Ynyr (Tornians Book 3) (29 page)

“Go on, tell me more, I’ll just help you finish up while you do.” She hid her smile at his blank look. “So the Goddess made him immortal.”

“Yes.” Ynyr felt his shaft start to stir as her hands moved over the chest he had already cleansed. “Apparently the other Gods weren’t very happy about that, especially Daco.”

“He is the one that stole the Goddess?” Abby asked as her hands began to follow the path the water was taking down his body until she found his stiffening shaft.

“Yes.” He choked out, widening his stance to give her better access.

“The one that King Varick saved the Goddess from?” Slowly she began to stroke him from root to tip, her thumb circling the large mushroom shaped head before beginning her downward stroke.

“Yes… Abby…” Ynyr could not believe how quickly she had been able to arouse him, that she would want to after… groaning, he slapped a hand against each wall, bracing himself between them as her mouth captured first one nipple and then the next.

“Yes Ynyr?” She asked, looking up at him through her lashes.

“If you continue to do that I am going to Join with you. Right here in the cleansing stall.”

In response she tightened her grip around him, stroking him faster.

Growling Ynyr grabbed her generous ass and lifted her off her feet, pressing her against a wall. Abby’s legs immediately wrapped around his waist and she rubbed her core against his shaft. Reaching up Ynyr sunk his fingers into her hair, pulling her head back, he thrust his tongue into her mouth as he thrust his shaft into her hot welcoming core.

Goddess! Nothing had ever prepared him for his Abby. She was so soft and giving and not just of her body, but of herself, of her spirit and her feelings. She told him things, asked him things, she made him feel as if
he
were important, especially to her. Just him. Ynyr. She had shown him that Joining was more than just the physical act, that it was about more than just the creation of offspring. It was about being close and open, vulnerable and protected, loved and loving the one you were Joined with. The one
you
chose. It made you whole and completed your soul. That is what his Abby had given him and he would make sure he gave it to her too.

Abby’s arms wrapped around Ynyr’s head and she sank into the kiss as his hips slowly began to thrust. Goddess she loved it when he got all demanding and controlling like this. When he seemed to need her so badly that he just took control. She hadn’t realized her joining him in the shower would be new to him, but it should have. She was Ynyr’s first and even if she hadn’t been, no Tornian female would have done this. Being with Ynyr made her stronger, bolder. His love and acceptance had changed her made her whole.

“Yes!” She gasped out ripping her mouth from his as he hit
that
spot. “Goddess Ynyr!”

“You are a goddess.” Ynyr told her, his eyes blazing down into hers as he made sure to hit and stroke that spot that gave her so much pleasure. “
My
goddess! Release for me Abby!” He demanded, feeling her channel tightening around him. It was making his balls tighten and he knew his own release grew near but he refused to allow it until she had hers. “Now Abby!”

“Ynyr!” Abby cried out, her nails digging into his shoulders as her body obeyed his command.

Abby’s cry and the pulsating grip of her channel had on his shaft as she released was too much. His fingers sunk into her hips with a bruising grip holding them still so he could grind his hips against her and with a roar his release exploded out of him.

It only occurred to Ynyr later, after they had dried off, shared a few more kisses before together they climbed into their new bed for the first time. Ynyr lay in the center of the massive bed, his Abby in his arms with one of her small soft hands resting on his chest her fingers making small circles. He had not told her what was bothering him.

“I am not sure I was meant to be a Lord.” He told her quietly and her fingers paused for a moment before they began circling again.

“Why?”

“There are so many things I don’t know. Things I never realized needed to be addressed. I just trained.”

Abby propped herself up on an elbow, keeping one hand on his chest while she rested her head on the other and looked at him. What she saw nearly broke her heart. Ynyr was looking at her so lost and confused. She knew what it had cost him to say those words, especially to her. Tornians only respected fit and worthy males. Males that had honor and succeeded, they didn’t like failure. They had that in common with Bertos but they also respected a failure that came with honor. Abby hadn’t forgotten what the Warrior Jago had told the Assembly about how King Rask and Captain Busto had died. What their final words had been.

