Zorian, the trainer and disciplinarian, secured Dante to a marble column, his manacled wrists hooked over his head. Kicking and struggling, Dante tried to avoid having his ankles bound. Zorian calmly walked over to a table and grabbed the boltstick. The wire loop at the end of the narrow cone-shaped object sizzled with a current. “Fuck me.”
Zorian laughed. “It would be my pleasure. But the demoness has plans for you shortly. Kick off your boots or we’ll begin our session painfully.” He held the electrified loop between his legs, not touching him. It sparked and Dante could feel the heat radiating to his thighs. The trainer had it turned up high.
Dante obeyed and kicked off his boots. Chains bound his ankles and Zorian secured them to metal loops in the floor.
“You going to fight me now?” Zorian asked, the boltstick still humming in his hand.
Dante shook his head, his jaw tight, holding back the curses running through his head.
“Better.” Zorian’s blue-gray eyes glared at him. “We have some time. I think I owe you.”
Natesa strode across the room, a dagger in her hand.
Dante’s stomach turned. Even immortals could feel pain and over time could have all their life energy drained. He groaned. “I do owe you an apology for that day,” Dante said to Zorian. Months ago, Dante had once seduced Zorian to obtain information about his enemy John Reilly. Dante learned the disciplinarian had a sexual interest in Dante and he thought he could use that to gain information. It had been a huge mistake and now he was going to pay for it. “A man will make poor choices for revenge. There’s a Drone among us who stole my wife, my gold claim, and tried to have me murdered. He took my life. What would you do?”
Zorian didn’t answer, didn’t look at him.
Dante continued. “I was told you knew who he was. I went too far. I was wrong.”
Zorian stepped up close, leveling his gaze with Dante. “Revenge is a mortal trait. You’re no longer mortal. The mortal you seek and his selfish ways has been gone for decades. Like you, he serves the demoness now. She will never reveal who he once was. Your outrage for this Drone harms Anartia. Immortals should only be concerned with maintaining sustenance for Anartia and returning to Prygos.”
Anger radiated through Dante’s body. It took all his skill to remain calm. “You’ve always been immortal Zorian. What do you know of mortals who have been assimilated? Once evil as a mortal will be evil as an immortal.”
Zorian narrowed his eyes. “If that is true then your life as an immortal is in danger because you’ll never give up your fight for revenge. And I cannot allow one Drone to harm another.”
Natesa tossed her wavy brown hair over shoulders and leaned against Dante, the knife still in her hand. “Hello, Dante. Miss me?”
“Hello, Natesa. I thought you and Valdon were…”
She smiled and stroked his cock through his jeans. Despite his situation, he hardened and throbbed. The slave was a skilled seductress. “You know one man can’t satisfy me.” She placed the knife on the table and Dante relaxed slightly. Natesa slipped her tunic over her head and stood naked in front of them, then picked up the knife again.
“I’ve not known you to be cruel, Natesa.” Dante tried to keep his voice calm.
Zorian laughed, obviously enjoying Dante’s discomfort. She held the knife at his waist and Dante held his breath expecting to feel a sharp pain. Trying to figure out why the demoness would allow this. Instead he heard the tear of fabric as his jeans were cut away and dropped to the ground, followed by his shirt.
He huffed out a breath. Sweat dripped down his forehead.
She smiled. “Do you really think I would cut you?” She put the knife down.
Dante didn’t answer.
The crackle of the boltstick changed intensity as Zorian adjusted the setting. He ran the metal loop up Dante’s thighs and a jolt shot through his body. Not painful, but he felt it enough he had to clamp is teeth tight. “How long until the demoness comes out?” Zorian asked Natesa.
“A few minutes. She’s still with Valdon.”
Zorian nodded as he raised the boltstick to Dante’s nipple. The current of electricity touched his skin, tightened his nipple and the sensation shot to his groin. After Zorian touched the other nipple, he slid the charged loop down Dante’s belly toward his cock.
“Ah, man,” Dante pleaded. But Zorian tapped the sizzling loop to the base of his cock and Dante cried out and arched his back. “Fuck!”
