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A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 01

By: madam_noe



(c) Nora Quick 2013



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 01



"You do now." She waved her hand and I felt the tingling heat. When she was done my feet were in basic sneakers, nice and new, and I looked at them, shorter and wider. I pulled one off and saw the size, saw my foot had changed.

"I passed?"

"You retained your basic essence and morality. You earned your money the right way and didn't hurt anyone with your powers. Nor did you revel in base needs. I would have expected you would have taken a lover or two, why not?"

"I've been celibate for two years. I guess it just wasn't a priority."

She smiled almost knowingly. "Do you object to sex?"

"That's a very personal question."

"I gave you the gift."

"So? Who the hell are you to me?"

She sat down on the couch once again, while I stood. "I'm your aunt."

I sank down and stared. I'd asked about half-siblings but I'd never asked my birth mother about aunts or uncles. No wonder she seemed familiar to me; we had the same eyes.

"I ask again, Anna, because it will be important: do you have a problem with sex?"

"No, not at all," I nearly whispered. "In fact I've had more than my fair share. I decided to be celibate to focus on other things, take a break. I didn't want casual sex but didn't have the time for a relationship."

"Good. Very good. You should know that the memories of everyone you know will match how you look now. All photos as well. The old Anna does not exist. Any knowledge you attained will be backed up with degrees and certificates. You'll find them in here."

She held out her hand and on her palm was a small box, the size of a matchbox. It was dark and began to shake. Suddenly it grew to the size of a medium sized moving box, floating in the air. It was mahogany and hinged, and floated gently to the ground.

I leaned over and looked at her.  When Alessandra nodded I opened it up and found framed degrees and certificates in all the things I'd wished myself to know.

"Reality reflects what you wished. That's the lesson of that gift, and you understood. You didn't wish for anything unnatural or impossible, nor did you use what you wished for to disturb anyone's life or the fabric of reality.

"Now your next gift is this box. It can now only be used by you, and no one else. When not in use it will shrink to matchbox size. If you lose it, it will appear immediately to you. Whatever you wish will be created inside and it will grow to the size needed. Reality will correspond. For example, wish for a debit card connected to a bank account with ten million dollars and the card will appear in the box, and the bank account will exist. Wish for a car and it will appear, the legalities will be in order. But for a car, you'd best place the box in the street.

"It cannot conjure anything permanently anchored like a building, only something portable. Nor can it conjure anything living. You can't put something in it and make it disappear. Remember that whatever you wish for will exist. It may summon something that already exists or create something new. Choose what you wish for wisely."

"For one week?" I asked, amazed and dazed still.

"One more week until the next test."

I almost couldn't wait to see what came next. "Thank you," I said, still stunned.

It took her by surprise. "My child, can't you see?"

"That this could be a curse as much as a blessing? Of course. Thank you for the opportunity."

She nodded, smiled slightly, and disappeared. My dog came hesitantly over to the box, sniffing. I reached over and stroked him behind the ears. "I don't know what she is, Diego, but I have this feeling I shouldn't screw this up."

I took all the framed papers out and stacked them on the floor. With a small shake the box shrank immediately back to small.

"Diego, no! Leave it!" I commanded as the pooch went for it. 

I picked it up and thought wildly what to wish for. Well, the dog needed more toys. "I wish for another flying chicken tug toy like the one Diego used to have. And a rope tug toy like PetsMart has."

It shook and floated, growing and then settling down. I opened it to find the toys and with a smile tossed them to my overjoyed pet. He grabbed the chicken and ran ten feet into the dining room, plopping down to chew and bat at it.

Well, I'd learned from my first "gift" to dive right in.

"I wish for an American express card with no limit in my name. I also wish for all the paperwork and a debit card as well as checkbook from a bank account at Bank of America in my name for ten million dollars, after taxes paid."

The box floated, danced, grew, and settled to my lap. I opened the now briefcase sized box to find the two cards, and two stacks of papers, one of them tax forms. I took those out and wished for a portable file case. More shaking and growing and the box settled on the floor.

It took three more wishes, but I had a file case, folders, and labels, and put the banking info in. Then I put t he cards in my wallet and let it sink in. A credit card with no limit. Ten million dollars in the bank.

Hooting and hollering I began to dance. Diego got excited and joined me, grinning a goofy dog grin, thinking we were playing. 

"Well boy, for what I have planned we have to look the part." I wished for a good leather collar and expensive new tag for him with his name and my phone number. I slipped it on and indeed, Diego looked dashing, but he always did. He was by far the most photogenic German Shepherd I'd ever seen.

"Come on boy, let's go for a drive."

As I grabbed my coat I remembered to wish for a new rabies tag from the previous year. I checked the computer and planned two stops. The first was to the vet for all his shots and I paid with my new credit card. Everyone loved Diego for being such a sweet dog, and loved me for stocking up on Science Diet, Diego's favorite food which I hadn't been able to afford in years.

Next I took him to the groomers and asked for a bath, nail trim, anti-shed treatment, the works.  They asked me to come back at six, in four hours, and I gave him a kiss and hug and left. Four hours to take my cards out for a drive.

First I went to the Betsey Johnson boutique in tourist land, Michigan Avenue. I wasn't up on designers for the most part, but I knew I liked her. It took all three hours but I got five dresses, six tops, four skirts, and five pairs of shoes there as well as underwear from down the way.  At La Perla I got seven bras with fourteen panties that matched, and five garter belts plus ten pairs of silk stockings. 

I was a little late picking Diego up but of course they didn't mind, as well behaved as he was. Any time I'd ever taken Diego into a groomer's they practically begged to keep him there. I really lucked out when my dog chose me to go home with.

He looked great and so I drove him home, changed into one of the simpler outfits, and had to wish a better winter jacket and boots into existence. I took him for a walk and then spoiled him with delivery food.

Then I drove the used Honda I'd bought and went out to the dealership way up on the north shore that I wanted. There were a few raised eyebrows at the rattle-trap Honda, but when I stepped out dressed now in a Betsey Johnson dress and heels, looking groomed, the salesman took notice.

After a solid hour of negotiations I traded in the Honda and drove off in my new Tesla Roadster. Feeling elated, I pulled out the box at a stoplight and wished for a new smartphone with the same phone number, ringtones, contacts. When it came, fully charged, I called my friend Desiree and asked her out to dinner.

To me, everything had changed, but to her I'd always been like this. Oh, the car was new, but she said I'd been talking about buying it for weeks. We discussed her moving to New York as we ate, and I ate whatever I wanted, enjoying the hell out of it.

She noted several men looking at us, but honestly I didn't care. Oh, I missed sex, I really did, and thought it about often, but I didn't want to find somebody right then. Magic was real, and the knowledge rocked my world. It had transformed me and now it was transforming my life. I was on a journey, on a plane in the sky. I couldn't worry about finding someone until I touched back down.

She had energy and I had money, so we went to a club. Her scene, not mine, and of course men descended within minutes. I left her with one and some cab money, then drove home. The first day of my second week of trials had been busy as hell. When I fell into bed I went to sleep right away, the dog curled up at my side.

The next day I took Diego for a long walk as it was warming up and we played in the park with neighbors for a while. I'd have to leave my run down ranch house soon so I made an appointment with a realtor for before lunch.

I explained what I was looking for and watched the dollar signs light up the realtor's eyes. She printed off several possible properties and passed them over. In the car I used my little box to summon a nice designer briefcase and put the papers inside.

Next stop was the salon.

There I turned myself over to the experts. Highlights in my hair came before a cut and style, keeping long but layered. My skin was scrubbed and scraped and moisturized until it was raw and soft, then soothed and oiled and moisturized again. I got all new makeup and learned how to put it on, how to style my hair.

When I looked in the mirror in the designer outfit, fully groomed, I looked at last like one of those women I thought I could never be. It wasn't right. So I made a phone call and set an appointment for the next day to tan, went home and walked the dog and played with him for a bit.

These days had been long, but it was a challenge to get all this done. In two days I'd done a lot, so that night I decided to take it easy. Online I found the latest fashions, figured out what would look good on me, and summoned it all with the box.

I had a Tesla Roadster in the garage and a designer wardrobe.  I lived in a crappy rental, but soon that would change. So with big plans, I went to sleep.

The next step took three of the five remaining days. I wanted to be fair so it took some leg work, but I found the home I wanted, which was a brownstone of five apartments. I had to make sure everyone in them wanted to move, which meant creating more and more money in my account. It cost thirty-two million to buy everyone out, but I did, and the building was mine. It would just take two months until I could move in.

So for the interim I bought a house in the Old Irving Park neighborhood, a nice Victorian. I donated all my old furniture, hired movers to box everything else, and spent the last day conjuring furniture for my temporary home.

On the fourteenth day I just knew Alessandra would find me, and indeed she did. My doorbell rang and I answered it nervously. The mirror by the door showed a slim, attractive woman dressed in a tight sweater dress and tall black leather boots. A stranger with a tinge of familiarity. 

I opened the door and she was grinning. "Anna!"

"Alessandra," I said with a nervous nod. I wasn't sure how I'd pass this test with all that I had done. "Come in."

I showed her to the living room where I had tea waiting, a pot of Earl Grey which I favored. I'd bought little cakes from a nearby bakery and those waited as well.

"Well, this is much more welcoming," she said as Diego came running in from the yard, the doggie door swinging loudly. 

"Down boy," I said firmly. He was excited, moving, all this new territory to claim.

"Please, have a seat. Tea?"

"Honey and milk, please." She cooed to Diego, scratching his chin the way he liked and he half melted at her feet.

I poured two cups with honey and milk and passed her one, sitting on the couch opposite her. I put three tiny vanilla cakes on a plate and grabbed it mostly to have something to do. When Diego started sniffing I tossed him one by the fireplace and he plopped down to eat it. 

"You're nervous."

I nodded and sipped my tea. "Indeed I am. I'm not sure exactly what the test was."

"So let's go over things. You created money. How much?"

"Fifty million dollars." 

"Quite a large sum. And did you just wish it into existence?"

"Actually, I wished for it to be siphoned off from the personal accounts of twenty people who can spare it and frankly I feel didn't need it."

"So you didn't just create it?"

"One of the degrees, actually two of them, I wished for were in economics. I knew what would happen to magically create money from nothing. I didn't want to upset the balance of things too much."

She nodded and popped a small cake into her mouth. "And you bought this house."

"I bought this house and a new car. But I also bought a brownstone downtown. I've wanted it since I was a child. I gave the tenants thirty days and two million each for their apartments, and already hired a contractor to revert it to the manor it once was."

"Why did everyone agree to move?"

"I gave them two million each, cash, under the table. They signed over their deeds, and the alderman already agreed to let the construction permit turn it to a single residence."

"And what will you do with two homes?"

"I'll give this one to friends who need it."

"And why do you want- how large a brownstone is it?"

"Five units. Once done it will be a six bedroom ten bath monster."

She nodded. "Why do you need such a large space?"

"Want. I admit, I want. If...if this lifestyle is to continue, I think I'd like to have foster children. I don't know yet, but I prefer to be surrounded by people. I'm a pack animal."

Another strange emotion crossed her eyes, something like dreaded avarice. She sat forward, her cashmere coat revealing a dress not that far off from mine. "So you planned for the future, worked not to disturb the natural order, and figured out a way to help friends in need."

Put that way...guilt crept in. "I went nuts at the salon and I did conjure an entire wardrobe from nothing, though many pieces I bought at stores. I just...hate shopping, actually."

She said nothing at first, smiling in a way that told me she was thinking, and it was equally good and bad. I ate two small cakes to have something to do and then called Diego over to lick frosting from my fingers.

"Your next gift-"

"I passed the test?"

She nodded, biting her lip. Her words were polite, but I could sense she didn't like me, for whatever reason. "You passed this test with flying colors. I'm just not sure how you'll do with the next test."

"Can you tell me why the tests? What exactly is going on?"

She set her cup down and sat forward. "Anna, I can't explain it now. In a way, this is a job interview. If you'd been raised within our family you'd know more, but your mother...she had her reasons. If you pass the third test a new life will be yours, one you cannot imagine. If you don't, everything you wish for in the next week from the box on top of what you already have  is yours. The body and mind you've created is yours, but all memory of this time will be gone."

"Gone?"

"As will memories of your former life. You will believe you have always looked and been this way. One benefit of being of our line is that no matter what happens, you will have a good life."

"I want my memory. Without it, the dark times will fade. And then I will become just another spoiled, pampered, rich, pretty girl. I'll have no drive. All my life, good or bad, all I've ever had was my drive. Don't take that away."

The look she gave me would have looked at home on the face of an upscale waiter when a patron asked for A-1 at a five star steakhouse. "Hmm. Then you'll have to pass this test, and I'll give you the choice to keep your darkness."

The way she said it told me she doubted I could pass the last test. That angered me deeply, after all, hadn't I proved myself competent and capable the last two weeks? "What is this 'gift' that you think I can't handle?"

"There's good and bad. You'll need to choose a familiar. That's an animal companion that will become important soon."

"Easy. Diego."

"I thought so. But for what comes after if you pass the test you'll need help. That means you must have three people live with you. For the next week you will have them with you."

"Roommates are not a problem. Are they...like me?"

"If you mean taking a test, no, they were born into their lives knowing all required of them."

She knew perfectly well what I had meant. Were they awaiting a legacy? Impossibly beautiful young women as riddled with nerves as I was? "Damn it, Alessandra, you're making me nervous! Just what is it you think I can't do?"

"You said you didn't desire casual sex any longer, yes?"

"That's right. In a manner of speaking. It's more I have not yet reconciled my feelings on the matter after its long absence from my life."

"If you pass the test it will not be casual sex, but if you don't, it may be too much to ask you to take three men as your lovers for one week."

Nothing she could have said would have shocked me more. "Uh, is there anything...strange about them?"

"Strange?"

"Look, I've been celibate for three fucking years. I'm climbing the walls. You're telling me I can have three lovers for a week and if it doesn't go well, I won't remember them nor feel guilty. If it does go well, they're stuck with me and I with them. So, unless they're really eighty-year old yetis, I'm not so sure what the problem is."

She blinked. "This is usually the hardest one for anyone testing. It was hard for me."

"Still have your three?"

She nodded, a slightly dreamy look in her eyes. "Two, actually."

"Well then, when do I meet them?"

"If you're ready, now."

I took a deep breath and grabbed Diego's collar as he drew close. "Ok, go."

Alessandra waved her hand and suddenly three men stood behind the couch she occupied. All stared at me with unabashed curiosity and I did my best not to stare back at them, not yet. I tried to keep my eyes on Alessandra, but  it was tough.

One was very tall and slim, tanned which made his light blonde hair and green eyes stand out. The one in the middle almost as taller, broad, built like a linebacker. He also had long hair pulled back in a ponytail, though his was auburn, his skin pale olive, his eyes something bright, perhaps hazel. The man on the left wasn't as tall as the others though still at least six feet tall, his long hair fell pitch black to his shoulders, his eyes a burning blue above the dark shadow of a light beard. He was built stronger than the one in the middle. Despite the differences between them, they seemed to fit well together, like childhood friends full grown.

I forced my eyes back to my apparent aunt. "Is there anything more you can tell me?"

She stood as did I, and I was surprised to see they were even taller than I thought, the brunette standing at six-two, and the blonde, the tallest, at about six inches over that. I bit my lip to keep an audible sigh back, thinking it was as if Alessandra had conjured them from my most personal and frequent sexual fantasies.

They wore knowing smiles, however. I liked confidence in a man, but arrogance was something to be suspicious of.

"Anna, I present to you Julian," she indicated the blond, "Andre," the redhead nodded at her words, "and Pierre. " Pierre was the brunette, who looked like a pretty pirate.

At their names each had inclined their head slightly and called me "Madame" with a slight French accent. I nodded back and took their measure. Each was well muscled in their own way, and their knuckles were rough, telling me they were brawlers. Julian seemed the youngest at perhaps twenty-five, Andre the oldest as somewhere closer to forty, and Pierre was probably close to my age. My real age.

"Nice to meet you all."

"You have four bedrooms, yes?" Alessandra asked.

"Yes."

"They will each take one. I will send over what they need for a week. Julian is a master chef, Pierre is mechanically inclined, and Andre...he will serve you well."




A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 01



The look he gave me suggested there would be great benefits to me, but I would be the one serving him. A small shiver ran through me at the forbidden thought though I refused to show any sign. I was wondering why Alessandra seemed so hesitant. This was actually promising to be the most fun phase of testing.

"Are the rooms upstairs furnished?"

"At the moment they are guest rooms."

She nodded. "Andre, you know what to do. Go and select your rooms, gentlemen."

I watched them go towards the stairs and climb, and I tried to subtly ogle each ass.

"You are pleased with them, that is good," Alessandra said. "Not every woman likes a man with long hair."

"Strange that I do, and all three of them have it."

Her face turned slightly serious. "Anna...the test. I know I didn't tell you anything before the others, but this...this is important. You cannot ask them directly who they are nor what they are. You can ask about their favorite food, music, but you may only ask them questions about their current life. You may not discuss the past, theirs or yours."

"I can do that,"  I said easily. "If you know anything at all about my past you know I do not want to dwell there. For all I know you're wrong and they too are in their last week of testing. I don't even know exactly what we're testing for.  All I know is, you're telling me if I ask about their past this week and fail, I still have one week to make sure the life I'm abandoned to is a good one."

"Anna, I  hope you pass this one. It's going to be much harder than you think."

"Give me your number, some way to contact you."

"I'm in your new phone. Good luck." With that, she disappeared.

I walked the dog to the back door and set him out, blocking the doggie door for a moment. I now had three strange men in my home, and they were to be my lovers but we could not ask one another about anything in our pasts.

So, live in the moment with three men who seemed to have sex-god potential. Couldn't be too difficult, I mused.





Chapter Two



Upstairs I found that Julian had claimed one of the larger guest rooms, Andre the other, and Pierre the smallest, still a respectable ten feet by twelve.

I knocked gently and strode in on Andre. "If you can move the desk, I can get you a bed, nightstand, and dresser in seconds."

He looked up from the closet which he'd been studying. "We'll all need new beds. The ones you have are too small."

I nodded. "If you can move the heavy stuff down to the basement, I'll take care of it."

"We'll do that shortly. In the meantime, we should talk."

The way he said it was almost fatherly, his deep baritone was firm, a voice used to command. Still, it was sensual all on account of tone, but the slight French accent pushed it over the line into the territory of velvet-on-skin. I found myself blinking and nodding. "Sounds good. I'll make more tea and serve it in the kitchen."

"Thank you, madame." That he said softly as I turned, and it made me shiver.

Passing the other rooms Pierre winked at me and Julian slid me a shy smile from beneath his now-loose hair. I returned to the living room and cleaned up the last tray. I set the kettle to boil again and used my magic little box to summon a tea set for four that wouldn't look ridiculous in the hands of brawny men.

I let the dog back in and he danced excitedly as I pulled out the things I'd need for sandwiches. I'd grown up with manly men and tea cakes just wouldn't cut it. Roast beef, turkey, and ham sandwiches with cheese and vegetables would.

I made a platter with six sandwiches in rapid succession as the water boiled. I poured four cups, set them out with honey, sugar, and cream. The sandwich platter went to the middle of the table and I added a bowl of baked potato chips.

I wasn't sure what had kept them so long, but almost as if planned, they arrived just as I finished setting everything out. Pierre pulled my seat out for me and I thanked him, sitting down. Diego sniffed at them each, but backed off in quiet wonder to sink down by my side.

"Thank you," Julian said, reaching for a sandwich.

I watched them all fill their plates and I merely cupped my tea and blew on it to cool it off. I wondered if I should start the conversation, feeling lost. What did I say? "Hey boys, gang bang or train?" God, what a horrible thought. Maybe I was a bit rustier with sex than I'd thought. Or what if resisting the urge to kiss them all senseless was the test? Dear God, I'd fail.

They glanced at me oddly and I knew I'd let the silence stretch too long. "Uh, so...what exactly do we do this week?"

"Well, we do what we normally would do. I organize things, keep the home running smoothly. Pierre is the genius with anything technical or mechanical. Julian is magic as a chef."

So my test was to have three of the most gorgeous men I'd ever seen serve me and then possibly blow my mind? Daunting, indeed, but a hell of a lot nicer than any calculus test I'd ever faced.

"So, um, do you three...evaluate me, or is it just Alessandra?"

"We will participate in the final decision," Pierre said in a pleasant tenor.

"But our main goal is to set in place the foundation of your future," Julian said softly.

I nodded. "Cryptic...okay. Anything else I should know?"

Andre's eyes were serious when he spoke. "Just be honest with all your thoughts, words, and actions. That is all we ask, and we promise to do the same."

"I can do that. And on that note, why don't I clean up in here while you three move your beds and the desk into the basement. After I'll conjure up beds that will work. I could use some time to myself, you all scare the hell out of me."

They smiled and nodded, rising with me. I picked up the empty platters and plates and walked to the sink, beginning to realize Alessandra might have been right. This was going to be a challenge for me.







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 01



For a long moment he held back. Our noses nearly touched and those gorgeous green eyes looked deep into mine. He had cat-eyes, exotic and beautiful. I couldn't hold back, finally, and so I closed the last two inches and claimed his lips.

Grabbing his arms I held him close and he pressed into me, settling on my lap. It was a novel position to be in, I was more used to sprawling across a man's lap, but I liked this. He felt every bit as powerful as Andre had, but if the other man was earth, Julian was water flowing over me.

He tasted of sweet and dark things, and I gasped when I felt one long-fingered hand claim a breast. Through two layers of satin he found my nipple with unerring ease. I arched into it, suddenly a dark hunger yawned awake, ready to devour him- and he pulled back.

Panting, I watched him stand, blatantly adjusting himself yet still wearing that shy smile. 

"If that wasn't seduction, what was it?"

"Fun. Will you be having lunch at home today, or outside the house?"

"Outside the house," I said automatically, shaken by the level of temptation I'd felt. If the test was resisting them, I knew then I was doomed to fail. I just couldn't bring myself to care much, right then.

"Good, it's good to see friends. Dinner will be at six." With that, he left.

I drew a bath and soaked in heavenly scented bubbles until I was as wrinkled as a prune, but still I was turned on. I dried off and set the dog outside, then from my nightstand drawer pulled the little toy. I turned it on and covered the buzz with my little radio blaring classic rock. Pressing it to my clit I closed my eyes and whimpered.

Soon I'd work up the courage and take what so far the men had been offering, but not yet. I needed to know them better. 

I had three leg-shaking orgasms in a row, biting my lip to keep my cries down, but it still didn't help. My body wanted more. It had been so long since I'd been filled, since a man's hands had covered my naked flesh and pushed my desire into dizzying heights. It had been too long since I was surrounded by hard strength and filled to my limit. Damn it, I was still majorly turned on.

I blew my hair dry and dressed, taking my time with makeup. I chose a wrap dress and lacy camisole, black over blue-green, and the knee-high leather boots. I called up my best friend Dianne and she was free for lunch, so I slipped out the back to the garage.

There Pierre was working on something. He was bent over using a wrench to secure a bolt to a strange box, and I took a moment to appreciate the view.

He looked over his shoulder as if he new he were being ogled and smiled. "Hello. I'm installing the charging station."

"How did you-"

"I told Andre you needed one for the roadster and he bought it earlier. It'll be ready this afternoon."

"Thank you," I murmured.

The garage was heated, and he'd removed his shirt as he worked. Andre looked to be harshly defined muscle, and Julian was wiry. Pierre was...perfect. With his dark hair falling to his shoulders and the short beard, he looked to me like how I'd always imagined Hades looking.

I was still keyed up, and watching him work, those muscles flexing, I felt the dark urge to go over and stroke my clean hands down the bits of grease and dirt on his tanned skin. There was just something about a man working with hands covered in sweat and dirt that called to the most primitive female part of my brain.

He glanced up again suddenly and winked.

Blushing furiously, I opened the door and got into my car, revving the engine. I couldn't speed into the alley, I had to save it for hitting the highway. Driving to the west side I got some of it out of my system. Some.







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 01



Watching Pierre's ass as he threw the ball with a spin I reached for my beer, suddenly parched.

He had an eight-ten split and picked it up with a grin. Then it was Julian's turn.

His throw was all loose hips and sleek power, but he lacked focus and got six with his first throw, two with the next.

Andre had the same uncaring attitude but better aim and throwing straight made a strike.

After that we relaxed a bit, though clearly only Pierre and I truly enjoyed the sport. Not being able to discuss the past was tough, I never realized how limited that made conversations. So we discussed beers, and I found it amusing none of them were as much a beer snob as I was. 

I was doing quite well and having fun.

"So you're a better bowler than we are, like beer more...do you think that's all in the magic of being female?" Pierre asked after his turn, sitting beside me in the chair for the scoring on the empty lane next to ours.

"Are you asking if I think women are superior to men?"

Julian paused picking up his ball and Andre even seemed interested in this.

"I suppose I am."

"Not t all," I said with a laugh. "Nor are men superior. We are different and equal, unable to exist without one another. That would be like asking which is superior, day or night. We need both and without one another they're meaningless."

This seemed to surprise them all so I merely shrugged and poured the last of the beer into my glass. "And we're out. I'll get the next one."

I started to rise but Pierre put his hand on my arm. "Allow me."

The game ended with my score at two sixty and the men's scores grouped close together, but Andre came in second with just two twenty. As we discussed a second game the lights dimmed, black lights came on, and man at the counter announced cosmic bowling.

Andre and Julian begged off in favor of pool, insisting Pierre and I play. I was having fun and let them go, removing their names from the computer. Pierre let me go first again and I did, picking up a spare.

"You're not what I expected," Pierre said after his turn.

I got up to get my ball and smiled. "Let me guess, I'm not bratty, stuck up, and domineering."

"True, how did you know?"

"Andre said that to me earlier. I would ask why you were expecting me to be different, but I know it's against the rules."

His eyes were slightly sad. "I used to like that rule, but not anymore."

That stopped me. Used to? So he'd done this before? Was I supposed to sleep with Alessandra's harem? Was I auditioning for a cult? It was driving me mad not knowing.

Frustrated I only got seven pins that frame and sat down to take a chug of the cheap beer. 

"Pierre, what will happen?"

"I can't discuss that."

"No, I mean this week. You know what we're all supposed to do. Won't there be jealousy, fights?"

He sat next to me after setting his ball back down. The seriousness of the conversation was downplayed when a bunch of raucous college students took up a lane three down complaining loudly about the 90's dance music being blared over the speakers. 

His hand covered mine, dwarfing it. He was built more like a blacksmith and had the hands for it. I could almost picture him in a leather apron banging on a sword over a hot anvil. 

"Anna, trust in us. Andre, Julian and I are very old friends. There is no jealousy or mistrust between us, there never had been and never will be. We are friends and brothers, and in our own way we love one another deeply. All I wish is for their happiness and mine. If you are a part of that happiness, well, there is even more joy in sharing."

The way he said it made me picture all three of them, naked on my bed, their hands on me. I couldn't help the shiver and he smiled at me as if he knew.

Before I could reply he was up, taking his turn.

When I came back from mine, I sat down and decided to be honest. "I'm in over my head. I have no idea what to do."

"Lucky for you, we do," he said quietly, finger trailing up my arm.

Slowly he leaned in and I held my breath until our lips touched. I forgot everything, the room, the noise, every other human there. Pierre tasted like something wild and free, making me think of running through the woods.

He pulled back with a wink, and we finished our game talking about bands we both enjoyed. He  liked baseball and beer as I did, and we both liked action movies and had a soft spot for Monty Python. He loved working on cars and electronic systems and though I knew he couldn't say it, I got the feeling he very much wanted a lab of his own.

The noise level was too much for us so we turned in our shoes and paid for the games and found the rest of our party in the quieter bar area shooting pool.

"Eight ball?" I asked as we walked up.

"Indeed," Andre said.

"How about Anna plays the winner and I play the loser at the other table?"

"Sounds good to me," Julian said. He called his shot and sank the ball and it didn't look like it would take long.

"More beer?" Pierre asked. The others had moved onto their own bottles.

"Let's see what they have."

I was pleased and frankly shocked to see they had Arctic Panzerwolf in bottles. I hurriedly got one and didn't even wait to toast before taking a sip. Closing my eyes in pleasure I sighed. "Best damn IPA ever."

"You really like that beer."

"And it's not even my favorite."

"I'm very curious to see how you react to your favorite, then."

"I should pick some up tomorrow."

Pierre smiled and shook his head. "That's our job, or in this case, Julian's. Just tell him what it is and he'll get it."

"I'm starting to feel spoiled. I might be in danger of becoming a brat after all."

He leaned in close, breath hot on my ear. "If you think you're spoiled now, just wait."

Oh, mama. I gulped, shivering.

"Anna, Pierre!" Andre called.

We brought our beers over to the emptied table. "Who won?" I  asked.

"I did," Julian said. "You rack."

"Come on Pierre, let's see if she can finally beat the whelp."

I pulled out the triangle and started to set the balls up for eight ball. "Sounds like this is your game."

His grin was mischievous. "Indeed. I always was good at math and this is pure geometry."

Since I'd always been good at math and added a few degrees with the first spell, I just smiled. "I'm no slouch."

Julian's eyes glittered. "Then shall we make it interesting?"

"Sure, what do you have in mind?"

"Winner is granted a boon from the loser, redeemable any time."

"Sounds...interesting." I put the triangle away and went to the rack of cues. "What kind of boon?"

I turned with my cue and he was standing there with the chalk. I took it and felt his smile to my toes. "Whatever the winner wants. The loser must agree, of course."

What would I ask?  Suddenly I imagined laying naked on my bed. I'd make Julian wear loose yoga pants. He'd smooth warm oil into my muscles, massaging. That seemed intriguing, and dangerous, but perhaps playing with fire was what I needed. "Agreed."

He sauntered back to the table and bent down to break. Pierre was doing the same on the next table and he and Andre were laughing over some story, and I knew I shouldn't listen. Why on earth was the past forbidden to discuss?

Julian sank three balls before my turn came, and only because he missed a bank by barely an inch.

Concentrating hard I bent down and lined up my shot. Slowly I gauged the strength needed and took my shot. The seven ball went in the corner pocket and I came up bouncing slightly in excitement.  Julian looked flush and I blushed when I realized my outfit was low cut enough to provide quite a view when I shot.

Still, on the next shot I delighted slightly in that power but I found I didn't enjoy the teasing. I enjoyed the anticipation. Three beautiful, interesting men who all desired me. There was no word in the English language nor any of the others I now spoke to describe just what I felt for them. Lust, curiosity, nervousness, and delight all combined in me.

I missed my shot and Julian smiled. "Distracted?"

"Just a little bit."

"Take it again." He picked up the cue and put it back where it had been. "Let me help you. Line up your shot."

Raising a brow I wondered what he was up to. It was a simple bank shot, I'd missed because arousal had made my hand tremble. Bending down I did, closing one eye to aim I bit my lip.

Suddenly I felt his lanky length covering me and I stiffened. An impressive erection pressed into my behind and his arms came around me as his front molded to my back. Oh, this was not going to make my hand any steadier.

"Relax," he whispered into my ear. "Imagine the path of the ball like a current of wind. You can't force it, you simply have to ride the current."

"Hmm. Shoot the wind, got it."

He laughed, a deep rich sound right in my ear that made me shiver with near violence. "No, Anna. It's wind, you have to ride it. Sometimes it's rough...and hard," he enunciated that word and a hand gripped my hip making me envision what a rough and hard ride might be. "And sometimes it's gentle. You forced the shot when it needed to be gentle. Follow me."

His other hand guided mine and we made the shot. The damnable ball went in. Julian nipped at my earlobe, shocking me, and pulled back. I straightened, expecting everyone to be staring but no one was. 

His long bangs were in his eyes again, just mussed enough to make him look like he'd risen from hours in bed. Julian certainly had the eyes for it. Ignoring my blush, I shot on when he insisted, though it did me little good. With his last three shots he trounced me, mostly because all I could think about was what boon he'd request.

Julian struck me as a man who teased, who would demand the most sensual experience possible in bed. Perhaps he'd ask me to massage him, and that would be no hardship at all. I'd love to get my hands on him, peel his clothes slowly off and...

I took a drink of my beer quickly. "So you won. When will you collect your boon?"

"Oh, when the time is right. Let's see how the men are doing."

We put our cues back and took our beers. It was a heated game between the intense Andre and smiling Pierre. 

"Who's winning?"

"So far looks like Andre. Who won with you?"

"Julian, of course," I told Pierre.

"It's getting late, shall we leave after this game?" Andre rumbled.

"Sure. Not having fun?"

"Oh, I am. I can't remember having a fun night out in a long time," Andre said, earning a sharp look from Julian.

Ahh, that damn "no past talk" rule again.

Andre won with two shots in a row and we brought our beers back to the bar, trading ribs about our varying skills at bowling and pool. Back outside we walked to the car and the night air was crisp and cold.

I looked to the sky and wished I could see the stars. As much as I loved life in the city I missed the nights back in college when I could drive a short while and see what felt like the whole of the Milky Way.

The moon was shining bright, glowing perfectly, nearing full. "Just a few more days until the full moon," I sighed as we reached the car.

"Oh?" Andre said with forced casualty.

"I've always loved the moon. Full moons just bring so much more energy. I wish it was summer and we could go to the full moon fire jam at the beach. It's a good time with fellow lunatics."

We got inside in the order in which we'd boarded before, and Pierre guided the car into light traffic.

"I have a cake waiting, if you're hungry," Julian said quietly.

"I am. I don't have much of a sweet tooth, though."

"It's Louisiana crunch cake," he cajoled.

I closed my eyes and leaned against the head rest, smiling. "My weakness. All right, sold."

"That was easy," Pierre chuckled.

"I've never fought against a piece of crunch cake in my life, and I'm not about to start now."

They all chuckled lightly as we drove home. Well, my temporary home. I had to admit with them there it felt more like a home. Just two days and I was already growing used to having them there. Julian was intense and artistic, Pierre jovial and brilliant, and Andre was commanding and mysterious. Their personalities complimented one another damn well, and seemed to frame mine nicely.

If we had just one week, well, it was shaping up to be one hell of a week.

We parked in the garage next to my roadster and again my door was opened, this time it was Julian who escorted me. Diego was waiting at the door to the garage and I petted him as did all the men, and he trotted after me as we headed inside.

"Have a seat," Julian told me. "Pierre would you set the table?" He indicated the kitchen table.

"I'll get wine," Andre said.

"Actually, in the fridge is a four pack of my favorite beer, Unibrou Maudite.  It will go perfectly with the cake, I promise."

Pierre chuckled. "This will be good." He winked at me.

I took off my coat but before I could bring it to the closet Andre took it and the others. I sat as Pierre set out forks and plates, and Andre returned to open the beers as Julian pulled out a domed cake server I didn't know we had. The confection beneath looked amazing.

He brought it over and served us, cutting five large pieces before removing the cake back to the counter. I raised my beer as soon as he was seated. "To new friendships."

"To new friendships, and old," Pierre said.

We clinked glasses and I took a deep pull, savoring the flavor with my eyes closed and moaning in approval. "God, that's good."

Pierre was smiling. Julian half-grinned. "I'll add it to the shopping list."

"Indeed, it is good," Andre pronounced. 

I took a bite of cake and had to hold back a moan at that. "Julian! This is amazing."

"Thank you."

I really wished I could ask where he'd gotten his training, but it was forbidden. What a stupid rule! The only reason I could see was to keep ay of us from forming a deeper bond. Why? Even if I passed the test, would they go away?

Suddenly I realized I didn't want that. No, I didn't know them too well yet, but I wanted to. I wanted to know what arguing with each would be like, what their hopes, dreams, and fears were. I wanted to know what exactly made each man smile, laugh, and frown. 

But perhaps a week was all we'd have. If so, I didn't want to waste more time. Still, I ate my cake slowly, trying to work up my courage. So far they had pursued me, slowly, laying groundwork. I liked that. I was so used to being the pursuer in my past, but I was a new me, this was a new life, a fresh start. 

At last the cake was done and their conversation over scheduling time in the gym was done. Everyone seemed to be waiting.

With a steadying breath I pushed back and grabbed my plate.

"Let me," Andre said, taking it from me as they all stood as well.

"Thank you. I am going to bed. And I...hate to sleep alone." There, that would do, I nervously hoped.

"Which of us are you inviting?" Pierre said with anticipation.

In for a penny, in for a pound. "It's a large bed, it will easily sleep four."

With that I walked out, Diego trailing me. My legs trembled as I climbed the stairs, heart pounding. If they took up my invitation...I was scared but aroused. If they came, I'd never done anything like that. I didn't know what to do. Did they? Would they guide me and show me? The thought was powerfully arousing.

I'd never much enjoyed being the student before. But that was the old Anna, the one who always sought to be the master. Little good it had done me in my life, a master before her time was a living statue. I wanted to live, to be alive, and that meant learning. 

And what would I learn? My fantasies ran rampant. Oh, to know, to discover the sensual unknown!

I let Diego out and brushed my teeth, washed my face, removed  my jewelry and brushed  my hair. When Diego scampered back in I moved his bed and bowls to the sitting room and closed that door, leaving me in the bedroom proper. I changed into my sexiest nightgown, mint green and barely concealing.

I turned the lights down low and laid in bed, in the center of the giant mattress, and covered myself with the sheet and comforter. Would they come right away, together, one at a time? What if they didn't come? What if I'd been too forward?

I tried not to look at the clock but long past midnight and the house was quiet. I turned off the lights completely and curled up, letting a single tear escape before I floated into forgetfulness.







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 01



Pierre's strong hands stroked my breasts gently, strumming over my nipples now hard, aching points. This burn was much slower, but that much hotter. Under their hard strength I was guided to the climax and when it came Andre swallowed my cries.

Julian suckled, flicking my clit with his tongue and I gasped, clutching at them all, scrabbling my hands to hold onto anything they would give. When it passed I jerked up, sensitive, aching, desperate.

"Please," I whispered. "Please!"

No one spoke as they arranged me lying on my back, my head hanging off the edge of the bed. I was too weak and needful to move, to look and see what was happening.

Then Andre was off the bed and I could see them all removing their pants until each was gloriously naked. At last! I thought triumphantly as Pierre settled between my legs. God, he was huge. His length was on the high side of average but his girth gave me pause.

He smiled and stroked my thigh, my worry must have telegraphed across my face.

He was obscured by the chiseled leanness off Julian's body as he straddled my chest. I could only watch, dazed, as he cupped my breasts, stroking, his long cock glistening. Pressing my breasts together he slid between them slowly, stroking my nipples with his thumb. I gasped and tried to arch into it but he held me still.

Pierre settled between my thighs and I felt his cock skim along my wet lips, teasing me. I opened my mouth to beg but Andre forced me back down. His cock was both long and thick, and the bulbous head was damp as he nudged at my lips.

I took as much of Andre's cock as I could but it wasn't a lot. I tried to grab his hips but he held my hands down into the mattress. I whimpered at my submission and relaxed, letting him slide in and out. Their moans and sighs were the most arousing thing I'd ever heard.

They moved faster and faster, and though Pierre never slid his thick cock inside it dragged along my clit and made my hips twitch. Julian plucked my nipples with his thumbs in time to his sliding thrusts and my arousal pulsed higher. Andre slid faster and faster and I trembled in anticipation, thinking of their ejaculate on me.

I had always loved that, being aroused by dirt, and I was never ashamed of it, but it was hard to find lovers willing to get so into it.

My mind went under then as Julian and Pierre picked up a syncopated rhythm that drove me spiraling into harsh arousal. I climbed to the peak even as Andre grew close, his balls tight against his body. I was completely pinned down at their mercy, and something about that thought sent me over.

Andre pulled out as I came screaming and I felt his hot cum splash on my cheek. Julian spilled onto my chest, groaning almost as loud as Andre grunted. Pierre's cum splashed on my stomach and he made a strange almost howling sound.

Their orgasms seemed impossibly long, and Pierre's clever fingers at my clit, Andre and Julian's on my breasts, brought me again. I was hoarse from screaming, still pinned, driven mad with pleasure that seemed to stretch into eternity. Then they panted, coming down even as I trembled, and at long last I felt their weight lift off. My mind was spinning and my body was weak, satisfied and yet still yearning.

"My god," was all I could think to say.

"Come along," Pierre said as the bed dipped and swayed.

I made a startled yelp when I felt his arms under me, but he lifted me easily. He carried me into the bathroom and I snuggled against him, loving the still-warm feel of their cum on me.

"Shower or bath?"

"Bath," I yawned.

He set me down on the closed toilet and began to draw a bath. While the tub filled he found the drawer with the matches and lit the two three-wick candles I had out. He also found my various soaps.

"Which one is the least girly-smelling?"

I could only laugh. "Mr. Bubble."

"The children's soap?"

I shrugged and smiled. "It makes me feel like a kid."

His grin was genuine as he read the directions and put in two capfuls. When the tub was just over halfway filled he picked me up again and climbed in, setting me down and turning me so I reclined between his legs.

Gently he scooped up water and cleaned Andre's cum from my face. Next he washed my chest by rubbing the frothy bubbled water over it, massaging my breasts. I moaned and let my head fall back onto his chest.

"I can't do any more. You guys wore  me out."

He chuckled. "We'll have to build that stamina somehow."

I stilled his hands with my own, his large palms cupping my aching breasts. I knew he could feel my nipples hard against his skin, my body betraying my words. "Why?"

"Why what?"

I turned to look t him, remember my promise to be completely open and honest. "I want to feel you inside me. All of you, but when you were between my legs I desperately wanted you to fuck me, Pierre, yet you didn't."

He kissed me, massaging my breasts, and just like that my sated body yawned awake, hungry for more.

He pulled back and kissed the bridge of my nose. "It wasn't the right time. Not yet."

"I begged, what more could you want?"

"Shhh." With his chin he nudged my face forward and one hand slid down my belly to stroke my sensitive folds.

Deftly he stroked my nipple and my clit, feathering his fingers over my little nubbin. It was just the right pressure for the raw, delicate skin and I began to tremble. I gripped the sides of the tub as I felt his cock swell at my back.

Biting my lip was damn near useless as the sounds I made as I panted seemed to border on gibberish. He kept up the steady rhythm as my body heaved to and fro within the confines of my flesh. Yearning and straining, I found the peak, pushed through, and wailed long and low in my throat as I came in what I hoped was the last go round of the night. 

Coming down I collapsed well and truly on him, and felt tears.

"Don't cry," he whispered, kissing my ear, my cheek.

"I can't help it. I'm not sad, just overwhelmed."

"Goddess, you don't know what a gift you are." He turned my head and kissed me.

After that we lay in silence until the water cooled, and then he toweled me off and carried me again back to the bed. Andre and Julian were in the bed asleep, and he placed me between them. Kissing me softly he crawled back down and around to fall into bed next to Julian.

Laying on my back it surprised me when both Andre and Julian, sleepy, turned on their sides towards me and slung an arm over me. I'd never been able to sleep cuddled with lovers before, but this felt somehow reassuring.

It was my last thought until I woke alone in the bed.



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 02







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 02



Now these three men had me waiting, uncertain. It wasn't a bad feeling, just strange. Funny that I had worked my entire life to not be at the mercy of others and yet here, now, with these men I seemed to court it.

I trusted them.

That shocked me. In three days I had grown to trust these men with my fate, and quite possibly my heart. I started laughing then, and Diego perked up, watching me curiously. As I laughed, it felt like the mirth burned away some caul I didn't know I'd been swathed in all my life. I'd placed myself at the tender mercy of others, and given up controlling a facet of my fate. In such I'd found a strange kind of freedom. No lesson Alessandra could hope to teach would be greater than that, I supposed.

"Anna?" My name came softly along with a knock.

I stifled the laughter and ruffled Diego's fur. "Coming."

It was Andre, looking concerned. "Is everything all right?"

"Couldn't be better. I just realized something, it's not terribly important. Shall we to dinner?"

He gave me his arm but I could tell his curiosity was piqued, though he didn't push it further.

We ate in the dining room and Julian had thoughtfully given Diego his share in a wide, low bowl on the floor. He ate just the beef stew and bread, while we had salad as well. It was easy to converse now, having caught the rhythm of not discussing the past. We kept to current events and then when I brought up I would like to travel we discussed all the places I wanted to visit. They could offer no advice lest they give away where they had gone, but they seemed excited by my desire to go into the corners of the world Americans liked to pretend didn't exist.

Pierre joked how they would make excellent bodyguards while Julian talked of learning new cuisines. Andre seemed to have some reservations, and spoke of keeping cost down by avoiding large cities. When I pointed out I could summon the money to buy half of Dubai Pierre and Julian laughed, and Andre changed the subject.

I had no idea what to make of that. They spoke as if they would accompany me happily, but Andre seemed worried about something. He wasn't reluctant to go, he was merely cautious of where to go to. Yet another oddity I couldn't solve that week, so I filed it away to uncover when the week was up.

Three more nights until then. They could be the beginning of something or the end. 

After dinner Pierre cleared the table and Andre set himself up to clean the kitchen, leaving me with Julian.

"What shall we do tonight?" I asked.

The gorgeous blond looked taken aback. "What do I want to do?"

I smiled. "We have three nights of the test left, so I think we should spend them doing what you want to do. Tonight you choose, tomorrow Pierre, then Andre. Age is as arbitrary as any other way to order."

"But Anna, if I chose I'd want to go out to dinner. Let Pierre choose tonight."

"All right. Pierre!" I heard him laughing with Andre so I rose, and Julian was there quickly to pull my chair back.

In the kitchen Andre was washing dishes while Pierre dried and stacked them, the cooking pots and pans already in the dishwasher.

"Yes?" the brawny brunette asked.

"We have three nights left. Since last night we did what I wanted to do, I thought we should spend the next three doing what you wish to do. I was going to go in order of age, but Julian wishes to go out to eat, perfectly understandable, so let's do that tomorrow. So tonight, let's do whatever you want."

Pierre glanced at Andre quickly, who was just smiling as he scrubbed the last of the bowls. "Anything?" 

"Anything." I patted the pocket of the cardigan where the magic box waited, unused since I had to summon them beds.

"The Hawks are playing tonight. I'd love to go."

"Then we shall."

I sat at the kitchen table and removed the box, setting it down. "I wish for four tickets, together, very close, good tickets. If they come from a private holder I wish them to be compensated. If they come from a scalper, I only wish it comes from one who can spare it."

The box shot into the air and all three men stopped to watch, bemused. It grew to the size of a manila envelope and floated back down. I opened it and slid out four tickets, courtside. Passing them to Pierre I could only smile as he whooped for joy. Andre smiled a little wider, and even as Julian shook his head, not a sports guy, he smiled too.

"Game starts in just an hour!" I said after reading one.

"Then let's go! Andre, dishes can wait. Julian, grab our coats, I'll get the car ready." And like that he was off. I ruffled Diego's fur and made sure his kibble and water were full, then Julian brought my purse and coat.

