I stood with my hands loose at my sides and my legs spread in a warrior’s stance. I could feel the tension level building in my two guards with every second that ticked by. They knew, like I did, that if things went south we would be vastly outnumbered.
They weren’t taking into account the fact that I could pull on my and Dialle’s combined power through my daemon hickey and blast the hostile guards’ asses if necessary. This comforting thought made me relax a bit.
A moment later, the door behind Nerul’s guards opened again.
Without a sound, the line of guards split to reveal the soldier who’d entered the rooms, and shoulder bling caught his eye. They engaged in silent communication.
The result of this communication was that shoulder bling turned back to me and bowed slightly, indicating with a thick red hand that I should enter. I eyed the double masses of Nerul’s guards and pulled my power forward, coating myself with a protective bubble before entering the gantlet.
As I’d hoped, Frick and Frack didn’t make it very far trying to follow me. Nerul’s guard closed behind me, cutting them off. Frick didn’t like this. “We will accompany Mx. Phelps or she will not enter.”
The sound of metal skating through scabbards made me stop and turn. Frick and Frack had their swords drawn and were surrounded by dozens of sword points, like a reverse porcupine.
I knew, if there was a fight, they didn’t have a chance unless I helped them. And I had no intention of helping them. “Stand down, boys,” I told them. “I’ll be fine. If I need you, I’ll blast a hole in the door and scream.”
I turned and marched through the door, fully aware that I was on my own and realizing that it had to be that way. I didn’t want any witnesses to what Nerul and I were about to discuss.
All I could hope for was that my cocky attitude would be enough to keep me safe. Unfortunately, in my past dealings with the crafty and lightheartedly evil King Nerul it hadn’t been. I wasn’t sure what was different this time. Except that I was more desperate.
It would have to be enough.
“Hello, lovely Tweener.”
Nerul stood before me, his silky black hair loose and settled around his broad shoulders. His handsome face was clean-shaven except for a goatee on his chin. That was new and undeniably sexy.
Nerul was wearing a black silk robe and nothing else. Which, in my current condition, would have been bad enough, except it was worse. The robe hung open, tucked back on his hips, and he was waving at me.
Without using his hands.
My Settling roared, sending sensual musk into the air. My temperature spiked and my nipples hardened.
Just like that I was a sexual flare again.
So much for taking the edge off with Dialle.
“I see you’re underdressed as always, Nerul.”
His nostrils were flared, scenting me, and his smile was predatory. “As you told my guards, I was expecting you.”
Nodding, I forced my eyes to drift from his waving package before I succumbed to my Settling and did something a lot of people would regret. I walked away, focusing my power on sensing him so that I’d know the first moment he made a move.
As long as he didn’t touch me I’d be all right.
I stood in front of a wall of windows not unlike the one in Dialle’s quarters, but this one was much closer to Hell. It was only a couple of floors above ground level, and gave a close-up view of the arid, fiery environs where I found myself.
Heat radiated outward from the glass and I realized the temperatures had to be extremely high to create waves of heat from the special glass.
So hot that everything wavered and pulsed behind it.
Nothing living moved among the glowing rocks and brown earth. Nothing moved at all except for the flickering of flame and dead, gray ash. The sky above was a dirty gray-orange, made thick and opaque by the mixture of heat and cinders. There were no birds flying above, no dragons. There weren’t even any harpies or dark angels in the sky. Nothing could survive for long beyond the glass and stone walls of the habitations in Hades. Except for the occasional green dragon delivering goods from castle to castle, all movement was done through magical means.
It was the most depressing sight I’d ever encountered. And I suddenly wished to be gone from there more than anything else.
I sensed movement behind me and turned. Nerul dropped onto a nearby divan, sprawling negligently. Daring a glance, I saw that he was mostly decent and risked turning to address him face to face.
“I need to know why you’ve offered your services to Dialle.”
“I told you. I wish to back the winner.”
“The real reason.”