The loop continued up to the crown and his cock was hard and throbbing when he heard a click and Zorian turned the power up. “Pain feels good, doesn’t it?” Zorian said.
Dante nodded, afraid if he said no the man would give him more. He noticed his trainer had a hard-on pressing through the breechcloth. A sheen of sweat coated his muscular chest. Locking his gaze with Dante, Zorian stepped back. “He’s ready for you, Natesa. Don’t come, Dante. The demoness will be disappointed if she doesn’t get her full offering. And we know what happens when the demoness is disappointed.”
Dante rolled his eyes. Natesa knelt down between his legs on her hands and knees and looked up as she rolled her shoulders and arched her back like a prowling cat. Her tongue came out and licked the hard length of his cock. Dante shuddered as the sensations ripped through him. Then she took all of him into her mouth down to the root. He was screwed. The boltstick had sensitized his nerve endings. With her hot, wet mouth, he’d never last long no matter how much control he had. A growing tension built in his groin.
Tightening all of the muscles in his body, Dante tried to prevent the climax from taking over. Natesa groaned. “Maybe I should let you fuck me, Dante.”
“You’d like that?” he asked, hoping he could distract her.
She glanced over her shoulder as Valdon strolled out of the demoness’s chamber, a look of worry crossed her face.
“But Valdon wouldn’t approve if he caught you with me,” Dante said.
She shrugged and grasped his balls and began moving her mouth up and down his shaft faster. “Mortal or demon can only take so much of that,” Dante referred to Natesa’s attentions. Zorian laughed. Dante’s balls drew up tight, so damn close. Quickly, he focused on another place, a distraction was the only way to stop his orgasm. His horses. How much longer did he have to prepare the horses for such a journey? A mixture of emotions twisted in his gut but did little to lessen the hard-on. With or without them he’d return to Prygos. At least he’d have immortality, peace and control of his life again. The demoness said there is no need for Drones on Prygos.
He took in a ragged breath. Thoughts of that Kithra from the desert wrapped around his mind. His collection of chi almost led to him to make love to her. He must not let that happen. He knew her name now, Haley Moore, knew where she worked in Sedona, the Red Rocks Bar and Grill. He was horny again thinking about her. Soon the Drones would leave this dimension and she’d be safe from him.
Zorian held up a long rod in front on Dante and grinned. With the touch of a lever, the rod expanded in thickness. “The women Drones love when I thrust this into their cunts. Rarely, can one resist the urge to climax. An excellent training tool. However, it does have other uses.” He grinned again. “I think I’ll get my revenge after all.”
Dante’s stomach clenched. He knew Zorian hadn’t forgotten or forgiven him for trying to use sex to get information about John Reilly. Now he wondered if Zorian even knew Reilly’s disguise at all. Maybe only Tarik and Gwyllain knew.
“Stand back, Natesa. It’s my turn. I hope she got you worked up enough, Dante. You’ll need it.” Zorian unhooked one ankle and made Dante turn and face the cool, marble column, then refastened the ankle.
Dante knew if he fought the trainer, the session would be longer and more uncomfortable. “Do it and get it over with.” Dante chose his words with care, not wanting to be too submissive but not wanting to challenge. He wouldn’t give Zorian pleasure or an excuse to be more abusive.
Looking over his shoulder, Dante watched as Valdon strutted across the great hall, while giving Dante a nod and a smirk. The bastard. The Drone had his blond hair tied back and he wore fresh Earth clothes. He was heading back to Earth. So soon? Usually, he spent time with Natesa. Dante noticed Natesa give Valdon a questioning look but Valdon gave a slight shake of his head. He left the temple and Gwyllain marched toward him, her face blazing in anger.
“Dante! Do you want me to destroy you?” the demoness bellowed as she flitted across the great hall toward Dante.
“No, mistress.”
“Then stop wasting time and get into my chamber now!” She turned her back and marched into her chamber.
The click of locks released his shackles. He released a breath, and the tension in his muscles eased. He strode across the great hall naked and throbbing hard and entered the demoness’s private chamber. His release would be quick at least.