Andre helped me and we were off.

Once more they let me sit in the front and Pierre guided us into traffic smoothly.

"Just one more thing," Pierre said at last. "When we're out, would it be my arm you take, Anna? It's been so long since I had a beautiful woman out and about with me. For tonight, I'd like to pretend you are mine."

I put my hand on his arm. "No pretending. I am, Pierre. And yes, I am yours too Julian, and yours as well, Andre. But for tonight, would that be all right with you if the world thought Pierre and I belonged to one another?"

"Of course," Julian said with an easy smile.

"Yes. Because you asked, yes," Andre said in a near-solemn manner.

I knew whatever they were, Andre was the leader of the group. More and more, I began to worry whoever they were, wherever they'd come from, they had not been treated right. I'd spent all of three hours, if that, with Alessandra, my aunt. How did I know who or what she was? I made it a point to research her in the morning.

At the game we ate pretzels and cheered the team on, and whenever the Blackhawks scored a goal Pierre kissed me soundly. At one point Julian ribbed us because a kiss had been caught by a camera broadcasting it to the megatron. 

After he drove us to Ghirardelli off Michigan avenue which was attempting to close, but for an outrageous waggle of money they made us sundaes to go along with hot chocolate. Pierre drove us to the North Avenue beach and we ate the sundaes in the car before venturing out into the cold with the hot chocolate.

Pierre raced around to Andre and Julian and said something, and I could only roll my eyes. Had I been wrong to ask for four tickets? Perhaps it should have been just the two of us. Perhaps it was selfish that I wanted Andre and Julian there as well. Did they truly enjoy sharing me, or were those very real human feelings of jealousy cropping up?

He took my hand and led me down towards the concrete walk at Lake Michigan's edge. "Don't look so worried, Anna. I'm not jealous at all of the way you look at them. You look at me the same way. And indeed, we do enjoy sharing you."

"Hmm." It was as if he'd read my mind. I wasn't sure what to make of the realization my face must broadcast my every thought.

"But you said tonight was whatever I wanted, right?"

Oh, god, did this mean what I hoped? Finally, I might feel him inside me the way a woman was meant to feel a man! "Y-yes."

We'd headed north and were in the prairie grass protection area. It was covered in a thin sheen of snow and quite beautiful under the bright moonlight. He laughed. "God you're so...innocent."

"I'm hardly that," I countered, but for once I was glad rules forbade discussion of the past. I had wished my record away but the memories of the things I'd done remained.

He stopped as we rounded a small hill and took both of my hands into his. "You beg of us, but never demand anything. When you wanted to do anything in the world, you simply wanted us to go out and spend a night having fun bowling. And when I touch you, you hide nothing. There is no game, no pretense. You react openly and honestly. Even now, if I told you all the dark, carnal things I wanted to do, how many ways I would love to make you scream my name...you blush at the mere thought of those words. You tremble at the thought of the deeds."

I knew he was going to kiss me and in that moment I wanted nothing more. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled me close and pressed his lips against mine. With a shivering moan I opened and he plunged in, tasting of chocolate and man, two delicious flavors I adored.

His hands slid beneath my coat, along my stomach, and I felt my muscles flutter under his warm press. Slanting his mouth against mine it was a clear gentle claiming, every bit as much as when his hands slid slowly up to cup my breasts. 

When his thumbs found my hard nipples and brushed gently across I cried out. I couldn't hold back: sliding one hand down I ghosted over his delightful ass and came around between us to cup his heavy, hard erection. Massaging him I delighted in his shivers.

Breathing heavily Pierre pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. "Anna, you are a witch."

"No. I'm just a woman who aches for you."

He made a growling sound and I found myself swept into his arms, both of our cocoas falling to the ground. I cried out with a laugh as he stalked over the snow into the shallow copse of trees. I was pressed up against a trunk, still held aloft, as he stepped between my legs.

Pressing into me, Pierre's lips claimed mine again as I clung to him. He ground his erection into me, and with my skirt lifted only thin lace panties protected my damp flesh from his denim-clad erection. Pierre began a sliding rhythm that made me wish fervently he was inside me, rocking just that way. 

I thrust against him and we both increased speed. I was desperate, chewing at his lips as he pressed harder and harder, grinding into me, against me. I was wet again, desperate and needy, and soon the pleasure swelled sweetly, and I broke.

I cried out and felt him stiffen against me, and I swallowed his shout as he drank in my cry. God, it seemed he shook in my arms forever, fairly vibrating against me. He drew out my climax until I was helplessly gasping against him, shivering and wild. When it was winding down, pleasure echoing softly inside me, he let me go and I gently slid my legs down to stand shakily. 

"God...dry humping. I haven't done that since high school."

He kissed me again, laughing slightly. "I can't remember the last time I did that."

"Still, I know I must be patient, I have to wait. But I don't mind telling you that I really wish you'd been inside me instead."

That got me pressed back against the tree and kissed so passionately I forgot how to spell my name by the time he pulled back.

"Come on, you're freezing." Grabbing my hand Pierre led us back to the car where Andre and Julian were walking towards from the opposite direction.

We reached the car first and waved as Pierre hustled me in and then climbed inside the driver's side and turned the engine over. 

"Boy it's a shame we don't have a hot tub," I said with a small laugh. "If I thought I could install it I'd conjure it."

"I can install it no problem, but it'll take a full day. And where would you put it?" Pierre asked.

"Nowhere would fit in our current digs. Well, at least the architect knows I want one at my future home."

"Hello," Julian said they climbed in. "Brisk night for a walk on the beach."

"Indeed," Pierre said.

Andre gave a small snort. "Let's go home and get warm, nature boy."

We discussed the game on the drive back and when we arrived, the dishes remained forgotten. The night went much as the previous had but they came to bed with me, stripped me with fumbling hands all together, then when they were divested of clothes they joined me in bed.

The pleasure was maddening, more than a human could bear. This time it was Andre who slid against me, Pierre who teased my breasts, and Julian whose cock I sweetly tasted. Julian directed them at climax and six hands massaged their cum into my breasts.

It was Andre who carried me to the bathroom, and we took the large four-person shower. By the time he'd soaped my body and I was clean, Andre had wrung another orgasm from me with two fingers buried deep in my cunt.

I slept between Pierre and Julian, drifting happily into sleep. I know I dreamt, waking several times I remembered the dream whenever I opened my eyes. In the dream I was alone, the men reached for me but disappeared, and Alessandra's laughter rang out. But each time I woke they were all there, and I no longer questioned why that was so comforting.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 02



"How should I dress?" I asked, tracing the fine lines of his face with my finger.

"To impress, but classy."

I just raised an eyebrow. "Then I'd better start getting ready. What time are the reservations?"

"Eight. I'll want to leave by seven, however."

"Two hours to make myself beautiful. I'll head upstairs now."

He caught my hand as I turned. "Anna...I shouldn't say this, but we know how you looked before your magic. Don't tell Andre I told you this, it's against the rules. But we know how you look now, how you always have. You're beautiful, and you always have been."

My heart swelled at that and I had no reply other than a soft kiss devoid of lust and yet filled with passion. Somewhere along the way, I had become caught up in this mysterious test, but I cared less and less about the legacy. Pausing at the top of the stairs, I realized my only fear was that my failure would come to pass, and I would lose not only the men, but my memory.

But still, with all of Alessandra's strange ways, just what was this legacy I was marching towards? How bad could it be to require such tests? And whatever lay in my future as yet unwritten, would it be worth the passion of three men? 



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 03



©Nora Quick 2013





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 03



"The baked Alaska should be here soon," Julian said causally.

I just whimpered and groaned at the same time, certain I was losing my mind.

Ninety minutes later I was sure of it. Julian had wanted to go dancing so we wound our way to Late Bar. Andre and Pierre declined, choosing to sit at the bar. Pierre told me he in fact did dance, but didn't want to abandon Andre. Andre merely said he didn't wish to dance.

The typical club music wasn't what I would choose but it did what it was supposed to and supplied us with a beat. Thanks to the spell giving me grace I held my own, mostly following Julian who was a divine dancer. 

For four songs we kept up the hectic pace and then it slowed.

Dancing with Julian was something else entirely. I'd never enjoyed dancing before mainly due to the fact I was rather uncoordinated and so were most of my partners, plus club lighting had never been friendly. I'd had epilepsy since I was a child and strobe lights were the bane off my existence. Somehow, I could not believe it was gone now, and I tried to enjoy all the flashing lights, but thirty years of conditioning was hard to ignore.

Julian moved like water over the earth, pure power and smooth grace. Following him was truly a shadow of a more intimate act. When the lights slowed with the music, I let the worries go. Dancing slowly, held tight in the circle of his arms, my desire reached a new pitch never before discovered.

"Come with me," Julian urged as the song hit the last bridge.

I could only nod and take his hand as he led me towards the bathrooms. Not my idea of romance, but frankly I was so far gone I no longer cared. Prairie grass preserve or nightclub bathroom, it didn't matter as long as I was with them.

Julian led me instead to an office and locked the door behind us.

"How did you know this was empty?"

His green eyes just sparkled as he pressed me to the wall. Julian's hand skimmed down my side, over my hip, and he cupped my thigh. Raising my leg he pressed closer as he set my foot on a low filing cabinet.

Looking down at me I felt his hot breath on the bridge of my nose. I could only lick my lips as his fingers danced at the edge of my panties. "How much did these cost?" he asked in a low voice.

"Eighty dollars."

"I'll buy you three more pairs." 

That was my only warning before he grabbed the panties and ripped them. I gasped, shocked truly. This was something I could see Andre doing, but never Julian. Then we were kissing again and when I reached for his shirt he let me tug it up.

Beneath his skin was warm, stretched over those hard muscles so harshly defined in his lean length. He moaned as I found one of his nipples and stroked across it. Between us his hands fumbled with his pants and though hope filled my heart I knew it wasn't to be what I'd come to need so desperately.

Sure enough his long erection sprang free and he buffeted away any of my attempts to grab it and stroke him. Instead he guided my hands to his shoulders, dipped his knees as if he was about to spear me, but all he did was slide his cock against my wet opening.

One hand cupped my ass and kept me aloft on my toes, and his other hand tugged my dress down to grab a breast desperately. All the while he rocked against me, sliding against me, in time to the thrumming bass that shook the room with the new faster song. All I could do was hold on, thrust to meet him, continue our dance.

He slid across my clit perfectly and I whimpered, feeling more moisture gush. Julian murmured and gently brushed my lips with his. I realized he was speaking a language similar to one of the many I now spoke, but other than it was lyrical I couldn't place it.

It didn't matter. On one slide down his cock caught, and for a breathless moment I wondered if it would slide in. Of course he didn't allow it, resuming his slide, but the wondering was enough. My breath hitched and at that our mouths fused, and then I was shaking and screaming as I came hard.

Julian tumbled with me, apparently as aroused as I was. His cum hit my slip and spread along my belly as he shook in my arms. I swallowed his cries, still fluttering deep within, and we slowly ratcheted down, panting, to almost normal. God it seemed like each man took forever to cum, but the noises Julian made and the way he trembled in my arms made it beautiful.

He stroked his cum, working it into my skin, kissing along my jaw to my ear.

"All the rest of the night you'll wear my cum, feel it."

I whimpered as I dragged my aching leg back down and stuffed my ruined panties into my purse. "You're all trying to kill me."

He grabbed me and pulled me close as my dress fell into place. "Just making sure you enjoy as much of la petit morte as you can." His accent, all of theirs, always lightly French, seemed heavier after orgasm, and the French words in that husky accented tone nearly made me cum again.

"Oh," I sighed, entranced.

With that he kissed me, chuckling softly. With his usually raw passion, it was somehow slower this time. My body screamed out for more, already spoiled, greedy, and thrown headlong into hedonism. But Julian only pulled back and led me from the office back to the dance floor.

Once more we danced and then he traded places with Pierre. Pierre was a fine dancer, and when I asked him where he'd learned he remarked that it was as easy as foot placements in sword fighting. Having violated the "no past rule" he quickly kissed me and danced away, speeding up his movements. I lost myself to following his lead, and it was fun, though no less sensual than it had been partnering Julian.

We left shortly after and Julian stoked my fires all the way home. Diego happily greeted us and I petted him with a look trying to communicate I wanted privacy. He obliged and ran back inside, seeing his toys in my office. Once inside I couldn't wait and enticed them all as we hit the kitchen. Andre responded by scooping me up and carrying me to my bedroom while Pierre noted a mattress was far more comfortable than a table while Julian promised me I would prefer more comfort than the evening's experiences had afforded me so far.

Once more Julian ended the wild night thrusting between my legs while Pierre filled my mouth, and Andre brought his brand of rough command to my breasts. Breaking order, when we all collapsed, it was Pierre who brought me to the bathroom and helped me clean in the shower.

This time when I mentioned just one more night until Alessandra's return, Pierre turned passionate and nearly desperate. I thought for a moment we might both forget ourselves but at the last moment he drew back, burying his fingers in my pussy with one hand, guiding my hand to his thick cock with the other.

Once more I was left satisfied and still vibrating with deeper need. Once more I tumbled into bed, surrounded by men, and felt a warmth in my chest like coming home. And nothing else mattered.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 04



©Nora Quick 2013





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 04



He laughed, and the sound managed to be one of surrender and yet patronizing at the same time. "Let us see."

I felt the ties of my dress on my arms come undone swiftly and he unwound the cloth until my breasts were bare. Standing behind my chair meant I couldn't feel the press of his large body, regrettably. I loved his large size, the way he managed to make me feel dainty, the feel of his hard cock pressing into my back. Instead all I felt were those large hands stroking over my skin to cup my full breasts.

When his thumbs stroked over my nipples I lurched with the need for more, the swift, sharp upheaval of arousal that claimed me pushing me into dark need. His low groan was a harmony for mine and I tried to reach for him, to hold his hips, but he sidestepped.

"Hands on the table."

I complied but whimpered as I did so. He'd begun to feather his fingers over my nipples, lightly with great speed. More moisture flowed from my cunt as I gripped the tablecloth, hanging on like grim death as he teased me. 

Just when I thought impossibly I might peak from that stimulation alone he withdrew. I cried out and heard him curse low in his throat. "Please," I begged, and that won me a heart-stopping kiss.

"You beg so sweetly, Anna. No games, no artifice, just open, honest desire. By the gods I want to clear this damned table, lay you across it, and make you beg until I fill you." He spoke harshly into my ear while I held still, and with the blindfold on it made it easier to envision his words. "I want to fuck you hard, slow, I want to feel your hot cream running over my cock as your tight sheath takes me. I want to ride you into ecstasy, fill you completely."

I sobbed then, a tear sliding from my eye under the blindfold. I was going mad. What stupid rule made it so I couldn't take any of them into my body? The pleasure they gave me was amazing, but not complete. Tomorrow my aunt better say the stupid, silly test was over and then leave me to spend the day in bed with them until we were all weak, replete, and whole.

He brushed the tear away and gently kissed my cheek. 

The curtains rustled again and Andre withdrew.

"Gentlemen, have a seat," his deep voice said and I heard the gentle slide of two chairs on the carpet.

I could only gasp as my chair as my chair was pushed back. Suddenly those strong hands were under my arms, forcing me to my feet. 

Andre groaned. "You have to see this." Hands on my shoulders he guided me to turn right, walk a few steps, and turn.

I heard Julian and Pierre sigh.

"I have never appreciated high heels before," Pierre said wistfully. "But now that I see just what they do to those endless legs I'd like to buy you a thousand pairs."

I blushed but could say nothing.

"We should remove that skirt," Julian said with seductively dark undertones. "But how considerate of you to being your own bondage gear, Anna."

I gasped again, trembling, but it surprised me it wasn't in fear: it was in anticipation.

"Oh, she likes that," Andre chuckled. He undid the twirls of fabric at my hips and peeled the skirt off leaving me naked in heels. The air was warm from the furnace aided by the candles, soft, but my nipples were harder than I could ever remember them being. I swore I could feel their eyes on me and though I should have felt like an object there was no humiliation, only a keening yearning to be possessed in some way.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, she's awfully messy already," Pierre chuckled. "May I?"

"Of course," Andre said and I heard a chair push back. Andre put his arms under mine and pulled me to his chest. He was fully clothed, I realized, but hard as a rock with answering arousal behind me. His large feet gently kicked at mine until I widened my stance to near discomfort, and then he bore my weight, easing the ache away.

I felt Pierre's hands on my thighs then. Like Andre's they were rough and callused from work and thick, but dexterous and strangely delicate. They smoothed up my tender flesh and I gave my weight to Andre, whimpering in anticipation. 

Pierre's hands moved up to gently opened my folds. I felt his hot breath as Andre's hands claimed my breasts. He began to strum my nipples just as before and more moisture rushed out. I whimpered and moaned, caught in a maelstrom of anticipation.

"Mmm," Pierre said, and then he devoured me.

My legs shook with it as Pierre's tongue swept over me. Just as I thought I would come from a flick to my clit he pulled back and began to lick the juices from my thighs. Still Andre stroked my nipples and I could only assume Julian watched. The thought of his eyes taking it all in pushed my arousal higher until my body throbbed in time to my heartbeat.

I could feel Pierre and Andre were clothed, I assumed Julian was too, and being naked and blindfolded made me feel vulnerable, but I had complete trust in them. Andre hugged me tightly and used his chin to nudge my face back so he could kiss me.

Pierre turned back to my pussy and began to suck. His tongue deftly flicked my clit and I built rapidly. Panting against Andre I sucked on his tongue desperately. Suddenly he broke off. "Stop!"

I sobbed out on the edge of orgasm as Pierre followed the command and withdrew from me, bracing his hands on my thighs as he rose.

"Please, please let me come," I begged.

This won me another kiss from Andre and then an immediate turn into Pierre where I tasted my own juices.

"Gods, you're beautiful," Pierre said.

"Are you hungry?" Andre breathed into my ear, still stroking my nipples.

"I want you. I want you all. I want all of you inside me. I'm dying with need." I couldn't give a damn about food while my body still skimmed the knife edge of culmination.

"You'd better eat, Anna," Andre said, his voice sensual yet mocking. "You'll need your strength."

Pierre took my hand and Andre guided me, hands on my ribs. I was put back in the seat I'd first taken and it was pushed in. To my shock I felt Julian's long, tapered fingers parting my thighs beneath the table cloth.

"What?"

"Open," Pierre said as once more I felt Andre's hands massaging my breasts.

Shivering, I did as bade and felt a fork at my lips. On it was a piece of ham, succulent and honeyed. Pierre fed me as Julian's trickster mouth worked to keep me on edge. He never swept his tongue across my clit but instead all around it. I wriggled my hips, trying to get that sweet muscle to pass over where I needed it most, but he evaded me.

Andre dropped to his knees at my side and took my left breast into his mouth. He was direct, flicking the nipple with his tongue, suckling.

I tried to chew and swallow the ham, vegetables, and potatoes that Pierre offered, but it was hard. I gripped Andre's head and Pierre's shoulder, gasping. "Please, let me come!"

Julian moaned, the vibration taking me so close to the edge, but he just pulled back, leaving me trembling. 

Pierre made a grumbling sound of pleasure. "I think that's enough for now. I'm hungry, Andre."

"Then let's eat," Andre said with a laugh and Julian pulled away.

Once more I was lifted, I heard things moving, then Andre grabbed my legs and held my entire body aloft, cradled in his arms. I was set on the table, but somehow a pillow was there for my head and the dishes were all gone.

Someone took my dress and tied my hands together above my head and I felt the other two tying my legs with something soft and gauzy. God, were they tying me down to fuck me at last? I could only whimper and shiver waiting to see what came next.

It was nothing I expected. Suddenly I felt the warmth of food on my naked flesh, followed quickly by hands and lips. I gasped, realizing what was happening. Having been a Dominatrix in my younger days I'd used slaves as tables before, loving to tease them. Now I was their table, meat was nibbled from my body and cheese was licked from my aching flesh, licks continuing long after the food was gone. Then more came and it lasted an eternity. 

I couldn't believe this strange Heaven and Hell. In this time with them I was discovering things about myself I never knew, trusting them to guide me. I was more aroused than I could ever remember being. As they ate from my body they talked, speaking equally of my beauty and sports. I felt like an object but a treasured one.

Easily an hour passed as I floated in a strange place. Subspace, I realized at last. Dear god, I had gone into a place I'd put hundreds of others in and never thought to visit myself.

Chairs scraped and things moved. Suddenly I felt cold on my skin and realized it was the fruit in cream.

"Anna, you may come," Andre said.

I could form no words, just a broken plea, and they descended. Andre slid a thick finger inside me as he licked cream from my mons. Pierre ate some fruit off a breast with several licks while Julian twisted some fruit onto my hard nipple and sucked the juice. Andre curled his finger forward and I broke.

I screamed with it, pulling at my bonds but I was immobile. They didn't relent, hands and tongues everywhere. My entire body shook with it and I felt fluid gush from my pussy. Endlessly the pleasure streamed through me, I was lost to the power of the climax.

It passed after what felt like hours and I was weak with it, unable to move.

Suddenly my blindfold was removed and I blinked into the candlelight at their three very handsome faces smiling down at me. I could only moan, unable to speak.

To my shock they unzipped their pants and three hard cocks came out. 

"Watch us," Andre commanded as each man began to stroke his cock.

I did, my eyes flicking from cock to cock, eyes to eyes. They were so beautiful, I wished they were naked so I could see their bodies. I wished I was free to touch them. I wished I could take them into my body and feel them climax inside me, filling me completely.

Their moans were beautiful and it was a swift climb. I'm not sure exactly how it happened, in what order, but quickly they were coming at once, their hot cum spurting onto my naked breasts. Oh, it was a thing of beauty to see them held straining as they came. Time slowed, and it seemed like those ropes of jism came out forever. I shivered, unable to look away, enjoying the caress of each jet against my nipples.

After, they panted with obvious exhaustion, but sweetly rubbed their cum over my breasts the way they had learned I liked. I was impossibly still aroused even as they came down.

Laughing Pierre bent and kissed me, then Julian did the same and they left. Andre untied me and then sweetly rubbed my wrists which were raw from strain. I sat up with his help and he sat at my hip on the table, pulling me against him. His kiss was deep, even as my sticky chest was pressed to his shirt. I clutched at him, weak, breathless, thrumming with need and satisfaction dancing in my blood.

"Let's get you cleaned up." He quickly untied my legs and repeated the rubbing of my ankles.

Done, once more he put an arm beneath my legs and behind my back and lifted me with ease. Against me he felt so hard and strong, and I felt safe. Snuggling against him he walked me to the stairs and up, bringing me to my bedroom.

I sat on the edge of the tub as it filled and he stripped off his shirt. His chest was massive, so strong. The sight it flared my body to life once more. He turned from the hamper and caught me staring, smiling with a knowing look.

"There are some things we have to discuss, but first, get it in the tub, my lovely."

Too weak to argue I did and he turned the water off. I sank into the bubbles with a sigh, watching as he knelt on the rug next to the tub.

"Tell me, Anna, if I could, would you rather I fuck you or make love to you?"

I closed my eyes and thought it over. Images assailed me. Andre was large, no one could argue he was the strongest of the three, but he'd always been so gentle.

"I want to say make love. I wish I could take my time, make you feel what you make me feel, slowly enjoy the feeling of you inside me, our bodies together as one but right now...right now if I had that chance I'd go mad. I'd fuck you so hard and fast I'd be afraid to hurt you."

He chuckled and I opened my eyes to see him take a washcloth and dip it in the water, squeezing it out before he brought it to my chest. "Anna, I want you more than I have ever wanted a woman in my life. I know better than anyone I can't break the rules, but if the devil himself came, I would trade my soul to be inside you. If you think I don't desire you as much as you may desire me, you're mad."

I grabbed his arm in my hands. "I know I can't ask about the past, ask why this rule exists, but what if I don't pass the test? You said you'd leave and I wouldn't remember you. Andre, I don't want to forget you."

He leaned forward and kissed me softly. "We'll pass the test together. All you need do is trust me. I would sooner die than hurt you, Anna, never forget that, not for one moment. Now relax."

I tried to, but his strange words weighed heavily on my mind. Why on earth would my lover ever think he would hurt me? Just what madness was this test?



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 05



©Nora Quick 2013





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 05



Pierre made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. Alessandra looked horrified. "Gods, no." I felt my chest deflate with relief. She stood, looking dazed as I breathed in deeply, trying to relax. "In half a millennia as guardian of the line this is a first. Well, tonight is the full moon. I will be back at sunset. If you become a wolf, you will inherit the family estate over which I am guardian. I will bring the papers to sign and explain all then. Good luck, Anna."

"You're not even telling me what the inheritance is, yet? What this has all been leading to?"

Malice gleamed in mirth. "You have to prove you love them. I will be back at noon tomorrow to see if your words are true. If they are, you shall be on the verge of becoming a wolf yourself."

It took two tries for me to quell the urge to shake her, and I called on every instinct of politeness I had. "You can show yourself out." Turning back to the wolves I raised a brow. "Well, is one of you going to turn back to human and fuck me or are we having a staring contest?"

Andre howled and the mists rose again. It was a long wait with too many sounds of strain, but at last the magic receded. Where wolves had stood minutes before, there were the men I loved naked, aroused, awestruck, and perfect. 

"Do you mean it?" Andre asked.

"Every word. So, um, how do we do this? All at once?"

"No, not now." Andre picked me up and tossed me over his shoulder. I shrieked in surprise as he carried me upstairs to his bedroom and tossed me on the bed. In all our adventures I'd never been inside his room, and though I wanted to take it all in, it was impossible to see anything else but Andre in full predatory mode.

His look was feral, his body already hard with arousal. Jesus, he was huge. I was wet, excited, exhilarated, but still nervous. "I am kind of tight...you'll have to go slow."

Something flashed in his eyes and his fists curled, holding back. "Anna, I don't know if I can. Alessandra told the truth. Every generation in your family the guardian has waited for the one who will bond. It's complex and I will explain later, but right now you must know I have not been inside a woman in over five hundred years. None have passed the test. And no woman who has claimed to love me has ever truly accepted me. 

"I'm so full of needs and emotion I don't think I can hold back."

I stood and with shaking hands unwound my dress. He watched me, light hazel eyes glowing almost silver as I undid my bra and stepped from my panties. I liked the way he looked at me as I stood in heels, garter belt, and stockings. It was raw desire with no games or artifice, just pure and beautiful. He growled low in his throat and any sane woman would be scared, but I thrilled at the sound.

"I trust you, Andre. I love you," I said, and held out of my hand.

He tackled me and we went sprawling on the bed. He landed between my legs, so large and hard all over, his cock sliding along my entrance, teasing me as he wrapped his arms around me and claimed me in a kiss.

The tip of his cock was weeping fluid already and I knew it would be a trial, but we'd fit, and my entire body contracted on that thought as desire claimed me like never before.

Resting on his knees Andre smoothed his hands up my arms and pinned them beside my head. "If you touch me, I'll lose my mind. It's the full moon, the only time my beast is so close to the surface I don't know who's in charge."

"Wolf and man are equal?"

He nodded. "Today, yes. After dark, it's the wolf."

"Then take me, both of you. Take what you need." I wanted to smooth his hair back. He looked so pained, and now I knew the truth. Centuries without love, physical or emotional, it was Hell. I wanted to make him smile again. I never wanted to see these haunted, fearful expressions on that beautiful face ever again. "Please," I whispered, knowing how much he liked that.

He cried out and let go of my hands, sliding down with impressive speed. To my shock he fastened his mouth to my pussy and began to lick. His tongue felt longer, rougher, and it shocked me even in my delight. I understood what he meant about control so I went to grip the headboard. I'd forgotten we were in his bed and was shocked to find brass rods, but they were easy to grip.

He was driving me hard to orgasm, all artifice gone. It was blatantly mere preparation for his entrance, and desire for that drove me on with great speed. I almost laughed at his sweet concern, but he was so goddamn good my breath hitched. Licking, nibbling, sucking, he drove me crazy and then slammed in two fingers.

I shot off, screaming my release, knowing this was a preamble to that which I most desired. He drove me even harder, pushing me further down the rabbit hole and through to the other side. I was still dazed and fluttering when he moved up to cover me.

Hands gripping the headboard just above my own, his cock slammed in, just a few inches before I tightened up, but it was enough to make me cry out. My limbs wrapped around him as moisture flowed, my body trying to ease the way even as I still fluttered in climax..

He kissed me and rolled his hips, working his thick length in slowly, ricking it past my fighting muscles. By the time he halfway filled me with his thick, long cock I was breathless from his kiss and the sweet invasion of his body. It seemed to take forever but finally he was seated, deep inside me, and I felt my body rippling around him in the afterglow, hungry for more.

Andre broke the kiss and dropped his forehead to mine. "Thank you, Anna. Thank you." His next kiss was soft, sweet, reverent. More moisture broke from me and I tried to move.

Pulling away I growled at him now. "Fuck me, Andre. Take me, take what you need, give yourself to me."

He made a nearly canid whine and began to move. It was sheer violence, yet somehow contained. He leashed it, but the power was incredible. It felt like magic sizzled along his skin as he slammed into me over and over. My god, he was huge. I'd never felt so stretched or filled in my life, and the sensations were too much for my mind.

Pressed tightly to him I was lost, my face buried in his neck, filled and surrounded completely. It wasn't enough, I knew, to get me to climax again, but all I wanted was to feel his release.

Suddenly Andre withdrew and I cried out, reaching for him even as he pulled back to kneel. His cock seemed impossibly large and was dripping with my own cum, his body so taut each muscle was harshly defined. His hair was loose, free, hanging in his eyes making him appear bestial. My heart pounded as he considered me, and I knew his gaze was not completely human.

He reached for me, grabbed my hips, and flipped me as if I weighed nothing. Even as I let out a startled cry he dragged me to my hands and knees and then slammed in. There was pain at first, but he held still, letting me adjust. Christ, he felt even larger in this position, something that was impossible.

"Anna, when I cum...I tried to hide it from you this week, we all did. I'm not like a human."

"Wh-what?" I panted out.

"I will grow larger, my orgasm will last much longer than a human man's."

"Well then, let's- mmm- see it."

He growled and began to move. It was violence, pleasure and pain dancing together, pulsing against the confines of my mind. He stretched me taut, slammed in to my womb. Andre gave me no quarter, held nothing back. His hands were bruising on my hips, and I was held in place, unable to escape even if I so desired.

I gripped the headboard and hung on for dear life. Hot and cold shivers wracked my body as he thrust faster and faster, harder and harder. I wished I could see him but it hurt too much to try and turn my head. Instead I closed my eyes and drank it in. Finally, he was inside me as I'd been dreaming. No first time ever went as expected, but this...this was satisfying my soul, even as my body burned.

Suddenly Andre threw his head back and let out a howl. Instantly I felt his cock get impossibly wider and then he began to cum. I felt it like a slow leaking of his cum, hot and deep. Andre vibrated around me, unable to move we were locked together, and the pulse of his cum flowing into me ever so gently on that spot deep inside me turned me on like nothing ever had before.

A moment later I felt one hand move between my legs almost delicately, and he strummed my clit in time to the pulsing jets of his orgasm. The novelty, curiosity, dark temptation combined with the immense physical sensations and I came, screaming his name. 

He didn't stop, he didn't slow, nor did he stop coming. Instead he growled, changed the movements of his hands to something rough and fast, and immediately drove me to another peak. I screamed wordlessly, filled more than I could ever remember, my entire body pulsing in time. My heartbeat matched the spurts from his cock and it went on and on. I nearly passed out, never before had pleasure this rich, dark, and complete claimed me.

At last his fingers stopped, his cock softened, and Andre pulled out. I collapsed bonelessly to the bed as he fell beside me. He turned me over and splayed me against his side. I latched on, throwing a leg over his, and arm across his chest.

"Ungh," I managed at last.

He laughed and kissed the top of my head. "I can't believe this is real, that this is really happening."

"You're telling me. You know, for a guy who hasn't done that in a few centuries, you're awfully good."

He chuckled, but it was soft. "I was ungallant, and too needful. I promise next time, it will be all it should be."

I managed to sit up slightly to gape at him. "Are you trying to kill me? Bub, if that was your worst I doubt I could survive your best."

He pulled me suddenly on top of him and he was large enough it worked. My legs parted and against me I felt his cock stir even as he wrapped his arms around me. "Anna, I should tell you some things."

"I have so many questions, I don't know where to start. Uh, I guess since you seem to be the leader and you're all wolves, are you guys a pack and you're the alpha?"

"Yes. Let me start at the beginning, it's time you learned. Wolves have existed since the dawn of time. There is magic in the world, as you're learning. There are others who hunt my kind. For protection long ago we struck an accord with those who could wield magic. Witch, wizard, sorcerer, whatever word you want to use. Two or three pups at a time are signed over to the care of a magic wielder. I'll use the word witch to save time, and it is the preferred term."

"Signed over?"

"It's just always been one small pack to a witch. Whenever two or three children of the same gender reach an age they leave their parents and are sent to the guild of magicians who place them into the care of a single line.

"In your line only women wield magic, and only one of every generation. Wolves are immortal, to a point. We can be killed, but we will never die of natural causes. When we bond to a witch she is granted the same gift. However, when we are bound to one if she dies, we go into the care of a guardian, a younger sibling of the family granted the power to wield small magic and carry the legacy until another is born. In this case you."

"Oo-kay. Wait, witch? Magic? I thought I was- er, am I going to sprout a tail tonight?"

He smiled and smoothed a tendril off my hair back over my ear. "The legacy Alessandra carries is the magic of your ancestor that was slain. In a ceremony you will be given those powers tonight. You can change to a wolf but you will not be tied to the moon as we are. You could change into a bird, a man, a giraffe if you so wished. Anna, you're a witch."

Magic had become somewhat banal in my mind, but I recognized it as a defense mechanism. This was just too much, so my mind chose to focus on other things. "I guess I should have been expecting something like this, but...wow. Er...so you were banging an ancestor of mine?"

He laughed. "Sigrid. I loved her very much. Like you she was smart and brave and practical. It wasn't easy living this life in the fourteenth century in Sweden."

"Jesus, it's been that long?"

He nodded. "That's when she passed her test. We didn't have that much time with her."

"Er, did you have any kids?"

"No," he shook his head. "Sigrid did not wish it so. The choice to have children belongs solely to the witch, and Sigrid had enough by her human husband, she claimed." He smiled at me. "Do not worry, I have never had any children nor have my half-brothers, you and I are related in no way, shape, or form."

"Thank god," I said, relieved we hadn't done something truly forbidden.

"Your ancestors were all witches. Alessandra will explain more. What you need to know is we are yours, Anna. You can protect us with magic and we can protect you with strength. Yes, there will be some who wish you harm, but we will protect you in every way you need. You are pack, and we protect our own."

"That's sweet, but I'm tougher than I look."

Wisely Andre chose not to argue with me. Instead, he kissed me and it was sweet, a kiss of love and contentment rather than passion. Still, my body warmed to it and it felt like a slice of heaven to lay there with our arms around one another. He pulled back with a sigh. "I have to clean you up now. As much as I want to spend the day in bed with you alone, I am not the only one to feel that way."

"Tonight, when all is said and done, I want to share my bed with you all and hold nothing back."

His eyes blazed. "I love you."

I kissed him and he carried me to the bath. I was getting used to it, being spoiled. Who wouldn't?





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 05



The door to the basement opened and Julian emerged, cheek smudged by paint. "You're alive," he said with a smile.

Weak as I was, my body still heated at the sight of him, remembering his words that morning. Gods, I hoped he'd be gentle. I felt raw, pleasantly, but I knew in the morning I'd really feel the wear and tear of three men with voracious sexual needs.

"Barely."

He frowned at my food. "You need iron. Trust me, iron and protein are the only way to survive three horny werewolves."

"I'm too tired to cook."

He gave me an oddly guilty look. "Let me make you something, and then I must make a confession."

Julian took my poor food choices save the drink and put them away, pulling out a raw steak, bacon, mushrooms, and some leftovers from the night before. I watched him cut and chop then set the steak to cook as he loaded a plate and set inside the microwave.

"Confession?"

He nodded, ducking beneath his long bangs. "We didn't tell you everything we could this week." He took a deep breath and leaned back against the counter. "We are your servants, that is the agreement between our people. You could treat us as slaves if you wish."

"What?" I had no such wish. Well, maybe for a night it would be nice to have them in loincloths hand-feeding me grapes...hmm- but not all the time.

"For five hundred years we have lived in Alessandra's house. She teats her pack like servants, the way in America's dark days of slavery a house slave might have been treated. Us, she treated like field slaves. Every generation we come for the week trial and every woman figures it out and treats us the same. You never did, and so we didn't want to tell you."

"Wait...did you...all that we..." I couldn't think how to ask it.

He caught my meaning and his green eyes fixed on the yard outside the window. "Not by choice. Always we came as servants to fix and clean and make things. But eventually...what we have done in the past was never our choice, we had no voice in the matter."

I was horrified. Slaves. They were little more than slaves, and now, by some evil intent, they were mine. "I know what it's like...somewhat. To be chained to someone, serving them, to have no life of your own. I escaped that and so long as I live I will never force another person into that fate." He stared at me so long I felt my nerves rise. "What?"

"Since we couldn't discuss the past I didn't know. I assumed- I don't know what I assumed, but every woman of your line lives a life of comfort. All witches do."

I snorted at that, I was no witch. "I was an accident when my mother was barely eighteen, my father was twenty-six and married. She dumped me on his doorstep. It...wasn't good. I never learned about my birth mother until I was thirty. We've barely traded more than forty words between us. And she died before I could forgive her."

He said nothing but walked to me, stood behind my chair and hugged me. "You'll never have to be alone, we will keep you safe. Each and every one of us would give his life for you."

Uncomfortable with the pity I pulled away to kiss his cheek. "Let's not get melodramatic."

He returned to cooking the steak, sensing my mood, I thought. "You'll learn. There are those who wield magic in the name of good and those in the name of evil. We are at war, albeit a cold one. The world requires balance. There are also other things out there who want good to die off. Vowing to protect one another is a very real thing."

"How do you know I'm good?" I asked jokingly.

He smiled in profile. "You passed the tests, you're good. And this week you have made us feel loved, treasured, and more comfortable than we have ever been since...well, ever. No matter what, Anna, you are good."

I hoped so. A war was on and I'd been drafted, I realized at his words. If I had been raised in my mother's house and known Alessandra, perhaps I would have known more. But raised as I'd been I was a survivor, a warrior all my own. This was the first taste of the easy life I'd ever known and it was strange still, not fully comfortable by any means. It was all happening so fast and none of it made sense, but whatever came down the pipe I was going to be prepared, I vowed.

He set down a plate of steak with bacon and mushrooms in wine sauce, a slice of ham, and corn casserole and spinach soufflé. "Thank you, Julian. You are an amazing cook."

"Thank you. Eat up, I'm going to drain you some more. At least we'll have dinner after, before Alessandra returns."

I swallowed a bite of heavenly steak. "What will happen?"

He sat at the kitchen table across from me and snatched a mushroom for himself. He looked like he was all of twenty-three and he was at least a thousand years old. My mind reeled.

"At dusk you will feel the call to change. Andre is an alpha, he'll stop it. Alessandra will perform a ceremony and transfer the magic of your line to you."

I swallowed some spinach and paused. "Will it hurt?"

"At first it will a little. Then...quite the opposite." His eyes glittered, making me curious. I raised an eyebrow but he shook his head. "You'll have to wait and see. Now, when you're ready to submit to my lustful advances, I'll be in my studio."

He left and watching him move, slowly, made me burn anew, though my muscles protested I could not handle much more. Poor baby, I thought of myself suddenly and laughed. If being exhausted from the best sex of my life on constant demand was a hardship, well, I'd take it happily.

I finished my food, played tug with Diego, used the bathroom, and still I felt a little sluggish. But I wanted Julian with my entire being, just as I had wanted the other men, and wanted them still. If I wasn't careful, I could lose myself to this desire, I realized, but another thought came; was that so bad? An eternity of love and pleasure...there were worse fates. And I'd lived them all. 



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 06







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 06



Julian's hands were on my hips and I opened my eyes to his naked body, his cock hard and ready. He smiled, lifted my hips, and slammed in. They held me aloft and it was like floating. My mouth, my breasts, my aching pussy were all claimed and though I could not deny it was a hard fucking, it was beautiful.

The madness tipped me over the edge and I came wailing again, all their hands, lips, bodies moving furiously now. I expected Julian to join me but he pulled out and changed positions with Pierre.

I kissed him, clutching him as Andre's hands claimed both my breasts now. Pierre lifted my hips and slammed in, wider than Julian. I came with that first stroke, and still I felt the mad need in me not yet abided and sated. With a wicked grin, Pierre thrust again and again and again, forcing my moaning cries to drag out and continue until I was groaning.

I clawed at them as Pierre withdrew and they moved, settling me into Julian's arms. I kissed him and Pierre attended to my nipples as Andre raised me and slammed in. So much wider than Julian but not as long, yet longer than Pierre but not as wide, Andrew was not actually more or less than the others but all, and it was fitting.

Once more my body raced up the peak like riding lightning, and I came screaming as Andre slid deep inside me and dragged back, smiling as he rove me into that dark pleasure. Even as I came, something about his loose, long auburn hair trailing on my breasts fascinated me. Diego, somewhere off in another room, howled along with me, and slowly I came down, laughing. The mad desire was receding slowly but the burn remained. I felt drunk on magic and my thoughts scattered.

Lazily I opened my eyes as I panted, still feeling the madness, but now it was a slow burn deeper inside me. "What the hell is going on?" I whispered, scared, overwhelmed, and more glad to be with them than I could ever remember feeling in my life.

"Shhh," Julian said. They picked me up then and brought me to the oversized plush ottoman for the loveseat. The only light were the candles and the barest sliver of the sun, I knew it was rising, but I felt as if I'd fallen asleep in one world and woken in another.

They were gods, their bodies naked, sweat-slick, covered in strange scratches, hair wild, eyes burning, cocks wet and straining. I wanted it all, everything, but could name nothing specific. I was simply a creature of pure need.

Andre once more entered me as Julian let my head hang off the edge and slid his cock into my mouth. I felt Pierre guide my hand to his cock and I stroked even as I felt Julian's hands on my nipples, Pierre's buried against my clit.

I came again, hard, bucking, spasming, crying out around Julian's cock.

"Now!" Andre roared and I felt them all coming. Julian pulled out but at Pierre's urgent directions I grabbed his cock and rubbed their spasming cocks on my nipples, letting their hot cum cover me. Andre held still, tied to me, coming, moaning along with them.

We remained nearly frozen for long moments, as Andre stroked my clit and I came wailing with them, twice more. When they were spent, all of us were wrung free, they withdrew and fell to sit on the floor, resting their heads on the ottoman, leaning into me. The madness was gone, the burn had left me, and yet I did not feel like a forest cleared by a great flame, more like a mountain grown from a wellspring of lava beneath.

"What the hell just happened?" I said after several minutes of silence punctuated only by panting breaths.

"The magic. It changed you, changed your nature," Andre said. "At the same time your human body wanted to become a wolf like us. The magic of your line burned ours away, but the price of changing your nature twice is nearly demonic lust."

"I won't complain about that," Pierre chuckled.

"Sharing our bodies in this way sealed your magic, and bonded us together even though you are not wolf. We are now pack, bound by magic, and you my lady, are a witch," Julian pronounced.

I laughed and smoothed my hair back, still laying there messy, replete, devastated, and rebuilt. "I don't feel very powerful at the moment. I feel like a woman who wants a bath and then a solid week in bed with you three until we're all in traction." They laughed with me on that.

"As good as that sounds, my sweet," Andre said, kissing my thigh, "you should bathe and dress as should we all. It's morning, and Alessandra will return soon. You're going to have to learn the limits, responsibilities, and use of your powers now."

"Oh, goody, school with the ice queen. All right, I better move so I can stumble slowly upstairs. I'm not sure my legs work."

This started an argument between who would carry me which I settled by asking Pierre to carry me up, Andre to draw my bath, Julian to aid my ablutions, Pierre to dry me off, and Andre to help me dress. In return I told them I refused to ask another favor of them for the next week, though if we kept up the pace of our sex life I'd probably need to be ferried around more.

At last Pierre scooped me up, and the others followed up the stairs. He set me down on the padded bench at the vanity, kissed me, and jogged off for his shower as Andre filled the tub. We all did the correct order except Andre used his time off to also grab me some food. They had eaten before I'd woken, and now I was starved.

I was feeling human again, but more. Colors seemed a little sharper and odd, like watching an old Technicolor film on a HD TV. I could smell every detail it seemed and knew Diego needed his teeth brushed a floor away. The food tasted strange and new, and I appreciated the home cooked bit more than the store-bought bread.

I settled for another loose dress but a bra and panties this time, and put my hair up in a bun, leaving off makeup. Since the skirt brushed the floor and hid my feet I put on stiff-soled walking shoes, not knowing what to expect.

Alessandra hadn't appeared and I'd been feeling like I'd been neglecting Diego so I took him in the backyard. He did his business and I cleaned up after it, then we played fetch and lightly wrestled, having a good time. I laughed, he wagged his tail and grinned, and we both got dirty.

Suddenly the back door opened and Alessandra stepped out, looking me up and down. "No, that won't do." She waved her finger and all the mud and dirty slush was gone.

Diego gave a small frightened yip and ran through the open doorway back inside.

"Come on, Anna, it's time to learn what you need to know. Take my hand and come with me."

I backed up a steep deeper into snow, feeling wary. "Wait. I'm not supposed to go anywhere without one of my pack."

She gave me a look like I was a slow child. "I'm sending our spirits back in time, our bodies will be moved to your bed, within steps of your precious wolves. Now quit wasting time."

"I don't know." So far I had taken everything in with stride, but in the glacial gaze of her ice-green eyes it suddenly occurred to me that in three weeks I had gone from poor and barely human, to a witch with three lovers that were two natured, magic, money, comfort, anything I wanted. Along the ride there hadn't been time to stop and stare out the window at the strange scenery flying by, but now I felt an instinct to turn my head and see what road I was on.

"Magic is not for the squeamish," she said derisively and grabbed my hand. I hadn't even seen her move.

I gasped and felt the press of magic, like a popping sizzle in the air, aerosol alka seltzer. The backyard with its snow faded, and when the mists cleared we were in a warm stone chamber. I jerked free and rubbed my hand, the magical tingle lingering. "You had no right."

She snorted. "You were being a baby. You passed all three tests, I assumed you were ready to begin learning your place."

Those words froze a piece of my soul. How many times had I heard similar words before a hand reached out and brought blood and pain? But no longer was I scared little girl, powerless in the face of the rage of adults. I was an adult, and damn it, allegedly I was a witch. "How dare you?" I ground out, clenching my fists and staring her down.