Nerul didn’t bother trying to hide his emotions from me. His dark eyes swirled with agitated color. It was up to me to figure out what he was agitated about. I doubted it was my pretty face or lush curves. Nerul was an extremely ambitious creature. He acted strictly based on potential for personal gain. And while I knew he would gain some pleasure from taking me, it would not gain him much in the long run. “Spill it, Nerul. I know you have more than bragging rights at stake here.”
His lips spread in a slow, sensual smile that made me pull my power around me in a protective bubble. He laughed, sensing the power surge, and inclined his silken dark head. “I have determined it is in my best interests to nurture the Second and oversee the defeat of the First.”
“Because?”
His gaze probed my face for several beats before he responded. When he did I realized he was being honest with me. Probably for the first time. “Second is younger. He has less experience as King. I believe my influence will be greater with him.”
I nodded. “In other words, you think you can defeat him more easily and take the crown.”
Nerul merely licked his lips, his eyes sparking.
“You’re forgetting something.”
His tongue touched his upper lip, lingering, as his dark gaze raked my body and his nostrils flared with interest. “What would that be, lovely Tweener?”
“Me.”
For just a flicker in time, his eyes widened before he masked his surprise. “Yes. There is you. Together, you and Dialle the Second make a formidable team. And your lust…” His mouth opened and, for a moment he looked like he was having trouble breathing. “Your lust gives him strength. I would do much to gain that strength for my own.”
I realized suddenly that we were getting to the crux of things. He wanted the power he’d get from a sexual bond with me. “I would give you everything, lovely Astra, if only you would come to me.”
Nerul’s scent wafted toward me, drawing me into his sensual sphere. I shook my head and started to turn away in a panic.
But, sensing my withdrawal, Nerul quickly changed tactics.
“I recognize that Second has the upper hand on both his father and me. So I am willing to play along for now. You can be sure I will help him hold his throne against his father’s lust for power. It is in my best interests to do so. For now.”
I frowned. I believed him. As long as he thought it benefited him to aid us he would. But I also knew that he would be a constant threat to Dialle’s power. One moment of weakness would be all it took. Nerul would be watching and waiting, ready to grasp control.
That was a problem for another day.
Satisfied that the issue of Nerul’s intentions had been adequately addressed, I turned my attention to the other issue on my mind. “Where is Dialle the First holding my sister?”
This seemed to catch Nerul by surprise. His black eyes flared briefly with smug satisfaction. I realized in that moment that Nerul knew exactly where my sister was being kept. More importantly, he knew he had something I wanted, giving him power over me.
I knew he would help me find her, but I wasn’t sure I could afford the cost.
I barely suppressed a shudder at that look. “Tell me where she is, Nerul.”
He spread his legs and his robe fell open, exposing the impossible length and thickness of his shaft.
I licked my lips.
He dropped a large hand over his cock and stroked it slowly, sensually. “What would be in it for me, lovely Astra?”
Transfixed, I watched a bead of pre-cum rise to the fat, purple head.
My Settling roared to life and I was moving toward him before I knew what I was doing. In the beat of a heart my temperature had spiked and my skin became almost painfully sensitized, so that the soft slide of my clothing over it made my pussy clench.
But I was only aware of these things residually, at a deeper layer of consciousness, almost beyond my grasp. Lust had taken over my mind and was a rabid creature, consuming all thought, every scruple, leaving me an exposed nerve, a raw wound.
All I saw was that beautiful shaft, sparkling with moisture on its fat tip. I was suddenly frantic to touch it…desperate to taste it…anxious to draw it between my lips.
I dropped to my knees and leaned forward.
Nerul’s musky scent enveloped me. My nostrils flared and I moaned deep in my throat, mindless with an almost unquenchable hunger.
From deep within the fog of my lust, I could hear Nerul’s hypnotic voice, urging me forward, giving me words of encouragement and promise.
My body throbbed and softened toward him. I found myself unwilling to pull away. Unable to resist.
But something deep within my mind rebelled. I opened my mouth and screamed, lifting a hand toward the door. Power surged through me but I didn’t have the presence of mind to focus it, I let it shoot away from my fingertips, unfocused and wild.