‘A Death with honor before a Life without!’

She remembered seeing the heads of the males there nodding their agreement. Now Ynyr was worried he would fail… without honor… and that she knew he would never do.

“What don’t you know?”

“How to manage the books. How to schedule the deliveries. There are so many things that go into the running of a House that I never knew existed.”

“So you have suddenly been thrust into a strange world and you are struggling to understand everything.” Abby told him quietly.

“Yes.” Ynyr’s eyes widened in shock as he realized she was talking about herself as much as him. “I am sorry Abby. I never fully understood how difficult this has been for you… not until just now.”

“It has been hard, especially in the beginning, but it got better because I found someone to help me. Someone who understood what I didn’t and explained things to me. Someone I trusted to tell me the truth whether I liked it or not.”

“Who?” Ynyr frowned down at her.

Abby smiled slightly at his question. “You Ynyr… I found you.”

Leaning down Ynyr gave her a gentle kiss. “I thank the Goddess for that Abby, but I am afraid you cannot help me with this.”

“I know. I know even less about running a House than you do, but there must be someone who can help you. Your manno.”

“That would not be possible Abby. He must run his own House.”

“But he has others that assist him right? I mean, he’s the one in charge, like a school superintendent.”

“I do not understand this title Abby.”

“Umm a school superintendent… well first a school is where children… offspring go to learn.” She waited for Ynyr to nod his understanding. “The school superintendent is the head of a school district, like your manno is the head of Betelgeuse. He has principals that report to him, like your Captains, each one of them is in charge of a different school as I’m sure your Captains are each in charge of something different.

“They are. Some are responsible for training, others for protecting the walls.”

“And you have Masters, like you made Paganus who are also in charge of just certain things.”

“Yes.”

“Each principal has teachers under them, that’s what I was going to school for, they are the ones that do the actual teaching of the offspring on a daily basis.”

“There are those here too. They report to the Masters or Captains.”

“Who report to you, I can’t believe your manno is the one who actually decides what room gets cleaned on what day. Or needs to know that some cooking supplies need restocking. Or even who gets what shift in guarding the walls. That would be the responsibility of the Captain or Master he put in charge wouldn’t it?”

“Yes of course, but…”

“So only if there is a problem they can’t handle, would you or any other Lord be involved because they trust who they have chosen.”

“Yes, but that is not the way here.”

“I know, Bertos probably did decide what rooms were cleaned when but that was because he trusted no one. That’s why this House fell apart at his death. Your manno’s wouldn’t.”

“No, Ull would become Lord as he has been trained to do his entire life and if he couldn’t Vali would.”

“They have both been trained to be a Lord? Why both?”

“In case one met the Goddess before they became Lord or were able to have offspring.”

“But not you.”

“No, I trained to be a Warrior.” Ynyr let out a heavy sigh, this was getting them nowhere. “It is late Abby. Let us rest. I will just have to try and work harder.” It was what he had done in the past.

Abby lets him pull her back down to his chest, thinking. There was no way Ynyr could work any harder than he already was. It was just too much for one male to do when he hadn’t been trained for it. Abby felt her anger start to grow at Wray, he had thrust Ynyr into a position he was ill equipped to handle without the proper support. Abby had the greatest faith that Ynyr was meant to be a Lord, a great Lord, too many things had been discovered for him not to be. The bed. Varick’s mark. The doors. The kril. Ynyr had even met the God and Goddess themselves. Yes Ynyr was destined to be a great Lord, he just needed some help… someone who had been trained… but who…

“Ynyr?”

“Hmm…” he replied half asleep.

“Contact Ull.”

“Ull?” His eyes shot open. “What are you talking about Abby?”

“Ull has the skills you need. He is not currently a Lord and he is your brother. He can help you.”