"You can be a petulant whelp later. To understand what you cost me taking away three wolves, you must learn what value wolves hold in our lives. Shut up, and listen, Anna."

She waved her hand and the empty chamber was suddenly crowded with the most beautiful people I'd ever seen. They wore strange clothes, short dresses on men, long dresses on women. They were Roman, I realized, though they looked nothing like even the most recommended documentaries portrayed Romans.

I watched two walking towards us but they didn't see us, did not step aside, and they passed through us. Both shivered, looked about, and with a shrug moved on to take their places in the semi-circle of seats where most crowded. In front was a large table, two of three seats taken, and attention was focused there.

"We're not real," I said at last, my anger gone in the wash of new wonder.

"We're ghosts. The wolves can sense us, but they at this time are unaware of a witch's ability to travel through time, though the witches know and will disregard us. The wolves will merely think us dead spirits tied by curiosity and longing to this place."

"What's going on?" I asked softly, though what I really wanted to ask was why she couldn't sit me down and explain our history like any normal mentor would. It w as easy to sense she resented me, and from her words I sensed it was over the loss of wolf slaves, but I felt like there was more to the story.

"You need a history lesson. It's what you would call two hundred BCE. The war between good witches and evil sorcerers has been going on since the dawn of time. Dragon kind have now aligned themselves with evil and good are dying rapidly."

"Dragon kind?" It was so hard to suspend my disbelief, even with all the magic I had witnessed. As we spoke, the room settled and focused on the head table, where three men were speaking loudly to the room.

"Half human, Half dragon, like our wolves. Now listen in when the wolves come. For now the council is discussing what to do. Dragon kind are immortal like wolves, and now the evil ones are tied to them. The council is Marcus, Valerius, and Shin-zan. Listen, Anna."

I did but the Latin was too rapid, even with my new skills. Alessandra waved her hand and I understood the speaker perfectly as soon as her fingers passed my ear.

"The wolves are crippled in their war with the undead. They are victorious but few in numbers and now the dragon kind have declared war."

"Marcus is right," the bearded one I could only assume was Shin-zan said, rising. "If we ally ourselves with the wolves and offer them magical protection, they will bond to us and give us immortality."

A murmur went through the room. The tallest man who looked eminently Roman, Valerius, I assumed, rose. "I think we should hear from the wolves now, before we decide anything."

He nodded to the men guarding the two tall doors which opened. In slipped men and women of unusual height, great musculature, and perfect looks. Three women came to stand at Valerius' side and he cast a dark look at everyone gathered. He could have been a general addressing troops his posture was so rigid, but when his eyes lit on the three women they softened noticeably.

"I have bonded with these wolves, sisters Ilona, Ionia, and HoAnna. There are two, often three wolves for every witch. Our life forces are bonded, and I am as immortal as they are. HoAnna?"

She stepped forward and took his sword from him. Valerius kissed her and then she ran him through. Everyone gasped and guards started to rush her, but Valerius pulled the sword out and tossed it aside, ripping open his dress to show the wound healing quickly.

"See what they can give us?"

There descended a silence so massive it seemed alive, as everyone stared gaping as the clean spot of his chest where he should be hemorrhaging, but Valerius was whole and unharmed. 

"He lives!" Someone called.

"No spell did that!" a woman's voice sang out. 

"And what do they want in return?" someone else called out from the crowd.

The one called Ionia stepped forward and stared at all the witches in a slow scan around the room, judging like a queen, steady as a soldier. "Protection. We will provide you with our life force and shield you from magical attacks so long as you aid us against dragon kind."

"Is that all you desire?" Shin-zan asked and from the way he asked I knew her response would be what sealed the fate of the wolves.

"We seek protection," she replied and I wanted to shout at her.

"Why two or three?" someone else called out.

"Again," Valerius glowered, "that is how their numbers go. Like wolves werewolves are creatures of pack, and their half and full siblings comprise this. They are creatures of magic with none of their own and need us very badly. We can ensure the survival of their species, and make them stronger. What have all the wolves agreed to give us in return?"

At his words I suppressed another groan. Hindsight was twenty-twenty, but I thought immortal creatures should know better than to give everything away for something so simple.

Ilona stepped forward, glancing at her brethren. "We will be your lovers, your protectors of the physical realm."

The Roman general nodded. "And for multiple lovers each, slaves to see to our needs, soldiers in our war on evil, we must only share our magic and see to their health and safety."

At the word slaves something rippled through the room: dread from the female wolves and dark delight from the witches.

"Let's blow," Alessandra said and then snapped her fingers.

We were instantly in a large room, a great hall. A fire burned in a hearth taller than me and the floor was covered by thick thresh, smelling a little off. There was a long table that was empty and a smaller table that was higher, two chairs looked throne-like behind it.

"Damn it, Alessandra, it was just getting good!" I took in the surroundings and processed them at last. I felt like such a rube, but in the presence of great magic my emotions were cast off in favor of wonder. "Where are we? When are we?"

"We're in my father's castle. Your ancestor as well, he was the laird of Clan McKinnon."

News to me. I knew nothing of my birth mother's family. I supposed I should start learning. Touching a banner it shocked me when my hand didn't pass right through it. "Wait a minute, I'm real!" 

"I brought our bodies here as well. You'll need body and spirit to learn magic."

Turning back I glared at her. "I'm not to go anywhere without one of my pack!"

"They're here. The year is thirteen nine-one. They're visiting my family with Sigrid, and your pack is out on a ride now with Sigrid, my old self, and our father. I've cast a spell so the servants will stay out of the hall. Today w- they will ride and stay in the north hunting lodge, so the castle is ours."

When my wolves had told me I was not to go anywhere without them, I'd agreed. Now Alessandra had forced me to break my word, and she had done it by finding a loophole any lawyer would delight in. "That's cheating."

She waved off my concern haughtily. "I am training you to be a warrior for our cause. Knowing all the rules and how to break them is paramount to success."

I knew in that moment I really didn't like her, but I had to learn, and she was the only one who could teach me. Unless I went back in time to Sigrid, which would probably result in the universe dividing itself by zero since she was my direct ancestor. Well, perhaps I could make her teach me time travel and go back to Valerius or one of them. "Fine then. What first? Time travel?"

Snorting, she snapped her fingers and Diego appeared, bewildered. I ran to him and hugged him and my beloved dog seemed excited to see me. "Hello boy, welcome to the twilight zone."

"You must crawl before you walk. First we practice spooling energy."

"Come again?"

She sighed. "If you ever duel with a sorcerer the best offensive move is to suck their magic from them. In order to keep it from happening to you, you can use your familiar to store energy."

"Hear that, boy? You're a capacitor." He seemed as amused as I was and ducked his head against me so I'd keep petting him. He needed reassurance, and I certainly did too, so for a long moment petting him calmed us both.

Alessandra made a sound of impatience as she paced by the hearth. "Concentrate on me, Anna."

The lesson commenced. "Feel your energy." She flung out her hands and suddenly I felt and electric glow around me, like my soul. But it shimmered like a dark opal, almost the same color as the clouds around my wolves when they transformed. "Try to make it move with your mind."

I closed my eyes and thought I could feel it. I thought of it coming to my left hand and when I opened my eyes it was flowing there. I gasped and nearly jumped in excitement. "I did it!"

"That's nothing," she said in a bored tone and then pulled it all from me until I felt naked. "You can prevent that from happening by giving your magic to Diego to guard, but it leaves you defenseless. You will now learn how to do both."

Until the light grew dim in that ancient castle I spooled my energy into Diego and then practiced pulling Alessandra's from her. Push, pull, push, pull, over and over again I moved energy even well past the point I felt I mastered the trick. Only when I was exhausted did she snap her fingers and light the torches. 

Then, when I was weary and preferred to sit on a bench with Diego pressed to my legs, she taught me basic summoning. Elements like fire were easy and all I could master, or culling water from the air to fill a glass first, then a bucket. Creating something from nothing was hard. She tried to make me create a blender but I couldn't, and she refused to teach me time travel at that time. I could create a plastic card, and found I could only make unnatural things when I understood how they worked. 

Diego seemed energized by storing my magic and giving it back, and I knew I couldn't ask for a better familiar. With every light nudge of his black and brown head I felt my magic bolster, and my energy rally a slight bit.

"Wait a minute," I said as a sudden thought rocked me. "Diego is a dog...they don't live as long as we do."

"Oh, for heaven's sake," she said flippantly and flicked her fingers at him. Diego jumped and whined, then settled down dazed, shaking his head. "I'll teach you that later, but his life is tied to yours. Familiar bonding is easy, baby stuff."

"Then why didn't you teach me?"

She shrugged. "It's done now, isn't it?"

Gnashing my teeth, I ran to him and crouched to hug my beloved dog. As soon as we touched I felt magic rise and when I pulled back Diego and I were in my living room.

"Guys!" Pierre yelled and he was there, pulling me into his arms and hugging me tight. "What the hell happened?"

"Ah--mmmm-ffii," it came out, smushed as I was against his chest.

The others came running in and I was crushed between them all, questions flying. Diego barked and jumped against them, and luckily it was he who drew them off.

"I am so sorry," I said when I was finally free. "It was Alessandra. She took us back in time to Rome to see the wolves and witches strike the accord, leaving our bodies here. Then she took our bodies and Diego to her human home. She said it got around the rules because you all were there, with Sigrid, out hunting."

Andre cursed in French, viciously. It wasn't modern French, but I understood it perfectly. From his tone alone, even an Urdu speaker would know what he meant.

"I am so sorry, I won't let it happen again."

"What was she thinking?"Julian asked. "Dragonkind still had domain over much of the world, the war raged on in major campaigns then. You were not safe!"




A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 06



I blushed, knowing I'd been powerless to stop her, but somehow still at fault. "I know, I know! I won't allow her to do it tomorrow."

"Did she teach you time travel? Or how to transport from one place to another?" Pierre asked.

"No, just energy spooling and small summoning."

Julian cursed more fluidly in modern French. "Children's tricks, things small witches learn in a single day."

"She is jealous of Anna, that is why Anna will go slowly. And placing our beloved in danger was no accident," Andre said.

A light bulb went off. I had learned something important that day. "No, but she taught me to break the rules. That's why you three need to pack your bags for five days."

"Why?"

"She can't pull these little stunts if we're in public. We're going to go on vacation. It has to be somewhere public and crowded where people spend most of their time outdoors, probably a beach."

Andre smiled softly. "I know just the place."

"Oh?"

Pierre shot Andre a desperate, pleading look, which the alpha ignored. "It's a resort for wolves and witches, you'll enjoy it. It's warm, but since familiars come there will be an air conditioned area for canid familiars, and our room will be temperate. I'll make the arrangements, we can leave tonight."

"I told you, I wasn't going to make you work."

Pierre was about to speak but Julian put his hand on his arm. "This will not be work."

Andre grabbed me and kissed me soundly. "You also said you'd let us do the work we want to. Go, pack."

"Tropical you say?" I said and pulled the ever present box from the slim pocket at my skirt. I wished for what I wanted, it flew up, floated down, and out popped a packed suitcase and a travel case. "Done. While you guys pack I am going to eat, I'm starved."

"Come on," Julian said, tugging Pierre along, and we shuffled out.

They went up to pack and Diego followed me to the kitchen. It was nine, but I found dinner waiting in the oven. It was a large chicken breast tenderized and wrapped around cheese and spinach into a roll, wrapped with bacon. There were garlic mashed potatoes and lemon-butter broccoli. Diego's was a plain chicken breast, potatoes without garlic, and since he didn't like mushrooms or broccoli, corn soufflé.

We ate quickly, and I added wine from the open chardonnay breathing on the counter. Heaven. Julian had a true talent. I frowned as I finished it, realizing from what they said that even Sigrid had treated them as slaves. They had skills they'd been forced to learn. Julian was the cook, Pierre the mechanic and carpenter, Andre the organization manager.

I hoped this week would provide relaxation for them. They deserved a break. And now having had a taste of Alessandra's leadership, I could only imagine the hell of six hundred years with her. She seemed grudging and self involved, and those were the nicest conclusions I'd reached.

Pierre was the first one down. He kissed me as I was cutting a slice of chocolate cake and pulled out a full ham from the fridge. 

"All set?" I asked as he gathered plates and cutlery.

"I'm packed. Julian is as well. Andre wrote down instructions for the crew working on our new home and Julian is relaying them. Andre is making arrangements for the flight." The flight came out strangely. 

"What's wrong?" I didn't like all the hesitant looks.

He kept his back to me but paused in slicing the ham. "We just found you. I don't want to share you with the world."

"You don't have to. Think of it as a honeymoon."

He turned and his bright blue eyes were tinged with worry. "I'll try."

"Is it hard to reach this island?"

"Very. Most witches can just use magic to go there, but new ones do come, like you, who haven't finished training, and also guardians of lines like Alessandria with lesser power not always able to travel by magic. Like those others of new or limited power we have to use one of their pilots and planes since humans aren't to know of this island."

"What island is it?"

"Thunder Island."

I laughed. "Like the Jay Ferguson song? I love that tune."

Pierre sat and carved off a large slice of ham. "The same."

"How did he know about it?"

"Trade secret," Pierre said with a smile. He reached over and drew his finger down my cheek, coming back with a bit of chocolate. Sucking it slowly from his finger, the action was very seductive with those blue eyes focused on mine. "Mmm."

I blushed and thanked him, finishing my slice.

"I better take Diego out. Will I need a crate for him?"

"We're not flying commercial," Julian said coming into the kitchen. He kissed me and joined Pierre at the table.

"Interesting." I took Diego outside and let him use the bathroom, and then we played in the scant snow.

What a day. I was in danger of it all catching up to me. Magic had been bred into me the night before and upon waking I had somehow bonded my life force to three immortal wolves. Then I had learned to summon fire, air, water, and move small earth, and then bonded Diego's life force to mine. I was part of a race at war. My "aunt," the guardian of my line, might be trying to kill me. If I truly tried to take it all in I'd laugh until I was mad.

So once more I pushed it from my mind and focused on something small. Life had become one large adventure and despite the sudden luxury, a vacation sounded nice. Plus, not having to gear up with boots and a huge coat to go outside would be wonderful. Better yet was sitting on a tropical beach in a tiny bikini, having my three lovers slathering me with coconut oil. The thought alone made me wet.

"Anna, we're ready," Andre called out the door.

I patted my side and Diego walked with me. Andre caught me in a deep kiss, and my arousal flared, my nipples rock hard and moisture flowing. He pulled back, nostrils flaring, a knowing look in his eye.

"Do we have to go right away?"

He unzipped my coat and stroked my breasts. I was still standing in the cold and against me he felt blazing hot. "Yes, but it's a private eight hour flight."

I shivered and he pulled me inside. Our bags were in the kitchen and the men were armoring up in coats.

"Give me five minutes to warm the car up."

"Let me just use the bathroom," I said.

Andre nodded. "Julian and I will take the bags out then."

I did the necessary and emptied Diego's food and water bowl. I'd use my box to get him what he needed. Grabbing his leash, I clucked my tongue to draw Diego near and gave one last look. Soon, all too soon we would abandon this house for our new home, and my friend would have it. Somehow, I just knew I would miss in many ways the innocent times when I knew nothing of my legacy or destiny. 

"Ready?" Julian asked at the door.

"I think so. What about the food in the fridge?"

"I called a friend to come and house sit, she'll eat it."

"Who?" I asked as we locked up.

"Sometimes there are leftover wolves. Some litters produce only one wolf who makes it to adulthood, or there is one born too far ahead or behind the others to bond into the pack. They are lone wolves who serve witches as needed, not one in particular. This is our sister, Diana, much younger than we are. She's always remained close."

"I'd love to meet her," I said as we entered the garage.

"You will. All right, Diego?" He opened the back door and Diego jumped in the backseat, the cargo area filled with our cases. 

I took the middle and Julian squeezed in beside me. Pierre was driving and Andre had shotgun. We pulled out and started on the surface streets towards the highway. Suddenly, a dark thought occurred to me, and I knew I'd regret asking, but I had to.

"Guys? Why did you agree so easily to a vacation?"



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 07







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 07



"I'll make it up to you later," he murmured, pulling back to lick where he'd bitten.

I knew the bite on my throat marked me lower in the pack than him but I didn't care. If only they knew, I would willingly be their slave, I felt I would do anything for these men. The thought of walking among them naked, knowing they could do whatever they wanted, well, it aroused me more than anything ever had. I moaned at it and as Julian began to slide against the spot inside that made it feel like a wall fell.

"No, you'll make it up to me right now by not holding back. Fuck me like you want to, Julian."

He made a broken sound at my rough language and clamped his teeth back to my neck. He began to fuck me with blinding speed and the pain rose, blending with the pleasure at each thrust. He came first, but the feel of him swelling and locking, even as his hips tried to thrust, sent me over.

No longer caring, I cried out as I came and he howled, teeth still clamped to my neck. Julian's hand moved from my breasts to wedge between us and tease my nether hole. A dark pleasure bloomed and I came on that alone, rubbing against him, driven high and tight into blinding climax.

His fingers slowly circled both my anus and my clit even as he whimpered and moaned with teeth clamped to my throat. Locked together like this he could thrust in a tiny fraction of a movement, but it was enough. Once more I tumbled into dark pleasure before the throbbing need lessened, and it went on and on. When I finally came down an eternity later he softened. 

I came back to myself as he kissed my neck softly. "I've marked you," he said sadly.

"So?" I laughed and threw my head back, exposing my neck. "I liked it. Do it again, please."

Julian rolled me to my stomach, still inside me, and pulled us up to kneel. "I can't, Anna. I'm an omega. I never should have lost control like that."

"So? I'm not pack, I don't care if I'm beneath you. In fact, I prefer being beneath you."

He groaned as I wiggled against him. Julian was soft and still inside me and I felt his cock twitch. "I keep thinking this is a dream, that you're not real, that I'll wake up and we'll be stuck back at Alessandra's home, in the basement, cold and lonely." 

"You're mine as much as I am yours, Julian," I said firmly. "I'm never going to tell you where to go, what to be, what to do. I will ask, beg, plead, tempt, cajole, and tease, but I don't own you."

Softly I heard him begin to cry and he withdrew from me. We shifted until he lay across me face to face comfortably and I wrapped my arms around him and held on, smoothing his hair, his back, holding him until it passed long minutes later.

"I love you," he said softly.

"I love you, Julian."

He kissed me and pulled out with a sigh. "As much as I want to linger, the Alpha is waiting patiently for his time with you. I'm going to get something to eat, I feel ferociously hungry. When I come back I'm going to sleep like a baby."

"Good."

"Andre asked me to ask you to use your box. Summon your favorite toy." I raised an eyebrow, aware he could likely see me in the dark but I could see nothing as I heard his zipper slide up. "I'll see you soon."

When he left I climbed off the bed and slowly made my way to the box. I summoned my favorite small three inch long clitoral stimulator vibrator as well as a AA battery. Putting them together I laid back in bed and wondered what was taking Andre so long as I used my magic to clean myself once more. I heard a roar of laughter from the group and smiled even as I yawned. I wanted to sleep but I wanted Andre badly, not in that order.

Finally the door opened and his large shape filled the dim light of the cabin before it closed again.

"Anna," he said reverently.

"I have the toy. What's up?"

"When I could read your mind I saw your favorite position. Get into it," he said gruffly.

I understood and felt myself flush even as I turned to lay on my stomach. I turned to toy on and slid it down between my body and the bed, burying it against my pussy. The vibrations made me moan and moisture flowed as I heard the rustle of his clothes coming off.

The bed dipped and I felt Andre's giant hands smoothing down my legs, parting them further as he settled between them. I could only hold my breath as he dipped his hips and slammed inside.

The shock of his invasion along with my aroused state and the toy had me climaxing instantly. I screamed into the pillow as he began to move. Slower than the other men it was still fast and I reached another jagged peak after a solid minute of thrusting, and then Andre quickly followed me over. 

I felt stretched, pinned to the bed, his strong weight pressing me down. His teeth found the back of my neck and clamped down, holding me even as I came again and again. The vibrating toy, the pulsing jets of cum, it was almost too much. I was sure I screamed with the pleasure, but my mind was so far gone to pleasure I had no idea what I did.

Finally he softened, pulled out, and turned me over to kiss me. I was panting heavily with exertion and my werewolf lover had barely a sheen of sweat on him. As our tongues met he turned the toy off and tossed it aside. I felt the gentle press of his kiss against my neck but I was too exhausted to move and could only whimper.

"Go to sleep, my love, I'll grab my brothers and be back to join you." He stood and brought the sheet and comforter back up over me, tucking me in sweetly.

I closed my eyes and drifted immediately to sleep, woken moments later by the press of bodies into the bed. I felt Pierre at my back and took Julian into my arms. He still trembled, in need of comfort, and I fell asleep wrapped around him, blanketed by Pierre, and felt Andre's hand atop my head, passed under Pierre's head.

I woke refreshed to a soft knock on the door. Julian dealt with it and then came back, kissing me awake and letting me know it was almost landing time. I was offered use of the shower which I took and when I emerged Pierre was next in. Andre had laid out an outfit for me, and "outfit" was to be used in the loosest of terms.

"What's this?"

"On Thunder Island it's dress to impress. We'll be arriving during the lunch hour, and this is how witches dress during the day."

"Hmm," was all I could say. He'd found my emerald green string bikini, and a matching wrap of many colors, the green predominant, that would wrap around my waist. The shoes were spiked heeled sandals in the same shade. He'd also found my diamond earrings and matching solitaire necklace, plus large Gucci sunglasses. I looked it over and hooked my finger through one of the straps of a sandal and held it aloft. "Really? Fuck me pumps?"

"Better than what we're supposed to wear according to island rules," Andre said with a shrug.

"What's that?"

"You'll see. Christine has breakfast waiting."

I dressed and left my wet hair down, slicked back. With no mirror I forwent makeup and came out to Pierre fresh from the shower and Julian and Christine seated. Breakfast was a mound of scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon.

"Good morning," I said and took my seat.

"I already made Diego a plate," Andre said. Indeed Diego was happily munching cheesy scrambled eggs and toast, no bacon as the wolves knew the nitrates would hurt him. He broke to greet me and let me scratch under his chin, nuzzling my knee before going back to his breakfast with a happy wag of his tail.

"I put out a puppy pad in the cargo hold for him," Christine said.

"Thank you both!" I piled my plate and dug in, famished after my night.

Pierre had ducked into the bedroom and emerged wearing a loin cloth. I would have laughed but that body on display, covered only by two scraps of cloth tying in thin strings on the side made my mouth water. 

"Wow."

He smiled but blushed. "It's the official uniform of pack wolves there."

"Normally I'd launch into a long-winded lecture railing against the system but frankly...I'm shallow, and impressed."

Everyone laughed as Pierre took a seat and the bathroom door opened, admitting Julian. "Well then, I guess I can wear it, so long as it makes you happy."

I laughed again, head back, and Christine gasped.

"Mis- Anna, you're marked!"

I felt my throat and the impressions of teeth. "So?"

"It's not allowed!"

I frowned. "Says who?"

She blinked. "It's...it's just how it has always been since the accord."

"I've never been one to follow the rules. Any witch tries to argue and I will knock them flat on their ass." I said this with a smile but suddenly Christine's eyes widened. Andre shook his head, cutting her off, and I sighed. The air was filled past full with secrets held back and I had yet to solve any mysteries though I was tired of them already, so I returned to my bacon.

"Well, my turn to shower," Andre said as Julian sipped into the bedroom to change. Rising, he kissed the top of my head and padded off.

After a few minutes Julian emerged in his loin cloth and again I sighed. "You know it's sad. With you three dressed that way I'm probably not leaving our room and I'll miss the whole island."

Julian blushed too and took a seat. "This is going to be interesting. Last time we were there was fifty years ago with Alessandra. She loaned us out for work." His voice was devoid of emotion at the last statement.

"Loaned you out? What?"

Christine nodded. "If a wolf has no official pack they work for all witches, like Connell and I. We do things like offer transport for new, untrained witches, work for the council, or provide aid."

"Like our sister who's house sitting," Pierre said.

I could only shake my head and take a sip of orange juice. "What a world."

"Be glad you were raised outside of it," Julian said, then caught my expression. "In some ways."

I shuttered my gaze. He was right. For all my life had been so bloody hard outside this world I might be a spoiled bitch like the other witches were apparently if I'd been raised inside the confines of this strangeness. Perhaps that's why my mother had chosen a strange man on a lonely night to give her a child, then dropped the result off.

"We'll be landing in ten minutes," Connell said over the intercom.

Pierre shoveled food into his mouth and I rose to help Christine clean. She tried to wave me off but I insisted and we put everything away as Andre slipped from bathroom to bedroom. Quickly he returned dressed in his loincloth and joined us, buckling in.

Soon the plane dipped and out the window we were over the jewel-blue ocean, the plane emerging from thick clouds.

Diego came to sit by me and I held him, stroking his silky brown fur as our ears popped again. My poor dog whined at it, but was a trooper, and once it passed he licked my hand in thanks. Then we landed, and it was much rougher than a commercial jet. However, I'd never flown private before and had to admit it had been wonderful...particularly the in-flight entertainment, I thought with a smiling glance at my lovers.

As we taxied Christine sighed in relief. "The staff will bring your bags to your room. I'll escort you to check in." She mumbled something under her breath that sounded like this should be interesting.

"Thank you," I said with a tight smile. I'd been raised in a big city and lived in Chicago, which was nothing to sneeze at, but right then I felt like country bumpkin going to a White House dinner. Perhaps that was what she meant and my nerves tightened as I worried about embarrassing my gentlemen. 

She shook her head, plainly reading my face I realized. "I don't know how the other witches will take this."

"What, exactly?"

"You're nothing like any witch I know. And you're no shrinking violet. You may ruffle some feathers. No, scratch that. You're definitely going to ruffle feathers."

"I'm used to uphill battles, why should this life be any different?" I asked, and no one replied.

We came to a stop and unbuckled. I put Diego's leash on as Christine unlocked the stairs and lowered them. The tropical breeze blew in and I saw a purple carpet leading to a tent, and palm trees lining the runway.

I went down first while Andre held Diego's leash then we let him bound down, the men and Christine followed. Grabbing Diego's leash I ruffled his fur as he panted in the tropical heat and stared around, eyes wide at the unusual scenery. 

I let Christine lead and at the tent a woman sat at a small table with a large book. She was dressed in a loincloth as well, along with a tiny leather bikini top that matched, and around her arms were two small circlets.

"Greetings mistress Witch, Christine," she said, rising to bow slightly. 

"It's Anna, Miss..."

"She was raised among humans, ignorant of our world," Christine said.

She peered closely at me and seemed to sniff. "It's you!" the woman's eyes widened. "Oh! I am Annabelle. I'm so sorry. No one said you were coming."

Feeling wary I forced a smile to my companions. "What? Does everyone know about the prodigal witch?"

"You're Sigrid's heir," Annabelle whispered. "Inrisdotti."

"And that means what?"

Annabelle shook her head after a pregnant pause. "I will let Valerius know. He's here."

"Whoop de doo," I said flippantly, though the thought of a Roman general still creeping around was a bit impressive. "So where do we go? We need air conditioning for my familiar, Diego."

He was sitting patiently next to me so I ruffled the fur behind his ears, coaxing a huge panting grin.

"Uh, I can, um, will put you in the grand suite," Annabelle offered nervously.

"If possible I'd like privacy. I'm happy to pay extra for whatever you have that's private."

Annabelle stared at me and then her eyes slid to the wolves behind me, leaving me to wonder what blunder I'd made. "Well, we have a large bungalow over the water. It has a small attic for familiars that's always air conditioned, the bungalow can be open to the ocean or air conditioned."

"What will it cost?"

"It's taken care of," Annabelle said as if I was a slow child, reaching for a small bell and ringing it.

Instantly two men appeared in loin cloths, very easy on the eyes, dressed like my wolves but with the same circlets Annabelle had. Both, like Annabelle, gaped at my neck and I was growing impatient with the stares.

"Please bring Mistress- I'm sorry, what is your last name?"

"Just call me Anna."

"Please bring Mistress Anna's luggage and her pack's to the grand bungalow. Charles, will you escort them?"

The blonde nodded as the other one headed for the plane.

"Thank you Christine, for everything. And tell Connell I say thank you as well." I hugged her, ignoring her startled outcry.

If this world was stuck in an outdated mode based off societies and structures long dead, they were in for a surprise. Say what you want about my life, I had never led it to please others or fall in line. I suddenly felt alive, knowing there was an enemy to fight, but tucked away that introspection to the back of my mind.

She blushed and stepped back. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For treating me like a human being."

I squeezed her hand and dropped it, turning to my lovers. "All right, let's get settled in so I can ruffle more feathers."

Charles' eyes were huge but he nodded. We went inside the sprawling building and in the lobby were more men and women. Some wore wolf uniforms, and of those most had no circlet, some had them, and others were dressed like supermodels. The magic rolling off the supermodels was immense, telling me they were witches. No one appeared over thirty and everyone was beautiful. Magic made us all vain, and I was no exception.

Staring at them, I missed the lobby which was sleek and simple, bland off-white wall and that flat grey easy-roll-vacuum carpet of every resort hotel in the 1980's. The potted plants were all real, as was the wood trim and marble counter top in soft grey and pink along the front desk. The three people behind the desk were all wolves with circlets and they merely watched the flow of people. I noticed as the people walked past, witches solo or in pairs, and two to six wolves trailing behind. Always a step behind.

Charles paused and let it sink in. At his questioning gaze I tried to school my expression into coolly unaffected, but no one bought it. Diego nuzzled my hand and I felt someone brush a hand over my shoulder, likely Andre.

"To the right is the grand buffet. Room service is available at all hours except lunch from noon until one and dinner from seven until eight," Charles said in a melodic voice. The room was crammed with people eating. "To the left is the hotel bar open all hours. I will show you to your room and after I can take you on a tour."

"That would be nice, Charles, I appreciate it. thank you."

We turned right at a massive concierge desk, and I became aware of growing stares and whispers. I haughtily stuck my nose in the air, proud of Julian's mark on my skin, assuming that was the cause of the hub-bub. 

Suddenly a large man, obviously a witch from his clothes which consisted of a speedo, open silk short sleeved button-up shirt, and a Tag Heur watch strode past. I heard the commotion and turned to see he'd smacked into Julian.

"How dare you!" the witch said and raised his hand.

I dashed over, and Diego growled at him as I grabbed the man's hand and threw him back. It was a lucky throw, he hadn't even paid attention to me nor set his feet into any stance that would aid balance.

"Julian, Take Diego." I shoved the leash at my lover and then strode to the man. "How dare you assault him!"

"He's just a wolf." His tone was bewildered as if Julian were a fly that had annoyed him.

For that I slapped him, and the insulting witch just took it and laughed. "I like it rough."

"Then you're gonna love me. I will not tolerate any abuse or disrespect to the men I love. Apologize now."

He laughed until Charles cleared his through. "Master witch, this is Sigrid's heir."

The buffoon paled and immediately started apologizing to me.

I stepped back and aside with a sigh. "Not to me, to Julian, moron."

He apologized to my lover and bowed, backing away.

I took the leash back from Julian and laid my hand on his arm as the witch continued to slink off. "Are you all right?"

"Fine." He smiled down at me. "You're amazing."

"Yeah, well, I'm Sigrid's heir, whatever the hell that means." I caught a guilty look on his reflected on the other men's and that wary feeling that had come over me since we left the house returned swiftly. "What does that mean that I'm Sigrid's heir?" No one of the trio would answer me and Charles looked appalled at them and me. 

Funny, Christine on the plane, Annabelle at the front, now this strange witch all seemed to know something about me I didn't. Somehow, my line carried weight which one would think would have been mentioned. Perhaps I had an ancestor that had done some great weight, or curried fear. Whatever it was, I was in dark, and I was so sick of feeling that way. In fact, hadn't we escaped to the damn island so I wouldn't be at the mercy of someone taking advantage of my ignorance?

It wasn't fair to feel my anger growing at the men I loved, they had been forced to keep secrets from our week together, but now everything was supposed to be in the open. "Guys...so there's something special about being of Sigrid's line, and you decided I'd find out here, rather than you tell me? It's nice to feel trusted." 

I stalked back to our guide. "Come on Charles. Anybody ever call you Chuck?"

"Uh, no."

"You look like a Chuck. I bet you watch NASCAR. Your accent pegs you as American or Canadian, which is it?"

"Chuck's fine. Uh, American, I was born in Tennessee. And I do like NASCAR, how did you know?"

I shrugged. "I've always been good at reading people." Truthfully, when you heard a southern accent, even as subtle as his, liking NASCAR was a safe bet. 




A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 07



He smiled at that almost dreamily then shook his head. "Follow me." He took us out the door onto the beach. It was largely empty as everyone seemed to be at lunch, but close to the main building were several tables with umbrellas, then a row of chaise lounges with umbrellas, another without, and then towels here and there on the beach.

Down the coast the beach flared out to rim a giant green hill. The humid air felt like a warm velvet caress and the smell of ocean and coconut suntan lotion filled the air. On the way to the large hill there were little shacks on stilts above the water, something I had only ever seen in magazines.

"The volcano is dormant, and there is enough magic here we need not worry if that ever changes. It does provide several natural hot springs in the jungle interior, and magic has gotten rid of any poisonous creatures," Charles said. "This side of the resort is the private beach, no concessions here, just bungalows." 

I gawked as we walked and Diego tried to comprehend sand. There was an awning spanning the length of the beach attached to the resort providing shade on sand to walk on, and Diego was glad for it. Thank god I'd used magic to make myself graceful, fuck-me-pumps were tough in the sand.

"The other side has restaurants, the public hot tubs, the pool, tennis courts, and all the game stages."

"Game stages?" I asked our guide.

"We have nightly entertainment." The way he said it implied a wealth of emotion: fear, eroticism, dread, and resignation. It was a most curious mix, but I was overloaded with information already.

"I shudder to imagine it."

Charles switched to droning on about the history of the island back to the centuries before I thought it possible people could settle such a place. We passed several small piers with bungalows on the end and came to the last, shaded slightly by the volcano.

It was huge, looking like a four bedroom house. We followed Charles up the pier and inside.

The first story was an open floor plan, a large living room with couches, stuffed pillows, a giant entertainment center I knew made Pierre smile, a dining area, and a full open kitchen. There was a deck with four chairs and an opening for a ladder to the water, the French doors open to it.

"The second floor is the bedroom, private gym, office, and bathroom. The office can be used as a second bedroom if needed. There's a door at the top of the stairs so the second floor and attic are air conditioned all the time and a balcony. The attic is designed to house familiars and is perfect for Diego. It also has a larger deck with an oversized hammock if you wish to sleep out of doors in the open air

"Your bags will be along shortly. Room service begins at one, but I can have something delivered since we're so close to that time."

"Thank you, Chuck. That would be great. I'm not picky, whatever you would recommend."

He raised an eyebrow but gave a small shrug. "Do you need anything else?"

"One thin. I can't help but notice you have armbands, as did Annabelle, and many other wolves, but not all. Why?"

He looked down at his. "It marks that we are not pack. If you pardon the expression, it means we're anybody's meat. Pack wolves bear no such sign so they are protected." At my quizzical look he expounded. "That way if a loose wolf loses his armband he has the protection of a pack wolf and will not suffer undue abuse."

That made damn good sense, I thought, the first thing on this island that did. "Interesting, and smart. Thank you, that'll be all. Er, do I tip you?"

"No, Mistress." He smiled. "No tips, no cash here on Thunder Island. Money means little to creatures of magic."

"Thank you then." 

I waited until he'd left then sat on one of the stools at the counter that separated the kitchen from the great room. I pulled out the box and summoned another pair of bowls and kibble for Diego. Pouring in bottled water I leaned down and set them in front of my beloved pet before unclipping his leash.

"So. What does it mean to be Sigrid's heir?"

They glanced at one another for a long moment, and Pierre's expression nearly broke my heart. He seemed lost and wounded, Julian seemed almost angry, and Andre was cautious. 

The alpha stepped forward. "Forgive us for not telling you. We had- I had hoped Alessandra would fill you in, but she left it to us. We're simply not equipped. Wolves and witches are bonded, but we do not know all of your world, nor does any witch know ours. By bringing you here we knew you would learn everything you need to know."

"So you decided not to prepare me? To just spring it on me?" 

Diego heard the cold edge of my tone and laid his head down with a whine.

"I'm sorry, Anna," Pierre said. "We didn't know any other way."

I glanced at all their eyes. "Just tell me what it means."

His hazel eyes serious, Andre took a deep breath. "You are directly descended from the very first witch. Your line is the oldest, the most powerful."

I laughed and Julian looked away, jaw working. "All right, so what? I'm still a noob, I can't even do any real magic yet."

Pierre, lost, whispered, "In the world of witches, you are a princess."

This was too much. If I had known of this, any of this, I might not have ever agreed to the tests. I just wanted a quiet stable life, love and laughter, never going hungry or cold, was that so much to ask? All these secrets were choking me, and my anger boiled over. 

"Let me guess. You didn't tell me because you didn't trust me. Even after all our time together you're still afraid I'm going to suddenly wake up and become a stuck-up asshole like the rest of the witches."

At three guilty looks I snorted. "Keep an eye on Diego for me."

"Where are you going?" Julian asked, moving to block the door.

"I am perfectly safe on a hidden island filled with witches, and I want some time alone now. If I stay I'm going to lose my temper and do a lot of shouting. I'd prefer to go calm down somewhere else. I'm having my lunch elsewhere. I'll be back after."

At my promise he stood aside. I ruffled Diego's fur and grabbed my box, then stepped back out into the humid sun-drenched air. I needed time alone and as I walked I used the box to summon a small purse. Once I had it I put the box in and slung it across my chest, walking back to the hotel. 

Great. I hadn't asked for this, and at first it all seemed wonderful. Become beautiful, become rich. Oh, then three magnificent lovers? Then learn to use magic any time I wanted? Of course it sounded wonderful on paper.

Then I learned I was suddenly a member of a race supposedly at war. Also, everyone else of my race was a total asshole. And I was unknowingly apparently someone of import. Now I discovered my lovers didn't trust me. Funny, I trusted them implicitly, and it felt like a mistake.

I knew they had all had hard lives, but so had I. Ten years ago I could never have trusted anyone, and the ten years since certainly gave me no reason to. No, only love did that. Damn it, they hadn't trusted me because they had doubted the strength of my love. Knowing that now could only make me doubt the strength of theirs. 



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 08







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 08



But now that I thought on it, if I had a male child, would I have to give him up to his father's line? And could I bring myself to have sex with someone else when things seemed so fragile with my wolves? Plus, if I was immortal, why the rush? Ugh! Some vacation, I thought as I laid down under the hot sun.

Around me a hundred different styles of music played and people talked and laughed. It had the homey feeling of resort towns from my childhood, still decorated with holdovers from the 70's boom in development, yet small towns with a familiar kind of exoticness. I could almost smell the freshwater taffy and fudge. It was hard to remember we were half a world away from home, sunning ourselves on a hidden magical island that was basically a volcano with extra real estate.

I grew bored with the book and settled for a light nap when a shadow fell over me.

"Welcome to Thunder Island," a melodic voice said.

I looked up to see a very tall man with strange hair. Shaved on the sides it was long in the middle and tied in a ponytail. With an hour of hard work and some glue he'd have a magnificent Mohawk. It seemed strange because he had no piercings, no visible tattoos, just a body built for sin like everyone else, and a face that Brad Pitt would kill for. Nearly pretty, but so wholly masculine he was saved from that fate and propelled into something compelling. He wore long trunks that downplayed his light brown skin, and showed off a perfect body. I was going to have to get used to how magic made us all walking fantasies.

"Hello," I said cautiously, leaning up on my elbows until his body blocked the sun.

"May I join you? I am Sebastian."

"Go right ahead," I indicated the sand next to me as I sat up properly. "I'm Anna."

"I know," he said as he sat, and once he was next to me I realized he was exceptionally tall, taller than my wolves. "I am glad your line has been recovered."

"Yeah, sure, I guess."

"You were raised among humans, ignorant of our ways, is that true?"

"You betcha. Still trying to get used to all this. A world of magic, snobs, and castes. It's like D&D with ignorant bluebloods."

He smiled at that. "You will find not all of us believe in caste systems. Tonight I am sure Valerius will invite you to share his table. He is one of us. I would ask that you and your pack join me and mine for drinks after. We will find you."

"Why?" I asked, horrified by a vision of a bacchanal. 

He smiled and stood. "There are those of us who wish the world would see itself through our eyes." With that he stood and left.

Huh. So I guess this meant there was an underground movement to end the whole "wolves are slaves," thing. Great, one more layer to add to the puzzle. With the first test I'd known my legacy was going to a strange one, but I'd never imagined becoming embroiled in politics. Longingly I wondered if I could just go back to Chicago with my wolves and pretend none of this had happened. Obviously the witch world had gone on just fine with no Inrisdotti heir in charge, I'm sure they could muddle through.

With such heavy thoughts I didn't notice the hours pasing, and suddenly became aware that more and more people were moving back to the hotel discussing dressing for dinner. I rolled everything I'd summoned up and headed back in, trying to meld with the crowd. At least in their strange awe, they didn't bother me by directly addressing me. One advantage of notoriety.

At the entrance to the resort's main building a wolf stood holding sheets of light blue paper. He handed me one and inside, I paused by the front desk to read it. I was reading a schedule of the night's activities. It seemed they had borrowed the plan from the Hedonism resorts and rewritten them while watching Caligula. Between naked XXX wolf chess and plotting a coup on my own queendom, the latter seemed safer.

I strolled back to my bungalow slowly. Our first real fight. My wolves had been keeping secrets because they were afraid the knowledge would change me into what they feared. It hurt, but I understood now better what kind of a world they'd lived in for centuries before I came along.

I understood their fear. It still hurt, but now the knowledge was out. I'd already forgiven them, but forgetting would take some time.

I made it into our bungalow and Diego bounded up to me, jumping and burping, obviously recently fed. Laughing, I ruffled his fur and kissed his head while looking around for the boys. "hey boy, where is everybody?"

He jumped down and ran towards the deck. I saw the men out there reclining in their loincloths, drinking beer and talking. Their skin glistened with suntan or sun block, I couldn't tell, and they wore their hair loose, all three.

My pussy clenched at the same time a twinge rolled through my heart. Ahh, to love and be loved, be in love, and also be in lust. It was a rare and beautiful thing. This...this amazing beauty around me would make it all worthwhile. It had to. There was a world of ugliness out there, this beauty had to pull me through it.

I checked Diego's food bowls and took him out the front door to use the sand, then cleaned it up. Once he was back in I went out on the deck and closed the door behind me. Conversation stopped and they stared at me trying to act cool, but I could see their nerves.

I stepped to the bucket and pulled out a beer. My favorite, a Maudite. Julian hurriedly pulled out an opener and offered to grab it. I let him pop the cap and pass it back. Taking a deep pull I could feel their worry increase with my silence.

"How deep is the water right below us?" I asked casually.

"Fifteen feet," Andre said.

"It's divable, I've tried," Pierre added.

I smiled knowing he'd felt the same urge to dive off the balcony I did. I set my beer down and began to untie my bikini top. The damn thing would never stay in place for a dive or swimming, and I needed to work off some energy. "You're all going to have to start trusting me sometime. I trust you. Nothing in my life has prepared me for the level of trust I've given you. I'm giving you everything. I will not accept anything less in return."

I passed my top to Julian as well as my glasses, and climbed the railing. Standing on it I held my hands out, soaking in the sun, centering myself, then brought my hands together and dove. The ocean is a magical experience in my opinion. I'd grown up in the land of ten thousand lakes and it was calm Lake Michigan which had ruled my adulthood, all calm freshwater bodies, perfect for swimming and fishing in peace. The water always called to me, but the rare treat of the salty, warm ocean held special domain in my heart. I loved the way it changed, held moods like a passionate woman, welcomed you with an air of danger and temptation.

I surfaced quickly and began to swim, investigating the small columns holding up the house. I saw two lines attached to them heading down into the ocean floor. One was clearly a sewer line headed for the island treatment plant and the other was the electrical line. I guessed even magic had limits. They gave me markers to swim laps which I began to do, trying to exhaust my body and calm my mind.

After half an hour I was pleasantly tired from my swim and the day, and so I found the rope ladder and climbed it to the deck. Six very appreciative eyes seemed glued to my breasts and I could only smile. Grabbing a towel from the edge of the banister I blotted my skin dry and then claimed the fourth chaise.

"I'm going to tan for a bit, but the swim got all my lotion off. Could I get some help, please?"

As I slipped on my sun glasses I smiled. I'd never seen any men move that fast as they did as they desperately tried to locate the suntan lotion. Laughing I asked for my purse and Julian passed it over. I used the box to summon some SPF 4 and set it down. 

I let them figure out duty as I untied my bottoms and slid free of them. "Don't want any tan lines," I said.

I closed my eyes and seconds later six hands sloppily massaged the oil into my skin. I would have laughed but the assault was sensual and raw, and quickly my body yawned awake an ancient hunger only they could sate. 

Forceful gentlemen, they let no piece of my flesh go uncovered, though I doubted my nipples and wet nether lips needed six full coats of sun tan lotion. I kept my eyes closed as gentle fingers stroked my face, my breasts, my inner thighs. Their motions were meant to be soothing, but the fire had been lit.

I groaned. "I really do want to lay in the sun, but, damn it, you turn me on," I murmured. 

"Then relax," Andre breathed in my ear. "Keep your eyes closed."

I felt strong hands slide my legs open and seconds later two mouths covered my nipples and a third hit my pussy. I'd been expecting it but still my back arched and I moaned, clutching Andre and Julian tight to my chest. Pierre cupped my ass and lifted me, and I melted bonelessly, giving up.

Sweetly without relent they drove me to a maddening peak, and they didn't pull back as I came down, just gentled. When my breathing eased they surged once more and I came wailing a second time almost instantly, my cries floating free on the ocean air.

When each man pulled back he left a gentle kiss on my skin which made me smile. Stretching like a cat, fully satisfied, I sighed. "Now I need more lotion."





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 08



"I'll explain later," I merely said, sighing. I was mentally exhausted, and by the gods, I didn't want to be Valerius' whore. I wanted to go back to my room, crawl into bed, and love each man passionately until he could no longer doubt the veracity of my feelings.

We found a door marked PRIVATE and when I raised my hand to knock it swung open to reveal Sebastian.

"Anna. Gentlemen," he nodded to my pack. "Please, come in."

It was a conference room with a large table. On one side a buffet sported drinks and small bits of food. There was a crowd and I counted five witches with packs. Most of the female wolf packs seemed to be two, the male three. The witches were drinking, the wolves nibbled at the food, always hungry.

"Can I get you anything to drink?"

"No, thank you. Sebastian, it's been a long day and I am quite tired. Why have you asked us here?"

