Zylott Wars 3: Rescue Read online

“Tork is from Mimossa.” Jarek adjusted the fall of lace over his hand. “Have you ever been to the Mimossan dimension? This ensemble would be considered sedate.”

  Tilden paused, his dark gaze sweeping Jarek’s gaudy outfit with obvious distaste. After a derisive snort, the black-clad Death Keeper headed for the door. “I’ll wait for an introduction and do my best not to laugh.”

  Jarek turned back to the mirror as Tilden closed the door behind him. The outfit was outrageous. One side of his skintight hose was vivid purple, the other gold. The multi-colored tunic barely reached his hips, leaving the bulge between his thighs displayed for all to see.

  Cupping his hands at his sides, he created iede, the physical manifestation of his mystic energy. He tossed the sparkling flecks into the air and his thick, brown hair transformed into a riot of burnished curls. He’d tried to change the color of his eyes when he first assumed his role as Tork. The iede flecks burned like fire, but had no effect on his dark gaze.

  If all went as expected, Ambassador Tork would soon retire. Jarek was waiting to hear from King Sef. Once the Zylott ruler accepted Jarek’s proposal to bond with Princess Felise, there would no longer be a need for his disguise.

  Chapter Two

  Smoothing the billowy skirt of her iridescent gown, Felise waited for the herald’s call before entering the ballroom.

  “Her Royal Highness, Princess Felise Kinson.” A musical fanfare followed the announcement and Felise stepped onto the landing. Managing her skirts with one hand, she descended the stone steps into the cavernous room. A swirling sea of color surrounded her. Laughter mingled with overlapping conversations, creating an unintelligible din.

  “Her Royal Highness, Princess Adara Kinson.” The fanfare sounded again and Felise glanced back toward the stairs. A subtle gold pattern decorated Adara’s forest-green gown. The vibrant color accented the red highlights in her blonde hair and perfectly matched her eyes. Strapless and deeply scalloped, the design bared her shoulders and a good portion of her full breasts. Felise would never have chosen such a daring style, but Adara thrived on attention.

  The crowd parted allowing Adara to pass. She joined Felise at one end of the hall. A platform had been erected in the center of the room. Neat rows of chairs surrounded the stage. Lavish banners emblazoned with the Kinson standard draped from the exposed beams high overhead. Countless flower garlands scented the air with sweet perfume. After the bonding ceremony, the platform would be dismantled so the revelers could dance.

  “Who is that man with Nyx?” Adara motioned across the crowded room.

  It took a moment for Felise to locate their brother. He had abandoned his customary black robe for the embroidered tunic and thigh hugging trousers so many of the courtiers favored. Struck for a moment by their brother’s transformation, it took Felise another minute to focus on the man at his side.

  He was slightly taller than Nyx, and his brightly colored tunic showcased a strong, masculine torso. Though sharp angles and unrelenting lines made up his striking features, his cloud of golden curls completely ruined the effect.

  Felise laughed. “I can’t decide if he’s devastatingly handsome or ridiculous.”

  Adara moved closer, lowering her voice as much as she could in the noisy room. “Look at his… hose. Have you ever seen anything quite so…”

  “You’re one to talk.” Felise gave her sister a playful nudge. “If you bend over, you’re liable to spill right out of that bodice.”

  “It wasn’t a criticism.” Adara grinned. “I find the bright colors distracting me from an otherwise spectacular view.”

  “I think we’re about to get a closer look. Nyx is leading him this way.”

  As they neared, Felise studied the stranger’s hair. Was he wearing a wig? His thick lashes and dark brows made it seem likely. Wide and assessing, his dark eyes shone with obvious interest, while lips so red they had to be tinted curved in a beaming smile.

  “I’ve been asked to make the introductions,” Nyx said stiffly. “Ambassador Tork of Mimossa, may I present my sisters, Princess Felise and Princess Adara.”

  “I’m utterly enchanted.” The ambassador took Adara’s hand and kissed her knuckles. When he reached for Felise’s hand, she buried it in the fullness of her skirt. Inclining her head to acknowledge the introduction, she continued assessing his costume.