“He would see it as an admission that I am not worthy of being a Lord.”

“He would be wrong. If the Emperor were to send you into battle, but gave you nothing to fight with and yet you fought anyway how can you be unworthy Ynyr?”

“I will need to think about it Abby. Ull and my parents are still on the Hunter, it will be another day before they reach Betelgeuse. And there are other things to consider.”

“Alright.” Abby knew Ynyr was talking about Ull’s anger that she had chosen him. Well, he would just have to get over it. Ull was going to help Ynyr even if Abby had to sic his mother on him.

“My Lord.” Paganus rose from the chair he had been waiting in as Ynyr crossed towards the Wing’s entrance doors. He had known his Lord would be leaving before first meal and wanted to speak with him privately.

“Paganus. What are you doing here so early?”

“I needed to speak with you about something that happened yesterday my Lord.”

“Can we speak as we walk?”

“I would prefer not to my Lord.”

Ynyr raised an eyebrow at that. “Alright Paganus. Proceed.”

“Yesterday I ordered Woodworker Cairbre to appear so he could inspect the bed frame my Lady was so interested in.”

“Abby told me this Paganus. She also told me how she made him her Master Woodworker tasking him to build new furnishings for our Wing and that he was the one that knew about the original doors. It is fine.” Ynyr turned to leave.

“Did she tell you that he was allowed entrance into this Wing without acknowledgement or being searched?”

That had Ynyr spinning around growling out “What?!!”

“He entered with the trainees carrying the new mattress. Neither Warrior Menawa nor Warrior Oscosh questioned his presence with them or searched him before he was granted entrance. I also believe from Warrior Navon and Warrior Morio’s reaction that they were never informed he remained behind when they took their posts.”

Ynyr felt his anger grow. A male was allowed to get close to his Abby and no one bothered to search him? She could have been attacked… abused… and no one would have come to her aid until it was too late.

“Thank you for bring this to my attention Paganus.” He gritted out through clenched teeth. “I will take care of it.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Paganus bow was received by Ynyr’s back.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Ynyr stormed into his command office still fuming over what Paganus had told him. That two of the Emperor’s Special Warriors had been so careless with Abby’s safety enraged him. Moving to his desk, he jabbed a button on his comm.

“Warriors Menawa, Oscosh, Navon and Morio report to the command center
immediately
!” Ynyr’s last word echoed through the halls of the House. Sitting back Ynyr rested his elbows on the arms of his chair and waited.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

All four warriors were entering Ynyr’s command center within minutes, followed by Captains Dai and Korin, who had come to see what the problem was.

“Lord Ynyr?” Dai started, but the look in Ynyr’s eye silenced him. Never had he seen Ynyr so enraged.

“Warriors Menawa and Oscosh you were posted at the door of my Wing yesterday were you not?”

“Yes, Lord Ynyr.” They both responded.

“Until Warriors Navon and Morio relieved us.” Manawa added on.

“Both of
you
were on duty when the trainees arrived.” Ynyr’s eyes pinned them.

“Yes, Lord Ynyr.” Oscosh informed him.

“How many?”

“My Lord?”

“How many trainees did you allow to enter the Wing where my Lady was?”

“Five Lord Ynyr.” Oscosh immediately responded.

“And you searched them. Verified they were trainees.”

The two males glanced at each other for a moment before answering before Menawa answered. “No, Lord Ynyr. They were obviously trainees.”

“You assumed that for what reason?”

“They were carrying a mattress.” Menawa told him.

“So you did not search them.”

“No, they were struggling with the mattress. We just opened the doors.” Oscosh said.

“I see.” Ynyr’s eyes traveled between the two. “So when did they leave?”

“Right before the training practice began.” Oscosh informed him. “They were running so they wouldn’t be late.”

“How many?” Ynyr asked quietly.

“Lord Ynyr?” Oscosh asked, his eyes widening at the question.