Sebastian nodded, turned to the room and clapped his hands together once, loudly. "Would the witches and alphas take a seat at the table? I am sorry for the small room, so the rest of your packs may sit at the chairs on the wall."

I turned to my pack and Pierre and Julian nodded. Kissing my cheek each went to the wall with the other lower wolves. Andre took my arm and lead me to the seat while Sebastian seemed to be holding at the head of the table. He seated me and slid to my right. Sebastian walked down and took the foot, a stunning blonde female wolf at his side.

"Welcome, one and all. For the moment let us forgo giving names, for names have power. Instead, we indeed have seven new members. For those of you who are new, we are an organization of forward-thinking witches. Our goal is to overturn the original binding agreement between wolves and witches. We seek equality for all."

Andre seemed as surprised as I was. I'd guessed, but to hear it spoken out loud was something different. 

"We've never had the means to do this before aside from grass roots movement, but now we have a chance. Our queen has returned!"

There was a call of "Here here!" from the table and my heart thundered. Beneath the table I sought Andre's hand nervously, and his touch calmed me. Glancing back at my other men I saw they were wary.

"Now, we all know our queen was raised outside the system. We will never know why her mother sought to have her raised so, but if I may hazard a guess, she wished our queen to be protected from the many dark things of our world, including this outdated caste system!

"The war is at a stalemate for all intents and purposes, dragons can no longer fly the skies. We have no reason to keep wolves shackled. The pretense of readiness for battle is past."

"Er, Sebastian?" I called out, resisting the urge to raise my hand. It was such an impassioned speech, but I found myself torn. Slavery and indentured servitude was wrong, but readiness for battle in a war was important. Since I didn't know anything at all about this war, I wanted to learn more before I committed myself to pacifism. 

He looked at me, clearly nervous. "Yes?"

"I apologize if this is rude, but I'm going to guess every witch here is less than one hundred years old."

They looked at one another with the kind of wonderment usually reserved for a good magic show, and I laughed. "I'm not psychic, I'm just smart. We're all young enough and it seems most of us are Caucasoid, so it's easy to guess we all grew up in a world without slavery, taught it was wrong."

"So?" a female witch asked politely, confused.

"So, the council is comprised of relics over a thousand years old. Valerius, for example, comes from Rome, a civilization that only grew to its lofty heights on the backbone of slavery."

"So?" another female wolf asked.

"So, the powers that be were raised with the conviction it is right every bit as much as we were raised to believe it wrong. We have as much a shot of convincing them to change their minds as they have changing ours. At least we cannot change millennia of convictions in a single day. It will take time."

Sebastian sat at last, smiling. "I see Valerius is up to his old tricks. Anna, we seek only your ear, not to control you as he would. Of course he has not explained your true power. He wishes to be the power behind the throne, as it were."

I rolled my neck, frustrated. "Do you people have some kind of guide book, maybe a DVD? So far I'm only getting what people say, and humans, which we all are in some fashion, are prone to forgetfulness and opinions." Of course Valerius had promised me such a book, but I was willing to bet one from this group would be different and I wanted both.

A male witch leaned forward, smiling. He was pretty in a delicate way, exuding much less masculinity than the other witches seemed to have gone for. "My queen, soon you will learn how to traverse time, and then you may go back and speak with your ancestors for the truth. Until then...Sebastian, may I?"

Sebastian nodded.

With flourish the pretty young man conjured up a book which floated to me. "It is a copy of all the rules handed down by every queen, agreed upon by the council, adopted as law. Once you can travel, you will hear for yourself the veracity of the text."

A timeline was a great thing to have and my smile was genuine. "Thank you," I said and pulled from Andre's grasp to grip the tome with both hands. I opened it and indeed it was written as in handwritten script in varying tongues, but beneath each line was a translation to modern English, and it was organized as a timelime.

"I will need time to study this. So for the moment, to what end have you brought me here?"

Sebastian stood. "It is enough for now that you know we exist. There are less than five percent of us present on this island of all witches though we number far more in the world at large. Know our organization is much stronger that what you see here. You have the power to change our world, and we will stand behind you."

I stood and so did every man in the room. Such manners made me blink for a moment, surprised. "So long as I champion your cause. I may be new to magic, but not to power games. I bid you all good night. Please, do not contact me again unless it's an emergency." I raised the book. "I have heavy reading to go through, and if I decide it is right, I will contact you."

"Then good night, your highness."

"Anna," I said automatically, and took Andre's arm as Pierre and Julian fell into step behind us. He led us from the room and once outside I shook my head and pulled free. 

"Tell me, did you all bring us here for this?"

"What do you mean?" Pierre asked.

"Was this your way of telling me I'd 'won' the genetic lottery and have some heavy shit coming down the pipe?"

I saw guilt in their eyes as silence stretched between us.

"I suppose so," Julian finally said quietly.

Andre turned to face me, placing his large hands on my arms. "Anna, understand, we're almost a thousand years old. We've known you not even two weeks. Before you came along we were slaves. It was not our place to direct anything, to upset the powers that be. It's nearly impossible to shrug off a millennium of oppression."

Sadly, I knew I could never fully understand, not until I reached such an age. It struck me, had I been judging them too harshly? What I had taken as lack of faith in me as a person could have just been fighting against a thousand years of training. This couldn't be any easier for them than it was for me.

"I'm sorry. I've been unfair," I said, and turned so I met all their eyes. "Sometimes it's so hard to remember how old you are. You all seem so young I think I've been making the error of believing you see the world as I do."

Surprise filled their eyes, and I wanted to say more but could not on that subject. So I clasped the book in front of me and sighed, working up a small smile. "So let's return to our bungalow. I find I tire easily of this world. I just want to be with you and pretend for a night it does not exist."

I didn't wait for them but turned and walked out a door to the beach. I would walk around the building, hoping to avoid the rest of the hoi polloi. However, I'd miscalculated and found myself viewing the wolf chess down by the ocean.

And just like that I felt a strange tang of magic and knew something momentous was happening. If I'd mastered my magic or knew more, I would be able to say for certain, but as it was, I could only guess some path of fate of had just locked in. 



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 09



I shook off the strange feeling and took in my surroundings as the full weight of the nightlife of the witch resort on Thunder Island hit me. The air reeked of debauchery as moans filled the evening as well as a few shrieks I had no care to investigate.

"Anna?"

I ignored Pierre as I took it all in. Splashing came from the hot tubs, giggles, moans, and laughter rang out all around, but there was near pandemonium at the wolf chess. Of all the dark things calling to us in the night, the subtle lights illuminating the large chessboard drew my attention. Wolves posed with headgear denoting which piece they played stood statue-still, all but for two.

A wolf whose headdress designated him a rook was currently thrusting deeply into a pawn, bent over, writhing in her pleasure. They were both beautiful creatures in their prime, hell, everyone on the island was, but to see them was sheer erotic poetry. The outfits they wore covered little and were designed for easy penetration. Wolves moved with inherent grace the witches did not, it struck me. We had used magic to make us graceful, but the wolves were creatures of pure magic and it showed in everything they did. Never had I seen what poetry two wolves giving one another pleasure could be, and looking away was near impossible.

Around the chessboard witch and wolf alike watched with the same focus I did, and I saw the crowd reflected my flare of arousal. Oh, that was no good, I moaned to myself. I didn't want to have anything in common with the rest, but this was a feast for the eyes. A voyeur always struggled with the arousal of watching others and the guilt of watching. If I knew the wolves were perfectly willing and not forced into the game, I would be free to enjoy, but I felt a sliver of shame at my desire.

"Oh." I jumped at Julian's light touch on my arm. "Are they...are they forced to do that?"

The crisp fabric of his evening suit brushed my bare skin and made me shiver in the pressing humid heat of the ocean air. "Think of this island as more a modern example of serfdom. The wolves who participate in wolf chess choose to do so, none are forced. They are forced to be here and work, but they can choose what work they do."

After the pawn wailed in orgasm the rook withdrew, and resumed standing straight and still. Beneath his loincloth his unsated arousal was plainly visible, but his eyes were hard and distant. She struggled off the board and other discarded "pieces" helped her. Above the board on two cushioned platforms witches sat, the real players of the strange game. The woman called out her move and her pawn captured another.

Her pawn was female, the losing piece male, and this time it was the female wolf who pinned her conquered partner down and rode him. A dark tremor ran through me at the sight. I knew I should look away but I just couldn't. the male wolf had already been aroused, doubtless the winning piece numerous times. My eyes went to the female riding him, trying to hold back her own pleasure. How did she do it? He was magnificent, and his cock looked so hard. My own body clenched in need as I thought of riding any one of my lovers.

"How is it played?"

"Like regular chess," Andre said behind me, his breath on my ear making me jump.

"But when one piece is driven from the board, he or she is made to orgasm. They only cum when they are knocked off," Pierre said, crowding my other side.

I tried to speak but it came out a strangled moan as the male pawn howled with orgasm, and being a wolf it seemed to go on and on. I held my breath as I watched, entranced, and my wolves remained close but did not interrupt the moment. After an eternity the male pawn left and stumbled aside, and the female stood up though she panted with obvious arousal. Her witch waved her hand the trailing remnants of the male's orgasm disappeared from dripping down her leg. The surreality made me shake my head.

The male witch playing smirked and called out his move and a knight took a bishop, both male. I cleared my throat, but of course my wolves knew by a million tells how much this aroused me. I had always been a voyeur, and while the idea of wolf chess had seemed odd and off-putting, the reality was powerfully arousing. They had chosen this path, and pleasure was being given out, and so I felt free to enjoy.

Andre's hands slid onto my shoulders and I jumped with it, my mind completely on the board. 

"But that means whichever piece wins the game is left unsatisfied?"

Pierre chuckled. "This is why king and queen are both played by a male wolf. Whoever wins will be auctioned off to the crowd."

"And male wolves fetch a higher price, particularly ones who have proven stamina," Andre murmured. 

I turned to them in horror. "Auctioned?"

"Before we reach puberty it is decided to what place or line we'll be gifted, Anna. We are possessions in the eyes of witch law." Julian was bitter.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be enjoying this." I turned away and found my nose in Andre's chest.

"Only you can decide what you feel is right. Anna, there are many corners of the world where witches congregate, and our home will be one such place, it is the curse of rule. You must be familiar with all the entertainments of this world. They will come to expect you to enjoy such things, and offer such entertainments." With a hand on my chin Andre turned me back to face the board, and I felt lost in madness for a moment.

"Remember, it's one thing to be aroused by what you see, another to take away a person's will," Julian whispered.

"Surely it's the same," I countered.

At that moment a bishop looked our way as he flipped up the skirt of another pawn. His eyes met mine as he thrust in and I whimpered. In his eyes I saw arousal, fear, and hope. It was terrifyingly beautiful even as his gaze invited me into the erotic moment.

"Indeed it seems those who volunteer like to be watched," Pierre said softly, a smile in his voice.

The strange wolf continued to hold my eyes as he pumped into the female wolf. His expression was one of sensual promise, the oldest look any man had ever given any woman, but more than that it was hope, and sharp desperation honed into an offense. He'd heard our conversation.

In that moment, even as my body softened, swelled, and heated with arousal, something in my soul clicked into place, like a puzzle piece sliding home. This was the strange feeling I had sensed on the air, the little piece of fate I couldn't explain. He was beseeching me, this strange wolf. In his mind I was queen, a great power, the only power that could free him. He might enjoy the feel of the supple, lithe wolf body he sank into, but he wanted true freedom. 

"This has to stop," I said aloud, though more to myself than my pack.

"The game?" Pierre asked.

"These laws, these customs." I broke free of them and walked a few steps, whirling to face them. "These idiots, most of them have been alive long enough to have lived when absolute monarchies ruled. Perhaps it's time they remember what that meant."

"Anna?"Julian asked.

Andre smiled. "The words of a true queen."

"Oh, stow it, Andre. I don't give a shit who my ancestors were. I only care that I seem to be one of the few people with a lick of sense on this damnable island!" But it was a lie. I had made my decision. Come what may, these people believed me to be a power to reckon with, and by any god, I would be.

With that I stalked over to the chessboard not caring if my pack followed me. There was a murmur from the crowd and they parted, leaving chairs in the center for me and my wolves. When I sat my lovers joined me, having followed, and the murmur grew louder before the witch who presided over the players swept her hands apart dramatically, calling for silence.

The two witches "playing" stood up straighter and instantly a wolf came, bearing a tray of wine. One could argue it was good to be the queen, and I couldn't help but think for a moment on the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, how every Cleopatra had hungered for power and met a bad end. There was a cautionary tale in there, but thank the gods I'd more admired Catherine the Great. The best lesson she taught me was make the people love you. If I just started bandying about orders somebody would rape me, knock me up, and the second that kid was born I'd be swimming with the fishes. So I had to be subtle and not aggressive, not an easy task in my current mood.

I ruminated over this as the game progressed. Each wolf "chess piece" glanced at me, wondering. I supposed they knew why I was there, even if no one else did. When a witch playing made a move that would prolong play, passing up a chance to check, there was anger in their glances up the ladders. 

I sipped at my wine and tried to ignore all the speculative eyes on me. The rough queen, the prodigal bucking the system now sat at an exhibition worthy of Rome, a prime example of everything I'd so far objected to.

For the moment, it pleased and suited me to make them think I was sampling their world. And Hell's Bells, I could not watch the play on the board and remain unaffected. I felt dirty and creepy for being aroused, but resigned myself to it. Once my plan was enacted, I would take my pack back to our bungalow, and ease the burning fire that had risen. 

At last the male witch won, and it was the bishop who'd implored me that delivered the winning blow. He had no revulsion of men, nor any great love, and claimed his victory by stroking the cock of the opposing king with his hand until the king came, wailing.

Then the bishop stood and joined his witch to bow to the applause. The remaining players on the board fell upon one another in an orgy that distracted much of the crowd. Those not entranced, and I admit it was hard to pull my eyes away, were looking eagerly towards the victor and the bishop.

Julian leaned over and explained the process coming up to me. "They bid with money. The money will be charged to the witch's account and go to the island's upkeep."

"I thought our money was no good here."

"As you've learned we cannot create something that did not exist if it upsets the balance of the world. Money is like that. So they still need to purchase things from humans who will only take money. The island depends on things like this to buy the food we eat, and all the other sundry." Andre nuzzled my shoulder and I shivered, well aware my nipples were harder than I could ever remember.

No doubt my wolves smelled my arousal, as well as the arousal of everyone there. The wolves around the witches seemed slightly drunk on it, all of them appearing awfully soft and sensual for the deadly predators they were. Even mine seemed affected, and six hands covered my bared flesh, enticing and distracting me. 

The judge made a joke about the wolves which the witches laughed at. I did not frown nor did I smile, and did not even consider laughing with them. He opened the bids after explaining the prize was an evening with the wolf who had proven himself to possess the greatest stamina of any on the island. It took all I had not to snort as I glanced at my own wolves and seriously doubted the claim.

Looking back I discovered the bishop about to be auctioned had found me, his eyes pleading, but still there was that forceful masculine promise. If I weren't fully committed to loving only my wolves, sharing my body with only them, I would love to take this one up on what he was offering. He was tall and lean, broad shouldered, his body that of a swimmer's, sleek and powerful. His hair was brown and hung to his chin, parted in the middle. His skin was tanned deeply, making his light eyes fairly glow. Covered in a sheen of sweat he appeared to be one of the most primal of female fantasies.

It would give me joy to execute my plan.

My wolves bristled when my hand went up when the bidding got going. Everyone commented, murmuring, and the judge paused for a moment, then acknowledged my bid. Andre leaned in to whisper into my ear, "What on earth are you doing?"

"Wait and see, my love," I whispered back and upped my bid.

All too soon it became clear no one wanted to counter the queen, and I won. The man I had won like an object nearly sagged with relief.

"Do as I say, and in a moment this will make sense," I promised my wolves as I rose.

The crowd parted as I walked, most witches walking off with their wolves playing grab-ass, the only way I could put it. What we had all witnessed was organized eroticism. What they left with was free and immature. A few more lingered to speak with the judge of securing the services of another chess piece, many of them with frowning wolf packs waiting in the shadows.

There was one witch, the one I'd bid most heavily against, and he seemed to hate me. Everyone else was perplexed, awed, or curious, but this one who was tall, golden, and looking like Hollywood's Spartacus, openly hated me. I gave him a finger wave and dismissed him as if I didn't care, but in the morning I would ask Valerius who this man was, and how much of a threat he might be.

"My queen, I am most honored by your bid. This is Jericho," the judge said.

I held out my hand to Jericho and tried to smile in a non-sexual way. "Jericho, I am pleased to meet you."

He bowed and looked confused.

"I'm American, Jerry, just shake my damn hand," I said in a stage whisper.

He rose and awkwardly shook my hand.

"Thank you," I said to the judge. "Now, if you will excuse us?"

"Certainly, there are others who need my attention, majesty." He bowed and slunk off, and I tried not to twitch at the title.

"So Jerry, may I call you Jerry?"

"Uh-"

"Good. Now, quickly, are you in love with anyone?" He stared at me agog. Sighing, I folded my arms, anxious to conclude this business and return to my loves. "Are. You. In. Love. With. Any. One?"

"Olivia," he sputtered out.

I nodded and smiled. "And is she here?"

He pointed to a blonde who'd been a knight, weaving on unsteady legs from the board, one of the final players.

"If I wish her too, do I have to pay?" I asked Andre.

His eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "It's a standard fee."

"Very good, thanks." I turned and strode to the judge, placing a hand on his arm. Immediately he dropped his current conversation as the spurned witch bowed slightly. 

"The blonde one, Olivia. How much for her as well?"

The judge was a witch, but unlike most he did not appear to be between twenty-five and thirty-five, instead he appeared a wise man of his mid-forties, his rich dark hair silvered at the temples, long and pulled back into a smooth ponytail. "Your majesty, she will join you with my compliments. You may keep them both forty-eight hours."

"Good. Olivia!" I called to the blonde.

She broke off from the group and when she saw me her blue eyes went wide and she dropped to her knee. "Your highness."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, this is pretty damn awkward for an anarchist."

"What?" My wolves, Jericho, and Olivia all echoed. 

Well, that was the downside of having not discussed our pasts. It was going to be awkward explaining to all and sundry their new ruler was a woman raised by humans to believe in no rulers. Just wait until we got to the agnostic talk, I thought with sudden mirth. "Never mind, now is not the time. Come with us, please."

"Of course, majesty."

I walked the entourage back inside, through the hotel full of staring witches and wolves, and back out. Once we were far enough down the covered beach walk that there was no one close, I stopped.

"Okay, here's the deal. With what will happen over the next two days, not a single one of you is to breathe a word to anyone, is that understood?"

Five puzzled pairs of eyes met mine, even as they nodded. "Look, Jerry, Liv, sorry, I like nicknames. Anyway, join us in our bungalow. You'll have your own room. Come and go as you please, do as you please, enjoy being together without interruption. If anyone asks, I'm making you fuck for my amusement and fucking you both like a demented rabbit."

"But you won't?" Liv asked, confused.

"I can barely keep up with my pack. I don't have the stamina of a wolf and five of you would kill me. Plus, I don't like how you're treated like objects. However, I'm the new kid around here and I can't rock the boat too much. I need the rabble to think I'm enjoying their vices, playing their games, even if I can't stomach it. Hence why no one can ever know."

Jerry put his arm around Liv and hugged her close, smiling at me brightly. "Thank you, majesty."

"Call me Anna. Okay, let's go."

I led them to the bungalow and asked Pierre to show our guests to the attic room, Julian to turn on the a/c and close the doors, and Andre to take Diego out for a bathroom run. Once the air conditioning was running I asked Julian to toss together some snacks for our guests and I went up to meet them in the office and spare bedroom. Jerry and Liv moved the desk and chair up to the attic and I passed over the Murphy bed in the closet and used the conjuring box and got them a bed, nightstand, and everything they would need, and Pierre assembled it with Jerry's help.

Julian brought up some snacks and wine and I promised I'd order a late night room service meal for all. I heard the door below click closed and the scrabble of paws. Andre and Diego were back.

"Do you two need anything else?" I asked as Julian and Pierre left, standing in the hall.

Liv was wide-eyed and giddy. "How can we thank you?"

"Express your love to one another as often as possible the next two days, that's all I ask."

"Wait!" Jerry called as I turned to join my men. "Majesty...I saw you...watching. You like to watch."

I squared my shoulders and turned back. "So?"

Liv hugged Jerry tight. "We like to be watched. It's why we volunteer for the chess game."

Jerry nodded. "Perhaps we can express our thanks that way. You could watch us. We would be honored."

My soul felt a keening cry, like a sudden avalanche in my stomach. I knew I stood on a tightrope over the chasm between desire and morality. If I watched, would I be the very thing I was fighting? Would the men think me less?

Liv and Jerry were so beautiful, and I knew I would enjoy the show. Truthfully my arousal had flagged on the walk back, but even now it was roaring to life.

"I'm trying to fight against the objectification of wolves," I said, pleading.

"This has nothing to do with how society views us. You helped us, and there is something we can do that we will all enjoy, given freely. Will you watch us?"

I cast a pleading look to Julian and Pierre. "We won't judge you," Pierre said softly.

"You're not the only voyeur," Julian added with a smile.

"Only if my pack may join me," I finally said as I turned back. "Please, come downstairs then where there is more room."

Everyone followed me down and I ruffled Diego's fur, then ordered him to go into his attic room. Diego whined, sniffed at the new people, and ran off once I gave him a treat. Julian explained to Andre what had been worked out and I saw the same knife edge of desire in Andre's eyes that I felt, making me relax. They would not judge me, particularly not when Julian and Andre shared my proclivity.

I settled on the sofa and Andre and Julian sat on either side. Pierre turned down the lights and then dragged a stool from the counter over and sat behind me. In front of us on the floor, the lovers embraced lightly, nervously giggling even as they kissed, hands on one another's face as if they had been long parted.

They were a beautiful pair. His hair was long and dark, lightened slightly by the sun, and hers was a lighter version, wavy and wild. Both were deeply tanned, muscled, and statuesque. Their headgear was gone but he still wore his loincloth and she her small banded top and skirt. For a moment I had to look away as the look between them was private, one of deep, true love.




A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 09



Finally Jericho broke off and turned to me. "What would you like?"

"What do you want us to do?" Liv asked at my puzzled look.

"Like any voyeur, I prefer to observe people in their normal mode. Do what comes naturally to you."

Liv giggled. "Normally, if we can be together after a night of chess, I'll relieve him and then we will leisurely play."

"As you wish," I said, and sat back. On either side Andre and Julian grabbed my hands. I nearly jumped as Pierre's hands slid along my neck and began to massage. In front of us Liv and Jerry kissed passionately, and she easily flipped the front of his loincloth up and began to stroke his hard cock. Jericho had pushed the thin cloth covering her breasts aside and cupped them reverently, trembling as she stroked him.

The world faded away as I watched Liv sink to her knees.. Above her, Jericho's head was already thrown back in surrender. His throat worked and once more sweat glistened on his body. Threading through her white-blonde hair, his fingers looked dark as slowly she engulfed his cock.

I'd never particularly liked watching blowjobs, though I loved performing them, but with these two it was poetry. She worked quickly, hand and mouth together, and rapidly Jericho built up, muscles bulging as he strained for release. Free from having to prove his stamina his pleasure was immense and free, and stunning to witness.

I shifted my thighs together, growing damp with arousal. My heartbeat throbbed through my body and I squeezed the hands I held. Pierre's questing fingers became firmer, swooping lower to glide across the tops of my breasts with each pass.

Suddenly Jericho cried out, wailing long and hard. Being a wolf made his orgasm last an insanely long time, and he was beautiful through it all, stroking his hands through Liv's thick, medium-length hair, crying out as his hips jerked. She had to let him slide from her mouth but gripped his cock with both hands. Jets of cum flew forward and the sounds he made were beatific with his hard-won climax.

I moaned low in my throat and felt Pierre's hands slide into my hair. Gently he tugged my head back and claimed my lips, tugging my bottom lip between his teeth. He tasted of magic and heat, and I shivered as he nipped and licked the wound immediately after. His tongue swept inside and claimed me, and I wished I was feeling his insanely thick width thrusting into my aching cunt.

Andre and Julian gripped my hands tightly as they shifted. I heard Jericho still crying out as they bent, laying kisses, nips, and licks across the tops of my breasts and my neck. I gasped, shifting, moving, desperate for more stimulation.

I'd never been an exhibitionist, but I couldn't quite care about the others in the room right just then. Julian's finger toyed with the top of my dress, perilously close to my hard nipples.

"You two should go back to your room now," Andre said, desire thickening his voice and making his French accent more prominent.

"But-" Jericho began.

"Please," Julian said.

I heard them go past us, feet climbing the stairs, but still Pierre held me locked in his kiss. The second I heard the door at the top of the stairs close my dress was peeled down.

The cool conditioned air swept over my breasts just before two mouths descended. Still my hands were held, and Pierre's kiss was nearly brutal, keeping me still. In contrast his fingers danced gently over my neck, making me shiver. Finally he pulled back to catch his breath. 

"Please, let me cum, don't make me wait," I begged as Julian's fingers danced up my thigh. "Please," I begged softy.

Pierre just kissed my temple and came around the couch, kneeling between my legs. I looked down, over an auburn and blonde head covering my breasts being so delightfully tormented. He winked and then my dress was smoothed up, my panties ripped off, and he descended.

Surrounded by sensation, each and every sensitive spot that had been aroused again and again that evening was finally attended to. I struggled, thrusting against them, but was pinned. I threw my head back as I galloped towards climax. With no means to block my cries, I thought nothing of letting them go.

Wailing, I broke, feeling every flick of each tongue, every suckling pull, every massaging finger, immersing me fully in madness. Goddess, it was sweet, intense, all hot, like a flow of lava through my soul, and the men stilled before each lick became a tiny ice flow in the river. 

Moaning, I was still pinned when I came to myself. "Not going to let me move?"

"No," Andre growled. "Not tonight. Tonight, you are ours."

"I'm yours every night, Andre. Pierre, Julian, I'm yours too. If you're all feeling kinky, then fine. Whatever gets you all naked works for me."

Pierre and Julian chuckled, and looked to Andre who was shrugging out of his tuxedo jacket. "Follow my lead," he said with a smile. "And get her dress off."

Gently Pierre lifted me while Julian undid the zipper and peeled my dress off. Then they both removed my torn panties, but left my heels, stockings, and garter belt on. I watched as Andre stripped down and smiled, but in the back of my mind I knew this was about control and fear. They were still scared I'd morph into a monster, and controlling my body made them feel there w s hope to control the situation.

So I swore to prove with my submission that my heart was pure. "What do you want me to do?" I asked Andre.

He handed his undone tie to Julian. "Blindfold her."

I closed my eyes and raised my chin. I hoped they understood that I was gifting them with my submission, but I knew they could easily see how aroused I was. Hell, they could smell the flood of moisture creaming from between my legs.

There came shifting sounds, unknown sounds, and my heart pounded as the blindfold was tied over my eyes.

"I want to tie her up," Julian said.

I heard no response but then something soft bound my hands. I was turned and laid out on my stomach, my hands anchored to something above my head. I felt hands on my ankles but then Andre spoke. "No. No, leave her legs free. I want her free to move somewhat.

"Anna, I want to hear you beg and moan, it sounds so sweet."

I felt Andre's hands smooth up my calves. "Then please, please stop teasing me and fuck me!"

He chuckled. "Sounds like an order. Brothers?"

I don't know if he signaled or let them choose, but suddenly there was a mouth on my pussy as I was pushed to my knees, and another on my breast. The hands of my lovers kept me aloft as they pleasured me. I didn't dare move for fear they would stop. I built sweetly, but just as I neared completion they pulled back.

"Please!" I begged, nearly sobbing. The orgasm of moments before was already forgotten in my feverish need. Just then we heard twin howls from upstairs signaling completion found for our guests. A dark shiver wracked me and I licked my lips, my hips moving in a shadow pantomime of what I needed. "Please, Andre! Please."

The other men withdrew and I felt the couch dip. Andre's thick, hard thighs pushed at the insides of mine. His large, solid body curled around my back, and I felt his heavy, hard cock at my pussy. One arm wrapped around my waist, the other claimed a breast as his lips settled near my ear. He grumbled a moan lightly as his teeth tugged at my lobe, making me shiver and arch against him. The tip of his cock slid between my thickened nether lips and I could only gasp.

"Anna, who do you belong to?"

"You, all of you!"

"You admit you are ours?"

"Your willing slave, my love," I promised. He needed this reassurance, they all did, I knew. I could do this, but I could do it my way. "I love you, Andre. If it's worship you're after, I'd be happy to give it, but the blindfold isn't helping."

Three chuckles met that, and I thought I heard a gasp, but Andre's hand slipped from my waist down between my legs to stroke. Unerringly he found my clit, and the ghostly touch made me cry out, body tensing. 

"Yes!"I wailed, but his fingers slowed, still moving. 

"You're mine. You're ours," he growled. Andre's hips hunched and then he slammed inside.

"Yes!" I screamed out in pure pleasure.

His fingers all the while had stimulated me, and I was so primed that the force of his invasion, which seemed to consume me entirely, thrust me to the edge and knocked me over. I came wailing even as he began to thrust.

Blindfolded, I was awash in sensation and lost to it. Suddenly a mouth returned to a nipple, a slender artist's hand thrummed the other, and Julian grabbed and kissed me. Andre clamped his teeth on my shoulder and the feel of all those hands stroking me, three mouths granted me very different sensations. Once more on the tail of the last climax I was flung into the ether, screaming my release, uncaring for the presence of our guests, or even what Diego might think up on the roof.

Locked that way he drove me to culmination three more times before he gave in. Even then, as Andre moaned and filled me, his hands moved, so did the other men, and three more peaks claimed me. My muscles twitched, and it was only their strength that held me aloft.

At last Andre withdrew and all three turned me to my back. Thick fingers, Pierre's I recognized, danced down my body and dipped inside my cunt. My juices and Andre's were spread on the inside of my breasts, lining them. I gasped and moaned, impossibly aroused once more.

"Clean yourself, please," Pierre whispered into my ear.

I remembered my magic and removed Andre's juices from my cunt, transporting them to the garbage bin outside our hut beneath the stairs, wrapping it in tissue. It was easier than before, and I smiled to myself, proud of my learning.

"Open," Pierre cooed, and before I could ask what he meant I felt his massively thick cock at my lips.

I opened and sucked him in, but when I undid the binding on my hands with magic so I might grip him my wrists were pinned down by Andre.

"Good girls do as we say," Julian cooed from the direction of my feet. 

Helplessly I relaxed and opened my mouth, letting Pierre slide in. He tasted salty, sweet, the skin of his cock so soft, the shaft so damn hard. I sucked, licked, did whatever I could, wanting him to feel the same measure of desperation I kept being pushed to.

Andre transferred my wrists to one hand, and his other slid down to toy lazily with a nipple. Between my legs Julian's dexterous fingers slide along my sensitive skin, teasing my folds.

"Don't-oh, let her cum, boys, mmm," Pierre groaned above me.

I did my best to bring him close, and for long moments there were only our panting breaths and moans. Julian made small murmurs as he teased my clit with a fingertip, keeping me on the jackknife edge of orgasm.

Pierre pulled out suddenly. "I've got her for the moment." All hands left me and Pierre climbed off. He took my hand and raised me until I stood. I felt him sit and then he brought me to kneel over him. I clutched at his impossibly broad shoulders, felt his sloping muscles slick with sweat.

"I don't like teasing you quite as much as my brothers. Ride me, Anna, ride me hard."

Blindfolded as I was he had to help me, but soon his thick cock speared me and I was seated facing him, my legs bent and pressed to the outside of his. I whimpered and lingered for a moment, reveling in the feeling. "M-may I c-cum?" I asked.

All three laughed in a friendly, pleased manner.

"So good, so well trained," Andre cooed.

Pierre kissed me passionately and quickly. "Yes. Cum for me, Anna, again, and again, and again."

I cried out, dug my fingers into his warm flesh, rose, and sank back down. It took just three such rising slides and my body clenched with near violence, exploding into orgasm. I wailed with it, shaking. Pierre made such sweet sounds of desire as he grabbed my hips and took over thrusting by raising me up and slamming me down. The novelty of it pushed me higher in my orgasm, and then suddenly I was fused to him and Pierre was coming.

He broke off, threw his head back, howling. Goddess, how I wished I could see. They were all so beautiful when they came, and being blindfolded was horrid torture that left me only able to concentrate on what I felt. And what I felt was incredible. My pussy was stretched to its limit and he was hard and hot inside me, his cum filling me deep. His body was rock hard muscle straining and he trembled with his pleasure.

Suddenly my hands were jerked off Pierre's shoulders, and I felt Julian clasp them behind my back. On either side he and Andre crowded me, and their mouths claimed my sore, aching nipples as Pierre's hand wound its way to tease my clit. Goddess, this was madness. The pleasure was almost too much. I crested again quickly trying to jerk away from their touch, it was almost too much.

"Unh-unh-unh," Julian cooed as soon as I came down. "Not yet. Clean yourself," he added as they pulled me aloft.

Once more I found myself on my hands and knees, and it was Andre's mouth on my pussy after I cleansed myself. I was awash in sensation then, a slave to pure need, and didn't fight it as the bondage returned to my hands. Julian whispered that I could not cum without permission, and this seemed a signal to Andre to do his worst.

Pierre kissed me, hands on my breasts as Julian pressed his cock against my anus. I nearly came right then and there but held out. Instead, teasingly Julian lowered his cock to my pussy to drag the tip barely inside and out, back and forth.

"Tell me you want it," he purred.

I broke from Pierre's mouth but he was loathe to let me go, and sloppily our mouths slid together. His fingers worked fast and light on my nipples making me pant, even as Andre's licks on my clit made my hips jump.

"Please, Julian. I want you so badly I- I need you!"

I was held aloft by their strength, surrounded by their hard warmth, and it felt so right. Or it would, if Julian answered the keening call of my body.

"Please, please!"

He sighed, and then slammed in. I heard his murmuring commands to all and felt their efforts redouble, and then I was lost to it. I had reached the peak already so many times I could not count, but now with hands everywhere and every nerve attended to, every ache was answered, every need fulfilled.

I came again and again, floating into a new plane of consciousness even as my body grew heavier and heavier. When at last Julian cried out his fulfillment I sagged in relief, enjoying it, but even better was the moment we all collapsed.

My hands were still bound and I fell to the floor. I heard gasps even as I laughed.

"I'm fine, better than fine," I moaned out. Strong hands rolled me to my back and someone removed the blindfold. It was Andre, I saw, and Pierre pushed me up to undo the binding on my hands.

On the stairs I saw out guests and I blushed that they had watched. They stared with reverent surprise at our tableau and I wondered if they had seen it all, if it had been for their benefit.

Andre cupped my cheek. "They had to know. They had to see that you walk your talk."

At his mangling of a modern expression I laughed, but it covered my nerves. "Fair enough. Shall we order food, and relax now?"

"I'll order," Julian called.

"I'll set up movies to watch," Pierre offered.

"I will assist you in a bath," Andre offered.

"What shall we do?"Jericho asked, holding Olivia's hand.

"Could you let Diego out? My familiar must be going nuts. Then just relax, let Julian know what you want to eat."

My second night on the island was one of the warmest, despite all the political intrigues. We lay in piles, eating gourmet food, watching action movies (werewolves seemed to crave action and blood), and laughed.

I slept peacefully, and not once did I think I dreamt of ruling a people I didn't understand.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 09



"I mean if I am stuck ruling, I will rule by myself. I will have no consort. You and your brothers are the only men in my heart. I want no other. And there are many ways to have a child these days."

"What do you mean?"

"Have witches never heard of in vitro fertilization?"

"What?" 

I kissed his cheek. "Come along, we're late." The hope in his eyes then nearly undid me, and I realized I would change the world of witches forever if it meant keeping them happy. Nothing mattered nearly as much as their love and happiness. Nothing.



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 10



©Nora Quick 2013





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 10



The lights dimmed, music flowed from speakers, and a hush stole over the crowd. The spirit of Caligula was riding high as the curtain rose.

What was on stage was a forerunner of Cirque du Soleil, if Satan had directed it. Wolves writhed in acrobatic feats, almost naked in the barest of costumes as they twisted and turned. All the while various witches narrated, standing on stage right, reading off the introduction that explained the show. 

Apparently every elaborate orgy would be telling a story. The first one was supposed to be the famous battle featured in 300, the most unusual take on the Battle of Thermopylae. However, it was a different kind of sword used and the Spartans were played by male wolves, the Persians were female. As an expert on history I found it more distasteful than erotic as the armies clashed, and it took everything I had not to remind my nearly ancient lovers what a disservice it was to the truth.

"Relax," Andre whispered into my ear, making me jump. "The battle is just an excuse for the show, there are more than a few people in this room that were alive at the time and know the truth."

Hell, could he still read my mind? Have you ever done one of these shows when you were forced to stay with Alessandra? I thought at him, but there was no reply or recognition in his expression. Pierre reached over and turned my face back to the stage.

As the "battle" ended and it became a sloppily unscripted orgy of flowing body parts and cries of pleasure, I felt my mood lighten. I could not deny on the dark stage seeing those bodies of every color writhing turned me on. The theater was red and gold, the witches in attendance were still dressed to the nines in jewel tones, and that strange framing reminded me of why we were there, and my emotions became a roiling mix. Almost all the witches had donated most if not all their pack to the entertainment. I fumed at that even as it thrilled me, but once more my pack assured me it was voluntary work.

Once I would have understood. Once in my younger days I had hungered for flesh with nearly unquenchable need, but I had outgrown that. At some point as I aged it had occurred to me I was trying to fill the hole in my soul by stuffing the holes in my body. Hence becoming a statue, because statues didn't have such base cravings.

Now I had love, and it seemed to fill that hole. Oh, with my three wolves I still had variety and as much sexual attention as I assumed any one woman could want, but there was love. It shamed me to be so aroused by what I saw, but my men seemed to understand. It seemed I was always to be victim of my base nature, and perhaps that had to do with my lineage and what I was as much as who I was. Still, love and kinky sex...if it weren't for the world around us and all the drama evolving, I would assume I was the happiest woman alive.

I came back to myself surrounded by sighs of pleasure from all around us in the audience. In the boxes most of my fellow witches were being serviced by their wolves. They must be the aristocracy of witches present, as those of us in the boxes had kept our packs, and now I knew why. I wished I was back in the hut as I was suddenly in the mood to tease my wolves. Oh, I would surrender to them, but for once I wanted to know their desire truly equaled mine, and what woman didn't delight in pushing a man's desire higher and higher until the beast took over the man? Still, I didn't want to do this in public.

Did I like watching? Oh, yes. In particular, the wolf playing Leonidas was a prime example of manhood. His hair was light brown and long, sculpted to look shaggy like an eighties metal singer, his body finely honed. His cock was long and so far he had brought five female "Persian" wolves to screaming orgasm.

Currently he was working on the Persian "king" and had her bent over. She was raised on her toes, hands on the ground, and he speared her wet cunt deeply. She made throaty yells that seemed louder than those around them. I trembled with answering arousal, and there was nowhere to look. It seemed the only place where no one was in flagrante delicto was my own box. So I watched as Leonidas worked his hips, teasing Xerxes I with each plunge of his cock while his hands teased her pussy and breasts.

The fake rock set was covered in a spill of bodies writhing, and victory seemed to be symbolized by the male wolves in dominant positions. It became a sea of thrusting hips, wandering hands, crashing sighs and screams. Leonidas watched it all as he worked, leaning down to whisper something into Xerxes' ear that had her eyes fluttering closed as she moaned. Two victorious Spartans left their sated partners and aided Leonidas and I blushed watching three men pleasure her in a very familiar way.

"Anna," Andre said in my ear, making me jump. His warm hand settled onto my thigh and began to stroke slowly.

"Yes?"

"It is important you are seen ordering us to pleasure you."

I turned to him, eyes saucer-wide and felt myself blushing darker."In front of...everyone?" He nodded."I- I can't do that...to you."

"Consider it a game," Julian said into my other ear, taking my hand and unclenching my fist to settle over his erection. 

I didn't have to look at Pierre to know he would be all right with this. Behind me he rose and pressed his own erection between my shoulder blades, resting his hands at the base of my neck. I shivered, aroused, watching the tableau in front of us doing everything my body darkly craved from my men. Still, I had never been an exhibitionist. 

"Simply look haughty and repeat what I whisper loudly," Andre said in my ear. "Julian, pleasure me on your knees."

"J-Julian." I cleared my throat. "Julian, pleasure me on your knees."

His green eyes sparkled."Yes, my queen." He slid from his chair with a smile and knelt before me, parting my legs. Julian smoothed his hands along my thighs and kissed the skin barred. 

All the while Andre made it appear as if he were nibbling my ear. "Pierre, attend my breasts."

I gasped, but part of that was the brush of Julian's long fingers along my wet slit. "Pierre, mmm, attend my breasts."

"Gladly," he said into my other ear as he took Julian's seat. Over my dress he cupped me and stroked my already hard nipple.

"Jericho, Olivia, watch us," Andre whispered.

"Jericho, Olivia, w-watch us."

I turned and Olivia winked, understanding.

"Andre, kiss me," my alpha whispered.

"Andre, kiss, mmm, me," I said louder as Pierre's fingers dipped below the neckline of my dress. 

He did and I was lost. Andre swallowed my cries as Julian gently spread my nether lips with his fingers and began to lick teasingly. Pierre became a bit more intense as he dipped his head to nibble at the nipple he'd freed. I gripped their heads and thrust my pelvis, silently begging. I felt Julian's laughter and then he descended.

The performance, the crowd, it all faded away. I heard only my own panting breaths, the blood rushing in my ears. I knew my nails dug into the men's skin but they murmured in approval, apparently liking the little spice of pain. All the while Andre ravaged my mouth. Three tongues can be a beautiful thing, I realized, and then on the tail of that thought I came.

Stiffening I shook and bucked though they held me with ease, stroking and licking me through the roiling orgasm. Oh, it felt like it went on for eons, and then it receded as slowly as the tide on a calm night. I rode the bliss as long as I could as my body went lax, and I could tell how much pleasure they received at that note of surrender.

For a mad moment I did not care about the audience, about the show. I wanted to follow the pleasure to the conclusion my body wanted, to feel them inside me. I had mastered so much of magic, I could surely ride Pierre and let Julian inside my ass, pleasure Andre with my tongue. To be all so joined, the let our pleasure flow...

The audience suddenly applauded and I jerked upright from my reverie. Chuckling, my lovers righted my clothes and each kissed me in turn, softly.

"You must remain until the end," Andre whispered, and nipped my ear lightly making me shiver.

I sighed impatiently and earned three chuckles. The performers bowed and began to slowly file off the stage, cleaning as they went. I noticed many kept looking my way speculatively like troops assessing a new lieutenant. More than that, they looked back to Jericho and Olivia and somehow my newest acquisitions seemed to communicate something back. 

Before I could ask, the door behind us opened and a wolf brought drinks as the lights dimmed and the chorus of witch narrators took the stage once more. We sat through a staged pirate battle, and then a most unusual interpretation of Waterloo, and I realized many of the performers had been alive at the time of the events portrayed. I wondered how many had participated, if any. I almost grew bored at the debauchery, it was simply too much, bordering on garish. Still, appearances had to be kept up, so Andre guided me in ordering Jericho and Olivia to entertain us and all they while my lovers rubbed and teased me.

Bored by the spectacle my eyes drifted to the faces of witches that turned to us with as much curiosity as the wolves. This was a test of sorts, and I felt I was passing even as I didn't understand it. So I ordered my box about to impress the witches, but made it clear the choice was my wolves' for their sake. Still, the plaintive looks of the performing wolves tore at my heart.

Doubts began to creep into my mind. How could I change this world alone?

As if hearing my thoughts, a tall man in the audience turned to look up at me. It was Sebastian. God only knows what he read in my expression, but he nodded to me and turned back to the show. I noticed he was one of the few witches in the general audience still attended by his pack. Perhaps I would have to contact that coalition, this was going to be a monumental task.

Another face turned to me, and I recognized the blonde witch who had glared at me at the chess game. Malice filled his face now, and with him was no pack. His wolves must be on stage, and alone he too seemed bored by the spectacle. What shone in his face was pure hatred, and it was all directed at me.

It didn't bother me, it didn't threaten me, but it piqued my curiosity. After all, I hadn't been a witch long enough to give anyone a real reason to hate me. No one but Alessandra, who faced exile at my ascension. Did this mean I had found her spy?

Valerius was two boxes down doing things with his pack I did not w ant to see. He wanted me knocked up by a crony who could rule the witches better than he thought I could. Sebastian wanted to stage a coup in the name of the new queen. Alessandra wanted me dead so she could retain my power. Julian wanted me to survive, Pierre wanted me away from the world, and Andre wanted me to be a queen he could admire.

I suddenly felt ancient, and dangerously close to becoming a statue again. Suddenly overwhelmed, I smiled apologetically and rose to leave. Back in the hall my wolves followed me.

"Anna, what's wrong?"

I didn't know how to form all my thoughts into one statement, and perhaps that was part of what it meant to rule. So I just smiled at them all. "Let's go back to our bungalow where we can enjoy privacy."

They may not have been able to read my mind, but wolves could smell my emotional state, and I knew they didn't buy my words. So with a silent push of magic, I brought forth my arousal and turned to leave. Perhaps after a romp with my lovers I might feel better. 

Taking Julian's arm, I hoped so.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 10



"They were meant to be a compliment to one another but something happened and in their youth they were driven apart, it split their entire clan. As they aged, they grew more powerful. The girl, your ancestor, learned to give some magic to the women of her clan. It would be passed onto their first born, be they boy or girl, and in the future generations it would stay male or female. The boy decided to pass his along to the children he sired himself, and of the children of those children only the strongest could become a sorcerer.

"As the darkness grew at a slower rate it was weaker, and so the boy called to him the creatures most feared in the dark, and his power made them into dragons and vampires. He wrought nightmares to plague humans and keep them from aiding the witches. Witches responded by binding human and wolves together, creating us. At first we were allies, nothing more.

"What started the actual physical war between magic bearers is unknown. There was a stalemate of sorts, but with the forces of dark preying on witches of light their numbers thinned. It was slow, and all the while on our own we werewolves and vampires had our own war. Three thousand years ago we ended the vampires, and the dragons turned on us, our numbers thinning. Two thousand years ago the witches struck the accord with us so they could regain their power. One thousand years ago the dragons retreated from our world until their numbers cannot be counted, and many think they have died out, or bred so much with sorcerers there are none left who can actually change forms.

"When the allies of darkness died and the light had us, we called a stalemate. We allowed the dark to catch up to our numbers and for near five hundred years now it's been an uneasy peace as the numbers are equal. Their king Malachi has no heirs and now that you have been found neither do you, so war risks too much."