Chapter Two
Gwyllain stood by her large glass wall, staring out onto her private garden. She looked almost human until she turned and Dante noticed the yellow light glowing in her eyes—all demon. Still, she was beautiful. The light shining in through the window made her garnet gown transparent. Every outline of her breasts and hips showed beneath the thin fabric. Long, black hair skimmed over her shoulders and down the middle of her back. “As much as I want to see this prison world destroyed, I am the ruler. And as ruler, I decide when Anartia will be destroyed not some Drone.” She clutched at her gown and ripped it off her body, tearing fabric.
She dropped the ruined garment on the floor, and looked at him with a pained expression, not lustful or seductive as he would expect when she stood before him naked. His groin tightened and it wasn’t in anticipation of giving his offering. Had she gone mad too, like the Drone?
“Demoness, how may I serve you?” Please let this be over soon.
“Walk with me.” She sounded manic as she touched the glass, and the panel slid open. Still naked, she stepped into her lush garden. The scent of sea and heather blew across her flower garden, tossing her long hair wildly. A variety of flowers bloomed everywhere. Some were from her planet Prygos and others had been transplanted from Earth. As she walked, she swept a hand over potted plants placed on tables or pedestals. They crashed to the ground, destroying the plants. Dante didn’t protest. The demoness was crazed, or angry about something, even more so than normal. Was she still angry about the Drone who’d try to kill her?
“Would you like me to have one of the slaves pick you a bouquet? Or perhaps, drop rose petals in a warm bath?” Anything to calm her down.
“I can’t do it myself.” Her voice was tight. As she passed her rose bushes, she plucked the blossoms off one by one and threw them onto the ground, then crushed them with her bare feet.
“Can’t do what, Mistress?” He’d never seen her like this. These earth flowers were her prize.
“In two weeks all this will be gone. I can only save some, but not all of it.”
“Why? Your garden looks healthy.” Dante was confused.
“Our return to Prygos will be difficult and dangerous,” Gwyllain replied, walking past her crushed roses.
“I didn’t expect the journey to be easy.” Dante tried not to sound alarmed. “Tarik’s last attempt nearly destroyed us.” Dante might get punished for that remark but he was speaking the truth.
“That’s exactly what Tarik plans to do.”
Dante gave her a questioning look.
“These will be the ones.” She knelt down in front of three perfect rose bushes. “Tarik says I can only bring a few of my roses back with me. These are my most beautiful roses. I’ll have my slaves dig them up.” She leaned in and smelled the blooms.
“What’s going to happen to the garden?”
She pouted. “It’ll be destroyed when Anartia is destroyed.”
Dante swallowed. What did he miss?
“Tarik can’t gather enough energy at one time to propel all of Anartia back to Prygos. The last experiment shifted us into a lower dimension. We’re susceptible to the moon’s gravity now. If we don’t leave in two weeks, Anartia will be thrust into the Earth’s dimension and we’ll be destroyed. Tarik is going to use that energy, and amplify it with sources collected from Earth, to propel the temple alone to Prygos. Our world will be destroyed, not the temple or those inside.”
Dante hesitated to ask the next question. “Will there be enough room for everyone?”
She didn’t answer right away. “Selecting the roses is an easy task, but I have no desire to choose my Drones. I do have a few favorites.” She gently stroked his cheek and slid her hand down his body until she grasped his cock, fondling him then released him. “I have no time to select the dozen Drones who will return to Prygos. Valdon, as my senior Drone, has this duty. The rest will be reassimilated. We’ll need their chi.”
“Valdon?” Dante considered the consequences of giving that task to a power-hungry Drone. “Are the other Drones aware Valdon is making this life-or-death decision?”
“Of course not! There would be pandemonium on Anartia.”
Dante groaned. “I can see pandemonium either way.”
“Don’t worry. You and Valdon will return with me. The rest is up to him.” She smiled. “You deserved a reward for your bravery.”