“How many trainees left the wing?” The quiet calmness in Ynyr’s voice in no way hid the deadliness of it. The hair at the back of Dai’s neck began to rise. Something was definitely wrong.

“All of them Lord Ynyr.” Menawa informed him.

“And you informed my Lady’s Guards, Warriors Navon and Warrior Morio who was inside the Wing with my Lady when they arrived.”

“Of course.” Menawa said arrogantly.

Ynyr stared at Menawa for a moment before looking to Navon and Morio. “Warrior Navon?”

“Warrior Menawa did inform us that Master Paganus was in the Wing with Lady Abby while she took her midday meal, my Lord.” Navon saw Menawa’s mouth jerk in satisfaction at his reply.

“I see. Continue.”

“My Lord,” Navon knew Menawa would be losing that smirk. “It was nearly an hour later, after Master Mare arrived and tried to force his way into the Wing that we discovered there was another male in the Wing with Lady Abby and Master Paganus.”

“What!” Menawa shouted spinning to look at Navon in shock. “You lie!”

Navon refused to take the insult from the other male, Emperor’s Special or not. Turning, he bumped his chest against the other male. “A male named Cairbre was in the Wing with
my
Lady
and
you
never informed me about it!”

“Warrior Navon you will stand down.” Dai demanded knowing Menawa was the hot headed one of his men.

“With all due respect, Captain Dai,” Navon’s eyes flashed to the Captain. “I am a member of Lord Ynyr’s House and I take my orders from
him
. Not
you
.”

“You dare!” Menawa growled, his hand going to his sword.

“Menawa! Stand down!” Dai shouted at the same time Ynyr demanded the same thing from Navon. Both males instantly took a step away from each other.

“Warrior Morio.” Ynyr looked to the silent warrior.

“My Lord?”

“Was there a male you were not informed of in my Wing?”

“Yes, my Lord. Lady Abby later introduced him as Cairbre, her Master Woodworker.”

Korin’s eyebrow raised, he knew Mare was the Master Woodworker, but he remained silent.

Ynyr turned hard eyes to Dai’s Warriors “You challenge what two of my Lady’s Guard discovered as they fulfilled the duty assigned to them? A duty you failed to do?”

“We are members of the Emperor’s Special Guard.” Oscosh bit out through clenched teeth. “We came here to serve Captain Dai, not to guard the female of a third…”

“Warrior Oscosh! You will be silent!” Dai command moving to stand eye to eye with the other male, his eye as hard as flint, rage rolling off him. Never had he believed one of his males would speak like this not only to a Lord but about a female!

“Let him finish Captain.” Ynyr ordered still sitting behind his desk. He refused to let Oscosh see how his words affected him. “Female of a what?”

Oscosh had paled before the obvious rage of his Captain and the contained rage of Ynyr. He knew he should never have spoken, but his disbelief in who the Emperor had chosen as Lord of the House had gotten the better of him. Dai deserved the position.

“I apologize, Lord Ynyr I should not have spoken my words were…”

“Your truth.” Ynyr quietly finished. “You believe the Emperor was mistaken in choosing me as Lord. Tell me something Oscosh, who was the male that bested you in hand to hand?”

Korin, Navon and Morio’s heads turned to Oscosh curious to hear his answer.

“You, Lord Ynyr.” Oscosh choked out, his blue skin darkening.

“And who was the male that bested you with the sword.”

“You, Lord Ynyr.” He forced out again.

“And who was the male that bested you in every test given?”

“You, Lord Ynyr.” Oscosh’s face was nearly purple by this time.

“That is correct. Me! A third male. One you look down on not because I am an unfit or unworthy male but because of a chance of birth.” As Ynyr said it, he finally let the weight of it that he had carried his entire life fall away. His Abby was right, a male’s chance of birth in no way reflected on his fitness.

“So we both know as a Lord, I have the right to challenge you and that I would defeat you for insulting me.”

“Yes.” Oscosh found he had to lock his knees to keep them from trembling.