  “Where is Mimossa and what brings you to the Kingdom of Zylott?”

  Felise wanted to kick Adara. The ambassador made her decidedly uncomfortable and Adara was encouraging his interest.

  “Mimossa is the dimension of my birth, though I’ve not been there since I was a child. I travel extensively, gathering information and learning new skills. I’ve been studying with your brother for the past several lunar cycles.”

  His deep, faintly accented voice matched his appearance no better than his wildly curling hair. Felise focused on his eyes, intrigued by the shrewd gleam she found there. “What has Nyx taught you?”

  “He needs no lessons from me.” Nyx dismissed the issue with a careless wave of his hand. “The ambassador is being modest. He is a proficient sorcerer and may well be the best shape-changer I’ve ever encountered.”

  Before Felise could reply, the herald instructed everyone to take their seats. Felise and Adara followed Nyx to the row of chairs reserved for family.

  “Would you care to join us?” Adara asked. “There is plenty of room.”

  Felise gritted her teeth. Dori had insisted on a traditional Fahroni bonding. The last thing Felise needed was a complete stranger seated next to her, gasping and squirming. She wanted to enjoy the ceremony without distraction or awkwardness.

  “I would be honored.” He smiled at Adara, but his gaze returned to Felise. His hand hovered at the small of her back, heat penetrating her gown. Awareness pulsed between them. She licked her lips and concentrated on their destination.

  They settled into seats, Tork on her right. Felise drew her skirts tight against her legs, attempting to minimize her contact with the ambassador. She’d never met a man before who affected her senses with his proximity. He hadn’t touched her, hadn’t said anything untoward, yet tension gripped her belly and her pulse raced. Worse, the sensations weren’t at all unpleasant. It made no sense. The man looked like a buffoon.

  “I take it from the enclosure they’re to be joined in the Fahroni tradition?”

  His well-modulated voice brought to mind an image far different from his appearance. She pictured sleek dark hair that matched his eyes and offset his angular features. Not wanting to ruin her fantasy, she kept her gaze fixed on the stage. “You’ve attended Fahroni joinings before?”

  “I’ve participated in similar ceremonies.”

  “Participated?” She glanced at him, focusing on his eyes.

  “In some dimensions the guests prepare the bride and groom for the joining. In others the guests are encouraged to express their support by —”

  “The Fahroni ceremony is not interactive.”

  “Pity.”

  His teasing smile sent heat curling through her abdomen. Felise quickly looked away. Surely she wasn’t attracted to this flamboyant, strutting… Her thoughts trailed away as the lights dimmed. The lilting strains of the bonding procession signaled the beginning of the ceremony.

  Two dark-haired girls, Dori’s younger sisters, ascended to the stage from opposite sides and opened the filmy curtains enclosing the bed. They worked together, their movements fluid and graceful. Pulling back the richly quilted comforter, they sprinkled flower petals across the sheets and lit the lamps suspended to each side of the bed.

  The girls departed and a robed cleric moved to the foot of the bed. A subtle shift in the music signaled King Sef’s entrance. He took his place on the stage, his face flushed, eyes shining. Felise smiled, tears gathering in her eyes. He and Dori had waited eight long years for this day.

  Escorted by her brother, Dori crossed the hall and stood before the stage. Her sheer gown clearly displayed her full breasts,
gently rounded belly, and the generous flare of her hips.

  “Is this woman acceptable to you, Sef Kinson, High King of Zylott?” The cleric’s voice rang out over the assembly.

  “This woman pleases me more than I ever dreamed possible.” The crowd chuckled at his unscripted response.

  “Dori, daughter of Antiett and Sefarya, do you enter into this bonding of your own free will?”

  “I enter with joy and celebration.”

  “Come forth.”

  As she crossed to the stairs and joined the men at the foot of the bed, a slender woman ascended from the other side. She wore a robe similar to the other cleric’s, her hair covered by a long scarf.

  “Have you selected the bonding symbol to represent your joining?” the cleric asked.

  “We have,” Sef and Dori replied together.

  They shed their garments without hesitation, their gazes locked, filled with excitement and joy. Felise blinked back tears. Love radiated from the stage. The depth of their devotion warmed her, yet she envied their happiness.

