira, come forth.”
Cassira walked to stand in front of the King beside Talia, who still stared down at the ash with a faint smile. She bowed low.
Mar continued, “You are now in charge of the guardians.” Cassira gasped and straightened before Magnamar had given her permission to, but he didn’t bother with her slight against him. “You are in charge of their well-being, their duties, and their future from now on. It is mandatory for you to sit on the council to discuss issues that need to be brought to my attention.”
Petri, the former council member in charge of the guardians, stood up, blubbering and throwing up his own hands. “King Magnamar, I protest! I have overseen the guardians for many years!”
“And you haven’t reported things that needed to be,” reminded the King. “You will now be over the kitchen, which I know you to be fond of. The duties you will have are to assure we have enough supplies and the planning of daily meals. If you fail, you will lose your council seat to someone that is able to do the job.” Petri sat down and puffed up with pride. Vashti didn’t like that he hadn’t been stripped of all his privileges, but she knew he was good with the kitchens. Even Cassira had mentioned that.
Cassira met Vashti’s eyes and asked hesitantly, “My King, who will oversee the maids for Queen Vashti? Do I continue to be at her side?”
“No. Medorah, come forth.”
Medorah, with a helping hand from Gorius, stood and came to stand by Cassira after the eyes of the people of Baklan turned to her. “You are the Queen’s friend and confident. I want you at her side to guard and protect her.”
Bowing, Medorah hissed, “Thank you, King Magnamar. I would be honored to serve my Horde King and Dragon Queen.” A low murmur of voices raced through the people. They now had something else to call Vashti.
At least it wasn’t Queen Titi.
“Vashti, do you have anything to add?” Mar asked. The people held their breath to see what the Queen would say.
Vashti stood from the throne and walked out to the center where Mar stood. She did have something to add. “Talia.” The woman looked up from the ash and stared at her. “I want you to be an advocate for the married women in Baklan, if you are agreeable.”
“An advocate, Your Highness?” Talia wondered out loud.
Vashti stated louder for the entire people to hear, “An advocate that would help the women transition into their roles as a wife. Someone to lean on and help learn Baklan’s traditions. If there is trouble in the household, the women will have someone to turn to. The men have each other, have grown up side by side together, but the women that come to be part of Baklan do not have friends or family to turn to. Will you be that person, Talia? I will give you anything you need to make sure you succeed.”
Talia’s eyes became determined as she glanced down at the ash piles once more. “I will, my Queen. I would be honored.” She would help the women, as no one had been able to help her. Vashti could see the passion for Talia’s new assignment being therapeutic for her.
Magnamar looked at Vashti with pride shining in his eyes. The women looked happy, nodding along with Vashti’s decree. No one had expected something like this. But they were proud that their new Queen thought of the people first. Of all the people.
“Cheers to the Dragon Queen, the golden heart of Baklan!” The chant continued through the crowd making Vashti’s heart swell with joy. She was carving herself a place within the halls of Baklan. It may be a bloody one, but it was still her own.
“Come,” growled Mar lowly, holding his hand for Vashti to take. He needed to bring her back to his home and make sure she was unharmed.
Vashti placed her soft hand in Mar’s callused one. She didn’t hesitate to go with him. The need to be with him flowed through her, making her hurry at his side through the halls of Baklan to their rooms. She was becoming more familiar with the area and noticed his rooms were secluded from the hive. He had chosen to be alone.
Mar didn’t pause when he reached the door to his rooms. He shoved it open, pulled Vashti through, and slammed the door behind them. Vashti could smell his scent in the room. It surrounded her senses, making her feel closer to him.
“Do you want to keep that dress, Vashti?” he growled. He had begun to remove his armor plating, while she stood in a daze. The gold buckles and harnesses keeping it together looked complicated.
“Well… yes?” she answered hesitantly. She wasn’t sure why he was asking about her bloody dress right now. It looked ruined, but she still hoped it was fixable.
Mar smirked, the last of his armor dropping to the floor, and ordered, “Then take it off before I rip it to pieces.”
Vashti gasped. She hurried to pull at the thin straps, but the growls coming from Mar’s throat made her hands shake. It was going to be impossible to take it off without help, and Mar noticed her trouble.
He walked toward her with great strides, his thick cock swinging between his muscular thighs. He was already hard. The thick veins were pulsing with magma as if he wanted to plant his fire inside her, and never let go. Vashti wanted all of him.
Now.
“Promises, promises, my King.”
Reaching out, Mar grabbed both sides of the gold gown and tore it apart, revealing Vashti’s body to his hungry eyes. Her curves were in full display in the light of the roaring fire. She had droplets of blood here and there across her skin, but Mar didn’t care. Ignoring her gasp, he licked his lips and savored the beauty in front of him. He had killed his enemies for her. He would destroy anyone or anything that stood between him and his Queen. The blood splashed on her body was a reminder that he had conquered. Now, he would conquer his Queen’s cunt.