"So the war means nothing, truly?" I asked, hope blooming. Perhaps "war" was just a term, a meaningless term.

Pierre nodded after checking with Andre. "There is no war right no, but there is still cause for concern. Should either of you fall with no heir, all magic dies. We, being creatures of magic, will die too."

Holy shit, I thought. A world without spells I could easily deal with, but all these poor wolves dying...not kosher. My brain simply couldn't come up with a better word for the horror that that would be. 

"This point keeps being brought to my attention? Do I have anything to fear? Who would want to end all magic? Surely no wolf."

Jericho rose from his perch, eyes solemn. "It will not be a wolf that kills you, or tries. It was not a wolf that killed Sigrid, or Inga before her, or Freya before her. All your ancestors were killed by a witch."

"That's going back almost four thousand years!" Julian cried.

Jericho nodded. "I am older than that. I can remember the first days of the Vampire War."

"Then who did it?" Andre asked quietly.

Jericho's eyes met mine. "One who lies, one who pretends to be younger."

I knew with that and shock rolled through, burning away puzzlement and leaving rage in its wake. "Alessandra." 



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 11







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 11



He sighed. "I did want to talk and had hoped it would be after you screamed my name, but perhaps we should speak first. Summon a blanket. How about a bottle of wine, if you can manage?" He let me go and stepped back.

"Wine?"

"My love, I am French."

"Fine, tell me what you want."

"Château Découverte, the Bordeaux, ninety-eight, if you please. You'll enjoy it. Goes excellently with sharp cheese and water crackers."

I took the hint and summoned the wine, glasses, and a plate of cheese and crackers for the hungry wolf. We sat down and he pressed next to me, comfortingly. "Let it breathe for a moment. Shall I tell you about my life?"

"Please do."

He shoveled in an impossible tower of cheese and carbs and swallowed it with ease, grinning toothily. "My sister Diana was born first. Like me, she's an alpha. The firstborns usually are. She's my full sister, we have the same mother. My mother was one of three wolves, treated like concubines. In all fairness the witch of the line they were pledged to at that time was a duke's son, he probably didn't know any better.

When another wolf bore Pierre, Diana was heartbroken. She knew there would be no pack for her, she would be a lone wolf. You'll like her. She's firm, resolute and deeply passionate. She never does half measures, and she looks much better with this shade of red." He indicated his hair.

"Diana is a lovely woman, but when we were young, as two alphas, we were at each other's throats. She's much closer to Pierre who is two years younger than I, but Julian was a babe who had just learned to walk when she left. When she was twenty-five and I was twelve, she was sent off to serve the Council. She's been a secretary most of her life, but thanks to her I was educated, as were my brothers.

"When my father became duke he had my brothers and I educated alongside his own sons, acknowledged bastards. As soon as Julian, the youngest, was twenty five and full wolf, we should have gone to the Council to be assigned, but our mothers protested and Diana interceded on our behalf.

"So for seventy years we loafed about, gentlemen of leisure if not means. Our mothers are wonderful women, and they softened up the duke. It got even better when he pretended to die to the world and leave the seat to his eldest proper son. Since we were not officially recognized as a pack nor property of the Council, we were free. And oh, how we wasted it on simple pleasures, such a beauteous waste. Here." 

Abruptly my mind was pulled from eleventh century France to the glass of deep red wine he held out. I sniffed at it and caught interesting scents, but the taste was incredible. My eyes widened. "This would go well with chocolate!"

Andre laughed. "Summon some, then, my dearest witch."

I laughed. Despite the madness it was still so easy to forget my new abilities. I waved my hand and a few strawberries covered in dark chocolate appeared. He'd eaten the cheese plate so I summoned a new one and added some meat to it, and Andre kissed me for the consideration.

For a long moment we both ate and drank and watched the sun slide past the top of the volcano.

"Go on," I urged, wishing we could stay there all night. It seemed so peaceful, and the Gods only knew what "delightful entertainment" awaited us after dinner.

"We were called to the Council when Inga, your ancestor, died, her pack as well. A new pack was needed to test her descendent, Sigrid. Of course you know she passed.

"Like ay good Viking she had slaves. She kept her husband in the dark about our nature and hers, doted on her children, and kept us as slaves. When her husband died and she had to leave her village for fear people would notice she wasn't aging, it got better. 

"I won't bore you of stories, but Sigrid was a good queen, if traditional and cautious. She loved us in her own way, but always saw us as second, as less. She had constant affairs with witches and produced in her lifetime enough children to populate her own island. She was a Viking, through and through.

"When she died, it was because she had taken a lover, the very witch she had asked to father a child on one of her daughters. In your line those born of a witch and a human often have serious health problems. Sigrid was trying to discover why. She herself had been a sickly child. That was why she had so many children, and all of them she asked to mate with witches, but never to create a first child, always a second or later. So many witch lovers, and then there was the last.

"They both died. She had snuck out, but it was common. She almost never took us all together to her bed, and she had so many other lovers. We did not know she was gone until she did not appear after breakfast. I confess, the hardest part was not losing a woman I loved, it was the fear. Seven direct generations had sprung from her and we did not know who the one facing the test would be.

"The day after Sigrid died, Alessandra came. She took custody of us as she administered the tests. For seven centuries in her care not one of your line has passed the tests. There has never been a line interrupted for so long. My brothers and I felt it our duty to question it, but Alessandra forbade it. After the fifth failure, when the record was passed, no longer were we treated as wards. We became Alessandra's property."

Setting down my wine I covered his hand with mine. Andre refused to meet my gaze and moved suddenly. I barely had time to transport away the wine and food before we were laying down, like spoons. With his arms around me I sensed he drew comfort. 

"If you wish to speak no more, I understand."

"I will just say at first she abused us greatly. We followed her as she traveled and served her most often in the lowest, most degrading of duties. Then, through death came a blessing. In eighteen oh seven we were in Leiden. She had taken a lover, a human she cared greatly for. She ignored us and her own two wolves, Duncan and Gerard. Her lover was killed when a munitions ship exploded, killing dozens. She became depressed, horribly depressed, and charged us to the Council to be recalled only for future tests.

"Diane once more helped us. I wanted to know more about the government and so she placed me in records so I might read the histories of witches, wars, and human interaction. Let Julian and Pierre tell you their own story of where they went, for we have been together every day but for those hundred and fifty-five years, until Alessandra recalled us permanently back in nineteen sixty-two."

"So you were a librarian?" Sometimes I could see Andre as a professor, and I confess I'd entertained a fantasy or two of being the student seducing the teacher, but seeing my alpha wolf as a librarian was too straining.

"At first. I was more a scribe, transcribing and cataloging. Sixty-two years of studying, learning the histories of human governments, of the wolves' when we ruled ourselves, the vampires, the dragon kind, the sorcerers. I read of battles and treaties. Shin-Zan of the council began consulting me during the final active days of war. I sat with the Council at a few treaties.

"Once it became a cold war, I became what the British call a spy-master. I trained spies, assigned them, oversaw them. I devised codes, and assembled gathered information to help the Council make policy. It was an exciting time, but not what I expected."

"How so?"

"I was a Council wolf. I was granted some freedoms Alessandra did not give me. I could never seduce a witch, and if one bade me I had to service them, but only with mouth and fingers. Luckily where I worked there were almost no female witches. With humans it was the same, a spell kept me from enjoying the full fruits of physical love, but with other wolves I was free."

Petty as it was, I felt a twinge of jealousy, but I knew it was stupid. He'd been alive almost one thousand years. Of course he had loved others, fucked probably thousands. Jealousy was wasted, but I couldn't get my heart to listen to reason.

"Do not fear, my love. By nineteen fifty I had despaired of it. I dreamed that one day, there would come a witch of the Inrisdotti line who would love me truly. Better yet if she was sweet, innocent, and I could make her blush."

As he nuzzled behind my ear, I found myself doing just that. 

I reached back and placed my hand behind his head, inviting him to do more of the same. The barest nip of teeth made me shiver and my nipples hardened. Crass but uncaringly for manners, I wiggled my butt against him, hoping to entice Andre to action.

His hand slid up just under my breast, holding my rib cage, and his lips and teeth pulled back. "Oh, Anna, so eager, so honest in your needs. You have no idea how refreshing that is."

"I'm beginning to have an idea," I said dryly, pouting.

He kissed my cheek and laughed."Shall I finish my story?"

"Please do. Hurry up and finish." That won me a small laugh.

"In nineteen fifty I had come to realize I no longer found solace in casual or easy sex. I think I also began to realize there are many kinds of love, and what I had with Sigrid was not what I needed. So I did something stupid and volunteered to be an assassin."

This made me turn back and found him half smiling, merely raising a single eyebrow in response to mine. "Dragons still lived, and, forced into hiding, those left had become mostly vicious creatures. We stopped their terror. In just eight years we finished our work, and I lost my appetite for death, that of others or myself. In my travels I became familiar with the wolves that belong to Sebastian's group. I saw that what I desired was possible.

"And then, in sixty-three, Alessandra recalled us. Blessedly she left us unmolested, but still gave us low, dirty jobs. I had once commanded a thousand wolves, helped shape policy, and then I was scrubbing her bathroom. Humbling."

Though I feared the truth, I wanted to know. "Tell me about my grandmother and mother."

"Your grandmother was a good woman. She passed the first two tests, but not the third. Never once did she try to bed us, she loved your grandfather too much. She hoped a fraternal kind of love would suffice, but then when she found out what the final ascension ceremony entailed, she couldn't go through with it.

"Your mother we never even met. She failed the first test on purpose, I believe. Alessandra said she begged to have her memory wiped. But then things became worrisome when we realized your half sister has not a drop of magic in her. It became clear she had an earlier child, but somehow your mother had earlier wiped that from her memory, probably with the aid of a witch. The spell was irreversible. We feared your line was lost, possibly even to Malachi."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because only you or Malachi has enough power to unlock a memory binding spell. Through my diplomatic contacts I approached Malachi and asked him to unlock the spell from your mother. He refused, and laughed in my face."

"So far, I have yet to met anyone in my family I actually like. Why should he be different?"

"My love, your relation is so far back you're probably more closely related to me than him."

"Gross."

He laughed and turned me onto my back, remaining on his side. "My life has been a lonely one. I have been lucky to have my brothers, and for a time even my sister. But always I have felt as if I have no home."

I let the words hang in the air. Yes, I loved him, but there were many kinds of love. Did he feel like home to me? No, not quite yet, and I'm sure it was the same for him. That kind of feeling would take time. What w e had was beautiful but small, and needed time to grow.

So I reached up and stroked his handsome face. I'd gotten some color but was still pale. His skin, naturally olive, had darkened quickly in the tropical sunlight. It was just one more thing that made me feel small and feminine in his presence. Puppy love was what we had, but I knew with time and effort it would grow into so much more. But for now we had affection, passion, and lust.

He smiled. "So many strange thoughts flit across your face. What are you thinking?"

"That you are a most remarkable man. Werewolf, scholar, spymaster, and diplomat, not to mention a ferocious lover."

Finally his hand slid up to cup my breast. "Glad you noticed."

The mood changed rapidly once more. Returning from serious recollection to intensely sensual once more. A quick spell made our clothes disappear so that when our bodies pressed together it was warm flesh to warm flesh. 

I turned onto my side facing him and slipped a hand between us. His cock was hard and hot, and when I stroked him he trembled for a moment. The feeling was powerful and arousing, and it thrilled me to feel his response. 

Andre pulled back after gently biting my lip. "Would that I had magic and could hold you down, witch."

I conjured up a silk scarf into my other hand and extended it. "Will this do?"

"A blindfold," he huskily whispered, dragging the pad of his thumb across my nipple.

I arched into him, silently begging for more.

"Anna," he chided lightly.

"Sorry." 

I conjured up the blindfold and he took it from me slipping it immediately over my eyes before kissing my nose.

"Why do you like blindfolds so much, Andre?"

He did not reply as I felt the scarf winding around a wrist. He dragged both hands over my head and tied them together, and then I felt his warmth withdraw.

"I know I am handsome, every wolf is. But even among wolves I know I am more, so are my brothers. It is why were chosen for your line. Should you not have the best? The smartest, the most dexterous and agile, the strongest? But my looks have been a curse. I will say no more, but there have been times when my guardians have been cruel and capricious and I have been punished for my looks.

"It pleases me greatly that you look at me like I am the most handsome man alive. I know you would never hurt me. But, my love, I feel...safer without eyes upon me. With that blindfold on, I know you feel me. You hear me. But you hear only what I wish and feel only what I wish."

I didn't think he realized that halfway through his confession he'd slipped into French, an older version than what I knew and I hoped I'd truly understood him.

This explained his dominance perfectly. I too had been dominant at the point in my life I had felt the least in control. Andre was an alpha wolf, control was bred into him, and witches had robbed him of it for damn near a solid century.

So I let my body go lax. I would b rewarded for my submission, and he would take joy. Still I felt no touch, and I knew just what he wanted to hear. 

"S'il vous plait," I breathed out in a sigh.

He kissed me then, as gently as he ever had. His hand cupped my cheek but nowhere else did he touch me. I tasted the wine and the natural flavor and spice that was Andre. He kissed me as if we had all the time in the world, and it was beautiful.

I started to reach for him without thinking, and Andre growled and pushed my hands down to the blanket. Still his kiss was gentle, coaxing, and wildly more arousing than I had thought possible. I kissed him back with all my passion, but he stilled my fervor, forced me to slow. Once I did his mouth left me groaning as he slid across my skin to tease my jaw line.

The humid air stirred with ocean winds, caressing my body, and now the only part of him that touched my skin was that wicked mouth. He teased my neck and I cried out, shivers coursing over me. He captured my ear and I fairly purred. Never had we gone this slow, and I wondered what game was afoot.

Suddenly he moved over me, settling between my legs, and before my mind could register that fact fully he thrust in. The invasion was burning heat and icy shivers. I was aroused, but not expecting it, and cried out. My legs wrapped around his and I tried again to reach out only to have my wrists pinned.

"Naughty girl," he coed, and began to thrust. 

Slowly he drew in and out, over and over again. All the while he kept my hands pinned with ne of his own and the other toyed with a nipple. Over and over, it went on and on. Slowly my lust changed from roaring fire to slow burn and still it only got hotter.

"Anna," he sighed out, and I heard the strain in his voice, thought it seemed less than mine.

"Please, please let me come." My world was the feeling of his cock thickly stretching me, his rough warm skin against mine, the surging of his muscles, the teasing slide of his hot mouth. It was madness.

He just pulled out and his hands left me. I cried out, body lurching. What game was this?

The his hands cupped my ass and raised me almost painfully high. A low growl was my only warning before his mouth descended. Despite the threat of the rumble in his voice, Andre's actions were slow. Not delicate, but entrancingly firm as he licked me up and down. I couldn't tell if he was just teasing me or building me towards something. I couldn't focus on anything other then the powerful pleasure. 

He suckled my clit, flicked it, filled me with his tongue and generally feasted. Sweat covered me as I struggled helplessly, succeeding only in rubbing against his face. Andre seemed to like this and rumbled in approval. Then he did something clever, and before I could register what dexterous action it was I crested with a keening cry.

My entire body throbbed with the orgasm, and my hands scrambled against the blanket for purchase. I forgot to breathe as pleasure swam over me. Where our flesh touched I burned, but everything else was shaking, trembling ice. Andre gave me no quarter. I cried out again and again and he just kept up, pushing me into a zone that I thought was bliss.

Only then did he pull back, but it was just to move with that incredible speed. I screamed in pleasure when he thrust in. In that moment I warred with myself. I wanted the blindfold off, I needed to see, but I knew wearing it was for his benefit, not mine. Quelling my magic and meeting his body with mine as just an ordinary woman and no witch was beyond difficult. 

Once more he began to thrust, filling me so beautifully over and over, playing with pitch and angle until I was mad. But then, when I thought I would feel the ultimate pleasure once more, he just pulled out. This time it was thick fingers filling my creaming cunt while his mouth teased my breasts. I reached the pinnacle and it was a nearly holy experience. I thrashed and screamed with it, riding his hand, bucking against his mouth as my entire being pulsated.

This cycle went on at least four more times, I thought. Gun to my head I couldn't have counted, the pleasure was so immense. All I knew was when he finally joined me, when Andre roared out his climax it was so loud all birds took flight from the trees and it drowned out my own scream. I could have cast a spell to keep sound in but I was too far gone.

I felt like I was made of liquid, flowing and hot beneath him. Andre was as firm and hot as fired steel. We held together, clutching one another until it seemed to me he had softened and I had firmed a bit. All this happened in darkness, making me keenly aware of the sensations he evoked.

After long, panting minutes he removed the blindfold, untied my hands, and laid on his back drawing me to his side. I felt the very feminine temptation to introduce serious conversation but squelched it. Just because sex cleared my mind, I knew it wasn't the same for men. I wanted to reassure him that I understood what it had been about, but I guess my submissiveness would just have to do.

Everything was so uncertain in this new world, but not the way I felt. I loved Andre, and I loved Pierre, and Julian. It would grow and mature in time, but for the moment it was the shining new kind of love that makes one feel foolish and invincible. I would just relax and enjoy it for it was.




A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 11



After several minutes of silence, Andre kissed me and brushed some of my hair back. "I am sorry, my sweet, but we have just twenty minutes before dinner and we have to put in an appearance."

"I am the supreme sovereign ruler, can't they just fucking deliver a pizza? He'll, I'll conjure plates from the kitchen myself."

He laughed and traced a finger down the slope of my breast. "If I could I would selfishly keep you to myself here on this mountain all night long, but alas, Jericho and Olivia are due to return to service."

He pulled back and I raised up on my elbows, thinking hard. Now his finger caressed between my eyebrows and I looked at him questioningly.

"Whenever you are about to do something important, often I find you suspend your normal pragmatism and make a swift decision, like any good prince. But before you do, I can tell because a slight line forms here."

"Oh joy. I could spell that way."

"I'd rather you didn't. It's the warning before the storm."

"Storm?" I raised an eyebrow.

He actually grinned and stood, unselfconsciously naked. Stretching, he neatly distracted me for a long moment. Sighing, I used magic to transport the mess away and clothed us both.

"Anna, like any good ruler you are capable of making swift decisions, often because before a situation arises you have put great thought into all possibilities. That is rare among humans, rarer still among witches. It is what will make you a great ruler, but it does tend to create a whirlwind of activity the rest of us must catch up on."

I stood too and felt again that sense of purpose, as if fate were a series of moving connecting tubes constantly shifting forming new possibly paths, and one had just locked in. "Then you'd better learn to move faster if you're going to be my chief advisor."

Before he could reply I used magic to bring us back to the hut. Pierre and Julian were dressed in the tuxes from the night before, and Olivia was in shorts and a t-shirt helping Jericho with his tie. Diego bounded up to me and jumped against my leg. The second his furry paw touched my leg I felt my magic swell. As Valerius had taught me I pulled slightly and he yipped, tail wagging happily.

I waved my free hand at Andre and has him dressed, then got Olivia, and fixed Jericho's tie. Rubbing Diego I called hello to everyone staring speculatively at me and walked over to the treats jar and grabbed one for my familiar.

We had give or take just ten minutes, the time it took to walk, so I dressed myself. I chose a simple dress of green satin covered by black lace. I chose my favorite green fuck-me-pump and had the lingerie, jewelry, and make-up all done and set by the time everyone said hello.

Liv and Jerry were staring at me forlorn. I could read it all in their eyes. They had expected me to abuse and violate them, and until this final moment they thought it was coming, but it never had. Now, too late, they knew the freedom they had experienced, and in just two hours it would be gone.

"Not tonight," I said to them, ignoring their puzzled frowns. "Shall we go?" I addressed the group.

Andre waved off any questions from the others and took my arm. Julian set down a plate for Diego filled with chicken breast and vegetables. He caught my look and smiled as he took his place following us out.

"After dinner one of us can run back and let him out. We were swimming and lost track of time, so his dinner came late. He'll be fine."

"Love you, Diego," I called and we all walked out.

The sun had not completely set but the volcano shaded us, giving the illusion of dark. I strode with purpose wanting nothing more than to get dinner over with.

"What is tonight's entertainment?" I asked them all.

"There is to be an exhibition of every type of game. Valerius has offered to take you on a tour." Pierre spoke up.

"Oh, great. So, Andre, it's been too long since I read Machiavelli, what does he have to say on this?"

"We will be with you. You must only show interest in an activity that does not hurt the wolves," my alpha replied and smiled at the line between my brows I knew had appeared.

"Name one," I said, and of course no one answered. Wouldn't or couldn't, I couldn't say.

Damn it, Andre was right. In a way it was nice to have someone understand me so well, but it was irritating to have him know more about me than I did myself. Indeed I had been thinking, and there was only one piece of information left to the puzzle I was trying to solve.

So when we got there I sent everyone ahead but Andre who insisted on standing guard. Pierre I asked to find Valerius, who came out into the hall alone. Inside the dining hall I heard the murmurs of conversations, all witches. I could see through the door wolves dutifully watching the proceedings, but many watch med. Their eyes slid from Jericho and Olivia to me, questioning. I kept my face neutral in reply. 

Andre watched me with speculation as well, but by then he knew not to ask my intentions.

Finally, Valerius arrived, wearing a slightly different tux expertly cut. He was magnificently handsome and once more it unnerved me that the man who looked all of thirty-five was over two thousand years old. 

"My dear, you asked for me?"

I caught the eye of one of the wolves in the little uniform and the doors to the dining hall closed, leaving us three alone in the hall.

"Valerius, I want to know, how rigid are the customs of monarchy? Do I have no true power until I am crowned? Is there a ceremony?"

"Pardon me?" 

His eyes went questioningly to Andre, and in that moment I softened towards him. Almost any other witch would have ignored my alpha wolf, seen him as less than a person. Even though it seemed to convey Andre was my keeper, the respect made me sigh.

"I don't mean to be so brusque. I just want to know if I can make a sweeping declaration that affects the entire world of witches at this very moment. Which I don't even know how large that is."

Valerius smiled. "You have two thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine subjects of witches, and some twelve thousand two hundred and nineteen of wolves."

The numbers made my head spin, but it gave me another idea for later. Andre reached over and gently traced a finger down the line I knew had formed between my eyebrows. I ignored the question in his eyes and implored Valerius to answer my own question.

"Yes, there will be a ceremony. Once you have completed training you must spend time with the Council, learn to rule. In three months you will be recognized by one and all. At that time you may make sweeping declarations. For the moment any policy you wish to introduce must be supported by the Council."

"Great," I said sarcastically. "All right, into dinner we go."

They each took an arm and Valerius walked us to our table, then went to his own. My other wolves looked at me and then Andre, who shrugged. 

The first course had already been laid, a lovely vegetable soup, and I found I was starved from my afternoon exertions. So I raised my spoon and sighed. "Jericho, Olivia, would you like to work for me? I live in Chicago, back in the States."

They stared at me.

"I'll pay you. You'll be free to come and go as you please. No more of this slavery bullshit."

Two wide eyes swung to Andre who reached out to take my hand. "My dear, this would also make them of my pack. It is customary to ask an alpha if you with to expand his pack."

"Oh, shit. Hang on, Jerry, Liv. Andre, want some more wolves?"

He laughed, and it was a rich sound. The laughter spread to Julian and Pierre and earned us strange looks from the others. I noticed the blonde witch glaring at me again. Who the devil was that?

"Anna, I would be more than happy. Every alpha loves his pack, and I believe your intent is a masterful choice." With that semi-cryptic comment he dove for his own soup.

Famished, I polished off the soup and three rolls, then when the crab cakes came I downed two even at Julian's sensual wink. Spinach soufflé came next, then baked ham with potatoes Dauphinois and summer squash. After that came fruit and cheese, and finally pecan pie. By the pie I was too full for more, but at least my mind had calmed.

My personal pack had been explaining to the new recruits what Chicago was like. Jerry was old enough he no longer remembered where he came from, and he'd been on Thunder Island almost eight hundred years. Liv was British by birth, but had come to the island with her mother when she was only six, and that was two hundred years earlier. I could only marvel over that. 

I danced hoping to work off some of the sumptuous food. Oh, it was good, but I missed Julian's cooking, and told him so when we danced. You would think my body would be completely warn out from carnal pleasures, but when Julian nuzzled my ear during our slow movements and whispered how much he enjoyed eating, I knew every wolf in the room could tell I was aroused. I couldn't bring myself to care.

Pierre was the best dancer for my mood. Lively and energetic, we laughed and moved together and indeed burned off any feeling of too much food. As the last song ended we stood there, looking into one another's eyes, and I knew in that moment if there was nay way to leave that world behind, abdicate my unwanted throne, and keep my loves, I would take it.

Then applause rang out and broke the spell, and I knew I was trapped. Forcing a smile I clapped for the band and took Pierre's arm as we met our pack. Julian returned from checking on Diego and then we only had to wait for Valerius and his pack.

As the doors opened and the crowd spilled out, Valerius appeared at my side, offering his arm. "Shall we? I do believe there are many things to enjoy. But first, shall we stop at the chess court so you may return your new friends?"

"Let's," I said, but winked at Liv who was staring at me with abject fear in her eyes.

Well, respect and faith had to be earned, and I would set out to do just that, I thought with resolve. 

As a group, his wolves fell in, walking with mine and chatting among themselves. We left the resort's main building for the sand and it struck me how odd we all looked in night clothes on the beach. I suppressed a laugh as we wound our way along the path to the chessboard of doom.

The elder witch with the grey in his hair stood waiting, and behind him was the blonde witch who'd spent so much time glaring at me.

"Who is that?" I asked Valerius.

"Kenneth McDonald. Stay away from him." His tone was grave.

"Your highness," the silvered man said, and everyone bowed, even the wolves. "Welcome, I would like to invite you to play tonight against Kenneth of Ainslie."

"Yes," Kenneth said, his voice a growl of challenge. Behind him stood two lovely brunette wolves who looked...weather beaten was the only word that came to mind.

"No." I said firmly, and all conversation stopped. I saw in his hands Silver had the arm bands for Jericho and Olivia and I waved them off. "These two are mine now."

Silver's eyes slid to Valerius who showed no emotion as he replied. "She is the sovereign."

Kenneth snorted but a glare from Silver quieted him.

Bowing again slightly to me, the master of ceremonies for the chessboard made the bands disappear. "As is your will, majesty."

I felt a tick at the title, but no sense starting a pissing contest over something so small. 

"Anything else?" he asked with a schooled neutral face.

I let my eyes drift to Valerius."I'll make no sweeping declarations. However, I and my pack will retire for the night and forgo any entertainments." Suddenly I felt as if the world stared at me agog. "Sorry, Val, I'm just tired," I whispered to Valerius with resignation. 

I nodded to the others and turned to leave. Valerius jogged after me after hesitating for a moment, likely making apologies. "Anna! What are you doing?"

"Not getting myself any deeper into shit."

He stopped me with a hand on my arm and both our wolves uncomfortably watched, unsure what to do as I debated jerking free and storming off in a fine pique. "This vacation is your first public introduction as our ruler. We haven't had a queen since the days of the black plague! Don't alienate your people!"

I faced him, eyes narrowed. I felt my temper starting to boil, rattling my lid. "If I have to spend another evening watching wolves being tortured, no matter how nicely it might seem, I will be tempted to kill my own people."

"If you prefer to play against someone else, I know you like the chess-" 

I pulled free and folded my arms. "No. What is the deal with Kenny anyway?"

Val's eyes glittered. "The long answer is that he is the son of a human who was your fifth-great-grandmother's brother, and his mother is a sorcerer of Malachai's. The short answer is that he feels so much time spent without a queen suggests we place a king upon the throne."

"Good! He wants it? He can have it!"

I blinked and magic had transported Val and I along with both our packs to a grand set of rooms, presumably his. I had a second to notice red, opulence, and antiques before an angry Valerius filled my vision.

"Anna! I understand the pressure you are under but do not ever say such things in front of others!"

"And why not? It's no secret this has all been sprung on me with no warning. God damn it, I don't want to be queen! I live in a democratic republic and I don't even vote. I'm an anarchist for chrissakes, which means I don't believe in rulers. I am unfit!" I stopped my tirade and looked around. No one wore an expression of judgment, but the commiseration I saw on many swam too close to pity.

I had been resolved to do the best I could but now there was a way out. "Val, really, why me? If Kenneth is a witch and shares the blood of the Inrisdotti line, why not him?"

"Leave us!" Val ordered, dark eyes surveying the wolves.

The other Anna led mine from the sitting room to a bedroom, and closed the door partially. I folded my arms and stared up at Val who looked once more like a Roman General on the field. I had a feeling I was a Germanic tribe of barbarians at that moment.

"Anna, you are the direct descendent. As I am sure you realize, at many points in our history our lines have expanded. Of the eleven original lines ten of them have multiplied to thousands, but one has remained pure. And that is yours."

Nearly in tears I threw myself to the Queen Anne sofa that matched the overtly red themed room. "I don't think I can take this, Val. I don't want to rule anyone. I'm not fit to rule anyone. And I can't take the stress of constant danger."

"What danger, Anna?"

I glared up at him, the man who had warned me to get knocked up because of obscure danger. "Alessandra could be dangerous. It's clear someone had been killing the women of my line. Each time it's the same story; an unknown lover, sneaking out, sometimes he is found with her, sometimes not, but names are withheld. Valerius, what is the Council trying to hide by keeping details from the official record? Does it have anything to do with Alessandra?"

He noticeably paled as he crossed to the little bar. He poured two glasses of sherry and brought one to me. I hated sherry but wanted a drink so thanked him and knocked it back like the plebian I was. Val sat next to me and his attempt to offer comfort by slinging and arm around my shoulder was so laughable, I started to snicker, feeling mad.

"Do you understand, Val? Every death is the same setting and set-up. But there are no details on manner of death. Any detective would still conclude it's the work of one person. Someone has told me it's not Malachi, it's one of our own. What is the Council covering up?"

Val waved his hand and I felt the magic cocoon us. I guessed it was a silence spell, one I had yet to try. "This goes no further than us, not even to our wolves." I nodded. "Alessandra is older than I've told you. She has been guardian of your line for seven thousand years. Throughout our history there have been large gaps between queens, it's why we have a Council. Someone must rule in your stead when you cannot.

"But as petty as Alessandra might be at her diminished power when a queen rises, she would never kill one of you. It's forbidden. The magic that made her guardian forbids her from doing direct harm."

"Then who has been killing my ancestors?"

"Anna, if someone thought themselves to be sovereign material, the only way to prove it would be if the assumed sovereign lay dead with no heirs. Anna, why do you think I have been after you to have a child? It's not a consort I seek, but your safety. As long as you remain childless Kenneth will covet your throne relentlessly, and he is foolish enough to kill you to prove magic will not die so long as he lives."

"Will it?" I whispered.

"If Kenneth sits the throne...he was raised in Malachai's court. Who knows what dark and twisted paths his mind has been forced to form? Would he subjugate good to evil, make us pets in a zoo?"

"Will it?" I repeated, grabbing his hand. "Will all magic die with me or is he a true heir to the throne?"

For the first time I saw true emotion fill through his eyes. Uncertain survival, the emotion that birthed fear, did more than flit, it settled in and filled out his fine-boned features. "I don't know." 



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 12







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 12



"When she died it came as something of a surprise. But there was fear, we didn't know the next of her line to take t he tests. Again and again we were called for the final week, but in between generations we were allowed to live in Sigrid's home and keep to ourselves. Then Alessandra came to claim us.

"We had met her once on Sigrid's travels, she often stayed with her human relations. I don't think Sigrid was ever comfortable being a witch, but being royalty...she breathed and lived it. Alessandra was cruel. I believe in my heart she is jealous that she has never and will never be in line for your throne. She took it out on us. What she demanded of us in duty and...physically...it was humiliating.

"We adjusted. Julian took it the hardest, but he discovered art and it helped him through. Still, when Alessandra sent us to the Council they could have sent me alone into a cave of dragons and I would have welcomed it. Instead Valerius introduced me to his friend Horus."

"Like the god?"

Pierre smiled. "There are days when I believe the god of legend and the witch are one in the same. In the ancient days, before the Council, before the witch-wolf accord, witches had no real overseeing body. He could easily have set himself up to be worshipped as a god. 

"He is the oldest living witch. His great-grandfather was one off the original eleven, and Horus' brother was to inherit the line but was died during testing from some illness probably cured by three days of antibiotics now. Horus is a strange but wonderful man, you'll meet him soon I suspect. 

"He might be the oldest living creature on the planet, but his hobby is chasing death. He loved war."

It was my turn to smile. "Horus is a war god, among other things."

Pierre nodded and kissed my neck, turning me back towards the water. "He had never claimed a pack, preferred to live alone, but complained to Valerius he couldn't stomach most witches and longed for an immortal companion in war. Valerius asked if I would join him, and I did."

"So you went to war for fun?"

"At first," Pierre replied quietly. I went with him off to what they now call the Napoleonic Wars an idealistic young man. I thought war was glamorous. You have to understand I had seen war in the human world for only the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, and in Europe they were very small. Then I had seen the war between wolves and dragons, heard whispered tales of the vampire wars, and thought it something glorious. It wasn't.

"It was long hours, endless marches, intolerable food, death, the stench of death everywhere. I asked Horus once after battle of Verdun why it made him so happy. He told me the oldest magic came from the places in between. Crossroads. Shorelines. The moment of death. He said his magic drew on it, but he could not bring himself to kill another in anything but fair combat."

I shivered at that, something creepy I would expect an ancient witch to say. "Battle of Verdun? World War One?"

"I can't tell you how many times I have shed my own blood and spilled others for my beloved France. I would rather not speak of that battle, if you please."

Knowing history, I knew all too well why. There had been more dead per square mile in that ten-month long battle than any other conflict save something the Mongols might have done that was never written down. I tried to snuggle closer to him, pulling his arms tighter around me. How had the wandering soldier become the smiling man I loved?

"I stayed with Horus until we were called back in December of nineteen sixty two. I don't want to strain your jealousy, my love, but during the second world war, I met a woman, a human. I could not love her physically as a man should, as I have with you, but I did love her with my heart and she me. It was then that I realized what I had been missing with Sigrid."

Desperately I clamped down on the green-eyed feeling. "What happened?"

"She was killed. She was a spy, and they caught her. I discovered I have a thing for independent women who insist on doing things their way." He nuzzled my ear and I sighed. How could be jealous with that?

"Alessandra recalled us when she came out of her depression. Testing resumed, but rarely did the candidates make it to us. Then you came."

After that we didn't speak for a long minute, just listened to the gentle lap of the water inside the cove, the soft roar outside it. 

"I am glad I found Valerius here, and I am glad I know more what is going on. However, tomorrow is my final lesson in magic. I want to return home after."

I found myself on my back and deftly Pierre was on top of me. He kissed me, and passion was there, but it was a pale shadow of the emotion he gave me. In that moment I knew for all of Valerius' logic, I would never, ever place any man in all the world above those I loved.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 12



Propping my head against my hand I let my other hand fall to the waters, stroking through the warm, salty ocean. Jerry's fingers danced down and then filled Olivia who moaned and writhed, but grasped his cock firmly, teasing him with equal intent.

I didn't know if they moved slowly for my benefit, but it was perfect. Languorous and sensual, they stroked one another worshiping with hands and mouth. I had bidden them to do this for a distraction but soon enough I found my own body growing wet. It was impossible to watch such beauty and remain unaffected.

To my surprise Olivia wrestled lightly with her love and he ended up on hiss back. Once more her talented mouth engulfed his cock expertly, and her eyes held his, filled with love. I was held in rapt fascination, watching his arousal grow as his fingers dug into the wood raft.Soon his oanting breaths grew too fast and he jerked her up, dragging Liv up his body. She laughed triumphantly, but when he thrust up and speared her from below she cried out.

I felt my body lurch liquidly, envious of her for the moment. Not over Jericho, but for the sheer joy of joining. Her ride was a quick one, passion swept them along, and my arousal built in the shadowbox of my soul as I watched them. Finally she cried out an instant before him, and his hands clamped her down, locking her into place for his long orgasm.

I barely resisted the urge to rip off my pale bikini and see to my own fires. I heard a sound like a slight growl and looked up to see my own wolves watching me intently, knowingly. Three different versions of raw hunger greeted me.

As Jerry's hands began to stroke Liv and bring her back to pleasure equal to his, I used magic to zap Diego up to his attic room, and I made my raft disappear and put myself in the bedroom. Let them come to me, I thought with a nervous smile. More magic dried my hair and left me naked, and I turned down the sheets on the huge bed and laid in the center.

I didn't have to wait long. The door opened and in they came, Andre still in hiss pants rolled up at the cuff and nothing else, Julian and Pierre in swim trunks. Feeling impish I waved my hand and magic left them naked, and delightfully they were all happy to see me.

I couldn't speak, and it seemed they didn't want to either. In contrast to the slow scene in the water, I couldn't wait. I was a needy, impatient thing, and I just wanted my lovers to oblige me. I swore to myself after a quick tumble into ecstasy then I could see to their needs.

Andre watched my face and I think he understood.

"Julian, Pierre, as we discussed."

They both knelt on the bed and Julian gave me a dazzling smile as he easily moved me, settling behind me. I laid between his legs, feeling his erection press to my back, nowhere near where I wanted it. Immediately he nuzzled my neck and his hands teasing laid over my ribs, beneath my aching breasts.

Pierre leaned over and helped raise me up slightly, and I felt the long erection slide into the cleft between my buttocks. 

"What are you doing?" I asked as Andre used the dimmer switch to lower the lights.

"Shh," was all Pierre said with a wink.

I wanted to pout and whine, I was not in the mood for games, but I knew the score. Despite all the other madness, my lovers still needed my patience and understanding. 

Suddenly Andre was there and Pierre drew back to lounge on the pillows, watching us with a smile. Andre claimed my mouth in a kiss and thrust in with no preparation. I screamed in joy as his cock filled me, burning and stretching my aching pussy. The angle was so odd, sandwiched between them, but Andre knelt and drew me up to wrap my legs around his waist.

I buried one hand in his loose hair and with the other I tried to bring one of Julian's hands to my breast, but to no avail. Andre growled again and began to thrust. My eyes closed and I was lost. The slow burn that had begun outside was coming to a fever pitch. At this angle with every thrust as he pulled out and I slid back down my clit dragged damply over his skin.

There was no stopping it and I came, screaming wordlessly, lost and helplessly pinned between them, caged and yet so gloriously free. I throbbed against his hard, unyielding cock, an impossible force resisting the fluttering of my body. Again I clawed, cried out, scrambled madly away from the pleasure and towards the source.

Andre ground against me and Julian teased my nipples, nuzzling my ear. I felt Pierre watching and somehow that made it all the more erotic as they gifted me with the simple, direct pleasure I had been craving.

As soon as my body stilled but my heart still raced, Andre withdrew. "Julian?"

Still nuzzling my ear Julian's voice purred into me, making me shiver. "Use your magic to widen and relax yourself here." As he spoke a hand skimmed over my side, cupped a buttock, and then I felt his gentle fingers along my anus.

I gasped, but nodded. I had had anal sex before as a human, I knew everything involved, and so I conjured up some good, thick lubricant in a jar next to us. Pierre moved into Andre's place and kissed me as I worked magic to relax my sphincter, cast little spells to ease the passage and increase the pleasure. 

Quickly Pierre worked his way down to lay on his stomach, and his canny tongue began to pleasure me anew. I felt Julian scoop up some of the lube and spread it on his cock. Andre came to stand over Pierre and reached down, lifting me by my shoulders. Once I was in the air Julian spread more of the lube at my anus.

I licked my feeling lips nervous and excited. What would anal sex feel like with my new body, with my magic? God, I was about to find out, and thanks every god ever worshipped that it was Julian who would venture first. His length was great but his thickness was standard, and so even with the natural thickening at orgasm he would stretch me the least.

"I know what to do," I whispered as Andre began to lower me. He smiled at me and winked, startling me.

When I felt the broad head of Julian's cock against my anus I gasped. He murmured soothing words in his ancient French, likely unaware he had slipped into his native tongue as he concentrated fiercely. I suddenly understood that this was a rare treat for them. I would make sure we all enjoyed this.

The air seemed to still as Julian slipped a lubricated finger inside me. The sensation was dark and blooming, like a night rose, softly devastating temptation. I moaned and one of Pierre's thick fingers dove into my pussy and curled forward. My juices gushed and I whimpered. Julian cursed and the finger withdrew.

"Are you ready?" He knew I was, but being a gentleman he asked first.

"Yes, please, yes!"

Then I felt his cock press against me. The same dark sensation expanded into demonic temptation and pleasure. Andre helped work me down as Julian guided his cock inside me. I was burning, sweetly, lightly, aching, and curiously delirious with the thrill of something new. 

Andre let go when I was seated and Julian scooted us down until our angle to the bed was much more acute. Pierre backed off and knelt, and when I realized his intent my eyes widened.

"Kinky," was all I could say and it came out breathily.

"Fun," he countered with a grin and settled between my legs.

Carefully Pierre worked his impossibly thick cock into my creaming cunt, and when he was seated I felt more deliciously full than I could remember. They stayed locked for a moment and I thought I could come again, if someone just moved.

Pierre obliged me. Rare or not, they had done this before, and Pierre took on a lovely jaunting rhythm that looked dead sexy in the mirror above the dresser. Staccato thrusts came with a small swivel at the end. Not only did it thrill me, stroking deep in my pussy until I was panting and aching, it raised and lowered me slightly along Julian's cock.

Something was missing, but I couldn't name it. The pleasure was indescribable. Never had I felt anything so consuming. Surrounded by hot, hard muscle, filled completely as any woman could be, my clit and nipples teased with every slide as my g-spot was rubbed and my ass was filled. Just thinking in these terms made my body strain towards orgasm but something held me back. It was mental, but I was too far gone to reason out why.

Then Andre resumed looming over us and I knew instantly. His cock slid easily into my mouth and I tasted my own juices along with his. The heady cocktail eased the way and he began a slow slide. Pierre ducked down and changed the angle of his slide into something that left me gasping around Andre's cock. Julian's fingers teased a nipple while the other hand buried itself in my pussy above Pierre's cock, stroking my clit.

I went off again, thrown into a new level of pleasure. Filled completely and surrounded by hard, grinding, male I was pinned, covered, and conquered. They kept going and eventually I was placed on my side, my head hanging of the bed. They showed me many positions, many ways, and infinite pleasure.

Finally, hours later, when the sun threatened to rise at any moment, they came. By the time it passed I couldn't speak, couldn't walk. I had lost count of my peaks and all my muscles felt so pleasantly sore. Julian carried me to the bath and helped me to clean while the others went in search of food.

"Thank you," I said to Julian once he helped me slip into a robe.

He smoothed my wet hair back and kissed the top of my head tenderly, bundling me close. "Thank you," he whispered.

I pulled back and looked up. "For having mind-blowing sex with you? For letting you do it the way men have been begging women for centuries?" I hoped he understood I was joking.

"For everything," he said cryptically and lead me downstairs.

Diego joined us and there was quite a spread. There was a giant cut of roast beef that Andre was slicing, rolls, fresh spinach, brie, a fruit plate, and a tureen of leftover Grecian chicken soup from diner.

I knelt to ruffle Diego's fur and he licked me nose, making me laugh. 

Pierre made a sandwich for me and poured a cup of soup, setting it in place along with a beer. I climbed onto the stool with a small wince and covered with a smile.

"I hope you're feeling better," Liv finally said. She was sitting on the kitchen counter, Jerry standing next to her. They looked like a couple of college kids in the first blush of serious love, and it made me smile.

"I do. One more day of lessons here and I've decided we will return to Chicago tomorrow evening, after dinner."

"But the new house will not be finished for another few weeks," Julian said.

"There's enough room at our current house. I would just ask you three move into my rooms, now our rooms. And I would like to ask Diane to stay with us. Andre?"

He gave it a long, serious think before replying, polishing off a large cut of cold roast beef. "We're both Alphas. Living in such a small space won't be easy, but I think we can manage for a few weeks. Although I would ask your permission to spend my time at the new home."

I nodded.

"I will speak to Valerius about arranging three months with the Council tomorrow, but it will be the hardest day of my crash course. Time travel. Jerry, Liv, would you accompany me to training tomorrow?" 

Jerry nodded but Liv's eyes went wide. "Us?"

I nodded to Andre. "Andre you have that meeting we discussed. Julian I'd like you to put your ear to the ground some more. And Pierre, I'd like you to tail Kenneth."

Smiles and mirth gone all my wolves were serious and nodded. Andre gave an extra slow nod in approval.

"Jerry, Liv, I asked for you both because I am going to need protection. Someone has been killing my ancestors and the list of suspects is short. With Valerius I plan to go back in time to Sigrid's death and see what I find. I cannot bring Andre, Pierre, or Julian as they were all there and running into themselves would be bad, to say the least."

"Who are the suspects?" Jerry asked.

"Malachi, for obvious reasons. Kenneth, also for obvious reasons. And Alessandra for reasons I don't yet know."

Jerry's gaze sharpened. "You really think Kenneth of Aisnslie is a murderer? It's not his style."

"But no one benefits quite like Kenneth."

Jerry shook his head. "If I had known you suspected him like this, I would have warmed you. Kenneth is no murderer, no assassin, this you will see. But his mother...I do not know."

"Who is his mother?" Pierre asked sharply.

Jerry looked surprised as if we had all fallen asleep in class. "Why, it's Alessandra."



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 13



©Nora Quick 2013





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 13



"Any way, by the time I hit the age of education dad let me join with his human children. We had a good tutor, a Polish scholar. He was a flamboyant man, kept a mistress. Her name was Marie, one smart woman. She liked to paint in an age when women were not allowed to, so they would pretend it was him.

"She taught me. I think she recognized a fellow artist. She was my first love, the hopeless, fruitless childhood crush."

I smiled at that and moaned as his strong hands skimmed over my buttocks and began to work on my thighs. "Mmm, and what was it you loved about her?"

"She was smart. She never let any man talk down to her. She even put my father in his place. She owned herself, and her spirit was larger than life. Though they pretended it was her lover who painted, she still handled the sales. And yet when he came to her, I would peek when I was not supposed to, when he came to her she melted. She was so soft then, the love filling her eyes, and the quiet scholar became a large, grand man, a conquering hero."

"Very poetic."

"I try. I suppose that was when I fell in love with strong women."

"Are you saying I am strong?"

He kissed the back of my knee. '"My love, you are like a Valkyrie with everyone else, but when we are alone like this, you are as soft as butter beneath my hands, and you give yourself so completely. You make me feel like a valiant warrior coming home."

My head felt like it might explode from the blush. No one had ever said anything so sweet to me before.

"I know, Anna. You need not reply, just enjoy. I confessed my love when I was all of thirteen and Marie ruffled my hair, thanked me, and promised me that someday I would make some women very happy, just not her."

"Plural?"