Dante’s throat tightened. He touched one of the delicate blooms and felt its velvety petals. Now he knew what bringing his horses would cost him. The demoness didn’t show kindness without getting something in return. “If more Drones could be saved if I leave the horses behind—”
“No. This has been decided.” She flicked her hand, dismissing his concern. “Besides your horses, what would you wish if you could have anything?” She touched his face. Was this more of her manipulation or was she feeling guilty? “Tell me,” she ordered. “I don’t grant wishes often.”
Dante paused as if he was thinking about this. “Before I was assimilated, an enemy John Reilly took away my gold claim, my wife, my dreams of a horse ranch, then hired men to murder me. After I was rescued by Drones, I heard John Reilly also became a Drone but his form and identity changed. He’d be the first one I’d select to be reassimilated. He’s evil and dangerous.”
She pressed her mouth together. “Those are things that occurred during your mortal life and revenge for that is meaningless now. Valdon will select slaves and Drones who will be most loyal to me on Prygos. We’ll have to destroy my husband when we return.”
Dante hadn’t given up on his revenge but he wouldn’t tell the demoness that. He knew it was a waste of time arguing with her. “Thank you, mistress.” Dante stroked her hips and moved up to her breasts. After a hundred and fifty years of offerings, he knew what she liked. “On the bed, mistress. Kneel with your legs spread.”
When it came to sex and offerings, the demoness could be compliant. Once inside her chamber, she climbed up on her large, canopy bed and knelt as he’d asked. Building anticipation, he strutted slowly around the bed, knowing his mistress’s eyes were raking over his body. His cock was hard and fully aroused with his offering. By prolonging his gift, the amount of chi transferred would be even greater.
Gwyllain’s breath was deep and fast as if she’d been running along the cliffs. “Are you going to make me wait much longer like this?” Her tone had shifted to the amused submissive. Good. Dante strolled over to her wardrobe and collected several long scarves.
She gave him a long, incendiary look. “Don’t make me wait,” she warned. Her eyes burned with lust and impatience.
“Stay on your knees.” Returning to her, he bound his mistress’s wrists and ankles to the four posters of the bed. She didn’t resist.
Then he got up on the bed and slid his hand over her shoulders, her breasts and down the curve of her rounded hips. With two fingers he captured her clit ring and tugged. She let out a moan. Then he slipped a finger inside her wet cunt. She gasped and wiggled her hips, which shook her breasts.
Brashness was what kept him as one of her favorites, made his offerings a bit more interesting, but could also get him killed if he pushed too far. He knew she liked his aggressiveness when he took a dominant role, but only to a degree. The demoness would never surrender to anyone, even in the throes of passion, and woe to the Drone who tried to assert that role. Dante pressed his finger inside deeper and reached up with his other hand and pinched her nipple hard.
She let out a yelp, then he surprised her. He slipped his finger from her cunt, hooked is arm around her waist and lifted her ass, then smacked her bottom. Her body jerked and she giggled. She actually giggled. God almighty, he couldn’t remember if he’d ever heard her giggle.
Glancing up at him, she smiled. “From what I can sense, you have quite a healthy offering to give.”
“Yes, mistress.” He smacked her ass again and rubbed the warmed skin. “And how do you wish to receive this mammoth offering?” He was pushing his luck with her with his teasing. “Should I flog you, take you in the ass, or provide some other torture first?”
She glanced out the glass wall to the outside, where billowing, black clouds had blocked the sun and were threatening an oncoming storm. The wind howled around the temple and beat the plants and trees of her garden. She gave a long sigh. “Anartia is an inpatient mistress and I have many Drones to service me today. Another time, Dante. When we’re back in Prygos, we’ll have days and nights to torture and fuck each other. When you and Valdon are my mates.”
“Yes, mistress.” Days and nights with her as her mate? As beautiful as she was, the idea seemed like a living hell. Dante groaned inwardly. The price of immortality, he supposed. He shifted position between her legs and pressed his cock between her slick folds. His hands cupped the large globes of her breasts and he squeezed.
“Just fuck me, Dante. I have at least twenty Drones to screw after you. Do you think I have time for a playful romp?”