“I will not do that though.” Every eye in the room flew unbelievingly to Ynyr, none more so than Oscosh. “For what you
think
of me matters not. You are allowed to
think
whatever you want.”

Oscosh had just begun to relax when Ynyr continued.

“But for the dereliction of your duty in
guarding
my Lady both you and Menawa will be returned to Torino.”

“What!” Both males shouted.

“I will have no male in my House that believes the protection of
anyone’s
female to be beneath them.”

“But… we will be returning in disgrace.” Menawa whispered.

“Others are allowed to
think
whatever they wish Menawa.” Ynyr told them. “You will be out of my House within the hour. Captain Korin.” Ynyr looked to him.

“I will see to it my Lord.” Korin turned steely eyes to Oscosh and Menawa. “Males,” he said, refusing to use their titles as he gestured to the door, indicating they should leave.

“Captain Dai!” Oscosh turned pleading eyes to his Captain after all he had just been defending him. Dai couldn’t allow him to be punished for
that
! He would stop Ynyr from sending him away in disgrace.

“I will notify Torino of your return. It will be up to the Emperor to decide if you are to remain a member of his Special Guard.”

Both males paled at Dai’s words. The thought of the Emperor knowing what was said here today, to a Lord that
he
personally chose… turning they followed Korin out of the command center and knew their lives as they had known them were over.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“Navon and Morio.”

“Yes, my Lord!” The two Warriors quickly responded.

“As of right now you will no longer guard my Lady together. I want each of you to go and choose another male that you not only trust to stand with you but trust to protect my female. The four of you will split the time needed to protect my Lady until Elite Guards are decided on. As of this moment you are
both
Captains in my House.”

“Yes, my Lord!” They said and crossing an arm across their chest they bowed and left.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Dai stared at Ynyr silently for several minutes in the now empty room. He was a male of over forty years. He had trained hundreds of males, had led them into battle had watched most of them meet the Goddess. Yet in all those years, with all those males, Ynyr was the one that had stood out the most, had impressed him the most.

Dai hadn’t wanted to take him on, had been biased against him, for he should have been another male’s offspring. But even as a third male he was still a Lord’s male and his training scores had been more than above average.
That
had worked against Ynyr too, for Dai had believed his scores had been over inflated. It was one of the reasons Dai had been so hard on him when he first arrived in Tornio. Ynyr had quickly proven he had earned every score reported and Dai had hoped to entice him into not returning to Betelgeuse, but instead staying to become a Warrior in the Emperor’s Special Guard.

Instead, he was now a powerful Lord, a position Dai doubted he was prepared for. But from what he had just seen… the control Ynyr had just demonstrated… Dai would not have handled it that way. He would have beat Menawa and especially Oscosh into the ground, he was a Warrior after all. Ynyr had handled it as a Lord… after just three days of being one and with no training... how great would this House become with him as Lord?

“Lord Ynyr, may I speak?” Dai moved to stand in front of Ynyr’s desk. While he had been lost in his thought Ynyr had sat back down.

“Yes, Captain?” Ynyr asked, leaning back into his chair.

“I feel I need to apologize for what my males have done and said.”

“Did they do it under your orders Captain Dai?”

“NO!”

“Then you owe me nothing.” Ynyr told him dismissively.

“They are my males. Under my command. Everything they say, think, and do is ultimately my responsibility. You need to know that never once did the Emperor suggest that I would be made the Lord of this House. He ordered me to come here. I came.”

“Of course you did. You are the Captain of the Emperor’s Special Guard. A legend among the Warriors. All want to serve under you. All want to be like you.”

Dai felt his skin flush at Ynyr’s words. “Be that as it may but what they said is still my fault. It was joked about on the flight here that the Emperor had to name a superior Warrior as the Lord of this House to fix what Bertos had broken and that they would all be the first to serve him. I should have quelled the gossip as I knew they were talking about me, but I did not.”