“You forget, I never break my promises. Didn’t I say you would fuck the Horde King? He hungers for you. He wants to take you hard and bury his seed so deep that it takes root inside of you.”
Vashti gasped at his words. Mar moved with lightning quick speed to capture her mouth. Her fang cut his lip, but he didn’t care. The blood he shed would feed her and solidify their bonding. Mar would give her as much as she would take.
Vashti moaned, tasting the blood flowing from the cut on Mar’s mouth. She had to have him now, the desperation pulsed through her. She wrapped her arms around his neck to yank him forward and thread her hands in his thick, black hair. The long locks tangled in her fingers.
Mar’s growl shook her body, making her empty pussy spasm with need. She couldn’t wait any longer. Spreading her legs, she locked them around Mar’s hips, trying to find what she needed. His cock was ready and waiting. When Mar felt her warm core inviting him inside, he roared with need, rearing his hips back to sink deep in Vashti’s waiting fire.
The scream torn from Vashti’s throat was one of bliss. Mar gathered both of her wrists in one hand and pinned them to her back so he could take her how he wanted.
Hard.
The savage way he took her sparked her frenzy. The blood from Mar’s mouth had stopped flowing, so she moved her head closer to his neck to take her fill, leaning against his chest to rub her aching breasts across his thick chest.
When her fangs pierced his neck, Mar saw fire behind his closed eyelids. The strength of her arms trying to fight his hold and the sucking of her fangs made him feel like she was pulling directly from his cock. He tightened his arms around her and moved faster, shoving his cock as deep as she could take it, feeling his orgasm rip to the surface. She bounced hard, her golden hair tickling his thighs.
Vashti’s cunt tightened like a fist, her release making her fangs leave his neck so she could shout out her pleasure to all of Baklan. The echo of her cry would make its way to his people still celebrating their union. They would know their Queen had been claimed. Mar’s answering bellow mirrored hers as the swell of his cock became unbearable. The orgasm that battered him poured into Vashti’s womb, his release seeming to go on forever, as they moved together, trembling in each other’s arms.
No, the Horde King would never let his Queen go. His fierce mate would make sure of it.
Chapter 24
The Generals didn’t surround the King anymore. He had his own personal bodyguard now. Vashti sat at his side wearing a molten crown of gold Mar had crafted from the lava.
She had an assortment of them now. This one was her favorite; Vashti had told everyone. When he had seen her fighting in the first trial, she had reminded him of Baklan coming to conquer their land from Dramon’s stories as a child. He crafted the crown Vashti wore like the one on Baklan’s head in the garden. Vashti’s wardrobe included circlets, a snake crown, and several flowered pieces. They were all beautiful. And he had crafted them all for her. She had several items on the agenda for today’s meeting with the Generals — more changes for them to bicker about. Vashti couldn’t wait.
The council had been changing. Petri was in his new position. Talia and Cassira, the first women, sat at the table. They wouldn’t be the last. Some of the Generals seated now didn’t possess wings.
That change had been because one day Vashti had asked Mar why all the Generals had wings. He had said it was a battle advantage. If they weren’t at war, why did they need winged council members? Magnamar had agreed, pleased with her forward-thinking. He admired Vashti for speaking her mind and offering suggestions to improve Baklan with every opportunity.
The suggestion she would put forth today might not make the council members happy, but she wanted it to be passed as law to ensure their safety.
Gorius yelled for attention to the group, swooshing his wings to force air on the group to end their side conversations.
The Horde king opened his wings, revealing Vashti and himself to the group.
“Queen Vashti called for this meeting to put a suggestion to the council.” Mar looked at her expectantly and waited for her request. She hadn’t expected a grand speech to introduce her to the group, but word traveled fast in Baklan.
It was, after all, a giant beehive.
And she was the Queen bee.
She cleared her throat. “Great Generals to Horde King Magnamar, I offer one suggestion to ensure the safety of our people. During the trials of Baklan, the unworthy competitors were forced to become guardians not to leak the secrets of Baklan to the outside world. I suggest that the unworthy have the new options of leaving Baklan forever… or they may choose to stay to become a guardian.”
A roar of outrage sounded from the elder Generals. Dramon sat smiling at her, nodding his head. She had one councilman to support her it seemed. The others looked like they would gladly murder her.
She smirked. I’d love to see them try.
Dramon had offered his sorrow over his son, Charon’s, treachery. He had banished Charon from his heart years ago when Magnamar had exiled him, putting fire to Charon’s face. Dramon had explained he always knew he had a good son and an evil one fighting for dominance between themselves, not realizing that it would spill over to innocents. The remorse ate away at Dramon, his wife eventually passing from the heartbreak that even Gorius couldn’t stop. No one had expected Charon to be hiding in their very walls. But the King knew all.