This was the demoness he knew. What a fitting prison the ruler of Prygos had devised for his cheating wife. Positioning his hardened cock at the entrance of her slick pussy, Dante thrust his cock inside, drawing a groan from her. The arch of her back and the mewling sounds heightened his desire. He found himself grow rigid, his balls tighten. Grabbing her hips, he dug his fingers into her flesh and slammed his cock into her cunt in rhythmic thrusts. The demoness shrieked. Her fingers clenched the silk fabric of the bed sheets.
“Yes,” Dante groaned. The friction built in his groin as he felt his climax mounting, but he held off as long as possible. She thrashed against her bindings and seeing the evil one somewhat helpless sent him over the edge.
His muscles tensed as the orgasm convulsed through his body and the ground quaked beneath them. The energy transfer was successful. He held himself inside her as the pulses eased. The offering was substantial. That last collection more than made his quota. A glance outside confirmed his point. Sunlight streamed through clouds. He bet if he looked out over the cliffs the sea would be calmer and bluer too. Slipping from his mistress’s body, he rolled onto his back and looked up at Valdon.
“Fuck, what are you doing here?” Dante asked.
“A message from Tarik for the mistress and all the Drones. I waited until you were finished with your offering. You are finished aren’t you?” Valdon asked with an edge of sarcasm.
“Are you going to untie me? Or do I have to call for a servant?” the demoness asked Dante, ignoring Valdon for the moment.
Dante sat up and began untying the silk scarves, careful not to catch them in her jeweled ankle and wrist bracelets. “Sorry, mistress. I was disoriented after that offering. I must be drained.” He rubbed the circulation back into her wrists and ankles.
“Not surprising. Heightened pleasure increases the measure of chi transferred. The more aggressive my Drones, the more pleasure I obtain. Only you know how to please me so.”
Dante gave Valdon a smartass grin. Valdon’s shoulders rose in a shrug. Dante realized she probably gave the same compliment to most, if not all, of her Drones. At the moment, one of the slave girls entered the chamber. Gwyllain glance over at the girl who stood hesitantly at the foot of the bed, carrying a tray with a bowl and pitcher of water, towels, goblets of wine and fresh fruit. The girl had long dark hair, was slight in frame, with overly large breasts, the type that Gwyllain’s consort Tarik preferred. The girl placed the tray on the bedside table, poured water into a bowl and soaked a soft cloth. As she approached the demoness to clean her, Dante took the cloth and began stroking Gwyllain’s face, breasts and slowly down to her pussy. She smiled and raised her hips.
“Better?” Dante asked, waiting, hoping she’d dismiss him so he could return to his ranch on Earth.
“Yes.” She stroked his chest and grasped his partly erect cock in her hand. “Too bad, your chi level needs replenishing. I would enjoy receiving another offering.”
Dante thought best not to argue.
“But, that would be too dangerous for you.” She released his cock.
He was about to speak but she waved her hand silencing him. Then she narrowed her gaze at the slave girl. “Leave us.”
“Mistress?” The girl bowed slightly and pointed at the entrance to her chamber. Two large Drones stood there wearing tunics. Dante recognized them as two of the older Drones, Joren and Rylus. They were assimilated from Earth hundreds of years before he was. Joren had light hair trimmed short and Rylus had dark hair and eyes. Both were large and rather menacing looking with numerous crisscross scars across their arms, legs and back. The dark one had a thin scar cut diagonally across his left cheek. Dante thought they were both once gladiators. Perhaps rescued as he was while they were dying.
“Drones are to wait for me outside,” the demoness said with an annoyed tone.
“We’re your bodyguards, mistress,” Rylus said. Both men bowed slightly but didn’t make them look less menacing. “Tarik ordered us to report to your chamber immediately. Would you prefer we wait outside your door?”
“If you’re my bodyguards, I don’t want you to leave my side. Stay right where you are,” she ordered.
The one with ash-blond hair took a step forward in front of the other slave. The other man was smart not to make an issue in front of the demoness. Dante suspected the two slaves would be fighting it out later. Slaves and Drones knew that all couldn’t return to Prygos. This was bad.