  The female cleric drew an intricate glyph on Sef’s skin directly above his heart. She then turned and created the same pattern on Dori. When the female cleric stepped aside, Sef let out a happy cry and sank to his knees before his bride. He wrapped his arms around her hips and kissed her gently rounded belly.

  “Is she with child?” Tork whispered.

  Felise could only nod. Emotion clogged her throat.

  Sef scooped Dori into his arms and placed her on the bed. The clerics closed the curtains, reducing the happy couple to silhouettes against the filmy enclosure. A hushed silence settled over the room. Felise watched the shadows touch, heard their soft cries and whispered endearments. Sef didn’t take Dori immediately as was customary. He brought her to orgasm after orgasm until the entire room squirmed in their seats.

  “That’s for making me wait eight years!”

  Dori’s laugh was echoed by the crowd and Sef finally moved between her legs. Felise pressed her thighs together, stubbornly ignoring the empty ache. She’d never actually taken a man into her body, but the attendants’ wands made it all too easy to imagine.

  Sef thrust harder, faster. Felise’s body burned, throbbed with intense demand. She dragged her gaze away from the straining silhouettes, glancing down at her hands. Tork shifted in his chair, drawing her attention toward him. The angle of her gaze led her naturally to his crotch and Felise stifled a groan. His erect cock formed a long thick ridge in his ridiculous hose. Her fingers itched to wrap around that impressive shaft and explore. The bathing attendants weren’t allowed to undress. She’d never even seen a naked man.

  “If you’d like to do more than look, I’d be happy to oblige.”

  Tork’s whispered words were light and playful, but a hot blush spread across Felise’s skin. Why was she embarrassed? He was the one wearing pants tight enough to outline every bulge!

  Dori’s sharp cry interrupted Felise’s discomfort. Sef let out a triumphant whoop and the crowd shot to their feet applauding wildly. Felise used the raucous moment to slip past Tork and dash from the room. Her skin tingled. Her heart pounded and she couldn’t catch her breath.

  A wide, railed gallery spanned the back of the palace. She rushed across the veranda and descended into the formal garden. Torches had been lit in anticipation of the guests. For the moment Felise had the area to herself. She covered her face with her hands, dragging cool air into her burning lungs.

  Hands came down on her shoulders. She cried out and spun around. Her heel tangled in her skirt and Tork caught her upper arms, steadying her.

  “I apologize.” He released her and stepped back. “My comment was inappropriate.”

  His hair was less obvious in the torchlight, while his eyes shone like obsidian. Felise studied his features through her lashes. He intrigued her. Despite his laughable apparel, he attracted her. “I was staring, but your comment was rude.”

  “And I apologized.”

  She swallowed. “I accept your apology.” Moving farther into the shadows, she abandoned the graveled path. She needed Lecith’s clever fingers, or better yet, Merset’s talented mouth.

  “This is why these ceremonies often become interactive.” He followed at a careful distance, his voice deep and caressing. “It’s difficult to watch others… enjoying passion without desiring the same.”

  A vivid image formed within Felise’s mind. She pictured her hand wrapped around Tork’s cock, stroking, squeezing, as he rocked his lean hips. Curiosity and desire combined, making her body clench. Her attendants were only allowed to give her pleasure. Would Tork let her touch him? “I…” She paused, leaning against a wide tree trunk.

  “You need release.” He advanced slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. “Has anyone ever brought you to climax?”

  She closed her eyes. Would he be willing to stop with touching? She longed to be filled, to know the ultimate intimacy of taking a man into her body. Sharing pleasure was accepted and encouraged, but she would only experience a true joining once she found her mate. “A princess must remain a virgin until…”

  “I understand.” He stroked her cheek, tracing her lower lip with his thumb. “Let me touch you. I won’t do more than touch.”

  A violent shiver raced down her spine. “I want to touch you, too.”

  He smiled. His white teeth contrasted with the shadows as he placed his hand against the tree beside her shoulder. “You can do whatever you want with me. I’m not a princess.”