"My scholar Pawel was not her only lover. I think she believed that artists held such grand passions they could never be satisfied by one."

"And can they?" I asked, peering back over my shoulder.

Julian gave my enigmatic smile and motioned for me to turn my head back. "Depends on that one. Now you know that when I turned twenty-five and we were supposed to go the Council for assignment, Diana intervened and let us wander. Oh, we were good Frenchmen. Oh, my brothers were excellent soldiers, swords-for-hire, but not me. I mean, I can fight, but it just doesn't make me nearly as happy as it does them. So I painted. I became quite in-demand. By the time we got to the Council I had done quite well, though I had to paint under two names. Long living has its drawbacks.

"When we went into Alessandra's house I fared better in some ways. While my brothers had to clean stables, shoe horses, scrub floors, she would send me out to paint and earn money. It was really about reputation, she would pass herself off as my chief patron. Alessandra loved mingling with humans, dazzling them, and to her I was a showpiece.

"In fact, there were other bonuses. Regrettably, my brothers would have to whore for her on demand, entertain her guests both human and witch. Oh, she made me do that when I was in residence, but when I was sent out on commissions there were no restrictions on me for a long time."

"Oh?" I asked, again trying to squash the insane jealousy that spurted up.

"Anna, I am French. I love good wine, good food, and women of all shapes, sizes, and colors. I cannot pretend to be anything else."

I started to grit my teeth, reminding myself I'd had my own slut phase, but then his hands reached my feet. No woman alive could resist a good foot massage. Once he began working I melted into a contented pool, purring as much as any human could.

"I didn't go nuts, I was selective, but I enjoyed my freedom. However one day, it came almost to a complete end. Do you know anything of Jörg Jenatsch?"

"The Swiss traitor who was killed at a carnival by a guy in a bear costume?" This was exactly why I liked history: humans did the strangest things.

"I was called to paint his portrait during the Thirty Years war. He had a mistress, and I ended up seducing her, or perhaps she seduced me. I'm not sure how it happened, but she told me he was going to kill Pompeius von Planta. I made the mistake of trying to stop it. Alessandra had to intervene to keep them from killing me, and she put the same magical restrictions on me that were on my brothers.

"For the next two hundred years in between commissions I shoveled stables, ran the plow through fields, and whored for her like my brothers had. My art kept me alive during that time. I began to paint scenes from nature. Some of my work hangs in galleries to this day.

"Then in eighteen of seven Alessandra wanted to retreat from the world. Her latest lover, a man I think she truly loved, w as killed and she sent us away. Her own pack she exiled to a country estate in Tuscany, and I and my brothers went to the Council.

"I was immediately drawn into a meeting with Marcus. Like Valerius he's roman, but he's much older. He asked me to become a spy."

Julian finished with my feet and I wanted to beg him to return, but then his hands skimmed over my entire body as he stood.

"Turn over."

"Oh, goody," I breathed out, earning me a chuckle from him.

"Marcus had heard about the entire affair in Switzerland. He too sent me out on commissions to paint, only this time I was strategically sent to certain locales and asked to spy by eavesdropping, seduction, blackmail, whatever it took. 

"The council was concerned over witch affairs and often human. We tend to affect one another. After about fifty years my reputation grew once more I even had some sorcerer commissions. I had fun, and I did some good. I would often find the nests of dragons attacking humans, and Andre took the information and would kill them. Or on the human side I learned of important troop movements, things the affected Pierre. I was most concerned with my brothers."

I tried to pay close attention but he was working up my legs and getting so close to my pussy I wanted to scream in need. I snuck a look, opening one eye, and Julian smiled knowingly as he began to massage my inner thighs. The action was innocent, but his hands were so warm I was getting wetter than I'd thought possible.

"I was a good spy. It's very cerebral work, nothing like James Bond. But of course, it's fun to pretend you're James Bond. Anyway, the day Alessandra came back to herself and came to claim us was a dark one. She ended my work, and I went into full-time slavery. Scrubbing toilets, pasting wallpaper, doing dishes. At least she let me cook, and I discovered I was good at it."

"Indeed you are." I groaned as his hands moved to my outer thighs, skirting away from where I ached to feel him most.

"Assembling a meal is like creating a painting. Spices go together in certain ways just the way hues do. I love bringing something to life, and seeing people enjoy them."

Suddenly I remembered that third morning together, thinking of the other creative ways to enjoy food, and my body shivered.

"Poor baby, I'm supposed to be relaxing you but I only made you more tense."

"Damn skippy," I grumbled, and he laughed.

Julian shifted, gently pushing my legs apart. His hands moved up to massage my mons, skimming towards my belly, and then he bent his head. At the first delicate lick of his tongue along the seam of my lips I cried out. As if it were some sort of signal he began to devour me, but Julian was so slow, so gentle, and yet so completely thorough. Devour wasn't the right word, but it was as close as my mind could come.

His massaging hands slid over my hips, moving down to cup my ass and lift me higher. All the while he suckled, flicking at my clit, sucking with deep, pulling pressure. My entire body tensed with it and I fisted my hands in the white sheet covering the table. Just when I thought I would come, having built quickly, he gentled, teasing.

"Please, Julian, please!"

He murmured something, perhaps a reply, but it was muffled as he renewed his force. His thumbs slid across my skin to open my folds wider, and the long length of Julian's tongue covered me. I flexed my hips, rocked my body up and down, trying to force him to focus once more on my clit.

At long last Julian did, moaning, and the feel of his clever tongue and slow vibration pushed me over the edge. I came gasping and shrieking, lost completely to the moment. My eyes squeezed shut so tight that I saw colorbursts as I flowed between his hands and mouth, my muscles jerking and fluttering as Julian pushed me on and on in orgasm.

In perfect timing, Julian's ministrations slowed as I came down slowly and grew more sensitive. I finally collapsed within myself with a sigh, and Julian let hy hips drop to the table.

"Now," was all I could say.

He'd been naked from the start and so many times that long erection had teased me. He knelt between my legs and I thrilled to know he would soon slide it inside me, our hips would meet, and I would find true satisfaction.

"Not yet, my love, I haven't finished your massage."

"What!?" I nearly screamed.

He chuckled and laid between my legs, his erections sliding teasingly along the seam of my pussy. He rested on his elbows and his hands began to lightly massage the sides of my neck.

"Do you remember the night at the nightclub?" he whispered into my ear, leaning down.

I opened my eyes and met his green gaze. "Oh, yes."

He began to slowly pump his hips. "Do you remember how desperate we were for one another?"

"I would have sold my soul to have you inside me."

"And do you remember," he paused to nip at my earlobe and his hands moved down to my breasts, "that twice my cock almost slipped inside you? Never have I ever gotten so close with forbidden fruit, and never have I wanted so much to break the rules, damn the consequences."

I closed my eyes again, awash in sensation. "But now there is nothing between us. We don't have to wait."

"Mmm, Anna, but sometimes waiting only makes it sweeter."

"Damn tease," I ground out.

He laughed, but it won my what I wanted. His hips drew back and this time when he thrust forward, he dipped slightly, and slid inside me. It was a long journey, but finally he was deep. Julian tried to pull back but I grabbed his arm and cupped his head, drawing him back down into a hot, sliding kiss.

His body moved slowly, but his lips were fast. I felt ravaged tenderly, conquered gently, and yet at the same time as I rose to meet each thrust, tasted him as thoroughly as he tasted me, I felt both victor and claimed.

His lean hardness was so warm against me, and the massage oil covering my skin made him slide loosely. Still his hard cock speared me, and my cunt, still fluttering from my last orgasm, was tightening in anticipation of the next.

Bracing himself on one hand, the other returned to my breast. Eased by the oil his thumb dragged sweetly over my hard nipple, sending icy shivers through me with every pass. His thrusts sped up but only slightly, and yet it was enough. I came again, and it was perfect. I wrapped my legs around his waist and clung to him as ultimate pleasure claimed me.

If I expected from his reminiscing, another fast and furious ride to pleasure, I was disappointed. Once more I thought I would need to explain to my lovers that, witch or not, I simply couldn't handle their stamina. 

He brought me again twice, and then we shifted positions. He laid on his side on the huge table, I on my beck, our legs entwined, and his hand rested on my clit, rocking with his thrusts. Then I laid on my stomach, Julian across my back. I soon lost count of positions as well as peaks. 

Finally he came as we laid like spoons, and the sounds of pleasure he made were sweet music to my ears, even as he brought forth the last drops of pleasure my body could give. He held me tightly, and it felt so damn good that we remained locked together long after our orgasms had receded. 

"Are you hungry?" I asked at long last.

"Starved, as always. Madame, you nourish the soul and sate my loins, but damn it all, you make me hungry."

I laughed and turned to kiss him softly. "What will you have?"

He nuzzled my ear and managed to make a simple food order sound like liquid sex on his tongue. I conjured up the rack of lamb, apple salad, and bacon and cheese cornbread muffins he'd asked for, all from the lunch menu at the fanciest restaurant at the hotel, which he'd apparently really taken to.

I set it up on a small table near the heater for the rocks. We disentangled and I used more magic to clean us up. As we redressed I asked him what wine he wanted and summoned it, and a beer for myself.

Julian politely pulled out my chair for me and I sat down, comfortable in the oversize terry cloth robe, even though the room was warm. Julian wore board shorts and his short-sleeve button-up was hanging open, letting me view his wonderfully sculpted chest.

"Nice to be looked at like dessert."

I blushed and reached for one of the muffins. "I feel good. Melted. Boneless. A wondrous massage and mind-blowing sex. And yet, somehow, I look at you with your hair loose and mussed and I'm horny again."

He grinned and ripped off a hunk of lamb, somehow making the brutal action look almost elegant. "So you have our stories now, you know pretty much all there is to know about me, and my brothers."

Uh-oh, I thought I knew where he was heading. "Indeed, and quite interesting. Perhaps after I finish my three months with the council we can travel. I'd love to see some of your work in museums."

He smiled and nodded, allowing my deflection to succeed, and we ate in silence for a few moments. He put away five times what I did, and it was fun watching him. His hair was a lovely bright shade of golden-white, and with it loose it made him seem a little older than normal, more passion than beauty.

"Anna, have you given any thought to how your household will run?"

"What do you mean?" I sat back with my beer and pushed my plate away, aware dinner wasn't too far off.

He looked down at his plate, shoving some apple salad around with his fork. He was hiding behind his hair, suddenly a shy little boy in his jungle-cat eyes where just moments before a sensual man had dwelled. "What exactly would you have me do? And my brothers?"

I sighed. "Didn't I already tell you, you don't work anymore?"

He glanced up sharply and I leaned over, stilling his hand with mine.

"Julian, do whatever you want. Want to paint all day? Go ahead. Want to go out and take commissions to paint? Feel free. Want to cook? Want to swim in the pool? Want to have as much sex as humanly possible? Do what you want." I pulled my hand back and smiled.

"I will hire wolves to work for us, pay them more than fair wages, and grant them freedom. If they want to quit, they're free to go. We'll promote from within. People will share jobs so nobody has to do too much of the ucky stuff. I'll obey all human labor laws. Any wolf can apply, and if they want to leave and go into the human world I will do what I can to aid them."

His head slowly rose, bangs brushing aside. It was like watching a wild beast emerge from tall grasses, morphing into an apex predator, still tempered with childlike hope. "You mean that."

It wasn't a question per se, but I still nodded. "I'm beginning to understand I can't make a sweeping proclamation to free all the wolves, but work slowly towards it. And I know my hands are pretty much going to be tied working with the Council through the winter. But still, I can lead by example."

He nodded. "Well, the Council is in Rome, happens when you have two moldy Romans on staff. You'll be expected to live in residence, which means you can't allow your wolves to have status the others do not."

"Val seems loosey-goosey."

"Shin-zan prefers no wolves at all, he's pretty solitary, and Marcus is old fashioned."

"Nobody told him Rome was sacked a few dozen times and died long ago?"

"I doubt he got the memo."

"So we'll just demand a mother apartment or something."

Julian smiled and tossed his bangs back fully, the moment of insecurity gone. "It doesn't work like that."

"How so?"

"The Council staffs over one hundred witches and at least five times as many wolves. It's the size of a small, private university. However, can't draw attention to six hundred supermodels, so magic comes into play."

"I figured something like that."

"Did Valerius get to dimensional shifts?"

"No, but I read about them in the books he gave me." There were other dimensions, but nothing like ours. Witches apparently used them like folded space, kind of like Ultraviolet only not sucking so much.

"So on the outside it looks like a normal converted Italian villa with a modern shop below, and two flats above. But inside it's kind of like the Pentagon."

"You've been inside the Pentagon?"

"No, but Pierre was, and he's great at physical descriptions."

I smiled as he polished off the food and at back. "How much time do we have before we have to gussy up for dinner?"

I checked my phone. "Almost an hour since the rest of the gang is meeting us here in the main building."

"And the entire spa is ours until dinner?"

"The perks of being sovereign, I guess."

"Then lets go work up an appetite in the pool." He rose and grabbed my hand, jerking to my feet and jogging my along. We left the huge massage room and walked through the sauna, blessedly turned off, and arrived at the pool.

It wasn't large, designed more to be a cool version of a giant hot tub where wolves could lunge with mud masks on, sipping champagne. Still, it was decently sized though it only reached six feet of depth. Fine for Julian with his great height, but a little over my head.

I threw off my robe and walked down the stairs into the warm water and turned back to Julian, who watched me with dark heat in his eyes. "I want to play."

"Ohh, sounds like fun."

"No magic. I want your word, Anna. No magic."

Curious what he was up to, I thought this was a shallow echo of the same need Andre had. "I swear, no magic between us now, none at all unless we face danger." I felt the shimmer of magic in the air at the vow.

Julian smiled and slowly shook his head. "I'm supposed to protect you, my love, not the other way around."

I just raised an eyebrow and folded my arms beneath my breasts. Julian's eyes dropped to them and he groaned, shutting off the light.

"Hey! What the-" My protest was cut off by the sound of a splash.

I was now alone in true dark, unable to see anything, as a horny werewolf swam around me. I wasn't exactly sure what the game was, but I had a good idea. Little Red and the Big Bad...in water.

He swam close and a hand brushed my thigh. I squeaked and jumped and reached for him, but Julian swam away. Damn it, my heart was pounding and I couldn't deny I was aroused, but I didn't like feeling like prey.

Then he surged through the water, wrapped a hand around my waist, and dragged me to the "deep end." It was deep enough I had to tread, and I began to as he swam away. I felt around but I wasn't close to the edge, and suddenly I heard his laughter. 

"Julian!"

"Gotcha," he whispered. Another splash, he was swimming below the water, soundless.

I barely felt his movements and he was there, standing. Julian scooped me into his arms and claimed my lips as two long fingers slid inside my creaming cunt. I clutched to him, moaning into his kiss as he filled my mouth. Those fingers curled and pressed, and despite the water my juices flowed. Orgasm shimmered at the edge of my consciousness. 

Julian plundered me for a long moment, and then he let go and let my float. As he swam away I sputtered, disappointed.

"Damn it!"

Unrepentant slut I had become, despite the grand pleasure I had experienced such a short time ago, my body was hot, aching, burning for more, and Julian was teasing me. 




A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 13



I had vowed not to use my magic so I treaded water and felt for the bottom. My toes barely touched it, but the water line went above my nose, damn it. Still, I tried to be as quiet as possible and hear him, but if I was quiet, he was silent.

Once more I felt the push of water as he swam and I was grabbed. This time I was leveraged from the water and yelped in surprise. Julian lifted me and set me on the edge of the pool, and a hand pushed me back. 

I struggled but it was useless, and then I felt his mouth on my pussy and I stopped struggling.

He was not gentle, Julian was ferocious. He drove me hard through arousal into ecstasy, and I came quickly, crying out his name, gripping the concrete ledge as my hips bucked. Julian moaned, vibrating against me, rubbing his lips as he suckled my clit and I came hard, pulsing faster, creaming as I wailed.

Before it passed he jerked me into the water, and I thrilled to know he was hard, and soon he would ill me. I wanted the madness, the fast tumble. I didn't want the gentle machinations, I wanted passion and truth.

"Anna!"

At the sound of my name and pounding footsteps we groaned.

"Sorry about this," I said, and used magic to clothe us in bathing suits and turn up the light. Multiple footsteps echoed and soon, emerging from the mud bath area, was a worried Valerius followed by my pack.

"What? What is it, Val?"

"Please, get dressed and follow me. We need to leave the island right away."

Julian lifted me out of the pool and then gripped the edge and leveraged himself out. I stood and used magic to dry us and clothes us. "Where are we going? What's going on?"

"I'll explain on the way. We must go to the summoning room."

"Why can't we travel from here?" I asked as we followed them through the maze of spa rooms.

At the entrance his pack stood guard. 

Valerius shook his head. "Because ten people traveling will reveal the island to the sorcerers, and we can't do that, even with the truce."

"Truce?" Andre asked sharply as we climbed the stairs to the lobby.

"There is a temporary truce. The problem with the wards is affecting the sorcerers as well."

"I know. After you left Malachi came and gave me some proof."

Val stopped and stared as the lobby traffic flowed around us. "He was here?"

"I don't think your island is so secret. Going to tell me Marcus' department of spies don't know the sorcerer resorts?"

Val swore creatively in Latin and then turned and began to stalk off to the right of the front desk. 'Never mind that now. There is a meeting, the Council and Malachai and his advisors have met on neutral ground. We need you there with us."

"What is going on?"

"Not here," Val said.

We entered a room that looked like a waiting room for one of the dumb "rides" at Epcot Center. There was a queue divider ribbon and poles down the center of the room, and the carpet tiles on one side were red, the other green. The walls were standard industrial grey. 

Val lead us to the red and once everyone was assembled I felt his magic rise, and suddenly Diego and an honest-to-goodness wolf were there, shocked. Another rise of magic, two canine yelps, and suddenly we were standing in the lobby of a grand hotel, but it was empty. Out the large windows there were snowy mountains.

I looked at our summer clothes and changed my pack to suits, making sure Olivia's and mine had pants as well and comfortable shoes. Fuck high heels, I was getting this sensation of creeping fear up my spine.

"Valerius," I grabbed him as he started to walk away. "Before you, pardon the expression all, throw me to the wolves, what the hell is going on?"

He turned to me and forced his wolf to sit as Diego did. Still, the familiars regarded one another cautiously. At least my werewolves and his seemed friendly, more curious than anything. 

"Anna, I panicked when I realized something was wrong with the wards. I reached out to the future, but that was blocked. Aside from you, I and the other Council members are the most powerful witches alive. No one can block us, but yet I was blocked, and so were Marcus and Shin-zan."

"This is affecting the sorcerers too. Could it be Malachai? Is this some kind of trap?"

"No," a new voice said, and we turned to see Malachai strolling towards us, looking like the devil in Armani. Behind him trailed his dragon ladies, both in suits as well. "It's not me, at least not now."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I had to elbow my wolves aside who were guarding me so well they had started to block me. 

"He's right," Val said, doing the same with hiss wolves. Malachai's dragon ladies stayed behind him, smirking at us all. "As far as we can tell someone from the future has gone back in time and is behind these murders. Someone powerful enough to break the wards and control them."

I looked to Malachai, narrowing my eyes.

He smiled, and it was the carefully measured smile of a trial lawyer amid a sensational case. "Relax, Queenie, you couldn't do it nor could I."

"Then who?" I asked, thinking of Kenneth.

"Not him," Malachi tsked. "All the evidence suggests that somehow, in the future, you and I team up and conspire to go through time and kill our predecessors and a few high-ranking sorcerers."

"I would never commit cold-blooded murder." I had to put my hand on Pierre's arms as he started growling.

Malachai smirked, but above the façade I saw his eyes looked tired and weary. "Either team up to do it or..."

"Or what?" Io asked before Val shushed her.

"Or we have a child who does it."

I came the closest to fainting as I'd ever come in my life, it was simply too much. Swaying, Andre caught me, and as I looked up at him I said aloud "fuck it," and let myself pass out.



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 14



©Nora Quick 2013





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 14



"The history books will say it was all clear cut, that on Toussaint Rouge guerillas attacked civilians and military personnel and it was clearly move for independence. But it wasn't so. The Fourth Republic back home was crumbling and everyone knew it but wouldn't say. When the first attacks came they started before Toussaint Rouge and no one had any clue what was happening. Then on that one day it became clear.

"There are only two ways to handle such a situation. Either you wait them out to make a statement and identify themselves while you do a forensic investigation to track down the individuals directly, or you can do what we did."

"What was that?"

He smiled but it was hollow, the smile of a man recalling the folly of youth and trying to tell himself it wasn't as bad as he feared. "We showed up en masse, and the FLN was ready. They basically told the people 'See? We are at war!' and it became a movement we just couldn't win. We forced their hand."

I slid my palm over my thigh to meet his hand with mine and gripped his tight. I understood he didn't want to say more, and as a student of history I knew what would come.

"So we shouldn't force their hand but investigate. Perhaps Malachai will join in the effort if we propose it to be just an investigation, not a mission to change everything."

Pierre raised my hand and kissed my fingers gently. "I know in my heart I am to bow to you but Anna..."

I saw real adult concern in his eyes. "What?"

He blushed slightly. "You are so young. You haven't seen anything of war even as a human."

I glanced out at the night sky and thought on that for a long moment. "You're right," I could only say softly because he was. "However I am a student of history. Did you know that in graduate school I studied military history, particularly from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century?"

He regarded me curiously. "No."

"I've written three books, two on the Golden Horde of Mongol alone. I'm considered a fairly good expert. I have such a reputation in fact people lost touch with the person, and that was part of why I was feeling so isolated when you came along."

"I thought you were writing a book on those awful Borgias," he said with clear distaste.

"Never forget their failures were cited by Machiavelli. The book is a biography, yes, but I believe that was truly the last gasp of militaristic actions for personal power on the world stage. That's why I chose to write it."

He reached up and cupped my cheek. "I know you are smart, Anna, one damn sharp woman, but why are you telling me this?"

"Do you know how many rulers who came to greatness who assumed their throne as young adults, younger than I am now, with only study in their history?"

For a moment he stared at me as if I had suggested we go to Mars, and then a slow smile split is face. "I had begun to worry that you were merely dealing with problems as they came up, but you truly mean to rule, don't you?"

Feeling embarrassed by his sudden regard I ducked my head. "Someone has to," I grumbled. "Pierre, I need to speak to Malachai alone. Will you come with me and wait for me outside the room? You may have to be with Francine and her sister."

He leaned forward and kissed my nose before rising to his feet and tugging me along. "For you, my queen, I would do anything."





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 14



I saw sadness in his eyes, regret mingled with an almost helpless look, and yet he clearly hated such feeling. My precious alpha. I stroked his cheek with my thumb and tried to divine what I should say further.

"Anna, this is too much. Promise me, after you solve this paradox, you will tell the council to stuff themselves for at least four months."

I laughed. "I would love to, but what about the wolves? What about your brothers and sisters out there? Shall I leave them in chains while I take time to myself?"

"Free them in a sweeping proclamation."

"Oh, Andre. You know better than that. To make a sweeping change and walk away leaves chaos in my wake, and I cannot be that cruel or callous."

He pulled from me then and stalked over by the ornate dresser. "I don't like this."

That niggling feeling became a burrowing worm in my skull. I tried a simple spell to end headaches but it only made it worse.

A vision suddenly appeared in the room and seconds later I was transported. One moment I stood in a posh suite and the next I was standing on a cool nearly arid plain surrounded by culled fields. The sky was daylight, the most pure blue I had ever seen. The air smelled amazing, like being in the north of Canada in one of the wild places, but more...primitive.

"I've called you into a time past, before humans began to record history."

I turned and found a beautiful but familiar looking woman facing me. She wore roughly woven cloth and pounded animal skin boots tied with rope made of plant fibers. She was tall, nearly my height, and like me she had dark blonde hair, similar green eyes. It shook me: she and I could have been sisters.

"I am your ancestor. I do not know what our people call me in your time, but in mine I am Agant, Aggie to y friends."

I reached out to her, trembling. "You're the first."

"Your great-great a thousand times over great-grandmother."

So I had gone back far enough there were probably a few Neanderthals hanging around. I felt lightheaded and swooned, but she waved a long-fingered hand and sighed, steadying me with magic.

"Anna, do you know why I called you here?"

"Because apparently fro now on not a single damn thing in my life could be simple?" Oh, sarcasm, my favorite old defense mechanism. To say I was freaked out was a serious underestimation of the awe and terror and wonder coursing through me. If her magic wasn't so pressingly powerful, I would have fallen to my butt laughing to simply try and expel some of the emotion.

"Open your senses. Do you feel it? The magic?"

As both Alessandra and Valerius had taught me I opened my senses and the spill of magic was incredible. It was new, it was in fewer hands, it was raw, and there was no technology...whatever the reason, it was potent, and heady, and filled the entire world.

"Anna, it could be like that in your time. It should be like that."

I brought my eyes to her again from the sky where I thought madly I might see the magic. "How? You know, don't you? You know who has changed the timeline and why."

"Shin-Zan," was all she said. "Only he is old enough to take you safely into the past. Ask him to take you back to Chengzhou, to the massacre."

"Why?" I asked, confused. "Why tell me this when you have all the answers?"

She just smiled at me and then I blinked. The world had changed and I was on the floor with all five of my wolves staring down at me.

"Anna?" Liv asked.

"I'm okay. Don't ask, it's a witch thing." I only knew two things as I came to and sat up with ten hands helping me: I wasn't to speak of this to anyone but the eldest council member, and the niggling headache was gone.

Andre stood above us all. "Jericho, Olivia, leave us. Guard the door."

They obeyed their alpha without question and closed the door behind them.

Julian helped me to my feet though I did not need it. "Where is Shin-Zan?" I asked and kissed his cheek in thanks.

"Abed already," Pierre announced. "I met some of his staff while I walked."

"I need to speak with him right away."

"You need to wait until morning, Anna. You need to relax right now or you're going to burn out," Andre said imperiously.

I started to argue, but realized he was right. Truthfully I wanted sleep, but my body had become spoiled, and accustomed to their affections. "All right then."

Stepping from them I went to the bed. I had a direction, a mission, and best of all no Malachai in it to confuse me about strange possible futures. Oh, and I had been touched by one of the fist, a woman I suspected as more goddess than witch. 

God, I was weary. I had crossed too many time zones and the last one had spanned probably close to one hundred millennia. Shin-Zan could wait until morning. Peeling off my clothes I looked at them, so handsome, but I was suddenly too weary.

"Come to bed when you wish," I said as they still watched me. Oh, cuddling sounded like heaven, a big wolf pile with me at the center was what I wanted, but I wasn't about to order them.

"Not yet," Andre growled, and suddenly all three crawled over the bed to follow me.

Surprised instinct forced me to back up to the pillowed headboard but they kept coming. It was a fast tumble into deep ecstasy: there was no artifice, no cool seduction, just four hungry beings in the midst of insanity clinging to one another.

I gave up and surrendered to their demanding kisses and questing hands. If tender flesh was bruised I didn't care for the pleasure was too great. Julian's tender caresses were desperately fast; Pierre's playful ministrations became furious explorations, and Andre's command shredded into pure possessions.

Not an inch of my skin was unattended. My nipples were sucked to aching points, my pussy was filled with multiple fingers from different hands, often at the same time. Even my anus was teased, and I had a shattering peak with two long, slender fingers pressing darkly into my anus and a thick mismatched pair curling into that spot in my pussy that made my entire being gasp and clench.

I touched what I could and only knew by texture and bulk of muscle which lover I caressed. I licked and stroked, greedily sucked each cock that came near my lips, and was filled over and over. In the end, I didn't get much sleep, but I did get the relaxation I needed.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 15



©Nora Quick 2013





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 15



"Just a short time ago I was poor. No one depended on me but Diego. I didn't eat every day, and the sight of a properly stocked bathroom and pantry would have made me weep in gratitude. And now the witches depend on me, the wolves too. And if we can't fix the time line the entire world does as well. I don't know if I can do this."

Also a short time ago I would have jerked away from the warm bodies pressing to me, the strong arms circling me. I took their comfort now, but not for long. If I had a big, strong shoulder to cry on, crying is exactly what I'd do. And once I started, I'd likely go on forever.

I pack but they didn't give me much space. "Please. I promise I won't leave you again, but I need as much time and space as I can have now."

Andre gave me a level stare, and I felt as if he saw through to my soul.

"Julian," he barked. "You stay. Pierre?"

Pierre followed his brother out and I watched them go, left with Julian, the softest soul of the three in many ways.

Julian came behind me and walked us to the window, his arms holding me close. "Anna, I never saw Sigrid face anything like this. I have no advice to give, no words of comfort."

"I never had any," I said without thought.

He kissed my temple. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. Yes. Maybe, I don't know," I said with a sigh. "It sounds crazy but I'm almost glad my parents were so awful. I learned to stand on my own two feet and survive pretty early, traits that seem to help more than others."

"But you don't trust easily," Julian said, turning me to face him, raising my chin so my eyes met his. "Particularly not yourself."

I had no reply to that so I kissed him. Despair and anger had been swimming in my blood but so easily it transformed to desperation, pure need. Of course I didn't trust myself, I knew who I was. I was a scared little girl alone in the world fighting demons. I was a lonely woman unable to connect to others because that little girl lived inside me. And I was the queen of the witchesm who had inherited a damn mess and was doing her absolute best to fix things.

But as his lips slanted across mine, all I became was a simple woman who needed her man. He backed me to the window and the glass was shocking cool in contrast to the heat of his lanky body as it pressed into mine.

I wanted to tear off his clothes but when I moved to it was like he knew and Julian captured my wrists in a shocking show of dominance for the omega.

"Not tonight," he whispered against my lips, and then his tongue met mine.

For achingly long, slow minutes we kissed, his erection pressed pulsing into my belly and his hands held me, but otherwise we did not touch aside from our mouths. My arousal spun from my control, becoming a living thing.

His hand slipped beneath my shirt almost innocently sliding along my skin/ Oh, my Julian was the master of the tease, and I let myself shudder with need, encouraging him, but otherwise I remained passive. 

Before he reached my breast he moved us from the window to the bed. Some sense of myself returned and I grew impatient. With only a flicker of thought I had us naked and my sweet wolf growled. "I wanted to do that," he said, but took advantage of the moment and captured my nipple in his teeth.

I arched against him and my hands sought his cock, delighting in the long erection I found.

"Not slow, not today, Julian," I breathed out on a sigh.

"There's no rush," he murmured, nuzzling across my chest to my other breast. "We have all the time in the world."

That brought the issues roaring back and I fought them. I needed this stolen moment but that's all I could take, moment.

He let me push him back and straddle him, and any protest he might have had died when I grasped his cock and brushed it against my wet folds. His green eyes clouded over with desire and he licked his lips, sex personified and supplicant to me.

I purred and sank down, slowly letting his great length pierce me. I felt my flesh flutter as our hips met and my cry rose above his groan. His hands found my hips and suddenly Julian smiled.

"If we must rush, darling, we'll do it my way."

Before I could protest he rolled us, tangled limbs struggling for purchase, and I ended on my back with him sliding impossibly deeper. Another wicked grin and he began to thrust. It was fast and furious, he held my shoulders down and bent over my breasts, scraping against my clit with every pass as he drove me mad.

It became a furious grinding as I met his every pass, a race against one another and yet together. He reached the pinnacle first, but I suspected that was his plan. He came with a groan, and I felt him grow immensely thick. Julian arched his back, a thing of beauty as his pale hair flew, and his hand found my clit.

As his long orgasm rocked him he brought me over and over again relentlessly. I felt my body surrender to his control as my muscles tightened almost painfully with each crest. I rocked, wailed, felt myself creaming with each shattering orgasm.

Finally it ended, his, and with a slow wink Julian took me over the edge again.

After he laid across me and I cradled him, panting. Suddenly the problems of the world seemed insignificant and I wanted to lay in bed like this until they went away.

A knock came at the door and I groaned.

"Maybe if we ignore they will leave us to enjoy another round."

I sighed and stretched against him, delighting that he was still inside me, albeit softer now. "If only that could happen. Yes?" I called to the intruder.

"Anna, Marcus is here," Andre said stiffly.

"Damn," I moaned as Julian rolled aside.

With magic I clothed us again, cleaned us and made us both presentable. Outside Marcus was alone with Andre and we joined them, sitting around the coffee table.

"Your highness, I was told you wished to see me. Malachai," he clarified at my raised eyebrow.

"Indeed. Andre, Julian, will you leave us alone?"

Andre wanted to argue but seemed to think better of it. With a curt nod he rose, so did his brother, and they left.

I wanted to waste no time. "Kenneth. Tell me about him."

He seemed taken aback, dark eyes widening. He was dressed in a prim version of a Roman noble, I realized, which struck me as funny. As far as I knew he was a farmer whose people had occupied the lands that would later become Rome. Valerius was the real Roman, and he dressed like a rich surfer.

With a dignified air he sniffled and summoned up wine, offering me a glass which I accepted. 

"Kenneth came to us seeking sanctuary. The sorcerers had not been very friendly, it seemed. The council was in power then, we were between queens, and so we met and discussed. Normally Shin-ZXan would have been the one to gather information from him but it was decided I would, and if he told us what we wanted he would stay."

"And what did he tell you?"

"The strongholds of all dragons. I fear I spent little time with him. Back then I was in charge of mobilizing troops and as soon as I got what I needed I left.

"By the time I returned, after the last great battles he was settled in. We had given him a pack and he kept himself separate. I admit most witches wanted little to do with him but he returned the sentiment. He is never seen at public functions, in fact he only came to Thunder Island when news of your arrival spread.

"He makes no secret of the fact that he seeks to rule. Until you were found he sent letters to us almost every damn week begging our consideration."

That surprised me. "Letters? He seems more like the type to bully."

"No, that's his mother Alessandra is...something else entirely."

"How so?"

"Not one of us can remember her birth, her ascension. She is guarded by a magic that is stronger than the council combined. All we know is that she is of your line, and has always been the chosen guardian."

"Always? But I thought she was Sigrid's sister well and true."

Confusion filled his patrician face. "I...I don't remember."

I closed my eyes and thought on his words as silence descended. Perhaps Alessandra could be bother eternal and the last queen's sister. Time travel, after all, was in us all.

"We need to go back."

"Back?"

"We went to Chengzhou and whoever it is disrupting the timeline tried to kill us. I need to go back with a smaller party and discover who it is."

"That is madness! The attempt only proveds that whoever is behind the disturbances knows you are after them. We cannot risk you, your highness, not until..."

I grimaced, knowing his next words. "Until I have an heir. What am I supposed to do? Go bang some witch and wait nine months while the seams of the world fall apart so you all have a just in case?"

"But without one of your line magic dies!"

I stood. "Alessandra is of my line! Kenneth too!"

He rose as well, not as tall as I was but his presence was larger than his bulky build and he was in a fine temper. "And would you have them rule us?!" He steadied himself and when Marcus spoke again his voice was deep and calm. "Kenneth hates us all. He would destroy everyone, magic itself to have his revenge. And Alessandra cares not for the world. There is no goodness in her, only selfishness. We need you, my queen, we need someone who will not let us all die."

I wanted to scream. I wanted this to all end. In that moment, I almost wanted to return to my old life...almost. But if I did the men I loved would suffer an eternity at Alessandra's hand.

"Then if I am to rule you must abide by my decisions. Call the council together."

He wanted to argue but he bit his lip and bowed in a graceful dip. "As you wish."

I closed my eyes and called to my magic.

Malachai.

Yes Anna?

Bring your dragons to my rooms. It's time to end this.

There was silence for a moment, and then I felt his laughter in my head. At last.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 15



"Now, guys! Now!"

Malachai and I blended another spell, one of transport, and he relayed his concern to his dragons as I did to my wolves, using our eyes.

Suddenly the spell flung past, and I saw it was not just one to end invisibility, but one to freeze. That jangling feeling became a scream in my mind as the spell went and dipped below the crest twenty feet ahead.

A voice cried out, female. Alessandra! It had to be! I found myself running, breaking the connection with Malachai who shouted my name.

Andre caught up with me just as I found the figure laying dazed, shrugging it off.

It was me.



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 16



There had been only a split second to act, and instinct had guided me. Before anyone else besides my alpha could see what I did opened the tunnel and pulled us all to it even across a distance. In the midst of the battle, the magical beings, and my other self's two powerful spells it was incredible, Valerius told me later, but adrenaline had made me do it, like a mother pulling a two-ton car off her young son.

I chased them all out, ignoring their questions. Only my pack and Malachai didn't speak, but Malachai's eyes seemed sadly knowing, pensive. Andre knew my secret but kept his mouth shut and helped me get everyone out. I promised them I was merely drained and needed rest, and we would meet soon.

Then I hugged Diego and stalked into my room pleading with one and all to leave me alone. I sat at the vanity mirror and stared at the face that looked back.

Always before the legacy had come there had been a girl who was pretty if rough. I'd had scars inside and out, and years of poverty had made me seem dulled like tarnished brass. I had been on the heavy side and my eyes had been forever tired.

Now the woman who looked back was beautiful. A beautiful shell with evil brimming behind those bright green eyes. It was the woman who had gone back in time and allowed an entire race to be slaughtered, had aided the wolves to that end. It was the woman who had set into motion the lessening of magic and the slavery of the wolves.

Magic forgotten for a moment, what little of me left still human reached out and punched the glass, shattering it. I bled, and as the crimson blood flowed down my fingers I sobbed. Good. I hoped I bled out. I hoped I weakened, that perhaps it would fade to black and I would wake to discover it all a dream.

"Anna!" Andre forced the locked door open and slammed it behind him, glaring at me. When he saw what I had done he stalked over to me and knelt at my side, pulling my hands into his.

"Heal yourself, Anna."

"No. No!" I shook my head and pulled away from him, but was too tired to stand so I merely turned to face the interior wall. "No more magic. I refuse! How can I use all that magic to kill? Children, Andre. I read a first-hand account of the battle. Children were slaughtered like all the others."

He reached out and jerked my head back so I faced him. His grip on my chin was nearly painful and his silvery hazel eyes were hard as metal. "You listen to me. You are a student of history. You are a survivor. You may not think you know why your mother left you to your life but it is most likely she knew what you would you face.

"I know you do not talk about your life before us and I know you faced many horrors, feel much guilt. But you learned how to go on, how to do what was necessary. That is what you need now."

"Why would I kill them? Why! Children, Andre, children!"

"You didn't kill them. Listen to me, Anna, you did not kill them! Wolves did! My people! It was a war and you helped them, or you will! It was not you, but a woman you will become at some point in the future, likely after you learn why you must do it. It was not you!"

I finally let the tears fall. "But it will be."

Oh, my alpha was exceedingly clever. He held me, drew me into his arms, and carried us to the chair by the window. I sat in his lap and let the tears fall feeling as if all I did lately was cry. Somewhere in the middle of it he complained I was bleeding on his shirt and without thought I closed my wounds with magic and cleansed us both.

In true wolf packs I knew the alpha was more than just a leader, he was justice. The beta of a pack was the one who nurtured and cared. But my werewolf alpha proved that little human extra to him broke the rules. He soothed me with soft words and gentle strokes of his rough hands down my hair until I at last blessedly fell asleep.

It wasn't a restful sleep. I felt as if I were shrinking and falling, and I fell into a pit I recognized as a medical exhibition hall from an early nineteenth century classroom in England.

There on the table was a body covered by a sheet. It was tall and female, proud breasts raisng the sheet higher than the nose, almost as high as the feet. Long golden hair spilled off the table...my hair.

Laughter rang out and I looked up into the seats. Seven people sat in shadow, laughing down at me.

A spotlight turned on shining down on me and my body. A smaller one turned on, shining on a tall frame and leaning into it was Sebastian.

Do you remember I told you of Kenneth:? How could I lie so well? Did I not truly know?"

"W-what?" was all I could stupidly manage in my shock. This wasn't real...was it?

"There was something at the end not at the beginning, or was it there in the beginning but not in the end?" He asked with a creepy smile. His hair suddenly pulled from his ponytail and sprang into a Mohawk, reminding me of that spitting raptor from Jurassic Park. I screamed but he just moved back from the light which shut off.

Directly across from him I heard another snap of a light and whirled around. Now it was Marcus in the light. "Is the truth always shaded by feelings? Is the truth neutral? Can the truth be an emotion itself?"

"Stop it! Make sense, you're not making any sense!" I yelled.

Marcus gave me a sad smile. "If truth is bitter and truth is freedom, is freedom bitter?"

"What the hell!?"

As soon as his light shut off another came on to my right, way back in the stands. Valerius now sat forward. "Who but a queen could conceal knowledge from the queen?"

"What the hell are you talking about!?"

But he silently drew back and behind me another snap. I whirled so fast I nearly fell, and my hand reached out to steady myself on my body. It was warm, and it moved slightly. I screamed again but a loud "Shhhh" silenced me.

It was Aggie, the first of us. "What does mother mean to you?"

I thought of the two I'd had, one I had never known, the other completely disinterested in me unless I could serve as a punching bag. "B-bitch," I said, and I meant it. It was a truth, my truth. Mother was a dirty word to me, it always had been, and it was why I so feared ever having it applied to me.

Aggie smiled piteously. "In animals the mother abandons or eats the weak. She trains the strong. She pushes the young from the nest or turns them loose on stronger prey. Mother is many things but a warrior first and foremost training the next generation. And mother is a person you choose, not always who births you."

I heard rustling on the table behind me, and fear shot through my entire being. It was me there and not me, and I didn't want it to wake up. I couldn't let it wake up.

"Anna!" A voice shouted and I turned to my right to see Alessandra, standing in her light, hands gripping the railing that surrounded my pit. "It is not yet time. Oh, I love to see you suffer. You cause so much suffering of your own."

"No! That wasn't me! It wasn't me!"

"We'll see." She held out a hand and another shadow came to her side. Kenneth.

"Anna, do not listen to them!" A shadow near them cried. There was no light but I knew it was Jericho. "Anna, we cannot escape time. And when you live long enough if you let guilt and grief and regret rule you you will fade. Don't let her make you fade now."

Alessandra whipped her other hand and Jericho went sprawling, knocking chairs aside.

"Jerry!" I cried, and suddenly I heard the sheet fall to the floor behind me.

"Mother, that should be me," Kenneth said blandly.

Alessandra growled. "Wait your turn. Don't be useless!"

Kenneth turned to me and looked suddenly so incredibly sad I couldn't help but recall his sad tale of abuse over centuries. "See, Anna? Mother means to you what it means to me. We'll never belong."

"Oh, but she does," Alessandra said. "She belongs to her time, to her fate. She has so much left to do, so many people to kill."

At her taunting laugh I felt my face mottle with rage. "It wasn't me! It doesn't have to be me!"

A hand landed on my shoulder and my heart stopped. Turning slowly, trembling in fear, I face myself pale and naked, a reanimated corpse walking. She gave me no expression at all when she spoke. "Oh, but it will be."

Waking from a nightmare is nothing like the movies. You don't scream or shoot upright. Instead you wake, eyes opening rapidly, your heart hammering, feeling your seat cooling.

Somehow Andre had placed me on the bed while I slept without waking me, and I was still dressed albeit shoeless beneath the covers. The smaller fireplace in the bedroom was lit, warding off the chill but I was hesitant to move from the warmth of the thick down comforter as I remembered the dream in excruciating detail.

Never had I recalled so many details of a dream before. Perhaps it was a vision.

Sebastian's history of Kenneth was naught but lies, so had Valerius' and and Marcus'. It was likely because Kenneth, being a halfling as it had been put, was not welcomed in either world. But still...

I shot up to a sitting position. When Sebastian had begun his history of Kenneth he had started by telling me his mother was a witch of another line, and then ended saying he didn't know who Kenneth's mother was.

Something there in the beginning and not the ending, he had said in the dream. 

In the middle of our talk, something in the timeline had changed. Something important had altered, and it was centered on Kenneth. But I was willing to bet if I wanted any real information, I had to go to Alessandra.

I used magic to transport myself to Alessandra, and linking my destination to a person and not a place and time was difficult, but I managed. I'd always had to be a fast learner in my life, living to see the next dawn often depended on it.

I found her in a large house in what I guessed was Evanston, the first suburb immediately north of Chicago. Though it was already March a snowstorm was hitting the city and outside the sky was nearly white, the lake stormy.

Alessandra sat in a chair by her own fireplace, swirling wine around in a glass. She wore a long skirt and a droopy retro seventies cardigan over a t-shirt, her own golden hair messy and loose. Her feet were encased in ratty old penguin slippers.

"Which one of you is it?" She asked when she saw me.

"Come again?"

"Ah, the new witch, full of questions. You warned me this day would come."

"You're not making any sense."

She downed her wine and stood, crossing to a bar. I tensed, but she kept away from me, even turning her back as she poured more. "You're a witch who can travel time. Stop trying to figure things out and just go with it."

"Is that a free lesson?" I asked bitterly.

She turned and leaned against the bar, her eyes suddenly limpid. "I have to tell you my story now so you know why I hate you. I hate you Anna, with every fiber of my being. I will hate you until the end of my days, but you are my queen so I will do as ordered. I even did as you bade when you were not yet my queen."

In that moment I knew that as soon as we fixed the timeline I would plead with Malachai to help me rest the wards to end time travel if for no other reason than it gave me a migraine trying to figure things out. "Talk."

"Pour yourself a drink if you like," she said dismissively and drifted back to her chair. "Don't you find that doing things without magic is kind of soothing?"

I didn't answer her but did find scotch and soda water, but the ice in the bucket was melted. I simply watered down my scotch and then sat on the couch opposite her chair. "You know why I am here? Tell me."

"My story. There is a puzzle you must make and solve all at once and I can only give you one piece, my piece. You must be content with that."

"And why should I trust you?"

She looked at me over the rim of her glass as she took another long swallow. "I am forbidden to ever hurt you, but I won't lie. If you were dying and I could save you I wouldn't, even now, even knowing it's too late for me. But I can swear on our line if it makes you happy."

The shot of honesty somehow made me relax. It was always good to know where you stood with an enemy. "Not necessary. Talk."

She set her glass down and looked at the shadowed walls where photos hung. "I am Sigrid's sister, I was born just nine months after her. They call that Irish twins nowadays. I was a good Viking maiden, I helped mother keep the house clean, I cooked, I oversaw the slaves, but Sigrid was different. We knew of the legacy and she knew no harm would come to her by providence until she had children. She was a wild thing, disguising herself as a boy to go off on raids with our brother Sven. My birth name was Freyja, like the goddess. My mother had just made an offering to her when I was conceived. 

"She became a witch at twenty-five. You're a little late for the party, they always go for twenty-five when the line is empty, held by a guardian. My sister came back from the tests, shaken. I asked her for days what had caused it, but she was readying to go live with the Council for a month. Finally as I said goodbye, she leaned over and whispered in my ear that the guardian of our line was me.