There was an explosion. At the very edges of my consciousness, beyond the fog of lust enveloping me, I heard heavy footsteps thundering toward me.
Something large and heavy hit me and I was thrown sideways just before my lips closed over that wonderful cock.
I cried out, desperate with lust, and tried to shove whatever had flattened me to the ground away. I started to pull my power forward to blast the dense weight away from my chest but lost my focus when something thick and heavy slammed against my cheek.
Blinking, I came to awareness and looked up into the wide, worried red face of Frick. My guard.
He gave a sigh of relief when my vision cleared and I recognized him. “Come. We must leave quickly.”
I nodded, allowing him to pull me to my feet, and avoided looking at Nerul as Frick and Frack ushered me out, safely buffered between their large bodies.
The smell of smoke tickled my nose and I looked up to find a huge hole in the place where the door had been. We stepped over the mangled bodies of several of Nerul’s guard.
Had I done that?
“We will finish this discussion later, Astra. Do not doubt it.” Nerul’s voice rose above the sound of groaning from his fallen soldiers.
I shivered and picked up my pace, horrified by what I’d almost done. I was nearly running by the time we reached the end of the hallway and turned out of sight. Although I’d regained my sense mentally, physically my body still screamed and wept for release.
I needed to find release, and quickly, or I could still embarrass myself. I stopped, panting, and reached out to him telepathically.
Dialle!
What is it, Astra? Are you all right?
No! I need you, now. Please!
Silence met my plea and I closed my eyes, leaning against the cool wall at my back.
Please, Dialle!
The air beside us shimmered and Dialle was suddenly there. I threw myself into his arms and dragged him into a desperate kiss. I consumed his lips with mine, sucking his soft bottom lip into my mouth and chewing it hungrily, pulling none too gently on the sweet flesh.
Dialle placed his hands on my buttocks and lifted me, dragging me up his hard cock beneath the tight black leather pants he wore. He groaned as my hands sifted through his silken hair, holding him as my mouth worked his lips and dragged starving nips and kisses over his face and down his throat.
The world stopped, sound stilled and then returned in a rush as we landed in his quarters and Dialle pressed me backward onto his bed. His hands dragged at my sweater, ripping it away and severing the delicate lace at the vee of my bra. He dipped his head to suck on a rigid nipple.
My head went back on a long, hungry growl of need. “Yes, oh god, Dialle, yes!”
He sucked harder on my nipple and then released it with a soft pop, turning his avid attention to the other nipple. As he nurtured my starving flesh, his hard, hot hands slid down my ribs, over my waistline and over my hips, tucking under my buttocks and drawing me upward to grind against his hard cock.
My skin felt as if it were on fire. Heat spread through me, setting my blood to boil and making every touch feel raw and tender.
A fine sheen of sweat broke out all over our bodies, so that, when we moved against one another, our skin pressed in a sensual glide that created an almost painful friction.
We were both naked, Dialle having taken care of the final, frail obstructions to our lust. I spread my legs and reached for him, fully intending to impale myself with his weeping cock.
Our musk rose up between us, making my stomach clench with desire.
Dialle grabbed my hand. “What, Astra? Tell me what you want.”
I shuddered with incapacitating need. “I want
you
, Dialle. I want your hands, your lips, your cock.”
He slid a hand between our bodies and rubbed the nub of my clitoris, sending me ever closer to the delightful culmination building within me. “Only me, Astra?”
“Oh god, yes. Only you. No one else.”
He slipped the first inch of his shaft inside me. I panted, waiting for the rest. “You are my queen, Astra, my heart, my power. I need your loyalty above all else. What do you need from me, my heart? Only my body?”
My head was shaking before he finished the words. Swamped by the needs of my body, throbbing under the physical demands of my Settling, I finally realized what my pride and my independence had kept me from realizing since Dialle and I had begun our emotional dance together. I realized that I’d already given him my heart. He’d taken my body long ago, and I’d easily and willingly given it to him. But I’d thought I was withholding my heart from him, keeping my emotions under tight control. I realized now that that wasn’t true. I’d been fooling myself.