  Soothed by his playfulness, her anxiety melted, leaving her warm and tingling. She glanced beyond him, back toward the palace. Music and laughter drifted on the night wind. The banquet room would be opened and the dance floor cleared. It was unlikely anyone would venture outside for some time. She took Tork by the hand and led him to the far corner of the garden. Tall hedgerows surrounded a stone bench, offering the semblance of privacy.

  Tork sat and pulled her onto his lap, lifting her feet to the bench beside them. His warm lips brushed across hers, unhurried, caressing. “Kiss me,” he whispered against her mouth. “Show me what you like.”

  A hot dart of lust shot straight to her pussy. She’d never been the aggressor before. Her attendants pleasured her as she passively accepted their ministrations. The thought of guiding him sent power sizzling through her blood. Taking his face between her hands, she angled her head and sealed her mouth over his. He parted his lips in silent invitation. She lingered, licking and exploring before delving deep, stroking her tongue against his and capturing his throaty moan.

  He tasted of spiced wine and desire. The combination thrilled her. His tongue curled around hers, his arms pulled her close. On and on they kissed. Felise combed her hands through his curly hair, luxuriating in the softness as it sifted through her fingers.

  A cool draft sneaked under her skirts followed by his warm fingers against her calf. She grabbed his wrist, stopping his ascent. “I want to touch you.”

  “I’ll let you touch me as soon as —”

  “I’ll be too embarrassed after.”

  His roguish smile flashed again. “Do you always get embarrassed after you come?”

  “No.” Intoxicated by the darkness and the sexually charged atmosphere, she returned his smile. “Sometimes I get sleepy.”

  “I see.” He traced the square neckline of her gown with his index finger. “A princess is allowed to indulge her curiosity, so long as her maidenhead isn’t disturbed.”

  “Exactly.” She scooted off his lap and reached for the laces at the front of his hose. “I’m extremely curious about this.”

  “You’ve never touched a cock before?”

  She paused, her hand pressed over his erection. “I’ve only received pleasure. I’ve never given it.” That wasn’t exactly true. Her Drahbin attendants experienced her pleasure, but this was new and exciting.

  He spread his legs and moved his hands to the bench on either side of his hips. Her heart leapt in her breast. He offered
his body for her pleasure. Kneeling on the leaf-strewn ground in front of him, she loosened the laces and freed his cock. “Oh stars, are they all this big?”

  He laughed, his cock bobbing as his abdomen contracted. “I don’t make a habit of examining other men, and by your own admission you have nothing to compare me to.”

  She wrapped her fingers around his shaft, amazed at the heat and the softness of his skin. His flared head fascinated her. Stroking her thumb across the top, she smiled as he groaned. How would this ever fit inside a woman? The wands the attendants used were scarcely larger than a finger.

  A drop of moisture seeped out. She caught it with her thumb and spread it over his tip. Her thumb slid smoothly over his slick flesh. Wet. Her body got wet when she was excited and Merset reveled in the taste. Curious, she bent toward him, tentatively circling his cock head with her tongue.

  “Oh, sweetheart, you better not do that.” His voice grated, hoarse and strained.

  “You don’t like it?”

  “I like it too much.” When she continued to stare up at him curiously, he added, “I don’t want to come in your mouth.”

  She wasn’t sure she’d mind, but she didn’t argue.

  “Just use your mouth to get me wet, then stroke me with your hand.”

  His thick cock slid against her tongue as she sucked him inside. She’d meant to do as he instructed, but he felt wonderful. His salty taste excited her, made her pussy clench rhythmically. She let him slip nearly out, then sucked him deep again.

  His head rolled back on his shoulders and his hands framed her face. “You’re killing me. Stars, that’s good!”

  She steadied herself against his thighs, moving her mouth up and down, swirling her tongue. Her breasts swelled against her bodice; her nipples hardened. She wanted his hands on her, no, his mouth! Taking him deeper, she ended each stroke with a flick of her tongue. He matched her rhythm, thrusting into her mouth.

  Suddenly he pulled out and twisted to the side. He stroked himself fast and hard. Streams of pale liquid jetted from his cock, splashing on the ground beside her. As he panted harshly, his movements slowed and finally stopped.