"I was human then, such things seemed impossible. I convinced myself she was mistaken by a strong resemblance. I'll come back to that. What you really want to know is my son's story. Why I abandoned him. Well, I did it because every time I looked at him I remembered what made him. I remembered being raped."

I flinched at the word as I'm sure every woman does. All too common a horror it is beyond ugly, and those that survive it have my undying admiration, for I feel there are no stronger people in the world to come through that and learn to live again. I doubted I would ever be that strong, I had once fought so hard and faced near-certain death to escape such a fate.

"I was raped just over four hundred years ago. I didn't know to expect it. I went where I was needed, where I was told to go. I was alone in the woods, communing with nature. I used to be such a gentle soul, before such ugliness touched me.

He was passing through with his dragon bitches, seeking a place for them to change on the full moon. When he saw me he knew who I was, what I was. He called me guardian, didn't even say my name.

"It was awful. I'll spare you the ugly details but he left me wounded, bleeding inside and out, too weak to move. I saw guilt on his face where moments before he had been a monster ands somehow it made it worse. I screamed and he disappeared, the magic suppressing mine disappeared too.

"I used magic to heal myself and I went home. I was going to tell my sister, demand retribution, but then you came. You!" She hurled her now-empty glass into the fire. Finally she turned to face me. "You came and told me of the soul growing inside of me, a child of a sorcerer and a witch guardian. You came and told me I could not rid myself of the babe. You told me it was why you had come to me as a human and sent me back one thousand years to be the guardian of our line. It was why you gave me magic so that even when there was a queen I would not be defenseless, or so you said. But that day I was.

"That day I was violated in the worst way anyone can be. And not just by rape, but by betrayal; yours!"

She was shaking now, so angry, and I was speechless.

Oh, God, what kind of monster was I? How could I do these things!? The dream came back to me, and it had to be wrong. I couldn't be that monster, I could never become that demon!

"Alessandra-"

"Go! Just go! You have made me into a horrible creature, incapable of true love, one who hurts everyone around her. The only small measure of happiness I have felt in my long life was torturing the wolves I knew you would one day love, and even then I couldn't make them hate you!" She took a deep, shuddering breath and stilled herself. "And I tried, oh, how I tried. But you're stronger, always so much stronger.

"So if you're not here to kill me, to end my misery, go!"

Her magic flung out and I let it hit me, miserably expecting death. Instead I found myself outside, in the cold snow.

Suddenly my mind went back to a similar day. I wore just my father's boots and a torn dress, stumbling through the bitter snow of a northern Minnesota winter. It was ten miles to Duluth from our little trailer and I ran them all. My lips were so chapped the split and bled, and I had to keep stopping to piss on my hands so my fingers didn't get frostbitten beyond repair.

All the while I cried and screamed, utterly abandoned, alone in the world, terrified.

But this injustice now was my own, and I had magic to protect me. It didn't seem right, but I didn't know how to fix it.

A puzzle, she had said. Well, the dream had told me the next piece, and even knowing seething hatred awaited me, I knew in that moment I deserved every abuse that might be hurtled my way. 

Once more into the tunnels of time and space I went and when I landed I was back on the damned island. I knew I should have come to the transport room, if I'd only know, but if Malachai knew about Thunder Island there was no real reason to keep it secret. 

I found Kenneth sitting in his simple suite, alone. He was dressed for dinner, his bow tie undone and loose, the top two buttons of his crisp white shirt undone. His blonde hair, a shade darker than mine, was ruffled and loose, short but in bad need of a trim if it was going to be properly styled.

Dark blue eyes met mine and he slammed his own drink to the table and rose.

"Well, well, well, here without your bodyguards."

"And where are yours?"

"They volunteered for wolf chess." His tone revealed hurt, and I had to wonder if they had rejected him in spirit of not body the way Malachai's chosen dragons had once rejected him.

"I came to talk."

"I think not." As he spoke a gorgeous cat came out of the bedroom, a Maine Coon that wound around his ankles. "I have my familiar, where is yours?"

"I don't need him."

"Yes, you do." He flung the spell at me and just as Valerius had taught me I shielded.

He was shockingly strong, stronger than Valerius, but unlike my greater-than-great gramps Kenneth didn't pull his punches. Bolts of magic came again and again and again and one hit. It was a pain spell, not a death spell, but countering cost me a chance for offense and back into bolt-shield, bolt-shield we went.

With one burst of magic I used my shield to push him back and he stumbled, breaking contact with his cat. I used that precious second to call Diego to me, startled, but as soon as the next bolt came for my head he pushed against me, all business.

My magic swelled and I did what I had been taught and tried to pull Kenneth's magic from him. To my shock he did the same and our spells hit one another, dancing like to strangers on the street trying to figure out how to pass one another.

I heard a warning growl and then Diego launched himself at the cat. The cat screeched but Diego got her between his teeth and began to shake. Kenneth immediately stopped.

"Stop him! Don't let him kill her!"

"Diego, heel! Leave her!" Magic aided my commands and Diego did, trotting back to me he glanced over his shoulder with a warning growl.

Kenneth fell to his knees and gathered his familiar close, cradling her. I felt his magic heel her and then she hissed, batted at his face and streaked into the bedroom. I held Diego's collar and stopped him from giving chase.

Kenneth warily stood. 

"Seems the positions are reversed now. I came to talk, let's can the petty shit and talk, all right?"

"I have nothing to say to you."

"If I have to I will remind you that I am your queen and you are my subject, but for now let's just leave it at you want me dead to prove your magic can sustain the witches, so I believe that means we have plenty to discuss."




A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 16



We moved to the table like poker players who had just stood down from a Mexican standoff in the wild west. And it had been a stalemate, a shocking surprise.

"Your are strong, I'll give you that."

He just glared at me and I had to remind myself of all he suffered and how in many ways it was my fault just to cut him some slack. 

"I have nothing to say to you," He repeated.

"Look. Ken, mind if I call you Ken? I like nicknames, just deal with it but if you call me Annie I will bitch slap you. Anyway, right now someone is fucking with the timeline, magic is weakening, and shit is on fire. I don't need you sneaking around my back trying to assassinate me."

"I'm not."

"You're not?"

His eyes narrowed. "I'm not trying to kill you. And I'm not leading an army against you. There are foolish witches who want more than anything to keep wolves slaves for a variety of reasons. They approached me to lead them and I laughed in their faces."

"Why?"

"Why? You know nothing about me then, do you, majesty?"

"Anna," I said automatically.

He looked off towards the doorway to the bedroom slightly flushed. "Given how they have treated me for the last century it felt good to laugh at them when they thought they needed me. 

"I thought I would want you dead, but your actions the last few days...I've reached a different decision."

"Oh? Then why attack me when I came?"

He finally met my eyes and insecurity was painted all over his handsome face. "I wanted you to know how strong I am, how strong my magic is. I have just as much witch in me as sorcerer.

"And I know magic is weakening. I don't know how but I know some of the magic I carry inside me came not just from my mother, but from you. We are weak because both my mother and I have some of your magic."

It made sense, but only as much as anything made sense.

"I knew it when we met at the chessboard, when I smelled your magic. It's sweet, slightly sweet, like lotus blossom and apple blossoms together, and that tang is in mine and my mother's. We are weak because you are weak. We can fix it, Anna."

He was now blushing scarlet and his eyes fell to the table, refusing to meet mine. 

"Oh, boy," I grumbled, knowing something bad was coming.

"We can fix it if we reunite our magic in a child."

"Huh?"

He forced his eyes to mine. "I want to be your consort."

***

Time travel had its advantages, I reflected as I popped back into the room to see myself leaving. Seconds later the door opened and Andre was there. "Anna?"

"Here."

He shut the door behind him and turned on the light. "Are you all right?"

No. I had caused immense suffering in two people, or I would, and one of them wanted me to be his brood mare. Malachai did as well, Valerius wanted me to be somebody's, and I had to figure out why I was responsible for the ethnic cleansing of vampires.

"I don't know if I will ever be. Andre, how soon until everyone meets again?"

"In twenty minutes we're to all meet for dinner. They are expecting to hear what you have to say then."

"And what will I say?"

"The truth?"

I shook my head. "I had a dream, a vision. I can't explain it all, but Andre, I know that as I solve this puzzle so must I build it. So with that, I am so sorry."

"Anna, what-"

I called on a spell I head read in my books, and his mind opened to me. I resisted the urge to explore and simpoly found the memory of seeing my future self at Chengzhou. I made it a blurred face, female but unfamiliar.

When I was done I shut his mind tight and simply added it to the growing tally of sins committed I'd have to face. In that moment I knew I would push it all off, finish the task before me. Once I healed the timeline, then and only then would I succumb to the guilt, so I pushed it aside for the moment.

"Yes, Andre, the truth. You're right."

"It is indeed a mystery."

"Do we dress for dinner?"

"In whatever you like." Andre smiled.

I dressed us smart-casual and sadly thought how now magic felt natural, and no, forgoing it wasn't comforting. Alessandra was over a millennia in age, it made sense she would be tired.

Once all gathered food was served by wolves who worked the hotel and despite the delicious smells I had no appetite, nor did anyone else it seemed. All stared at me expectantly so I stood at the head and addressed them all.

"The culprit had another spell, likely aid from another unseen magic-bearer. I could tell it was a woman, but not who she was."

This began a roar as everyone spoke at once, save me, Andre, and curiously Malachai. I had to shout for quiet and then sat. As we ate everyone talked, but ignored the lines between witch and sorcerer were drawn.

Malachai had with him three fellow sorcerers sans dragons, a woman and two men. Once more inhumanly beautiful, they seemed the most distrustful of all but they obeyed every little shake of Malachai's head if trouble brewed.

I picked at my food, despite most of it were favorites of mine and the rest were familiar enough, Malachai's favorites it seemed went towards old world Hungarian and German or spicy as hell Thai. Interesting.

I did manager to eat some Jaeger-Schnitzel and curried scallops and washed it down with a good beer, Budweiser, the original European, not the poor American imitator.

I looked at my council and remembered the dream. Truth, it seemed, was subjective, and this was another piece to the puzzle I had to solve and yet create. I had grown up agnostic but in that moment I knew if there was a God, a supreme creator, I pitied him more than anything. Such power was a curse.

So in the future I knew I would go back to a young Alessandra and take her back into the past, give her some of my magic so she could be guardian. I would make sure she was in place to be raped and then return to make sure she bore Ken. I would also go back to Chengzhou and help the werewolves kill every last vampire man, woman, and child, which would force a truce between light and dark.

Light and dark...Ken was of both. Balance seemed mean something here but I couldn't figure it out. And if I was weakened now because I have some magic to Alessandra who in turn lost some to Ken, how would I have enough to spare them some?

I drank more beer, at a total loss. Once more I cursed mysteries.

After dinner Malachai introduced his advisors, Soren, James, and Leanne, and tried to wrestle me away for a private audience but I declined. Instead I used magic to make a note and made sure one of the wolf waiters knew to give it to Francine and Nadine when their sorcerer was not around.

Beyond exhausted, we retired from the medieval styled great-hall dining room and went back to our suite. I invited the pack to have a drink with me and they all sat around me expectantly. 

I wanted to tell them the truth with all my heart, but I couldn't. I had to create the puzzle. I don't know why I believed Alessandra so much, perhaps it was guilt, but I did.

"Over the next few weeks or however long it takes us to fix the timeline, I am going to have to ask you all at various times to do things you won't like."

"Such as?" Andre drawled.

"Such as following orders. It is not out of a desire to command but a need. If I tell you I must do something, you must trust me that it needs to be done. I can only say I know more than I can tell, and that too you must understand. It has become clear to me that only I can fix the timeline, and that menas taking risks."

"No!" Pierre reflexively said.

"Yes," I countered coolly. "I have seen many people today and spoken to them all, and something has occurred to me.

"When I was just sixteen, something happened to me. I don't want to discuss it, but I had to walk ten miles in the snow, wearing only stolen boots and a torn dress. I should have died. At the time I thought it was grit and determination that saw me through the ordeal, but I realize now it was magic. I don't know who, but some witch made sure I did not weaken and turn back to something horrible that would have killed my spirit, but instead made me go on to a different kind of hell, one that forged the woman you see here today.

"That same providence will keep me safe. There is some goal, some destiny in all this. You will have to trust I will remain safe until it is realized."

"And then?" Julian asked.

"And then it will by my strength and yours that lets me greet the sun each morning, but one thing at a time. Simple know I will never ask for more than you can give." I directed the last at Jerry and Liv, our newest group members.

Diego rose from the floor and came over to me, whining slightly, his dinner finished.

"Now, I have to take Diego out and I would like to be alone. Andre, I know you will insist, so please, whoever comes with me, just hang back, watch me, give me space."

Wariness filled each pair of eyes that regarded me. I had once sworn to let them be free and now I stood on a tightrope between breaking that promise and suspending it temporarily. 

I summoned up a winter coat and Diego's leash and we left. I never looked back to see who came as I walked to the stairs and went down to the first floor.

The hotel was deserted, ghostly. My footsteps and Diego's light panting breaths echoed off the walls. We went out onto the terrace for the breakfast restaurant and I took him off leash to run around. The door opened and closed behind me, my watcher I knew, but my attention was drawn to a match struck be someone seated at one of the tables.

I tasted magic, which explained how she had cleared the snow and was staying warm.

"I'm sorry to intrude," I called to Leanne, the sorcerer.

"Not at all." She raised her soft pack of cigarettes. "Want one?"

"Actually, yes. May I join you?"

"Come on over. What about your wolf?"

I turned and saw Pierre, whom I knew didn't smoke. I sent him a spell for warmth, sent another small one to Diego, and entered hers.

Leanne had hair so dark brown in the moonlit night it looked black. Her skin tone was dusky, the natural slant of her eyes made sharper by smoky kohl. Her build was small, delicate, and I could almost imagine her in some Sultan's harem, dancing with seven veils.

I took a cigarette and her lighter and lit up. Passing it back I saw something move in the breast pocket of her black poplin. "What is that?"

She reached in and pulled out a cute little hedgehog. "This is Sam, my familiar."

"He's adorable."

"Thanks, yours is beautiful."

"And he knows it," I laughed. She seemed warm and open, strange for an enemy. "His name is Diego."

"May I pet him?"

"Sure." I saw Diego had done his business and with magic I disposed of it, and called him over. He sniffed at her hand and looked to me for approval, which I gave, and she found the spot behind his left ear that drove him mad with happiness.

"I grew up in a time before Islam came to my lands. We had dogs, for hunting. I loved them. Dogs are not so popular nowadays."

I blew out a puff of smoke and rolled my shoulders. "Forgive me for asking, but why are you so friendly to me?"

She smiled and made sure Sam was snuggled deep in her pocket and Diego didn't sniff him. "My king asked me along of all his advisors because I like witches. I was in love with one once."

"Oh?"

"He was killed by a dragon. I killed the one who did it and my king imprisoned me for two hundred years in punishment. But recently he has been softening to the idea of a permanent truce and made me an advisor. I believe he is beginning to understand what I have been saying all along."

"And that is?"

She laughed and took a deep pull. "Forgive me, majesty, it is just so thrilling to have your presence requested by your king and then have a private conference with a queen."

"Call me Anna. I'm an American and we only like titles in BBC shows."

"Fair enough...Anna. Now, what I've been saying is that wars between sorcerers and witches is like two species competing for the same resources. Like wolves and coyotes. We fight to keep balance."

"Interesting."

She shrugged. "I had two hundred years with no magic, no companionship, no entertainment. I had a lot of time to think. And so it makes sense the wolves killed the vampires."

"How do you mean?"

"Once, long ago, it was the very first king of sorcerers who called forth all the powers of the dark. This brought people and animals, more than he expected, so he combined powers. Bats, jackals, and humans became vampires, and he combined the rest to make dragons. Two races of pure magic. When your first queen did the same she turned away many creatures that answered her call. She took those like her familiar, wolves, and the humans who came, and made werewolves. One race, tied to her.

"With two dark became stronger and the wars began. Vampires were messy, mistakes. You see, the first king had no tie to humans, jackals, or bats, nothing to anchor them, so their magic was wild and dangerous. We sorcerers like danger, I doubt you'll meet any that haven't tried BASE jumping or bear wrestling, but this was more than we could handle.

"The vampires began feeding on witches, overfeeding on people. They began to hunt werewolves for sport on the full moon, drinking their blood as it made them high. The wolves had to kill them, to correct the mistake, balance the sheet."

I was astounded, and hope bloomed in my chest. I knew enough of basic psychology to know I would grab at any straws to sublimate my guilt. "Do you have any proof?"

"None, and there are only five of us sorcerers old enough to remember vampires, four witches. I seem to be the only one who remembers how it actually was. Two centuries of meditation will do that."

Diego came to me and curled up, happy in the warmth bubble as the winter winds howled around us.

"Why are you smoking outside?"

"Oh, I know I can use magic and do it inside, but it's habit. See, for another hundred years after I was let out I couldn't use magic, probation in a manner of speaking. So I got used to the human rituals, including smoking outside."

"How long since you got your magic back?"

"Three hundred and sixty years, but I try to use magic as little as possible. Warmth spells like this are fine, some transport, but I'm old enough being human is a novelty."

"Do you remember when you were human?"

"Yes. Some, actually, not much. You know what I remember most?"

I shook my head and she smiled, stubbing out her cigarette. "I remember getting the flu and being terrified I would die. I haven't so much as sneezed in twenty-five hundred years."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I changed tack. "Which four witches would remember the vampires?"

"Oh, your Marcus and Shin-Zan, and two recluses, Marta and the great Horus."

"Horus?" I remembered he had been Pierre's war buddy, for lack of a better term.

"He's the oldest, older than Malachai. My Giano was friends with him. He was once worshipped as a god, the God, the first, original God we know beyond the great mother father our ancestors worshipped. He's actually a hoot."

I remembered Pierre mentioning Horus thought his magic came from death, a very un-witch-like statement if I ever heard one. "Do you know where I could find him?"

"Probably in Central Africa. He likes the wars the larger powers don't get into. He says it makes it easier to divine the right stance. All right, I'm heading in." She stood, a petite thing, and smiled down at me. "Anna, I'm glad to have met you. I know why we're here, and I will do all I can to help. I think it's high time witches and sorcerers come together and bury the hatchet."

I didn't know what to say so I bade her good night. When she went in I stubbed out my cigarette and used magic to clean everything, including my breath. Diego and I padded over to Pierre who held the door for us.

"You heard all that?" I asked him and he nodded. "Can you contact Horus?"

"I think so. Why?"

"If you can, ask him how the balance of magic felt before the vampires died. Ask him what he remembers of the first truce of magic and how we settled all that magic loosened into the world when they died. And ask him to keep it secret."

"I can do that. Anna, what's going on? Do you know which witch aided the wolves in destroying the vampires?"

I answered him as truthfully as I could, remembering the dream. "I don't know her...yet."

***

For the first time I had declined sex and found my pack in agreement. Thanks to time travel I was beyond exhausted and just wanted to sleep. We piled into bed together and they held me, and I did my best to hold them. Even Diego hopped up and slept at the foot and I let one of my feet loose from the blanket to set my toes in his silky fur.

Bolstered, I slept through the night, and blessedly had no more dreams, or if I did, I didn't recall them. I woke feeling refreshed and enjoyed a long slow bath with Julian in attendance. I did manage to eat breakfast in the bath, once we refilled it. The water had gone cold during our lovemaking.

Then Pierre and I took each other quickly as I dressed, or rather halfway through dressing. I had just put on my underthings when he ripped my panties and I rode him, both of us laughing and kissing.

Andre had only promised me that night when I told him I had a private meeting to attend.

After minimal argument it was Liv who walked with me down to the small conference room.

"Please wait outside for me. I will be perfectly safe inside."

"I would feel better if you had Diego with you."

"He'll be happier hiking with Valerius and Andre this morning. I just need to consult with someone, that's all."

We stopped at the door and she brushed some of her blonde curls aside out of her eyes. "If I hear any sound of distress I will break the door down."

"I know, I know, I know, or Andre will have both our heads. If any trouble comes my way I will call your name, I swear."

"Be safe."

"Don't get bored."

I went inside and to my relief Francine and Nadine were there, the dragons looking curious and yawning. Creatures of the night didn't like meetings before noon, I gathered, and I was pleased even more they had come.

"Welcome," I said by way of greeting.

"Good morning," Nadine said with a yawn. "What is so important?"

"Sister, dear, I think it's what we had earlier discussed. Isn't it, majesty?"

"Anna, please. Yes. I need to go into the future, and I can't explain why, but I can't go alone and I can't go with another witch or a sorcerer."

Francine nodded, sighing. "You're going to visit yourself. That's usually why any one of you comes to one of us for help. You want us to take you into the future and make sure you're corporeal when we do."

Nadine perked up. "And you want total secrecy. Interesting. Why?"

"I can't say."

"Yes, you can," Nadine said with a soft smile. "Consider it payment. We don't wish any power over you, but we need to know if it is worth the risk."

"I am going to the future to see myself. I need to know from my future self why the witch has gone back in time and made sure the vampires died. I need to know if that same witch has been the one killing sorcerers and witch queens."

"So it's a witch, you're certain?" Francine said.

That much I would acknowledge, and did so with a nod.

"We will not tell a soul, that is for you to do," Francine said, and rolled her elegant neck. "Do you swear you will come back with answers?"

"I don't know. There is a sensation I get whenever I hit a...node is the only word for it, when the timeline has been messed with. It's just a guess but I think it will get stronger as I approach the time it began, which is in the future."

"So how do we do this?"

"Take me to myself in six months and I'll be able to tell how much further we must go."

"We'll take you near yourself, but somewhere private. And you must swear to be ready to defend us," Nadine said solemnly.




A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 16



"I swear so, on my life and line." I felt the magic shimmer at the vow, and they nodded.

"No time like the present." Francine rose and so did Nadine.

I wore a soft white sweater and jeans over hiking boots and they wore leather pants, Nadine in a white t-shirt, Francine in a leather vest over bare skin.

"First, we need summer clothes, it's going to be hot in six months."

I waved my magic and we all wore skirts and tank-tops with hiking sandals.

"I'm more a shorts kind of girl," Francine said, so I gave her denim cutoffs.

"Skort, please," Nadine said and I made her black skirt into a skort.

My own was floral and I found the softer shades suited the new Anna, and so I felt comfortable in my mint-green tank and the skirt.

They came around the table and we all joined hands, forming a circle. I felt a strange magic rise and there was no tunnel. One moment we were in the hotel conference rom, the next a strange bedroom. I recognized it as Diego's room in my new house.

"What do you feel?" Nadine asked, looking around.

Her slightly taller sister did the same, frowning. "I can hear you, close. You're talking to Pierre."

I closed my eyes and reached out to the feeling, that niggling of the timeline. Slowly...yes! There it was! I felt it and it was stronger.

"Where do we need to go, Anna?" Nadine asked.

"Hurry, someone is coming," Francine said impatiently.

"Another six months. Next March, take me to the next March!"

"Are you sure?" Nadine asked.

"Come on!" Francine grabbed our hands and Nadine and I locked fingers and then we arrived in the same room to the blast of central heat.

"Goddess, that is so smooth," I said.

"We aim to please," a relieved Francine said, blowing out a puff of air. "You're alone in your room. Go ahead, but be careful. I smell something else, something strange, but I can't place it."

Sniffing the air Nadine raised a dark eyebrow. "Dear gods, it's-"

"Nadine!" Francine said. Turning to me she gave me a solemn look. "There is a surprise in there. Know before going in that it could change everything you believe."

I gave her an equally stoic look. "If you knew me better you'd understand that's a red flag and I'm a bull. I'll be carefuil."

The niggling was louder but not screaming. Yet everything in my magic called me into the next room, told me that was where I had to go.

I went silently, marveling at the finished home. The last time I had been there it was missing walls, concrete had been exposed, and it felt more like an empty workspace. Now it seemed warm and inviting.

Slowly I opened the door, heart pounding, and then I opened it.

There, sitting on a massive bed, was me. I wore a robe, one side lowered so the babe the other me was clutching could nurse. The bottom of my stomach dropped to the floor.

"Hello Anna," the other me said.

I could say nothing.

"I've been expecting you. Come closer, please."

Slowly I did, feeling like Dr. Frankenstein's Monster trying to make undead legs work.

"You know this is not where it begins, nor exactly where it ends. It's just another piece of the puzzle, but you're on the right track."

"But...wh-who?" I pointed to the babe.

"Before I show you your son, you must know that you can never travel to the future again. Your journey will be a hard one, but you will learn it has to be that way."

"Why? Just tell me why!"

"All I can tell you is that everything I have done and you must do, the world needs us to do it. And you must tell them the truth. Tell them you saw me, you, at Chengzhou. Tell everyone at that hotel about my son. Now let me show your son and then you must go."

I nodded, trembling, mind racing. She pulled the babe from her breast and he made a fuss, but yawned as she turned him to me. Then she flicked her hand and I was in a tunnel, careening through, grasping at the thread. Felt a tug and holding onto me were the dragons, equally shocked.

We landed in the conference room in nearly a heap.

Once I untangled myself I checked the clock. "It's two minutes after we left."

"What happened?" Francine asked, stretching.

"I saw a baby. My baby."

"Who was the father?" Nadine asked sharply.

"I will tell all as soon as everyone meets. Lunch, we must all meet for lunch and I must tell everyone at once. Go tell Malachai, now, please. Noon, in the great hall."

Full of suspicions they walked out and Liv slipped in the door.

"Arte you all right?"

"I'm going to have a baby in one year. Oh, God, Liv!" 

She held me as I trembled for a moment. "What? What is it?" She finally asked as I pulled back."

"Liv, it had Malachai's hair and..." It was too unfathomable to be real. It couldn't. I had just seen those eyes on another recently, but no babe could have two fathers, not by science or nature and surely not by magic...right?

"And?"

I squared my eyes at her. "And Kenneth's eyes."



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 17



Telling everyone I had been hoarding secrets for several hours that could affect us all seemed daunting, but it seemed most understood. We were all high on the aristocratic food chain, even our lovers, so that wasn't that hardest part.

No, it was keeping the secret of my future son's coloring to myself. Saying it now would only hurt my wolves and Malachai's dragons. It was going to bad enough when it happened, but I could only pray that at that future date no wolves or dragons killed either one of us.

Everyone wanted a private conference. Val wanted to talk to me alone, so did Marcus, but Shin-0Zan wanted a private meeting between me and the council, while Malachai wanted me to meet with him, his advisors, and the council, after we met alone.

I insisted on some privacy and after a brief discussion with my wolves I thought Valerius might be the best one to approach. Pierre once more accompanied me and I was glad for it. I knew Andre had Julian doing research on the computer he'd made me summon after lunch. I hated to admit it, but in these tensest of moments I liked having Pierre with me. I had no doubt that he could be the fiercest warrior on the battlefield, but there was that sunshine to him that attracted me like a sunflower.

We found the council member in his suite and he invited us in, fairly hopping on his bare feet. Val's Hawaiian shirt that day was blue mostly, and open revealing a sculpted chest that belonged on a runway model, not what I considered a grandparent of sorts.

"Uh, can you button that up? Having an ancestor around looking like you is kind of disturbing. I hadn't realized it because the wierding-me-out-scale is awfully full as of late."

"I'm sorry," Val apologized qiuickly, fixing his shirt and hiking his jeans up comically high. "Is that better?"

I smiled, not quite able to laugh. "Nice, gramps."

"Have a seat. I'm brimming with ideas, theories, guesses."

"It's too early for that, Val."

He sat down and raised a dark eyebrow. "Then why did you come?"

"Well I guess starting at what are the terms of the current truce with sorcerers is as good a place to start as any."

"Uh...you saw yourself travel through time and work magic you don't even yet understand to kill the vampires and then later you have a baby despite all your protestations and you want to know what?"

"I'm not just figuring out why I will fuck with the timeline, but what this new world is like. I have a long way to go. I mean, for all I know I will go back and help kill the vampires, but I'm not the one fucking with the timeline. In order to know exactly what it is I will do, I need to know why, which means I need to know a hell of a lot more than what I do."

"What made you think the two things were linked in the first place?"

"Uh, Pierre, do you remember that fainting spell I had in our suite?" I waited for his nod. "Aggie, the first witch, my first ancestor, she called me back to her time. She told me the answer to what I sought was at Chengzhou, and to ask Shin-Zan about it."

Val stared at me for a long moment, clearly puzzled. "She...spoke to you?"

"Pulled my consciousness back to the good ol' hunter-gatherer days."

"My god! To my knowledge no other queen has ever visited with her! It has never been allowed, the most powerful ward prevents us from going back that far."

I couldn't help but blush, and think on an old Japanese saying: the nail that sticks out the most is hammered the hardest. Most people assumed it enforced conformity, but what I had always assumed it meant was that being special was never going to be a good time. "Shit."

"It's amazing! We have to tell the council, you need to recall every-"

"Val," I said firmly, "Later. For now give me some good groundwork of understanding our world."

He sat back, still dazed and excited. "You want to know about the balance of magic then. It's better I start at the beginning."

"Oh goodie, story time," Pierre whispered in my ear and I stifled a giggle.

"From the records we know that it was roughly twelve thousand years ago somehow, the magic in the world came into contact with wandering humans. There is a place where magic began, the place modern religions believe humans began, the place in the middle east where a war of minds still rages to lay claim.

"Once it was a lush oasis, one that beckoned a tribe from modern Europe long lost from home, escaping a famine. The stories of that time are now merely legend, there are no facts here, only beliefs of a thousand colors woven together to form the tapestry we now teach our children."

"You know Val, you could have been a poet."

He half smiled. "I published three volumes in the eighteenth century alone. Now, the magic was wild and free then, almost a living thing, and it was most curious about the humans. It chose two, twins. The boy was dark of coloring, mischievous as a child, for parsimony let us just call him the classic bad-boy as a man. The girl was fair, all dreams and hopes and cheer, and that sweet sunshine, our...Aggie.

"They were consumed with their new powers, it was too much. The twins were forced apart, the tribe split into two, and he wandered east, she wandered west. Still, the magic filled them overmuch, and soon they knew they had to share it.

"Our first queen devised a series of tests, the same kinds of tests we now each face. She tested their ability to know their place in the world, their ability to understand the world and magic at large, and the ability to control their appetites and let love rule. Ten women of her tribe passed the tests, and beneath the burning sun at midday, she gave them equal shares of her magic, her own remained at thrice what they held.

"Light magic found balance, and in balance there is strength. Legga, also known as Lee, the first king, felt this. IN a dream he knew what our great queen had done and so he sought to find his own heirs. He chose poorly, at random, a total of fifteen of his favorites. 

"They were weak, so dark magic was weak, unbalanced. But dark thrives on chaos and disorder, and it flourished despite this. Our queen decreed that the first child born of her ten would be the next in line. If it was a boy, then for all future generations the heir would be male, the same for female. Balance and order, eleven lines, and this would continue for a thousand years.

"Dark was different. It was the strongest child of each sorcerer who inherited the magic, but at the first new generation yielded only ten. Dark found balance and peace reigned between both sides for a millennia. They did not mingle but traveled, explored the world, learned of their powers.

"At first witches sought to protect humans, but that is a fool's folly if ever there was one. So the witches turned away from humans and sought other magical creatures. There really were none, so Aggie combined her beloved wolves and humans and made werewolves. She called only men and women who volunteered, who passed their own tests.

"Aligned to us, our magic grew, and the eleven lines had to split into thirty to handle the load. Magic became horrible imbalanced. Aggie made a grievous error and decided that her brother would simply know and understand and do the same.

"The increase in light magic called the magic of night, of things dark to the king. He responded by making his ten lines more powerful, and himself. He knew less of the nature of magic, given to more sensual pleasures. There is nothing wrong with that...on paper. Sometimes humans find their own magic and all too often it is with blood, sex, death, the things night rules over. Love, earth, and the places in between are our magic, and because we are more tied to the earth we understand it better.

"Lee's mistake was not understanding why magic was still unbalanced. He could have consulted his sister, divined what had happened, but instead he learned she now commanded thirty lines, and a war began.

"Both sides believed it was over balance. That has been the only time it was about balance, Anna, make no mistake. For nearly seventeen hundred years they fought, many died. Witches were called and tested at unseemly ages, our tests were greatly modified, of course," Val added eyeing the way Pierre and I held hands.

"Peace came only when Aggie was killed by her own brother. Sheer terror that all magic would end was a pall cast upon all, and the great fraternity of all magic bearers began. It was her descended, living in what is today France, that became the next queen. It was Lee himself who found her, and he molded her in his image, making her his puppet.

"In peace time he too made his creatures, vampires and dragons. Peace began and it lasted until Chengzhou. With new queens it became a cold war more than a peace, but it was a peaceful time. Each side grew to one hundred lines, then five hundred, and we scattered.

"Then the wolves killed the vampires and once more we worked together to bind the loosened magic. Kit was an arduous process, lasting nearly one hundred years, but it worked. However, territory became an issue with so many wandering souls. That was what caused the second war. 

"Another chill to the war came just six hundred years ago, when we had to band together and allow dragons to harness magic in order to travel time. They alone can go back far enough they can fly free and unnoticed. 

"By the time Sigrid came along another war had begun over population. Witches numbered twenty-five hundred lines and sorcerers almost three thousand. Pierre here and I both know all the details of that, but all that is pertinent is that it ended by just seventeen fifty-seven and both sides of magic stand at twelve hundred strong, give or take as many as seven lines as long as it can be corrected by the next generation.

"What we have now is animosity. With such a long absence of a queen Malachai grows more powerful. Not in magic but in human holdings, land, money, stature. In short, sorcerers are much better at fitting in with our surroundings. Malachai has been smart enough to tie their holdings up under one umbrella corporation, publicly traded, guarded by fine human and sorcerer minds as well as magic.

"We no longer openly kill one another, but they do so delight in needling us. However all such intrigues have been put aside now that we know the timeline has been altered and we are to work together to divine why."

It sure sounded like all our little "wars" were about balance. Perhaps Leanne the sorcerer was right after all. I wasn't sure how much it helped the puzzle of time, but at least I had gotten the Cliffs Notes of our history. It only served to be a scant frame around the giant canvas I still knew nothing of.

"I don't know," I said with a sigh, leaning back on the couch. "It just seems to me Chengzhou was a turning point. For many reasons, I am beginning to think it shaped our world in hidden ways."

Valerius thought for a long moment. The bedroom door opened behind him and his wolf Anna popped out offering us smiles. "Sorry to listen in, can't help it, wolf hearing. My love, what about The Book of Shadows?"

"Come again?" I asked them both.

"How do you even know about it? It's in the Council's private library."

Anna sat on the arm of his chair and kissed his forehead. "You talk in your sleep, darling. Tell her about it."

Val blushed at her comment, but then covered it by clearing his throat and sitting up straighter. The Roman general was back, even if he wore a novelty shirt. "There is a book written in only by queens, read only by queens. The council holds it secret until a new queen is ready for it. 

"You alone of all the witches can divine prophecy. Each queen does, and what you see of the possible lines of fate is recorded. If Chengzhou did indeed impact the future, it is possible a former queen forsaw. My Anna is right, and I should have thought of it."

"You were too busy geeking out over Aggie!" a voice called from the bedroom and then Io's head popped into the doorway, all smiles. "Hey all."

I waved and Pierre smiled.

Val sighed and with a wave of magic a large book appeared in his hand. It was thick leather filled with pages that seemed odd. When he handed it over I felt it weighed nearly forty pounds despite being the size of a common Webster's Dictionary. Inside the first pages were thin chiseled stone, animal skins, what I recognized as vellum, then finally papers of all kinds. 

"Jesus."

"It predates that story by many millennia. I would suggest you work backwards from Quinlain, the second queen after Chengzhou. But be forewarned the most powerful of queen could see far into the future. You may read things you do not want, terrible things yet to come. Perhaps your own death."

"Gee, gramps, ever think of working as a book crfitic?"

"Be careful, Anna. Now, may I tell the others about your trip back to the beginning?"

"Sure thing, saves me some time."

"You need to do some reading, but I would suggest you meet privately with the council before dinner."

"Sure, where?"

"Shin-Zan's rooms. He has no wolves, ergo he has more room."

"Sounds like a plan." Val and I nodded to each other and then both moved to pop out by magic.

I zapped Pierre and I back to our rooms. Valerius had made it back but Andre was still out exploring, and Julian sat at a computer looking nearly cross-eyed with boredom. "Finally! A reasonable distraction. Please tell me you want snacks ordered ujp, a good brunch, something I have to assemble."

I walked to him and kissed him softly. "Sounds great." I dumped the book on the dining table Andre had commandeered as a desk.

"What's that?"

"Book of Doom. What are you working on?"

"Almost every queen had several children, multiple human lines. Andre has me locating them all. He got a list of the sorcerers picked off, many of them pretty damn old. He's working on their lines but he's not as patient as I am, hence wandering in a Swiss winter."

"Pierre, what would you like to eat?" I asked and flopped on the couch, eyeing the book warily. Something about it terrified me and I wasn't ready to open it.

"I'm thinking bacon. Lots of it, and seafood crepes. A little taste of home."

Julian smiled. "Anna, hungry at all?"

I wasn't, but I wanted something to do while they ate. "Just coffee, lots of it, and maybe a Danish."

"It's Vienna Bread in this part of the world, love," Julian said with a smile. He reached over and picked up the room phone then set to ordering.

Pierre sat with me on the couch and pulled me into his arms. While Julian meticulously directed the cooks like only a Frenchman could, Pierre kissed my hair. "It's going to be okay, Anna."

I thought of that baby and its coloring, and guilt filled me. "Is it?"

"What you did you had good reason. Without you, perhaps the vampires would have lived, the world would be completely different."

"But better or worse?"

"You may only know by reading that book."

"I don't know, Pierre. What if it tells me something horrible, like the world ends in three years? Or worse, the Cubs win a world series."

He laughed at that, but for once his eyes were serious. "You're scared, I can tell. But you have to read it, you have to know. And we will be here for you every step of the way."

"All right, food will be here in half an hour. Looks like you need a distraction," Julian said with a smile.

"Uh-"

Pierre turned me into his kiss cutting off my words, and slick as a cat after a treat Julian's long-fingered hands stole under my shirt to tease my nipples through my bra. This was an infinitely better choice than reading the terrifying book or contemplating time.

They made it easy, although we moved faster than usual in deference to time. I don't know what I had expected, but we tangled on the couch, hot, sliding kisses, desperate hands driving us into careless sighs. Once more Julian slid into my ass with the aid of magic, stilling as Pierre took my pussy, and then it was pure, mindless madness. We finished just as the knock came and only my magic had us clothed in time.

The men seemed to have no shame, but I was still human enough to have plenty.

As the carts were wheeled in, I discovered my appetite had grown and stole a piece of bacon. "Where's Jerry and Liv?"

"Andre has them around," Julian replied. We thanked the wolves, Julian signed the bill, and when the door closed he gave a small smile. "They're snooping. Liv is following the female sorcerer and one of the other advisors, and Jerry is watching Malachai." 

"Why don't we have anyone on our council?" I asked and both men froze, laden forks hanging in midair. 

"Why?" Pierre asked. "They tell us all they know."

"No, they don't," Julian said. "Pierre, would you mind taking over computer work this afternoon? I think I might want to check in with Marcus for a friendly chat."

My spy had understood. I smiled and we continued to eat, though I kept to a strip of bacon and a sweet cheese Danish with two cups of coffee. I brought Julian up to date and just as I finished Andre returned and Pierre volunteered to tell the story again. 

Andre kissed me and joined us, and I watched each wolf put away four crepes, ten pancakes dripping with butter and syrup, and more bacon than I could count. It wasn't much longer until we'd have lunch, and I knew werewolves needed at least four times as much food as humans, but I was still floored.

"Cripes, there's not even a crumb left," I said when they finished.

"Yes there is." Pierre grinned and picked up a piece of the frosting lattice that had fallen off my Danish, and popped it into his mouth.

"You're going to read the book, right, Anna?" Andre asked knowingly.

"Soon. I want to talk to the council, find out a bit more." I couldn't meet his eyes. Magic or plain heldover human intuition, I knew something in that book would terrify me, change everything. I wasn't strong enough to face it yet. My future self had told me I had to not only solve the puzzle but build it. It felt too much like that book was one big, bad cheat.

"We should get going. The council is expecting us." I rose and so did the men. At least chivalry made them fast to act.

Diego popped his head up from his nap. "You too, boy," I said. "All right guys, first we gotta make a bathroom stop for him."

It was uneventful but Diego didn't want to come in, too happy with the novelty of a warmth bubble and fluffy snow to romp in. I took the bubble away and finally he came in, tracking snow into the hotel.

We made it to Shin-Zan's rooms and found the crowd waiting.

Val was there in his blue Hawaiian shirt with his real wolf and three lovely werewolves, Shin-Zan wore his old-fashioned clothes but on his shoulder perched a yellow parrot of some kind, likely his familiar. Marcus was dressed a century behind the times, sitting quietly at the table with two female wolves, both brunettes, who had the exact same ram-rod straight posture and keenly focused gaze. Sitting on the table with him was a ferret on a leash, his familiar warily eyeing the two canids who sniffed one another.

"Looks like Diego and Remus are getting along well," Val said by way of greeting.

"It seems. Is that a parrot?" I asked, nodding to Shin-Zan's bird.

"Yellow mapped Amazon, annoying as hell," Val said.

The bird looked his way, cocked his head, squawked, and said "fuck you!" in a shaky high-pitched voice.

"He thinks the cursing is funny."

Maercus stood them, gathering his familiar into his arms. "Wolves, we ask you remain here, the council and queen must meet privately."

Andre gave Marcus a hard look but he nodded as did the two other alphas.

"Hey, won't it be tough to have two alphas together so long?" I asked everyone and no one in particular.

Andre smiled and leaned down to whisper in me ear, "When we all have our own packs and no claimed territory, it's easy."




A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 17



God, I still felt sometimes like I was in that dream where I showed up naked to chemistry class, thinking it was my first day, but the final was just about to end. I followed the three men into Shin-Zan's bedroom and we brought our familiars in tow. I couldn't say why I thought to bring mine, but it had been knowledge in my very bones, unrealized until needed.

They were so different. Valerius was four inches over my own height, wore his curling black hair shaggy, looked to the world like a spoiled twenty-five year old playboy who liked to surf. Marcus was closer to my height, stockier, his own black hair barely long enough to be queued back. He was deeply tanned, but the effect managed to be more Marlboro Man than George Hamilton. If I saw him on the street I would have pegged him at thirty-eight, a good choice. Men at that age seemed to have fully and comfortably settled into their manhood.

Valerius and I looked the same age, Marcus could have been an older brother, but Shin-Zan appeared ancient but vital. The long silver beard and longer whitened hair suited him, and he appeared to be a Chinese version of a wizard. If he was an actor I was positive Quentin Tarantino would have cast him in some oldfather role.

Shin-Zan's bed was only sat double and he had a couch and two chairs in the room as well, no vanity such as I had. The men let me choose my seat and took the chair by the window, opening the curtain so Diego could look outside if he chose. He settled to sit by my side and Valerius took the other chair, Remus attempting to draw Diego into a wrestling match but we soothed them.

The other men took the couch and Marcus's ferret eyed the bird, likely familiar, and settled into his master's lap. Shin-Zan took something from his breast pocket and fed his familiar, cooing to the bird in a way that reminded me of the old men who fed pigeons on benches down by Lake Michigan.

When he finished he looked up at me. "Valerius has told us that the first queen summoned you. You spoke to her."

"More listened. She was cryptic as hell."

"What did she tell you?"

"She told me to ask you about Chengzhou."

"Anything else?" Marcus asked.

"That was the gist of it."

They shared concerned glances and I reached down to ruffle my dog's fur, happy for the spark of magical energy that flowed between us. He licked my fingers and then settled to lay down, Remus copying him with a slight growl.

Shin-Zan stroked his beard slowly as he thought, glancing at Valerius. "It is my belief that you did travel back to Chengzhou because that act, in some way, granted you the child you saw in the near future."

"I seriously doubt that. Guys, if I have a child at all it will be with someone here, and now, and through in vitro fertilization. I have no intention of, pardon my French, fucking anybody but my three wolves."

"Five," Marcus said coolly. "You have five now."

Ah, yes. So many lies made keeping track of them all difficult. "Five, indeed. I have only had Jerry and Liv for such a short time, our feelings are not quite what my original pack and I have...yet."

"It makes sense," Val said with an equally chill tone and a silent reprimand in his eyes for Marcus. "Magic is weakening. Perhaps if your child is sired by a witch of the past, her magic will be strong, strong enough to replenish ours."

"I highly doubt that," I said slowly with caution. I really didn't want to tell my three ancient advisors, the congress to my presidential role, that I was pretty sure somehow my kid had DNA from our historical enemy. 

"It makes sense," Shin-Zan said softly. "This could be all about restoring our magic."

"How!?" That couldn't be it, the puzzle couldn't be that simple. "Look, someone has killed a lot of witch queens and a lot of high-ranking sorcerers. That has been weakening magic!" The thought occurred to me the instant it left my lips, another puzzle piece beginning to form. I sat forward, excitement filling me. "You said it yourselves, a child sired by a witch of old would be more powerful, ergo the witches and sorcerers of old were more powerful. As such, that is why the killer or killers are doing this! He, she, it, they, whoever, they're weakening magic!"

Val's eyes widened for a split second. "Well, at least that means you're not the killer. As queen your second greatest responsibility is to keep our magic strong."

"Lord, I hope you're right. I have no intention of becoming a serial killer. So who benefits with weakened magic?"

That brought silence upon the room, broken only after a long moment when Shin-Zan's bird began to curse colorfully in Spanish. 

"Look, I know none of this makes sense. You three are the wisest among us. I ask now that you think long and hard on what happened to magic when the vampires died. Not what happened to us, but what happened to magic."

I rose over their protestations and stalked out, Diego at my heels. I couldn't escape the niggling feeling that since I was to be the one that helped kill all vampires, I had to be the murderer. The more my wolves and the council tried to reason it away, the more I panicked.

"Pardon me," I said to the assembled wolves and stepped into the bathroom, shutting Diego out.

Seconds later magic had brought me to Malachai.

"Sorry!" I turned around fighting a blush. I had popped into his bedroom without thinking, and he had just emerged from the bathroom, naked save a towel around his hips. Normally I could handle it, he was just beefcake on tops of heaps of it in my life, but I thought of our child, and a little voice whispered in my mind it doesn't have to be in vitro or magic, that could be yours only it couldn't. I was a queen, he a king, and no two sovereigns could own one another in this day and age. And neither side could fully conquer the other.

"You can turn around now, it's safe," he said, a smile in his deep voice.

I turned and he was dressed in another black suit, his grey shirt only making his eyes look more silver. His hair was dry and loose, hanging past his shoulders. Backed up a step, somehow like this he was almost more threatening to my senses. "I am sorry, but I need to speak with you."