“That’s why he’s King. Wise to a fault that one. Battle ready, always,” Dramon told her matter of factly.
One of the generals shouted, “They will tell our secrets! Our guardian numbers will fall!”
Vashti piped up to reassure him, “Not necessarily. We may have even a larger number of guardians volunteering for the work. Great warriors will come to compete far and wide to have a chance to become a wife of a Baklan soldier. Would you want a bitter guardian consumed with hate to care for our children? To watch over our families? We are asking for heartbreak and pain.”
The Generals talked amongst themselves, the points of their new Queen hitting hard. Uruti had been a prime example.
Magnamar whispered in her ear, causing her to giggle, “I support you in this no matter what they decide.”
“And if they don’t approve?” Vashti whispered back.
“Then, off with their heads,” growled Mar ominously. She wasn’t sure if he was serious or not.
Vashti nodded her head to Gorius regally, his great wings losing a giant gust of wind to calm the raging men arguing so intensely.
“What say you, council?” Vashti called out. The men tried to settle down.
She pointed at the middle of the table to Dramon, who gave a shout of support. She moved to each person to hear their opinion. The entire room shouted their support for their Queen’s suggestion. Vashti smiled up at Mar and gave him a nod.
No one would be killing anyone today. He opened his mouth to speak when Cassira walked forward, bowing low in respect.
“Rise, head guardian Cassira,” ordered the King.
She straightened, getting right to the point. “King Magnamar, there are guests requesting entrance.”
Vashti straightened in her chair looking at Mar worriedly. They weren’t expecting anyone yet. Medorah hadn’t contacted the Pit about the information they needed. Gorius was concerned about her leaving by herself.
“Who are they, Cassira?” asked Vashti loudly, afraid to hear the answer.
Cassira turned to her. “The female states she is called “Rainey” and introduced her male companion as “the servant man following me around,” my Queen.”
Vashti stood with a joyous smile. She gestured toward the door. “Show her in! She is a close ally from Romule.”
Magnamar gently took Vashti’s hand in his bony one, pulling her back down on her throne. She smiled up at him happily. Mar winked back in response.
Cassira turned to the doorway to speak to the guardian that stood at the door. The guardian hurried off to retrieve their guests.
“Who is Rainey, Queen Vashti?” Gorius asked from his position beside Mar.
Vashti turned slightly toward him to give him her full attention. “She is one of my dear friends from the Incendie Tanssijja, the daughter of Rion, the King of Romule. One of the nicest people you could meet just wait and see, General Gorius.”
The doors opened with a bang, the hands of a delicate female outstretched, as she stared menacingly in the room.
“Who should I maim first, Vashti?” shouted the slender female in the doorway. Her short, dark hair was spiked to the side, making her look like an avenging pixie. The flame of the Incendie was stitched on the tunic of her black tunic.
Gorius coughed lightly in his fist. “Yes. She seems quite pleasant, Dragon Queen.”
Rainey pursed her red lips when she heard Vashti’s new title.
“You couldn’t wait until I arrived? Really, Vashti?” shouted Rainey, even louder than before. She looked hurt Vashti had married without her being by her
side.
Vashti rushed around the table. Her arms were outstretched when she ordered, “Come here you beautiful, bull-headed creature and hug me before I order you to the dungeon!”
Rainey laughed, drawing Vashti up in a hug. Her smaller height didn’t stop her from twirling Vashti around in a circle.
Vashti laughed. “I have so much to tell you! Who is the servant with you? I didn’t see them come in with you.”
“I’ll tell you if you let me have that crown your sporting on your shiny golden head.” Rainey was always making bargains and had a taste for anything that sparkled. It was a weakness of hers.
Suddenly, a chill raced down Vashti’s spine. The aura of powerful magic pulsed through her carried by the breeze from the door.
Endemion, the Dark Prince, stepped around the corner. His giant black horns curved menacingly upward almost scraping the ceiling. His short black hair danced about his face almost hiding his black eyes. The last time Vashti had seen her brother, he had turned his back on her after he left her in Romule.
“I tried to leave him home, Vashti, truly I did. I even tried to bargain with him,” Rainey whispered, eyeing Endemion uneasily.
It wasn’t true.
Rainey had begged Endemion to let her come, but Vashti didn’t need to know that. The tension in the room escalated with Vashti’s open-mouth stare.
Thankfully, Magnamar couldn’t see Vashti’s face. He wouldn’t be able to tell how uneasy she felt around Endemion.
There had always been something off about him.
Endemion watched Vashti intently, taking in the room, his eyes bleeding red from his rage after settling on Magnamar.
“Vashti needed protection, not a marriage, Magnamar,” Endemion seethed through gritted teeth. He stared hard at the Horde King.
The Generals gasped in outrage at the disrespect toward their ruler. The Dark Prince was known for his harshness, but challenging a King was unheard of to Vashi.