"More politics?"

"It's always politics," I said as I realized it. "Due to who and what we are, it will always be political."

"That's tiresome. It would be nice to discuss philosophy with someone who doesn't feel the need to kowtow to my opinion."

"Who exactly were the sorcerers that have been killed in the last twelve centuries?"

"Of those whose murders cannot be solved, whose deaths are warded by some mysterious power, all come from two lines. The two oldest besides mine."

"No kings?"

"I have been king for more centuries than that. No one tried, even when I had a living child. My human descendants have died out, no one would dare try to take my life now."

"Two lines of sorcerers, one line of witches."

"I see you've been speaking to Leeann," Malachai sighed and sat on the bed. "She believes that since, when one considers the timing, that the value, the magic of those two lines was as much as yours has been driving her mad. I have tasked her with calculating if those lines have suffered a greater loss of magic than all of the sorcerers."

I was really starting to like Leeann. 

"Malachai, if you know you had to, for the greater good, could you kill a thousand innocent people?"

He motioned to a chair and I sat nervously. "Innocent does not apply to vampires. They were not innocent or guilty, they just simply were. Those who had grown to adulthood, become true blood drinkers, yes, some did not want the humans to know of them, some did not drink of others of magic, but how did we know? How could we guarantee that the good ones, if spared, would go on to make more and ensure they too were good?" He stood and walked over to me, kneeling by my chair.

"Anna, I see no viciousness in you, only duty and passion. You are a good queen, trust that the way you clearly doubt those words proves you are a good queen. A fool would never question themselves."

Oh, he was close. Damn his hide, he wore cologne that had the faint whiff of chocolate, underscoring the tang of his magic. I shrank back into the chair, terribly uncertain, trying desperately to forget the vision of the future. "Y-you don't really know me."

"I know you better than you think." That was his only warning and he descended. His hands stayed on the arm of the chair, mine too, and it was only our lips that touched.

I could have pulled away, I should have pulled away. But Malachai was, for lack of a better term, the prototypical "bad boy" which was to the female what catnip was to cats.

There was skill and mastery there, but a gentle exploration. Sneaky, seductive bastard that he was, he made it clear he was not forcing me, that he was coaxing but I was a willing participant.

I itched. I dug my nails into the fabric of the chair to keep from sliding my fingers through his hair. I forced my body to still to avoid pulling myself into his arms. But oh, was I tempted. My head swam, and I only knew I wanted more.

He broke first, smiling knowingly he remained close for long seconds as if daring me to initiate another. But something in my eyes made him pull back and he stood. I breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn't sporting an erection.

"What the hell was that?"

"Satisfying a mutual curiosity. While it is true much of my magic lay in sex and yours in love, we are creatures of both thanks to our beginnings as humans. Still, I sued no magic there. I wanted to see if what of us that is still human had chemistry."

I thought the top of my head was going to blow off. "Well, let's not do it again. Now tell me about the magic from Chengzhou, what happened when your people and mine came together to harness it."

"Ah, duty first, always duty first. I think that is how you differ from the other queens I have known. They were all delightful creatures in their own right, but I believe relying on the council made them feel the burden of your people was not their own. You don't agree." 

The way he said it made it impossible to tell if this was a compliment or insult, so I chose to take it as a compliment. "Flattery will get you nowhere. Please, answer my question."

"We lost much. The witches and sorcerers were spreads thin in those days, my palace and the queen's were as close to a central location as possible. We got there hours later, and we did what we could.

"I am sure you have been taught, but I am not certain, so forgive me if I come off patronizing, but to combine powers between any magic-bearers, you must join hands. Amongst the weakest of us, great spells you and I can do with a single thought take thirteen, sometimes twelve to do. That is why they often live close in such numbers, what humans would call a coven. At the time there were over one thousand of us, and not all came. Still, about three hundred of mine and nearly four hundred of yours came.

"We had to make circles around the village, concentric chains alternating with-sorcerer-witch. The queen and I did what we could to contain the magic while they formed. Our magic then was not compatible, and where our spells touched leaks formed. Day and night cannot exist at once without something else unnatural mediating, like a solar eclipse is the only way true day and night can mingle.

"We pulled in what we could, the circles caught it, fed it to we sovereigns, and she and I put it into our people, held what we could for those missing.

"Because of that light and dark mingled. Because of that you and I can work spells together, any witch and sorcerer may. We are more like twilight when we come together, sunrise and sunset when apart."

The tale he told was incredible, and having seen the village I tried to imagine all the magic bearers there, each attended by a familiar. Animals barking, squawking, braying, screeching, enemies holding hands while some of the greatest magic worked in millennia commenced. 

"Thank you, Malachai." I rose finally, my legs no longer shaking. "one last thing, and then I must go back in time to the fifteen minutes ago when I came here. You must speak of this discussion to no one right now, please."

"I swear." 

I felt no magic but believed him, and I had no idea why. "Could we have worked together, cornered the vampires, stripped the magic from them and spread it out."

"Anna, vampires, like werewolves and dragons, are magic. That would be like asking of we could strip organic material from humans and have them live. Humans are organic material. For whatever reason it is we needed that magic back, killing them was the only way."

I had no reply, just used magic to go flinging through the time tunnel again and emerged in Shin-Zan's bathroom.

I gripped the sink and stared at myself in the mirror. All thoughts of balancing light and dark versus mingling them fled as I contemplated the desire I felt for Malachai. How could I when I so deeply loved the three men in the next room?

I thought back to my time as a human, to one of the two men I had loved before. John had been like a dream at first. It was hard for anyone to date an epileptic, I knew, but he handled it with grace and humor. He didn't panic at my seizures, calmly laid me out and kept my tongue pressed down, and after he would hold me as the nausea roiled my stomach and the headache ruled me.

I thought he was the one, back then I had thought there was a one, and only one. I was twenty and stupid, just starting college late, coming off my short time at community college while on probation after serving a year in juvenile detention, released when I was eighteen.

I never told any of that to John, I had told him my parents were dead, an aunt had raised me and died when I was eighteen. We dated for almost two years, and when he finished grad school we had talked about marriage. Then the doctor had told me I would never have children. I had been relieved, John, horrified.

Soon after he pulled away, began running errands that took three hours, working random extra overtime. I went to a shrink, the school paid for it, all because like most women I had thought it was my fault. I could still remember her words.

"Be honest with him. You hide so much. Trust him. John can sense you don't trust him. Give him reason to invest in you, share yourself with him."

So I had. I'd cooked a nice meal, lit candles on the table for the first time in my life, and had waiting until ten p.m. for him to come home only to inform me he had eaten. So he drank while I ate, and he seemed nervous, gulping down the first glass, then the second. I ate quickly, and I told him everything.

Everything that had been done to me, everything I had done to survive. The crimes I had committed, the jail time I had served, the lies I lived now to hide it all. I told him exactly why I was glad I couldn't have children.

And, drunk, John had called me a freak, and told me he was in love with someone else, leaving me for her. It was only a week later when he came back for his stuff that he told me he hadn't made up his mind until I had revealed my "damage."

The lies, the betrayal, I had thought it would kill me. It took me years to work out that it was a just another lesson in how not to love, and I had sworn I would never do that to a lover. And I hadn't...until Max.

I could explain why I cheated on him with a thousand excuses, but the truth was I had been weak, tempted, and scared. Seeing the hurt he felt had made me feel like the biggest ass in the universe. Trying to make it up to him had only been worse, for, once more, when the story of my life came out, Max packed his bags and left.

If I made the same mistake again I would hurt three men just as badly. Three men who were my slaves in the eyes of our society's laws, three men who couldn't leave me. But they could hate me. They could be bound to me for eternity and hate me. But they could never hate me more than myself.

I had been a student of history, but the roommate I shared an apartment with, Connor, had been a psych major. He now had a private practice in Minneapolis. He had a girlfriend back home in Podunk, Idaho, or wherever he was from, but he constantly brought girls back to our place.

Each morning he had cowered in the bathroom, leaving it to me to make them coffee to go and giving them the "it's not you, it's him," speech. As soon as I locked the door behind them he would emerge, raise his nose, and tell me "Any good relationship councilor will tell you, confessing to an affair is just to alleviate your own guilt, it's better to not burden your partner with drama. That being said, you won't say anything when Sherri comes up this weekend, right?"

He'd been an asshole, but he paid his rent on time and never quibbled over bills or stole food, nor did he complain when John moved in, and again no complaint when the fights began.

Connor was your typical sociopath, charming and glib, and incapable of giving a shit unless it concerned his own person or ego. 

It seemed I had two choices: repeat my past mistake with Max, or become like Connor. And if I became a sociopath, why not just go off and slaughter children?

I thought of the journal I'd read, and the smell of the slaughter. Moral decisions paled into the background as I ran for the toilet as brunch came up.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 17



"I see you have been talking to Leanne."

"Who hasn't?" I asked rhetorically. If everyone knew her theories, why didn't they listen?

"You do not ask the right question, little queen."

Only a man who was easily six-eight could call me little. Magic sure made a lot of tall people which was skewing my view of how I fit in. "Please, can the 'I'm an ancient and mysterious god' thing and just tell me what you mean."

"Leeann is wrong too. You see, before the vampires died there was light magic and dark, two sides of the coin. Never could they meet, though they existed together and had to. Always were they in balance until the vampires learned how to turn other humans."

"What!?" No one had told me this!

"You will find no record of this, but it was I who saw it, it was I who told the wolves."

"You brought about Chengzhou?"

"Not directly. Indirectly, yes. I started the war between our friend the wolves and our enemies the vampires. But even I did not foresee the final slaughter. It matters not. If the witches or sorcerers had believed me, we would have been doing the slaughtering. 

"Now, after we took the magic there was a change."

"A change?" Pierre and I asked in unison.

"You see-" He stopped suddenly, a strange look coming upon his face. "I must go. I will return, but I must go." With that he was gone.

"What the hell!?" I asked Pierre.

"He does that," my lover sighed. "He's no longer a god, but once a god, forever in that mindset. He was never technically a god...I don't think, but he has people he feels he should protect. It's likely he has a village under his protection and they were being harmed, so he has gone back to help them."

"Dude...time travel."

Pierre shook his head. "Horus has never told me why, but there was some incident, long ago. I believe he went back to save his beloved Egypt. Something happened, and ever since, Horus refuses to travel through time."

"Why?"

Pierre shrugged. "If I had to guess he loved a queen, the last queen, the Cleopatra humans obsess over. I think he tried to stop her death, personally I think he tried over and over again, but never could. He once said to me that the earth still has magic, greater than our own, and there were certain things no light or dark magic could change."

The history writer in me wanted to track Horus down and hear ever salacious detail, but I knew I couldn't. "When will he return."

"Whenever he is able to. He always keeps his word."

"All right, let's go back for cake." I took his arm and we walked back to the restaurant. "Seems anti-climactic after meeting the first real god humans ever worshipped."

Pierre smiled. "You'll get used to it after about two hundred years."





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 18



©Nora Quick 2014





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 18



"It won't happen! I swear to it, Andre. Look, there will be a meeting, all us witches, the sorcerers, everyone. We will discuss it. If everyone is against the idea but me and the dragons, then I won't do it."

"You can't." He finally turned back to me. "You cannot take such foolish risks. Anna, did you not hear me before? I love you. I have loved before, but it was not like this. I have only just found you, a light in a night sky of nearly a thousand years of darkness. I won't lose you."

"You won't."

"Don't lie to me or yourself, Anna. I saw your face last night. I know your thoughts. You want to die. You want to kill yourself, even if it is a future self. You would be willing to die to stop from becoming the woman you fear."

He was right, and it hurt. But damn it all, if there was any way I could live, fix the world of magic, and not be a monster, I would grab it with both hands. But I had to know how to find it. And so I had to know what would be lost if the vampires lived.

I let Andre hold me, craving this feeling more than the others. No more talk of my past or the future, we clung to each other and the present. And damn me, I lied to them. 

It didn't matter how the congregation of freaks voted. I was going to kill my future self and split reality in two.







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 18



I blushed, remembering dragons had similar senses to a wolf's. "We're just here to rest until Francine comes back. Then you'll have you turn to fly free, we make a couple more stops, and we're done."

"I don't know. Remember how good it was before love came? When it was all animalistic heat?"

If anyone had been animalistic with my pack, it had been me. The men I knew had lived centuries as slaves, had a yearning deep inside them that made them skirt the system but look for any weakness to exploit. They were good, honest men, and these brothers were not that same. In this world they were never slaves. Who knew what they would be like?

"Not really," I simply offered and sipped the bland ale.

"And here, should I know you to be safe, I can do what perhaps Francine is doing, and take a male dragon for my lover. You have no idea the ecstasy of making love in flight, soaring above the earth-" 

"Ladies," Julian said, cutting her off.

Next to me Andre slid onto the bench, across from him Pierre did., Julian bore four trenchers and set them down with a smile. "Mistress witch and lady dragon, may I present to you my brothers, Pierre, and Andre, protector of the town. Gentlemen, this is Anna and Nadine."

"Um, nice to meet you. And thanks for the food," I managed.

"On the house," Julian said and scurried away as a large party of brawny wolves came in through the door.

"What brings such a high, and beautiful, witch to our fair hamlet?" Andre asked in his baritone rumble.

"Just passing through. We are meeting a friend here."

Pierre smiled and moved closer to Nadine. "And who is this friend?"

Nadine shoved him back. "My sister. And I've had wolf, never developed a taste for it. Try her."

"Some bodyguard you are," I said in English, and Andre smiled, but Pierre did not.

"And where do you hail from?" Andre tried.

I picked up my spoon, not a fork in sight, and tried the stew. It was heavenly, as were all Julian's meals, but lighter on spices. Hell, by my calculations the world had progressed to only the fifteenth century, despite being the twenty-first.

Crap...an entire race enslaved versus a world without penicillin. 

"America," I said and was met with blank looks.

"The New World?" Nadine tried.

"Ah, a wild place," Pierre said, a sparkle in his eye as if he daydreamed of adventure.

"Why should it matter?" I asked Andre.

He leaned in close, and I caught Andre's natural scent covered by something foreign and pure, like mountain air. Familiar and foreign combined in the most arousing manner and I could tell he noticed. 

"I am Alpha here, this is my town. All who come and go are my business. And any witch who deigns to rub elbows with wolves is solely my business."

"What? Our...species don't spend time together here?"

"The New World must be very different," Pierre quipped.

"You can say that again," Nadine drawled, clearly interested in the show but taking her responsibility seriously. 

"In the civilized world, of course not. Your kind are the makers of mine. No witch would be seen with any 'mongrel' unless we were needed for some shit duty."

Eep. "Where I come from it's completely different."

"I hear the New World is crawling with humans, one of the last holdout on both the south and north continent." Pierre polished off his food and set his empty plate atop Nadine's.

"Yes," I hedged, knowing the building I had purchased still existed, but I had seen nothing else of the city. Perhaps it existed, perhaps it didn't, and it the building had vanished as we left. Magic was still such an uncertain entity to me.

"So you have known wolves before?" Andre drawled, trailing a finger along my arm.

I had never seen him like this. The emanating power was the same, but the aloof control was gone. The rigidity was missing. All that was left was a cocky playfulness so different than the childlike wonderings I was used to.

"Er-"

"Are you the type who so enjoy humiliating one of your makers?" Nadine asked, beautiful dark eyes narrowed.

Andre laughed. "Never humiliate."

Pierre's smile sparkled. "But making one scream in pleasure, controlling her body, hearing her beg for the boon only we can grant?"

"Always," Andre said.

Damn it but that shot arousal through me. This was truly dark temptation, they could teach Malachai and any sorcerer a thing or two.

"All three of you," I said, knowing that damn line had appeared between my brows.

"Anna?" Nadine questioned.

"Kinky," Andre laughed.

"And perfect."

"Pierre, get them two rooms, the ones up top that connect. Will that be close enough for you to guard your lady's body?" Andre turned to Nadine.

"Ugh. I'm going to need some wine."

"Finish your meal and follow my brother upstairs to your room. Julian and I will join you when our daily business is concluded." With that Andre left abruptly, his meal untouched.

Pierre pulled it over, spilled half into the empty trencher and split it thoughtfully with Nadine.

"Well, there's that aloofness."

Pierre raised an eyebrow but when I didn't reply finished the food and stood. "I'll go make arrangements, and the food tonight, the wine we'll send up, and the morning meal will be billed together tomorrow."

I watched him go, wondering at this. "Why am I doing this?"

"Because, if you'll pardon the expression, you're only human...so to speak. None of us are free of our baser urges. You need to know if this world is the better or ours. Sometimes such heavy decisions cannot be made trying to see all the forest, merely the trees you planted."

"Come again?"

She sighed. "Fuck them. Talk to them. Learn what you can about them. When we go back we will have a chance to truly create this world. Think of them when the time comes, both sets of men."

It seemed a most callous parsimony. Shaking it of, I remembered our conversation before the men arrived at our table. "You mentioned two things from that king's dream. Two major differences."

"Cultural retardation."

"No forks, no buttons on clothes, gas lamps...I'd say that king's dream may have been a vision of this."

"Well damn. You're not gonna like the second oddity."

"Lay it on me."

She shifted uncomfortably. "Here wolves are not slaves, neither are dragons, not even vampires. But witches and sorcerers still need slave labor. Here the humans who wander too far from their hidden villages are snatched up. In this world, all humans are slaves."



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 19







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 19



He merely unbuttoned my jeans and slid his hand inside, a thick fingers teasing my clit before sliding inside me. The heel of his hand now rubbed my clit as he massaged. His other hand lifted my sweater and his auburn crowned head dipped to lick teasingly at my nipple.

I clung to his shoulders, rubbing myself against his glorious erection, his hand caught between us grinding into me. Quickly I built and came calling his name, shivering and sweating and floating all at once.

After he quickly righted my clothes and helped me to my feet.

"Why?"

"Because knowing I have some power over you is the largest thrill of my life. But now we must discuss this with the others before we approach the others."

I tried not to pout but he was right. Above all else I wanted more sleep, but another zap of magic righted me. Jet lag had nothing on time travel.

The pack was eating again, pizza this time, strangely familiar and American for a Swiss hotel. I saw Diego munching on two slices of sausage, tail going so fast he could have taken flight. "Well, I read all the insanity," I greeted the room.

The TV shut off and Julian offered me a plate. I took it and bite into sausage and green olives, delicious. He brought me a glass of Pepsi and Pierre pulled over a chair. "Thank you, my loves." I kissed each in turn and sat.

"So I read it all but I had to make notes to make sense of it. I am frankly exhausted and even using magic to keep me awake isn't helping. So, Andre, would you do the honors?"

"I would be pleased."

The others stretched up to fill the couches and chairs, although Pierre had to drag over a dining chair for Andre.

"I should note, as our dear Anna wrote at the top, most of the prophecies have not come true. Indeed most queens have read them and worked to change the situation, so the future is not written in stone. When I reach the end, you will understand."

He was taking my discovery better than I hoped, but I looked at Julian and Pierre wondering. Of course, he must truly believe the future could be changed. That was the one lie in my notes. From what sense I had made, two prophecies blended into one often. One showed the world as it could be if no action was taken, the other showed what would happen for sure.

These prophecies were woven together, sometimes at the same time, and divining the real pattern had taken work. What I found what married my current life with that I had seen traveling to the future, dismay took hold but certainty was in its place now.

I had to do this. Just what it meant, I couldn't say.

"Anna has discovered that magic had to be weakened. According to prophecy weakening both sides is all that could bring about unification. One magic, gray, and one leader."

This was thunderous enough news they all stared at me, assuming it meant Malachai and I must fight to the death. I ignored them and bid Andre to go on.

"However, the magic that has been lost is free, and it must be recaptured. And once recaptured it will seek a body. The sole ruler of magic."

Julian leaned over and grabbed my arm, but which of us needed support was unclear.

Andre finally showed emotion, and it was anger, making his hazel eyes glitter. Though he summarized my words well, he held my eyes as he next spoke. "And this child will be heir to both sides of magic, the child of a king and queen."

"My god!" Pierre said.

Liv sighed and gave me a look of sympathy, shifting on Jerry's lap.

Jerry was the first to speak after the pronouncement. "It makes sense. The key to closing this is a child who can control all of magic. Your child, Anna, and that of Malachai."

I turned to my wolves and the look of fear in their eyes reflected my heart. But the prophecy was true. I had seen what would become of us all if I did not have this child.

Andre cleared his throat. "If this child is not born, magic dies. All of it. Every last wolf and dragon will perish, witches and sorcerers will turn to dust, and magic will run wild over the humans.

"So that is what we need to discuss," Andre pronounced, setting my notes aside. "Before we approach any of the others-"

"You, my lovers and friends," I interrupted. "Must decide if you can live with infidelity and another man's child or..."

Pierre looked sadly at me. "Or the world ends."

I hated my new life.







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 19



"What the hell does that mean?" I asked, pulling free from his grasp as I heard Andre's voice arguing with Nadine.

"It means that if we have this child it may become the sovereign ruler of all magic, white, black, grey or polka-dot. We could both retire, if we chose, let our child rule. Raise this child to want to rule, and to do so well. But we must make the choice and commit to hard work first."

"Anna!" Andre called, banging on the study door. Near him I heard Nadine and Pierre arguing.

"Just a minute! Comparing prophecies!" I called. Turning back I finally looked Malachai in the eye, trying to ignore what had just passed between us, real or not, and focus on the moment. "Malachai, what do you mean, 'the mother is the decision'?"

"What it means is there will be two votes, one for retirement, one against, and you must be the deciding vote."

"Wait, but it's just you and me making this child, if we even do."

"No, we are not enough."

I folded my arms as the doorknob began rattling and more shouts rang out. It sounded like the dragons and wolves were fighting over who would get to strangle me and Malachai. 

"What? Do you mean we can do this with in vitro, but magic? We just need someone else?"

"Magic yes, science no. A child of magic must be made the old fashioned way, Anna, but there will be another. Your child must have two fathers."

"That's impossible!"

"Not with magic. And the other father who will desire to reign, will be the first blended child born, the bridge between your light and my dark."

As the door burst open I was too shocked to censor myself. "You mean you, and I, and Kenneth?"

Malachai nodded.

Looking at my lovers and Malachai's standing there looking all as shocked as I felt I took the coward's way out and fainted, dead away.



A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 20







A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 20



"You're min a strange mood."

"I want to ride you." Sure I was in a strange mood, nothing on my life made sense, so why should I?

He lifted me from the table and took my place, erection bobbing eagerly as he held out his hand. "Quickies are fine and good, my love, but you owe me, sweetheart."

I knelt astride him, feeling my pussy ache and flow at the sight of his long cock. "Owe you?"

"Three hours of bedroom calisthen-ICS!" He finished on a shout as I sank down.

After that I couldn't speak, and neither could he. We joined hands and I rode him fast and hard. I was desperate for an orgasm suddenly. The closer I got the further my mind floated from my body and my worries receded. There was only his cock spearing me deep, fitting to the end of me, his hard body beneath mine, and the sound of our panting breaths.

Then he was coming, swelling, locking us together, and those beautiful artist's fingers curled around a breast, squeezing my nipple, and stroked my clit. I came like a rocket, squeezing him between my thighs, my body wanting to move but he felt so good, so deep, so hard, spurting into me.

I screamed and he pressed on. Three, maybe four climaxes came one after the other. I couldn't count and by the time he let me collapse on him I couldn't say my name. Julian laughed at me but when he cupped the back of my head and locked our lips together he moaned first.

"I think," he panted out when we parted, "I was just ravished."

"Well, I have enough Viking in my bloodline that's pretty nice."

He laughed with me and I used magic to clean us both, and get us dressed. Rudely I wanted a cigarette, but I remembered to ask him before lighting up. Julian merely nodded and raised a blonde brow, smoothing his long bangs back.

"Anna, it's going to be all right."

"Is it?" I conjured up an ashtray and cast another spell to not stink up the spa. 

He leaned back against the wall and folded his arms. "Just be open and honest with us. Loving you is as new to us as loving us is to you."

I folded my legs under me, occupying the leather recliner in the corner I assumed was for consultations. "Yeah, but you loved a queen before. Sigrid." 

After a long moment Julian's eyes found mine. "She was nothing like you."

I couldn't help but bristle. Funny how after everything that had happened, all that I had become, I was still insecure deep down inside. 

"Anna, Sigrid knew all her life she would be queen. She hungered for it. Power was everything in those days.

"By the time we came to her for the test, she had buried six children. She had fought in battles, repelling invaders, killing sixteen. She traded in slaves after her first husband died. When we came and she passed her test and ascended, she killed her second.

"I did love her, yes, in my own way, but Sigrid was a hard woman. She had been cut like stone and unable to see the world outside her quarry. She was not smart, she was not sweet. She was passionate and volatile.

"You are her descendant and there is passion to you, Anna, so much. It is the volatility that scares us. Sigrid was doomed from the moment she was born. We knew she would not be a great queen, nor rule long. In fact the only remarkable thing about her reign was how long it has been since... since you came along."

In his story he had been far away, but now his eyes came back to me, to the present. "Before, with that long ago queen, we knew it wouldn't last. And we prepared for that. We knew what freedom we might find. But now, with you...Anna, I don't want to be without you."

With magic I made the cigarette, smoke, and ashtray disappear and rose. He watched me, guarded, and at long last I finally got it. "Julian, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Here I've been going about like a bull after a red flag and I didn't get it. I get it now."

"Do you?"

I stopped in front of him and brought my hands up to his arms. "If I die, everything I've dreamed of, all the things I've taken the first few steps toward reverts. You and your brothers will be left alone, handed over again to Alessandra, and the backlash against my motions will enslave wolves deeper. You have more to fear than a broken heart."

"I have fared the best in captivity, but it has been anything other than pleasant. Pierre... Andre... they would not survive it."

I pulled him to me and held him. Ridiculous as it was with how much taller he was, I still felt like I had to comfort him. Now I knew the panic they felt. And once more, I felt like a child in the emperor's robes. In just hours I would have to kill in the name of what was right, soon I would conceive a child in the same band of honor.

But for now the calm before the storm did not belong to me and my childish reticence. It belonged to the men, the three big bad wolves who were all that remained to remind me of my humanity.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 20



And then they stared at one another like, well, in the movies. I knew the real history of gunfights was a short one. Wild Bill Hickock got drunk, invented the sport, and not long after he was shot in the back for cheating at poker. The death of the gunfight came soon after. But it was still cool.

Then their hands flung out, it looked like it was the same time, and the magic flowed. There were no bright lights, no rotoscope effects, just the heavy press of invisible mass. It exploded, knocking me down, but my own magic held the wards at bay. When I climbed back to my feet Malachai stood over Gan's prone body, hands out.

I sensed he was drawing Gan's magic in, and I knew my part. Not only did I break the ward I'd been holding off, I used the magic from that to create another, covering our tracks. It was so shockingly simple, murder by numbers.

I came to stand beside Malachai. "He went so easily."

"His king ordered him to."

I knew enough about history to know it meant Gan loved his leader. A subject who feared his king would kill for him, but only love would make him die for him. I caught Malachai's face and knew. It wasn't easy for him. He just had more practice covering his nerves than I did.

I slipped my hand into his and felt his newly enforced power shimmer. "Shall we?"

And off we went to kill the queen.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 21



Author's Note: Thank you, dear reader, for bearing with me on this long journey. A total of 191,500 words in this story are wrapped up here. This has been the story of Anna's coming-of-age in a dangerous time for all magic. The trials of her conscience, the pull between love and duty, and the challenges of trying to fit into a world she doesn't understand conclude here. For those of you interested please let me know if you would like to hear Malachai's story or anyone else's. As always, thanks fdor taking the time to read this, and for your votes and feedback. Enjoy!

*****





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 21



He smiled at me, eyes twinkling with the mischief of a sorcerer. "Tell me that again in a century or two."

I laughed. "Maybe, but with what we do today prophecy will be beyond me. So I mean what I say. Do you want to waste our time together being considerate, or would you rather let me discover how a sorcerer takes a woman?"

That lit the fire. I'd started to wonder what sex with another magic bearer was like, and no one had to tell me it was vastly different between sorcerers and witches.

"Anna, I don't want to scare you."

"I may be the queen of witches at the moment but I haven't been a witch for long. I've been a kinky human much longer."

"You asked for it." He grabbed me roughly and our clothes melted away as his mouth took mine. The second our lips met an orgasm tore through me coming from outside. His magic, and it was incredible. I screamed into his mouth shaking, feeling my body swell and soften with desire even as it shook from the strange, wondrous climax.

Even as I shook he used magic to move us to the bed and laid me on my back, then magical bonds spread my arms and legs out, clamping them to the bed. When the storm passed I was panting, sweaty, and hungry for more. He loomed above me, smiling. "It occurs to me that in the ways of magic-bearers you are a virgin."

That last word stroked across my skin, telling me it was an arousal trigger for him. I gulped, suddenly feeling for all my experience I was an ignorant and helpless virgin on the altar of sacrifice.

"I see your wolves have not even-"

"Don't mention them, please," I begged, stricken.

He nodded gallantly in agreement, dark hair loose and trailing over the skin of my face. "No one has taught you how you may pleasure your partner. Do what I did to you, now."

I concentrated, my magic raw and eager to try something new. I felt his body then, the thrum of his heartbeat as his rigid cock slid along my stomach in almost absent-minded gentle thrusts. I found the pleasure in his mind and body and I squeezed with magic, the only way to describe it. Suddenly he threw his head back and shouted hoarsely as he came, seed spilling across my stomach as he shook. His arms turned riding and straining around me as he came.

Feeling naughty I tried something new and my magic formed ghostly fingers gently pulling on his balls, pressing into the skin between them and his anus, seeking his prostate, pushing into it. His voice broke and he shook harder, and the sudden power I felt even pinned as I was thrilled me.

When he passed he laughed, a rich booming sound, and smoothed his hair back. "Smart girl. But are you ready for this?"

He moved down my body, his own magic removing his cum from my aching flesh. He pressed his lips to my aching pussy and suddenly I felt his tongue, but it was longer and rougher than a humans. I raised my head and he winked at me, and then began lapping.

I felt ghostly hands on my nipples then, teasing my anus, stroking my limbs. The sensation was alien that the pleasure seemed foreign, the chills along my spine an invading army marching to my brain, and then climax slammed into me. I wailed, trying to reconcile it.

Before it passed me moved, and in the blink of an eye I was turned, my head hanging over the side of the bed and he stood in front of me, his long hard cock jutting up with a wicked curve that promised to be delightful inside me.

"Witches do not like to transmogrify parts of their body, but you have your own sorts of pleasure. You can layer sensations."

"How?"

"Say I slide my cock into your mouth," he purred. Leaning over the bed he braced his hands along my sides and slid his cock against my cheek. "You can give me the sensation of your mouth and with it the sensation of that sweet, tight little pussy."

As he said it the body part in question clenched before gushing more juices. I licked my lips, getting a dark idea of my own. "Please."

He hunched over further to accommodate the bend in his cock, and then slid in. With magic I relaxed my throat, nixed my gag reflex, until he was seated. He pulled back and with the next thrust I made him feel my pussy. To my delight my actual pussy also felt like that cock was sliding in. No wonder witches did this!

Feeling truly wicked on his next thrust I let him feel the tight ring of my anus and I was rewarded with a shiver. He began to thrust and in the mirror over the dresser I saw his tight ass flex with each thrust, a delightful image. All the while I felt two ghostly cocks in my pussy and ass, and my own hips flexed in response to the magical thrusts.

Suddenly I heard a hissing sound like a snake and the next thing I knew a small forked tongue teased my clit. I jumped as much as I could but still sucked his cock. He laughed and groaned at the same time and then that narrow tongue wrapped around my clit and began to stroke it like a tiny hand.

I came screaming and seconds later had to force myself to quiet even as pleasure wracked me as he began to come, spilling deep into my throat. It was beyond anything I had ever imagined, more forbidden than my darkest fantasy. Endlessly we came, riding the same pleasure from different sides of the coin until I nearly wept with it, and then he withdrew from me.

"I would like to brag that magic makes a refractory period laughable, but if I do not get inside you, Anna, I will go mad. Would you like to see what else a sorcerer can transmogrify?"

Horrifying images assaulted me and I shook my head. "No. I want you, I want that magnificent cock in me. Just you."

Now his magic laid me on the bed but all the pillows were under my hips, raising me almost awkwardly. I was pinned again and so hungry for pleasure I couldn't even raise an objection. 

"Tricks we wish. You know what to do when the time comes?" He asked, kneeling between my legs.

I could only nod, wanting to think only of the pleasure and not the duty. He entered me slowly, hands on my legs, moving inch by inch. As he did I felt ghostly hands and mouths all over me, another ghostly cock in my ass. I gifted him with the same, even slyly pushing a ghostly finger up his ass to massage his prostate.

He groaned and then began to move. Malachai's thrusts were so strong his black hair flew and the bed slammed against the wall. Our magic blended, adding to the sensual haze, and it seemed like an event the world should know. The king and queen of all magic were fucking!

I wanted it to last but it was too much. I came quickly and he followed me over. This time I could not give into the orgasm completely nor could he. Together me moved tiny pieces of us inside our bodies and it took. Even as my body trembled with culmination I felt a kind of pure, innocent wonder. A child, we had made a child.

And then we had to pour magic into. All the dark magic he had absorbed in the last two weeks and half the white magic I had absorbed went into that deeper joining. The flow and confluence of magic brought another peak to us both and this one we could let go.

I screamed, arching my body, fighting his magic bonds, and he yelled, hands bruising my hips as he ground his cock as deep as it would go inside me.

When the magic passed, when our bodies stilled, I was free. He moved the pillows with his hands and collapsed next to me on his side, pulling me into his arms.

"Let me hold you. You are my friend, once my lover, the mother of my child. Let me pretend for just a moment you are mine."

I felt my heart breaking. "Do you not love Francine and Nadine?"

He buried his face in my tangled hair. "I love them but much as I love you. It is not enough. I thought it was, but now...now I have seen inside your heart. The way you love your men takes my breath away. Is it wrong to want that for myself?"

"No. wanting is never wrong, but you have to let your dragons go. They deserve to find their own love, it is not fair to let them slowly die for hoping and wishing for the impossible."

"I know. They will be free this very evening."

I turned. Having absorbed not only the magic of past queens but also their souls and their knowledge, I knew what witches could do that sorcerers could not. I knew the way of love.

Yes, to my chagrin, the poets were right. There was one perfect love for all of us there, or in some cases two or even three (lucky me!). But even if we didn't find the one meant for us we could be happy with another if our souls fit together.

I put two fingers of my right hand on his temple and two of my left on his wildly beating heart. I would find his perfect mate, wherever in time she lived. To my shock I found her alive in our time...and she was human. More satisfied than Cupid or Psyche could ever have been, I summoned an object with magic and then presented it to him.

"What is this?"

"It's a compass, but a magical one. The woman born for you is in our time, in this world. The compass will lead you to her, but winning her heart is up to you."

He rose on one elbow and took it, and to my shock he cried a single tear. "Thank you, Anna."

I took the tear onto a fingertip and bound it to the compass, pressing my hands over his as he gripped the device. In my head I will the magic.

Let his grief end when love is found, let him be as open with his heart to her as he can be, and let her loneliness burn in the light of love as well

I kissed his forehead and stood on shaky legs, summoning a robe. "Time is of the essence. I must go now."

"Go. And, please, Anna know that I regret how I treated Kenneth. He is like a son to me. Show him the love and kindness he has never known."

"I swear it." We both felt the magic weight of my vow and then I teleported myself.

I found Kenneth alone in his room, his familiar on his lap, purring.

"Kenneth? It is time."

His hands shook as he set the car down and let her run from the bedroom. I closed the door behind her as he stood to face me. "Is what I read in the treaty true?"

I nodded.

"This is in a way what I desired, but not what I wanted."

He was more Malachai's child in the heart than he knew. "Kenneth, do not forget you are half witch. We hold dominion over love. There is someone for you out there. You will find her."

Sadly he nodded, eyes downcast. Some blonde strands fell from the hairstyle sweeping them back, covering his brow as he studied the carpet. "And this we may only have once."

"Indeed, but it need not be anything more than a true gift between friends."

"Friends?"

I nodded. "I should be very glad to call you my friend."

He turned suddenly to stare out at the cold and remote mountains. "I have had a very harsh life."

"I know." I crossed to him and put my arms around him in a hug, laying my cheek between his broad shoulders. "I promise to do nothing that upsets you."

He turned and I kept him in my arms as his urgently came around me. "Like a human. Make love to me like humans do. No magic, not until it is time."

I understood. He had been brutalized by sorcerers, raped not just in body but in mind and soul. The witches had been cruel at best to him. Always an outsider.

This time I felt he was the virgin, and I swore I'd be gentle as I rose on my toes and pulled him into a kiss. At first he was shy, almost awkward, and I actually had to show him what to do with my own tongue. When they met he shivered in my arms.

Slowly I walked us to the bed and we sat down, but I kept kissing him. He needed to set the pace, I would just have to read his body and respond. I would not do anything that scared him.

After long minutes he became almost aggressive and pushed my robe back, his hands cupping my breasts reverently. I moaned low in my throat and he flinched before recovering. I let him explore but those soft caresses almost undid me.

I wanted to show him the same pleasure so slowly moved my hands to his suit jacket. He helped me shrug it off, tossing it as I undid his tie. I wanted to rip his shirt open but settled for the agony of undoing the buttons one at a time and then he shucked that.

Like all witches he was beautiful, but not quite as well built. His shoulders and arms were nicely defined, his pecs somewhat, but his stomach was flat, no ridged, and blonde hair covered his chest. Scars covered his skin, brutal looking, and I realized he had not used magic to enhance his looks. This was Kenneth as he naturally was.

I touched his small nipples, rubbing their stiffness. "Do you know how you like to be touched?" I husked, and he shook his head. "Then may I explore?"

He nodded and I kissed him again before sliding my mouth to his cheek, then nibbling on his ear. He flinched so I moved down but even teeth near his neck scared him. So I settled for tongue and lips, stroking his body with my hand.

His nipples were sensitive and he squirmed as I flicked my tongue over them in turn. 

"Will you lay down?" I asked and he nodded, doing so.

Once he was prone I returned to his nipples and smoothed my hand along his legs, slowly working to the ridge of his cock still trapped in his pants. He shivered anew and I felt my patience thinning even as I reminded myself I had to go slow. If I overwhelmed him all was lost and my vow meant nothing.

Head swimming with his honeyed taste I kissed down his stomach and worked at his belt. I unbuttoned and unzipped his pants but stopped before I grabbed his cock. "Kenneth," I asked, raising my head, "Do you want this?"

He nodded again and so I fished his cock out and stroked it. It was a fat thing, not overly long, and as I worked his foreskin back and forth over the head, teasing, his hips pumped slightly. I teased his belly button with my tongue as I skinned it back, and then shimmed down the bed.

I breathed on him, just breathed and he cried out with a moan. "And this? Do you want this?"

"Please!" He shouted.

Slowly I engulfed his cock, forcing his pants down. He sat up to take them off forcing him deep into my mouth and throat. I cheated with magic and took away my gag reflex as he sat there blinking. 

"Oh."

Smiling I tugged his pants over his bare feet and he lowered himself to resting on his elbows, watching me. I circled the base of his balls with one hand and began to suck. I pulled his balls away as I swooped down, brought them back as I retreated.

The sounds he made, the sweet response of his body was innocent, open passion. Maybe there was a bit of sorcerer in me, I had always liked introducing virgins to passion, but this was even better.

I worked his cock over and over, feeling his scrotum tighten, knowing he was close. Every man should know this feeling, I thought with satisfaction. Every man and woman alive should know the joys of oral sex, the total focus of another partner on their pleasure.

He came crying out my name and I drank it all greedily, feeling smug as I stroked him until he softened, then I pulled back so he wouldn't get too sensitive.

He was flush, panting, disheveled, eyes wide with wonder. "Wow."

Feeling smug I lay on my back, stretching the kinks from my back, smiling like a cat.

"Can I-" He cleared his throat, gazing down at me, blushing but able to met my eyes. "Can I do that to you?"

I resisted screaming my reply, just barely. "Yes," I said softly, trembling with need.

To my shock he copied my actions, kissing me, discovering I liked teeth on my ear and neck. Then down until he tasted my nipples, so much softer than I was used to it made me cream. Then he grew bolder, sucking, nibbling with teeth and it was my turn to squirm. He moaned, a satisfied sound.

His hands were large and callused, but the roughness of his skin thrilled me as they smoothed up my legs and then found my wet pussy. His actions were still innocent but Kenneth was quickly learning to listen to my body. Soon two thick fingers filled me and with only a little encouragement he curled them and began rubbing in a "come here" motion. All the while he teased my breasts.

I came, shrieking, forcing myself to call his name so he could bask in a lover's the cry, feel as if he conquered me. He did, but by the honesty of his explorations. I clung to him, careful not to scratch him with my nails and pumped my hips against his hand.

Then he began to kiss over my stomach. Somehow he understood to leave his fingers there as his mouth began to explore my clit and once more I was devastated. All this pleasure in twenty-four hours! I would need months to recover, I thought with a small laugh that hitched in my throat, becoming a squeaking moan as he brought me to fulfillment again.

When it passed he raised his head. I opened my eyes to see him licking my juices from his lips, savoring them like a cat with cream. "I want to be inside you."

"Yes. Oh, yes," I breathlessly called out, rubbing his arms.

He rose over me, hard again and settled between my legs. I hooked my arms around his neck and brought my legs up slightly, tilting to meet him. Our eyes remained open as he used his hand to guide his cock and found me wet and open. Then he was sliding in, and we watched one another as he slowly filled me.

Once seated he was the first to close his eyes, surrendering, and then he began to move. At first it was slow as if he was learning my body, my needs, my textures. He swiveled his hips and caught my g-spot and I cried out, pleading for more. Groaning, he granted me the pleasure.

Soon he was moving faster, our breathing harsh and panting. He laid across me and we kissed again, only his hips moving, now frantic. I felt the orgasm dimly, willing it closer, straining for it, and then he was coming inside me. The apex of pleasure washed over me even as I called to my magic.

He did not need his, and I let him enjoy spilling into me as I poured the rest of my magic into the child, and then I felt his seed join the creation. I willed it inside and felt the completion, the wonderment, the magic of it all. And then almost sorrowfully the pleasure left us in a slow ebb.

He collapsed ungallantly onto me, and moaned slightly. I cuddled him close, relishing his pleasure and relaxation. Finally after long minutes he pushed himself up onto his arms, still inside me but soft. One hand found my belly and his eyes misted. "It is done?"

I could only nod and he kissed me again.

Once on his side it was I who cuddled him to me. There were no words but I knew that I had a gift for him. For Malachai it was the promise of a future love, but for Kenneth it would be something different.

For as this child would grow to be ruler of all magic, until then Kenneth was now regent. I was no longer a queen, Malachai no longer a king. The true king of all magic lay in the circle of my arms and my gift to him would be freeing him of some of his past.





A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 21



"Seamus?" I'd found him a draft castle, sitting in an ornate chair staring into the fire.

He jumped at the appearance of a witch but then stared at my belly, confused. "Who are you and why are you here?"

"I am Anna. I am from the future. I have a tale to tell on how magic will be reborn and you will play an important part. You will father a king."

He frowned darkly. "I cannot, I am not of Malachai's line."

"You will father a king born on the line of witches. Do you grant me peace to tell you the story?"

He thought long and hard, then summoned a cushioned chair with magic. I sank to it, already waddling at six months and grateful to be off swollen ankles. "Thank you."

It took most of the night but I told him everything, and I meant everything. I told him how Kenneth's life could be if he willingly lay with Alessandra, the guardian of my line, and how it would be if he did his duty by force.

There was darkness in him, with the deed he could have done there had to be, but it was not monstrous. In this time there was a war one between his kind and mine, and sadly rape was part of every war. It was the nature of the beast, a horrible crime that could be overcome with fraternity and understanding. 

When I finished he stared at me. "Do you understand that by doing this I am violating Malachai's laws? I could be executed."

I had discussed this with Malachai who was at that moment visiting his past self in this time. If we were successful our penultimate act as rulers would be to seal the wards and prevent time travel. It was much too dangerous, so we had to succeed.

"I swear you will not."

He looked at my belly, expression softening. "And that is my grandchild?"

I nodded and he rose.

"May I?"

I knew what he wanted. Apparently when you got pregnant your belly became public property and I was used to it. He stepped to me and gently laid his hand on my belly.

"Is it boy or girl?"

"Girl." I smiled. I couldn't explain time travel paradoxes to save my life but I knew I had gone against orders I would give myself in the future. Somehow in changing that my child was now a girl. A daughter, I thought lovingly.

She kicked and Seamus' eyes widened. Then I was laughing and he was laughing, it was a warm moment.

"May I?" I asked now.

"Do what?"

"See your heart. If you do this for me I can see who your true love is and I will guide you to her."

He looked scared but nodded. Once more I laid four fingers on him and called the power. I felt an extra jolt come from my daughter who must know I was trying to help her grandfather.

I pulled back, thrilled to my bones. "Go, now, and find Alessandra."

"What about my soul mate?"

"She will guide you to her. On that I swear."

He nodded and then popped out of the room.

With my own magic I went back to my time and found Malachai at his home in Romania. 

"How did it go?"

I smiled. "Let's cast the spell and see." Together we worked great grey magic, and suddenly we knew the world as it was, as others perceived it, but also had a distant memory of how we'd left it to go back, foggy like a dream, knowing it would fade.

"Seamus, my best friend is alive!"

"And Kenneth has both parents, and they are much in love," I said smugly.

We laughed and hugged as friends, and by the time we pulled apart all the darkness was forgotten.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

He smiled at me. "Last night as king and queen. We could shake the earth."

"Nice try. King and queen in power only, duke and duchess officially. And tomorrow in magic as well. I have my wolves to return to, and don't you have a nice human girl to find?"

"She's human," he shook his head. "I haven't been with a human in...well, I think it was around the crusades, maybe the first ones."

I laughed and left him with that, flashing back into my conservatory. I couldn't use the hot tub pregnant as I was but I loved to sit there and see the night sky through all my plants.

"Anna?"

"In here!" I called. The door opened and three sleepy werewolves came in.

"Where did you go?" Andre asked suspiciously.

"Just in here. Baby's kicking and I couldn't sleep."

Julian smiled and helped me up. "Come back to bed."

"It's too frustrating. I hate that you all have to be so gentle."

"Just until she's born," Pierre said with a wink.

"And then we can be ourselves," Andre said wistfully.

They took me to bed and it was gentle kisses and soft cuddles. They had to be gentle with me, entering me only from behind on our sides, but I used my magic to make them feel great pleasure. Slowly, in turns, they claimed me and I fell asleep in the arms of the ones I loved.